Going on a typical vacation and going on a cruise can’t be too different, right? If you’ve done one, then you probably know how to plan for the other, right? Wrong and wrong. Last January I went on a cruise for the first time and I let my dad do all of the planning so that most of the trip was a surprise for me. I wouldn’t change my experience, but in retrospect I can think of some lessons I learned on my first cruise vacation.
- Make sure your traveling credentials are valid long in advance of your trip
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Requirements for personal identification may vary between cruises, so check with your cruise line to learn what is required for your trip. Whether you need a passport, a birth certificate, or both, I recommend making sure that all of your identification is valid prior to departure. If it is not, then I recommend allowing enough time to fix any unforeseen problems.
- Reserve activities, meals, and excursions prior to your trip
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There is so much to do on the cruise that it can seem overwhelming, and possibly even confusing, to decide how to spend your time. One thing that was really helpful for my dad and I was booking excursions and meal times before even stepping on the ship. Some of our excursions included jet skiing, snorkeling, and zip-lining around the islands we traveled to. Having these excursions reserved ahead of time gave us something to look forward to and also ensured that we made the most of our short time on each island. Additionally, having reserved meal times on the ship helped to avoid long waiting times and big crowds. Lastly, our cruise had an app with activities at all hours of the day; the more you try out, the greater an experience you will get!
- Pack clothing according to any potential weather, themes, and occasions
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Our cruise left from Florida and went to islands in the Caribbean, so I did not pack many clothes for chillier weather. However, there were some days and nights when the temperatures were lower, and the winds were stronger than I expected. All cruises have different circumstances and locations, but I would definitely recommend packing for a wide variety of potential weather conditions. Another thing that neither my dad nor I knew before our cruise was that there were different theme nights; there was a 70s night, a white-out night, and a formal night. We did not have outfits prepared for any of these, so I would recommend doing some research for any potential themes on your cruise. The last general tip I would give would be to pack some fancier clothes for nighttime activities. Whether it was going out to a restaurant, watching a comedy show, or dancing late into the night, there were a few occasions where my dad and I felt underdressed because people were quite decked out — pun intended. Don’t be afraid to pack like royalty!
- Give yourself a personal tour of the ship on the first day
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Cruise ships are known for their vast size, so getting yourself oriented early on can be super helpful. The ship will probably have a map somewhere, but we found it quite helpful to walk around the ship and get familiar with the different floors and rooms for reference for future days and events.
- Get involved in organized social activities, and do so early on!
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If I could scream one piece of advice to anyone before their first cruise, it would be to put yourself out there! The cruise line I took was called Royal Caribbean and they had an organized group for 18- to 25-year-olds. At first, I was hesitant to attend the group, and I’ll admit that the first night when everyone met was slightly awkward. But the group met every single night and by the end of the trip, I felt like I had a built-in handful of friends on the ship. Not only would we party together at night, but we would meet up during the day and attend events together. In addition to the social group, joining organized events such as sports can be a fun way to get integrated with people who enjoy similar activities.
Being totally surprised for my first cruise was an exciting experience, but for someone who wants to prepare ahead of time, these hints might be just what you are looking for!
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