5 Biggest Cruising Mistakes to Avoid
You can usually spot a first time cruiser from a mile away. It’s truly an astounding experience to be onboard a cruise ship for the first time and it shows. First timers usually have a look of awe about them; like they’ve just stepped on board what they thought was a plane, only to find out it is actually a rocket ship on its way to Mars. Occasionally the newcomer is even easier to spot because they have made some rookie mistakes and are asking everyone around them what they should do. To be fair though, even the most seasoned cruisers sometimes make mistakes or need a cruising 101 refresher course. Our cruising tips will show you the 5 biggest mistakes to avoid.
Mistake #1 Packing Incorrectly: Believe it or not this is one of the easiest and biggest mistakes to make of all! First and foremost, the rooms aren’t huge and unless you are taking a world cruise you won’t need a bazillion pairs of shoes and or twelve different body sprays. I’m not saying you should pack super light. Even with the warmest weather forecasts I’d bring an outfit for cooler weather, just in case. Same goes for shoes; I won’t bring an entire suitcase full of them but I will bring a pair of heels for formal nights, sneakers or boots for outdoor excursions, and a pair for everyday wear.
Quick tip: My son is active duty military, so he has to travel frequently and he is forced to travel lightly. He taught me a great trick that helps get more items into tight spaces. This trick also helps keep your clothing wrinkle free according to him but I can’t attest that is always the case, I think that would depend mostly on the material of the item. I call this the rolling method. It’s exactly what it sounds like, rather than just folding all of your clothing maximize your space by rolling your clothes as tight as possible. This will allow you to get clothing into all of the nooks and crannies inside of your suitcase. I tried it on our last trip, after I bought a bunch of extra stuff I wanted to take back home with me and I had more room in my suitcase than what I had when the trip began.
Proper packing doesn’t stop with just what you put into the suitcase. Bringing the wrong suitcase can be a big nuisance. . For instance, if you use average size suitcases it will most likely fit under your bed completely out of the way, but those oversized monstrosities that some people call suitcases are way too bulky to hide under the bed. You’ll be stepping around them for the rest of your trip.
Also, it’s important when you are packing to make a list and look at all the rules. Some cruise lines will not allow you to bring certain beverages onboard while others will. If you are flying there are rules about what you can and can’t pack and what you can bring in your carryon luggage. A good travel consultant can help you in this regard. It’s very important to double, or even triple check the rules.
As far as essentials are concerned being prepared here is key. If you have to buy things aboard the ship it will most likely be more expensive. Like I said before, I bring an outfit for cooler weather even if I am traveling to a place forecasted to be warm. If you are going somewhere weather patterns are unpredictable, bring an umbrella, just in case! And for heavens sakes, don’t book a cruise to Hawaii or the Caribbean and not bring sunscreen!
Mistake #2: Time Management: A traveler’s worst and most probable nightmare is a delayed flight. Second biggest issue is traffic. Your best bet is to expect delays. It’s always best to give yourself a cushion. If you are flying it’s best to arrive at your embarkation destination the day before. Not only will this leave you refreshed and ready for a fabulous cruising day but you can enjoy the town the night before. The same is true if you are driving and your port of call is more than three hours away. This is your vacation, make it stress free and enjoy it, don’t stress yourself out with all of the pre cruise mumbo jumbo.
Think time management while you are on your cruise too. If you are booking your own outside excursion or enjoying a day in your port of call, Keep an eye on the time. The reality of the situation is that the ship will leave you if you are not back before they are set to sail to the next location. Quick Tip: I always decide ahead of time what I am doing in each port and download a map of the area to have with me so I don’t get lost.
If you haven’t pre booked your shore excursions and need some last minute advice on what to do ask the staff onboard. They’ve most likely been to the area several times and can point you in the right direction.
Mistake #3: Booking the Wrong Cruise: Once again this is a huge rookie mistake. The most common are those who expect a nice relaxing 3-4 day cruise just to discover they need a vacation from their cruise vacation. Short weekend cruises to beach towns usually have a much younger vivacious crowd. If you don’t want to be around a bunch of kids, don’t book during spring break!
When booking your cruise a lot of thought, research, and planning should go into it. That’s why it’s always best to talk to an expert who knows what’s going on and can give excellent cruise advice, but I will get to that later. You should think about the time of year you are traveling. Look up the weather patterns; are you traveling to Mexico during the rainy season but expecting it to be margaritas and warm sand by the beach? What about the cabin? Did you book an ocean view cabin so that you could see outside, just to find out that it’s far away from the elevators and half of your view is blocked?
Quick Tip: Talk to a cruise specialist. If that’s totally out of the question we have some very informative blogs to help on our website.
Mistake #4: Document Issues: When I say documents, I mean so much more than just making sure your passport is up to date. My sister just had to jump through loops because she was traveling for her birthday only to realize her driver’s license expired the day of her return. The airlines weren’t excited! Little things like this pop up without of even thinking about them.
Mistake #5: Skipping the Travel Agent: To be honest, this actually sums up this entire article. Working with an experienced travel consultant will always get you the same price as the cruise line and often, the right consultant can save you money. It’s a no brainer. This is where newbies find themselves in trouble because they assume going with the cruise line is the best deal. However, that’s not the case and seasoned cruisers are usually well aware of that fact. If you are a first timer you need us the most! Trust me, our specialists will make sure you are prepared with the most up to date information and advice, and we want to save you money!
Get the best travel advice by calling the experts at 1-888-804-Cruise (2784) or by logging into our website, www.CruiseExperts.com. We want to help you book the best cruise and will help you with all of your traveling needs!
Join our Inner Circle and “Like” us on Facebook
Join our Inner Circle, or “like” us on Facebook for exclusive updates on the hottest deals for ocean and river cruises–or any other cruise destination– offered by all the cruise lines. Looking for a Last Minute Deal? Check out our website or contact us.