Or….. Why didn’t anyone tell me this stuff?
So you’ve followed our great advice, and you’ve booked your very first cruise!
Yay!!! Gold Star For You!! You can now officially say “I’m going on a cruise!!” to anyone who will listen! You are also allowed to begin working on your “Out of Office” message that will make all of your co-workers jelly while you are gone!
Wait. That took 2 seconds. Now what?
Slow your roll, that’s what. There are a few more things that you should do to make your cruise as easy and stress free as possible.
Here they are:
1. Complete the Online Check In Process. This will be on the cruise line’s website. In order to complete the check in process, you must have your Citizenship Documents handy, and your travel arrangements to and from the port. You can begin right after booking, and if you are waiting for a passport number or to book airfare, just leave those sections blank and complete them later. You should complete everything 2 weeks before your cruise, tho to give the cruise line time to file passenger information with Homeland Security. If for some reason you are unable to complete this before the cruise, you will be held up at the port because the cruise line must have this info before you are allowed to board. Do yourself 87 favors and do this well ahead of time. After you have made final payment, and your online check in is complete, you will be allowed to print out your boarding pass and luggage tags. Super!
2. Select Your Arrival Appointment. If your cruise ship leaves from certain ports, a part of the Check In Process could be to select an Arrival Appointment. This will be in the same area as the online check in. This is the absolute earliest time that they will allow you to enter the port building to begin the boarding process. This is another thing to do as soon as you book because the earlier times go fast. If you have to select a boarding time, you will have an “Arrival Appointment” section on the Check In page like this :
3. Check the kids in. If you are traveling with kids, complete the kid’s program Check In. This will also save valuable fun time aboard the ship. It is helpful to know any allergies, and medication information when you are completing the online form. You can also do a search on the cruise line’s website for sample activity schedules. Get the kids extra excited by looking up some of the fun things that they will participate in on the ship. Bonus: the more they do with the kid’s clubs, the more adult time you will have! #winning!
4. Know before you go. If you have not died from the boredom of completing the check in process, and you need a quick pick me up, look up activities offered on your ship. When we embarked on our very first cruise, we really did not know anything about what we would do on the ship. To us, it was merely just a vehicle to get us to the Bahamas. We did ALL of our research on Nassau and Atlantis, since our goal was just to get there. We totally missed the ship! We boarded and were immediately in awe of the size and bells and whistles. We wanted to explore but were almost afraid that we would be charged for breathing air. We were lost and overwhelmed. Please don’t be like us! Do better. Spend time learning about the Main Dining Room, Dress Codes, Serenity Deck, Menus, Amenities, Sea Day Brunch, Tea Time, Dr. Seuss Parade/Breakfast, Trivia, Comedy Club, The Piano Bar, Live Shows, Movies, Deck Parties, Kid’s Clubs, and all of the other amazing events that your ship has to offer. The major cruise lines will have all of this and then some on their website. If you need to find specific information, don’t be afraid to Google it.
5. Get ship shape. Familiarize yourself with the layout of the ship. This is really helpful once you board. You will need to know how long it will take you to reach Food. You will also need to know where to go for drinks and the 24 hour ice cream and pizza stations. Many people find it useful to find their dining room and table assignment so that are not hungry and confused at dinner time. I like to locate the gym (and not go), Serenity, other quiet spots, the shops, and the photo gallery when I board. My husband likes to know where the bars and food are. Priorities.
6. Plan excursions ahead of time. I haven’t found the price to be significantly cheaper by booking onboard or pre-cruise, so you might as well do everything from the comfort of your couch. Pretty much any activity that can be carried out as lazily as possible gets my vote. Booking excursions is no exception. Take your time, read reviews, comparison shop. All with a fruity beverage in hand. This will add to the tropical feel of this deed.
7. Find the FAQ. Then read them. Seriously. On most cruise line’s websites there are a set of FAQ. Some are even researchable. Tons of your questions can be answered while you are on your coach in your pj’s, by just typing in a keyword. It’s always good to find out that you can bring a bottle of wine, but not your ant farm. Who knew? You that’s who!
8. Count the cost. Be aware of any surprise charges added by the cruise line like automatic gratuity. If you budget for this ahead of time, you will avoid embarrassing situations while on vacay. This mostly happens when cash is used to open the onboard account instead of a credit card. If you plan on using cash, pre-pay gratuities, and any other incidentals before you board. That way it doesn’t hit you on the ship like an anchor, and halt all of your happiness.
9. Do math. Or alternatively for the math allergic, set your budget and stick to it. This is so much easier said than done. I get it. It is great advice though, because you will be more likely to cruise again and more often if you don’t break the bank. Charges to the ship card accumulate like lint on my favorite black sweater. Brush off the urge to splurge. Stay the course. Your bank account will reward you by being there when you return.
10. Make a statement. Check your onboard account balance on the kiosks, or by requesting a printout at Guest Services. Often. Some ships will allow you to check your balance on their app or even on your TV. I’ve heard lots of horror stories of cruisers who swipe their cruise cards day after day and never check the balance. Then on the last day, they are in shock at how much they spent on alcohol, gift shop purchases, and specialty restaurants. Checking your balance at least every other day will help you stay within the budget that you created in Step 9 above.
11. Give yourself a Gift. Buy cruise line gift cards before the cruise. This is how I️ save for our cruises. I️ buy the Carnival Cards at our local Kroger (bonus fuel points). When it’s time for the cruise, I️ usually have $400-$500 saved on the cards, and I️ add it to my cruise account onboard. This way I’ve forced myself to save for the cruise, and all or most of my cruise expenses are covered. If I️ have onboard credit, that adds even more money to spend at sea. Cha Ching!
12. Pre-Order Water. On Carnival’s website, you can pre-order bottled water, at around $4 for a 12 pack. You can also order liquor, gifts, decorations, cakes, the soda package, the liquor package, and many other items which will be delivered to your cabin on embarkation day. This is another thing that you can pay for ahead of time, so it doesn’t impact you during the cruise. Smart.
13. Connect with people. Join the Facebook Group, or Cruise Critic Roll Call for your sailing. Pretty much every cruise has a Facebook Group for cruisers to connect before sailing. We’ve met some of the coolest people by joining and interacting with the group before and during the cruise. They also plan activities like slot pulls and meet and greets during the cruise. I’ve even seen some groups have pre-cruise meet ups for members who live in close proximity to one another. If your cruise does not have a FB Group, then start one! It won’t be long before you have others jumping in, and you’ll make instant friends!
Get excited! You are on your way to a great vacay!!!Bon Voyage!
Soul on the Seas! 