1- Don’t Wait To Book The
Cruise
Avoid Overthinking About Booking; Just Go To The
Relevant Cruise Website And Book The Cruise.
But Why? During The Peak Seasons, The Cruise Tickets
Sell Like Hotcakes. Considering The Cruise Cabin Availability And Fare Prices,
You Must Book The Cruise As Soon As Possible.
The Immediate Booking Also Gives Peace Of Mind; Once
The Cruise Is Booked, You Can Head Over To The Next Important Chores Like Shore
Excursions And Packing.
2- Consider Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance Covers A Lot Of Things That Can
Benefit You Later. Traveling Is An Unexpected Experience; Anything Can Happen
Anytime. That’s Why It’s Important To Secure Your Voyage Via Travel
Insurance.
Travel Insurance Can Help You In Several
Circumstances Like Cruise Cancellation, Medical Help, Trip Interruption, Lost
Baggage, And Travel Delays, And Most Importantly, It Will Give You Peace Of
Mind.
So, If You’re Tracking A Cruise For The First Time, I
Recommend You Get The Best Travel Insurance To Secure Your Journey.
3- Choose The Right Cabin Type
So, Choosing The Right Cabin Type Matters A Lot. I Know
Personal Preference Is Involved In It, But I Can Suggest Which Cruise Cabin
Type Is Best For You.
If You’re A Solo Traveler Or Have A Tight Budget,
The Lower Deck Rooms Are Recommended. Such Rooms Are In The Middle, Having No
Balconies. But It’s Fine For Solo People, And I Know You Guys Spend Most Of
Your Time Outside.
But If You’re With Family Or Have Kids, Always
Prefer To Book The Stateroom With Balconies.
The Balcony Room Will Reduce The Danger Of Motion
Sickness. Secondly, You Can Also Savor The Breathtaking Sea Vistas– And Yes,
It’s Worth It.
If You Want To Enjoy Your Travels Like A Royal
Personality, You Can Also Choose A Suit Option. Inclusive Suites Offer All
Amenities, Luxury, And Privacy. Everyone Dreams Of Booking The Suit, But It
Relies On Your Budget And Family Condition.
4- Don’t Forget To Book Port
Excursions
Most First-Time Cruises, Even Myself, Don’t Search
For The Ports Of Call. Cruise Stays At Different Ports Where You Can Take Part
In Port Excursions To Make Your Journey Unforgettable.
Always Map Out The Best Itinerary To Get The Best
Experience Of Your Life. I’m Proud To Say That I Never Let Any Opportunity In
Life Pass Me By; I Savor Each One To The Fullest. And You Have To Do The
Same.
Always Check The Time Of Stay At A Certain Port; If
You Know The Exact Time, It’s Easy To Plan The Excursions. I Know 3 – 4 Hours
Are Less To Explore The Traditions Of Any Country, But Still You Can Enjoy The
Local Food, And Do Some Shopping, Etc.
It Is Good To Know That You Can Even Independently
Book Shore Excursions If You Don’t Like Cruise Line Tours.
Here, You Can Book Pre-Shore Excursions At The Best
Prices.
5- Prepare Your
Essential
Packing For A Cruise Is One Of The Crucial Stages
Where Every Individual Does His Or Her Best To Satisfy Him/Herself.
I’m An Experienced Cruise, But Packing Cruise
Essentials Seems Exciting And Confusing. One Practical Tip Is To Avoid
Over-Packing Because, Later On, It Can Create Hurdles For You To Manage Your
Luggage.
Just Pack The Basics
- Firstly,
You Should Get An Estimate Of How Much Gratuities Cost Per Day. However,
The Shared Amount Depends On Your Stateroom Category. Still, Having An
Estimate Of Cost Will Let You Not Get Trapped.
- Look
For The Deserving Members If You Want To Pay Extra Gratuities. For Example,
The Cleaning Or Kitchen Staff.
- Generally,
You Have Two Options – Pay The Gratuities In Advance Or Wait For Onboard. Among
Both, We Prefer To Pay In Advance. This Way, You Can Add The Gratuity Cost
To The Fare And Get A Fare Estimate Of Pricing. You Will See A Few Cruise
Members Offering Gratuities Directly Whenever They See Fit. However, You
Should Not Do As You Want To Save The Cost. Conversely, You Should Give
Gratuities To Hardworking Members Only.
- Suppose
You Plan To Have Any Onboard Purchase – Like Spa, Salon, Beverages, Or
Mini Bar Items. A Gratuity Of 18% Is Sure To Add To The Cost.
- Tipping
To Each Crew Member Individually Is Also Not Recommended.
