Going on a cruise is a great way to relax and unwind from the stress of everyday life. The calming waves, abundance of activities and vast varieties of food on board will have you wanting to quickly book another cruise!
Like any other vacation, it requires significant planning and preparation to ensure everything runs smoothly. If you are looking to enjoy a cruise, check out these suggestions below to make sure you have everything you need before shipping out.
Make a list
First and foremost, make a list of everything you need. Waiting until the last minute to pack a bag is a sure way to forget some of your necessities. Making a list beforehand will ensure you have time to remember everything you will need during your extended stay. Some of these important items, such as medications, could become a problem quickly if you board the boat and do not have them with you. Creating a list of necessities will ensure you don’t have to cut your cruise short.
Pack appropriate clothing
Most cruise ships allow and encourage casual clothing for the day as you are exploring and enjoying all the activities on deck and inside. Additionally, some cruises require more formal attire for specialty dining experiences. If you are looking to partake in a fancy dinner while aboard, it would be best to check the dress code to make sure you are dressed to match the atmosphere. If you do not have the proper attire, the restaurants may not allow you to dine.
Find out what is included in your cabin
This is another crucial step in preparing for your cruise. Different cruises may offer travel size shampoo and body wash in the bathrooms while others do not. Some may even offer self-serve laundry services in case of emergency. Knowing what your cruise has to offer will ensure you come equipped with everything you need for a comfortable experience.
Get your passport
If you are going on a cruise that lands in a foreign port, make sure to time to apply for your passport or renewal right away, if you do not already have one. It is currently taking several months for processing passports. If you find yourself stranded in a foreign area for some reason, it is always best to be prepared just in case. It is possible you could be in a foreign port and need to leave early; and in this case you would need a passport to get home safely. With this in mind, you should at least have a current U.S. passport card with you, which is good for entering ports in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, and the Caribbean (but not for arriving by plane or car).
Review your paperwork
You’ve probably double checked that you selected the right dates and times at the point of purchase, right? It never hurts to check a third time! Mistakes do happen and you will want to catch any errors before you leave and discover that you arrived on the wrong day. Review your paperwork and tickets carefully to ensure you selected the right package, dates, times, and location for your trip to run seamlessly.
Bring cash for the extras
Most cruises claim to be all-inclusive, but this typically goes for food and beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Aboard the ship, you can easily spend additional money on extra activities and products that are not included in your package. This could be enjoying spa treatments, specialty restaurants, and even shopping excursions. Once you board the ship, you are sealed off from the world for however many days your cruise lasts; and even if you are able to take out cash on board or at a port stop, fees may very high. Because of this, you’ll want to have enough money on hand to enjoy yourself with the things that are not included in your cruise package.
Tip the staff
While some cruises will tack on gratuity to your account at the end of your stay per person per day, it is preferred for you to tip the staff with cash. This could be the waiters at specialty restaurants or room service waiters, and those cleaning the staterooms. When tipping the staff in cash, they will not get taxed on this. They rely on the tips of customers to make an adequate salary, so keeping cash on hand for recognition here and there for the wait staff is a best practice.
Arranging transportation
You’ve booked the cruise and have hopefully gone through all the other recommendations: now what? You need to make sure you can get to your port!
Let’s say you are looking for a port of Los Angeles transportation. You and your fellow travelers will need a way to get to the port without having to leave someone’s car behind for the entire cruise! Booking with a transportation agency will give you a luxurious experience and ensure you and your guests get to your destination on time and in style. There are differently-sized vehicle options you can choose from, ranging from a one to two passenger sedan to a charter bus that can fit up to 55 people.
Instead of relying on a rideshare service that can only fit a few people at a time, drvn ensures that you are choosing the appropriately-sized vehicle for you and the entire crew. You can pre-book for specific times and dates, giving you peace of mind that you will have the transportation arranged for when and where you need it. All you need to do is book and enjoy your comfortable, professionally managed ride to the cruise, and of course, equally important, a relaxing ride home, afterwards.
Everyone deserves an escape from reality from time to time. A cruise is a great way for people to do this! Not only does a cruise allow you to soak up some sun and bask in the salty ocean waves, but cruises also offer an abundance of activities and gourmet foods that you would be hard pressed to find in one place on shore. Following these suggestions will assist you in planning a cruise to remember, with as little stress as possible. You’ve earned it!
