We’re headed out in less than a week for another fun ship adventure! We’ve got a lot of cruisers who are either cruising for the first time or haven’t been in a while and I’ve been getting tons of questions about what to bring and expect on their vacation. So I tapped into my own, personal resident cruising expert… my mom! She’s legit too! Having earned Diamond Status on Carnival with over 50 cruises and 300+ cruising days under her belt on Carnival alone, she knows a thing or two.
Here’s what we came up with as far as cruising advice!
Plan ahead
Research the cruise itinerary, look for things to do in the ports of call, and plan for excursions. Mom says, if you’ve seen one port, you’ve seen ‘em all! Especially the Caribbean and Mexican ports. While they do have their unique features, they all follow a similar blueprint. Shopping/markets, local/historical tours and a beach. MY PRO TIP: Cruise line excursions are overpriced and can often be found for much cheaper in the port or booked on a site such as Viator ahead of time. Obviously, you do assume some risk if you do not go through the cruise line suppliers, but my experience has been that these folks are pros and deal with cruise passengers every week. They know what they’re doing! If you’re risk averse, stick with the cruise line’s picks.
Pack wisely
As with any vacation, if you’re like me, you have a tendency to overpack. Something light to throw on for breakfast, your nice outfit for the day and then something to change into at dinner. Mom says, most of the time, you don’t end up wearing half of the stuff you bring. Most of us are way less stylish than we intend to be on these cruises after that first day. You can ditch the formal gown and tux these days, especially aboard most Carnival ships. A cocktail dress for the ladies and a decent suit for the men will do just fine for the “Captain’s Dinner”. Be mindful, there is still a dress code, though more relaxed these days, for the dining room so be sure to pack appropriately. MY PRO TIP: Ladies, don’t bother bringing 3 pairs of heels, you’ll probably only wear one, if that!
Arrive early
Whether you’re driving or flying to the cruise port, you should plan to arrive early. Whether that be early the morning of the cruise or even a day or two ahead. Life happens. Mom says, you always want to allow for emergencies and problems like delayed flights and flat tires. MY PRO TIP: Listen to mom’s advice. Leave early!
Budget for extras:
Cruise ships are an awesome way to vacation because your travel (from one port to another), lodging, and food are covered. While some include gratuity at the time of booking many don’t. Plan for the gratuities for the ship staff. Plan for your beverages and any treats you might purchase aboard the ship. If you like to play in the casino, don’t forget to make a budget for that or else, you could find yourself in a bind before the cruise is over. Mom says: Plan how much you are willing to LOSE in the casino every day. If you reach that amount, you’re done for the day. Anything you win above that amount, put it away and continue with your original budget for the day. MY PRO TIP: Stay away from the casino!! But if you must, again, do what mom says!
Follow the rules:
Make sure you know all the rules of cruising before you get to the port. Cruise lines have significantly cracked down on a lot of things. There’s lots of social media cruise hacks like ways to sneak alcohol and drugs onto the ship. Don’t do any of it. There could be huge consequences, especially if you’re in foreign territory. It’s not worth it. Mom says, “I’m not coming to get nobody outta jail!” I know you think you know what MY PRO TIP is… and you’re not wrong but I have a couple more. While the cruise ship rules can be restrictive, there are a few people may not know about. Like, every person can bring a 12 pack of sodas on board, so avoid the $4-5 sodas. You can also bring 1 bottle of wine per person age 21+. Also your on-board credits, if you have them, can be used towards your gratuities or for casino play. You may even be able to cash it out in the casino. In general, MY PRO TIP is to go to the cruise line’s website and check out their FAQs! There’s a trove of information in there to help you get ready!
If you made it this far, congrats!! You’re ready to set sail! A few more tips before you close your luggage.
Make sure you have your proper identification. Check, double and triple check before you leave home, before you leave the car, before you board the plane, before you check out of the hotel… MAKE SURE!
Protect yourself from the sun! Pack your hats, sunglasses and sunscreen. Peeling like a reptile after vacation sucks.
Stay hydrated! You can pre purchase bottled water for you stateroom by the case in your cruise manager.
You’ll need your phone to navigate the ship, dining reservations and finding activities. You don’t need a purchased wifi package for this, but to use your phone and internet, you will. Hint: some iMessages still come through without a purchased plan, but this can be spotty.
Bring something to do in the downtime. A book, playing cards, board games. While there is always something to do on board, you may not be interested in doing any of it at any given time. Finding a corner to read is top tier vacationing in my opinion!
I hope this gets you started for your next cruise vacation! Let me know in the comments what are your must do’s and must have’s for the ultimate cruise vacation.
Thanks mom for the insight!!
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