The best way to learn about cruising is from people who cruise. This book will tell you what you need to know before you cruise. The things that the guide books don’t tell you.
This page contains over 200 of the best cruise tips and advice
seasoned cruisers have to offer.
Advice From Seasoned Cruises
1. You don't need to pack beach towels - they are provided on board. You can even check one out to take off the ship while in port.
2. Buy travel insurance for your trip, you never know what might come up. it’s a good safety net. Just make sure you know what your policy covers.
3. Take lots of pictures of the ship. People often forget about taking pictures of the ship but later on you will wish you had.
4. Always carry at least a copy of your passport with you when in a foreign country. Keep original safe on the ship. This way your passport won’t
get stolen or lost.
5. On some excursions or some ports may require that you have your original passport with you, so make sure to ask.
6. Bring a watch - sometimes ship time and island time are different so if you ask a local in port what time it is you may get a different time then what the ship is going by. So if you need to be back to the ship at 4pm, ship time, and the local time is 2pm, you will miss the ship. Always set your watch to ship time.
7. Make your expectations reasonable - everything probably won't be absolutely perfect, but just roll with it!
8. Plan your outfits with versatility, multi-use, and easy care in mind. And when it comes to shoes (especially for daytime), comfort trumps style.
9. Cell phone clocks - some times work, but mostly not.
10. I always put everyone’s underwear and socks in large Zip Lock baggies. This way if you suitcases are checked at the airport you don’t have to worry about anyone going through personals and the baggies can really come in handy. They are great for wet bathing suits.
11. Don't be self-conscious about your appearance in a bathing suit, shorts, etc. There will be all body types aboard in all types of attire.
12. Don't spend a lot of money on new clothes. Bring only things that you love and feel good in.
13. Do not over pack. Many ships have self service laundries and sometimes there will be a special price on laundry and dry cleaning.
14. Bring only half the clothes you were planning on taking.
15. Don't stress about wardrobe (no one cares what you wear).
16. Rather then packing the whole guide book, I just make photo copies of the pages I want.
17. We always book our airfare through the cruise line even though its more expensive. If your flight is late or gets cancelled the cruise line will wait for you or will help you get to the ship at the next port. If you book
your airline tickets on your own it will be up to you to make sure you get to the departing port on time. If you are late they will leave without you and you will have to make arrangements, at your own expense, to catch
up with the ship at the next port.
18. It can take a while to go through security and the check in process so make sure you get to the port at least 2 hours prior to departure.
19. Don’t assume that just because your cell phone has service that it's ok to use it. You will incur roaming charges unless you have an international calling plan. You may end up with a huge cell phone bill.
20. Try a little of every activity but DON'T stress because you can't do it all.
21. Use public transit at the ports , its much cheaper then the ship excursions that just a drop off service for sightseeing on your own.
22. Stick to 1 cruise line , perks add up fast for frequent cruisers. Free drinks , free laundry , free internet , free spa treatments.
23. Remember you are on a ship in the ocean., weather happens, so be prepare that there could be changes to your itinerary during your cruise due to bad weather. On one of our cruises we had to skip a port due to bad weather. The cruise line refunded our port charges for that stop and they threw us a pool party with an open bar for 1 hour. On another cruise one of our excursions was canceled due to rough sea’s. So you have to be prepared to roll with the punches and don’t let them ruin your whole cruise.
24. Make sure you have at least 6 months left before your passport before it expires, otherwise you may have problems when going through customs.
25. Don't trust the punch in Belize or the $1.00 Margaritas in Costa Maya - both are watered down...with their water...which causes bad things to happen!
26. Don't use your own lap top to connect to the internet. Internet cafe's are available at most ports. If you connect while on board the ship, you will be using their wireless signal, you will be charged and its expensive. The computers on board the ship are also expensive, The air time is 56 - 65 cents a minute and very slow. An average email can cost $4.00- 5.00.
27. If you have an inside cabin, it's dark. You will oversleep. So set up a wake up call or take a travel alarm clock with you. You don't want to miss your excursion.
