Thank you to Cruise Critic for publishing this article to help you make your cruise stress free. Here is the link to the full article.
1. Fly in a day early
Don't start your cruise panicking about missing the ship when your
flight is delayed or canceled. If you're flying, arrange to arrive in
your port city the evening before, and start your vacation with a nice
dinner and leisurely breakfast before heading to the terminal. If you're
driving, allow extra time for traffic, pit stops and unexpected delays.
In general, leave plenty of wiggle room in your itinerary. If you leave
home with exactly enough time to get to the port for the tail end of
embarkation, you're asking for trouble.
2. Get cash in advance
If you're
flying into a foreign city to catch your cruise ship, consider acquiring
some local currency before you leave home. In most cases, you can find
an ATM at the airport, but Cruise Critic editors have had some white-knuckle moments overseas when airport ATMs were on the fritz.
3. Plan transfers in advance
Baggage claim is not the place to first start thinking about port
transfers. Whether you book through the cruise line, hire a private
transfer, get a hotel shuttle or use public transit or a local cab, have
your plan in place before you go. Make your reservation in advance, or
at least know which bus line will take you to the port or the
approximate taxi fare from the airport to the cruise port. You don't
want to be stranded mere miles from your ship.
4. Know what time embarkation starts and ends
Your ship's departure time is usually later than the cutoff time for checking in. Double-check embarkation times and plan to show up with at least half an hour to spare.
5. Show up early...or late
Most
cruisers want to maximize their time onboard. So they all show up at the
port right when check-in begins, leading to crowds, long lines and lots
of wait time. If you want to breeze through embarkation, show up on the
later side when most people are already onboard. Or if you must be the
first onboard, arrive at the port super early. You will wait ... but
you'll be the first in line to board.
6. Be a VIP, or buy your way to faster embarkation
Many suite passengers and upper-tier loyalty program
members get access to priority embarkation. Depending on the port,
these special people can check in via dedicated VIP queues or in
exclusive and comfortable lounges. Some lines -- think Carnival's Faster
to the Fun program -- allow regular passengers to pay for the same
privileges. If you just can't stand to wait in line, consider upgrading
for special treatment.
7. Bring a change of clothes, a jacket and a hat
Cruise terminals are not always the most climate-controlled spaces. Some
even make you wait outside if you arrive too early. As the temperature
at the cruise port might not be the same as in your home town, we
recommend stashing a change of clothes in your carry-on. You might want
to throw in a pair of shorts and a sun hat for warmer climes and a
jacket and possibly a warm hat for breezier or chillier destinations.
It's a small price to pay to keep the kids from whining, "I'm hot! I'm
cold! Can we get on the cruise ship NOW?"
8. Prepare for queues.
Chances are, you will have to spend some time on embarkation day waiting
in line. We say: Cruise like a Boy Scout and be prepared. Bring snacks
to keep the munchies at bay, drinks to stay hydrated, entertainment for
your impatient kids (or spouse?) and even some sort of travel
stool/folding chair if you have trouble standing for long periods. Plus,
you can make the lag time go faster if you have a good attitude and use
the opportunity to chat with your soon-to-be shipmates, find out what
people are doing in port and plan your afternoon onboard.
9. Have your official documents in order
There is nothing so dream-crushing as getting to the cruise port only to
discover that you left your passport at home or don't have the right
visa to cruise. Before you leave home, make sure you have all the official documents you need -- from cruise tickets to government-issued IDs. Don't forget to order or print out cruise line luggage tags.
10. Know where those documents are
Once you have all your papers in order, put them all together in an
obvious section of your carry-on. Don't be that person frantically
strewing underwear and electronics all over the terminal as she digs
through a suitcase looking for her cruise docs. Affix luggage tags at
home or at the airport so you don't have to chase a porter down to make
sure your bag gets to the right cabin.
11. Don't try to smuggle contraband onboard
Embarkation day will be much more peaceful if you don't get busted by
ship's security. Whether it's drugs, booze or a really powerful curling
iron -- leave it at home. (For the lowdown on what beverages you can
bring onboard, see our story on cruise line alcohol policies.
12. Be ready for the embark photo -- or politely skip it
Pretty much every cruise Iine tries to take your photo on embarkation
day. Why they think the travel-weary look with carry-ons slung across
your shoulder is a good one to memorialize, we don't know. So consider
yourself forewarned: either throw on some makeup and hairspray and a
fresh shirt, or politely say "no, thank you" to the photographers and
keep on walking.
13. Pack light and pack smart
Cruise Critic always recommends that cruisers bring a small carry-on
onboard with a change of clothes, bathing suit, important medications
and anything else essential to have for the first afternoon onboard --
since you never know when your checked luggage will turn up. But if you
bring a heavy shoulder bag or an overstuffed roll-aboard prone to
topple, you'll likely find yourself getting grumpier the longer you have
to schlep it through the terminal and around the ship. Employ smart packing strategies and bring a light backpack or smooth-rolling carry-on for maximum convenience.
14. Know your stateroom number
Have you ever gotten onboard and headed for the crowded embarkation-day
elevators, only to realize you have no idea where you're going? (We
have.) You might have memorized everything about the ship and your cabin
and still can't recall the exact four-digit cabin number -- and most
cruise lines don't print it on your cruise card for security reasons. So
write it down in an obvious spot, and memorize it before you step onto
the ship. In any event, you'll need to remember it for the rest of your
trip. (Read cabin reviews here.)
15. Avoid the buffet if you can
Most cruise travelers board their ships and head straight to the buffet
(occasionally the bar, then the buffet). This practice makes the buffet a
madhouse for a few hours, with tray-toting passengers tripping over
stray carry-ons, and disoriented travelers not watching where they're
going as they try to work out where the pizza counter or deli bar
resides. If your ship has an alternative dining venue open, head there
instead for a more Zen-like first meal onboard. Braving the buffet
anyway? Know these 10 commandments of buffet etiquette.
--by Erica Silverstein, Features Editor
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