Planning a cruise can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before. Everyone wants to have a relaxing vacation without any headaches, but you might not know where some of the pitfalls lie. Here are some first time cruise mistakes people make and how you can avoid them on your next cruise adventure. Keep Reading
Get on board any cruise ship and you will soon see and hear terms that may sound familiar to you yet foreign. Everyone who cruises would benefit from knowing some cruise ship terms that will help you navigate the ship and understand the crew better. Having this knowledge can also help you when choosing the best part of the ship for your stateroom.
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It happens every time you board a cruise ship. The bars and activities all close and your captain or cruise director announce it will be starting soon: The Muster Drill! So, what exactly is it and what do you need to know about it? Keep Reading
After you do all that careful planning, collect all the items you want to bring with you, find a way to pack it all into your luggage, you then travel to your port of departure and finally get to board the cruise ship and let the fun begin. It’s finally here! Embarkation Day. Keep Reading
You’ve made it through the embarkation process and finally boarded the boat. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with options on the first day of your vacation. Boarding hours are usually between 11 AM to 2:30 PM on most cruise lines, depending on the scheduled departure time. Keep in mind that your cabin and luggage may not be available for hours after you board, so make sure to pack your boarding bag accordingly. Here are 20 first day cruise ideas for you to consider:
If you’re like most cruisers, then most of your cruise days are spent in your bathing suit. Whether you are snorkeling, lounging on a beach or relaxing in the hot tub, your swimsuits get plenty of wear. With all the saltwater, sand, chlorine, sunscreen, and sweat, those bikinis and swim trunks can get filthy (and moldy!) fast. Luckily, swimsuits are already best washed by hand. This is both free and easy to do at sea in the comfort of your own cabin! Here is how to wash your swimsuit in your stateroom sink (or at home):
The great part about planning to wash your swimsuits onboard, is you don’t have to pack anything extra. All you need to bring is:
If you forgot your own soap, don’t worry. You can also use the shampoo/body wash dispenser in your cabin’s shower to do this. While mild soaps, unscented soaps are best for washing clothes, almost any shampoo or body soap will do. If you want to invest in a swimsuit-specific detergent Fashion Care’s Splash Swimwear Wash ($10, Amazon.com) is a good option and won’t take up much space in your luggage. If you’d like, a stain remover can also be helpful to avoid sunblock stains.
Washing your swimsuit doesn’t have to be a chore. Here are 5 easy steps to follow to keep your suit ready for the next day of fun.
After squeezing as much of the water out as possible, use a dry towel to help remove the excess water. Lay it flat on a towel, then roll the towel up and squeeze gently. Let the suit air dry. If you hang up your suit to dry, it’s best to drape it. Using clothespins or hanging by the straps can wear out the elastic.
Most cruise packing guides recommend packing 2-3 swimsuits for a 7-day cruise. Since it often takes at least 24 hours for a suit to completely dry, packing 2-3 allows plenty of time from them to dry between use. If you’re going minimalist (check out: How to Pack for a Cruise with Only a Carry On) and only packing 1 suit, you can use a hairdryer to finish the job.
How to tip on a cruise can be confusing. Knowing what is the proper or best way to tip on a cruise is one of those questions if you ask five different people you’ll get six different answers.
For first-time cruisers as well as seasoned travelers may find it very difficult to understand how or when to tip on board a cruise. The guidelines for tipping vary from one cruise line to the next. Officially there are no really hard rules to follow when it comes to tipping but it would be wise to ask your cruise agent what the tipping policy is for the cruise line you are going on and consider the options that you can take.
Generally, giving tips (or gratuities) on cruises are classified into three categories:
To remove the trouble of figuring out what the proper tips to give is at the end of your trip, many cruise lines are adding tips automatically to your on board account. Some of the lines, such as Carnival and Norwegian, add ten to thirteen dollars per day, per guest to cover gratuities. These are pooled and split between all crew who are eligible to receive tips. In some cases you can even prepay these charges before you even board the ship.
It is important to not however these are not mandatory. The amount of the tips is controlled by you when the account is closed. If you desired you could with hold the entire gratuity. Not something we would recommend unless you happen to have the worst experience imaginable. Keep in mind that part of the crews compensation is tied up in receiving these tips.
Some cruise lines simply give out gratuity suggestions. Cruise ships offer you the alternative of paying your tips in cash at the end. You can also include them in your on board account, which is finalized before you disembark.
