While onboard a cruise, it is easy to get into a relatively set routine, such as heading straight to the buffet on embarkation day or for lunch each day. Likewise, you may love spending the days sitting by the pool without looking into the ship's activities.
Tthere is a lot to take into account when planning your cruise, both prior to embarkation and while onboard. Of course, there is no incorrect way to take a cruise. The most important factor is that you have a great time and create special memories with your family and/or friends, whether that means parking by the pool for the entire cruise or packing your schedule full with activities and events.
There are, however, a few things that you can do differently on your upcoming cruise that will ensure you have a smooth experience.
Here are 8 ways you can switch up your next cruise vacation to save you time and stress.
Book an extended pre- or post-cruise stay
If you are planning on utilizing air travel to get to your cruise port, you probably already know that you should arrive the day prior to your ship's departure. Arriving the same day is not worth the stress, as one flight delay the morning on embarkation could cause you to miss your entire cruise.
Why not, however, arrive a few days before and explore what the city has to offer? If you are sailing from Europe, this could mean exploring culturally rich destinations like Rome, Barcelona, Athens, and more.
Even if you are cruising to the Caribbean, there's nothing quite like the world-famous beaches of Miami. Plus, you can dine on some delicious and authentic Cuban food.
If traveling to Seattle for a cruise to Alaska, consider staying a few days to explore the city and see the famous Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Sometimes, you can build two separate vacations into one with a little bit of planning.
A post-cruise stay means you will not be in a hurry to get off the ship and rush to the airport. Instead, you can head over to your hotel and spend your afternoon lounging by the pool, rather than sitting by a gate waiting for a plane.
Read more: The 13 best cruise tips the pros use all the time
Try onboard activities on port days
When your ship docks in port, most passengers will scurry off the ship to either meet a shore excursion group or explore on their own. While people will trickle back on throughout the day, the best time to experience the ship's onboard activities is in port when the majority of passengers are off of the ship.
On sea days, you will find that you are faced with long lines for these activities; however, the lines will be shorter for things like water slides, mini-golf, and the bigger thrills (i.e., Norwegian's go-karts, Carnival's BOLT roller coaster, Royal Caribbean's FlowRider and zip line, etc.) on days in port, meaning that you can enjoy them more than you would at sea.
You do not have to skip out on experiencing the port, either. Book an early morning excursion and head to your must-do activity as soon as you get back onboard.
Read more: 15 amazing activities on a cruise ship
Skip the buffet for lunch embarkation day and go for dinner instead
Most cruise passengers head straight to the buffet on embarkation day, meaning that you might be hard-pressed to find a table or be waiting in line to grab what you want to eat.
Instead, check and see what other options are available. Depending on what cruise line you are sailing with and what ship, there may be other quick-service dining venues open.
Royal Caribbean, for instance, often has a specialty restaurant that you pay pay extra to eat at. Likewise, some of their newer ships have Park Café, which is a more relaxed dining venue located in Central Park.
The buffet will be open for dinner and offer a more relaxed and flexible dining experience. This will give you more time on the pool deck to enjoy the sail away festivities, rather than feeling like you have to get back to your stateroom to freshen up for a three-course meal in the ship's main dining room.
Read more: Why you should eat dinner in the buffet
Book a shore excursion that pushes you outside of your comfort zone
Have you sailed to the Caribbean before? If so, there is a good chance that you have spent time lounging on the beach or perhaps gone snorkeling. Instead, look at shore excursions that offer tours for something that you may not have done before, such as riding an ATV, going zip lining through the jungle, or even a food tour to experience the local culture.
With that, you want to make sure that you budget for shore excursions, too, especially if you have never cruised to the region before. You might miss out on some once-in-a-lifetime experiences by thinking you can make a day out of walking around in the area outside of the terminal or staying onboard.
Read more: 10 tips for getting the best cruise shore excursion values
Pick one new event from the daily schedule each day
The cruise ship's schedule is full of fun activities to keep guests entertained throughout the day. Whether it is trivia, a sporting tournament, escape room, laser, tag, etc., find something new to try each day of your cruise.
While there is nothing wrong with returning to the same venue to listen to a favorite musician, you might miss out on some fun things that you cannot do at home. By trying something new, you may find a new activity that you enjoy.
For children, this might mean politely encouraging them to visit the youth clubs. While these clubs are a favorite for many frequent cruisers, they can be a source of anxiety for those who are on the shy side. Of course, they never know what they are missing until they give it it a try! From dance parties to scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, sport and video game tournaments, and more, there's a reason many mainstream cruise lines are known for their youth programming.
Do not be afraid to actively participate in something, either. When else do you have the option to partake in a belly flop content, crafting workshop, or dance class?
Get your towel the evening before you dock in port
Before dinner, make some time to either exchange your towels on the pool deck or grab a fresh set. That way, you will not have to worry about grabbing some before disembarking in port. You will have one less thing to worry about and can focus on fueling up on breakfast and getting to your tour on time.
You may be able to get towels near the gangway; however, if you find that this is not an available option, you will have to return to the top deck, potentially causing you to miss your group's departure if there is a long line.
You do not want to forget to return it, though, meaning that you will want to ensure you have the correct number of towels before heading back to the ship. Most cruise lines will charge your onboard account if you fail to return the towels.
Apply sunscreen onboard before heading ashore for the day
Some people, no matter how hard they try, are prone to getting sunburns. The last thing you want to happen is to get a nasty burn while on your cruise, as it can put a quick stop to the rest of your vacation!
Lather up before heading off of the ship. That way, you can feel protected en route to your activity, especially if it is later in the afternoon. Sometimes, your ship will not dock first thing in the morning.
Likewise, you may dock within walking distance of the beach, such as when you dock at a cruise line's private island. If, however, your activity requires you to exit the ship and immediately board a bus or van, you can get away with waiting to apply.
Dine at specialty restaurants for lunch
If you are looking to experience a more intimate specialty dining experience on a budget, consider going for lunch. Depending on what cruise line you are sailing with, you may find that the prices for lunch are significantly less than dinner, allowing you to either work one meal into your budget or try a few different restaurants.
Fueling up on a big lunch means that you can do something lighter for dinner, such as grabing something from a quick-service venue or a light meal at the buffet. Plus, with less time spent on dining, you can enjoy more of the ship's evening activities.
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.
