Cruise holidays are more popular than ever nowadays – and it’s easy to see why. On these floating hotels, you can relax in style while dropping anchor at some of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating places.
However, if you’ve never holidayed on the high seas before, you might be wondering how to get the most out of your trip.
Here, we’ve pulled together 16 tips for first-time cruisers.
1. Book a cabin away from lifts and stairs
One of the top tips you’ll hear from seasoned cruisers is, if possible, to pick a cabin away from lifts and stairs.
Cruise ships can be lively – from early birds heading to watch the sunrise to night owls on their way back from the bar. While this means the atmosphere is generally exciting, it can also be noisy.
But picking a cabin away from lifts and stairs (where there’s generally less foot traffic) will hopefully mean there’s less noise, so you can get plenty of undisturbed rest when needed.
2. Think about seasickness before booking
If you’re worried about seasickness on your cruise, there are plenty of ways to minimise your risk once on board – for example, by taking medication or wearing nausea relief Sea Bands. However, some of the most effective steps can be taken before booking your trip.
Choosing a cruise with fewer days at sea and more in port can help to lower your risk, as can avoiding particularly choppy waters, such as the Caribbean Sea during hurricane season (June 1st-November 30th).
Booking a cabin with a window in the middle of the ship is a good idea too. Not only is this the least rocky part of the boat, but a window will also let you look at the horizon when you start to feel nauseous, hopefully offering some relief.
3. Pack light
One of the best things about cruising is you don’t have to lug your bags around from one location to another, but this can make people go a bit overboard with packing.
However, there’s no need to go through the hassle of bringing everything but the kitchen sink. Many ships have self-service launderettes and dry cleaning services. Plus, cruise cabins are typically smaller than hotel rooms, so it’s wise to save as much space as possible.
4. Pack everything for your first few hours in your carry-on
Usually, you need to check your bags in before embarking on a cruise – just as you would on an aeroplane – and it can be a few hours before they’re delivered to your room. With this in mind, remember to pack everything you need for your first few hours onboard in your carry-on.
This includes essentials like your wallet or purse, important documents like your passport, and any medications. However, what you pack in your carry-on will also depend on your plans once aboard. For example, if you’ll be heading straight to the pool, you might want to include a swimsuit, hat, towel, and sun cream.
5. Arrive at your departure location a day early
Since many cruises leave in the afternoon, it can be tempting to arrive at port on the morning of your departure. However, if you’re late – whether because of traffic, a delayed flight, or anything else – your ship will leave without you, so it’s worth getting there the day before you’re scheduled to leave.
If your departure port is abroad, lots of cruise veterans recommend getting there even earlier (perhaps two or three days before) – especially if there’s a long-haul flight involved. This will give you some time to rest, recharge, and overcome any jet lag before your cruise – not to mention enjoy some of what the port has to offer.
6. Invest in cruise hack items
Before setting sail, it’s worth thinking about any items that’ll make your time on board easier. For example, lots of seasoned cruisers swear by towel clips like these fun, fruity ones from Next. It can get quite blowy on deck, and clips prevent your towels from blowing away.
Since most cruise cabin walls are made of metal, magnetic wall hooks like these from Amazon are helpful too, whether you want to hang clothes or wet swimsuits. You could also bring normal fridge magnets to keep important documents safe and in view. Some cruisers even bring a foldable shoe rack to organise their cabin.
Check out cruise packing lists like those from Celebrity Cruises and Cruise Critic to learn more.
7. Reserve restaurants and activities before departure
If you’ve never been on a cruise, you might be surprised by the sheer number of things to do. From the various bars and restaurants to spas, shows, and classes, there are countless things to enjoy on the high seas.
However, activities can get booked up quickly, especially on large ships with thousands of passengers, so it’s worth making reservations online or over the phone before departure.
Some people prefer to do this in person after boarding, but there can often be long queues, which can mean sacrificing some of your holiday time.
8. Join the Facebook group for your cruise
For almost every cruise holiday, somebody sets up a Facebook group that anyone with a ticket can join. These are great spaces not only to share your excitement about your upcoming trip but to gather helpful information.
For example, someone may have been to one of the ports before and can recommend activities. Or maybe they’ve sailed on the ship in the past and can give you tips on the best restaurants. And because these groups aren’t generally organised by the cruise company, it’s a great opportunity to get some unbiased advice. Plus, you may even make some new friends to hang out with on your holiday.
To find your cruise group, just search the ship’s name and departure date on Facebook. The website Cruise Critic also has ‘roll call’ forums, which serve the same purpose.
