Top Tips for Going on a Cruise
For many, going on a cruise is the ultimate dream vacation. It’s an incredible experience – a great way to travel, see new places – and probably eat a whole lot of food. That said – planning for a cruise can be quite the undertaking, and we recommend you do your research before you dive in. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Choose the Right Line For You and Your Family – There are many different cruise lines out there to choose from, and it’s important that you find one you feel you can trust. The America’s Most Recommended cruise brands for luxury travel and river cruising, for example are Crystal Cruises and Paul Gauguin Cruises, respectively. Both provide an incredible and luxurious cruise experience. In fact, Crystal Cruises ranks at the top in the industry, and celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2015. Paul Gauguin Cruisesprovides a luxury cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti and the South Pacific. And then of course there is the Disney Cruise Line which is a built-in, non-stop great time, for parents and kids of all ages.
But, in addition to choosing for quality, you’ll want to budget where you can – and this article from Fodor’s has some tips on getting the best prices.
Pack Smart! – There’s a lot to remember when you’re packing for a cruise, and while you don’t want to over pack, you definitely don’t want to forget anything important either. Plus, keep in mind you’ll likely want to make room for some souvenirs. So to help you on this process, here are a few of the crucial items you’ll want to tag along:
- Your Passport & Documentation
- Medication (Prescription and any OTC medications you might need)
- Sunscreen
- Chargers/Batteries for your electronics
- Extra plastic bags to transport anything wet
- Appropriate clothes – check the dress code!
Budget Well – Make sure you bring enough with you – and factor in extra cash for tips – even if you’ve got an “all-inclusive” package, that won’t include tips, and those can add up.
Know Your Ship! – You’ll want to find out a few things about your ship before you get ready to board. Find what the bed situation is in your room – on some ships the beds are nailed down so you can’t push them together (that might be something you want). Also know your ships electrical configuration in case you need to bring adapters.
Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst – Hopefully, your cruise will sail along without a hitch. With that said, you have to plan for certain issues. Sometimes people get seasick on cruises, so it might be a good idea to discuss anti-dizziness patches with your doctor or pack an over the counter medication if you know that works for you. Also, be sure to bring your passport even if you aren’t leaving the country. If something happens and you have to go home early, you might have to fly or take a different route than you anticipated.
Author: Emily Smalter Emily is currently enrolled in a Master's of Social Work program at Kansas University. Outside of her schoolwork, Emily advocates for women to have a stronger voice in both the public and private realm, and spends her spare hours writing on how to make the seemingly smaller tasks in our lives more manageable.