Most luxury cruise ships let you know that giving gratuities is not needed. The tips are sometimes built into the price of these upscale cruises. Sometimes it’s really quite good if you’ll award a tip for a quality service. Next if you have decided to wait until you are on the ship then you need to talk with the on board help desk to find out what is the standard tip that should be left and who should be tipped. It is standard to tip your waiter and his helper in the dining room. Also you want to tip the steward that cleans your room.
Take time to plan out your tipping options because cruise lines can really drain a lot of your money if you’re not aware of how things work. Going on a cruise is like walking inside a floating Las Vegas casino. Everything inside the ship is designed to make you spend lots of money. It is also common to tip the person who is in charge at your dinner. They are usually the head waiter and you should leave them a little something. It is standard to tip your waiter and his helper in the dining room. Also you want to tip the steward that cleans your room.
You want to let the people who serve you know that you appreciate their hospitality. It will benefit you to tip because the service will improve and be the best each time you take a cruise. These are the 3 categories of how cruise tipping works but you’ll get all the benefits once you’ve known what crew members actually think about the passengers. There are only 2 simple rules that can make you the most favored passenger on any cruise ship.
One of the biggest decisions you may have to make before embarking on a cruise is if you should purchase a cruise drink package. A drink package on a cruise has a set price per person, per day, to allow you to consume an unlimited amount of drinks on board. Depending on your tentative plans for the cruise, you may ask yourself if the drink package on a cruise is worth it.
While the cost may vary somewhat, cruise drink packages are generally the same price on every cruise.
The first thing you’re going to want to consider before purchasing a drink package is how much money each drink costs and how much you think you’re going to drink.
If you plan on only purchasing one or two drinks per day, then a drink package may not be worth it.
Generally speaking, cruise drink packages on cruises cost around $40-70 per person, per day. That may seem like a lot, but if you have a coffee, a soda, and a few mixed drinks throughout the day, then you’ve already gotten your money’s worth.
There are pros and cons to purchasing a drink package.
There are pros and cons to not purchasing a cruise drink package
If you embark on your cruise and end up wishing you purchased a cruise drink package beforehand, many cruises allow you to purchase one on board, usually for a more expensive price.
Based on the pros and cons, you may be able to decide if the cruise drink package is worth it. If you’re a big drinker and don’t want to worry about how much money you’re spending on drinks, then purchasing the cruise drink package may be a good idea.
We’ve packed for every kind of cruise imaginable, from 3 days to 7 days and from the Bahamas to Alaska. We’ve got some handy tips to make sure all your necessary cruise attire and items are accounted for, all in a printable cruise packing list to make the job even easier. With our help, the only choice stressing you out around your cruise is which lido deck bar you want to try first!
With all the activities and experiences offered on cruises from on deck to port, deciding what to pack for a cruise can be an overwhelming task! If that wasn’t enough, the limited space in state rooms and hefty excess baggage fees encourage many cruisers to pack light. Finding the perfect balance of both can really make cruise packing a puzzle!
The perfect place to begin is…well, the beginning. The following details will influence the things your bring on a cruise. Consider:
All of these details combined shape what to pack for a cruise. such as, the sun, surf and sand of Hawaii calls for different cruise attire than a voyage to Iceland!
Don’t forget to include your carry-on and what you pack in it as part of your cruise packing list. It can make or break the beginning of your trip, and should never be an afterthought in the cruise packing mission! Even more important than an airline carry-on, your friendly little tote or backpack will hold the keys to your activities for a whopping six hours or more until your checked bags are delivered to your stateroom.
Make sure you’ve got all your important documents like your passport, boarding pass, cruise documents, medical cards, auto insurance (if you plan to rent a car at port) and any forms of identification required. Keep these all together in a waterproof bag!
It’s a good idea to store basic toiletries just in case your bags show up to your stateroom after you plan to freshen up for dinner. Travel-size shampoo, conditioner and body wash including any makeup you need for a light touch up are some good things to pack for a cruise carry-on.
Lastly, you’ll want to pack some wardrobe items in your bag for when the boat gets underway. There will be some downtime when you don’t have access to your stateroom quite yet, and an even longer stretch without your checked bags. Packing a swimsuit and a full change of casual clothes in your carry-on insures you can get more comfortable as the cruise gets underway.
Back in the day, a lot of cruises had a very formal night, but many of the main lines have relaxed their standards quite a bit. Some dining rooms still require a semi-formal or formal attire on multiple or all evenings, but the truth is you could go your entire cruise without having to dress up in slacks or a cocktail gown even once! Instead, most of your time on the boat will be spent in casual-wear. For major time savers, we recommend pulling basics together for your outfit, such as t-shirts, shorts and jeans and then dressing them up with statement necklaces or accessories. Everyone may think you’re being effortlessly chic, but really this is a major space saver in that suitcase!
