Top Tips for a First Cruise

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 Cruising is such an easy way to travel, but making reservations and preparations involves a fair amount of decision-making. That can be a bit intimidating if you haven’t cruised before, so here are some top tips for first-time cruisers.

To make cruise reservations, work with a professional travel advisor. He or she will ask questions about what you want from a cruise, then guide you to your best choices for a cruise line, ship, cabin, and more. Your travel advisor can explain the fare, what it includes, any available extras, and why travel insurance is a good idea. They may have access to special offers, discounts, and onboard credits, too.

Your travel advisor can help you arrange to get to the ship, whether you’ll go by plane, train, bus, or car. And however you get there, plan to arrive the day before the ship departs. If you’re delayed – even through no fault of your own – the ship will not wait. Your travel advisor will know about any special deals on hotels in the ship’s homeport, too.

As you look forward to your cruise, do a little research on the places you’ll visit. This will help you decide what to do on shore; the ship will offer shore excursions in each port, which you can often sign up for in advance.

You may also be able to make advance reservations for onboard shows, spa treatments, and specialty dining. On some cruises, these activities tend to fill up before the ship sails. But remember that you don’t have to sign up for any activities at all. If you want plenty of chill time, you can even stay on the ship while it’s in port and enjoy the pool, spa, and other amenities.

When it’s time to pack, do so as lightly as possible. Cruise ship cabins don’t have much storage space, so pack a few things you can mix and match rather than multiple complete outfits. Most ships have casual dress codes, which makes packing easier. And, there are usually laundry services on board.

Finally, when you step on board, put your phone into airplane mode to avoid roaming charges. If you do want to use your phone or other devices onboard, most ships offer Wi-Fi packages. But it might be nice to simply disconnect from daily life as you cruise.

For lots more valuable cruise tips, talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor.

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