28. If the ship’s excursion you want is full or you don’t want to pay the high price, you can usually book a very similar, if not the exact same excursion, on the pier from local companies at a much cheaper price.
29. Do use travelers checks. Because they have been so widely counterfeited many shops and restaurants won’t except them. Instead use cash and credit cards. If you do decide to use travelers check make sure you get them in the local currency. If you are in Germany and you have American dollar travelers checks they won’t be excepted.
30. Learn a little ship terminology before you go.
Port:When facing forward, the left side of the ship.
Starboard: When facing forward, the right side of the ship.
Fore: The front of the ship.
Aft: The back of the ship.
Embarkation: Initial boarding of the ship, on the first day of the cruise.
Disembarkation: Final departure from the ship, on the last day of the cruise.
Bridge: The area from which the captain and his crew navigate the ship.
Muster drill: Mandatory lifeboat/safety drill; takes place the first day of the cruise, just before the ship sets sail.
Tender: Small boats that transport passengers from the ship to shore and back; generally used in small ports of call.
31. Before I cruise I always check my reservation on the cruise line’s site just to be sure everything is good. One time when I went to look at my reservation online I found my cabin number no longer appeared on my reservation. I called the cruise line and was told some how my cabin number had been deleted and that cabin was now assigned to another passenger. We were able to get everything straighten out and we were assigned another cabin but if we hadn’t checked our reservation we wouldn’t have found out about the problem until we went to check in and the ship may have been full my then. So now I always check my reservation, several times, before we go.
32. Don’t forget to figure tips into your budget. While on the ship, it is recommended that you tip:
Suite attendant: $5.75 USD a day per guest
Stateroom attendant: $3.50 USD a day per guest
Dining Room Waiter: $3.50 USD a day per guest
Assistant Waiter: $2.00 USD a day per guest
Headwaiter: $.75 USD a day per guest
Normally you will get envelopes for each person on the last day of your cruise. You can put your tips in the envelopes and leave them at the front desk. There will be a box for them. You can also charge them to your room or you can pre-pay them before your cruise. If you do this your will get vouchers at the end of the cruise. You just put a voucher in each envelope. If you pre-pay they will charge you the recommended tip amount. Keep in mind these tip amounts are recommendations, you can pay more or less, depending on your service, though most leave at least the recommended amount. Believe me, they earn those tips.
33. Buffet survival - the buffet can get crowded and tables can be hard to come by so when my family goes to the buffet we always find a table first and then take turns going to get food.
34. If you take valuables with you that are insured, make sure you check your insurance policy. Some policies won’t cover items placed in the in-cabin safes and require that you put your valuables in the safe at the pursers office.
35. Make sure you know how many ounces of liquids you are allow to take on the plane. Once you reach the security check-in point your suitcases will have already been check-in so if they don’t allow something you won’t be able to put it in your check-in luggage. And if they confiscate it you won’t get it back. I saw one woman who had bought three bottles of expensive perfume while on vacation only to have them confiscated at the airport. Needless to say she was extremely upset but in the she had to give them up.
36. If you will be traveling with a baby or toddler, take a one of those folding umbrella strollers with you. Not only are they great for while you are in port but also for at the airport and strolling around the ship.
37. Place all your bottles of liquids in your carry on in a plastic baggie. At some airport they require that any small bottles of liquids (that you are allowed to bring on board) be placed in a clear, closeable, plastic bags. On one trip while at an airport my sister-in-law had a couple of small bottles of liquids in her carry on, When going through the security check point they told her she couldn’t bring them on the plane unless they were in a baggie. She had to go back to the airline check-in counter and buy a baggie from them.
38. When you arrive at the ships departure port there will be porter there who will gather up your bags and take them to the ship. Remember not to give them any carry-on’s. The ship will load your luggage and take them to your cabin for you. Don’t forget to tip these porters, usually $1.00 - 2.00 per bag.
39. Make sure you put the luggage tags the cruise line sends you on your suitcases. They are color coded to help with the loading and unloading of your luggage. Also if one of your bags gets lost at the airport they will know which ship it needs to get to.
