All Aboard: Our Tips for First-Time Cruisers

No matter which cruise line you pick, there are some tricks to making the experience even better.

In recent years, cruising has quickly climbed the ranks as one of the most popular and celebrated ways to travel – and it’s no wonder why.

Ships today are floating cities, with lodging, dining, entertainment, shopping, and anything else you might need right at your fingertips. Unpack once and you can wake up in a new port to explore almost every day.

Still, it can be intimidating to plan your first sailing without knowing what to expect.

We’ve collected some of our top tips, tricks and “don’t forgets” for first-time cruisers, no matter which line you choose to sail.

When it comes to cruising, the best deals are found as soon as itineraries are released. As interest grows and the sailing gets closer, offers and desirable staterooms become harder to come by.

Speak with a travel agent to help iron out which cruise line, destination, ports and staterooms are most important to you, and get on their waitlist so that you’re among the first to book when itineraries are released.

With the Magical Vacations Travel Price Watch program, our agents are constantly scanning for new price drops and will alert you if new offers are available for your sailing.

Cruise vacations are at the top of our list when recommending travel insurance.

Weather, port conditions or even political turmoil could potentially interfere with your ship’s ability to sail to or dock at a particular destination. This may simply mean diverting to another port or a day at sea, but travel protections can come in handy if and when you need to cancel or modify your trip for unforeseen circumstances.

Bonus Tip: If you’ll need a passport for your trip, agent Michelle L. reminds all to make sure it doesn’t expire within six months of travel. A soon-to-expire passport may not be valid for certain destinations or flights.

The buildup to your trip is an exciting time – especially if you use that countdown to research your ports, ship, and even fellow sailors.

“Talk to recent guests and join social groups for your ship or cruise line to learn firsthand experiences,” said agent Nicole M. “Ask what the expectations are for that cruise line.” This will help to better understand dress codes and ship policies, but also fun details like the best onboard dining or popular crew members.

We may be chronic over-packers, but most of the time, cruising equals casual.

Much of your time will be spent in comfy clothes that can be worn from the pool deck to the bar, to the casino and the buffet. Of course, keep an eye out for dress codes tied to dining rooms or dedicated formal nights, but expect to spend more of your time in casual wear.

Your stateroom is designed to make the best use of space, but you can make it even more efficient.

Speaking of toiletries, agent Mark recommends always bringing some medicine along, even if you don’t anticipate having motion issues. Even for experienced cruisers, different destinations, ships, weather and stateroom location may change how your body handles being at sea.
“Always have snacks in your room to Keep your stomach full as soon as you wake up,” said agent Sandra, “it helps with seasickness.”

“Get some strong magnets for the walls!” said agent Brandi. “They’re great for purses, jackets and hats! Also, if traveling with a family, get a hanging shoe organizer. Great for toiletries since bathroom storage is minimal!”

YOU may be able to board the ship in the morning, but you might not see your luggage again until sunset.

“Take necessities with you for the day of embarkation, “said agent Holly, “luggage doesn’t get delivered to your room until late afternoon or early evening. I recommend a light carryon with important items like swimsuits if you want to enjoy the deck or pools that afternoon.”

Plan to arrive at the embarkation port sooner than you think –this rings true for cruising-newcomers and veterans alike.

If you’re flying to the port, we highly recommend arriving at least a day sooner than your cruise. This can help to avoid delays, and gives you a bit of extra time to recharge so you can make the most of every minute onboard the ship.

Sure, arriving early means you may have to hang around the terminal until your group is called to board, but it only takes missing your boat once to never do it again.

Passengers often flock right to the buffet for their first (of many) all-you-can-eat courses. If you’d rather ditch the crowds, agent Jessica recommends checking out other eateries once onboard.

“Skip the craziness in the buffet when you board and go to one of the dining rooms instead for a calmer start to your cruise!” she said.

Cruise lines differ in their offerings, but also often have dining rooms open for breakfast. We love taking the time for a sit-down breakfast in lieu of the standard buffet lines, especially on days at-sea.

Port excursions and onboard dining can book up fast.

Depending on your ship’s dining plan or port offerings, you’ll want to get reservations set as soon as you cross the gangway. In fact, some experiences can – and should – be booked before you arrive on embarkation day. Your agent can help to make sure you don’t miss out on any high-priority bookings and deadlines along the way.

Specialty dining like steakhouses and teppanyaki tend to fill up quickly, so be sure to get your name on the list if you want to avoid leaving dining credits unused.

If you didn’t do so beforehand, take note of any specific excursions you’d like to try. They may come with caps on headcount, or physical requirements that you may not feel comfortable with. Plus, if certain experiences don’t get enough interest, you may be asked to go with a backup selection. The concierge can always help point you in the right direction, should you need the help.

Of course, Nicole M. reminds us that the beauty of cruising is enjoying your own pace. “You don’t have to get off the ship on port days,” she said, “you can stay on and enjoy the pool, though activities offered may be more limited.”

Some of our favorite cruise experiences have been days spent on the ship, or port days where we let ourselves explore the area at our own pace… just be sure to get back to the ship before it’s time to depart!