The cruise industry is booming. It’s continued to grow over the years, and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Over 31 million people cruised in 2023 with 35 million projected to sail in 2024! Fleets are also expanding like crazy with new ships coming out every year. With all the new and veteran cruisers setting sail, I thought it would be the perfect time to go over some first time cruise tips to help make your next voyage a success.
I’ve put together a range of quick tips from things to do before you sail to things not to do while your enjoying the ship and amenities. Let us know if you have any other tips to share!
Cruising Do’s & Don’ts – First Time Cruise Tips
The ship is virtually deserts early on Embarkation Day.
General –
:: Do pre-book your shows and speciality dining reservations.
:: Do complete your luggage tags and pre-cruise documents before getting to the port.
:: Don’t go on a European cruise line and expect American type cuisine and shows. And vice versa. Foods & activities are generally tailored to the region of travel.
:: Do choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship if you tend to get seasick. For more ideas on cabins, I’ve previously shared “how to pick the perfect cruise staterooms for your family”.
:: Do pack a sweater or jacket. It can be chilly in the restaurants and theaters.
:: Do budget for onboard expenses such as drinks, excursions, and gratuities.
:: Do consider the season you’ll be cruising.
:: Do use the stairs. It’s usually faster if only going up or down a couple of floors – and it’s better for your health.
:: Do consider using a qualified travel agent to book your cruise. The service is free, and you’ll likely save money plus get extras that you wouldn’t receive if booking yourself. Don’t have a Travel Agent? Contact me and I can help book your perfect cruise vacation.
:: Do purchase cruise insurance.
:: Don’t neglect passport and visa requirements. You don’t want to be denied boarding or not be allowed off the ship at a port of call! Also, ensure your passport won’t expire within 6 months of your trip.
:: Do pack a brick of USB plugs to charge all your electronics. Families, particularly, will find a shortage of outlets to charge everyone’s devices.
:: Don’t fly in the day your cruise sails. You don’t want to risk missing your cruise due to a flight or transportation delay. Plan to arrive a day early.
:: Don’t pack a hair dryer. They are provided in each cabin.
:: Don’t forget sunscreen. It’s expensive to purchase on the ship.
:: Do take advantage of all the amenities offered. Cruiselines put out a daily newsletter of all the activities, events, and services available. Most will be free and those that aren’t will be noted.
:: Do carry-on identification, cruise documents, medications, money, electronics and anything you may need until after dinnertime. Luggage doesn’t usually arrive until just before or after dinner.
:: Do be aware that gratuities are either paid before cruising or charged to your onboard account. This is an additional expense and not part of the cruise purchase.
:: Don’t wait to settle your onboard account the morning of departure. Take care of it the night before if charges weren’t automatically made to your credit card on file.
:: Do arrive on time for the mandatory safety drill.
:: Don’t get stuck with a huge cellphone bill. Put your phone on airplane mode or check your carrier’s roaming charges.
:: Do register for any specialty restaurants, spa services or excursions on the first day of the cruise, if you forgot to pre-book these.
:: Do chat with the crew. They can provide insider information on the ship and ports of call. Also, because the crew is from all over the world, it’s interesting to learn about their country and families.
:: Do be prepared to have your photo taken. You can opt out, but it’s easier just to stop and smile.
Drinking & Dining –
:: Do use hand sanitizer when entering eating areas. Let’s keep those germs at bay!
:: Don’t use your hands at the buffet – the tongs and spoons are there for a reason.
:: Don’t stand around in the buffet area looking out the window – move out of the way so people can get their food.
:: Don’t be scared to ask for something not on the menu. They can usually accommodate reasonable requests.
:: Do opt to eat breakfast and lunch in the dining room on occasion, instead of only eating at the buffet during these meals.
:: Don’t eat something if you don’t like it. Ask for something else.
:: Don’t pile your plate at the buffet. You can go back for more.
:: Do use a new plate each time you get more food at the buffet.
:: Don’t assume the “drink of the day” is a good deal. Order it because you want it, not because you think it will save you money,
:: Do try new foods and drinks. Try a small bit of curry or order an unusual cocktail.
:: Do be respectful to those serving you.
:: Don’t skip room service. Many cruise lines offer this service for free, so check your specific cruise and dine in bed or on the balcony. But do check the fees for your specific cruise line.
:: Do consider budgeting for one specialty dining experience.
:: Do be prepared for motion sickness. Bring Dramamine, ginger tablets and sea bands.
:: Do bring on your own wine or champagne if the cruise line allows.
MSC Outdoor Pool
Recreation –
:: Do shower before entering the pool area. The showers are located right next to the pool.
:: Don’t hog tables and chairs around the pool area. Do your 3 kids really all need their own lounge chairs for the 30 minutes total they will be there?