40. When packing, if you will be taking more then one suitcase, rather then packing each person’s clothing in a separate suitcase, mix and match. Put a few piece’s of each person’s clothing in each suitcase. This way if one of the suitcases gets lost that person won’t be left with nothing at all to wear.
41. Take time to enjoy the view. Don’t get so caught up in all the ships activities that you forget to enjoy the amazing views. Even out in the middle of the ocean there are some amazing sites. We have seen whales, dolphins, flying fish, otters, and seals. Not to mention some amazing waves and clouds.
42. Don’t be afraid to be a little corny, its all in fun. So don’t be afraid to laugh at the dumb jokes, sing along with the crowd or join in on a group dance.
43. Check out online what the weather is suppose to be like in each of your ports so you will have an idea of what to expect. Some sites like weather.com lets you check weather up to a month in advance.
44. If you are worried about getting sea sick book a cabin that is in the middle of the ship and on the lowest deck possible. Think of the ship as a big V rocking from side to side. The top of the V (ship) swings much more then the bottom does. So you will feel less movement.
46. If you are considering booking a suite make sure you know exactly what kind of cabin you will be getting. It can be confusing, in some brochures they will show one picture but that picture represents several different levels and types of suites. So you may not necessarily be getting the exact same cabin as the one in the picture. Make sure you look at a picture of the cabin’s layout so you know exactly what you will be getting.
47. If you will be taking someone else’s child with you make sure you get a notarized letter from the parents giving you permission to take their child with you. This is especially important if you will be traveling outside the country. The letter should also give you permission to get medical attention for the child in the event they get sick or hurt. Make sure you know any medications they are taking, any medical conditions they may have and any allergies.
48. If you are interested more in the cruise experience itself rather then the ports or just want a longer cruise but are on a tight budget, take a look at repositioning cruises. This is a cruise in which a cruise line is moving their ship from one location (at the end of that area’s cruise season) to another location (for the start of that area’s cruise season). You can find some really good deals on repositioning cruises. These cruises are often a little longer then the typical 7 day cruises and often include some unique ports.
BEFORE YOU GO
1. Don’t wait until the last minute to pack. I always pack at least 1 week early, sometimes 2 weeks if it’s a big trip. This will give you a chance to re-evaluate your packing and a chance to remember forgotten items.
2. Create a packing list, it will help you to keep from forgetting something.
3. Take a power strip and extension cord. You usually only have a couple of plugs and they can be in awkward places. There is never an outlet in the bathroom, so keep that in mind.
4. Get Rick Steves guidebooks to European cities if your itinerary includes them. His practical tips are so valuable and he includes great walking tours that basically enable you to be your own tour guide.
5. Get a brochure of your cruise and learn about your cruise line and ship before you go. Its good to have a basic knowledge of the ship’s layout and what it has to offer.
6. Get a guidebook for your ports - a little research can save you a lot of money and you won’t be at the mercy of the tour guides and their high prices.
7. Start thinking about a ritual you want to do each time you cruise. If you don't do one on your first cruise, you can't say you have always done the same thing every cruise.
8. Even though cruise ship excursions can be very expensive still give them a look. I've booked an excursion on Royal Caribbean where I pay $49 for an entire day (7 1/2 hours) for snorkeling from a catamaran WITH drinks AND food! There ARE some very reasonable excursions available and you can't beat the peace of mind of knowing that the ship will NEVER leave without you if an issue arises.
9. Yes, pictures taken by the cruise ship are expensive, but I always say that you only pay for them once, and you will enjoy them the rest of your life.
10. Rent the formal ware from the ship saves a lot of weight in your suitcase and worry.
11. Some excursions or limited-space activities do sell out, so if there's something you really have your heart set on doing, book it early. You can purchase excursions before you cruise.
12. For those who like to take lots of pictures - I had the misfortune of accidentally erasing 3 days of pictures by hitting the wrong button on the camera. So now I stock up on 1G memory cards and use 1 for each day. This way if I ever hit the wrong button again I will only loose 1 days worth of pictures. If you bring a lap top you can upload your pictures at the end of each day for backup.
