Planning any vacation is exciting! You get to take time away from your normal routine and reconnect with family and friends.
While cruises are popular for their convenience (I mean, there's nothing better than only unpacking once and visiting multiple different places in a single trip!), a little time spent preparing can help make sure that you have the best trip possible.
Each port of call, for instance, will present unique excursion opportunities, whether that be snorkeling, visiting ancient ruins, or taking a flight-seeing tour to the top of a glacier in Alaska! Showing up to a port unprepared could mean that you'd miss doing something that you would have otherwise loved to cross off of your bucket list.
Here are some steps that you will want to take to ensure that your cruise vacation goes smoothly from start to finish!
Start gathering all of your documentation as soon as you place the deposit
To board any cruise ship, you will need to show some kind of identification.
If you are a U.S. citizen sailing on a closed-loop cruise, this might mean obtaining an official U.S. state-issued birth certificate. It could also mean scrambling to renew your passport, as it must be valid for six months after the cruise.
Say your cruise departs from Miami, Florida on November 11, 2023, but your passport expires on December 12, 2023. You will need to make sure that it is renewed by then.
Of course, if your cruise departs from an international port, such as Rome, Southampton, or Vancouver, there are no exceptions to the passport requirement. U.S. citizens must have a passport to board; a birth certificate will not work.
Read more: Can you go on a cruise without a passport?
Book as early as possible for the best rate
If there is a specific cruise ship, itinerary, or cabin that you are hoping to book, you will want to go ahead and place your deposit as easily as possible. As the sail date creeps up, there will be fewer options available, especially now that many ships are sailing at full capacity!
Booking in advance is particularly important if the itinerary is offered seasonally (i.e., Alaska or Europe) or over a major holiday, like Christmas or New Year's Eve.
Another advantage to booking early is that you will be able to spread the payments over a longer period of time! Plus, some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, will allow you to call in a reprice your sailing if you find that the price has dropped before final payment.
Start researching the ports of call that you are visiting
Each port of call will offer different excursions for you to choose from, so it is important for you to not only think about what kinds of activities that you are interested in doing, but also what is available in each. Some ports are famous for certain attractions, and it best to know this before you book the cruise. You may find that tours start to sell out the closer you get to your sail date.
Read more: 10 tips for getting the best cruise shore excursion values
Do not overbook yourself
Do not feel as though you have to do the most active and strenuous activities in each port. If you are a beach person and would like to visit the top-rated beaches in each port, go right ahead. That is one of the major advantages of cruising: you can do whatever you want!
Even if you do want to do more adventurous excursions, it is worth considering alternating between those and some more laid back ones, as you do not want to exhaust yourself too early during your cruise.
Read more: 11 common cruise shore excursion mistakes to avoid
Understand what is and is not included in your cruise rate
Unless you are sailing on a luxury cruise line, it is very rare that your base will be all-inclusive. Some upscale lines, such as Celebrity Cruises, have begun offer more inclusive rates; however, they still do not include every cruise add-on.
You will want to know what is included in your cruise fare prior to getting on the ship. In fact, you should be aware of what is not included well ahead of then, so you can appropriately budget for those extra expenses.
Youth clubs, for instance, are included. Parents can get a much needed night alone while feeling comfortable knowing that their kids are in good hands. Specialty restaurants, on the other hand, are not included. To experience one of these more intimate dining experiences, you will have to pay extra.
If you are not interested in paying extra for food, you certainly will not go hungry! There are enough complimentary dining options to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Alcoholic beverages, however, are never included in your base fare.
Read more: 20 tricks for cruising cheap on less than $100 per day
Make sure that your flight arrives the day before your cruise
Making sure that your flight arrives at least the day before your cruise departs is one of the most important pre-cruise preparations that you can make. Trying to schedule your flight the same morning as your cruise departure is too risky. One flight delay could mean that you end up missing your ship!
Flying in the morning before your ship allows you to plan a pre-cruise stay. Whether that is relaxing on the beach in Florida before a Caribbean cruise, visiting Pike Place Market in Seattle before an Alaskan cruise, or wandering around New York City before a Bermuda cruise, you can enjoy your evening knowing that you will not feel rushed the next morning!
Read more: The 13 best cruise tips the pros use all the time
You may not enjoy the cheapest cruise that you can find
Before you book that cheap cruise deal, you should understand the caveats that it comes with. First, you may not be able to choose your cabin. For some, this is not a big deal; they are just happy to be onboard! Others, however, prefer to be in a centrally located area or by their favorite venue.
Second, there is a good chance that the stateroom is an inside cabin, meaning that you will have no access to natural light. If you are hoping to stay in a balcony and have access to a private verandah, you will probably have to pay a little bit extra.
Next, if it is a last minute cruise deal, have you taken into considerate last minute transportation costs? The total price of your airfare could negate any savings from booking the lower cruise fare!
Finally, as mentioned earlier, your fare only includes so much. There are only things that you will have to pay extra for, such as port fees, cruise tips, shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, etc.
Read more: What to know before booking a cheap cruise
Join a Facebook group for your ship and/or specific sail date
Joining a Facebook group for your cruise ship and/or sail date is a great way to meet other passengers and see what they have planned!
Here, people will discuss ports of call, onboard dining and entertainment options, as well as other topics that you might benefit from. If, for instance, you are sailing on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises, other cruisers may alert you to Cruise Planner sales and help you save money!
Plus, you may even make some friends that you end up meeting up with once onboard.
Find a good travel agent to assist you with your booking
There are tons of benefits to booking a cruise through a travel agent. Not only can they help you take care of all the logistics of booking a cruise vacation, but they can also assist in making dining reservations, scheduling shore excursions, and even arranging your flights and pre-cruise hotel!
If you are a relatively inexperienced cruiser, travel agents can take your preferences and help you plan out a great trip, even recommending cabin locations based on your wants (i.e., near the kids' club, somewhere where there is less motion, etc.).
Read more: Top 40 Cruise Tips & Hacks
Do not pack any prohibited items
There are items that you cannot bring with you on a cruise. While not a full list, these include items like steamers, recreational drugs, candles, irons, and surge protectors.
If you are caught with a prohibited item, chances are that it will either be discarded or kept until your ship returns. You could, however, face being denied boarding.
If the item is simply confiscated, you will have to scout out where to pick it up when your ship returns. That is not really a fun way to end your cruise vacation, especially if you are trying to hustle to the airport!
Read more: Banned: 23 Things You Absolutely Cannot Bring on a Cruise
Get your matching clothes in advance
This is optional but fun for families and large groups! Getting matching apparel for embarkation day or themed nights can be a great way to enhance your cruising experience. Maybe it is a t-shirt that indicates a celebration (i.e., birthday, family reunion, bachelorette party, etc.), or perhaps it something as simple as a matching Hawaiian shirt.
You are sure to see other groups doing the same! If this is something you would like to participate in, make sure you allow yourself enough time to either order custom made shirts or find something everyone in your travel party is happy with.
Read more: Top 20 cruise t-shirt ideas
Prepare by purchasing some must-have items that are less than $10
Packing for any trip requires some planning. In theory, you could just throw random stuff into a suitcase and make it work, but what happens when you get to your destination and find that you're missing something that you wish you had brought?
No matter what vacation you are going on, there are some essentials that you should always bring. (i.e., undergarments, toothbrush and toothpaste, appropriate clothing, etc.); however, there are certain "good to have" items that are not as obvious.
These things do not have to break the bank, either! A cruise lanyard, for instance, costs around $7 on Amazon for a pack of two! Likewise, towel clips that will prevent your towels from blowing in the wind can also be purchased for less than $10.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
