Here we go! This is a Pros and Cons and Do’s and Don’ts about my cruise experience. I have been on two cruises now and I have enjoyed both, but I feel like I enjoyed my second one a little more since I knew a little bit more about the cruising experience. As I mentioned before, I have only been on two cruises but here are a few tips to hopefully make your experience a little better if you do decide to go. Remember that cruises, like any other vacation, are not for everyone. I always thought I would not be that into cruising because I like to go to one destination and stay for longer periods of time so I can really explore the area better, but as someone who has had mobility issues, cruising has turned into something I enjoy even more. I can use my wheelchair since I get tired of walking around the big ship all day. It’s also somewhere I can relax in a beach chair, get some room service, or just enjoy a drink during a sea day then go out to a port for a few hours to explore and as I get tired, come back and relax on the boat.
Do’s
- DO take advantage of what’s free on your cruise. Yes, there are some things that do cost extra, but I say for your first cruise just enjoy the free parts and maybe upgrade to drink packages or more luxury dining in future sailings so that you do not have a big bill to take care of at the end of the trip. You can decide what you do and don’t like about cruising.
- DO take advantage of the excursions. It is worth the extra money to have a little more fun exploring. With that being said, book your excursions before your trip to have a better plan and also save a few pennies. Excursions can sell out and often cost more if you decide to book them while you are actually sailing.
- DO get a balcony if you want a very relaxing vacation. It is worth the extra money. If you want a busy vacation then an interior room will definitely save you some money and it won’t make a huge difference unless you’re sharing a room with a lot of people. If that’s the case then an oceanview will probably be worth it so as to not feel claustrophobic. I have only stayed in oceanview rooms so far and I am not very interested in staying in a room without windows.
- DO embrace the opportunity to get to know other people on the cruise ship. It can be a really fun experience to sit at a table with strangers and get to know them and share a small part of your vacation with them. Also get to know your cabin stewards and other crew members on the ship. I got to know my cabin steward on my most recent cruise and I wound out that he is from Costa Rica. We had some amazing conversations about travel and the different kinds of vacations that we like. He was so kind and went out of his way to make sure my friend and I were having a good time while also going the extra mile in his job.
- DO bring cash to save a lot of hassle. When you travel to different ports there are often different currencies you have to deal with and foreign transaction fees charged. My credit card only had a small fee but having some cash on hand was nice. I recommend bringing small bills because sometimes the smaller shops won’t give you change back.
- DO bring sunscreen. The reason for this is pretty obvious but don’t be like me and forget to wear your sunscreen on the first day and be sunburnt for the rest of your trip. Ouch!
- DO check out Sorrento’s Pizza if you are sailing on Royal Carribean. They had really good thin crust pizza and is normally open 24/7 but because of the pandemic its hours were from noon to 2am! I probably gained 5 pounds just from the pizza. No regrets!
- DO Bring your own hair conditioner. If you are like me then conditioner is a must with my long thick hair. Most cruise lines (but not all) only have shampoo and body was on the shower wall. With getting in and out of the pool and beach days my hair got super dry and having conditioner was great.
- DO bring comfy shoes you can slip on and off.
Dont’s
- DON’T forget to plan with those you are traveling with. This doesn’t mean planning every minute on your vacation but it does mean setting expectations as to what kind of vacation you each want to have. Some like to go to lots of activities and some just like to relax by the pool or in their room.
- DON’T get the wifi package unless you absolutely need to be talk with someone back home or check in on kids. My advice would be to just save the money and disconnect for a few days.
- DON’T get a room at the front or back of the ship. If you are more prone to seasickness I would recommend getting a stateroom in the middle of the ship. This way you won’t feel the rocking and rolling of the ship as much and most likely you’ll be away from the noisiest parts of the ship.
- DON’T get an interior room if you get claustrophobic easily; once you turn off the lights at night the room is basically pitch black.
- DON’T get an interior room if you are someone that needs time away and space. I would recommend upgrading to a stateroom with a balcony (or a verandah on some cruise lines) to have a space where you can be alone with the ocean to recharge.
- DON’T expect to board or disembark quickly. Because of COVID, many cruise lines are trying to limit crowds. This is helpful for social distancing but it does take more time.
- DON’T forget to have a good time and remember that you are on vacation. If you have family back home that you need to check on then get the wifi package, but if you can unplug for a few days I totally recommend it. I made a call or two with some cell charges just to check in with my husband and daughter back home but I don’t regret unplugging from social media and the rest of the world to really soak it up and enjoy my vacation.
