Are you in need of some serious pro tips for your first cruise? You’ve come to the right place. Welcome to the world of cruising! In this post, I’ll share some important tips for new cruisers to make your first cruise smooth sailing.
You’ve made an excellent choice for your next vacation. Whether you are traveling solo, as a couple, with friends, or as a family, there is something for everyone on a cruise vacation.
Cruising, however, is different than other forms of vacation. If you’re used to a resort or Airbnb at the beach… or road trips to state parks, you may feel overwhelmed with learning all the ins and outs of cruising.
Fear not, new cruiser! I’ve got you!
I am here to help. Get ready for a vacation with endless entertainment, no cooking or cleaning, and the ability to see new destinations and unpack once! Let’s get you ready to cruise.
Related Posts: If you haven’t booked your cruise yet, read 10 Steps to Planning a Cruise first. Another article full of info for new cruisers is 25 Questions Asked by New Cruisers.
Pro Tips for New Cruisers!
1. Passport –
Cruising is an international travel experience. Many people will tell you a passport is unnecessary but hear this cautionary tale. They are technically correct for closed-loop cruises starting and ending in the United States. However, I can give you a dozen reasons why having a passport instead of just using a birth certificate when cruising is the way to go.
While cruising is an excellent value, it’s still a significant expense. Don’t let the passport fee keep you from making the safest travel choice. A passport ensures that you can return home separately from the cruise if there is an emergency.
Pro Tip: Plan ahead and get your passport!
2. Travel Insurance –
Since you are a savvy traveler and securing a passport, we should discuss travel insurance next. Like with all insurance in life, you don’t need it 99% of the time but oh boy, that 1%. The average cost of a Medivac helicopter ride is ….. Ok, so you’re young and healthy. No chance you’ll need a medivac. How about if you have appendicitis while on the beach in St. Maarten? You’ll stay at that hospital in St. Martin while the cruise continues without you. (Did you catch that reason to have that passport – you’ll need it to fly home). While coverage directly from the cruise line is super convenient, it may not provide the most comprehensive coverage, so be sure and check around with accredited sites such as insuremytrip.com and allianztravel.com
Pro Tip: Research the best plan for you and your family and include the cost in your cruise budget.
3. Plan, but don’t over-plan.
In other words, there is no need for your vacation to turn stressful. You will have opportunities to plan for your cruise experience ahead of time. The cruise line will offer excursions in all your ports of call and many onboard experiences. The available experiences run the gamut from island tours, beach days to a wine tasting or a class learning to make sushi.
Your pre-cruise online planner is a great place to start and get ideas for the onboard activities and options in ports of call – more on that below.
Pro Tip: Budget for your “extras” and purchase before your cruise. If you plan to purchase a beverage package, dining package, or internet, it will likely be less expensive than making these purchases onboard.
4. Packing for your first cruise
There is a saying when it comes to packing, especially cruise packing. Lay everything out that you plan to pack, and then put back half of it. That may be true for some, but it depends on your general packing style. Do you like to pack light or cover every possible scenario and have options?
There is loads of information online with helpful tips for packing for a cruise. I have a few myself and they can be pretty beneficial. However, I will stress that you should pack and plan to dress to your comfort level and style. If you are the type of person that loves to get dressed up for a night on the town, do that! Or, if this is just your special occasion and you want to take the opportunity to dress up, do it! You will not be alone.
If you want a casual and relaxing vacation and don’t wish to pack high heels and jewelry, that’s ok, too!
Cruiseline dress codes have become more of a suggestion than enforced rules. Personally, my family loves this! My husband is so happy not to wear a tie and jacket to dinner. Unless it’s a formal night or “dress your best night,” he will wear slacks, a polo, or even nice golf shorts and a collared shirt. No matter the dress code, we are always clean and presentable for dinner. I find that to be more of a self-respect thing than a “rule” thing.
