Travel Tips
First Time Cruiser Tips
Choose the best ship for the experience you want
Do your research! While the majority of cruisers pick their experience based on the destinations (which makes sense), make sure you also research the ship that you will enjoy the most. If you want an experience with fewer kids on board, sailing during the summer on a ship with lots of family activities will not be the best experience for you. What do you want from your vacation? If you want great dining, broadway entertainment, and an adult relaxation area, keep that in mind and look at your cruise as an entire experience, not just a trip to go somewhere. Contact me directly for more insight on what cruise line/ship may be the best match for you!
Book shore excursions in advance - they sell out!
Shore excursions are a great way to experience a destination. Review the shore excursions available and see what activities interest you. Going on shore excursions and experiencing new things and learning about new cultures by experts is a great way to make memories on your vacation.
Check-in online and pick an early embarkation time
The sooner you are able to get on the ship and start your vacation the better! You will be notified when you can check in for your cruise. Typically this is 45 days out from your sailing. Don’t wait long before you complete the check-in process!
Arrive to your embarkation port city at least a day before your cruise (2 days if traveling cross country/International)
We are constantly hearing about flight delays and cancellations, especially around holiday time and we never know, nor have control over when our travels might be delayed. DON’T RISK MISSING YOUR CRUISE as a result!
I live in California and sail out of Fort Lauderdale all the time. I always fly out two days before so if there are delays in my flight, I have a one day buffer. Plus, I get to spend some time in beautiful south Florida!
Arrive during your embarkation time window - not before
The cruise lines do a pretty good job of shuffling foot traffic onto the cruise ship and if you arrive earlier than your reported check-in time, you may be waiting for a while, and depending on the port, this may mean that you are waiting in the sun, heat, etc.
Luggage - pack your carry on carefully
If you choose to leave your luggage with the porters instead of carrying on your bags yourself, be sure to pack everything you might need in your carry on for the first day of your cruise. Sometimes luggage takes a bit longer to be delivered to your stateroom so making sure you have any medications you may need, a swimsuit if you want pool time on the first day, or a change of clothes will help make the first few hours of your cruise go smoothly.
As soon as you get on the ship - take care of any reservations you need to make
I so wish that we could make all reservations prior to embarkation, but that’s not reality. Depending on the cruise line, you may need to make reservations for specialty dining, entertainment, and adult areas (i.e. The Sanctuary on Princess).
Do the Muster Drill sooner than later
This is another must do as soon as you embark. While the e-muster drill that has been in place since the restart of cruising has been dreamy compared to the in-person version, many cruise lines are reverting back to the in-person muster drill. Yes, it’s a bummer and yes, you have to do it! The longer you wait to complete it, the longer the potential delay in sail away.
Avoid the buffet on embarkation day
The majority of cruisers hit up the buffet for lunch on embarkation day which leads to big crowds and longer lines. Research what dining options are open for lunch on embarkation day and try some of those instead. Even if it involves a small up charge, fewer people and a more relaxing atmosphere for your first lunch on board is a great way to kick off your vacation!
Turn your phone on airplane mode, or call your phone carrier prior to boarding to get an international plan (or plan that is most appropriate for you)
Because your phone goes into roaming mode while at sea, you could incur huge phone bill charges. Having your phone on airplane mode will help you avoid this. Be sure to turn your phone Wi-Fi on so you can connect to the ship WI-FI and utilize the cruise app and other features during your vacation.
Make the most of your space - magnetic hooks can be useful
Cabin walls are metal! You can hang magnetic hooks on the walls to hang things like hats, scarves, bags, swimsuits, etc. If you have a few people staying in a cabin, the closet and drawer space fills up quickly. Hooks are a good solution for storage needs!
Gratuity is often included! Don’t pay twice (unless you want to)
Whether you purchased a separate “gratuities included” package or they were bundled in with your cruise fare, they often are already accounted for so you don’t need to feel obliged to tip. If you want to tip for above and beyond service, go for it! I typically tip extra for room service, the porter who takes my bag, and my room attendant at the end of the sailing. Do whatever you feel comfortable with!
