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On almost every cruise I’ve taken since the industry returned from the Covid pandemic, I find myself spending time helping other passengers. Cruise lines generally do a good job of having employees wear T-shirts or hold signs on departure day offering assistance, but many new cruisers don’t seem to take advantage of the assistance offered.
As someone who travels a lot (usually with Royal Caribbean or its Celebrity Cruises brand, but also on MSC, Virgin Voyages, and Carnival), I’m generally comfortable intervening when another passenger seems confused. Sometimes, especially when new or newer cruisers come on board, things can be overwhelming.
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There are a lot of people congregating in just a few places on departure day (the day the ship sails away from its home port) and newer cruisers may want to know when they can see their cabin, where they can eat, what bars are open, and lots of other little things that… Taken together they can be many.
Having spoken with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cruise ship passengers, there are three general things new and established cruisers should learn before boarding their ship. Putting in a little effort before your cruise can really help you make the most of the experience.
Image source&col; Royal Caribbean
1. Download your cruise line’s app and familiarize yourself with it
While many people want to be able to put their phones away and unplug, it is much easier to navigate a cruise ship and all that is offered if you have the cruise line’s app. The apps vary by cruise line, but generally they provide the daily schedule and restaurant menus and, in many cases, help make digging easier on departure day.
On Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships, for example, you can watch two safety videos on the app on the day of sailing and then check in at your assembly station. Instead of having to watch a demo in the terminal, which can take a few minutes, the process now only takes a few seconds.
It’s possible to be on board without the app, but having it makes your cruise easier and you can use your cruise line’s app without paying for internet.
2. Find out what’s included and what the additional costs are
You don’t want to spend your cruise worrying about how much everything will cost. No one wants to use a calculator to see if they can fit a soda, a milkshake, or a beach trip into your budget.
Each cruise line has slightly different contents and some promotions may add onboard credit, complimentary specialty dining or even a shore excursion to your cruise. But, before you hop on board, it’s really important to know what’s included and what the additional costs are.
In most cases, it is cheaper to purchase specialty meals, drink and internet packages, and shore excursions before your cruise. Even if you don’t reserve what you might be planning to buy, it’s important to know the costs.
When a soda costs $4 or so, a beer comes in at least $8, and a cocktail will cost you $14, it’s a good idea to set a budget and know exactly how much everything will cost before boarding.
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3. Set expectations with your cruise companions
Most people sail with family and/or friends, sometimes in large groups. Unless you are sailing alone, it is important to talk about your expectations on board with your sailing team.
If you’re with a larger group, it’s important to set certain times when you get together — dinner, other meals and perhaps other events — and it’s a good idea to make sure people have time to make their own choices. You don’t want to overschedule because not every member of your group will want to do the same thing.
The same logic applies to families traveling together. If you have children under 18, be sure to take advantage of any kids or teen clubs on board. Once they visit these places, many children make friends, and this may lead to them wanting to spend more time away from family.
It may not be the vacation the parents were hoping for, but cruises are even better when everyone can experience their own vacation. It is important to have times when you can be together. Many families use dinner as an event where each family member can check in, share stories of their day, and talk about tomorrow.
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