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5. Budgeting tips for new cruisers
Ok, your cruise is booked, but that’s not the end of your vacation budget. There are indeed “extras” that you need to factor into your budget. Consider your essential extras and factor those in when choosing a cruise. Will you need to fly to your embarkation port? Will you benefit from an internet, alcohol or specialty dining package? Is it a port-intensive itinerary leading to excursion costs for tours, etc.?
These extras of cruising can impact your overall budget.
6. Your Cruise Cabin
Yes, cruise cabins are small. Unless you book a Grand Suite, you’ll likely want to do a little cabin prep to optimize your personal space for your cruise vacation. A few inexpensive extras, such as a pop-up hamper and strong magnetic hooks, can make a huge difference.
Check out my Cruise Cabin Prep Kit post to set up your cruise cabin.
Pro Tip: The cabin walls are metal. Magnetic hooks allow you to hang up hats, towels, and beach bags. Hang heavier items from the ceiling; the magnets will have a stronger hold.
7. Drinks Anyone?
Cocktails on a cruise can average between $12-16 (typically). Top-shelf liquors can be even higher, and beer and specialty coffees will be lower. I use a rule of 5 when deciding to purchase the drink package. If you plan to drink at least five cocktails daily, the drink package is generally a cost savings. There is also some comfort in knowing that regardless of how much you indulge, you will not have a large bill at the end of your trip.
Do you plan on buying the drink package? If so, buy it as early as possible at a price you can live with. It’s a more consistent price on some cruise lines, like Carnival. On other lines like Royal Caribbean, the price varies based on the sailing, demand, and current “sales offers.”
If you are sailing on a line with a variable price, buy it at your first sale opportunity. Then, note the price per day (not the sale percentage). If the price drops lower during a future sale, cancel your purchase and re-purchase at the lower price!
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8. Online Check-in
You will be alerted by the cruise line or your travel agent when it’s time to complete your online check-in. During this time, you provide passport details, possibly take a selfie security photo, and set up your onboard payment account. Following this process, you will receive your boarding documents. Print out your boarding pass and luggage tags, which may be sent separately.
9. Embarkation Day
Pack your patience! It’s the first day of your cruise and an exciting one. CRUISE DAY!
Arrive at the cruise terminal at your assigned arrival window. Make sure that your bags are tagged with the provided tags mentioned above. If you are flying to your cruise port, do not place your cruise luggage tags on your luggage until after your flight. In ADDITION to your cruise line-provided tag, please ensure you also have your ID tag on your luggage.
Porters can take your large tagged luggage to load onto the ship. Your luggage will be delivered to your cabin (or in the hallway near your room) later. You should be prepared to tip the porter $1-$2 per bag for this service.
Pro Tip: The pools will be less crowded today, so pack your bathing suit and sunscreen in your carry-on. What else should you pack in your “embarkation day bag“?
10. Kids onboard
Yay! You’re bringing your kids on a wonderful family vacation. There will be so much for them to do on and off the ship. Based on their age, they may want to participate in the kids/teen programming available on board. It’s a good idea to check out the program on embarkation day. Let them try it out early to make new friends and plan for the activities that interest them most.
If you are traveling with teenagers, a cruise can be an excellent opportunity to build their independence and explore independently. Remember there are a few “hot buttons” for your fellow passengers. The biggest complaints from other cruisers about free-range teens are: Letting doors slam (including cruise cabins), hanging out on the stairs so that others have a difficult time passing and running/being loud in cabin halls.
Related Post: Mom Rules for Kids on a Cruise
11. Port Day Tips for New Cruisers
Port days can be a little confusing for new cruisers. You’ll hear things like “ship time” vs. “local time.” Guaranteed Ship Return and warnings that the ship will NOT wait for you if you do not return on time. When planning your day, should you stick with cruise line-sponsored and organized activities, explore on your own or contact a local tour company? There is no strict rule for this, and it should be based on your comfort level. Many new cruisers feel more comfortable booking their excursions through the cruise line. As their comfort level grows, so does their interest in making plans independently.