13. Arrive in your port city a day ahead of time, it will save you a whole lot of stress over whether or not you are going to make it to the ship on time or not. Flights are delayed or cancelled all the time. You may even want to fly in a couple of days ahead so you will have some time to see your departure city.
14. I make hard copies in color of my important documents and credit cards and keep a set with me and another set with a family member at home who can fax or send copies overnight to wherever they may need to be. I also pre-arrange with my credit card companies, giving the family member permission to handle my personal business and cancel my cards in the event they are stolen or some other business needs to be handled from their end.
15. Inside your suitcase put a copy of our itinerary with your cell-phone number, the name of your ship, etc. This way if you get separated, it's much easier to find you. If you have a pre or post night stay include your hotel information.
16. Give an emergency contact number of the ship and instructions on placing a ship to shore call to someone in family, a neighbor, or the babysitter so in case of an emergency they will know how to contact you.
17. Make sure your airline ticket, passport and cruise reservation all have the exact same name, it can create a real problem if they are different.
18. When you check in for your cruise they will set up a cruise sail and sign account and you will be issued a cruise card which you will not only use to get on and off the ship while in port but also to make any onboard purchases. At check in you will secure this card with a credit card. At the end of the cruise you can have all your onboard purchases go to your credit card or you can use cash to pay your account balance. (This card saves you from having to carry a credit card or cash around on the ship to pay for purchases)You can save a lot of time in the check in process by filling out your account application before hand. You will get an application with your cruise documents.
19. Some cruise lines help you save time by allowing you to complete your immigration and embarkation forms online. Check with your cruise line.
20. If you have any special dietary needs let the cruise line know at least 60 ahead of time.
21. Sometimes I get a little seasick, sometimes not, but I always ask my doctor to prescribe seasickness patches that you put behind your ear just in case we hit rough sea‘s and I start feeling queasy. I always wear one if we will be taking an excursion that involves us being on a small boat or catamaran, I always feel queasy on these smaller vessels.
22. Make sure you confirm your flight 24 hours prior to your departure. One time our flight was moved up several hours and if I hadn’t confirmed the flight departure time we would have missed our flight.
23. Personalize your luggage with a BIG, LOUD COLORFUL TAG or BOW for easy identifying.
24. I believe the price of the Insurance that you booking thru the cruise line far out weighs the benefits verse purchasing travel insurance through a third party. If you are late getting to the ship for any reason they will, and have, sailed without guests, If you book thru the cruise line they will wait for their guest no matter the reason.
25. When Boarding the ship keep in mind every ship is arriving back from a previous trip and has to unload passengers, and baggage, and restock supplies. Check to see what time your ship arrives back in port, they usually need at least 4 hours between the time the ship arrives at port and when they start letting new passengers board.
26. As soon as you are on the ship, head up to the pool deck as they usually serve lunch. Eat lunch and then walk around the ship to try to get the feel of the layout. Cabins won't be ready until about 1:30.
27. When you get your travel documents make sure you read through everything before you leave. You will not only want to confirm everyone’s names are spelled correctly but also, if you booked your flight through the cruise line you will need to confirm the flight times. Make sure you read through all the extra material included in your document package as well, there is some great information in there.
28. Pack anything that might possibly leak in Ziplock baggies, including items such as liquid cold cough syrup, lotions or sunscreen.
29. If you are planning on using a garment bag suitcase, don’t use one that has a hanger sticking out the top. It will get hooked on everything and may end up getting ripped out.
30. Before you leave for your cruise go to a cruise community website such as cruisecritic.com and connect with other people who will be in your cruise. Its fun to chat with fellow passengers, get advice and learn more about the ship.
31. If you are planning on going scuba diving while on your cruise, consider getting certified before hand. You have to be certified to scuba dive. Excursion companies will certify you prior to going out but it will cost you more money and take up more time. Instead find a local company and get certified before leaving on your cruise, it will save you money and give you a chance to try out scuba diving before you leave.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
1. I always take a roll of sticky sports strapping tape. It works great to support an injured ankle, strapping together a deep cut, fixing luggage and even a broken sandal.
