First Time Cruising

Things to Know for First-time Cruisers

 

Should my first cruise be a short cruise or a long cruise? 

Shorter 3 or 4 night cruises are cheaper and often “party boats” and tend to attract that type of crowd.  If this doesn’t bother you and you are not sure you will like a cruise, it’s definitely a good place to start. Longer cruises that cost more tend to weed out the “spring break” crowd and low budget partiers.  Not to say that those longer cruises aren’t fun.

­How early do I have to arrive to check in for the cruise?

Almost all cruise lines now offer web-based on line check in and guest registration. Be sure to complete this process at least 3 days prior to sailing.

Never arrive late to the pier; the cutoff time is generally 90 minutes prior to departure time and those arriving after 90 minutes may be left behind.  That’s not a fun way to start a vacation; and essentially end it, in one fell swoop. A good reason to get there early (other than not being left behind) is that most cruise lines give away freebies while still at the pier and the best way to get one of these freebies is to be there, holding out your hand, begging for one!  I’m sort of kidding, but you can’t get one if you aren’t there.

Am I required to pay gratuities/tips aboard the ship?

Some cruise lines automatically add a gratuities charge to your bill at the end of the cruise.  Typically it’s around 10.00 per guest per day. So figure 70.00 for each person traveling, even children. However, you can sometimes get them to waive this once on board by going to a guest relations desk and asking that you be allowed to tip when and where you want to.   You can also sometimes adjust this amount higher or lower as you see fit.

Other cruise lines consider tipping to be discretionary.  Check with the cruise line or your travel agent if tipping is added on to your bill.

Will I get sea sick?  How can I avoid it?

Today’s modern cruise ships are very different from the heaving ships of old.  They are very large and have stabilizing technology built in.  Even people prone to motion sickness in cars usually don’t get sink on these new ships. We recommend that you forgo the patches and motion sickness medicine. Once you are on the boat, if you feel that you just can’t go without it, there are on board medical centers with such treatment available. Sailors’ wristbands are reported to be effective at staving off motion sickness even after an onset unlike traditional drugs treatments. 

What is there to do on a ship?

One of the biggest complaints (if you can call it that) that travel agents hear from those coming back from a cruise is that even on a 7-night cruise they never had time to see and do everything  on the ship. 

The old adage of cruises consisting of eating and playing shuffleboard is long gone on today’s modern cruising marvels. But even if shuffle board was the only activity, I still say “Hey! You haven’t played shuffleboard until you’ve played it at sea!” But seriously, the cruise industry has been asking people for decades what they want at sea and believe me, it’s a wide demographic. The active sports minded person will find basketball, golf (and golf simulators), roller skating, rock climbing, and ice skating; just to mention a few activities.  There is plenty of variety of things to do for every different type of person.

Remember, you are on vacation and as I like to say, for your time on the ship, YOU’RE the boss!

You do as little or as much as you care to do. It’s a feeling of a whole new world and sense of wonderment immediately after your first foot sets onboard.  And you’re going to meet other passengers who feel the same way and make new friends.

What is the biggest advantage of a cruise over a regular vacation?

You only pack and unpack once.  Your hotel, restaurant and stateroom attendants all travel with you from one destination to another.  You can see numerous different cities and ports, even experience a number of different countries and instead of being behind the wheel of a car or waiting at another airport, you are enjoying a drink by the pool, a world-class meal or an extravagant show.

Will I feel crowded? 

Most modern cruise ships boast a large passenger carrying capacity so it’s natural to be concerned about feeling crowded. However, those same ships are HUGE and yes, you can find crowded areas of the ship, but just as easily you can find places to get away from the crowds and sip a beverage, read a book and just recharge your batteries.  

What sort of travel documentation do I need?

It’s the travelers’ responsibility to know what travel documents are required not only by the nation from the port you are embarking from but also the ports of call on your itinerary.  Contact your cruise line or travel for basic information. That being said, it is a good idea these days to have a passport whenever you are travelling out of your home country.

Those traveling under passports of different issuing governments should always contact their consulate or embassy for any travel restrictions or VISAs required at the ports of call in the itinerary. Guests with non US or Canadian passport rules can vary. Your travel agent or cruise line will not be able to assist or advise you. You must contact your government for proper travel documentation and or possible restrictions.

Failure to have the necessary travel documents almost certainly guarantees the you will be denied boarding and forfeit your entire cruise investment and leave you having to make flustered last minute arrangements for lodging and return travel back home.

The advantage of having a passport as ID instead of a government issued ID (driver’s license) and birth certificate is that if you need to leave the cruise for an emergency, you cannot fly back home without a passport. On a similar note: you may be denied boarding for air or sea travel if your passport expires in 6 months or less.  It is always possible your stay could be longer then expected.

Bottom line; it’s always the travelers’ responsibility to know what documents are required for boarding airlines and cruise ships.

Always remember your travel documents; passport, or birth certificate and drivers’ license or other government issued photo ID. Note that you will need a bridging document if your given name is different from the name on your documents.

Always make sure your personal contact information is correct. Accurate spelling of first and last names as well as birthdates are often overlooked by first time travelers and are reasons for denial of boarding on cruise ships and planes.

Plenty of research in advance will help you avoid any surprises when planning your cruise and then once you get on board you can just kick back and relax!

A related article beneficial for all cruisers is:

“Planning Your Dream Vacation”  http://www.cruiseoften.com/booking-your-dream-vacation