3 Things You Should Know Before Embarking on a Cruise

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woman in swimsuit with cruise ship behind her

It’s pretty difficult to not have fun on a cruise. Nonetheless, we have a lot of experience charting the open seas, which is why we’ve rounded up these three tips you should know that will make your cruise even more memorable.
Some of these tips are great for warding away any potential mishaps, and others will just help you get the most out of your vacation, especially if you’re new to how cruises work.

1. Arrive at the Port City the Night Prior

You should always arrive the night before to the port city from which your cruise departs. Plan to get in at night and stay at a hotel. You can make plans to go to dinner, hit the local disco scene or whatever else you may want to do.

The whole point of arriving early is that, if anyone’s travel plans are impacted, you have an extra half a day of padding just in case. For example, if your plane gets delayed or someone forgets to pack something and has to drive back home, you’ll have some breathing room so that no one in the group has to miss the cruise’s departure.

However, setting aside this amount of time as a safety net for travel mishaps is only for worst-case scenarios. You can plan to make the most of this time and incorporate it into your vacation by making fun plans with your significant other, family or friends.

2. Buy a Cruise Package

Purchasing a cruise package will no doubt give you more bang for your buck. After all, you don’t get to be on the open sea every day, so why not travel in style? Cruise package deals often include getting access to extras provided on your trip.

For example, a drinks package would include all-inclusive alcoholic beverages, allowing you to save money rather than paying for drinks one by one at the bar aboard your cruise. If you have a group of four or more adults drinking one or more drinks with each dinner, this really adds up!

Of course, there are different types of cruise packages, and the type depends on what your group is interested in. If it’s not drinks, it may be on-land touring, outdoor adventuring or on-ship pampering and spa. With many Alaska cruise packages, you can find ones for groups that want to sightsee and explore on land, as well as packages geared toward special events like your honeymoon, family vacation or another theme.

This way, your vacation is customized to you, helping you get in the mood or provide extra activities for the kids.

3. Know You Don’t Have to Follow (All) the Rules

There are certain safety rules you must follow while aboard the cruise ship, but you don’t need to abide by the “rules” or suggestions about how you should spend your time. In other words, you don’t have to eat with an assigned group at a set time or do an activity with fellow voyagers. Instead, you can spend time with your significant other, group of friends or your family and eat when you desire, or make your own plans to explore the ship or spend time together however you choose.

Getting the Most from Your Next Cruise

It doesn’t take much to get more bang for your buck on a cruise. By going with a cruise package, you can save money while getting more from your vacation. By arriving the night before, you can ensure everyone doesn’t miss out on all the fun. Finally, by planning out what you want to do aboard the cruise, you can make the most out of your quality vacation time with your group.

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