What might be some little – maybe weird – things to consider when you are about to go on a cruise?  Here are some in random order ...

·       Know if you’re claustrophobic before you book.

This one is especially important for first-time cruisers. Staterooms aren’t huge; yet they can be good sized for ships. Cruise deal prices typically begin with the inside room – that means NO windows, and they are usually the smallest square footage. Think functional with an inside room – it is a place to sleep and has a small bathroom.

·       Check what time you can board the ship.

Sometimes you can board earlier than you think, which would mean you may be checking out of a hotel and can go directly to the port and board the ship or book an earlier arrival flight and go directly to the ship. Frequent sailors know this as they probably have loyalty status and can board earlier.  Now a heads-up that your stateroom may not be ready, but it is nice to get on the ship, get your luggage handed over to their staff, and scope out the ship to get familiarized with where things are at a leisurely pace.

·       Book excursions you know you want ahead of time.

‍In a nutshell, it’s less stressful. The line at the excursion desk can be long and this just saves you time and won’t run the risk of being sold out once you do get to the counter.  I was on a cruise where all excursions were booked after boarding, so I just went directly to the excursion desk after boarding and booked what I wanted.  EZPZ.

·       Book Spa Passes at the beginning of your cruise to maximize the value.  

‍This may need to be booked on the ship once you’ve embarked, so if that’s the case, just go directly to the spa and they usually run deals on embarkation day. I usually book the spa pass for the entire cruise; it typically gives access to the spa features (think hydro area, Himalayan salt chamber, heated spa lounge chairs, sauna, steam room, that type of thing).  Spa treatments are not included.  At a minimum it is a nice, quiet place to go to refresh after a day of activities.  

·       Spa Treatments – know what you want, get it booked.

‍This is a good one especially if you have an at-sea day you can get the time and service of your choice.

·       Check out the cruise line website to see (or ask your agent) what bathroom amenities they have.  

‍You may find you don’t need to take any shampoo, soap, etc.  It frees up some luggage space, too.  

·       Pay attention to the daily newsletter.

It has some pretty good info in there and lets you plan your days accordingly.  

·       Buy a beverage package ahead of time.  

If you are a soda or umbrella-drink person, they will add up and surprise you when you get your bill at the end of the cruise. There is usually a cut off time for purchasing it prior to sailing and can be quite a bit more, so decide sooner than later.  But make sure to read what is offered with each level of package – you may not use a package and no sense paying for it otherwise.

·       If you are fortunate to be able to drive to the port, park at a hotel that caters to cruisers.  

‍This is similar to a park-and-fly near airports.  These are handy when you drive in the day before, spend the night before embarking, and then pay to leave your car there – you’ll see them referred to as stay-and-cruise packages. And it may surprise you that this can be less expensive than parking at the port the entire time.

·       Check to see if your pre-cruise hotel has a shuttle to the port.

‍Sure, you can always taxi, but if the shuttle is included, use it!

·       Look at Google Maps or ask the hotel staff/ship crew about stores nearby.  

If you’re on board early and forgot some sundries, it’s cheaper to get off the ship and go to a local Walgreens or something similar than on the boat or in a foreign country.  

·       Able to carry your own luggage, use the express walk-on and walk-off.  

‍This is like having carry-on luggage (or at least luggage you can lug).  Now it’s important to know you may need to carry them up/down stairs, but if that works,it definitely speeds up the process up and you can bypass a lot of the crowds.  

·       Take a tiny purse or have pockets.  

‍You need to have your room key with you at all times on a cruise ship, and it’s handy for carrying lipstick/gloss/balm, your phone, etc.

·       Know if you are prone to motion sickness.  

If so, book a stateroom in the middle or back of the boat and stick with lower level rooms.  It doesn’t need to be an inside room on the bottom deck, but don’t select a high deck.  Being able to see the horizon or get some fresh air tends to help, which would mean a balcony or ocean view room.

·       Decide if you want to be close to things of interest or if you want to get your steps in.

Just be aware of what you may want to be near – kids’ area, buffet, spa, pool, etc. and book your stateroom accordingly.  

·       If you’re parking a car, remember where you parked.  

Take a photo of where you parked and any landmarks.  After your great vacation, forgetting where you parked your car isn’t something you want to have to deal with.

·       Wi-fi on a ship.  

‍Not something you care about if you’re wanting to be off the grid, but let’s face it, the phone or tablet usually are with us. You’ll find it is typically sold in a package of minutes, and I’d recommend purchasing it ahead of time as they usually have better pricing. And if there’s a cruise that offers it as included, you’ll cheer.  Keep in mind that you need to check with your cell provider prior to cruising, too. Just be realistic on expectations of the speed of the internet – it will likely be slower than you’re used to.

·       Know what is included in your cruise.  

‍Many cruise lines have gone to  a la carte to allow passengers to choose what they want and feel they get the value for what they’ll pay for and use.  What that means, though, is once you board, not everything is included.  So just be informed of what is included to keep surprises to a minimum.

·       Try at least one specialty restaurant, if offered.  

‍There may be a cover charge, but it mixes up the buffet option a bit.

·       Are you a light sleeper?  

‍Make sure to check out where your stateroom is – you won’t want to be near an elevator, the laundry room, a main hall thoroughfare – basically where there would be regular traffic or a lot of ambient noises.

·       Know if you’re taking a tender to shore.    

These are boats that take groups to shore where the large ship cannot dock.  I wouldn’t recommend wearing a flowy dress or heels during this time – it can get breezy boarding, riding, and disembarking from a tender.  And just wear smart shoes for potentially wet surfaces – the staff assists, of course, but best to be safe.

·       When packing, note any dress codes during your sailing.

 It isn’t that you have to wear a dress or tie,but more like no shorts.  And if all you packed for a warm vacation is shorts … I usually take one multi-use dressier outfit.

·       Be ready to be patient when using the elevators.

It’s a lot of people on a ship going to several floors; just allow yourself plenty of time to relax and enjoy your cruise.  There are always stairs and if you’re able, it’s a great way to get your steps in.

·       Suggest a pair of shoes with rubber soles that are closed-toe.  

There are some cruise ships and excursions where you need to have closed-toe shoes mostly for safety; I usually wear mine during air travel so it makes walking (hopefully not running) through airports easier.

Make sure your Travel Adviser is aware of specific accommodations you need - no shame in asking! This is about making your trip an enjoyable one. This list isn't as daunting as you may think ... it's merely tidbits to make your cruise (ocean or river) a comfy one.

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If you have tips to share, send them our way!

Happy Cruising!