Cruise planning can be stressful and overwhelming, especially if this is your first cruise. As someone who has been on many cruises debarking from all over the country, I want to help you plan a stress-free cruise vacation. This guide with 23+ cruise essential tips will help you if you are a seasoned cruiser or a first-time cruiser, cruise stress-free.

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How do I Prepare for my First Cruise?

Cruise planning should be broken into a couple of steps: pre-cruise planning, packing, and boarding day.

Pre-Cruise Planning Tips

Packing Tips

Boarding Day Tips

Key Takeaways

Grab my Free Ultimate Cruise Checklists to help with each area to prepare for your first cruise.

23+ Essential Tips for

First-Time Cruisers

Yep, that's me panicking before my cruise (my husband took this picture as I was in full meltdown mode HAHA). I had no idea what to pack, what to expect, and I still hadn't downloaded our boarding passes. A few years later, I have learned a few tricks, so don't be like me and let the cruise planning stress you out. Let me help you plan for a stress-free and fun cruise!

Pre-Cruise Planning Tips

Pre-cruise planning involves setting your budget, finding the right cruise ship for your budget, and planning to set sail.

Planning Your Budget

The initial step involves planning your budget, a step I have forgotten in the past, and came home after the cruise wondering what I spent my money on.

Planning your budget allows you to enjoy your cruise vacation without extra expenses sneaking up on you and that shocking credit card bill when you get home.

Think about how much you want to spend on your entire cruise vacation, from cruise fare, taxes, gratuities, excursions, pre-cruise shopping, and even the travel to and from the cruise port.

Let's break it down into areas you should look at when setting your budget.

1. Cruise fare

2. Port fees and taxes

3. Gratuities

4. Onboard expenses (drinks, Wi-Fi, dining, shopping)

5. Shore Excursions

6. Transportation (to and from the port)

7. Travel Insurance

8. Pre-cruise shopping

1. Cruise Fare - Choosing Your Cruise Ship

When looking for the right cruise to fit your budget, you should do some research first and look at a few different cruise lines.

Ask yourself, "Do I want a luxury cruise, a family-friendly, adults-only cruise, lots of onboard activities, or a budget cruise?"

Asking these questions can help you narrow your decision to the right cruise line and cruise ship.

Tip: Once you have chosen your cruise ship, don't forget to choose the right cabin for you.

• Inside cabin

• Ocean view

• Balcony

• Suite

• Guaranteed cabin (typically the cheapest option, allowing the cruise ship to place you in a cabin they choose).

Tip: If you get seasick, like me, you might want to choose a cabin mid-ship and lower, and a balcony if possible. This way, you can get some fresh air when needed without feeling the sway of the ship as much.

2. Port Fees and Taxes

Port fees and taxes are included in the overall cost of the cruise fare. Thankfully, now, when you are searching for a cruise, your taxes are included in the cruise fare cost. Before July 2024, this was separate to make the cruise fare look cheaper.

While you can't get away from paying the taxes and port fees, you can choose a location with cheaper port fees.

For example, if you cruise out of a less popular area such as Tampa or Jacksonville, FL, as opposed to the two most popular cruise ports, Port Canaveral and Port Miami.

3. Gratuities

You can choose to pay your gratuities up front with your cruise fare so you don't have to worry about them later, or you can pay for them at the end of your cruise.

Yes, some people do go to customer service to have gratuities removed. However, the people I have heard who do this want to choose who the gratuities go to specifically and they tip the who they want themselves.

All cruise lines have their own gratuity policy, while some may allow you to remove gratuities from your bill, others may not. Check your cruise line policy.

What does cruise gratuities cover?

• Wait staff

• Room Steward

• Behind the scenes, workers

Everyone works really hard on a cruise ship, and extra tipping is suggested but not mandatory.

4. Onboard Expenses

Onboard expenses can sneak up on you if you are not prepared, believe me. One of my favorite onboard expenses is the casino. Whether you like to play in the casino or not, you should think about how much you would like to spend while cruising.

Extra Expenses:

• Drink Package (check your cruise line, some will run specials and discounts up to boarding day).

• Drinks - Not just alcoholic but specialty drinks such as coffee and juices.

• Specialty dining: Some cruise ships have some really good specialty restaurants, and I have been on some that I have enjoyed the free food just as much, so definitely do your research there. Are you wanting a food experience?

• Wi-Fi Package: All cruise lines offer various packages for the entire trip and by the day.

• Onboard activities: Many activities on cruise ships are free, but there might be additional games or activities that may cost a little extra to join.

• Shopping: You can find souvenirs, shirts, liquor, jewelry, and purses for sale.

5. Shore Excursions

When planning your cruise, decide if you would like to do a shore excursion.

Shore excursions are a great way to explore the port you are visiting. I recommend researching your port, as some ports have a lot of fun things to do without needing to book an excursion.

If you want to book an excursion, decide if you would like to book through your cruise line or a third-party vendor, such as Viator or Tripadvisor.

