Cruise Travel Tips

Preparation

• Contact your cell service provider.  Many of them have international plans that can be temporarily added for the countries you visit.  I often do this while we are waiting to board the ship.  It gives me something to do while I wait, and they walk me through the process step by step so our phones are ready to go the minute we board.  

Boarding

• It may take a few hours before your luggage is delivered to your cabin, so in a carry-on, pack whatever you may need for the next several hours, including medications.  I love to explore the ship and take photos, so I pack my camera.  My husband likes to head for the hot tub, so he packs his swimming trunks.  

Ship Life

• Different ships handle gratuities differently.  Either way, we like to get our cabin steward a small gift on the first day in addition to the gratuity they will get at the end of the cruise.  In the new era of cruising, they don't have as much freedom to get off the ship in port, so ask if there is anything you can pick up for them in port.  Also, cash is always appreciated.  Their base pay is not very high.  We have always had great service when we meet them the first day and let them know our preferences. (ie: We like the minibar emptied and ice bucket filled morning and evening.) Some cruisers give daily cash tips of $5-$20 on top of the gratuities the ship charges.  The bottom line is: spoil your cabin steward. They will reward you with great service.
  
  
• Turn off your cell service after you leave port. Cruise ships do have cell service, but like the merchants whose tables Jesus overturned in the temple, they have a service you need and can't get anywhere else.  Price gouging is the polite term for what goes on.  Your phone will roam on this network and even without making or receiving calls, the data your phone uses in the background can end up costing you several hundred dollars over a seven-day cruise.  Forgot to turn off your cell service on a two-week cruise?  My condolences.   
  

Ports of Call

• Look in the daily newsletter or port handout for the contact information for each port.  Take a photo of it with your phone.  If you have any sort of delay, this is the number you want to have.
    
• Port times can change after itineraries and daily newsletters are printed.  Always double check the time you need to be back on board as you exit the ship.   One of our ports ended up moving the time to be on board to an hour EARLIER than planned.  It was announced, it was on a sign as we exited the ship, they verbally told us as we exited the ship, still, some people didn't get the message.  
• Check the weather report online or in the internet cafe before booking excursions.  The weather report in the daily newsletter tends to be less accurate.  
  
  
• There are several online apps that will review different tours in the ports.  

The Last Day

• Double check your account before the rush on the last day.  You may have to request an early copy or see if it is available in an onboard app.  If anything needs to be straightened out, it is so much easier to do before you leave the ship.