:: Do research ports of call before sailing.
:: Don’t think the casino has a good payout – this isn’t Vegas.
:: Do attend port talks if you haven’t researched the port of call in advance.
:: Don’t assume cruise ship excursions are the only option. Research excursions offered by both the cruise line and independent operators before sailing. See more tips for selecting cruise excursions.
:: Don’t miss the shows. They are included in your cruise purchase.
Family –
:: Do take advantage of the kids club – it’s fun for kids and the adults get a break.
:: Do pack a nightlight. Cabins can be very dark, so it helps for kids to have a little bit of light.
:: Don’t let your kids run and yell down the hallway of the stateroom areas. This is where people sleep.
:: Do consider multigenerational travel. Cruises are a great vacation to take grandparents, aunts and uncles. There is something for everyone on these floating cities.
:: Do pack a stash of medications, especially for kids. The ships doctor can provide medication in a pinch and some over-the-counter meds are available for purchase onboard. But it’s best to save money and a headache by packing your own.
:: Do purchase lanyards for the kids sea cards and consider them for yourself.
:: Don’t be afraid to meet new people. K still messages with friends he’s met while cruising.
:: Do pack some type of white noise machine (or have an app downloaded on your phone) to help drown out noise during the kids afternoon nap.
:: Don’t book your trip over a school holiday and not expect a cruise full of families. I’ve heard many people complaining about too many kids on a cruise – it was Spring break!
:: And lastly, do be prepared to want to book another cruise. Being catered to with nearly unlimited food and drinks, visiting multiple destinations without having to change hotels and experiencing first class service and entertainment is addicting. After all this, I think it’s time for me to book another cruise!
If you’re looking for more advice, we have cruising tips and guides for several lines such as Disney, Royal Caribbean, NCL and MSC.
Are you one of the 25 million people cruising this year? Share with us your first time cruise tips in the comments.
Looking for more cruise content?
it’s best to review your cruise dates, destinations and its inclusions before jumping in. sometimes seasons of cruise trips are tricky. you might end up spending more. but in general, as long as you’ve done it right – research and prep, it’ll be memorable and worth it. and yes, i will agree that cruise casino are nothing like actual land based ones.
I’ve paid for all inclusive, so I should be fine for drink and water right? so i shouldn’t have to worry about bringing water on board?
What cruise line are you sailing with? You purchased a beverage package? Usually it includes bottled water in the ultimate package or the equivalent, but you want to confirm what’s included in the package you purchased.
Do you recommend hotels with shuttles to and from or should I just plan on taking a taxi/Uber? Most of the reviews I have read for the Fort Lauderdale hotels (Port Everglades) all have awful things to say about wait times. Understandably so, since so many of us will want to get there at the same time. If it worth waiting around? OR does taking a taxi help with peace of mind?
Personally, we no longer do the shuttles. I find it too stressful. but it’s super popular and a great way to save money. Taxis aren’t too expensive. My in-laws cruise out of FL all the time and started getting a taxi just so they could get to ship without the wait. However, you’ll end up in a taxi line or shuttle line to get back to the hotel after your cruise. You need to figure out our budget and what works best for your family.
This cruise we are are just parking at the cruise terminal. We plan to drive straight back home, 14 hours. So we want to be able to jump into the car and go. No wait, but I’ve factored this into my cruise budget.
Hi all, we are cruising for the first time. We cruising through Carnival out of Charleston SC. I was wondering if anyone has any insight on a close by hotel to stay at the night before that we could possibly leave our vehicle there as opposed to the cruise line parking? Thanks, I’m soaking up all of the info here!!
Here’s an article with some hotel options: https://www.cruzely.com/charleston-hotels-with-cruise-parking/
I’d suggest making sure it includes a free breakfast and free shuttle to the port. Just please note that using the shuttle can sometimes be a pain since you’ll have lots of people trying to get on at the same time. You can usually book a spot with the hotel but it’s not always guaranteed. Taxis are another inexpensive option to the port.
Do remember to tip cooks and other behind the scenes crew members who are not in the tip pool covered by the gratuity.
Great point! I’m sure they greatly appreciate the extra cash and those crew members are often overlooked.
How do you do that? Going on first cruise this summer. thanks
Bring some ear plugs if you are first timer with Carnival.
Yes! I remember Carnival being loud. Nice tip! We only sailed with Carnival once as it wasn’t our favorite line.
Soooooooo excited to be going on my very first cruise in 13 days, I am kinda worried I will forget to pack something important but mainly I was gonna ask if things had to be in travel size bottles like on an airplane?
Sorry, I just saw this! Nope, you can bring any size bottles you want. I usually bring the end of bottles so I can throw them away before we leave.
