I've been on 20 cruises within the past two years, but no matter how many times embarkation day rolls around, I feel the same jitters as I did when I first started cruising! However, I've learned a thing or two that helps make the first day of any cruise vacation more enjoyable.
For example, certain cruise lines require you to print your boarding pass ahead of time. Forgetting can lead to unnecessary stress and delays at the terminal.
It's also advisable to keep all your travel documentation easily accessible in your carry-on bag, rather than shuffling to grab it from your suitcase before handing your luggage off to the porter.
With thousands of people eager to board the ship, embarkation can feel overwhelming. The honking horns, shouting port employees, and crowds of people rarely make for a relaxing experience.
Still, embarkation day is technically the first day of your cruise vacation, even if you wake up in a hotel room a few miles from the port. Instead of letting the frustration of boarding ruin my excitement, here's what I always try to do on the first day of a cruise to set a positive tone for the rest of the trip!
Secure an early arrival time
Whenever I am stuck with a later arrival time, I feel like I've wasted the first day of my cruise. While the action doesn't start until sail away, I prefer to spend as much time as possible onboard, whether enjoying a leisurely specialty lunch, exploring the ship, unpacking, or grabbing a drink at one of the bars.
Embarkation day always feels more rushed when I board later. The hustle to locate my cabin, eat lunch, and head to the lido deck to secure a great sailaway spot often makes the day's events blur together.
Boarding early isn't just about arriving at the port before the afternoon rush. Most cruise lines require passengers to select an arrival time during the online check-in process to help mitigate crowds. To no surprise, the earliest times go fast, with everyone wanting to make the most of their time onboard.
Even though I frequently cruise, I keep track of when each sailing's check-in opens, so I can grab my desired arrival times. Whether you want to jot it down on your desk's calendar or make a note in your phone, keeping track of when your check-in opens can make a difference in ensuring you don't miss that important window.
Occasionally, I book a last-minute departure and am stuck with the luck of the draw. While it's not the end of the world and doesn't ruin my vacation, embarkation day isn't the same when you're stepping foot onboard past 1:30pm or 2:00pm!
Some cruise lines are stricter than others. For example, I have arrived early when checking in for Royal Caribbean cruises out of Miami and have been let inside the terminal with no issue. Disney, on the other hand, assigns each guest a boarding group number.
I found port employees vigilantly checking everyone's group on their boarding passes when I sailed aboard the Disney Magic to ensure they weren't trying to cut the line.
Securing an early arrival time ensures that, if I encounter strict boarding times, I'm not stuck waiting aimlessly when I could be enjoying the ship.
Read more: Cruise boarding times: how early to arrive at the terminal
Benefits of getting an early check-in time
I flew to South Florida 6 times in 2024 for cruises, and because I'm a strict follower of flying the day before your cruise's departure, I must abide by my hotel's check-out time. Rather than sitting in the lobby or cruise terminal, an early arrival time ensures I can head straight from my hotel to the ship with minimal waiting involved.
Additionally, as one of the first passengers onboard, I have a better selection for show and dining times. While I try to book as much as possible in advance, some bookings don't open until embarkation day.
You never know what kinds of deals you'll be offered, either. When cruising on Allure of the Seas recently, my dad and I were offered a BOGO specialty meal at the specialty Brazillian steakhouse. We just so happened to be walking through the Solarium before sailing away when a crew member approached us and asked if we'd be interested in the deal.
Speaking of specialty restaurants, one of my favorite ways to kickstart a cruise vacation is with a relaxing lunch in one of the specialty venues as opposed to the crowded buffet. Because these meals take longer than grabbing a quick bite, boarding early ensures I have enough time to enjoy the dining experience without feeling rushed.
Though starting my vacation with a specialty meal is nice, it's not always in the budget, especially if I'm on a port-intensive sailing to places like Europe or Alaska. In those cases, I'd rather allocate more money towards excursions rather than cruise ship dining.
Thankfully, ships have plenty of complimentary dining and boarding early means there are fewer people in the ever-popular buffet.
Embarkation day is also a great time to cross activities off your must-do list. Though older ships have fewer amenities, today's mega-ships are jam-packed with surf simulators, rollercoasters, ice skating rinks, go-karts, waterslides, and more.
However, these activities can have long lines on sea days. If there's something I really want to do, I aim to head straight there on embarkation day.
Inclement weather can close certain activities even if you're banking on a nice sea day. For example, when cruising on Carnival Celebration, I foolishly waited until the last day of the voyage to schedule my BOLT rollercoaster ride. Because of strong winds, the ride was closed throughout the morning.
Rather than opening at 9:00am, they didn't welcome guests until 3:00pm, and because of the closure, they stopped accepting afternoon reservations to let those with morning time slots have priority.
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.