9. Consider an early boarding slot
When you check in for your cruise holiday, you’ll usually be assigned a specific boarding time or asked to pick one. For those who want to maximise their time on board, an early boarding slot can be a good idea.
Everything is usually up and running as soon as you step on board, so you can head straight to the pool, relax with a drink at the bar, or take a self-guided tour of the ship to get your bearings. However, early boarding is usually the busiest time, so be prepared for a long queue.
10. Research ports in advance
The time you have at individual ports can vary, though some stops can be as short as a few hours. While some people are happy to get off the boat and explore, if you want to make the most of your time at a given port, it’s worth doing some research in advance.
A great place to start is to look at what shore excursions your cruise line offers at each port. These can range from sightseeing tours to specific activities (like hikes or snorkelling) to museum and historical site visits. However, these might not cover everything the port has to offer, so it’s worth doing some independent research too.
If you’re going with a group, you could consider each taking one or two ports to investigate ahead of schedule. This can help cut down on the pre-holiday research if that sort of thing doesn’t excite you.
11. Think about private tours
While they’re convenient, tours run by your cruise line aren’t your only option when it comes to shore excursions. Considering independent operators can give you more activity options and often help you save money. Plus, independent tours usually run with smaller groups, offering a more intimate experience.
But it’s worth remembering that cruise ships will wait for all of their tours to return before departing. So, if your group runs into any unexpected issues on a cruise-run tour, you won’t need to worry about being left behind. The same isn’t true for independently operated tours, though, so if you choose this option, make sure they offer a ‘return-to-ship guarantee’.
12. Download your cruise line’s app
As with all holidays, there’s plenty to organise ahead of a cruise. But, luckily, most cruise lines offer a handy smartphone app to make things easier.
Through your cruise line’s app, you can usually arrange boarding, book various shore excursions, and make reservations at onboard shows, restaurants, and more. Some even let you do things like build a custom itinerary, order drinks from your sun lounger, and take a virtual tour of the ship, so you can get your bearings before boarding.
13. Consider a drinks package carefully
While many cruises include dining options in the ticket price, they often charge extra for drinks. If this is the case for your cruise, you could consider splashing out for an unlimited beverage package. Although, depending on how much you plan to drink, these might not be worth it from a money-saving perspective.
Luckily, there are calculators online (like this one from Cruise Mummy) that can help you work out whether a drinks package is worthwhile. Just select your cruise line, enter the amount (and types) of drinks you think you’ll have per day, and the calculator will let you know the numbers.
Of course, this is just an estimate, but it’ll give you an idea and help you make an informed choice.
14. Find out whether you can bring booze on board
Another handy way to save money on drinks is to bring booze on board with you. Enjoying a few beers on your cabin balcony can be a nice way to unwind after a busy day and some onboard restaurants even let you bring your own wine (though they often charge a corkage fee).
However, not all cruise lines let you take alcohol on board and those that do often have strict rules as to how much. So be sure to do your research beforehand.
15. Check out your ship’s dress code
In times gone by, cruising was a rather sophisticated affair, with passengers donning tuxedos and ballgowns in the evenings. While things are a lot more casual these days, there are still certain dress codes in place, which vary depending on the cruise line.
For example, most lines require passengers to wear a top, bottoms, and some sort of footwear when not at the pool. At the restaurants, some providers ask passengers to avoid very casual items, such as shorts, flip-flops, and sleeveless T-shirts. Lots of lines also host ‘formal nights’, where expectations are dressier. So it’s worth having a look at your ship’s dress code before setting sail.
16. Remember to pace yourself
Between all the onboard activities and ports of call, it’s not difficult to fill your calendar to the brim when cruising.
However, one of the most common tips we hear for first-time cruisers is to take things easy and set time aside for relaxation – whether that’s sun worshipping by the pool or finding a quiet corner to read. Try to look at your holiday as a marathon, not a sprint – you don’t want to burn out too quickly.
This could even mean skipping a day at port if you don’t really feel like it. Once everyone has disembarked for the day, cruise ships are usually very peaceful. Many lines even offer discounts at the spa during these times, so why not treat yourself to a massage?
Final thoughts…
Because it’s so different from other holidays, the world of cruising can be daunting for newbies. But hopefully, these tips can help you get the most out of your trip and feel more excited about it.
For more cruising content, check out our travel section. Here, you’ll find everything from reasons to book a cruise to the best destinations to visit. There are also plenty of great cruise deals to discover on our website.
Are you a seasoned cruiser? If so, we’d love to hear some of your top tips in the comments below.