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From having to empty water bottles, to taking off shoes, to raising your hands and being scanned by a machine, it’s awful. Thankfully, cruise security is much more like flying used to be. You’ll step through a metal detector and your bags will go on an x-ray machine. There aren’t highly intrusive screening measures in place (at least yet).
Travel Corkscrew
This gives you a little extra cushion should something come up, but also ensures you should be back well before the ship departs and you turn into a YouTube viral video. Many homeports are moving toward passport scanning to help passengers disembark more quickly. You walk up, scan the passport, take a picture and then head on your way home. But if you have a birth certificate, you still need to wait in line to meet with a Border Patrol agent, which can take half an hour or more. If you do decide to fully enjoy the balcony on your first cruise, it’s best to wait until night… and make sure the lights are off.
Want to sail cheap? Cruise when the kids are in school
If you don't sign up for activities in advance, a backup strategy is to do so just after you board a vessel. That said, whether you need to race to sign up for activities at the start of a voyage depends a lot on which ship you are on. Once you know what ports you'll be visiting, research them as much as you can at travel sites such as The Points Guy. Here at TPG, we're starting to build out a series of home port and destination port guides for everywhere from PortMiami to Bora Bora. When you first arrive at a ship, before you even get on board, you'll likely be greeted by porters who will whisk away your luggage. This is a great convenience, as there's no need to haul your bags through the entire check-in progress.
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Disembarkation at the End of Your Trip
All the cruise lines will offer a shuttle that runs from the airport to the cruise port, but the catch is they are expensive. And cruise lines have included gratuities with your cruise fare or charged daily to your account, so they are taken care of automatically. That means when you eat in the free restaurants on the ship like the buffet and the main dining room, there’s no bill to pay or tip to leave. If you’ve been tempted by the drink packages, do the math before you buy it.
Make Your Luggage Stand Out
That means if you fly in a day early for your trip, you are out of luck. If you’ve already paid for the entire trip, you lose some of that leverage. Even if this happens, still give the cruise line a call and ask for the lower price. You might get money back for the difference as onboard credit.
Always pack a wad of $1 bills for tipping
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You know why you always hear about norovirus on cruise ships? That’s because if you were going to create a conducive place to spread a virus, you would build a cruise ship. Having thousands of people in an enclosed area and the same dining facilities is ripe for spreading illness. When you’re packing, it’s a great idea to bring an assortment of medicines for general issues. Ibuprofen for a headache, Imodium for your stomach, aloe for sunburn, etc. These items are available on the ship, but can be pricey.
Should you get ill or need medical treatment while cruising or in a foreign country, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Cruise line air is available with many cruise lines, however it does come with some pros and cons. Some cruise lines allow you to book flexible flights right on their website, where you can choose your dates and air carrier. Others will have more restrictions and charge extra charges for deviations. Inside cabins are usually the least expensive cabins on any cruise ship. They are interior rooms, so they don’t have any windows, however they can still be comfortable and cosy.
What to Expect at Embarkation (Boarding)
These rooms include family-friendly perks and even one free evening of babysitting service. While luxury brands like Viking Cruises might cost a bit more, but they provide a more all-inclusive cruise experience. If you are new to cruising, we outline several cruise tips that we have learned over the years in this Beginner's Guide to Planning a Cruise. For those not heading to the beach, sundresses or shorts with T-shirts or tank tops are suitable attire. Water sports abound, and the clear, bright blue water is exactly what you'd expect from an island paradise.
Oceania vessels carry around 700 to 1,250 passengers, for instance, while Viking ships carry 930 passengers. (We're talking about the line's ocean ships; Viking also operates river ships, which we'll discuss below.) Windstar vessels are even smaller, with room for 148 to 342 passengers. SeaDream's two yacht-like vessels hold just 112 passengers apiece. These lines include Germany's Aida Cruises and TUI Cruises, both aimed at German-speaking travelers with onboard programs conducted in German.
However, some people like to treat these rails as fun spots to sit for a photo or kids like to climb on the railings. Unfortunately, we live in a world where you have to be cautious with your valuables. Every cabin will come with an in-room safe, which you should use whenever you leave the room.
Cruisers who call on Bimini with other lines can purchase day passes as long as a Virgin ship is not docked that day. The island chain of Bimini, which is part of the Bahamas, is also home to a cruise port. Apart from beaches and resort-style experiences, there isn't much to do. Historic Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is the cruise industry's most trafficked cruise port.
Even at other ports of call, guests will only be allowed off the ship to participate in cruise line-approved shore excursions. Want to check email, surf the web, or call/text back home? Every cruise ship will have packages that allow you to call or get web access, but they charge a high price (often around $15-25 per day). Transits, when the ship is en route between ports, are known as sea days (like the term shore excursions, it's more cruise lingo); passengers, obviously, remain on board. Many newbies fret about wasting time at sea rather than exploring, but they’re often a fun chance to explore the ship itself, as well as decompress between ports.
That’s why when you board the ship, you should either turn your phone completely off or turn it on airplane mode to where it doesn’t use up data (but can still connect to wi-fi). It’s the simplest way to make sure there are no big surprises when you get your next phone bill. Generally, though, if you're a U.S. citizen cruising in a foreign country, you will need a passport. Excursions give you a chance to do things you won’t have the opportunity to do anywhere else in the world — from exploring ancient ruins to taking a submarine under the Caribbean. After your trip you won’t remember the money you spent, but you won’t forget the experience you had. If you have a pair of cheap flip-flops that you like wearing around the pool, then it’s time to upgrade.
This could make it harder to secure the cabin you want on the sailing you want. Print out or write a cruise packing list, so you don’t forget to bring anything on your cruise. I like to make a personalized list that I add onto as needed, but you can start with a pre-filled one as a guide. A practical tip for first time cruisers is to book cruise line shore excursions especially if the attraction is far from the cruise port. One of the best parts of cruising is the opportunity to travel to different ports of call.
Talk with your travel advisor about insurance options or research the best coverage for your needs. Many people who’ve taken short cruises as a first cruise have said it was just too short. Alaska cruises are great for people of any age, but it does attract an older demographic. However, over the last few years Alaska has gained popularity with younger couples and even families with young kids or teens, and larger family cruises. The entertainment includes a combination of Celebrity produced shows and quality guest entertainers.
Some are more casual (ie. Norwegian) and some are more formal (ie. Cunard), while others are somewhere in between. While there’s a whole list of cruise accessories you could pack and bring with you, one thing not to forget is a non-surge protected “cruise approved” power bar. Since cruise passengers drop luggage off with the porters outside the cruise terminal, it is possible for rain and other weather to have an impact. It’s a good idea to compare cruises across all available platforms, because pricing and special add-ons vary.
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