Whether you’ve got multiple cruises under your belt, or are out to test the waters – so to speak – regarding a cruise vacation, we’re here to make your experience wonderful. A cruise is a means to enjoy incredible food, stop by some of the most engaging ports in the world, and an endless amount of on-board fun. Learn why should your vacation be a cruise vacation?
FINDING THE CRUISE RIGHT FOR YOU: A HOW-TO GUIDE
Whether you know it or not, you have access to hundreds of cruise experts waiting to help. Our vacation consultants are experts in the field, with decades of sales and customer service experience – plus dozens of cruises logged in their passports. At CruisesOnly, we’re passionate about cruising – we cruise for fun, for business, with our families, and with our friends. That love of cruising is at the heart of all we do, and inspired all the advice and “insider tips” you’ll find in this section. So take a look, and remember, you’ve got a lot of friends in the business! Learn how to find the cruise right for you.
LIFE ON BOARD A CRUISE SHIP
You’ve booked what you’re certain will be the perfect cruise, and you’re already daydreaming about life on board: picturing yourself poolside, relaxing in the spa, or dining in one of your ship’s incredible specialty restaurants. You’re excited, and you should be – but if you really want everything to come together as imagined, it’s essential that you arrive prepared, no matter which ship you’re sailing or where it’s headed. Here’s what to expect before, during & after life on board a cruise ship.
SAFETY AT SEA
Every cruise line strives to keep passengers safe, and ensure that guests and crew are staying healthy at sea. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) — the world’s largest cruise association — requires that its members comply with all standards and regulations to ensure passenger safety. The average cruise ship undergoes dozens of safety inspections per year and adheres to (or exceeds) requirements set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Learn more about how cruise lines ensure your safety at sea.
STAYING HEALTHY AT SEA
Cruise lines keep passengers and crews healthy with strict cleanliness rules and exceptional medical resources. They have dedicated an enormous amount of resources toward hiring highly qualified medical professionals — including pediatricians and physicians — who adhere to strict international standards of treatment. Learn more about ways to ensure you are staying healthy at sea.
How to Choose the Right Cruise
Cruisers everywhere, including first timers, all have the same question: “How do I find the right cruise?” With plenty of options from the glaciers of Alaska to the Isles of the South Pacific, there are many to choose from. In fact, we offer sailings to 730 ports around the globe. Destinations include the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, and Europe. Some cruises feature several days at sea, while others stop at private islands. Here’s a sampling of what we offer.
EXPLORE THE CRUISE LINES Cruise Fun
Premium Cruises
Unique Experiences
Smaller Ships, Exotic Destinations
Costa Cruises MSC Cruises
for Singles, Couples & Families
Carnival Cruise Lines Disney Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line Royal Caribbean
Cruise in Luxury
Sophisticated Yet Affordable
Celebrity Cruises Holland America Line Princess Cruises
Don’t sacrifice style and comfort on the high seas. Climb aboard a luxury vessel and you’ll immediately understand what sets the experience apart from life on a mass-market or contemporary cruise ship. Lavish attention to every detail. Ultimate convenience. A level of personal attention and pampering that leaves guests delighted and amazed.
AmaWaterways Avalon Waterways Crystal River Cruises Ponant
Seabourn
Viking Ocean Cruises
STATEROOM SELECTION
Oceania Cruises
Azamara Club Cruises Cunard
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Silversea Cruises
Viking River Cruises
American Queen Steamboat Crystal Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises SeaDream Yacht Club Uniworld River Cruises Windstar Cruises
When selecting your stateroom, you should think about more than just deck level – consider its proximity to elevators, restaurants, pools, and the spa.
How important is the view? If you wouldn’t stay in a room without a view at an island resort, then make an ocean view the minimum stateroom category you consider on your cruise.
Considering a balcony stateroom? No matter where you cruise, benefits include private sunbathing, room service dining under the stars, breath-taking views, and convenient photo opportunities both in port and at sea.
Balcony staterooms – the ideal choice for viewing the rugged Alaskan coastline, lush Caribbean Islands, and the beauty of Europe. Roll out of bed, smell the ocean air, sit back, and watch the world unfold!
CRUISE LINGO & GLOSSARY
: A destination or city visited by a ship
: An activity or tour in a port
: A cruise combined with a land vacation. The land portion may consist
Port
Shore Excursion
Cruise tour
of anything from a hotel stay before or after the cruise to a fully escorted tour and airfare. Category : A group of staterooms (formerly referred to as cabins) that are assigned the same rank because of their size, amenities, deck level, and location. Prices vary according to category.
Interior Ocean view Balcony Suite
: staterooms that do not have windows.
: staterooms that feature portholes or a picture window.
: staterooms that feature private balconies.
: the most spacious, luxurious accommodations on board.
