You may not be sure what to expect, if you are planning a cruise for your very first time. Here are some important cruise travel tips to keep in mind when you go on a cruise.
First of all, make sure you have a good carry on bag. A change of clothes and any important meds or toiletries should be packed in both your checked and onboard luggage. There are two reasons why this is important. One, at least you'll have some essentials with you if your luggage gets lost by the airline on the way to your cruise. It can take a while for your luggage to be found and then shipped to the next port of call. Secondly, you can begin to enjoy the onboard activities right away, as you'll have a bathing suit or dinner attire on hand; you won't have to wait for your bags to appear, even if your suitcases are delayed in being delivered to your cabin.
Bring enough medication for the duration of the cruise, as well as a detailed list of your prescriptions and the generic equivalents. Remember that you might not have access to a pharmacy in foreign ports or aboard the ship. Just in case you break or lose your eyeglasses, bring an extra pair.
Familiarize yourself with the local laws and customs of the countries you will be visiting. If, during a stopover, you break the law, you will be subject to the host country's judicial system. The country with jurisdiction over territorial waters is whose laws prevail at sea. Outside national boundaries, the international law of the sea applies to those waters.
Reserve any on shore excursions you will do during the cruise, as soon as possible after you embark on your trip. Later, you may be busy with new friends and on-board activities that you forget to make your land arrangements in time; desirable tours can fill up quickly.
Keep all your vital documents on your person. Always make sure you pack your necessary IDs and cruise documents -- and never pack them in your checked luggage. You'll want your passport or other photo ID and cruise ship boarding pass on hand, so even if your suitcase misses the boat, you can get onboard.
Just as you would in a big city, you need to be aware of your surroundings on a ship. Avoid darkened hallways; distance yourself if tempers flare; don't accept beverages from strange people. If you have a feeling something is wrong, pay attention to that feeling. Tell someone else too; the minute you suspect trouble, notify the Purser's Office.
Lastly, by doing a lot of planning before you travel, you can make your cruise travel memorable and all that you want it to be.
First of all, make sure you have a good carry on bag. A change of clothes and any important meds or toiletries should be packed in both your checked and onboard luggage. There are two reasons why this is important. One, at least you'll have some essentials with you if your luggage gets lost by the airline on the way to your cruise. It can take a while for your luggage to be found and then shipped to the next port of call. Secondly, you can begin to enjoy the onboard activities right away, as you'll have a bathing suit or dinner attire on hand; you won't have to wait for your bags to appear, even if your suitcases are delayed in being delivered to your cabin.
Bring enough medication for the duration of the cruise, as well as a detailed list of your prescriptions and the generic equivalents. Remember that you might not have access to a pharmacy in foreign ports or aboard the ship. Just in case you break or lose your eyeglasses, bring an extra pair.
Familiarize yourself with the local laws and customs of the countries you will be visiting. If, during a stopover, you break the law, you will be subject to the host country's judicial system. The country with jurisdiction over territorial waters is whose laws prevail at sea. Outside national boundaries, the international law of the sea applies to those waters.
Reserve any on shore excursions you will do during the cruise, as soon as possible after you embark on your trip. Later, you may be busy with new friends and on-board activities that you forget to make your land arrangements in time; desirable tours can fill up quickly.
Keep all your vital documents on your person. Always make sure you pack your necessary IDs and cruise documents -- and never pack them in your checked luggage. You'll want your passport or other photo ID and cruise ship boarding pass on hand, so even if your suitcase misses the boat, you can get onboard.
Just as you would in a big city, you need to be aware of your surroundings on a ship. Avoid darkened hallways; distance yourself if tempers flare; don't accept beverages from strange people. If you have a feeling something is wrong, pay attention to that feeling. Tell someone else too; the minute you suspect trouble, notify the Purser's Office.
Lastly, by doing a lot of planning before you travel, you can make your cruise travel memorable and all that you want it to be.
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