These are our best cruise tips to help you have a fantastic vacation from start to finish! Being prepared will help you make the most of your vacation, so read on for the inside scoop on cruising.
Tip #1: Tip the Luggage Porter
When you arrive at the port one of the first people you will meet is a luggage porter. The porter will take your checked luggage, which will be delivered to your stateroom later in the afternoon.
One cruise tip we swear by is tip the porter!
Luggage will generally be delivered anywhere between 1pm and 6pm on embarkation day. We’ve found that tipping generally ensures our bags are delivered early in the afternoon.
Tip #2: Only Carry-on an Essentials Bag
On the subject of checking luggage, we suggest checking as much as possible. Anything not checked will have to be carried on and toted around while you wait for your room to be ready. Lugging a suitcase while trying to navigate the lido buffett line is not something we recommend!
When you board the ship you’ll find that lunch is being served, the bars are open (if you’re so inclined), and you are able to start vacationing right away. Your room won’t be ready until early afternoon, so you may as well scope out a good spot and start enjoying yourself without the hassle of lots of luggage.
Your best bet is to only carry-on a small daypack, something like a beach bag or small backpack. Make sure to have anything you need for a fun first day aboard; identification and credit cards for check-in, sunscreen, medications, and if you are hitting the pool you’ll of course need your bathing suit and flip flops!
Tip#3: Research Before You Go
Before booking your cruise you probably did a lot of research to find the best cruise for your needs. We suggest continuing to research, even after you book.
In addition to the reviews of the ship you may have read prior to making your reservation, Facebook Groups are a wealth of information. We suggest joining facebook groups both for your ship and the specific sailing you are on.
These are great forums to not only ask questions, but read everyone else’s questions and answers. The ship specific group will have information on everything from parking at the port, when Formal Night happens, if there are any special events planned (think 80’s deck party, white night, etc), and lots more.
The sailing specific groups can be a great way to get to know some of your upcoming cruise mates. Often fellow cruisers will organize pub-crawls and meet and greets for anyone who is interested during the cruise. There can also be a lot of information about the ship here as well, especially if any of the ship’s frequent guests are sailing.
Tip #4: Investigate the Extras
While the initial cost of your cruise includes food, non-alcoholic beverages and entertainment aboard the ship there are other extras you might consider purchasing.
One of the biggest costs to consider is the Drink Package. Some cruise lines offer fares that include the drink package while others offer this at an additional cost. We suggest doing some math to determine whether or not it makes sense for you to purchase the drink package or pay as you go on the ship.
Most packages include a set amount of alcoholic drinks per day. Most drinks aboard a cruise ship are anywhere from $9.50 - $12 each. When you divide the daily cost of the package by the average cost of a drink you’ll have an idea of how many drinks you’d need to consume to break even or save money with the package. This will give you a baseline to determine if a drink package is the right direction to go.
Keep in mind that generally cruise lines will require all adults 21 and over in a cabin to purchase the drink package. They also charge the gratuities up front when you purchase the package, so don’t be surprised to see that extra charge when you get to the check-out screen.
Gratuities are another charge that can either be pre-paid or will be charged to your onboard account during your cruise. These charges are generally about $15 per person, per day and go towards your room steward, dining staff, and others who work to make your cruise wonderful. If you prefer to tip in cash you can visit the Guest Services desk aboard the ship to have the charges removed after they have posted to your onboard account.
Most dining and entertainment is included in your cruise fare, but if you want to visit one of the ships specialty restaurants, the casino or do any duty-free shopping aboard that will be an additional fee. There is generally an art auction on most cruises as well and while the champagne there may be free, the art certainly isn’t.
Lastly, you may decide to purchase excursions to embark on at your ports of call or do some shopping or local dining while off the ship. We recommend purchasing excursions ahead of time and always being alert when out and about in a foreign country. And of course, don’t be late returning to the ship because they will not wait for you!
Tip #5: Complete the Post-Cruise Survey
In addition to gratuities, completing the post-cruise survey can be very beneficial to the staff on the ship.
Within a week or so of disembarkation the cruise line will email you an in-depth survey to gather your thoughts on your recent cruise. You’ll have the opportunity to share feedback (positive and negative) on everything from dining to entertainment to the staff that served you.
If there were staff members that went above and beyond it’s helpful to them to shout them out in the survey by name. If you develop a rapport with a staff member they may ask you to remember them in the survey towards the end of the cruise, since it’s so important to their career advancement. The cruise lines use this survey data in determining staff promotions, schedules and pay. We always jot down the names of the bartenders and waitstaff who helped make our trip memorable and let the cruise line know how great they were!
Bonus Tip: Enjoy Yourself!
This may seem like an obvious cruise tip, but staying in the moment and enjoying yourself is key to having a great vacation. Try not to get overwhelmed with details and concerns or keeping too tight a schedule. Almost everywhere you look there will be an amazing ocean view, more food than you can eat, bars, entertainment and fellow fun-loving cruisers to have fun with. Come aboard knowing what you’re interested in on the ship and start your vacation right away to maximize your vacation time and investment.
Happy cruising!
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