Life Onboard A Cruise Ship
You’ve booked what you’re certain will be the perfect cruise, and you’re already daydreaming about life onboard: picturing yourself poolside, relaxing in the spa, or dining in one of your ship’s incredible specialty restaurants. You’re excited, and you should be – but if you really want everything to come together as imagined, it’s essential that you arrive prepared, no matter which ship you’re sailing or where it’s headed.
Here at Traveloux, we’ve got plenty of expert advice on how to get ready for your upcoming cruise, from which travel documents you’ll need and what to pack to cost-saving tips and what you can expect from a typical day at sea. We want to ensure that you’ll make the most of your experience, and that’s where the information below comes in handy: these helpful hints, tricks, and reminders will save you time and money, eliminate stress and unwelcome surprises, and give you a leg up on your fellow passengers.
BOARDING YOUR CRUISE SHIP (EMBARKATION)
Most cruise lines “stagger” embarkation to keep things moving smoothly; be sure to pay close attention to your appointment time/embarkation window, and plan accordingly (i.e. don’t cut it too close, but don’t arrive too early, either).
If you’ll be departing from close to home, consider how you’ll be getting to and from port: parking at the pier is super-convenient, but it’s also expensive, so you may want to opt for a less-costly alternative like an offsite lot, a taxi cab, or a ridesharing service.
Proper travel documentation (e.g. a valid U.S. passport, a birth certificate plus driver’s license) is your responsibility, and if you arrive without it you won’t be allowed aboard your vessel; be sure to contact your cruise line and/or the appropriate government agencies beforehand to determine what you’ll need in each and every port of call.
Review your cruise line’s guidelines regarding which items are prohibited aboard your ship; some are pretty obvious (e.g. no weapons of any kind, no illegal drugs), others less so (select beverages, candles, extension cords, pool toys, certain types of sports equipment, etc.), so it’s always wise to check ahead of time.
You’ll almost certainly be leaving your luggage with the porters at the pier, but there’s no need to wait for it to be delivered to your stateroom; bring along a thoughtfully- packed carry-on bag (e.g. a swimsuit, flip-flops, toiletries, portable electronics, etc.) and you can start enjoying yourself the moment you step on board (it’s also the best place to store your most valuable items including jewellery and any critical medications).
NOW THAT YOU’RE ONBOARD: HINTS, TIPS & TRICKS
Navigating your cruise ship can be confusing, especially for the first day or two; write down your stateroom number on a slip of paper and keep it with you.
Your cruise ship, with the exception of the casino, is “cashless,” so you’ll need to plan accordingly. Determine which credit card you’ll want to use for on board expenses, or come prepared with an adequate amount of cash that you can use to set up your shipboard account.
Consider skipping the buffet on embarkation day: seemingly everybody will make a beeline for it within minutes of boarding, resulting in a pretty chaotic scene, and there are almost always other venues open where you can grab lunch, drinks, a light snack, etc.
Take a few minutes to inspect your stateroom to ensure that everything’s in working order (e.g. test the toilet, the lights and outlets, etc.); your cabin steward can assist with any needed repairs, special requests, and more.
If you’re traveling with children, be sure to swing by your ship’s kids’ club to see what’s on offer for toddlers, tweens, and teens; you can take a tour of the facilities, introduce yourselves to the counsellors, and sign-up on the spot (attendance is optional, and virtually everything is included in the cost of your cruise fare).
If you’ll absolutely, positively need Internet/Wi-Fi access while you’re at sea, plan on adding a service package, which can be purchased on board or in advance of departure (package details – including pricing, connection speeds, and more – will vary widely from vessel to vessel); if not, you’ll want to remember to set your phone and other devices to “airplane mode” and/or turn off access to data that’s normally provided via your carrier (roaming charges can pile up quickly, and they can cost you an obscene amount of money if you’re not careful).
Every evening, a newsletter detailing the following day’s activities will be delivered directly to your stateroom; use it to help schedule your time at sea and ashore.
All cruise ships, per international regulations, are required to conduct a safety briefing, or “muster drill,” prior to (or at the beginning of) departure; attendance is mandatory, even for children (your crew will take roll call), and your specific muster station is assigned based on the location of your stateroom (check the signage in your cabin to see where you’re expected to assemble, then listen closely to your ship’s public-address system for an announcement indicating that the drill is about to begin).
RECOMMENDED WITHOUT RESERVATION: SCHEDULE YOUR SPA APPOINTMENTS, DINING TIMES, ETC. ASAP
Virtually every shipboard activity that requires a reservation (e.g. a spa treatment, dinner in a specialty restaurant, select theatre shows, etc.) Upon boarding, head immediately to your ship’s guest-services desk (or its box office, spa, etc.) to ensure the widest possible selection of options.
A visit to your ship’s spa or salon can be expensive, but consider trading some time ashore for a good deal on a favourite wellness or beauty treatment.
