Avoid these 20 First-Time Cruiser Mistakes

Avoid these 20 First-Time Cruiser Mistakes

Firsttime Cruisers often make mistakes that can impact their Cruise experience even season Cruisers sometimes fall victim to these I’ve curated 20 of the most common mistakes so let’s check those out oh Hoy Travelers it’s Amy here to help you make your travel experience a success let’s jump right into this

List and be sure to stick around for all 20 so you don’t find yourself in a bind on your next Cruise number one not researching Cruise Lines each Cruise Line has its own atmosphere amenities and target audience there are large resort style ships that are geared towards families luxury lines with

Smaller ships and a higher crew to passenger ratio for more individualized experience adult only lines casual lines and more traditional lines it’s important to research and choose which one suits your preferences number two booking the wrong itinerary similar to booking the right line for you is making

Sure your itinerary is the right one for you ensure that the cruise itinerary aligns with your interests and includes the destinations you want to visit one of the best ways to begin your cruise research is by deciding where you want to visit then researching the lines and

Ships that visit those ports from there you can narrow your choice Down based on preferences and budget number three ignoring cabin locations location location location unless you can sleep through a tornado I suggest you choose your cabin carefully personally I do not think the money you can save by choosing

A guaranteed cabin is worth the gamble those are cabins that the cruise line chooses for you based on which cabins are left over after others have booked their preferred cabins you’re going to want to avoid booking cabins near noisy areas like elevators clubs or the engine

Room if you are prone to motion sickness book a cabin in the middle of the ship lower down so you won’t feel the motion as much A good rule of thumb when choosing your cabin is to make sure you’re surrounded on all sides by other cabins and not public spaces number four

Checking Cruise documents ensure you have all required documents like passports and cruise tickets well before departure be aware that you will often need to have a passport that is further than 6 months out from expiration this is especially true if you’re traveling overseas you would hate to get to the

Airport and not be allowed to get on your flight to your because your passport is set to expire in 3 months number five packing the wrong items there are numerous Cruise packing lists out there but it is important to base what you do and don’t pack on your specific cruise is it a

Casual cruise line or is it more traditional and formal what will the weather be like in the ports of call be sure to check the list of prohibited items for your cruise line as well or you may find you have your items confiscated prior to boarding it’s not

Just prohibited items for the ship that you need to be aware of but also what different ports will not allow for example many Caribbean ports of call will not allow guests to wear camouflage of any kind because it’s reserved for their military number six disregarding dress codes some lines are stricter than

Others when it comes to what you are allowed to wear in the MDR and other venues especially in the evenings while many of the mainstream Lines no longer enforce dress codes like they used to some lines will still turn away if you’re not dressed appropriately for those venues most lines still have some

Type of formal night where guests get all dolled up for the evening but you’re going to want to check to see if the cruise line you’re going on requires formal dress or if it’s more of a suggestion number seven not checking visa requirements ensure you have the

Necessary visas for the ports of call on your itinerary even if you’ve gone somewhere before check to make sure there aren’t any new requirements historically those who are headed to Europe from the US and 60 other Visa exempt countries haven’t needed anything other than a passport now European

Countries have gotten together and will be requiring a new travel authorization for US citizens to travel to Europe beginning in 2025 number eight not purchasing travel insurance unexpected events can happen and you need to invest in travel insurance to cover cancellations medical emergencies and other unforeseen circumstan an es when looking for travel

Insurance be sure to search specifically for cruise Insurance there are stories that come up all the time of people who are having to beg for money to cover a $50,000 medical flight to get home after a medical emergency people have died due to not having travel insurance and not

Being able to afford that medical transport in time to get treatment if you can’t afford travel insurance you can’t afford to cruise number nine not bringing power strips while newer ships do have more outlets and even USB and USBC hookups most ships are lacking in outlets and even if there are enough

Outlets they may not be where you need them invest in a power strip with multiple types of outlets that has an extension cord and no surge protector now I’ve heard some people say that you shouldn’t bring the ones that have the cord because it might get confiscated

I’ve never had that happen to me just make sure that it’s not like an you’re bringing an extension cord and this buy one that has like a five Sixt cord on it surge protectors make sure it does not have one of those they are not allowed on cruise ships because they can cause

Issues due to the ship’s electrical wiring number 10 neglecting seasickness precautions if you’re prone to motion sickness you will definitely want to bring a variety of Remedies like pressure bands and medication until you know what works best for you you for mild cases ginger candy ginger drinks

And even green apples can help settle the stomach even if you don’t normally experience motion sickness it is better to be prepared just in case the Seas get extra choppy we’re halfway through our list which means it’s a good time to ask that if you find Value in this video

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Number 11 not researching your embarcation Port one of the most stressful days of any cruise is embarcation day one way of alleviating some of that stress is by knowing what to expect when you arrive at Port including how to get there and where to park at some ports you may need to book

Parking ahead of time to make sure that you can park close to the terminal number 12 skipping the mustard drill the safety drill is mandatory and the ship cannot sail until everyone has completed the mustard drill it is designed to familiarize passengers with emergency procedures most lines have switched to

The e- muster which makes it easier than ever to knock that drill out first thing and get on with your cruise number 13 not budgeting for extras the average Cruiser will spend the cost of their Cruise all over again in extras cruises may seem all-inclusive but extras like Excursion specialy dining and gratuities

Can really add up if you prepaid gratuities explore ports on your own and stick to included food and drink you can get by without spending another dime on the ship however that’s not the reality for most Cruisers so do your research and budget for those extras number 14

This one’s a doozy not putting your phone in airplane mode one of the most costly mistakes a cruiser can make is forgetting to put their phone in airplane mode mod while out to see phones will connect to the maritime Network which is very costly it is especially so if you don’t realize your