2. If you are planning to go snorkeling take your own snorkel. If you don’t want to take your own snorkel take some wipes to wipe off the mouth piece. They are suppose to clean the rental snorkels after each use but who knows how well they are cleaned.
3. Take a small sewing kit and safety pins just in case of wardrobe malfunctions.
4. Specialty coffee’s can be expensive on board so I bring along some packets of powder creamer in my favorite flavors. Regular coffee is free, you can get it all day in the buffet, you can also have room service bring a pot to your room. I just add some of my own creamer and I have a specialty coffee. Great for sitting out on the balcony and watching the scenery go by.
5. Make copy of passport and keep it in your suitcase.
6. A handy thing to take is a small flashlight... just in case the power ever goes out and you have to see where you're going. I also use if I have to get up in the middle of the night and I don’t want to turn on all the lights and wake everybody up.
7. Take plenty of $1 bills use for extra tips and incidental spending.
8. Take 2 bathing suits - they don't dry overnight.
9. Take a alarm clock with you, there are no clocks in the cabins.
10. Take less shoes (one day, one night pair that matches everything).
11. Take a clear over the door hanging shoe organizer. You can use this to organize smaller items. Use one with clear pockets so you can see what is inside each pocket.
12. Bring a landyard, one of those things you hang around your neck that has a clip on the end - some have a clear plastic pocket on them. Use it to put you sail & sign card in if you have a pocket. You can also use the pocket to carry the onboard activity itinerary, coupons or drawing tickets. If your landyard doesn’t have a pocket you can have a hole punched in your sail & sign card at the front desk or sometimes in the casino and clip your card onto the landyard. This is a great easy way to carry around your card.
13. Take walkie talkies to communicate with others in your group. They will make it easier to find each other when members of your group are spread out around the ship.
14. Take snack items and munchies for in the cabin.
15. After each trip I put together a printed photo album with our pictures and information about the trip so I take along a small note pad to jaunt down names of places, dates and other information I want to remember.
16. Some ships don’t have self service laundry so I bring along laundry soap tablets to use in the event I need to wash something. Most cabins have a pullout cloths line in the shower that you can use to hang cloths on to dry.
17. Bring a bag for your dirty cloths.
18. Bring a computer so you can download the pictures you have taken from the digital camera. Not only will it allow you to free up space on your SD card but you can also check your pictures to make sure they are coming out ok. It also makes a good portable DVD player to watch movies on in your cabin.
19. Those little book lights sold in bookstores that bend & easily fold are great to keep on your nightstand to use as a nightlight in case you need one during the night. You can use it like a flashlight.
20. Use suitcases that nest (fit inside each other), they will take up less room to store them in the cabin and there will be enough room to store them under the bed.
21. Take a small luggage scale so you can weight your suitcases to make sure your are not over the airline’s weight limit.
22. Pre-print address labels with the addresses of the people you want to send a post card to. It will save you time and you won’t have to worry about taking a list of address. Remember if you plan on sending post cards from each port you will need multiple labels.
23. Take plenty of quarters with you if you plan on using the self service laundry facility.
24. Take sea sick pills with you even if you normally don’t get sea sick. If you hit ruff sea’s that might change.
25. Buy cheap rain ponchos at the dollar store before you leave home. Always bring along when in port, even if it is sunny when you leave the ship. The weather can change very quickly especially in the Caribbean.
26. Take a small first aid kit, it comes I handy for small cuts, scraps and blisters. Include in your kit a small number of cold tablets, Bandaids, antacids, Tylenol, etc - they cost a fortune on the ship.
27. Pack anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea pills - you never know!
28. Pack an empty canvas tote, for your change of clothes on the last night, when your luggage needs to be out by eleven.
29. Take a backpack. I use mine as my carry on and as the bag I use in port. I can haul lots of swimsuits, towels, souvenirs and it keeps my hands free.
