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Regardless of with whom you book, you could miss out on some of the fun if you wait too long. These experiences can and do sell out, especially with reduced capacity restrictions. On some of the larger ships (mainly from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line), reservations are required for certain entertainment and onboard activities. If you choose to sail from a nearby cruise port, you can alleviate airfare and other travel related expenses.
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Get seasick? Get a cabin in the middle of the boat, as low as possible
You can use this app without purchasing a cruise ship WiFi plan to view daily activities, make reservations, and more. One of our recommendations for cruisers who do not live within driving distance of the cruise port has always been to arrive a day early. This will help to alleviate any stress surrounding flight delays, cancellations, missed connecters, etc. This is especially true if you are flying in the winter from locations where snow and ice might impact your travels.
Drink in Port to Save Cash Versus on the Ship
In recent years technology — including passport scanners and facial recognition software — have made this faster at ports that have the latest devices. Even so, those sailing with a birth certificate or ports that still require manual checking of documents can take longer. Towel ClipsTowel clips are cheap and worth their weight in gold. If you cruise, you’ll no doubt spend some time catching some sun. But many people don’t realize that when the ship is underway there is a constant breeze as the ship moves. For most people, the first stop is to the cabin to drop off their bags and get settled in.
Wear Sandals With Thick Tread Around the Ship
Instead, look for off-port parking that can be as much as 50% cheaper. It’s not always the case, but sometimes you’ll run into discounts around the ship if you buy when the ship is in port. For instance, maybe it’s a spa session that has a slight discount if you book a service while the ship is docked. Or things like Royal Caribbean’s North Star observation pod are free when done while the ship is in port, but sees a charge if sailing. They should call it the “law of cheap cruising.” If you want to save a ton, be flexible with your dates and sail when school is in session.
Always pack a wad of $1 bills for tipping
The cruise line might sell it as a private balcony, but there isn’t a whole lot of privacy. Your balcony on your cabin will have walls that shield you from the adjoining cabins, but the walls often don’t go from the floor to ceiling. They can easily be looked under or above, and someone could look around the side of them if they really wanted to.
Our 10 Best Cruise Tips
Leppert notes that onboard amenities like pools, buffets and waterslides are less crowded when most people are ashore. If a particular destination doesn’t appeal to you (or perhaps you have been many times before), it’s ok to enjoy the ship instead. Sloan offers another take saying that your travel budget should lead the way. If you are prepared to drop $1,000 a night on a cruise, start out on an upscale line with smaller ships like Silversea Cruises or Seabourn. These will give you a taste of cruising with fewer passengers, and often to smaller, less-frequented ports.
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Winter Activities that Bond the Family
Just make sure your excursion fits with your time in port. If you’ve joined a Cruise Critic Roll Call, passengers often book independent tours together. Just note, if you are delayed returning to the ship on a cruise-purchased shore excursion, the ship will wait. Some lines will let you sign up for shows, tours and other activities (including meals at specialty restaurants) in advance of sailing using online portals. If you want to be sure that you get a seat for a specific show on a specific night, or a specific tour or restaurant reservation time, it's a good idea to do this. It's not uncommon with some ships to find that some shows, tours and restaurant reservation times book up in advance.
Take advantage of private islands as ‘free’ days
Daily planners are loaded with onboard activities and things to keep you busy, from dance classes to trivia and theater shows. Sign up for your specific cruise, and we guarantee you’ll make friends with your fellow travelers and learn tips from seasoned cruisers. We hear stories all the time about lifelong friendships that started on our Roll Call pages. On many ships you'll find the main dining room or other dining venues open during the day on embarkation day. Check your app for opening hours or head to guest services to find out your options for embarkation day dining if you're seeking a little peace and quiet. While purchasing these tours through the cruise line means everything will be handled for you, costs can be steep.
Hotels in port cities will do whatever they can to attract cruise passengers. That means they will let you park at their hotel during your cruise for free (or at a sharp discount). Many will also offer a shuttle ride to the cruise port as well. Whether it’s your first sailing or your 50th, there are always new cruise tips to learn for when you take your trip.
That’s because more people are able to take trips, driving up demand. So if you’re flexible with your dates, you can sail during off-season months like January or October and save some considerable money. The same trip sailing in late January can be 50% the cost of the same sailing that departs at the peak of summer. Having the fresh air — and the million-dollar views — from your balcony is worth the extra cost if you want to pay a little more for your trip. From embarkation on cruise day to dining to shore excursions, everything you do on a cruise is just a little different than any other vacation you’ve ever been on. That’s why we’ve taken the time to round up a boatload of tips — 57 to be exact — that will help you know better about what to expect come cruise day.
In some cases, though not many, when several passengers are delayed, a ship's departure might be postponed. Then be sure to contact your cruise line as soon as possible and let them know about the delay. Cruise lines offer a toll-free emergency number to call on the day of travel, so make sure you have it on hand. Informal means jacket and slacks for men, and a dress or pantsuit for women. Resort casual (khakis for men, no jacket or tie, and nice pants outfits or relaxed skirts or dresses for women) is the dress code for most nights on many lines nowadays.
This trip is going to be all about taking a break from work, not spending hours every day dealing with the latest crisis back at the office — or, at least, it should be. Throw all the clothes you think you'll need on the cruise in a pile, and then take away half of them. These sort of things can happen to cruisers, and they're all situations where you might benefit from having travel insurance. Some of the apps also will aid you with the check-in process.
But I still always do – and I recommend you do the same. Further, if you are flying home, make sure you don’t book a flight that is too early. We also recommend taking some time to familiarize yourself with the layout of the ship and where popular amenities and venues are located. When preparing for your cruise, you must remember to do the online check-in at home.
There are many (mostly) little things you still need to do before you begin your journey to the pier to board your ship. When you are allowed to disembark the ship at the end of your cruise varies by the cruise line. It can also be impacted by weather, ship technical difficulties, receiving clearance from port customs, and a plethora of other reasons. Besides necessary travel documents, we have accumulated a list of “other” items over the years that we find essential for a cruise to any destination. Some of these common household items include magnets, an over the door shoe organizer, and Ziploc bags.
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