It should come as no surprise that we firmly believe that everyone should try a cruise at least once in their life. But we recognize that cruises aren’t always beginner-friendly. If you’ve never been on one before, they can seem really intimidating. For the most part, though, you can just book one and jump into the experience with no worries. There are a few things that we think that you should know before your first cruise, though.
Check what’s included in the price
Many travelers that are new to the world of cruises tend to assume that all itineraries are all-inclusive. Ah, if only that were true. While it is certainly factual that many cruise tickets include food and entertainment, it’s rare for the initial cost to pay for everything. It’s easy to just indulge while on the trip only to come home to some pretty significant bills. The way to avoid this is simply to do your research before going. The cruise line you booked with should clearly state what you are entitled to, and you can always reach out to them before the cruise starts to get some clarification. Don’t get caught paying for things you thought were free!
Pack everything… seriously, everything
Recent trends have made it seem like the proper way to pack for trips is to slim down as much as possible. The ultralight approach can work, but you’re going to want to be as prepared as possible if this is your first cruise. You can tinker with your packing list once you figure out what it is that you actually don’t need. Even if you’ve never felt seasick before, still bring some anti-nausea medication. Bring that extra swimsuit just in case. In short: try to overprepare rather than underprepare.
Take your time
The great thing about cruises is that you can see a lot of different things in a short amount of time. But you should be cautious about overloading your schedule. Yes, there might be enough hours in the day for you to do all of those shore excursions, but do you really want to spend your trip feeling stressed out and rushed? We recommend taking as much time as you need to really absorb the entire experience. This piece of advice also goes for your time in the city that the ship embarks from. Get there early and spend a day or two being a tourist before hopping on the ship. There’s nothing worse than feeling time pressure while on vacation.
We think that this advice is helpful, but don’t let it worry you. Cruises are generally very relaxing and fun. Every beginner is bound to make some mistakes, so don’t be too concerned!