Pros of booking through a third-party:

1. Cheaper: You can find cheaper shore excursions through a third party than with your cruise line.

2. Higher quality excursions: While this isn't always the case, you may find better shore excursions through a third party.

3. More Options: I have always found that Viator offers more than my cruise line in shore excursions

4. Private Excursions: More likely to find

Pros of booking through the cruise line:

1. Direct access: You will have access through your cruise line website or app, or by booking on the cruise ship.

2. Cruise Line Discounts: While third-party excursions can typically run cheaper than the cruise line, you may find a low price offered by your cruise line when booking your cruise.

3. Flexibility: If your cruise ship cancels a port day due to weather, you will not have to worry about a refund. However, when booking through a third party, the cancellation policy is ALWAYS something you should check.

4. The Ship Won't Leave You: This is the main reason people book through their cruise line. If you book through them and your excursion is late returning, the cruise ship will wait. However, many reputable third-party vendors offer this guarantee as well, by even offering to send you to your next port if you miss your ship.

If you book through a third-party vendor, always check their cancellation policy and make sure they are a reputable company. NEVER purchase a shore excursion on a Facebook group.

6. Transportation

Transportation costs should be part of your overall cruise vacation costs. Are you flying, driving, do you need an Uber to and from the airport, are you staying in a hotel?

If you are flying in, I highly recommend flying in the day before and staying in a hotel to avoid flight delays, which could cause you to miss your cruise.

I like to price compare on Expedia for hotels, flights, and transportation costs.

Plus, you book your ride to and from the airport through companies like Viator and Tripadvisor as well.

Check my Ultimate Cruise Planning Checklist for a travel planning checklist.

7. Travel Insurance

I am embarrassed to say that I have traveled so much without travel insurance, and I never cruise without it now.

Travel Insurance will help with:

• Emergency Medical Coverage

• Lost Luggage

• Trip Cancellations

Click on the link below to get a price comparison of cruise travel insurance for peace of mind.

8. Pre-Cruise Shopping

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to buy new vacation clothes as soon as I book my cruise!

Aside from buying new clothes, a cruise is a little different than a land vacation, and certain cruise essentials can help make your cruise more organized and stress-free.

Check out the next section of Packing Tips to help you plan your pre-cruise shopping list.

Packing Tips for Your Cruise

When packing for your cruise, it can feel overwhelming, especially if you have never cruised before. You want to make sure you don't overpack, but you also don't want to underpack either.

As someone who has cruised a lot, I would say that if you overpack, that is much better than forgetting something, as I have done many times.

What to Pack for a Cruise

1. Important Document

• Passport, visas, ID

• Boarding Pass

• Flight information

• Shore Excursion tickets

Having your important documents together before you cruise will help for a smooth boarding day.

2. Plan for Events

From onboard to port days, think about everything you will be doing on your cruise.

Some cruise lines have themed nights such as:

• White night

• 80s night

• 70s night

• Orange night

• Caribbean night

• Latin night

• Formal night

Check with your cruise line or even find a Facebook group with your chosen cruise ship to see what themed nights they will offer.

3. Shore Excursions

You will want to plan appropriately for the specific shore excursion you booked.

Caribbean excursions you might need:

• Swimsuit/ swimsuit coverup

• Swim shoes

• Snorkel equipment (if snorkeling, many excursions offer the equipment)

• Waterproof phone case

• Beach bag/day bag

• Closed-toed walking shoes

Alaska excursions you might need:

• Waterproof hiking shoes

• Hiking pants

• Binoculars

• Waterproof Sling Bag

• Layered clothing

These are items I have taken on both of my Caribbean and Alaskan cruise shore excursions. Your shore excursion will let you know if there is anything specific you should bring.

4. Basic Toiletries

When you are cruising, you don't have to worry about travel-size containers or even how many bags you are bringing. The only downfall is that if you are flying in, you will still need to pack travel-size toiletries.

Here are some basic cruise essentials I love to pack:

• Travel Toiletry Bottles

• Travel Toiletry Hanging Bag (This is great to save space in your small cruise cabin)

• Travel Mirror

• Downy Wrinkle Spray Release (You can't bring a steamer, and they don't have irons in the room).

• Shower Organizer (to hang up all your toiletries)

• Poo-Pourri (Because the bathrooms do not have exhaust fans)

5. Cabin Cruise Essentials

There are lots of cruise hacks for various cruise essentials out there for you to pack to help stay organized on your cruise.

Here are my favorite cruise essentials to pack:

• Charger Block (cruise cabins have limited outlets)

• Portable Charging Battery (great to use in the cabin and at the port)

• Portable Fan (Cruise cabins don't have ceiling fans, and they can get warm, especially in the Caribbean.

