newbie cruiser tips, part 2
So, you've decided to go on a vacation and that vacation just happens to be a cruise! Well you have come to the right spot! Here is part 2 of a few cruiser tips that will help you get the most out of your vacation. This is a series, so check back for more tips.
We have been cruising since 2007 and have almost 20 cruises under our belts! With many more planned in the future (maybe you will join us on one of our cruise adventures???)! So, these are a few things that we have learned along the way.
Cruiser Tip: You Should Book Your Excursions Before Your Cruise
We recommend booking tours and shore excursions ahead of time. This way everything is already planned when you get to port and you don't feel lost. You can book through the cruise line’s website, local tour companies, or through third-party vendors. For convenience and efficiency, we recommend that first time cruisers book with the cruise line. However, if you find a tour or activity that is not offered by the cruise company, there are alternatives. Some online companies from which we have purchased tours include Shore Excursions Group and Viator. Just remember, if you book an excursion from an independent provider at a port, it is your responsibility to return to the ship on time. The cruise line will leave the port at the designated time whether you have made it back onboard or not. We were so grateful that we did this when we booked the excursion for Chichen Itza! Somehow, we ended up being 45 MINUTES late back to the ship! But, because it was an excursion booked through the cruise line, the ship had to wait for us to get back.
Cruiser Tip: Everything Is Not Allowed Onboard
Before you start packing those suitcases, check your cruise line’s FAQ. There, you will find a list of items that are not allowed onboard like irons, coffee makers/tea pots, outside food and beverages, as well as other contraband items. Most cruise lines do allow you to take two bottles of wine (in your carry-on embarkation day) but may charge you a corking fee, some even allow you to bring your own bottled water. Your prohibited items could be confiscated or worst case scenario, you could be asked to leave the ship. This has happened to us before where we thought we could take our drone for photography purposes. But, nope, got confiscated at boarding while going through security. We had to leave our little drone in Miami, so no epic drone shots. So, pack wisely!
Cruiser Tip: Get to the Ship on Time
We would hate for you to miss your first ever cruise because you didn’t plan appropriately. Give yourself enough travel time to and from the ship in case you run into traffic, severe weather, or other delays. We always suggest getting to your departure city the day before embarkation to make sure you don’t miss the boat. We have encountered many flight delays that would have resulted in a missed embarkation day if we did not travel the day before our scheduled cruise departure. And, unfortunately, this has been a costly mistake for us before. We have missed an ENTIRE CRUISE because we missed our flight. Now, we make plans to arrive the day before instead of day of.
Cruiser Tip: Front Load Your Cruise
We also recommend trying to get some of those “must-do” items checked off your list early in the cruise, such as rock climbing walls, ropes courses, water slides, go-karts, etc. We have always found that the first few days of the cruise feel much quieter with smaller crowds. As the week progresses, extra passengers seem to come out of hiding. By getting to those things you want to do in the first few days, you will avoid the crowds and have an ideal experience. This also goes for restaurants. At the beginning of the cruise, most people are trying out the main restaurants. Specialty restaurants take advantage of this as well and sometimes offer lower prices at the beginning of the cruise.
Cruiser Tip: “Ship Time” is a Real Thing
Pay attention to the daily activities schedule and announcements about time. Depending on your itinerary, you might be crossing (multiple) time zones during your trip. The ship may or may not change clocks in some ports of call. This is what “ship time” means. The time kept on the ship might not be the same as the local time at a particular port of call. Remember to always set your watch or cell phone to ship time and to be sure to turn off the "auto change" function so that your device doesn't automatically go to local time. All aboard times are based on ship time, and you don’t want to miss the ship because you were in the wrong “time zone”.
