How To Prepare For A Cruise
How To Prepare For A Cruise
Going on your first cruise is definitely exciting. Exotic destinations, onboard fun and relaxation beckon enticingly. You have packed and repacked your luggage. Your swimsuits are all ready, bottles of sunblock lotion are in and a big straw hat is on hand. Did you miss anything? Yes, a whole bunch of them!
Going on a cruise means leaving home for days or weeks. So, you don’t just prepare for what will happen during your cruise, you also have to make provisions for what you will leave behind while you are on your way to having the time of your life.
You don’t want your cruise ruined because you just remembered that you’ve forgotten about your pet starving at home and perhaps already slowlyveating your furniture.
I recommend that you sit down and make a list of what you need to do and accomplish to cover your absence. This means paying the bills that fall due while you are away, asking someone to water the plants and leaving the pets with a trusted family member or a pet facility. You may need to check your schedule to ensure that you have not forgotten an appointment scheduled months ago and reschedule if necessary.
Your port visits and shore excursions are usually offered for a limited period. You are lucky to have a full day or two in one port of call. So, to avoid wasting precious time in exotic and stunning places, do your research beforehand. Know which attractions are worth visiting and which can be skipped. Most cruise lines will allow you to book shore excursion in advance and supply considerable information about you ports of call so you can be fully prepared.
It is also helpful if you know how to get to your chosen destinations without falling into costly tourist traps. Your hours will not only be maximized but will be well spent.
When packing for a cruise, the same rule applies: pack light. Plan your wardrobe on the number of days that you will be spending on a cruise. Do not forget a nice dinner dress if your cruise offers formal dinner evenings or you plan to have dinner with the captain and the staff! Many ships offer more casual alternative dining so enquire if this is the case on your cruise and you may be able to skip the gowns or jacket and tie altogether.
Bring enough toiletries, sunblock lotions, batteries, digital storage cards, and the like. They can be very expensive when bought on the ship so bring enough for your entire vacation. Also, pack what you need to use on the first day of your cruise on a carry-on bag. Your luggage may not be delivered to your cabin until late in the day so you need to have your essentials on hand while waiting for the rest of your suitcases.
Finally, you want to be an intelligent and efficient cruiser to ensure that you will enjoy most of your experience onboard. Do not just expect that the amenities and services will be readily available when you feel like having them.
If you are cruising on one of the mega-ships there could be hundreds of passengers with you onboard who want the exact same thing. To avoid the rush and competition pre-book your spa appointments, specialty restaurant reservations, entertainment, and the like. Book them in advance of the sailing date if you can, but if that is not available, spend your first day on board making these reservations and the rest of your cruise will be more enjoyable having all your activities taken care of ahead of time.
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