Cruise Tips
Some tips to help everyone have a good time
Download the Cruise App BEFORE your cruise. Enjoy some of the cool features:
A countdown clock before you board
Shows the daily schedule, menus, a ship map, casino points and balances
Check-in for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Book spa services
Make reservations for specialty restaurants
Book shows and entertainment
Check the weather
Keep track of ship time
Message with other guests
ALWAYS stay on ship time, which may be different from the local port time. If you use your cell phone, be careful that it does not connect to the local cell service and switch to local time. The ship will sail without you if you are late - and getting to the next port is at your expense (If you book an excursion through the cruise line, the ship will wait if one of their shore excursions is late).
Adam’s recommendation: Always look at the ship APP to confirm ship time.
If you have an Apple Watch, there’s an app you can download that will show you both times to help you know when to be back on board.
If you or someone if your group is noise sensitive, bring headphones or AirPods. The Lido music and casino can be overwhelming to those individuals. Also, guest services have “sensory” bags you can borrow that include headphones.
Boarding:
For Carnival Cruise Line: Check out our video on how to get the best boarding time.
Boarding check-in time is strictly enforced in most ports. If you arrive before your time you will have to wait outside the terminal - where there is likely no place to sit.
Before you board it might be a good idea to take a photograph with your phone of one of your luggage tags, showing your deck and cabin number. Then, set that photo as the “lock screen” photo on your phone. This will do two things:
If you accidentally walk off and leave your phone somewhere, as soon as someone looks, they’ll know exactly which cabin it needs to go to.
If you got the CHEERS program and accidentally walk off and leave your BRAIN sitting somewhere, a quick look at your phone will tell you which cabin YOU need to go to.
Put a copy of your luggage tag inside of each suitcase and carry-on. If the outside tag comes off, they will unzip and know which cabin it belongs to.
Take a picture of your cabin number so you don’t forgot where your cabin is.
Cruise Parking: There are usually parking lots available, make sure you reserve and pay in advance to ensure you get a spot. If you fly in to your port, just reserve an Uber to take you to the terminal.
Travel Insurance: We highly recommend getting travel insurance to protect you for potential medical needs as well as trip coverage. Please visit our travel insurance page for a quote.
Travel Needs: Check out our list of our favorite travel items from Amazon.
Shore Excursions: Make sure to book your excursions in advance. This will help you save time, money and headache. Check out our excursion here
Packing: Don’t over pack, you won’t use everything. Lots of websites have packing lists of everything that somebody has ever found useful on a cruise. The showers have shampoo and body wash but no conditioner. The cabins have blow dryers but if you have long, thick hair you might want to bring your own as theirs are not the best. They provide beach towels so no need to pack your own. MOST IMPORTANTLY: DO NOT pack your passport/ID/birth certificates, vaccine status and boarding pass in your checked bag! **Go to our packing checklist to find out more
Tipping:
Adam’s Recommendation: Pay in advance for gratuity. By doing this, you will lock in the current gratuity rate and not be surprised when the rates increase.
Making Friends:
A cruise is a great opportunity for making friends that can last a lifetime!!! Make sure you’ve exchanged contact information, and become friends on Social Media before you get off the ship.
Facebook Group: Join your specific cruise sailing Facebook group, to learn about your particular sailing and ship before you embark. It’s a great way to meet, connect and stay up to date on your cruise with your fellow sailors before, during and after.
If you find you need something that you don’t have, or forgot, post it in your specific cruise sailing Facebook group. Chances are good that someone has what you need. Common needs include over the counter medications, Band-Aids, phone chargers and corkscrews.
Cabins:
Some cabins only have a single 110V outlet by the desk (most newer ships have several and include USB charging ports). Many cruisers bring an extension cord to charge their electronics. DO NOT bring one with a surge protector - these are not allowed and it will be confiscated before your bag is delivered to your room. HIGHLY RECOMMEND: bring a multi-plug - they are small, have multiple outlets, USB ports and take up less space.
Store your empty suitcases under the bed to free up space in the room.
Adam’s recommendation: Many cabins have magnet walls, check out our Must Have’s for space saving ideas.
Magnetic hooks, mesh organizers, etc.
Muster Drill: The safety briefing (muster drill) is mandatory by international law. Your cruise will record your cabin/folio # on your boarding pass at the safety briefing to track and verify that everyone has completed it. The faster everybody checks in at their muster station, the sooner the sail away party begins! It literally takes 2 minutes with the new procedures.
If you fail to attend, expect to hear your name called over the loudspeaker. Don’t be that person!