30. I take my eye glasses prescription with me, tucked away safely in my wallet. Just in case something happened to my glasses, I would at lease have the information necessary to get new ones made.
31. I take a small roll of duct take and scotch tape. It's amazing the uses you'll find for them! The duct tape comes in handy if your suitcase zipper breaks.
32. Take a long sleeve shirt or light sweater for strolls on deck in the evening. Even in warmer climates it can get chilly up on deck at night.
33. Always take a small umbrella with you, you never know when you might run into a storm, even in the summer.
34. Pack a swimsuit in a carry-on, that way you can hit the pool while waiting for your cabin to be ready or your luggage to arrive at your cabin.
35. Take several little packages of antibacterial wipes to wipe down surfaces in the cabin...like the TV remote, light switches, drawer pulls, bathroom door handle, any surface that has been touched by multiple people before you. Put one package in your tote when you go on shore too; you never know what you might want to wipe down while you're out & about.
36. Buy the underwater camera's at your nearest Wal-mart.
37. Bring a waterproof case or wallet, that will go around your neck and will hold your ID, cruise card, credit card etc. while swimming/snorkeling in port.
38. Bring a highlighter to mark activities on the daily paper.
39. Pack some powdered drink mix, i.e Gatorade, Crystal Lite, just add it to a bottle of water and you have yourself a nice, cheap, drink.
40. Take a sweater to wear on the ship. The ships really crank up the cold air and it can get chilly.
41. I always take one of those mesh laundry bags that fold up and lay flat. They are great for storing our dirty cloths in and since they are light weight and fold flat, they easily fit into our suitcase.
42. Bottles of water on the ship can be expensive especially if you drink a lot of water like we do. I always bring empty water bottles with me and fill them up on board (the tap water is perfectly safe to drink). I put them in the cabin refrigerator to keep the cold and just keep refilling them.
43. Pack post-it notes to leave messages for your cabin steward, family members and friends. They really come in handy.
44. Printout business size cards with your name and email address on them to handout to your new friends or somebody you want to contact you. Its so much easier then trying to find a piece of paper to write on and a lot less likely to get misplaced by the person you give it to. You can get business card paper at your local office supply store and print them out on your computer.
45. If you are planning an excursion to the beach or to do some shopping, take along a lightweight foldable bag to put your beach items in or hold all your store purchases.
46. I always take an insulated coffee mug with a lid. it’s a great way to keep coffee warm and spill proof. Its also a nice way to have a cup of coffee during the evening show. They will also keep cold drinks cold and keep the ice from melting so fast.
WHILE ON BOARD
1. Ask for the drink of the day in a regular glass - they charge for those cute little specialty glasses (usually at least $1 more) and do you really need to take them all home?
2. Make friends with your bartender and stick with them. If you are a good tipper they will take good care of you, maybe even some freebies.
3. Journal daily so you can remember small details of your trip, as well as likes and dislikes to share with family, friends and future cruisers.
4. You don't have to go to the port "meetings" or sales pitch. You can watch all that on your TV in the cabin.
5. Breakfast room service is wonderful. Don't forget to try it.
6. Keep moving in the buffet line. When people are hungry they get cranky.
7. Let the cruise line know if you will be celebrating any special occasion so they can help you celebrate. We’ve have cakes presented to us at dinner, cards sent to our cabin and a gift of on board credit.
8. Let the bathroom be your steamer - hang wrinkled clothes in the bathroom while you enjoy a hot, steamy shower with the door closed. Those wrinkles will disappear in a hurry.
9. We usually wait until the end of the cruise to decide which photo’s we want to purchase. They don’t discard them until the end of the cruise. Sometimes the photo department will let you gather up your photos and put them in a folder with your name on it to keep them organized and together- this way you can easily find all of our pictures.
10. Don't be afraid to try new things.
11. Put suitcases under bed, this will leave more room in closet.
12. Don't miss Formal Night, how often do you get to dress up and go out.
13. Be up on deck when the ship pulls put out of your home port, it can be quite festive. Have a frozen drink in hand during sail-away
14. Try something new at dinner and remember you can order as much food as you want in the main dining room, in whatever combination you want. If you want to order three appetizers and no main course, you can do that! Want an extra lobster tail, you can get it.