You Don’t Need To Put Your Entire Wardrobe In
Luggage.
My Husband And I Typically Pack 2 Or 3 Suitcases,
And They Easily Contain Everything We Need. You Should Also Consider The
Luggage Policy For Your Cruise Lines To Avoid Hassle, As Every Cruise Has
Various Luggage Limits.
6- Prepare All Documents &
Credit Cards
Ensuring You Have All The Necessary Documents Is
Even More Critical Than Packing Your Clothes. Like On A Few Ports, You Can
Enjoy Shore Excursions Without A Passport Or Visa.
Start By Double-Checking Your Passport Or Other
Identification Requirements For The Specific Cruise, And Make Sure They Are
Valid Throughout Your Trip.
Additionally, Have Copies Of Your Cruise
Reservation, Boarding Passes, And Any Necessary Visas Readily Available.
Organize Your Travel Insurance Documents And Ensure
You Have A Physical And Digital Copy. You Can Also Opt For A Dedicated Hand To
Carry All Your Documents.
Check This Leather Bar To Carry Documents.
Also, Top Up Your Credit Cards With Enough Cash To
Use At Ports. Don’t Forget To Keep Some Cash Because Few Cruise Lines Only
Accept Cash. Inform Your Bank About Your Travel Plans To Avoid Unexpected Card
Holds Abroad.
7- Consider Luggage Delivery
Services
Many Cruise Lines Offer Luggage Delivery Service;
Pick Up Your Luggage At The Airport And Safely Deliver It To Your Stateroom. This
Will Save Your Efforts And Also The Headache Of Carrying Bulky Luggage.
You Can Avail Of This Service By Contacting Your
Cruise Line; They Offer Delivery Service For Embarkation And Debarkation
Days.
Before Handing Over Your Luggage, Put Luggage
Tags On Them.
Tip: Don’t Hand Over
The Bag Containing Essential Documents To Delivery Services. I Recommend You
Purchase A Separate Hand Carry For All Your Documents.
8- Arrive Earlier At Port On
Embarkation Day
Nobody Wants To Find Themselves Stuck In Long Queues
On Embarkation Day. To Avoid Such A Scenario, Arriving At The Port Early Is
Wise.
Getting There Ahead Of The Rush Ensures You Won’t
Have To Contend With The Frustration Of Waiting In Long Lines. Instead, You Can
Smoothly Navigate The Check-In Process, Security, And Boarding.
After A Successful Check-In Process, You Can Manage
Your Stateroom And Enjoy Some Drinks Or Food Onboard.
Tip: I Suggest You
Fly At Least A Day Before Your Cruise. Because Flights Can Be Canceled Or
Delayed.
9- Know What’s Included In
Dining
Almost All Cruise Lines Offer Complimentary Dining
Options; Before Going To The Dining Room, Know About The Menu To Save
Time. Don’t Forget To Search For Other Specialty Restaurants Onboard
To Save Your Money. For Some Cruises, You Have To Pre-Book The Specialty
Dining; And Without Reservation, You Can’t Enter Into The Dining Room.
First-Timer Cruisers Often Feel Shy In The Dining
Room; Always Remember Nobody Will Judge Or Blame You For Overeating. You Can
Even Take Advantage Of Prime Food On Elegant Or Formal Nights.
10- Join The Welcome Show At
First Night
Even Though I Feel Tired On The First Night, I Always
Join The Welcome Show On The First Night, But The First Entertainment Show Will
Wash Away All My Weariness.
You’ll Get A Sneak Peek Of The Ship’s Entertainment
Offerings And A Chance To Meet The Cruise Director And Their Team. It’s An
Excellent Opportunity To Get A Feel For The Exciting Activities And Shows That
Await You Throughout Your Journey.
11- Beware Of Ongoing Parties &
Cruise Routine
Each Cruise Line Offers A Different Level Of
Entertainment And Parties. Once You Enter The Stateroom, A Guide Will Be There
On The Table, Helping You To Know When There Is A Formal Night And Special
Even On A Cruise.
Moreover, You Can Also Ask About Social Events From
The Cruise Crew; They Will Guide You Better. Don’t Be A Feather In The Wind
Hoping For Everything To Come Itself.
Communicate With Your Fellow Passengers And Crew;
They Will Also Tell You About Some Of The Best Cruise Activities.
Take A Good Look At The Cruise Routine, And Pay
Attention To When The Pool Gets Too Crowded. Avoid Those Peak Times If You
Prefer A More Peaceful Dip.
Keep An Eye On The Dining Room Schedule And The
Hustle And Bustle Of Diners. These Little Observations Will Help You Craft A
Stress-Free Cruise Experience Where You Can Savor Every Moment Without Hassle.