Phone is connected and you’re getting charged for every text and email that comes through the safest thing to do is put your phone into airplane mode as soon as you board the ship number 15 not booking excursions in advance popular excursions can fill up quickly especially if you are booking through

The cruise line whether you choose to book through the cruise line or through a reputable Excursion site you will want a book as soon as possible to secure your spot number 16 not keeping track of ship time and Shore time most cruises will visit multiple time zones and

Depending on the cruise you may either remain on ship time which is the time of the port of departure or you may change to Local time when we did a Western Caribbean cruise with Norwegian we were constantly switching back and forth to adjust a local time however when

Visiting the same ports on a Carnival Cruise we remained on ship time while at Port be sure you pay attention to announcements to know what time your ship is using so that you are on time for excursions and ship departure times many of those peer Runners that you see

Are due to confusions about ship and short time number 17 ignoring reviews while I would never plan whether or not to book a crew solely on reviews because people have very different expectations for their vacations it is important to look at reviews to get a sense of what a

Cruise line is like if all you’re looking at is the Cruise Lines website you’re only going to see a whitewash version of the line and its ships checking on reviews can give you a better sense of What To Expect While on board and can help you decide which line

Ship and itinerary is best for you number 18 forgetting sun protection no matter where you are cruising to don’t forget to take some sun sunscreen sunglasses and a hat of some sort even if you weren’t going to the tropics you’re going to be on and near the water

Which reflects the sun even in the winter pack sunscreen hats and sunglasses number 19 not taking advantage of onboard activities cruises offer a wide variety of activities and entertainment which is part of what makes cruising such a perfect vacation there is something for everyone but to

Make sure you get the most out of your cruise you want to know what all your ship has to offer and finally number 20 ignoring disembarkation procedures familiarize yourself with disembarkation procedures to ensure a smooth exit from the ship are you going to do assisted debarkation and let the cruise line take

Your luggage off for you if so you’re not going to be among the first to leave the ship if you’re wanting to get off the ship as soon as possible and get on the road then you’re going to want to choose self embarcation where you take your luggage off the ship Yourself by

Being aware of these potential pitfalls firsttime Cruisers can enhance their overall Cruise experience and make the most of their vacation let me know in the comments which one surprised you the most if you are a season Cruiser what would you add to this list drop a comment below and let’s discuss I’m

Going to be linking several videos in the comments below that go further into the topics discussed be sure to check those out for further tips to make sure your next cruise is a success are you ready for more information on cruising why not stick around and check out this

Video on making the most out of your cruise vacation and then come back for more information design to help you have an amazing Cruise have a blessed week everyone

Welcome aboard, fellow adventurers! In this comprehensive video, we’ll dive into the world of cruising and help you navigate your first voyage with confidence. Join us as we uncover the top 20 common mistakes made by first-time cruisers and provide valuable tips to ensure a smooth and unforgettable experience. From booking your cruise to disembarkation, we’ll cover it all.

Whether you’re a solo traveler, a couple, or a family, this video is packed with practical advice and expert insights to help you make the most of your first cruise. Don’t let rookie mistakes dampen your experience – join us and embark on a journey filled with excitement, relaxation, and unforgettable memories.

Subscribe to our channel for more travel tips, cruise reviews, and destination guides. Bon voyage!

Check out these videos for more information:
What Cruise Line is for You? – https://youtu.be/cLX10wj3_fQ?si=oLCCffc5DsWYl-i_
Best Cabin for You – https://youtu.be/K4-vHmb17fI?si=KRibxX2d71KCQ6ao
Cruise Dress Codes – https://youtu.be/tqf_20F5k1w?si=Y8VmsfOXZvmS72Vm
Travel Insurance – https://youtu.be/BGE-En-hvbY
Embarkation Tips – https://youtu.be/EWqF97RJqPk?si=O9U9D-Fur2xICaYM
Airplane Mode – https://youtu.be/lecOIC3O6tA
Booking Shore Excursions – https://youtu.be/kui7YevRmcY
Ship Time – https://youtube.com/shorts/_qJ6OQbZ4D4
Debarkation Made Easy – https://youtu.be/_9o1dtGcYuc

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Tuesdays: Cruising and Travel tips and trivia for new and seasoned cruisers alike.

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FUTURE CRUISES
January 2024 – Carnival Jubilee (Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel)
September 2024 – MSC Euribia (Hellesylt, Geiranger Fjord, Molde, Flaam, Kiev)
January 2025 – Celebrity Apex (St. Kitts, Tortola, Puerto Plata)

PAST CRUISES
Sept 2023 – Carnival Vista (Roatan, Belize, Cozumel)
Jan 2023 – Norwegian Breakaway (Costa Maya, Belize, Roatan, Cozumel)
Jan 2020 – Carnival Glory (Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel)
Nov 2019 – Carnival Dream (Cozumel, Progreso)
Feb 2019 – Carnival Dream (Roatan, Belize, Cozumel)
Mar 2006 – Carnival Destiny (San Juan, St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, Aruba)

0:00 – Intro
00:26 – Cruise Lines
00:53 – Itinerary
01:22 – Cabin Location
02:07 – Cruise Documents
02:32 – Packing
03:12 – Dress Codes
03:46 – Visas
04:17 – Travel Insurance
04:57 – Power Strip
05:46 – Seasickness
06:37 – Embarkation
06:58 – Muster Drill
07:17 – Budgeting for Extras
07:48 – Airplane Mode
08:16 – Excursions
08:34 – Ship/Shore Time
09:18 – Reviews
09:51 – Sun Protection
10:15 – Onboard Activities
10:34 – Disembarkation