The last thing you want to start your cruise vacation off on the wrong foot because it can put a black cloud over your whole trip.
We want to give you some tips and steps that you should do to make your whole cruise vacation more relaxing for you.
1. Use a checklist before leaving home
Make a checklist of everything you need to have with you before you leave your home. You don’t want to forget important paperwork like your cruise documents and passport.
If you don’t have these, you will not be allowed on the ship. Just like you need a packing list, you need a checklist for your documents and paperwork.
2. Leave early if you are driving to the cruise port
You never know when traffic will hit so you want to make sure you have more than enough time to get to the cruise ship. We always make sure that we leave with plenty of time to spare, just in case.
Another good tip to help you relax, and start your cruise vacation early, is to rent a limo and have them drive you to the port. If you are going with a large group, or have the budget, this can make a great start to your vacation.
It gets everyone excited and in a good mood before you even arrive. Plus, you don’t have to deal with the stress of parking and hauling your luggage to the terminal.
3. Fly into the destination the day before
If you are flying into the destination, always fly in the day before. You never want to try and fly the day of the cruise. We all know that flights get canceled and delayed all of the time.
You don’t want to start off your vacation stressing that you are going to miss the ship. This will also help you relax and recover from jet lag before you start your cruise.
Pro Tip: Book your airfare through the cruise line, when it is comparable to the airlines, because many cruise lines will help you get to the next port if you miss the ship when you book air through them.
4. Get to the cruise terminal early
We always suggest that you get to the cruise port earlier than the cruise line tells you to. There are many times that they get the clearance that they can allow passengers to board early.
If you are at the port you will be able to board and spend even more time on the ship. This will allow you to wonder around and discover the ship before all of the crowds arrive.
If for some reason they can’t let you board early then you will just relax in the terminal until it is time. This also prevents you from stressing that you won’t make it on time. It’s always better to arrive early then late.
Pro Tip: Sometimes the cruise lines will have unsold cabins for the cruise. If you are interested in upgrading, check when you first arrive and see if it is possible. It isn’t guaranteed, but you may score an amazing deal.
5. Don’t bring any prohibited items with you
We all know the general, common items that you aren’t allowed to bring. They are the same as the airlines such as firearms, illegal substances, etc.
However, there are items that maybe you don’t realize are prohibited on cruise ships. You can’t bring an iron to iron your clothes.
You can’t bring a hot plate (yes, many people do try and sneak this on the ships). Don’t try to sneak on alcohol. It is not worth the effort and trying to get it past security and the cruise staff.
You should always check the cruise lines list of prohibited items so that you can be sure that you are not packing them.
6. If you use a camera, have it on you when you board the ship
There are many opportunities for pictures as you are boarding the ship and when you first get on the ship. You don’t want to miss these photos because your camera is with your luggage.
Plus, you want to be able to capture leaving the port, especially if it offers amazing views. You are not guaranteed that your luggage will have arrived to your room by then.
It’s always best to have your camera with you when you board the ship.
Pro Tip: When you first board the ship, go around and take photos. This is one of the best times to get some amazing pictures around the ship without a lot of people in them.
7. Explore the ship when you first get on
This is a great way to become familiar with the ship before all of the entertainment and activities begin, and the crowds arrive.
Also, this is the only time that you can tour through different areas of the ship such as the kid’s club and the spa facilities.
This allows you to see what all of these areas feature before they are closed off because they are in use.
Pro Tip: If this is your first cruise, or you aren’t comfortable doing it on your own, most cruise lines offer a free guided tour of the ship on embarkation day. Not only will you get our bearings but they will also give you tips and advice that you can use while on your cruise.
8. Wait before going to your stateroom/cabin
A lot of people try to go straight for their cabin when they first board the ship. However, many times your room is not ready. The cabin crew are still trying to clean them from the people who just left the ship.
Not only does this cause you to be in their way while they are trying to clean, but it doesn’t give you the best first impression of your stateroom for your cruise.
