Some cruise ships are as large and as populous as a small city, so knowing how to find your way around is important. Even on a smaller ship, the number of decks, elevators, and hallways can make things a little confusing. Fortunately, there are a variety of resources to help you get to where you want to be.
You can start by becoming
familiar with the ship before you cruise. Most cruise lines provide online deck
plans for their ships; if you prefer paper, your professional travel advisor
can provide a deck plan brochure or printout. Use the deck plan to locate your
cabin and see how you can get to the closest elevators, the pool, the dining
room and buffet, the show lounge, etc. If the cruise line’s website includes photos
of the ship, take a look at them so things will seem at least a little familiar
when you get on board.
Once on the ship,
take a little time to orient yourself and develop a sense of forward (toward the
front of the ship) and aft (toward the back of the ship). If you have a keen sense
of direction this may be easy, but don’t be surprised if it takes a little time.
Deck plans are
often posted in cabins and near elevators and stairs. This signage is usually
quite detailed, including cabin numbers and the names of restaurants, theaters, and other common spaces. There may be deck plans inside the elevators, too, to
help you know which way to turn when the doors open.
You can also call
up deck plans using the cruise line’s app on your mobile device; downloading
and using the app will put lots of additional information about the ship,
itinerary, and daily schedule at your fingertips, too.
Your ship may have
wayfinding kiosks with screens that display deck plans and other maps (very helpful
if you want to see the deck plans on a larger screen). If the kiosks are
interactive, you can simply touch the venue you want to find or enter its name
to make directions appear on the screen.
There’s one more reliable
way to get just about anywhere on board – ask a member of the crew. They live
on the ship for weeks or months at a time, are familiar with every inch of it,
and will gladly direct you.
For more onboard
navigation tips, talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor.
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