Playing safe when deciding on their next vacation, many people choose to take a cruise as the best value-for-money option. You wake up at a new place every day, receive service from a well-trained crew from 60–70 different nationalities, enjoy various shows in the theater every night, have access to tons of other entertainment options, enjoy an open and closed pool, and have food included at several restaurants, among other benefits. Is there anything else you could compare this to?
While cruising guarantees a wonderful time, there are still things passengers can do to enhance their cruise experience. But I will start with some basic cruise tips:
BEFORE THE CRUISE
-Do some research before booking a cruise so that you don’t end up complaining about lifeboats obstructing your view. They also won’t relocate the nightclub if your room is nearby and the noise prevents you from sleeping.
-Before embarking on your cruise, check the price of your cabin. Sometimes, the cruise lines offer last-minute deals, trying to fill up the ship. Ask for a refund of the fare difference if the contract you signed with them includes price protection.
-Get travel insurance. Being optimistic about your upcoming cruise is fantastic. However, as we are living beings, unforeseen events may occur—from your luggage not arriving with you to seeking medical attention at a private hospital in a certain port or even requiring evacuation while at sea. With some of those things costing a 1000+ square foot house, travel insurance is necessary for a worry-free cruise.
-Arrive at the embarkation point at least one day prior to the start of your cruise. If your “eleventh hour” flight cancels and you are unable to embark on your cruise, it won’t be the end of the world, but you will need to make alternative arrangements, pay a fine, and board the ship at the next port of call. Aside from the stress, that adventure will cost you money, wonderful moments, and precious time. Arriving a day or two earlier for your cruise will save you from that hustle and give you time to explore the home port, which is always some of the world’s most attractive places. Cruise ships depart from Rome, Barcelona, Miami, Los Angeles, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, etc.
-Before embarking, book your table in the specialty restaurants. With a few thousand other passengers, you often won’t be able to do that on the ship.* Also, you could get good deals on drink and internet packages, so if those things are on your list, buy them from the comfort of your home.
*Some cruise lines only release a fraction of availability for pre-booking, so you can book your specialty dining as soon as you board. To avoid the reservation line, use the ship’s app once onboard and connected to the ship’s wifi.
-Learn a few code words. The ship’s crew uses a whole bunch of slang words and phrases when talking to each other. Using some of them, a passenger would surely make a crew member’s day. You can find the most commonly used ones under the Crew Dictionary category.
-Don’t forget to:
- Check if there are visa requirements for the countries you will visit.
- Even if you don’t have to, bring your passport.
- Bring your prescription glasses if you have any. You can get sunscreen on board, but that probably won’t be the case with reading glasses. Getting a pair at the first port of call will be an option, but that means you will lose the whole day.
- Pack enough clothes. On some cruise lines, there is a self-service laundry facility for the passengers. However, the majority charge a lot for each item sent to the laundry.
- Last and most important: Don’t forget your medications if you use any. Always have them in your carry-on along with the documents.
DURING THE CRUISE
-Be kind to the crew members. If I had to choose only one thing that could make a significant difference in your cruise, then this is the one. Working 10-15 hours every day for 7-9 months while being far from the loved ones is a physically and mentally draining experience. Providing great service with a broad smile for all that time is not easy, so please be kind to them. They’ll make your vacation unforgettable.
-Don’t give your waiter or room attendant five dollars on the first day of the cruise. That banknote screams, ‘I own you these seven days,’ and most crew members won’t accept it. A 20-dollar banknote screams the same thing, but it usually does the job.
For me, tipping at the end of the cruise is the proper way. Of course, if you like the service and can afford it.
-Don’t miss anything. Read the paper* with daily activities that your attendant leaves in the room, and make the most of your time on the ship. Also, don’t stick to the Lido restaurant. Your cruise fare includes access to a variety of restaurants, and for an additional fee, you can delve into specialty restaurants that provide more sophisticated dining options.
*On some cruise lines, you will have to request that paper or check the ship’s app.
-Book shore excursions with the cruise line. While the cost may slightly increase, you can rest assured that the tour provider is reliable, and the ship will wait for you in the event of a delay in your tour.
-Check the balance on your card from time to time. A crew member would never risk losing the job for charging a few non-existing drinks or items from the shops. Still, they are just humans, and mistakes are always possible. Check your balance periodically and report charges for things you didn’t purchase.
-Wash your hands frequently. Following the fire, gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea and vomiting are the most feared conditions on board. Don’t ignore the crew members singing washy-washy songs in front of the restaurants, and decrease the chances of spending the cruise isolated in your room.
-Arrive early for comedy or other shows held in smaller venues. They can accommodate only a couple hundred passengers and are usually packed.
-Avoid complaining about minor things. You will get a cheesecake or a bottle of cheap Champagne, but you paid more for the cruise, so enjoy it.
-Ask for what you need. You will be surprised by what you could get simply by asking. The staff behind the guest relations desk is there to assist whenever possible, and saying yes to passengers politely asking for a room upgrade isn’t that rare to them. Also, asking a pool attendant if there are unoccupied sun chairs (even when there aren’t) could result in getting two spare chairs from the pool locker. Saying no to a passenger on a cruise ship is unnatural, but never abuse that.
-Always check the ‘all aboard’ time before leaving the ship. As a pier runner, you will get your 5-minute fame with everyone cheering you on from the balconies and the top deck, but the ship will not wait for you.
-If drinking is your favorite activity, buying a drink package is the right thing. However, consuming 20 beers a day is not. You will save some decent money on a $70-80/day package, but you won’t see anything of that cruise.
-If you enjoyed your cruise and plan to stay with the same line, book your next cruise while on the ship. That will give you more benefits, such as discounted cruises, onboard credit, and so on.
-When filling out the questionnaire at the end of your cruise, mention the crew member(s) who went above and beyond to enhance your cruise experience. I can’t explain enough how important those positive comments are for the crew.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope you found it helpful.
Zlatko Simovski, a former crew member on ships and author of ‘Diary of a Cruise Ship Employee (Uncensored)’.
