Tips For First Time Cruisers

Passports

Check your passport expiration date immediately. Your passport is required to be valid for at least 6 months AFTER you return from your trip for every cruise line. Renewals can take weeks, which is why you need to check it now; this helps to ensure you get it back in time to cruise.

What Cruise Line Is best?

Different boats for different folks. Families, seniors, luxury, budget, party lovers … every cruise line has a different appeal, so as the saying goes there is one for everybody. Google different ships, look at YouTube videos, Facebook, My Facebook Page. Trust me there is tons of information to help you decide.

Consider taking a short weekend trip to see if the chosen cruise line fits your style. This is a great way to avoid wasting money and time on a longer cruise you may not enjoy.

Pricing each cruise ship differs in pricing with Carnival usually being the cheapest. However, some of the other cruise lines can run cheaper or have promos for cheaper rates.

Cruise itinerary

Don’t pick an itinerary just because it’s cheap, pick it because you want it. Choose where you want to go because the ports intrigue you and it fits your schedule.

Don’t just limit yourself to oceans and seas. There are also so many canal and river cruises – Like, Grand European tour through four or five different European countries. This is a great choice if you’re prone to motion sickness, because there aren’t any high waves.

Look for itineraries that spend a lot of time in port. Trust me you will want to spend as much time as possible to soak up the local culture, people and natural scenery. This will give you time for leisurely exploration as well as a cooking class, tours, shopping, or even beaches.

You don’t have to use the cruise line’s excursions. It’s perfectly fine to book your own excursion. Despite what the cruise director might say, you won’t miss the boat if you take a tour from a local company as long as you return to the port before the ship sets sail. Trust me you can find this info on the cruise lines app and by asking either before or when you are getting off the ship in port. However lots of these companies know when your ship is set to arrive and depart in their ports.

Booking your cruise

Request a stateroom on a low floor, mid-ship, if you get seasick. Although modern ships have phenomenal stabilizers that minimize movement, motion sickness pills can bring you a peace of mind

Request a large table for dinner seating if you want interesting people to talk to besides the people in your stateroom. People like to share their experiences. You might sit with someone you’ll connect with.

Buy travel insurance. Cruise lines won’t give refunds unless you cancel months ahead of time. Unless you can afford to lose all your investment, insurance is essential. It covers things as varied as flight delays, lost luggage, on-board medical problems, family emergencies, evacuations, and approaching hurricanes. Both cruise lines and private companies offer it, so compare prices and coverage before you decide.

Packing for a cruise

Find out if your cruise line has a formal night. If you want to eat in the dining room on those nights and you want some nice formal pictures, you’ll need to dress accordingly.

Research what to do online before you go. Previous passengers will have a lot of helpful suggestions about which of the ship’s excursions are worth it and which are fine to do on your own.
Again, you can find this info everywhere (On my Facebook Website, Other Places on Facebook, YouTube, etc.)

Use luggage with wheels and don’t pack a lot. There are laundry facilities on board. Also, you’re going to have to lug everything – along with your souvenirs – to your next destination (example to and from the airport).

The day of your cruise

Remember to bring your passport and cruise documents with you! DO NOT put them in the luggage you drop off. Keep them with you or if you are carrying a bag on board in it. These are required documents. You won’t be permitted to board the ship without them and no one wants a missed, denied, canceled cruise.

Arrive in town the day before you cruise. Flight delays and unforeseen traffic snarls can happen. If you stay in port the night before, you can rest assured you won’t miss the boat.

Arrive early on the day of the cruise. You’ll be able to explore the ship, settle in, enjoy a leisurely lunch on board, find your table for dinner, and relax with a drink as you wave goodbye to port. Plus, the check-in lines will be shorter.

Check out the spa and gym on the first day. They often offer embarkation promotions which can save you money if you plan to use them. Tip: If you plan to use the spa, prices are much lower when the ship is in port.

While you’re cruising

Take advantage of port tours They’re the best way to maximize your visit. You’ll learn more about the region, how to get into town, don’t-miss sights, local crafts, foods to try, and more.

Look at the next day's plans before bedtime. Check your program – delivered to your room the night before or through the ships app – get with your travel buddy about what you and them want to do, both onshore and on the ship.

Keep an eye on the clock if you’re visiting port on your own. You don’t want to see the ship sail from shore. Make sure you are keeping up with the time changes if applicable. Most cruise lines run on the ship’s time. If you're not sure, ask a staff member to be sure. Arrive an hour or a few hours early to ensure you are back on ship on time for departure.

Enjoy the variety of food experiences while on board. In the MDR, You can get two entrees for dinner, enjoy the late-night dessert buffet, and order room service at no extra cost! (A tip for room delivery is always appreciated, though.)

Keep your curtains closed after dark. People CAN see in if you have a walkway outside your stateroom or if you’re in port. So be sure that the heavier curtains are drawn after dark, not just the sheers.

Ask to disembark on your own at the end of the cruise. You’ll be able to leave on your own schedule, whenever you’re ready.

Money saving tips

Find out if tips are included in your fare or if they will be automatically added to your final bill. If not, you’ll need to budget for it. Most cruise lines suggest tipping $10 to $12 per day per passenger (not per couple or per family). For a seven-day cruise, plan on at least $70 per person, or $140 per cabin for two people. When applicable, Prepay them before you sail when booking your cruise so you want have to worry about paying them later before you disembark.

Use onboard credit wisely. If you have it, put it toward the gratuities first, then apply the remainder to shore excursions, drinks, restaurants, and other costs you’ll incur on board. Trust me you can spend your own board credit fast or you can budget it and make it go far. It's all up to you and how you plan to use it.

Check your balance halfway through your cruise. Those excursions, spa visits, slot machines, alcoholic drinks, photos, and so forth can add up quickly. You don’t want to ruin your cruise. Plus, if there is an issue that needs to be addressed you can speak with Guest Services before disembarking. Many cruise lines will even make sure if you were granted anything not covered that it is paid before you can leave the ship.

The drinks package may not be the best deal. Get out a calculator and figure out how much you’ll spend on drinks per day. In general, if you think you’re going to order five or so alcoholic drinks a day during your trip, a package is worth considering. But, if you don’t drink a lot it may be cheaper to pay per glass. Plus, if you order a package you have to get it for all adults in your stateroom. So on Carnival for 2 Adults on a 5 Day trip it's almost $600 because it is priced per day and you have to pay for the whole trip and can not pay for just a day or a few days.

Don’t rush to book your next cruise while on board. It may be tempting to book when you hear them offering shore excursions, gratuities and so forth. However, they advertise promotions like that year-round, and sometimes have sale prices too, so there’s no need to make a hasty decision.

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