Benefits of booking shore excursions through the cruise line - you won’t miss the ship
For those of you who know me, you know I’m a safety squirrel. As a solo female traveler, I tend to lean on the conservative side when it comes to safe travels. I always book shore excursions through the cruise line. While there are plenty of reputable tour operators that provide great experiences, the idea of not making it back to the ship is terrifying. If something delays your return to the ship and you are on an excursion not booked through the cruise line, the ship won’t wait for you and you are responsible for transportation to the next port of call. YIKES!
Stateroom location, location, location!
If you have a tendency towards motion sickness, or you aren’t sure how you may react to being at sea, book a cabin mid-ship on a mid to lower deck. You’ll experience the least amount of movement in these areas. Forward ship tends to have the most movement. Keep in mind, on any ship, you may experience rough seas and will feel it! Bring some sort of seasickness relief in case you need it (Bonine, sea bands, patch, ginger chews. If you have a sudden wave of seasickness, eat a green apple, it will work wonders on an upset stomach!
Guest Services - best time to go
If you don’t HAVE to go to Guest Services on embarkation day, don’t! The lines are extremely long. The last thing you want to do as you start your vacation is stand in line. Go early the morning of day 2 of your sailing to address any concerns you have (unless it can’t wait, of course). Guest Services is typically open 24/7 and lines are much shorter or non-existent early in the mornings or later in the evenings.
Bring basic first-aid items/medicine
Every cruise ship has a medical facility and if you have an emergency or you need medical attention that can’t wait, it is a great thing to have! For things like Band Aids, Tylenol, feminine products, etc., they can be very expensive to obtain on the ship. Bring a stash from home just in case you need it!
Formal night - fancy it up as much or as little as you like
Depending on the cruise line, you may see tuxedos and cocktail dresses during formal nights. Also called “chic night”, or “dress your best night”, dressing formal is certainly not required and I would encourage you to dress how you are comfortable.
Take a picture of your passport to carry with you off the ship in port
Tourists can be targets for pickpockets/thieves. If you carry your passport off the ship and your bag gets stolen, your travel back to your home country will be challenging. Leave your passport in your stateroom safe and carry a picture of your passport photo page in your bag with you. If for some reason you need your passport as ID off the ship, you will have documentation. Also, know that if you miss the ship and need your passport, the ship crew will help you get your passport from your stateroom (this isn’t a common occurrence, but can be a total pain in the rear if it happens to you).
Go with the flow - being flexible is important
It’s important to be flexible when you sail on a cruise ship as there are some things that may be out of your control. Weather may cause a shift in the itinerary, there may be a medical emergency on board that delays the ship to a certain port, or your plan may be altered in another way for whatever reason. Don’t stress too much about unexpected changes. Go with the flow and remember that you are on a floating all inclusive wonderland with many many things to eat, drink, explore, and do!
What do I do when things go wrong?
As indicated above, things do go wrong on cruises. Whether there is an itinerary change, you are not happy with your dining or shore excursion experience, or there is a problem with your cabin, it’s important to let Guest Services know so they can resolve the problem for you.
Cruise Packing Essentials
You just booked a cruise - that’s fantastic! Prepare to become addicted. Below is a list of things you will want to include in your packing list (aside from the obvious like underwear and toiletries).
Cruise and travel documents - make sure you have your passport as well as a paper version of your cruise boarding documents. While you can have these on your phone, having a paper copy can expedite boarding if you have WI-FI issues at the embarkation port.
All medications you may need (include seasickness medication) - Bring medications in your carry-on bag as you don’t know how long it will take for your luggage to be delivered to your stateroom.