15. Wear rubber soled shoes on deck - it can be slippery and there is usually lots of slip & falls.
16. Don't purchase duty-free alcohol on the ship to drink onboard. It will be held “for your convenience” until the last day of the cruise.
17. Be considerate where you change your baby’s diaper. Nobody wants to see or smell that especially while eating. Find a quiet corner or someplace out of the view of other guests.
18. Don't stress about your hair...as soon as you go outside it will get blown up and look like everyone else's. Carry a tie or clip for your hair. You'll use it after your hair gets blown up from the wind and is sticking to your neck from the sweat.
19. Never turn on your phone when it would register to the ship's cellular network - it ok to use while in port, but turn it off before leaving port. If you connect with the ships network you will pay a lot more then using your own network provider.
20. If you leave your cell phone on and someone calls and you let it go to voice mail you will be charged for that time. If you retrieve it you can add the cost for the time it took to listen to it. For my cell phone plan to text from our ports would be .45 cents per text so texting would be much cheaper then calling. So it pays to check with your phone company before you leave.
21. Check on your dinning arrangements right away to be sure you are where you want to be and with the number of people you want to be with.
22. If you order a bottle of wine at dinner you don't have to drink it all. They will save it for you and bring it back out the following night at dinner or you can take it to your room.
23. Don't buy food like sandwiches or fruit while in the ports to bring back onto the ship - they won‘t let you bring them on board.
24. If you are experiencing some sea sickness eat a green apple and have some Ginger Ale. You can get an apple at the buffet, you can ask for one in the main dinning room, they will even cut it up for you or have room service bring you one. Room service can also bring you a Ginger Ale. You can also get Ginger Ale at any bar.
25. Seasick medicine is available free at the Purser's desk on some ships so if you are feeling sick trying asking for some.
26. You don't have to buy every photo, they can be very pricey. If you are planning on buying one of the ships photos buy one that captures the spirit of your cruise.
27. Bring some wine on the ship with you to drink in your cabin. You can bring 2 bottles of wine on board at every stop . The average mixed drink on the ship costs $ 7.50 and beer is $6.00.
28. Read the daily paper they leave in your cabin each night so you know what activities will be going on onboard the ship the next day.
29. Plan to catch at least one sunset and one sunrise.
30. Don’t miss the $10.00 watch sale, they have one on every ship.
31. Be sure to check the charges on your sail and sign account daily to make sure there are no charge errors. If there are errors go to customer service ASAP. Most ships allow you to check your account charges through the TV in your cabin.
32. The drink they offer when you first get board the ship is NOT free! So be prepared to pay for it.
33. Alcohol is expensive so watch it.
34. All cruise ships have shops and these shops will have some very nice sales so be sure to check them out.
35. Pay close attention to the announcements. Sometimes you can't hear them in your cabin. Poke your head out of the door if you have to, you can hear them better in the hall. Sometimes there is a knob in the cabin to adjust the speaker volume so you can better hear the announcements inside your cabin.
36. Remember to walk up on deck at night, find a quiet spot and look up at the stars. You will see more stars in the night sky than you've ever dreamed existed.
37. Automatic tips are usually added to your room service and bar bills, if so no need to double tip.
38. If you know you will not be having dinner in the main dining room the following night let the waiter know so he’s not waiting for you.
39. Pay attention to ship’s port departure times so you don‘t return late to the ship.
40. Watch your onboard account. You don’t want to get surprised with a HUGE bill on the last day of the cruise. You can usually check your onboard account through your TV. Each evening when we return to our cabin for the night I turn on the TV and check to see what our bill is so far so we know exactly where we stand.
41. Bring a pair of binoculars - there is a lot to see from the ship.
42. Take the stairs as much as possible - to work off those extra meals.
43. If you take book with you to read while on the ship and finish it, you can donate it to the ship’s library for someone else to enjoy.
