So you have booked your first cruise, congratulations! If this your first sea voyage, the next thing on your mind may be ‘So how do I prepare for the cruise?” Fret not, we have you covered. Check out tips below to make the most out of your cruise holiday. If you are an old hand at cruising, scroll right down to check out the current cruise offers.
Read the FAQs for the cruise liner
All cruise liners have frequently asked questions on their website which will have lots information to help you navigate your way onboard. From information about dress code, options, travel documents, shore excursion to tipping policy and expectations. The FAQs provide very useful information specific to your cruise. .
Plan to be amongst the first to board and last to disembark
Cruise ships nowadays are huge, their passenger carrying capacity can be anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people. It is inevitable that there will be a queue during embarkation and disembarkation. To avoid queue time, target to be the first to check in on departure day and last to check out on arrival. Once you are done with the immigration and custom checks you will be allowed to board the ship. As a bonus, you get enjoy the refreshment served onboard while the rest sweat it out in the queue. Likewise on the last day, no need to rush with the crowd to get off the ship. Squeeze every moment on board and take your time to disembark. As long as you get off the ship within the stipulated time you are good.
Manage your own luggage or pack a carry-on bag
When you check onto a ship, there are hundreds if not thousands of people checking in at the same time. It stands to reason it will take some time for your luggage to be delivered to your cabin. Pack light so that you can manage your own luggage. If you plan to check-in your luggage, pack a small carry-on bag with the essentials for your first few hours onboard the ship. Include your swimwear and sunscreen if you want to immediately jump in the pool or soak in the sun without having to wait for your other luggage.
Switch off the mobile roaming when at sea
If you don’t want to be hit by a huge bill at the end of your vacation, remember to switch off your mobile’s data roaming. Once your ship sails into international waters, the Cellular At Sea network turns on and you will automatically connect to it. Ship roaming rates will apply and it is expansive. Your safest bet is to set your phone to airplane mode. If you must get connected, do enquire for the Wi-Fi package onboard. Otherwise, just unplug and enjoy the cruise.
Pack a universal adapter
Although you are on vacation, you may not want to entirely withdraw from using electrical devices. You got to power up that camera to take the vacation pictures. Different ships run on different power output, so be sure to pack a universal adapter and bring your charging cables with you.
Find your way on-board
Ocean cruise ships are huge, you can easily get lost and waste time looking for the various facilities. Once you get onboard, check out the ship’s layout plan to acquaint yourself with the ships features and attractions. Mark out the location of places that you are likely to visit often like restaurants, theatre, and swimming pool for easy navigation around the ship.
Pace yourself
When it comes to onboard activities the options available can be overwhelming – shows, bands, movies, dance classes, gym time, swimming. Some cruises even offer activities that rival amusement parks like giant waterslide, ice skating, wall-climbing, the possibilities are endless. Before you exhaust yourself trying to fit in all activities, grab hold of the ship’s daily newsletter or bulletin with the scheduled activities and programs. Mark your top choices and have a plan of what you want to do or experience for the day. You don’t want to take another holiday to get over your cruise vacation.
Plan your shore excursions in advance
Most cruise packages do not include shore excursions. Do your own research on the ports of call on your itinerary and plan ahead to get the most out of your vacation budget. Prior to departure, get hold of the list of shore excursions for your cruise and review the options. At some ports, the town is within walking distance. You can take in a free and easy walk around town or hop on to the local transport. Be warned though, allow for enough time to get back onboard the ship before the last boarding call.
Stay on the ship at port of call
You don’t have to disembark at every port! There are plenty to do onboard. On port days, most of the facilities and amenities stay open. That is the perfect time for a leisurely swim in the pool or just chill on the deck without the usual throng of people. This is the time to soak in the Jacuzzi without having ten other people crowding in the tub.
Be aware of different time zones
When you sail into ports of a different country, the time zone may differ from the ships’ clock. So make sure you check for the correct time. If you disembark for shore excursions, remember to take note of the boarding time in the correct time zone. Don’t be late, the ship won’t wait.
Bring your medication
There is usually a small clinic onboard every ship to cater for emergency medical needs. But do pack sufficient medication that you need for the entire trip. There are days when the cruises are at sea and it will be impossible to get additional supplies. The huge ocean liners are generally quite stable, however if the ship is caught in stormy weather, the sea can get quite rough. If you require motion sickness pills to fight seasickness, request for it at the reception desk, the clinic onboard can also dispense it. Better still, pack some in your bag to ensure you have it on hand when you need it.
Buy travel insurance
While nobody likes to think that bad things will happen while you are on vacation, the reality is, accidents, cancellations and medical emergencies can occur on your dream trip. So, unless you are cruising domestically and your normal insurance covers for emergencies, it is always advisable to purchase a travel insurance that covers your trip. To be absolutely clear, the vast majority of cruises go off without a hitch. But still, insurance protection gives you a little peace of mind and not having to worry just in case something does go wrong.
There you go, 12 tips to prepare you for your first cruise. Even if you don’t remember any of the tips, just chill and enjoy yourself. Remember, a bad day on a cruise is still better than a good day at work!