Planning for and going on your first cruise is so exciting! We have been in your shoes and have a few tips for first-time cruisers we wish we had known before our first cruise. You will have fun no matter what, but a little bit of planning and research will help you start enjoying the trip even faster!
Skip the short 3 or 4-day cruises 5 to 7 days is the sweet spot
Starting with a shorter cruise seems logical, but this is a misstep. Most of the preparation for a cruise takes the same amount of effort, no matter how long the trip is. You will spend the same amount of time packing, getting to the port, and booking a 7-day cruise as a 3-day cruise. It also takes everybody a day or two to get into cruise mode once you are on the ship. On a short cruise, you are just starting to enjoy yourself, and it is time to get off the ship.
Plan on arriving the day before your cruise
Start your trip off the right way by staying near the port the day before your cruise departs. This allows you some extra time if things go wrong during your travel. Flights can be delayed for a variety of reasons that you can’t control. Take some stress away by giving yourself a margin of error. Even if everything goes according to plan, it is a better way to start your trip. You will be relaxed and not in a hurry to get to the port on departure day. This first time cruiser tip is a two-for-one! By staying closer to the Port, you can select the earliest available Port arrival time and get your cruise vacation started even earlier.
Check-in as early as possible
You will want to check in at the earliest opportunity. Checking in usually involves picking a port arrival time, payment information, and citizenship documents. Your cruise line will tell you when the check-in window opens, and you will want to check in first thing on that date. This will give you the most flexibility in picking a port arrival time; we like to take the earliest available. It also allows you to book shows and events on the app for specific ships and sailings. It is always best to book ahead of time when it is available. Don’t let this make you feel locked into anything though. Changing is always an option as you better understand your other priorities.
Don’t forget to include the extra costs in your budget
Knowing what to include in your budget can help avoid some last-minute sticker shock. Make sure you budget for cruise terminal parking or transportation. A pre-cruise hotel stay should be a budget consideration too. Hotels can be a significant expense depending on which port you are sailing from. You will also want to know what your bill will be at the end of the cruise. If you haven’t pre-paid for gratuities, you will want to know how much of a charge to expect with those. We like to budget for drinks and souvenirs too so there are no surprises at the end.
Check airfare and hotels before you book the cruise
It is possible to find an excellent cruise deal and later find that airfare and hotels near the port are far more expensive than expected. Many major cruise terminals are located near cities with large events that can cause the prices of hotels and travel to soar but cruise fares to drop. It is not uncommon for airfare to exceed the cruise cost in these circumstances. You will want to check this before putting down a cruise deposit. Once your deposit is paid, making changes is harder and potentially costly.
Buy travel insurance but not from the cruise line
Travel insurance is essential for every cruise vacation. From a medical emergency on the trip to an unforeseen circumstance at home, travel insurance can save you from a costly, unexpected bill. Skip the travel insurance offered at the time of booking by your cruise line though. Travel insurance purchased separately through a service like tripinsurance.com can get you better coverage for the same money. More importantly, it can cover your flight and pre/post-cruise hotel stay. Policies sold by the cruise line rarely include coverage for anything other than the cruise itself.
Research the ship before you get on it
Cruise ships, even small ones, can be overwhelming with things to do and see. Get ahead of everyone else by considering your priorities before you board the ship. That way, you don’t have to waste precious vacation time figuring out what to do. Check out YouTube and see if you can find a ship tour or a travel vlog from your ship so you can get an idea of what to expect. If you are traveling with others, know their priorities too. While you still might not have time to get to everything, you will be less likely to miss something important. The trip will go by faster than you think!
Pack your carry-on bag for success
You will have to live without your main checked luggage for the first several hours of your cruise. We pack quite a bit in our carry-on bag for this reason. That includes bathing suits, wine [depending on the cruise line policy,] toiletries, door decorations, documents, sunblock, hats, and chargers. Carrying on these items allows us more flexibility in the first few hours. Since we have our bathing suits, going to the pool right after lunch is an option if we choose it. We also enjoy getting our stateroom door decorations put up as soon as we get to the room.
The crew is really what makes cruising special
We quickly realized that the service offered by the crew was the real magic of cruising. Ultimately, the ship is just a hunk of floating steel. The crew is what breathes life into it. Taking a moment to get to know the crew you interact with the most can help take your vacation to the next level. We have always loved hearing about where they are from and their families. As a bonus, you might even get a better level of service as they get to know you better too.
Try all the different included food options
Make sure you research which food venues are included in your cruise and try each of them. I recommend not paying extra for specialty restaurants on your first cruise. Check out the included food first, and book the specialty dining on the next trip! Don’t forget that the Main Dining Room is usually open for breakfast. This is a more relaxing option than the buffet and has similar options. Sea day lunch in the Main Dining Room is also a pleasant and comfortable change of pace from the buffet or poolside counter service locations.
Don’t feel like you must do everything in one trip
This tip for first-time cruisers might be the hardest to follow! Pace yourself and enjoy each part of your vacation rather than just thinking about the next thing to rush off to. Trying to cram every activity and venue on the first day can be tempting. Fight that urge. If you miss something, don’t worry; it is something to look forward to next time. Every trip will have things that get missed, and there is no sense in dwelling on the negative. Each day, plan what your priorities are to see and focus on those few things first.
Following these tips will help you get the most out of your trip. But don’t worry, you will have fun no matter what. Try and go with the flow, and if [more like when] something doesn’t go according to plan, don’t worry about it. That will be your signal to move on to the next thing and make the best of it.
We love to hear your feedback. Make sure to add a comment below with a tip for first-time cruisers that we missed.
