17 Cruise Tips for First-Timers
Table Of Content
From embarkation on cruise day to dining to shore excursions, everything you do on a cruise is just a little different than any other vacation you’ve ever been on. That’s why we’ve taken the time to round up a boatload of tips — 57 to be exact — that will help you know better about what to expect come cruise day. Sloan agrees and says people book cruises much further in advance than a hotel or flight, which means that inventory can get gobbled up quickly.
Don't book a cabin near an elevator
This way, if you have an issue or any questions, you have time to resolve it. The nice thing about booking excursions through the cruise line is that everything is organized for you. It also comes with an assurance that the ship will wait for you if for some reason your excursion is late.
Book Pre and Post Cruise Hotels
One of the best first-time cruise tips is learning that you can access a layout of the ships. Research your ship and enjoy virtual tours and view deck plans. Download the deck plans to a PDF file, print it out and review it before your cruise. Always pay attention to SHIP’S TIME– You don’t want to be the knucklehead running down the dock as the ship is throwing off tie-lines to sail away.
Pack your bathing suit in your carry-on
You will also be able to make reservations for specialty dining and entertainment if applicable. Further, some cruise destinations like much of Europe, Bermuda, Canada/New England, and Alaska are seasonal. This means that cruise ships only visit these locations certain times of the year. So, you will need to plan your vacation time accordingly if you have your heart set on one of these destinations. The first thing you must determine when planning a cruise is your travel budget. How much are you willing to spend in total for all aspects of your cruise vacation?
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Keep a close eye and you’ll almost always see a few people making a mad dash back to the ship. You’ve never seen people run as fast as when they think the ship is about to leave them. On a side note, always return to the ship well before the “all aboard” time. Go to any cruise line website (or sign up for their email list) and you’ll always see that there is a sale happening. Cruise line sales try to stress a limited-time offer — often including a countdown timer until it’s over.
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Look for a cabin on the upper decks of the ship
Don't let planning a rejuvenating vacation add more stress to your life. This Caribbean cruise guide gives you the lowdown on everything you need to know to plan the perfect island getaway. Plan to have one really late night and one early morning—but not one right after the other. Being at sea on a cruise is a special experience, and the changing weather is an important part of it. A popular spot on Celebrity Edge, for example, is the sailing ship model made of pearl strands on the second of the three-floor martini bar, midship.
Travel Corkscrew
The cruise line might sell it as a private balcony, but there isn’t a whole lot of privacy. Your balcony on your cabin will have walls that shield you from the adjoining cabins, but the walls often don’t go from the floor to ceiling. They can easily be looked under or above, and someone could look around the side of them if they really wanted to.
Questions About Cruising Answered (Everything You Wanted to Know)
Cabins just below the pool deck and near the anchor also can be problematic as well as cabins near casinos. There are ways to make calls and access the internet from ships without spending a boatload of money. You can buy a Wi-Fi package, for instance, that will let you make FaceTime calls and stream videos (on some ships) over Wi-Fi without using phone data. Often, independent tours will be much more intimate than the tours offered directly through cruise lines. They might go to the same sites but in a small van instead of a big motorcoach.
For cooler weather destinations, layers and rain gear are essential! You will want to be prepared for rain and temperature swings on any given day. Now is the time to book all those extra add-ons that did not come as part of your cruise fare. In fact, we highly recommend securing all your shore excursions prior to your trip. On some of the larger ships (mainly from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line), reservations are required for certain entertainment and onboard activities. Booking early will not only secure a lower price, it will also secure a better cabin.
Truthfully, it all depends on what your travel party wants out of their cruise vacation. Some ships offer the bells and whistles like water slides, ropes courses, laser tag, and Broadway entertainment, but not all ships do. Brands like Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean offer the most diversity for multi-generational groups. These cruise lines all have similar inclusions with some of the best entertainment options and onboard amenities. With your budget firmly in place, now you can consider where you want to travel during your cruise vacation. With more and more regions of the world now accessible by cruise ship, your options keep growing.
Once your cruise ship sails away from the port, you will begin to incur a barrage of roaming fees for data usage even if you aren’t actively using your phone. Many cruise lines also run promotions and sales with anywhere from 20-40% off cruise planner items like shore excursions, specialty dinners, WiFi packages, and more. Further, you can take advantage of your loyal status with a cruise line or reward points from credit cards. Many cruise lines offer special rates and discounts for loyal cruisers.
Some cruisers also swear by bringing magnets to ships to affix dinner invitations, excursion tickets and other important papers to their cabin walls. Walls on ships often are made with metal (even if they look like wood, thanks to faux wood veneers) and will hold a magnet. Some cruisers even bring magnets with hooks so they can hang up clothes and other items on their walls. I admit, I've never done this, though I know I should — if only to wipe off the remote control for the cabin TV.
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