Cruise ship life can be very exciting but after a while, cruises can all begin to feel quite boring. You go to the port, board the ship with four thousand strangers, make a few friends, and then hop off. There is nothing wrong with doing that.
However, the more you cruise, the more you pick up on tricks and secrets. there are some things, which you can do to improve your cruise holiday. Cruises are a fun option for travellers looking to visit a few different places in a short amount of time, but sailing from port to port in comfort and style is not without its challenges.
Cruise ships are crowded and extra fees for beverages and excursions can take a toll on your budget.
Read our expert advice to get the most out of your next cruise holiday.
Arrive the Night Before Departure
Nothing can ruin a long-awaited cruise vacation, like missing the ship because of some sort of travel delay or other unforeseen circumstance. Luckily, there’s an easy solution: arrive the night before.
It is important for you to get to the departure port at least one night before the cruise begins. Sometimes, unforeseen issues such as flight delays, traffic, bad weather and other delays may prevent you from getting to the cruise ship in time.
Hundreds of cruisers miss their boat each year because of delayed flights, traffic, bad weather, and other unforeseen troubles.
Every year literally hundreds of cruise passengers literally “miss the boat” and arrive too late to board. To avoid this, arrive in your port city the night before to avoid pre-departure jitters and add an extra day to your vacation. If the cruise ship departs, you may have a hard time boarding it at its next landing.
Arrive Early
If your schedule allows it, arrive in your port city the day before you board the ship.
Booking a local hotel Sydney hotel close to port can help relieve some of the worries.
Adding a little flexibility to your trip will reduce last-minute stress and allow you to buy that toothbrush you forgot for $5 at a grocery store rather than for $15 on the ship.
Get to bed early for a well-rested start to your cruise or enjoy a night out beforehand.
Pack Wisely
When deciding what to pack for a cruise, consider the type of cruise you have booked.
One of the perks of a cruise holiday is that you can, within reason, pack as much as you like. Ships have no luggage weight restrictions or overweight fees, so you can bring that extra evening dress, a selection of books, and multiple jackets.
Still, that doesn’t mean you should pack indiscriminately, especially when it comes to the notoriously space-hogging category of footwear. Depending on the type of cruise you will need a range of footwear for lounging around the pool during the day, good walking shoes for any excursions you might take as well as dress shoes for the evening. While a pair of kids water shoes will help keep your kid’s feet safe in and out of the water.
As long as you can manage the luggage on your flight to port, you’re golden! Checked baggage fees add up quickly, so make sure to pack light. Bring clothes you can mix and match to create multiple outfits and look into using your ship’s laundry services. This will help you save on board and at the airport. Make sure to save room in your suitcase for souvenirs!
Overcoming Sea Sickness
If you feel sea sickness coming on, eating a green apple or sucking on a lemon slice are quick and easy remedies. If you are already sick, the majority of over-the-counter patches will not work. Instead, try drinking ginger ale and eating crackers.
Choose the Right Cabin
The inside cabins are quite cheap. However, they are also usually quite stuffy. Besides, they have hardly enough room for turning. For the best experience, you should book a cabin that has some kind of window. If you can get a cabin that has a balcony, that will be even better. You will get to spend time out on the balcony enjoying the open ocean.
Choose When You Eat
Dining with a group of strangers can seem interesting the first few times. However, it begins to lose its novelty after a while. Most cruises would like you to believe that there are only two options for dining, early, and late dining.
However, for a small fee, you can dine at one of the exclusive restaurants that are located on cruise ships.
Public Domain from pixabay
Book Excursions Before Boarding the Ship
Excursion packages help you to plan your cruise in advance. However, you should remember that the best excursions are usually sold out before the cruise begins. Ensure that you book your excursion before the ship sets sail. Book yours early to avoid standing in the long excursion-booking lines.
Read the Newsletter they Put in Your Room
Each cruise ship has an internal newsletter that tells you about all the fun things that happen on the ship. If you do not read the newsletter, you may be left out of the interesting conversations on the ship. Besides that, you may get to discover a fun event that has been planned.
Book your shore excursions ahead of time.
Most cruises have landings at multiple ports. The best shore excursions book quickly, so it’s a good idea to make your reservations before you leave home, if possible.
The ports are chosen carefully to ensure that they give you an immersive cultural experience.
Most cruise lines allow passengers to make these reservations online. If you can’t book in advance, then you’ll want to take care of this as soon as you get on the ship to avoid being disappointed.
Consider staying on the ship during a port of call.
Don’t feel obligated to get off the ship at all ports of call just to feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. Staying on board while the majority of the passengers are in port is a great way to enjoy all of the amenities of the ship without the crowds.
This is especially true on some of the larger ships which can hold thousands of passengers (such as Royal Caribbean’s twin 6,296-passenger ships), “Oasis of the Seas” and “Allure of the Seas.” It’s no surprise that on port days, the pool areas and spa are much less crowded than on “at sea” days.
As with any type of travel, a little preparation can go a long way, and taking a cruise is no different. By using these tips as a guideline, you can better organise and prepare for your trip.
