12 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Cruise
Take half as many clothes as you think you will need
Many people say you should pack your suitcase and then remove half of the clothes you packed. Taken literally that is a terrible idea. If you follow those instructions its likely you’ll get on board only to find out the half you brought along contains only socks and underwear. A more practical piece of advice is to pack with versatility in mind. The truth is there is no reason to stress about your wardrobe, no one cares. The best packers among us are those who find a way to get multiple uses out of just a few components of apparel, its what we all should strive for (especially since airlines now charge for extra baggage).
Take twice as much money as you think you will need
We are all led to believe cruise vacations are these super affordable getaways. This is only partially true. The truth is while cruise vacations can be extremely affordable there are temptations lurking around every corner. Not only are the ports you will be visiting set up to suck your wallet dry but the ships also have a lot of very nice add on services that can add a lot to the bottom line. Plan accordingly, the worst case scenario is you come home with a pocket full of money.
You don’t have to do something at every port
Many first time cruisers think you have to get off the ship and find something to do at every port. The truth is the ship takes on a completely different feel during port days. The atmosphere is a lot more subdued and relaxing and many things like spa treatments are on sale. Instead of getting off the ship and spending money this can be a great opportunity to stay on board and save (relatively speaking).
Bring Wine to Drink in your cabin
If you are like me, you enjoy having a drink while you ready yourself for dinner. The problem is getting a drink in your room is not always the simplest of tasks. These days I just bring my own wine. Just beware some lines allow you to carry on a reasonable amount of wine while some don’t, make sure you know the difference and plan accordingly (wink wink rum runner’s).
Pack a swimsuit and clothes for the first night in a carry on
In a perfect world all of your baggage arrives to your stateroom long before its time to head to dinner. However, in the world we cruise in sometimes your luggage doesn’t make it to your stateroom until late into the evening. Also, if you are like me and you like to hit the pool shortly after boarding, there is almost no chance you will retrieve your bathing suit unless you already have it with you. Truthfully, these days I just come to check-in already dressed to hit the pool.
Ship sponsored shore excursions are expensive
While cruises can be great bargains shore excursions could probably be considered the opposite. You can check the cruise lines website to find out what excursions are being offered, over half the time you can find those same excursions offered directly from the provider at nearly half the cost. If you are the adventurous sort you can save a ton of money by taking independent shore excursions.
You can order as much food as you want in the main dining room
Many people don’t realize until further in the cruise that you can order anything you want in the dining room. When I say order anything I mean you can try everything on the menu, all you have to do is ask. Additionally you can have any combination of items that you wish, such as 3 appetizers and no main course or 2 mains and 2 appetizers. Your selection is only limited by your imagination and the amount of holes you have on your belt.
Inside cabins are just fine and also a lot more affordable
My first cruise I had a balcony, and I loved it. On my second I had an inside cabin and it felt like a closet. These days (now that I am over the shock) I usually book inside cabins. While I do find balcony staterooms nice (occasionally) to me they are unnecessary and in a lot of circumstances over priced. I hardly ever use the balcony and absolutely hate it when I’m out there trying to enjoy a romantic evening which constantly gets interrupted by kids looking around the partition. Inside cabins give you the same exact cruise for a lot cheaper price, save the balcony for special occasions.
The no children in the adult hot tub rule is more like a suggestion than a rule
To put it bluntly, parents do a crappy job controlling their children on cruise ships. I can not count how many times I sat relaxing in the adult only hot tub only to be cannonball splashed by some little brat who’s parents happened to be sharing the same hot tub. Sometimes the cruise ship staff will enforce the rules but mostly they don’t want to upset the parents so they too turn a blind eye. Although if you complain to someone the staff will usually make things right.
Talk to the crew every chance you get
At first I wasn’t sure how to conduct myself around the staff. I thought it was best to keep things professional, they are the staff and I am the passenger. I could not have been more wrong. I think by now I have been on enough cruises that I can say most of my favorite people I have met on cruises happen to work for the cruise lines. Not only is it the most diverse group of people you will ever encounter in one place but also some of the nicest and funniest.
Bring a power strip there are never enough available outlets on cruise ships
This tip doesn’t really hit home with me since the most I ever have to plug in is a cell phone. However, my girlfriend must lead a secret life as inspector gadget because she always has what seems like dozens of items that need plugged in. Unless you want to find your cell phone unplugged and uncharged at the end of the cruise do yourself a favor, if you are traveling with a gadget-aholic bring along a power strip.
For a stress free cruise fly in the day before you are scheduled to leave
Certain times of year flying into your port of departure should be mandatory but even when its not bad weather season you should take the opportunity to fly in early. Nothing reduces the stress of taking a cruise vacation like arriving at a hotel minutes away from the ship the day before you leave. Arriving early not only allows you to get a good night sleep before you begin your cruise but also gives you extra time in case your luggage arrives late. At only the cost of a pre-cruise hotel stay flying in early is the cheapest insurance one can buy.
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