The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Basics

Cruise basics: The most important part of your pre-cruise checklist is not forgetting any travel documents. Even my most organized friend left their passport at home one time. No one is immune to accidentally forgetting, so make a checklist of exactly what you need and put it in a safe place. (I use a cheap but effective school pencil pouch.)

Board as soon as you can once you get to ship

What to do when you arrive: Place all of your important papers into the safe and unpack as soon as you get your luggage. If your room isn’t ready or your luggage hasn’t arrived at your room yet, get a bite to eat and take a walk around the ship. You can also go for a quick swim or get a fun drink.

At the stairs landing or elevators leading to your room's hall, look for a landmark so you can easily remember which hallway to take. One side is usually odd, and one is usually even, but they usually look exactly alike. Sometimes they have different carpet, but not always. Last cruise we were on, there was a ship map on the side we needed to take.

Do any muster drills immediately: They are extremely strict about this. Everyone’s safety is their first priority. These are safety instructions that are required for every passenger to study before the ship begins to sail. The videos are usually available on your app, but they are easily accessible on your stateroom TV. You don’t ever want to be the people who hold up the ship's departure.

Sanitize your cabin: Your stewards keep your cabin sparkling clean. But a quick wipe-down of doorknobs, deadbolts, TV remotes, light switches, thermostats and safe keypads gives you 100 percent assurance that your cabin is germ-free.

Put your phone on airplane mode: If you do nothing else, this is the most important thing you can do.

Activate your WiFi package if purchased: If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to visit the Internet cafe on the ship. They are there solely to help you with any phone / wi-fi questions you might have. It’s much better to meet with them for few minutes then guess or be frustrated.

Take time to meet your cabin steward: They are your best friends on this trip. Let them know your preferences so they can be better prepared to make your trip more enjoyable. We are late risers, so we always let them know that we don’t expect a morning cabin cleaning. They can get you extra blankets, pillows, ice, extra glasses, whatever you might need.

Make sure you read the daily newsletter: It’s the cruise bible. It contains everything you need to know about onboard activities, dining times, special events, and any one-day sales or discounts. It also gives you the local time at your port — which is extremely important. Your excursion and ship times will be based on that time zone.

Miscellaneous: If you weren’t able to pre-book any appointments or reservations, take a few minutes to do that as soon as possible once you are on the ship.

Sea days: For lunch on sea days, the main dining room is usually less crowded than the buffet or pool deck grills / pizza places

If you want to schedule spa treatments on a sea day, make the appointment well in advance and know that the sauna or thermal suites will be very crowded. It’s less crowded later in the day or very early.

Make sure you’re mindful of your vacation budget. Shopping events, art auctions, poker tournaments, slot challenges, spa treatments, etc., add up quickly.

Laundry: Most ships have pay-to-use washers and dryers. You can purchase detergent and dryer sheets there, but I normally take sheet detergent, and I bring a few dryer sheets. It keeps my suitcase smelling nice, too. They also have a pay-to-use laundry service. It’s pricey, but extremely convenient.

Tips: All drink packages have tips included. If you get a spa treatment, ask if the gratuity is added. They sometimes add 15–20 and you don’t want to double that by accident.

Photos: You are not obligated to buy any of the professional photos that are taken on board, but it’s nice to know you’ll have access to some great pictures throughout the trip. They are available in print and digital form.

Casino: If you are planning on spending some time here, make sure you introduce yourself to the casino manager at the start of the trip. Check to see if they have a casino players card.

Drink package: Before you turn in for the night (or before midnight) if you have any drinks left on your drink package, get a couple to put in your mini fridge. I love waking up and having a Diet Coke ready to enjoy. It also keeps you from having to wait in line for your first drink from the bar when you’re ready to start drinking.

Cruise account/bills: Make sure you check your bill periodically during your trip so you can be aware of any mistakes or surprises. With the prepaid packages — make sure your bill reflects the programs.

Bring a printed copy of your booking that lists prepayment for the package, just in case there is a mistake. Make sure you aren’t accidentally charged for any perks, complimentary services or extra fees. Some cruise lines have you folio information on the app, and you can also get a printout any time at the guest services desk or account kiosk.

If you find any discrepancy, address it right away. Once you are off the ship, it gets harder with phone calls and wait times.

Cruise line app: Many cruise lines have apps for your phone. Most apps allow you to search for cruise itineraries by destination, ship and port of call. Browse stateroom photos, watch ship videos, watch destination videos and browse shore excursions.

Once you're booked, you can usually make dining reservations, explore pre-cruise deals and purchase gifts in advance.

When it's time to check in, this can usually be done here, along with shore excursion reservations, booking spa treatments and making further restaurant reservations.

Once onboard, you can usually see the daily schedule and build a personalized calendar, view, purchase and download photos, view and navigate deck plans, as well as track your onboard expenses. Some apps even allow you to order food and drinks from anywhere on the ship. Complete the muster safety steps, keep up with fellow passengers, view and bookmark onboard events and view and manage dining reservations.

Disembarking: The night before you leave, you sadly pack and put your luggage in the hall. You can decide then how you want to retrieve your luggage. You can have it waiting as you disembark or occasionally you can have it sent straight to the airport. Check the disembarking paperwork or talk with your steward if you’d like that option.

The only thing left to do is to enjoy your cruise and have a wonderful time!

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Cruises page.