This is Cruising 101. We are not seasoned cruisers. But we have been on 4 cruises and want to share what we have learned, what we like, and what we didn’t, from what to do before booking a cruise and what to do after you booked your cruise.
First Things First
Get your passport, it takes approximately 6 to 9 weeks, depending on the time of year. Please don’t make the same mistake we did when applying for a passport. We used the same birth certificate that the hospital gave us when we were born. That was good for the first over 50+ years of our life, but not for a passport. I guess the raised seal means it is valid.
Choosing Your Cruise
There is plenty involved in choosing a cruise. It may seem simple but choosing the right cruise for you is as intricate as picking the right house or car. You’ll need to decide which cruise line, cruise ship, itinerary, and embarkation port are right for you, while also keeping in mind what your budget is and how long you can be away from home.
We knew for us it was Alaska, something that we both had wanted to do for a while. When selecting the cruise look at the ports the ship will stop at. Check out the excursions if this is something that interests you, or walk around the town. When we went on our first cruise we chose excursions that also had time to explore the towns. We went whale watching, so amazing. The cost of the excursions is something also to look at, if booking with the cruise line if something happens and you are late returning the ship will wait. But, if you book with someone at the dock offering excursions and you are late returning the ship will not wait. We have done both. When we went to the Panama Canal cruise we chose to go on a site-seeing tour by an outside vendor, there were several of us on the excursion, and returned in plenty of time.
Booking Time
When booking a cruise I look at the time of year we want to go and what is available. There are so many to choose from there we try and narrow it down. Both of us enjoy sightseeing, people-watching, exploring old towns, and history. We love going on any type of boat adventure and watching the animals in their environment. Like trying different types of food, everywhere you go you can easily do that.
We are very lucky because we both like to travel. We want to go on the world cruise, maybe one day.
Decide What Cruise Line
There are so many cruise lines available, choose your cruise line based on what you like. We are very laid back and wanted a relaxing cruise. I didn’t want a party boat or one filled with tons of kids. We choose Princess Cruise Line more for the relaxing atmosphere. There are cruise lines to meet everyone’s interest in what you are looking for in a ship. This is a very personal choice.
We have sailed on the Grand, Caribbean, Discovery, and Emerald. When looking for a cruise I think that the size of the ship matters very much, or to us it did. When we sailed on the Discovery we thought too many people 3660, so it was more crowded than the Grand which was 2610. I not saying that we didn’t have fun or a relaxing time, but we did prefer the ship with fewer people. The more people on the ship the more crowded it became at certain times of the day. Like eating at the buffet, sitting was sometimes very limited due to everyone wanting to eat at the same time. Entertainment has the same limited seating and when lots of people want to go to the same show or event, unless you are early you might not get a seat.This is Cruising 101. We are not seasoned cruisers. But we have been on 4 cruises and want to share what we have learned, what we like, and what we didn’t.
Looking For The Right Ship For You
When we went on the Discovery it was new so the staff wasn’t as trained as on other ships, they just needed to work out the kinks. The Caribbean was awesome and ran like a well-oiled machine. We had specialty dining and I would suggest that to anyone looking for a quiet place to dine. If you liked the waiters you could sit in the same seats and have the same waiters every day. We had great waiters, when they saw us come in they had our drinks to us before we sat down. Their suggestions for food were excellent and encouraged us to try different things on the menu. The Grand was the first ship we went on and was a learning experience but what a learning experience. We loved every minute and learned a lot for future cruises. The Emerald was our first dive into a specialty suite. It came with the specialty dining and the extras that come with the room. If we can afford it that is what we try every time now.
Each ship had different offerings, but the buffets were the same just different sizes, dining was unique to the ship you were on. We don’t have much negative to say about any of the ships. The Discovery was the only one, just because it had a lot more people than the other three ships. Even though we live in a populated area we don’t necessarily want to travel with that many people.
We are very lucky because we both like to travel. We want to go on the world cruise, maybe one day.
After Choosing Your Cruise
After booking your cruise, you need airfare. Depending on who you book your cruise through they will offer you airfare to be included. Also, remember you have to have transportation to the ship from the airport. You can also book the transportation., at the time of booking.
We have never booked the cruise and the air together, we have used the transportation from the airport to the ship once. We go up a day or two ahead of time to spend time in the city we are cruising out of. On our first cruise, we did the ship transportation, not knowing any better. After that, we found that most hotels offer shuttle service to the cruise for free or for a small fee. We’ve used them three times and it’s about $20 to ship and $20 to the airport. That is a lot cheaper than the cost of the cruise line.
Airfare is sometimes limited with the cruise people. We book our own and fly with who we want to. Our airline of choice is Southwest, the price is what you see, with no hidden cost. Southwest goes to many of the cities. We like direct flights, no layovers. Once again this is a personal choice. It pays to check out all aspects of the cruise to make a better judgment on what works for you.
Packing-What to Bring
Depending on what cruise you decide on will determine how many formal nights there are. You do not have to participate in the formal night, it is amazing how many people do. Packing depends on where you are cruising to. When we went to Alaska we packed both warm-weather clothing and sweatshirts, we also packed 2 pairs of shoes each, in case one got wet. We were very lucky we did not get the rain on any of our cruises to Alaska. We didn’t dress for the formal nights, but when eating in the specialty restaurants they suggest you wear casual dress, no hats. Casual dress, no shorts or jeans. It is hard not to overpack but remember you can do laundry on the ship. When we went to the Panama Canal I did laundry due to the humidity. Pack something to swim in there is a lot on the ship, or just lay in the sun. Don’t forget the sunblock, the glare from the ocean can give you a nice little burn.
There is no need to pack shampoo and soap unless there is something that you prefer. We take our own but the ship is also nice. Also, remember to leave room in your suitcase for any souvenirs. You don’t know how much you are collecting until time to pack up and leave the ship.
In conclusion:
Cruising is a very personal choice. Rather you go for the enjoyment or sightseeing. Visiting other countries. However, where and when you go is up to you, we love it and want to do a lot more of it.
There is something for everyone on any cruise ship, no matter what you like there is one that will fit your style. Places to travel, there are more places to travel than you can imagine. Whatever you want or enjoy there is something for you.
Maybe see you on our next cruise!