Adam’s recommendation: Go to your muster station as soon as possible. You will avoid lines and be able to start enjoying your vacation.
Luggage: It takes a while to deliver 8000 to 10,000 pieces of luggage so be patient. Some luggage will not arrive until dinner time. Pack anything you want or need the first day in your carry-on; passport, ID, boarding pass, swimsuits, medication, phone charger, etc..
Adam’s recommendation: Bring your luggage on board yourself and not check it in. He has seen many times where luggage gets lost and doesn’t show up for several days.
Check out our wagon under Must Haves. This will take the burden off of carrying all of your luggage to your room,
Dress Attire: The dress code in the dining rooms and specialty restaurants is usually casual on the first night. Check with your cruise schedule for dress attire.
Activities:
There are a lot of activities on the ship, especially on sea days. Don’t try to do everything too quickly, pace yourself, you’ll enjoy it much more.
The towel animals take over the Lido deck early on morning on every cruise - usually 1 or 2 days before the end of the cruise. Often impressive, this is a favorite picture opportunity for many.
Getting Around: There is a map of the ship in the elevator lobbies that is oriented to the ship. For example, the bow (front) of the map points to the bow of the ship. You can also view a ship map on your individual cruise line APP.
On the newer ships, the elevators may not have buttons inside. You have to select your floor before you board the elevator, and press the button once for each person going to that floor.
Example: If there are 4 of you going to deck 10, you will press “Deck 10” one time.
On some ships, the elevator key pad will tell you which elevator to use. For instance, elevator “S” for the deck you need.
Trust me, you’ll want to know this before you get annoyed at how long it takes for elevators to go up and down because people can’t figure them out!
Adam’s recommendation: Go to our cruise line page and check out your specific cruise line - click on Cruise Fleet - click on your ship. You will be able to see the ship stats, deck plans and information on that individual ship.
Food and Beverages:
You can order a variety of items in the dining room. Feel free to order multiple appetizers and up to 2 entrees at no charge. Additional entrees now have a nominal fee. This is a good opportunity to try new food - if you don’t like it, your server will gladly bring you something else. If there is an appetizer that you like, ask your server if you can have it as an entree (Does not apply to the specialty restaurants). Try not to waste food as it raises the price for everyone. You can also order off the kid’s menu.
You will be on a ship with thousands of guests - at certain times there will be long lines - for example noon for lunch on the Lido deck. Avoiding peak times by 20-30 minutes usually results in much shorter lines.
Drink packages can be purchased in advance for a discount rate. If you choose to purchase once you are on board, you will pay the full rate.
Adam’s recommendation: Always get the drink package if you intend on consuming 6 or more drinks a day
The State of Texas taxes alcohol and tobacco products when you get off the ship - even for non-Texas residents. Guest Services has the forms to fill out to declare. It’s based on the honor system - TABC won’t search your luggage.
Also, in Texas and New York the CHEERS package doesn’t start until day 2 (You will have to pay for alcoholic drinks on Day 1).
Internet:
Internet plans can be purchased before a cruise at a discount price. If you choose to purchase once you board you will pay the full price for each plan. Internet access on the cruise ships is much better than in the past, but will be slower than you used to on land. Internet speed is often very slow in the evenings and just after reboarding in ports when lots of guests are posting pictures and videos.
International roaming fees for using your cell phone on-board are very expensive. Put your phone in airplane mode and turn on Wi-Fi to use the cruise ship app.. Check with your individual carrier to see what your plan covers. Many plans are free in certain countries.
iMessages can be sent at no charge while onboard and on WiFi but it’s still inconsistent.
Ports:
Bring small bills for ports if you plan on shopping at the local markets. They might not be able to break larger bills and you certainly don’t want someone walking off with $100 of your money hoping to get change back.
Debarkation:
Follow cruise lines instructions for debarkation (leaving the ship at the end of the cruise). They are experts at making sure the process runs smoothly, so be patient and follow instructions. DO NOT crowd the halls and stairways, this makes it a nightmare for the staff trying to get people off safely.
You no longer have to fill out customs forms making debarkation a breeze.
Be mindful of cruise etiquette
Always wear a swimsuit cover up indoors
Allow those in scooters/wheelchairs to go into the elevators first
Don’t cut into the buffet line (get in line like everyone else)
Don’t play your music loud (wear headphones or AirPods)
Children who are not potty trained are not allowed in the pools/hot tubs but there is a splash pad area for the little ones
Warning-cruising is addictive, welcome to the club!! We’re so glad to have you.