You’ve decided on your destination and you’ve chosen your cruise ship. It’s starting to get exciting! But what else can you do to make sure everything goes smoothly and your cruise is everything you’ve dreamed it will be? We’ve got some tips to help you get the most out of your cruise.
- Cabin type – Most companies advertise the lead-in cabin grade so that the price looks more attractive but often these cabins are right down the front of the ship or right at the back. These cabins often get more engine noise and you also get more movement than those cabins in the centre of the ship. They can also be small and without a window. For some people this is absolutely fine, but we encourage you to check exactly what you are getting and also check the next grade up. It may not be a lot more expensive, but it may make the world of difference to your cruising experience.
- Dinner reservations – Often you can make dinner reservations ahead of time, especially if your ship has specialty restaurants. Have a look at the website or documentation and if possible, book ahead of time. People who have cruised multiple times know to do this so first-time cruisers often miss out as the restaurants can be booked before you even get on the ship.
- Shore excursions – Research your shore excursion options ahead of time and then book early! Again, sometimes you can book these before you get on board but if not, be sure to do them in the first day so you don’t miss out on the ones you really want to do. Of course, for those all-inclusive voyages that include your shore excursions, this isn’t an issue. In this case, we say do anything and everything you can!
- Join the chat groups –These days cruise lines often have online chat groups for each voyage where you can get to know people before you get on board. Often people will give tips and ideas in these forums so it pays to hop on and take a look. If you’re travelling by yourself, it’s also a good way to “meet” people before stepping aboard.
- Talk to the crew - The crew are an invaluable source of information from recommendations of what to see and do ashore, to arranging your seating in the restaurants, helping locate lost items or just general knowledge about the ship and your destinations.
- Diary/brochures – Be sure to keep a travel diary and save brochures of your day trips. By the time you’ve done a 14 day cruise with 10 stops, it can be hard to remember exactly what you saw and where. A few notes scribbled down at the end of the day will help jog your memory of all those little things you may otherwise forget.
Image: Ponant Cruises | Francois Lefebvre