• Magnetic Hooks (Number one favorite! Cabin walls are magnetic, and you can hang up your stuff to keep organized)

• Packing Cubes (stay organized when packing and use them for dirty laundry during your cruise)

• Motion Night Light (Battery powered to help give some light at night - the cabin can get pretty dark)

• Luggage tag holders (not for the cabin, but can help to ensure your luggage makes it to your cabin)

For more packing ideas, check out these related posts:

• Essential Alaska Packing List for Summer

• Ultimate Packing List

• 20 Cruise Essentials for Your Cruise

• First Time Cruise Essentials to Pack

Tips for Boarding Day

Boarding day can be stressful, especially for first-time cruisers, if you don't know what to expect. I've got 10 tips to help make sure your boarding day experience is stress-free, but the biggest takeaway is to be patient.

What to Expect on Embarkation Day?

1. Arrive Early

Boarding times will vary, but most cruise lines will provide a specific time for arrival. Be sure to arrive a little early in case of long lines.

Tip: Fly in at least a day early so you don't run the risk of flight delays causing you to miss your cruise.

2. Have all of Your Documents Ready

Your documentation should include a passport, a boarding pass, and any health documents needed.

Tip: Many cruise lines allow you to print or download your boarding pass up to 30-45 days before your cruise. Check with your cruise line to see if they have an app, you can download your boarding pass.

3. Luggage Tags

All luggage you check with the porter should be properly tagged. Cruise lines usually have tags you can use, but if you take theirs, be sure to secure it to your luggage yourself to prevent it from getting lost or delayed being delivered to you.

If you are checking your luggage, look for a porter outside the terminal accepting luggage. They will take your luggage and have it delivered to your cabin.

Tip: I like to purchase my luggage tags from Amazon, as these tags are great! I have flown with them, and they are really sturdy, and you don't have to worry about them falling off.

4. Carry-On Bag

This is just a suggestion, but I love packing a carry-on bag for embarkation day. If you are checking your luggage with the porter, you will be without your luggage for a few hours.

Most cruise lines begin allowing passengers to enter their cabins between 1:00 and 2:00, while sometimes you may have your luggage delivered by then, other times it could be 5:00 pm before you receive your luggage.

If you are thinking of packing a cruise carry-on bag, here are some suggestions of what to pack.

• Important documents

• Medications

• Swimsuit (if you plan to hit the pool right away)

• Chargers and devices

• Change of clothes if you traveled in and would like to freshen up

6. Dining Reservations

If you plan to make any specialty dining reservations, do this after boarding the ship to avoid long lines.

Tip: Some cruise lines will allow you to book your specialty dining in advance on their app.

5. Muster Drill

A muster drill is a mandatory safety briefing to prepare passengers for an emergency. Many cruise lines now allow you to watch a video on their app before you board the ship, and once you do board the ship, you will just need to scan your card at your designated muster station.

All cruise lines are different, and the muster drill can vary, so check with your cruise line how they handle the mandatory safety briefing.

However, if you are a first-time cruiser, be thankful things have changed since COVID. Before COVID, passengers would have to gather by the hundreds, huddled up at the muster station, watching a life jacket demonstration. A huge nightmare for anyone with claustrophobia like me.

7. Kid Centers

Cruise ships have a variety of kids' centers to entertain children. If you have children or grandchildren who will be attending the activities at a kids' center, then I recommend registering them as soon as possible when you board to avoid long lines.

8. Check out the Ship

After you board the ship, is a great time to walk around and check out the ship and all the amenities the ship has to offer. Many cruise lines will offer guided tours on embarkation day before the ship sails away. This can be great for first-time cruisers to get a feel for everything you can do onboard and a time to ask questions without a lot of other crowds around.

Tip: I like to download the cruise ship map from their website when I am on a new cruise ship to help give me an idea of where everything is.

9. Set Up Online Payments

If you haven't done this before boarding the ship, then you will want to get this taken care of as soon as possible. You can go to customer service and ensure you have a credit card on file.

Having a credit card on file will help with any onboard spending you make while on your cruise, as everything will be billed directly to your account. You can also find your daily gratuities added to your account as well.

Cruise lines offer the ability to see your account and what has been charged, either via their app or on their designated channel on the TV in your room.

Tip: Try to avoid visiting customer service on embarkation day as this is their heaviest day of traffic, and you could find yourself waiting in a long line.

10. Eat

Something almost everyone is ready to do when they board the ship, and that is eating and heading straight to the buffet.

I recommend doing some of these other things on the list first before heading straight to the buffet because it will be packed.

I like to eat breakfast before I arrive that morning, so I am not boarding super hungry. I have noticed that if you wait till close to sail away time, the lines in the buffet and some of the restaurants start dying down.

Tip: You do want to check the times your cruise ship restaurants and buffet will be open for as some cruise lines begin shutting down a lot of their food options at sail away and will reopen later for dinner.

Key Takeaways

Cruise planning can be stressful, so here are some key takeaways to ensure your cruise starts smoothly.

1. Plan your cruise budget to ensure you choose the right cruise and activities for you.

2. Download your cruise line app

3. Use a packing list to ensure you have packed everything you need

4. Pack a cruise carry-on bag for embarkation day

5. Don't forget your important documents, boarding pass, and passport

6. Be sure to have a credit card on file before boarding day

7. Explore the ship and enjoy!

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