Some seasoned cruisers will still opt to book through the cruise line for peace of mind or if they are traveling to a new region such as Europe or Alaska. I also look at the travel time involved. For example, we have been to the Caribbean many times, but when we want to schedule Chacchoben Mayan Ruins Tour near Costa Maya. We booked through the cruise line because the ruins were over an hour each way from the cruise port, and I wanted a ship return guarantee.
In these articles, you can find additional tips for planning your port days and when you should book through the cruise line.
Pro Tip for a frequently asked question: When cruising in the Caribbean, U.S. dollars are widely accepted, and you do not need to bring your passport off of the ship with you (unless you feel more comfortable doing so); In most cases, your state-issued ID and cruise card is sufficient.
12. Gratuities and “The Survey”
There is another important difference between cruising and land vacations, and that is how gratuities are handled. Cruises operate on a “cashless” system. Meaning, you will use your cruise card to make purchases while onboard. You add a credit card to your account during check-in, and you will be billed for any charges at the end of your trip. This includes gratuities. While you can pre-pay your gratuities (and some cruise lines include them in a fare package) and pay them along with your cruise fare, typically, daily, per-person gratuities will be added to your onboard account. I always pre-pay my gratuities, so I do not have the daily charge on my account.
In addition to your automatic gratuities, some cruisers like to have small bills on hand to give a little extra to a favorite bartender, room steward, or dining staff that made their trip special.
Survey: You may hear staff mentioning a survey toward the end of your cruise. This survey is typically emailed to you following your cruise. This survey allows you to rate various parts of your cruise and name any crew member that stood out to you as exceptional. This survey is quite important and is used to help crew members receive promotions and other opportunities.
Pro Tip: If you meet a special staff member, take a picture of their card or name tag so that you can highlight them on your post-cruise survey.
13. Packing up and disembarkation
What other vacation experience has you put your luggage in the hall? Cruising! I know it sounds a bit crazy, but it’s a system that works. You’ll provide your departure details to the cruise line and they will assign you a departure group. On the last night of your cruise, pack up your belongings (EXCEPT medication, necessary clothes, and toiletries for the next morning) and place your tagged bags in the hall. Crew members store your bags, which will be picked up by you (organized by group number) in the cruise terminal/customs area. This process allows for less congestion and for bags to be unloaded in an organized manner.
Pro Tip: Make sure you have a personal ID tag in addition to the cruise line number tag on your bag, just in case one tag gets damaged.
Alternatively, you may select to keep your bags and carry them off of the ship at your departure time. This is an excellent option for carry-on-only cruisers. If you have large checked bags, it can be more trouble than it’s worth. Think of lugging your large suitcase up or down flights of stairs and keeping it with you while you wait to exit the ship.
BONUS: Next Cruise
So what happens if you fall in love with cruising and want to take advantage of an onboard promotion to book another cruise? It’s highly likely! Not to worry, I have tips for this, too.
Cruise lines often offer incentives for booking your next cruise while you’re onboard. This may be a reduced deposit or varying amounts of onboard credit. Both are great! There are two tips for you to keep in mind.
Pro Tips: Avoid waiting until the last day of your cruise to take advantage of the offer. The next cruise area will likely be packed on the last day, and it could make for a stressful experience. The “Next Cruise” area will be much more manageable mid-way through your cruise.
If you find yourself in a last-minute situation, check to see if there is an option to fill out a form noting that you want to take advantage of the offer but haven’t decided on a specific sailing. This allows you to “hold” the offer, but you have a limited time to convert it to an official booking when you get home.
Additionally, it is important to note that if you booked your current cruise with a travel advisor, your new booking will also be linked to them. It’s a good idea to call or send your travel advisor a note when you get home letting them know that you booked onboard. This allows them to follow up on your booking, get you important documentation, and follow through with it.
Conclusion: Top Tips for New Cruisers
I hope these tips have helped as you prepare for your cruise. Cruises are a vacation for singles, couples, families, and friends. There are so many ports of call worldwide to enjoy and explore. If you found these tips helpful, I do hope you will share it with others either by saving the PIN below or sharing on Facebook.
Remember to pack your patience and enjoy the journey.
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