Taking your first cruise? The only thing that can match the excitement of an upcoming trip is the overwhelmed feeling that comes with trying to navigate and plan for your first trip. From embarkation on cruise day to dining to shore excursions, everything you do on a cruise is just a little different than any other vacation you’ve ever been on.
Cabins Get Very Dark; Bring a Night Light There’s nothing worse than being in an unfamiliar, dark cabin and having to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Save yourself from walking into furniture and stubbing your toe by packing a simple plug-in nightlight. It’s especially helpful if you’re in an interior cabin where there are no windows to provide outside illumination.
Turn Your Phone Off Once on the Ship – There are horror stories after horror stories of people coming back from their cruise with unexpected cell phone charges. The reason is either they use their phone willingly without realizing they are connected to a “roaming” tower or their phone used data without their knowledge for things like updating apps or downloading messages. No matter the reason, you don’t want to accidentally get dinged with a sky-high phone bill. Turn your phone off or put it on airplane mode before your cruise leaves the shore.
Interior Cabins Are Fine for First Time Cruisers – Wondering if you should get an interior cabin or a balcony room? Don’t sweat it. Balconies are great, but there are some big advantages for interior cabins. As a first-time cruiser, it’s doubtful you’ll be spending much time in your room anyway. Having an interior cabin is a cheaper way to get on your first sailing without breaking the bank.
Balcony Rooms Are Worth It – As we just said, interior cabins are great for first-time cruisers who are usually out around the ship the entire trip. But if you do decide to spring for a balcony room, it’s worth it. This is especially the case if you’re the sort of person who likes to take your time getting ready in the morning while sipping on a cup of coffee. Having the fresh air — and the view — from your balcony is worth the extra cost if you want to pay a little more for your trip.
Don’t Worry About Cash on Board; Everything Is Paid Through Your Room Key | When you go through check-in, you’ll receive the key to your room. This “key” is actually like a credit card that you’ll slide into your cabin door to unlock it. But it actually does a lot more. It’s linked to your shipboard account, and you’ll use your room key just like a credit card to charge items to your account. This is so much more convenient than having to carry around cash. Just be sure to keep a close hold on your card!
When you cruise Internationally you should fly in at least 2 days prior to the trip so that you can get acclimated to the time zone and in case of any flight delays (that can’t be controlled) you don’t miss your cruise.
By booking within the group you will receive On Board Credit – On Board-Credit is virtual cash that you can spend on the cruise. You can use it towards your Excursions / Specialty Restaurants / Spa
Treatments / Drinks / A la Carte Items (Starbucks / Frozen Yogurt, etc) / Souvenirs / Photos and more.
You can order a second (or third or fourth) entrée at no charge –Can’t choose between the chicken or the fish? Don’t stress out. Order both. Or order two plates on lobster night. Most people don’t realize it, but you can order as much as you want in the main dining room (or other restaurants). Cruise lines know that people are on vacation to let loose and enjoy themselves. They understand that people love to eat on their trip.
