The Newbies Guide to What to do After You Board the Cruise Ship

The stressful part of your cruise vacation is over.  You have paid for your cruise, made the (sometimes) long trek, and sat through check in.  Finally, you are onboard the ship and leaving the port.  Now what should you do?

• Check out the ship – Cruise ships are huge.  Sometimes it takes a while to learn the layout of your cruise ship.  It will pay off in the long run if you take some time to walk the ship and familiarize yourself with its layout.  I also take this opportunity to sneak a peek into the rooms that I couldn’t afford to book.
• Unpack your bags -- Unpacking is one of the more unpleasant parts of the cruise experience.  However, since it is the only time during your vacation (until you have to repack) you will have to work, you might as well get it out of the way as soon as possible.  You should also take this opportunity to secure all of your valuables in the safe the cruise ship provides in each room
• Order shore excursions -- On the rare occasion where I actually take a ship sponsored shore excursion I like to make my reservations as soon as possible.  Sometimes this means I can book an excursion before I leave home but when that isn’t possible, I make sure to book them as soon as I board the ship.  Some of the more popular excursions may fill up so I like to make sure I get my name on the list right away.
• Make sure your dinner arrangements are set -- When you first board you can go to your assigned dining room and check out your table location, to make sure it is acceptable.  If you are dissatisfied, you can usually have it changed to another location.  You can also change other aspects of your dining preferences such as dining time and table size at this time.  All you have to do is talk to the Maitre D’ and they will be happy to accommodate you.  I also choose this time to set up my dining times in the specialty restaurants.  Usually you can make these reservations through an automated system but different cruise lines have different methods, so check with them.
• Meet your cabin steward -- Your cabin steward can be your best friend or biggest nemesis onboard the cruise ship, even worst than those people who save seats at the pool.  They will be doing their best to make a good first impression upon you but friendliness should be a two way street if you hope to get the best possible service.  Take a few minutes to engage them, get to know them, ask questions and give any requests at this time (like if you want extra towels or when to fill your ice bucket).  While some people advocate slipping them a twenty I believe that a friendly demeanor and genuine conversation get you a whole lot further.

Related posts:

1. Shore Excursions: Independent or Ship Sponsored?
2. The Basics of Shore Excursions
3. My Personal Reasons to Book A Cruise Early
4. Ten No Effort Ways to Save Money Onboard a Cruise Ship
5. Additional Costs of Cruise Vacations

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