12- Don’t Forget To Try 24 Hour
Room Service
Yes! Room Service Is At The Top Of My Favorites
Bucket. Who Doesn’t Want To Enjoy A Special Meal In A Peaceful And More
Private Environment? I Usually Use Room Service And Savor The Food With A
Breathtaking Sea View From My Balcony.
Remember That Few Cruises Have Room Service Included
In The Fare, But You Have To Pay Additional Charges For Some Cruises. I Know
People Don’t Care About Prices When Craving A Late-Night Snack.
Whether You Want A Leisurely Breakfast In Bed Or
Simply Prefer Dining In The Comfort Of Your Stateroom, Room Service Is There To
Cater To Your Culinary Desires Around The Clock. First-Timer Cruisers
Usually Forget About This Service, But You Must Consider This Service If You’re
A Food Connoisseur.
13- Don’t Forget To Bring Your
Camera
Traveling Buddies Always Love To Capture The Adorned
Vista Of The Sea To Make Their Journey The Best Memorabilia. For The Best
Photography, You Should Opt For A Professional Lens. Along With Feasting Your
Eyes With Scenic Ocean Vistas, You Should Also Capture Them. When You’re
On The Port Of Call, Take Out Your Camera From Your Bag And Start Filming Your
Moments.
14- Avoid These Mistakes
First-Timers Often Don’t Carefully Read The Policies
And Regulations Of Cruise Lines And Make Any Big Blenders That Can Put Them In
Danger.
So Here Are Some Of My Practical Advice That You
Should Follow To Avoid Any Policy Violations.
- Firstly,
You Should Get An Estimate Of How Much Gratuities Cost Per Day. However,
The Shared Amount Depends On Your Stateroom Category. Still, Having An
Estimate Of Cost Will Let You Not Get Trapped.
- Look
For The Deserving Members If You Want To Pay Extra Gratuities. For Example,
The Cleaning Or Kitchen Staff.
- Generally,
You Have Two Options – Pay The Gratuities In Advance Or Wait For Onboard. Among
Both, We Prefer To Pay In Advance. This Way, You Can Add The Gratuity Cost
To The Fare And Get A Fare Estimate Of Pricing. You Will See A Few Cruise
Members Offering Gratuities Directly Whenever They See Fit. However, You
Should Not Do As You Want To Save The Cost. Conversely, You Should Give
Gratuities To Hardworking Members Only.
- Suppose
You Plan To Have Any Onboard Purchase – Like Spa, Salon, Beverages, Or
Mini Bar Items. A Gratuity Of 18% Is Sure To Add To The Cost.
- Tipping
To Each Crew Member Individually Is Also Not Recommended.
15- Take Advantage Of
Gym
The Gym Is Included In Cruise Fare, But Few Cruise
Lines Charge For It. Nonetheless, There Is Always A Fitness Center On Every
Cruise Where You Can Increase The Blood Flow And Reduce Stress.I Always Hit The
Gym On Every Cruise Voyage, So You Should, Too. Even Though Cruise Gyms
Are Not Like Your Professional Hometown Gym’, It’s Enough To Pump Your Muscles
And Stay Active.
16- Never Miss The All Aboard
Time
First-Timers Often Make The Mistake Of Not Following
The All-Aboard Time. Remember That Cruises Won’t Wait For You And Depart At
Their Specific Time. Missing The All Aboard Time Can Result In Unexpected
Expenses, Stress, And Even Finding Your Way To The Next Port. So Before
Starting Any Private Port Excursions, You Have To Check The All-Aboard Time And
Set The Alarm On Your Phone. Ensure Your Watch Or Device Matches The
Ship’s Time Zone, Which Can Vary Across Different Ports. Heeding This Rule Will
Safeguard Your Cruise Experience From Unnecessary Setbacks And Ensure You Never
Miss The Boat.
17- Currency In The
Ports
The Cruise Voyage Covers Several Countries, And You
Need A Different Currency For Each Country. However, If You’re Traveling
On A Caribbean Cruise Or Around North America, You Don’t Need To Exchange
Currency; The Dollar Is Acceptable All Around The American States. But If
Your Destinations Are European Countries Or Asia, You Must Carry Additional
Cash To Avoid Hassles. Even Though You Will Find A Currency Exchange Shop On
Every Port, Their Rates Are Too High. That’s Why Keeping Your Currency
Exchange While Sailing To Other Regions Is Better.
Essential Tips For First-Time Cruisers: Smooth Sailing By Zoe Grace
Reference From: https://cruiseshipmania.com/tips-for-first-time-cruisers/
