First Time Cruise Tips – Six Strategies to Avoid a Disastrous Vacation

Apply these first time cruise tips for an unforgettable retreat at sea. Keep certain essentials in your carry-on and find out how to choose your cabin. Use these strategies to avoid headaches and ensure a rewarding stress-free vacation.

1. First Time Cruise Tips for Packing

Keep your medications, a first aid kit, and sea sickness meds in your carry on. Take only one credit card with you. Leave the rest at home. Life on-board a cruise ship is very relaxed. So pack with comfort in mind. Your ship will also offer one or two formal nights so include one or two outfits for evening wear.

2. Essential Documents You Must Remember

A passport if you are a U.S. citizen or a certified birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID. Check with your cruise line for necessary visas to different ports of call. Your pre-boarding pass. This must be completed online prior to boarding the ship. A simple first time cruise tip to avoid headaches is to leave copies of your passport, airline tickets, and credit card information with a friend or family member.

3. Choosing Your Cabin Very Wisely

If you suffer from claustrophobia, avoid an interior room as these have no windows and are small. Instead choose one with a picture window, port hole, or balcony to make your cruise ship travel a rewarding one. Do you get seasick easily? Then choose a lower cabin near the center of the ship. Here there is less rocking motion. This first time cruise tip can be the difference between an enjoyable vacation and a disastrous one.

4. Crucial Cruise Travel Tips and Airline Accommodations

Fly in a day earlier if you can to avoid rushing. If you cannot, get to your destination at least four hours before the ship leaves. Arrive at your embarkation area at least two hours before departure. And avoid booking your return flight before 2:00 p.m. to give yourself ample time to catch that plane.

5. Essential Embarkation Tips

DO NOT place your documentation in your checked baggage. You will need it for check in. Your luggage will be transferred to the ship and placed outside your room. This sometimes takes a few hours. Use the time to get to know the ship. Find out where the dining rooms and outdoor cafes are located. A sail and sign card will be issued to you. It is used as your room key, for making purchases, and as identification to get on and off the ship.

6. Essential Debarkation Tips

The night before your cruise ends, custom forms will be left in your room to fill out as well as color-coded tags. Pack your bags on your last night and leave them outside your door. You will be called the next morning according to your color coded luggage tags. Keep your carry-on luggage with you. This includes necessary documentation and your sail and sign card.

Avoid ruining your cruise vacation with these easy to follow first time cruise tips. By choosing your cabin wisely and packing essential items you will enjoy an unforgettable floating holiday. And come back renewed and energized.

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