DO catch a sunset and/or a sunrise while at sea. Third time Carnival cruiser here (going to the Bahamas, for the second time, on the 17th). I’ll never forget waking up on the first day at sea and being AMAZED at the sights. Saw my first sunset at sea that night and MAN was it beautiful!!!
Also, whether you’re cruising with a group of people or just one other, DO take an hour or two to walk around the ship all by yourself. Even a social butterfly like me really enjoyed the peace and quiet. Get familiar with the layout and what is available on each deck. It’s like sight-seeing. Even if you don’t get to go play mini golf or use the pool at the back of the boat, you could at least say you saw it! Lol.
And one more thing- DO bring an empty carry on bag to be able to bring home all of your souvenirs. You’d be surprised at the things you would buy. I got a hammock in the Bahamas even though I didn’t want or need it. But I had fun with the salesman talking him down from $100 to $10. I couldn’t pass it up!
Yes, you can see gorgeous sunrises and sunsets while cruising. Great idea to take some time to familiarize yourself with the ship alone.
Ha! When you get the price down that low, it’s not possible to pass up 🙂
Thanks for all the extra tips!
Sounds like a lot of good advice. I’ve learned a lot from this and many other posts. I’ve made several wise purchases that I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. Thanks for all the great info!! First-time cruisers off in mid-August!!
I’m so glad it was helpful! I’m sure you’ll be ready to book a 2nd cruise after August )
My sister and I are thinking of taking a cruise for the first time this summer and I am glad that I found this article! You make a great point that you should pre-book any shows and dining reservations. I think that this would be great for my sister and me so that we can enjoy the cruise in a stress-free way. Also, I will make sure to work with my sister on a budget for any extra onboard expenses that we want.
Cruises can definitely be a stress-free way to travel. Having a budget beforehand is a wonderful idea. You can easily overspend and don’t want to come home from vacation only to spend months paying off your credit card.
We’re going on our first cruise 12/10/18. We’re taking Carnival Cruise out of Mobile & heading to Cozumel & Progreso Yucatan. Any ideas of sights to see & visit?
It’s been awhile since we’ve been in Cozumel, sorry. Snorkeling is always a great option. I found this article: https://www.cruzely.com/59-things-for-cruise-passengers-to-do-in-cozumel/
bring all types of medications even the ones you don’t think of like eye drops, water in ear drops, I never thought I would need eye drops for whatever reason I needed it on the ship and they hit me on the head with $9 for some drops I had at home. 🙁 show up early to the comedy shows to get good seats and get pitchers if drinking because it’s cheaper than individual drinks.
Yes, all types of medications can be super expensive. I usually have a separate bag with a few extra items such as eye drops even though we rarely need them at home.
Don’t forget an air freshener!!!
That’s a good tip – thanks!
1st timers here, for cruising and going to these ports of call. Carnival is the name, Splendor is THE GAME! Mexican Riverera in June,2018!! I am Litteraly sucking up All the info i can get😊 Thank you to everyone who has wonderful tips n important things to keep in mind. SOOOO EXCITED! EEEKKK
So exciting! I’m sure it will be an amazing first cruise! I suggest a search to find some specific information on your ship. Let me know if you have cruising questions.
I haven’t published the post yet, but here is a link to our Caribbean cruise packing list 🙂
https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Carribean-Cruise-Packing-List.pdf
We just cruised the Carnival Inspiration and water was not allowed to be brought on, just canned soda. There was no blow dryer in our cabin, thankfully I brought my small travel sized one! And yes, definitely take a power strip with you as there’s literally only 2 outlets in the room!
Good to know that Carnaval Inspiration doesn’t have blow dryers in the cabin. I didn’t look when we cruised with them. I do remember Carnaval had a serious lack of outlets. Just be careful with power strips. Some cruise lines don’t allow them. But you can bring the strips that allow you to plug in multiple USB’s.
Check to see if you are allowed to bring your own soft drinks. We cruise with Carnival and are allowed to carry a 12 pack each as long as we carry it on and we put it in our rolling carry-on bag. Also carry an extra bag or piece of luggage to bring home gifts in. Of course we usually have room in our carry-on after we drink our soft drinks, but we always carry an extra bag just in case. You can get ice on Lido deck or your room steward will be happy to keep a bucket of ice in your room for you if you ask. And always carry some form of ID with you and your Sail & Sign card when you leave the ship.
Thanks for the reminder to bring an extra bag for gifts.
Being able to carry-on soda or water is a great bonus. Sadly, more and more cruise lines are no longer offering that option. In addition to Carnival, Disney is another line that allows bottled water and soda to be brought onboard in your carry-on.