Even if you’re on a cruise to the most tropical and sunny location the world has to offer, it’s smart to account for the lower temperatures and wind out on the water. Pack at least one pair of long pants and a windbreaker or shell jacket to keep warm up on cooler nights!
Lastly, check out the cruise itinerary beforehand to find out if there are any events you’ll want to bring specialty clothing for. Many cruise lines offer a themed party, such as 80’s nights or country line dancing that you may want to pack a costume for .Or, if you’re opting into one of the formal dinners, make sure to bring your formal or semi-formal wear and proper accessories.
Depending on the port calls in your cruise, the weather and the activities you’ll be doing, you’ll have to consider what to pack for a cruise port to. One important thing to note is that you want to seem respectful to the locals, and so this is not the time to break out your offensive graphic tees or suggestive clothing.
Make sure you pack weather-appropriate and comfortable cruise attire for your visit to port. It should be clothing you don’t mind walking in and exploring, and camera-ready as you’ll be snapping lots of pics to remember your vacation by!
If anything will eat up space in your bag, it’s multiple pairs of shoes. This is often the packing zone that requires the most strategy, as we strongly advise you only bring a couple pairs of shoes that can be adapted to different pieces of your cruise attire easily.
Instead of an array of heels and fancy footwear, the more casual and relaxed atmosphere of cruise dinners mean that a nice pair of sandals can take you from day activities to night with ease. While we wouldn’t recommend Birkenstocks, a more presentable pair of sandals or wedges can travel from the deck to the dining room without anyone batting an eye. A couple of pairs of sandals to last you throughout your cruise is the way to go!
Port, the fitness center and a few activities on board will require closed-toed sneakers for comfort and ease. We recommend including at least one pair of your favorite sneakers on your cruise packing list. If you want to save even more room in your suitcase, make them part of the outfit you wear onboard!
Stateroom bathrooms are notoriously small. With zero sink space, shelf-space or really just any space in general, cruisers have to get crafty to make their getting-ready experience as graceful as possible. Particularly if you’re on a longer cruise, we recommend grabbing a cheap cloth shoe organizer to hang on the inside of the bathroom door. You can tuck all your toiletries, makeup and even some accessories in one of these to keep it handy without having to juggle.
We also recommend you bring ziploc baggies on your cruise, and tuck liquids and creams into one of these when deciding what to pack. This prevents unfortunate spills over your precious cruise attire before you’ve even gotten underway! Plus, the transfer back into your bag will be a breeze when it’s time to disembark.
With all our cruising experience, we’ve uncovered some handy hacks to make your cruise experience relaxing from start to finish. Consider bringing the following items to save you space, money and time!
If you’re major caffeine addicts like us, bring your favorite hot/cold insulated tumbler. For reasons unknown, most cruise lines have the tiniest coffee cups we’ve ever seen which means you’re making multiple trips to the coffee station instead of having fun! Bring your favorite cup with you on-board and that station will be a one-stop shop on your daily adventures.
If you’ve brought a lot of wardrobe pieces that wrinkle easily, including dresses, silk tops and more, invest in some fold-able hangers. Usually staterooms only have 8 hangers or so, which may not be enough. Collapsible hangers will take up minimal space in your baggage and save your outfits from embarrassing rumples and creases.
Lastly, tuck a power strip and/or extension cord into your luggage. This is particularly helpful in the bathroom, where you can plug in hair dryers, curling appliances, phone chargers and whatever else you need without having to majorly strategize about the plug placement in your stateroom.
Cruising is one of the most relaxing, enjoyable vacation options around. With some minor strategy and an eye for space-saving techniques, your packing and travel experience will be a breeze. With our tips to start you in the right direction, download our free printable cruise packing list, to make sure you packed all your essentials. Download the packing list here.
Happy sailing!
Whether you are staying in an interior stateroom or a premium cabin suite, space is hard to come by on-board a cruise ship. Most cabins are only half the size of an average hotel room, so it can be a challenge to find places to store all your personal items. These 12 cruise cabin hacks will help you cruise in comfort.
Having a comfortable cabin space you can relax in is essential, whether your cruise is for 3 days or 3 weeks. You can help make the difference between an amazing vacation or a mediocre experience by using these hacks to make the most of your stateroom. When in doubt, you can always ask your cabin steward to show you around and help to make your home away from home a more restful and inviting place.
