Cruise Vacation Tips Pt 1

Cruising is my favorite way to vacation so far. Cruising is easy. You show up and pretty much everything is done for you. If you haven't cruised before I recommend trying an inexpensive 3-day cruise. Carnival tends to be the least expensive in general but all cruise lines have good deals available if you're willing to be patient and look around. If you want to read what people have to say about various cruise lines, ships, and ports of call, check out Cruise Critic. Future passengers can connect before their trip and past cruisers leave reviews and notes on how to make your trip the best it can be. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your cruise vacation!

Cruise Tips:

1. If you're flying to your port city - as with all flights you want to be at the airport at least 90 minutes prior to departure time. This is especially important at large airports or when you're checking luggage. If you don't have a trusted family member or friend to do drop offs and pick ups, take some time to price your transportation options. For us, long term parking was less expensive than doing a round trip taxi. Of course with this option we had to give ourselves some extra time to allow for the shuttle from the parking lot to the airport. You'll also want to make reservations in advance for transportation to the port. There are many ways to do this. The cruise line offers airport to port transfers for an additional fee. Of course there are taxi's and shuttles. And if you really want to travel in style, there are plenty of car service or limo options available at various price points. Do your research and find the option that best fits your budget. 
2. If at all possible fly in the day or night before the cruise departs. This is especially important during times of the year where inclement weather may impact your travel plans. This allows time for delays due to weather, mechanical difficulties or delayed luggage. Most ships leave port in the early evening. So if it isn't possible to leave a day early, leave on the flight that gets you to your port city as early as possible on Embarkation Day. However, if you are flying from the west coast to the east coast for your cruise - I strongly recommend flying in the night before. If you have any delays, due to the time change it could cause you to miss your boat. And catching up with the boat is something you can do, but it's at your own expense.
3. Why would you want to get there early? To start your vacation! The day of the cruise most lines will allow you to board as early as 11am with a 4pm or later departure. You may be thinking "won't the ship be empty?". Not only will it not be empty, the poolside buffet and at least one sit down restaurant will be open and serving food and drinks while you are waiting for your room to be ready. You can change into your swimwear and hit the pool or grab a lounge chair and soak up some sun! Rooms are generally ready no earlier than 1pm but not later than 3pm. I recommend going to a sit down restaurant. Mostly because it's inside and after traveling to get to the ship you might want to relax a little. 
4. The cruise line will allow you to carry on your "carry on sized" luggage. If you have larger bags, when you check in online you can print tags for your bags and attach them at the port. If you are unable to check in online, call the cruise line or travel agent for instructions on receiving your luggage tags and check in documents. Bags checked portside are delivered to your room by 7 pm. As always be sure your name, room number and a mobile number are on your luggage. 
5. Once you're onboard the ship your room key is golden. It serves as your I.D. and your money on the ship. You will use it for all onboard purchases. While 99% of the food and drinks are included in your fare, sodas, alcohol and the specialty restaurants are extra charge. They do offer juice and water 24/7 and if that doesn't work for you most ships offer beverage packages both alcoholic and non. These packages vary in price by ship and are worth it if you will consume a lot of alcohol or soft drinks. I always get the soft drink package because sometimes I don't want to walk up the buffet to get a drink and with the package, I can order it to my room or at whatever bar happens to be closest to me.
6. Room service is included in your fare. There are a few exceptions to this. For example, many lines will add a service charge if you order between midnight and 5am. This cruise we just went on, pizza was served at the Italian restaurant between 12 and 3pm. If you wanted to order a pizza after that time, it was $5 and had to be room service. Good sized pizza for $5 and tasty! You can also order a continental breakfast at no additional charge. Each morning we had a quick small breakfast in the room before we got our day started. And still went down to the buffet or restaurant for some real food. For those who need coffee to get started this is the quickest way to do this and can serve as a wake up call! 
7. Clearly there are plenty of ways to gain weight on a cruise. Thankfully modern cruise ships are equipped with excellent fitness facilities! There is really nothing better than jogging on the treadmill with nothing but the open ocean in front of you. It really is something. Many also offer classes, Zumba, Spinning, Weight Training. Newer ships have basketball courts, and jogging tracks, rock climbing, ice skating. Tons of opportunities to be active while having fun. 
8. They all have casinos and bars - if you choose to gamble please do so responsibly. And that goes for drinking as well. Some ships offer a pub crawl - if that's your thing have a great time but even on a ship you should have a DD or I suppose you'd call it a DW - designated walker- if for no other reason than to make sure you make it to your room safely 
9. When taking a cruise or any international trip, you will want to call your bank and let them know that you might be making purchases on your credit/debit card in another country. This will avoid having your card cut off mid trip due to suspected fraud.
10. Along the same lines - check your cell phone plan. If you don't have a plan that allows for international roaming, be sure your phone is either off, or in a safe mode that won't allow any accidental use that would incur massive charges. About an hour after leaving the port, Verizon sent me a text message letting me know phone calls would be $1.99 per min., sending a text $0.50, receiving $.05 and pic/video messages, web use, apps or tethering while roaming would be $20.48/MB unless I used wi-fi. You may be wondering if the ships offer wi-fi or phone service. Yes they do. And there is no way I would use it unless there was an emergency of some type. It would honestly be cheaper to wait till you get to a port and use a pay phone and your credit card to make a phone call. The room key will have the ships phone number on it. If you've left kids or loved ones on land who may need to get in touch with you they can do so but it is an international call.

There are two tips left and they are shore excursions and packing for the trip. I've saved those for another post. Mostly because this is already a long post and I consider the shore excursions and packing to be super important. Especially because these two things can really add to the cost of your trip if not planned carefully. Happy Monday folks!!