Every year, almost 25 million Americans go on a cruise. They set sail from ports in places like New York City, Miami, and New Orleans and travel to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and more.
If you’ve never been on a cruise before, you should think about taking your first cruise soon. It won’t take you very long to fall in love with the cruise life once you’re onboard a huge cruise ship enjoying all it has to offer.
But before you set foot on your first cruise ship, there are some things you should keep in mind that will help you make the most of your maiden voyage. Here are nine tips that will make your trip a total success.
1. Begin by Choosing the Right Cruise Destination
As we mentioned earlier, there are so many different places that you can travel to when you take a cruise. You can cruise to a place that’s just a few hours away or cruise what will feel like halfway across the world if you would prefer.
For your first cruise, you might want to think about staying a little bit closer to home so that you can “get your sea legs” before cruising to a more distant location during your second cruise. But you’re also more than welcome to take a longer cruise at first if you want.
2. Figure Out Which Cruise Line You Want to Set Sail With
Cruise lines are a lot like airlines. There will be dozens of options for you to choose from when you decide to take your first cruise.
You should see which cruise lines operate out of the port cities that are in your general area. You should also see which cruises offer the best rates as well as the best ships to those looking to go on a cruise.
Do your homework on the different cruise lines that are out there before picking the one that you like best. You could save money and give yourself a better cruise experience overall by going with one cruise line over another.
3. Consider Springing for a Cabin With a Balcony
In an effort to keep costs low when booking a cruise, many people choose to go with an inside cabin over one with a balcony. You can score great deals on these cabins since they’re usually the last ones to get filled on a cruise ship.
But if you can afford to do it, it’s a good idea to get a cabin with a balcony for your first cruise. It’ll provide you with immediate access to fresh air throughout the duration of your cruise and allow you to soak up more sun from the privacy of your balcony.
4. Pack Everything You’ll Need for Your First Cruise
Packing for a cruise can be a stressful experience, especially if you’ve never done it before. You don’t want to accidentally forget something important like suntan lotion and be forced to buy it on your cruise ship for more than you would have liked to pay for it.
Learn what to pack on a cruise ahead of time so that you know everything that’ll need to find its way into your luggage. It’ll prevent you from having to spend money on your cruise ship on things that you could have brought from home.
5. Check to See If You’ll Need to Bring a Passport
If you plan on visiting destinations that are located outside of the U.S. on your first cruise, you’re going to need a passport to do it. You’ll need to either obtain a passport before your cruise or update your existing passport accordingly.
It can take a little bit of time to get your hands on a new passport, so don’t wait until the last minute to apply for one. You don’t want to get stuck on a cruise ship while everyone else is off enjoying the sights and sounds of a new place because you don’t have a passport handy.
6. Work Out the Best Way to Get to Your Cruise Ship’s Port
Unless you happen to live in a port city, you’re going to have to find a way to get to your cruise ship on the day it departs. You can drive there if you want, but that will mean paying for parking to leave your car in a garage for the length of your cruise.
It might be a better idea to use a ridesharing service to get you to your cruise ship on your departure date. It’ll be one less thing you have to worry about while prepping for your first cruise. However, if you really do need to take your own car, you may want to look into booking a Cruise Parking spot so you don’t have to worry about your car as it will be kept safe during your trip.
7. Spend Time Exploring Your Cruise Ship When You First Board It
Most cruise ships are massive. You could spend a whole week on these ships and not see everything there is to see on one.
With this in mind, you should make it a point to explore your cruise ship shortly after getting onto it. Rather than slipping right into relax mode, spend an hour or two walking around on your ship to see everything it has to offer.
This will ensure you’re able to hit up all the hot spots on your cruise ship before your cruise is over. It’ll also prevent you from getting lost at any point during your cruise.
8. Find the Best Places on Your Cruise Ship to Eat
There’s a pretty good chance that you’re going to gain some weight on your first cruise. People tend to gain 5, 10, and in some cases, even upwards of 15 pounds on a cruise.
If you’re going to gain weight, you might as well make it count. While you’re in the process of exploring your cruise ship, scope out the best places to eat and make sure you visit them during your cruise. It’ll make your inevitable weight gain well worth it.
9. Beware of Seasickness!
Seasickness is something that has stumped scientists for years now. They can’t figure out why some people do just fine on boats while others get so sick that they can’t even enjoy themselves.
You should be aware of the fact that you might experience some seasickness during part of or even all of your first cruise. Stick one of the many motion sickness medications in your luggage so that you can use it as needed.
Go Book Your First Cruise Today
Going on your first cruise is going to be a blast. You’ll have so much fun exploring your cruise ship and the different places that it takes you to.
Just make sure that you keep the tips found here tucked away in the back of your mind at all times. They’ll allow you to enjoy your first cruise even more than you might otherwise.
Find more travel tips that’ll help you see the world by browsing through the other articles right here on our blog.
I am going to make sure to keep this post. I would like to go on a cruise soon.
I have been on one cruise and it would have been helpful to have this information and have been better prepared. I could have done a better job of packing what I needed.
See if you can book some of the entertainment and tours BEFORE you leave port. They get booked full. Also, take medicine for diarrhea. I know it is not a pretty subject but it happens eating a lot of food you are not used to. they do not sell it on the boat and if you go to the boat doctor for help like my husband did… you get quarantined to your cabin for 24 hours (and they check to make sure you are there). they don’t want anything like the norwark virus spreading.
I’ve been on just one cruise. These are good ideas. We had a balcony and I loved it.
You really hit all of the high points. My first cruise was with my sister and she knew all the things to bring and do. My brother and sister in law have done 5 crusises. They decide when and where they want to go about 2 years in advance. By the time of the cruise it is all paid for and they have fun.