It is better to explore the ship first, eat some food, and relax. Then head to your room later on when it is freshly cleaned and ready to welcome you.
9. Bring a well-stocked carry-on suitcase
It is a great idea to have a carry-on that has a change of clothes, your bathing suit, and anything else you might need the first day of the cruise such as any medications and essential toiletries.
Again, your luggage might not be in your room until later on in the evening. You want to have everything you need to enjoy your first day onboard the ship.
10. Don’t go to the buffet when you get onboard the ship
The first thing most people do when they get onboard is go straight for the buffet. However, many cruise lines have the main dining room open for you to enjoy a nice lunch.
It is much nicer to order off of a menu and have the waitstaff serve to start your vacation off then it is to wait in line and fight with the crowds to eat.
Plus, the food will be better. If for some reason the ship you’re on doesn’t offer this, then we still suggest you wait to eat in the buffet until later.
It is much better to explore the ship first, take a guided tour, and then find a place to get some food.
11. Make reservations for excursions, spa treatments, and specialty dining venues
We always suggest if there are any must-do excursions book them way before your cruise from home. Some of the most popular excursions sell out well in advance.
However, if you haven’t booked any or want to plan the rest of your cruise trip then go that first day and book what you want.
Pro Tip: Many times, the spa will have special deals and packages that are only available on embarkation day. Always check them out to see if they are something you want to take advantage of while on your cruise.
12. If you have kids, tour the kid’s club with them
As we said, the kid’s club area is open for you to tour on embarkation day. This is a great time to go in with your kids so they can see what it looks like and has to offer while you are with them.
They can meet some of the staff and ask any questions. This makes it more comfortable for them so they can decide if they want to use it while on the cruise.
Once, the ship leaves port the kid’s club areas are all closed to adults because they will be in use.
13. Go to the services desk and see if there are any special events or experiences that you sign up for
Many cruise lines have special events that you can sign up for while on the cruise. For example, the Chef’s Dinner or the VIP Ship Tour.
These are exclusive experiences that only allow so many people to make a reservation. If you are interested in them, you want to be sure and sign up on the first day of the cruise.
14. Meet your stateroom attendant
The first day is the perfect time to introduce yourself to your stateroom attendant. They will be taking care of you all week long.
This is the time to let them know about any special needs or requests that you may have. Also, they really appreciate it when cruisers take the time to meet them.
They work really long, hard hours so if you make the extra effort to meet them and get to know their names, they really appreciate it.
Most cruisers don’t even both to acknowledge the workers so if you go out of your way to say hi and use their name, you will really stand out.
Our stateroom attendants always get a kick out of us getting excited when we see them and say hi, we remember and use their name.
They ask us what we did in port or what are plans are for the day. It really makes a huge different in your cruise experience.
Plus, it feels good to make someone else’s day special, especially when they work so hard every day.
15. Pace yourself on your cruise vacation
This is a hard one, even for us, because you are so excited and want to experience everything there is to do. However, it is really important and will make a difference in your whole vacation experience if you pace yourself and have some down time.
The best vacations are the ones with a balance between relaxation and activities. Some of your best memories will happen during your down time where you are just relaxing and hanging out with your family and friends.
It is important that you don’t try and cram in everything, or plan every second of your entire vacation. You need to have some flexibility and down time to just chill out while on the cruise.
16. Find your go-to, quiet spots on the ship
A cruise vacation can be really fun and exciting. However, if can also be really crowded and noisy at times, especially the larger ships.
We always suggest you scope out some good spots that you can escape to throughout the week to get away from the crowds and decompress with a book.
No matter what ship you are on there are always spots that are more relaxing, and quiet, that you can escape to when you need it.
Having a couple that are your favorites can really help make your whole cruise vacation more enjoyable.
These are our top tips of what you should do on embarkation day to make your cruise vacation be stress-free and enjoyable.
Do you have any tips that we missed? Let us know what you do on embarkation day that really help sets the tone for the rest of the trip.