First Time Cruise Mistakes

Categories

 

 

First Time Cruise Mistakes

 

Every day thousands of first-time cruisers embark on what will hopefully be a vacation of a lifetime. They’ll tweet about it, and post a ton of photos on Facebook and Instagram. One thing they might not know is they’re about to show everyone just how much of a cruise rookie they are. 

 

Here are 7 rookie cruise mistakes:

 

1. Everything is free. There’s nothing more embarrassing than walking on the Lido Deck during sail away and the server comes up and hands you a drink. Not having any clue you take the drunk and instantly the bar server asks for your sign and sail card. The cruise lines are in the business to make money – it’s very rare they’ll hand out free drinks.

 

2. Stashing no-no's in a carry-on. Be careful what you try to bring on the ship. Recently, a gentleman had a backpack with a bottle of Tequila, mixer, and salt – ready to start his party – until it went through the x-ray machine and the port agents confiscated it. Don’t put booze in your carry-on!

 

3. Only buffet is free. The main dining room and the buffets are both free. I was talking to a first-time cruiser who told me they loved their experience but wish there were more places to eat. I asked them to explain further, and they told me that they have been eating in the buffet for all meals. I told them the main dining room meals are also included in their cruise fare. They looked at me like I had seven heads and told me they wish they were told that sooner!

 

4. Travel insurance. You will regret it if you don't have it. Most of the time you can join the folks who bought it but had no need for it, But, that one time you need it will make up for all the other times you buy it and don't use it. I always recount the time I was in London and my back went out. I was immobile and in pain. I had travel insurance, the hotel sent up a doc and United sent me home in first class. Worth every penny.

 

5. Cell phones. Do yourself a favor, unless you know what in the heck you’re doing – keep your cell phone off or in airplane mode while you are at sea. When you’re texting your friends from the ship, you are operating on the ship’s network, costing fifty cents per text, $1.30 for a picture text, $2.50 per minute for a voice call, and data, data is $19.97 per megabyte. You will save money by buying a ship internet plan or keeping your phone off! Actual costs may vary by provider. Net, net, keep the cell on airplane mode or off.

 

6. Shore Excursions. Everyone books their shore excursions straight from the cruise line because they put the fear of God in you that you will get left if you don’t book directly through them. There are, however, third-party excursion companies that take the worry about booking your next shore excursion by giving you a money-back guarantee and carrying the same promises as the cruise line. Go beyond the cruise line website for your next cruise ship excursion.

 

7. I’ll never be in my room. Everyone says it, “I’ll only shower and sleep in my room.” The truth is, you are in your room a lot more than to sleep and shower. You can only play so much trivia, drink, and sit in the sun all day. We can help you to research all the stateroom and category options before you default to that low-cost, interior cabin.