If your budget allows for just a single specialty dinner, consider enjoying it right off the bat: select specialty venues will sometimes offer discounted meals on the first day of a voyage, and an opening-day reservation is often easier to come by.
Most cruise ships feature very flexible (non-specialty) dining options; make sure you’re aware of the choices that are available to you (e.g. seating times, seating assignments, etc.), and feel free to touch base with your maître d’ or other dining-room personnel if you have any issues or concerns (e.g. you’d like to be moved to a different table, you have special dietary needs, etc.).
Weigh the pros and cons of purchasing a beverage package (e.g. unlimited soda, alcoholic drinks, bottled water); depending on your needs and the needs of your traveling companions, a beverage package might add up to a significant savings, but you’ll want to read the fine print before committing (select package prices don’t account for gratuities, which are often assessed on a per-drink basis, and most come with a number of requirements and restrictions).
Don’t assume that the live entertainment you’re interested in won’t require reservations and/or an additional fee; while the vast majority of shipboard performances are available free-of-charge and on a first-come, first-served basis, there are a handful of exceptions.
LIFE ASHORE, TOO: HOW & WHEN TO BOOK YOUR SHORE EXCURSIONS
You can book your shore excursions once you’re on board; visit your ship’s excursion desk for assistance, but be sure to do so ASAP: as with spa appointments and specialty restaurants, shore excursions always fill up quickly, and you’ll want to make sure that you don’t miss out on any of your itinerary’s must-see attractions.
Research the destinations you’ll be visiting both before and during your travels; coming ashore is an essential component of any cruise vacation, and you’ll want to identify the highlights (and the hidden gems) in every port of call.
Don’t forget to pack attire that’s appropriate for the excursions you’ll be taking (e.g. comfortable sneakers, waterproof footwear and clothing, hats and visors, sunscreen, a water bottle with carry strap, etc.).
Always protect your valuables – your travel documents, your cash/credit cards, a cell phone – while you’re in port; store everything in something that stays dry and secure (e.g. a money belt or another type of wearable pouch) and keep it on your person at all times.
If you plan on dining early, try to book your excursions accordingly to avoid having to rush back to your ship (keep in mind that room service is an option, too; with few exceptions, it’s already been included in the cost of your cruise fare).
If possible, save the shopping until the very end; you’ll find plenty of stores, stalls, and souvenir stands within a stone’s throw of the pier, and you’ll avoid the hassle of having to lug/manage your purchases over the course of an outing.
If your excursion ends early, consider returning to your cruise ship so that you can enjoy its most popular amenities at a leisurely pace (with so many of your fellow passengers still ashore, you’ll have little in the way of competition).
SAYING “FAREWELL” TO YOUR CRUISE SHIP (DISEMBARKATION)
Your cruise line will provide you with detailed instructions/guidelines for leaving your ship.
Often, these will be delivered to your stateroom on the final day of your cruise (or the evening before); they may also be outlined via a video that plays on your in-stateroom
television, or via announcements that are broadcast over your ship’s public-address system.
Be as prepared as you can be the night before you return: make last-minute purchases (your ship’s shops will be closed when you arrive in port), pack everything possible, settle any outstanding shipboard accounts, and keep any extra gratuities that you’d like to distribute handy (it can be hard to locate your cabin steward or a favourite server amidst the flurry of activity that takes place during disembarkation).
Avoid unnecessary delays by carrying your own luggage off the ship; if you require (or would simply prefer) assistance, plan on leaving your bags outside your stateroom door at a time that will be designated by your cruise line (crew members will collect/tag your luggage and store it in a secure area until your ship has docked, at which time it’ll be moved to a collection area within the terminal, which you’ll find identified on the tags provided).
If your vessel visited one or more international ports of call, you’ll be expected to complete a customs-declaration form (regardless of whether or not you’ve made any purchases, or even set foot off your ship); one form per family will suffice, and you’ll present it to a customs agent as you exit the ship.
Try to be patient and polite! Disembarkation is often a slow-moving process (especially aboard the biggest of ships), and you can be sure that you’re not the only one who’s disappointed that their cruise vacation has come to a close; expect delays (past/loyalty passengers, passengers with early flights, and passengers who are carrying their own luggage will generally be given preference), and don’t forget to thank your crew members as you exit.
Set Sail In The Safest Vacation Environment
Cruise ships have resumed sailing with the most stringent health and safety protocols in the travel industry and beyond. No other vacation option will offer you the assurance of 92–100% vaccination rates, pre-embarkation testing, and the transparency of sharing those test results. Plus, the on board experience is better than ever! With less people on board and more crew ready to serve your every need, the customer service experience is at an all-time high.
Choose from convenient ports now open across the country and set sail with peace of mind. Our Travel Safety Verified Experts are trained to answer your questions and help you plan your dream getaway.
Page last updated: August 20, 2021