10 Cruising Tips for First Timers
1. Book with a Cruise Expert
In the words of Jane McDonald “there’s a cruise to suit everyone’ and whilst the internet can be a candy-store of cruise offers, it's easy to be seduced by cheap cruise deals and low pricing. My No.1 tip is to book with a cruise expert, they will listen and confidently answer your questions, guide you and help you decide on the right cruise line and the right cruise ship for you. Getting the wrong cruise line or cruise ship can be easy and disappointing.
2. Fellow Passengers...
To a novice, cruise lines look similar and they're not - different cruise lines and ships attract different nationalities and different itineraries and destinations attract different age groups. A good point to note is that some ships are designed with children and families in mind, whilst others are exclusively for adults – handy if you travel during school holidays.
3. Test the Water...
Many cruise lines offer ‘taster cruises’. These are short-break cruises of 2-5 nights – the best for UK travellers are with Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and P&O Cruises who sail out of Southampton. Fred Olsen and CMV offer short cruises from regional ports around the UK which can make it really convenient though only if that is the right cruise line and ship for you! My other suggestion would be to fly to Europe and combine a taster cruise with a hotel stay as you will get the true feeling of a sailing in the sunshine – many cruise lines offer these and for something different you could try Star Clipper Cruises (tall ships with masts and sails) from Athens.
4. Plan ahead but don’t overplan!
Once you have made your booking, think about what you want to do on your cruise. Consider each port of call and mix up what you do and see. In the Caribbean you may want to visit a beach or book an island tour, snorkelling trip or do something more active. In Europe it’s tempting to plan a lot of sightseeing – this can be tiring especially in the heat of the summer. A lot of ports are walking distance to the city or beach meaning you can do your own thing. Take advantage of the empty pools and decks on port days - you can pretend that you're on a private yacht, don’t feel guilty if you choose to stay onboard while everybody else goes off on tour. Consider setting your alarm to watch the ship arrive into ports and enjoy a sailaway cocktail for your port departure.
5. Cash Free Cruising!
All cruise lines operate a cash free system onboard; your room key is your payment system! At check-in (either online or at the port) you register a credit card which is used at the end of your cruise to pay your room bill. What you pay for depends on the cruise line as some include more than others. To give you an idea of things you may pay for; your bar bill (or drinks package), excursions, speciality restaurants, spa treatments, professional photographs, shop purchases and money changed for casino chips.
6. Get your bearings!
Once onboard even the most capable passengers will get lost. Join the walking tour on your first day and you will see the main areas of the ship and know where they are for the rest of your cruise. You will also get top tips and learn how to book restaurants, sign up for fitness classes, make spa bookings, excursion bookings etc
7. Cheers!
A growing number of cruise lines offer All-Inclusive cruises - just as with a land holiday your initial cost is higher, though you are pre-paying in your home currency so you will save in the long run. Other cruise lines offer drinks packages, these may seem attractive but think before you buy, know what’s included and excluded, know the limits on the number of drinks per day (if applicable), and know how much of you cruise you will be on board as it isn’t included when you are off the ship! If you’re not a big drinker then go old school and pay per drink, bar pricing is readily available. It’s worth noting that a drinks package is per person and sharing is prohibited.
8. Sea sickness
Sea sickness is a thing and some people suffer more than others. When choosing your cruise consider the number of ‘sea days’ on the itinerary – these are the days you are sailing and not in port. If you've never sailed before and have concerns about seasickness, speak to your GP before travelling for advice on prescription and over the counter medication options. Green apples and fresh ginger are readily available on ships for a more natural help and in the worst case head to the ship's medical centre, where an injection of Phenergan can put you out of your misery instantly – there is a charge for this.
9. Tipping Guidance
Tipping can be a minefield, especially for UK cruise passengers. On cruise ships tipping is expected, and each cruise line does it differently. There are cruise lines that do not ask for or expect tips as they're built into the cruise price. Most other cruise lines have a fixed daily tip/gratuity/service fee amount per passenger, per day, which is either pre-paid with your cruise cost or added to your room bill whilst you are on board and paid at the end of the cruise. If would rather not pay the service charge or want to pay less or more, visit Guest Relations to have this conversation and be prepared to explain what you are unhappy with as they genuinely want to know how they can make it better.
10. If something isn’t right…
This can happen, fortunately not often. It could be something in your cabin or stateroom, your table location or table guests in the dining room, food or drink. If something isn’t right and you’re not 100% happy don’t leave it until you return home, have the confidence to say something there and then as most things can and will be fixed. Give the ship’s crew an opportunity to get it right for you - they really don’t want you to be unhappy with any aspect of your cruise. If you don’t finish a drink or plate of food, the crew will ask if it was to your liking, they will also ask if they can get you something else.
Having sailed almost 100 cruises I have vast knowledge and experience which I'm happy to share along with more top tips to get you on your first or next ocean, river or lake cruise.