How to Cruise Like A Pro: 15 Tips for First Time Cruisers

Table Of Content

• How to Get From Rome Cruise Port To The Airport : Transferring from Civitavecchia Cruise Port to Rome Airports
• Worth It? Complete Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Drink Package Guide
• Book a guarantee cabin
• Always carry the ship's contact information with you
• What people don’t tell you before booking an Antarctic cruise
• Need First-Time Cruise Tips?
• Here are 20 great tips first-time cruisers need!
• What is The Cellular AT&T Cruise Package and Is It Worth It For Your Next Cruise?

There are some types of vacations — a beach trip, for instance — where you don't have to do much advance research. Most cruises aren't this way — at least if you want to get the most out of them. At the heart of most cruises are port calls that, in many cases, are very short — often just a few hours.

How to Get From Rome Cruise Port To The Airport : Transferring from Civitavecchia Cruise Port to Rome Airports

16 mistakes cruise ship passengers make on disembarkation day - The Points Guy

16 mistakes cruise ship passengers make on disembarkation day.

Posted: Sat, 27 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

If you want to be sure that you get a seat for a specific show on a specific night, or a specific tour or restaurant reservation time, it's a good idea to do this. It's not uncommon with some ships to find that some shows, tours and restaurant reservation times book up in advance. These ships often feature complimentary shore excursions, kayaks and bikes for guest use and onboard scientists and naturalists. Cash in Empty Travel Shampoo Bottle – Most cruise lines are a cashless experience. You put a credit card on file and then charge everything to your room including drinks, souvenirs, and optional dining.

Worth It? Complete Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Drink Package Guide

For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. In addition, average cruise prices are updated nightly. We'll send you the latest cruise updates daily to your inbox.

Book a guarantee cabin

From cruise door decorations, and the best entertainment, and to the most scrumptious dining options. Then we’ll tell you all about the amazing spa and beauty treatments right through to the crazy activities like zip-lining and rock climbing. I want to thank each contributor for sharing their personal cruise tips and advice. I hope you enjoyed reading the variety of tips and that some will be helpful to you as you’re planning your cruise.

Always carry the ship's contact information with you

Emma also a vibrant group of young and young at heart cruisers in her Facebook group. 1.Save money and travel more often by booking inside staterooms. People always bring too many pairs of shoes with them on a cruise and there is no need. For warm climate all you need are one pair of each; sports shoes, flip flops, ballet pumps, heels.

Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean all have extensive kids clubs aboard their ships that cater to all ages, from babies to teens. Little kids will adore meet-and-greets with beloved characters onboard Disney cruises, or hanging with Dr. Seuss characters when sailing with Carnival. Older kids will love the rock climbing walls, video game stations, sports courts, go-karts and laser tag on Royal Caribbean and NCL ships.

Need First-Time Cruise Tips?

Depending on your habits, investing in a beverage package can be one of the best cruise tips to follow. Most cruise lines let you bring 2 bottles of wine, along with a 12 pack of bottled water or pop. This can be a great way to save money, especially when pop is $3 a can. If you’re flying to and from your cruise ship, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t go over your luggage weight allowance. Typically, we buy a few souvenirs or extra t-shirts and your suitcase may weigh more than you think. An electronic travel luggage scale is a useful travel gadget to pack.

As much as we all love cruise food and tend to indulge, we all want to avoid too much weight gain on a cruise. Emma Cruises has an awesome course where she teaches this, and more. Keep your toiletries organized and out of the way by packing them in a hanging toiletry bag. Cruise bathroom space tends to be limited, so a hanging bag makes use of the vertical space on the bathroom door or cabin wall. There are many ways to use packing cubes to be organized as you pack for your cruise. While we're on the topic of signing up for activities, note that it's OK if you miss a few things.

As a perk for members, AARP has discounts on a lot of gift cards, including a number of cruise lines. This includes Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Celebrity. This is also the trip for a camera with good telephoto lenses and binoculars.

Bring permitted alcohol and/or mixers on board – Cruises are “all-inclusive” vacations. However there are a few areas where add-on’s can really add-up. A few glasses of wine here and a cocktail here and there can lead to a big bill at the end of your cruise vacation. Check out your ship’s alcohol policy before boarding and BYOBooze. Most cruise lines will allow for you to bring at least one bottle of wine onto the ship.

So I went down right when it opened, stood in line, and then told them I didn’t have a reservation and asked if they could seat me anyway. In other words, you normally have a massive amount of time even if you are delayed getting back. Add to that the fact that many ports in the Caribbean are relatively small, meaning most times you aren’t even that far from the ship. For people that have a fear of the ship leaving without them, it can be a major selling point. So it might sound funny, but for the vast majority of excursions, don’t let this influence your decision at all.

Part of the fun of the first day is exploring your new home, and a wise cruise tip from experienced sailors is to take a self-guided ship tour. This way, you’ll figure out where you want to sunbathe, eat, and relax, find classes you like the look of, and see the array of activities on offer in Camp at Sea. Today’s cruise ships today are like floating cities with tons of activities, venues and non-stop activities, visiting incredible destinations throughout the world. Water is safe to drink on the ship, however many people like to have refillable water bottles to keep hydrated throughout the day. This is especially important when leaving the ship on cruise port days and excursions.

Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. On cruise ships, there are often restaurants and activities included in the ticket price and some specialty restaurants that cost extra. When stopping at ports, you can also book excursions for an additional cost. If you’ve sailed with us through this guide, you’re now equipped with a treasure trove of first time cruise tips to make your cruise journey truly unforgettable. From the initial excitement of booking to the sweet nostalgia of post-cruise days, every phase of this adventure offers unique experiences and memories. Most big-ship and luxury cruise lines send at least one cruise ship to Alaska every summer.

If you are able to do so consider travelling out of peak season. School holidays are much busier than other times of year and are generally more expensive too. If you are looking for a bargain months like November and January can be great options. We have sailed with Carnival, Royal Caribbean but mostly with Princess Cruises.

And if you want a good seat, show up to the theater early, but sometimes I like to just show up a few minutes after it starts and grab a chair in the back once everyone is already seated. It’s less time just sitting around waiting for the show to start. I’ve sailed a lot and while connections seem like they are getting better and faster, it’s still very much hit and miss.