9 Things You May Be Doing Wrong On Your Cruise

Overpacking

Although packing light to the extreme has it’s own difficulties, we think somewhere in the middle is generally what to aim for. You won’t change clothes as much as you probably think, and you don’t need every gadget and convenience item you see recommended online. One mistake to avoid on your cruise is not being thoughtful about what you pack, and remember you will be handling the luggage yourself until you get to the ship.

Arriving At The Port The Day Of The Cruise

There is a lot of debate about this. If you wait until the day of your cruise to head from home to the port, you could be asking for trouble. I have seen multiple cases of missed or canceled flights, weather, or traffic causing delays in getting to the port. My suggestion is to come to the embarkation city the day before and give yourself a buffer. A mistake to avoid on your cruise is not accounting for potential delays. The ship won’t wait if you are delayed.

Eating At The Buffet On Embarkation Day

We all probably know that the buffet is a real zoo on embarkation day. Most of the time the main dining room is not open for lunch and specialty venues are normally closed as well. Usually though, there are other places to eat open on the ship that day. Do some homework, figure out what’s open, and avoid the madness of the main buffet. Another mistake to avoid on your cruise is not exploring your dining options on the first day.

Only Purchasing Cruise Line Excursions

I’ll be careful on this one- there are some very valid reasons to book excursions from the cruise line. But the fact is, there are many reputable tour companies at most ports that can do it cheaper and sometimes better. Research and you will see that there is a lot available if you choose. *Big caveat- if you are using the ship sponsored tours the boat will typically wait for you if you are delayed getting back. There is no such guarantee with outside excursions. Relying solely on cruise line excursions is a mistake to avoid on your cruise.

Ordering Wine By The Glass

This is an economic consideration. You can usually buy a bottle of wine cheaper than it would cost by the glass. I’m not suggesting you need to finish off a whole bottle every time you want wine; the staff can usually cork your bottle and keep it for your next meal if you like. Many people are not aware that this is possible.

Eating At The Buffet Only

More people than you might think eat dinner at the buffet every night, usually to avoid having to “dress up” for the main dining room. I feel that you are missing a really valuable part of the cruise experience if you don’t mingle with others a bit and try the food at some other venues. Put some pants on and check out the other dining- you won’t regret it. Remember, a mistake to avoid on your cruise is limiting yourself to just buffet dining.

Not Booking Extras In Advance

Here’s a tip: it’s almost always cheaper to book any extras in advance of your cruise. From drink packages to spa treatments to excursions, the price is usually higher on the ship. If you want specialty dining you can often get a big discount on a package prior to the cruise. Check the cruise line’s website and see what is being offered.

Overpaying For Phone Service

WiFi at sea is expensive. But you basically have one of two choices: pay for it, or go without a phone or computer while on the ship. But a lot of people are stung with a giant phone bill from their carrier because they were unaware that roaming while at sea can add up to hundreds of dollars in charges. Remember, there are no cell towers in the ocean so put your phone in airplane mode and leave it there unless you are in a port where you have service. Not managing your phone service costs is a mistake to avoid on your cruise.

Not Having A Spending Budget

We’ve all done it; we see something that we “need” or “have to have” and spend money unexpectedly. On a cruise there will likely be many opportunities to do that both on and off the ship. Let’s keep this simple- set a limit for your spending and try to stick to it so there are no regrets.

Conclusion

There you have it, 9 things we all could be doing wrong (opinions vary). The only other thing left to say is that planning is your friend. These vacations are not cheap so do as much research as possible and have a plan to maximize the experience and avoid common mistakes.