Shore excursion bag - You will want something big enough to carry whatever you may need for your excursion. This may be a change of clothes and shoes, sunscreen, a hat, book for reading on the beach, etc. You will also want room for a bottle of water or 2. A small to medium sized backpack or bag works well! Tip - check to see if you need to bring a towel. Many locations provide towels for you and you won’t need to take one off the ship - space saver!
Cruise approved non-surge outlet bar - Depending on how many people you have in your cabin or how many devices you take with you, it may be good to bring an outlet bar as many ships (especially older ships) don’t have an adequate number of charging ports in the cabin.
Appropriate dress - Research the cruise ship/itinerary you are going on and assess what you should bring to wear. Do you want to dress up for formal night? Do you feel more comfortable wearing sun dresses or shorts and T-shirts? If you are going snorkeling or will be walking in the ocean/on the beach floor, consider bringing aqua shoes. Stepping on something with tentacles or spines while barefoot can quickly put a damper on your vacation. If you are going to Alaska or other colder climates, be sure to bring layers and warmer clothing.
Outerwear - regardless of where you are sailing, there are certain things you want to consider bringing. A light sweater for evenings, a light jacket for when it may be a bit breezy on deck, boots if you plan to hike, etc.
Cover up attire - for those sea days when you are laying by the pool, deciding to go for a walk around the ship or go to a casual lunch, you’ll want a cover up to wear over your swimwear.
Packing cubes - these are a great way to keep your items organized and you will utilize much less space in your suitcase than if you just fold your clothes. I have a carry on only rule (even for longer cruises) and packing cubes have been a life saver!
A travel wine opener (and wine!) - Most cruise lines allow you to bring 2 bottles of wine per cabin on board on embarkation day. Bring your favorite bottles to enjoy in your cabin, and make sure to bring a wine opener! You typically won’t be able to borrow a wine opener on board and you will be charged a corkage fee to have the bottle opened for you.
Air freshener for the cabin (candles are not allowed) - Again, use your judgment on this based on how many people are staying in your cabin and how sensitive you are to fragrance. Staterooms tend to be smaller spaces (unless you book a suite) and odors linger. A light air freshener can do the trick to keep your space smelling fresh.
Waterproof phone case - if you are doing any type of snorkeling, swimming, or diving, you will definitely want the ability to take pictures underwater! A waterproof phone case is a great alternative to purchasing a waterproof camera or GoPro.
Cash - I would strongly recommend you bring US cash on your cruise. You will want cash if you want to tip the crew on top of your already paid gratuities, small bills for shore excursions (tips for shore excursion staff or a bottle of water or snack), and a few quarters as sometimes public bathrooms in foreign countries require a few quarters for use.
Lanyard - for ships that require a seapass card for purchases and cabin entry- having a lanyard to hold your card is very handy!
Plastic luggage tag holders - Your luggage tags will be included in your boarding documents. Print them out and slip them into luggage tag holders so they don’t get damaged/smeared.
Sunscreen, aloe, and a hat - Cloudy or sunny, you can get burned. Be prepared! Wear sunscreen, have aloe for when you forget to reapply sunscreen, and bring a hat to protect your beautiful face! Being uncomfortable on a cruise is the worst, be prepared and lather/cover up!
Workout gear - Whether you are a gym buff or just like to get your steps in, there are plenty of ways to work off all the yummy food you will eat while on a cruise. Cruise gyms are fantastic! On newer ships you will find state of the art facilities that put to shame many land gyms. If you are not a gym rat, bring something to walk around the ship. In addition to my gym routine, I have a habit of walking two miles around the ship everyday!
Non-electronic entertainment - playing cards and travel board games can be a great way to disconnect and be mentally engaged. Plus, you may meet fellow cruisers who are interested in starting up a game!
Hydration powder packs - these are handy to have to go along with your deluxe drink package or if you get sick.
Non-perishable, packaged snacks - granola bars, individual trail mix packs, and dried fruit packs are great options to take on shore excursions. You won’t be able to take non-packaged food off the ship