44. If you are planning on getting a spa treatment, make your appointment at soon as you get on board. Appointment times fill up fast and you may find that there are no openings if you wait to make your appointment.
45. If the ship is offering any special classes or programs that have limited attendance, make sure you sign up as soon as possible. They tend to fill up quickly. On one cruise we took a cooking class with the head chef. They only allowed 12 people in the class, it filled up right away.
46. Don’t panic if your luggage isn’t delivered to your cabin right away, even if your neighbors all seem to have their’s. They have a lot of luggage to deliver, it can take some time. In reality very little luggage is lost. It might take a short detour on another deck but its almost always found within a couple of hours.
Cruise Etiquette
1. Don’t look for problems.
2. Don’t Fall overboard. (it’s rude J )
3. Don't walk around the ship carrying a purse big enough to hold your blender. No need to carry your purse with you - you’ll just get a lot of stares.
4. Don’t hog chairs on deck.
5. Don’t put a towel on a deck chair and then go do something else.
6. Don’t get back to the ship late from your day at port.
7. Don’t wear ridiculous shoe’s - you are on a moving ship.
8. If you are traveling with children and they are misbehaving, remove them from public areas so they are not disturbing other guests.
9. If you are with a group of people, with cabins next to each other do not leave your doors open and shout at each other across and down the hall or run back and forth between cabins banging the doors.
10. Don't forget to say "good morning" to fellow guests.
11. Do not set your $12.00 pineapple full of booze down near any moving objects (especially children).
12. Don’t rely on your cell phone for the correct time. It may be a different hour than the Ship's time.
13. Don’t cut in the buffet line.
14. Don’t be rude to the staff.
15. Don't flush the toilet while you are sitting on it - it works on a suction system, yikes!
16. Don't curse or use foul and vulgar language for others to hear.
17. Don't make a spectacle of yourself if you have a disagreement with the person or persons you are with so others hear.
18. The crew work long hours, up to 10 hours a day, 7 days a week and the pay is low. They work very hard for you - Don’t treat them like servants.
19. Smile and say hello to the crew - don’t just pass them by ignoring them.
20. Don’t be late for dinner in the main dining room.
21. Never talk about politics or religion, especially with your dinner tablemates.
22. Don’t assume because you are on a ship your valuables won’t be stolen by fellow guests. Always keep an eye on your things.
23. If your ship says “no flip-flops/shorts/tanks to the main dining room,“ don't wear them. That's what the lido deck buffet is for.
24. Do the Drill - even if you have cruised dozens of times you should never skip the lifeboat drill. The crew consider this very rude and in the event of an emergency you will need to know where your meeting point is.
25. Don’t discuss what you paid for your cruise. Its considered bad manners. You may have paid a lot less for your balcony cabin then someone else did for their interior cabin. You don’t want to make anyone feel bad or end up feeling bad yourself. Cruise lines often offer specials based on where you live or a local travel agency may have offered a discount. Just as it would be rude to brag to everyone how much you earn each year, its also in bad taste to tell everyone what you paid for your cruise.
26. Don’t get drunk. Its fun to try all the fancy drinks while cruising but know your limits. Nothing ticks passengers off faster then someone who is falling down drunk, being loud, throwing up in all the wrong places or acting rude or inappropriate towards other guests. Besides that, alcohol is often a factor when people fall over board.
27. When walking down the hallways at night don’t be loud. Be considerate of those trying to sleep.
28. Don’t flash the cash. On a cruise ship all passengers are created equal. Even if you are rich and staying in the best cabin on the ship, nobody wants to see you flashing a wade of cash or see you trying to show how rich you are.
29. If you are tire don’t sit in the front row at a performance, where you might nod off. It is very inconsiderate to the performers.
30. If you are not happy or disappointed in something, don’t make a scene. Your not 2 years old, don’t whine. The only one that will end up looking bad is you.
31. Don’t put your nose in where it doesn’t belong. One time while waiting in line to disembark at a port, a crew member’s boss was getting on him about something when one of the passengers decided to put his two cents in. It ended up causing a scene and made everyone feeling very uncomfortable. So mind your manners and your business.
