Set sail on a dream of a lifetime.
Cruising can be a life-changing experience for anyone and everyone. Cruising today comes in all shapes and sizes, and appeals to different audiences based on the ship’s unique offerings.
Families, solo travellers, couples, adventure enthusiasts, luxury travellers and budget travellers, can all find their ideal cruise in today’s marketplace.
To help you plan for the cruise of a lifetime, we have compiled our top 10 tips for your next cruise.
Pick a ship that suits your desires
As mentioned above, each ship, brand and route appeals to a different audience. Depending on what you want to see, do and experience, you will want to choose a ship that can deliver. Things to consider include: Do you want a big or small ship? How much time do you want to spend on the ship? What offerings are important to you onboard? What kind of dining experience are you looking for? Of course, our vacation specialists will help you plan every step of the way.
Plan excursions in advance
Popular off-shore excursions fill up fast. There is nothing more disappointing than looking forward to an outing pre-travel, only to find out that it has been fully booked on your ship. Avoid disappointment by booking in advance. All excursions offered will be available to view pre-travel. Spend some time getting to know what interests you and book in advance for a stress-free onboard experience.
Research your cabin type
There is a wide variety of cabin types when it comes to most ships. Some cabins offer grand outdoor patios, walk-in closets and large bathrooms, whereas others may not have windows or closets. Of course, price is a major factor when planning your cabin, but you want to ensure that you will feel comfortable and safe the entire journey.
Consider all-inclusive
All-inclusive is a great option for every kind of traveller. Leave the stress at home and experience it all with an all-inclusive package. Although the upfront cost is more, it usually works out to be a better deal than organizing your own offerings throughout the journey. The definition of all-inclusive varies from ship to ship; however, it typically includes non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, specialty dining, onboard activities, use of water sports equipment, and certain shore excursions.
Find out ahead of time if tipping is included
Gratuities can come as a surprise for some travellers depending on where you are from and what you are used to. Find out in advance if tips are included in your overall cost. Often they are worked into the price, but if not, you will want to plan to have some cash on hand.
Pack a day pack
Day bags are great for shore excursions, but they also play a big role when boarding the ship. Your luggage may travel separate from you and take a few hours getting to your cabin. Be prepared with your essentials (medications, wallet, phone, travel docs, etc) and maybe a bathing suit so that you can get into poolside cruise mode before even leaving the dock.
Dress code
Depending on your ship of choice, you may be required to have a certain dress code for specific restaurants, events or times of the day. Ask in advance so that you can pack appropriately and avoid overpriced clothing onboard on in port.
You can do laundry onboard
Most ships do have laundry rooms or a laundry service. If you are planning for an extended trip, or your cruise is only part of your vacation, enjoy fresh clothing right to your room. Doing laundry onboard saves on extra baggage fees and can really come in handy with kids.
Room service
Many travellers forget that room service is available on ships, typically it’s even free of charge! If you don’t feel like getting dressed up or have had a big day of excursions and need a little rest and relaxation, enjoy your meal in the comfort of your room.
Turn off data
Get to know your phone plan. For the general public, we suggest turning off data roaming and using the ship’s Wi-Fi. Out at sea, you may find that the signal can be spotty, but for the most part, it is usually consistent on today’s ships. You will be travelling across multiple borders and regions, which can lead to large data roaming fees. Speak with your specific phone provider pre-travel to set up a plan, if you want to use your own data onboard and in port.
Ready to drift off into the sunset?
Our experienced vacation specialists have extensive knowledge of cruise travel and can help you plan your dream experience.
Cruising has a variety of elements to take into consideration and we want to set you up for success. Whether you are travelling solo, with a special someone, or with the whole family, we have some insider tips, tricks and deals for you.
If you have any questions or would like to start planning your next cruise, contact us today!