I drink water from the tap ALL the time. Long Beach has really good water and am not a fan of buying bottled h2o. I wish i could bring an empty bottle and refill it from the sink in our room or drinking fountains. Hhmmm
We’ve put our water bottles under the tap in the bathroom on our cruises.
DO – take advantage of room service. Especially, for early morning food/coffee needs Or remember to take something with you from the buffet
DO – walk to the end of the ship closes to your desired goal via the walkways at cabin level. Upstairs can be crowded and confusing.
Do- put a decoration on your cabin door.
DO – put unique ribbons or decoration on your luggage
DO – keep track of your time when on shore. Excursions can be done through private companies or on your own via rental car or taxi but the ship has no obligation to wait for you if you are late returning. Excursions booked through the ship cost more but they have some built in insurance.
DO- try to get a group of people to share a van taxi service on shore. Our entire group of 10 hired one for the day.
DO- use your TV as a virtual window in inside cabins.
Thanks for sharing all these additional tips! We have bright colored ribbons on our luggage. It’s great for cruising and baggage claim at the airport.
First cruise in 2000 to the Bahamas from Miami. Royal Caribbean 4 day cruise. When the idea of a cruise was mooted to the wife and kids, the first reaction was awe. Then our son chimed in with “haven’t you heard of Titanic”. Well we finally made it. And what a time we all had. Since then we have cruised 13 times and my first choice for vacation is a cruise since it can be very relaxing. For me the advantage is that I have to work on booking the cruise and arrive on time to board the ship. After that I am totally stress free – no hotel rooms to book, no routes or places to decide on, and so on. We are on a 14 day cruise this September to UK, Norway and Iceland. Looking forward to it. HAPPY CRUISING.
Haven’t you heard of the Titanic? That is hilarious! The UK, Norway and Iceland sounds amazing! We wanted to plan a similar cruise but the dates didn’t work out with the kids school schedule. Enjoy!
Do you take your passport with you when you get off the ship? If you go on excursions that involve snorkeling, what do you do with your passport, wallet and phone? Also, can you purchase bottles of liquor to keep in your room? Than you.
Whether or not to take your passport off the ship is a personal decision. And there is something to be said for both arguments.
Typically the cruise ship will tell you it’s not necessary but this can depend on which ports you’ll visit. Somewhere like St. Petersburg, you’ll need to take your passport with you to go through customs. Some ports will require passports to be held on the ship for customs agents.
Generally, we choose not to take our passports off the ship. I lock them in the safe. We will carry our passport cards. Before passport cards were offered, we carried off a copy of our passports. To me, there is a higher chance of the passport getting lost or stolen than missing the boat.
We have a waterproof case to hold our phone, passport card, CC, cash, and sea card.
Phone bags –> http://amzn.to/2mu5wMy
Otter box Dry Box (though it doesn’t fit my new iPhone 7 Plus)–> http://amzn.to/2DdTgdv
No, you can’t purchase liquor for your stateroom. Most cruise lines will allow you to bring on wine (see the policy for your specific cruise.) If you purchase a bottle of liquor onboard or in the port, it will be held until the last day of your cruise.
Carnival lets you pre-order bottles of water, alcohol, soda and mixers for use in your stateroom.
Is there fridge n room,
Yes, there should be a fridge in the room. Since there is usually an additional fee for drinking those beverages, we ask the room stewart to remove everything. Then you can fill it with your own stuff.
No on Carnival Victory cruse. I really recommend to bring cards, board games or a book to be entertained. The WiFi is not that good and get disconnected every once in a while
We try to remember our playing cards as well. Or head to the card room to play some of the games.
GOOD!!! I take all your tips!!! We are going in our first cruise to Bahamas!!! And I found good advice in your post!!! Thanks!!!!
I’m so glad you liked our cruising advice Gabi! There are so many great things to do in the Bahamas. The Atlantis Waterpark is cool but pricey. Just walking around Atlantis is neat though.
In Nassau, you could save some $ and just walk to Junkanoo Beach for the afternoon. You should eat conch too – yum!
Am going to the Bahamas 4//7/18 my sister getting married on board. I found lots helpful tips thank you. Yes was confused of what to do in Nassau because somuch to do and not so much time. Wondering what do you recommend better?
A cruise would be such a great place to get married!
There is a variety of things to do in Nassau, depending on your preferences and budget. If you want to do Atlantis, that is pretty much an entire day. If you like the beach, Junkanoo Beach is popular and walking distance fro the port or you could also take a self-guided walking tour of the city. Tours booked through the ship or an independent excision company are also available if you don’t want to tour on your own.
Another idea for the day is Blue Lagoon Island.
Very helpful tips. 1st cruise in Jan. ’18, going to cruise the Panama Canal.
I’ve heard the Panama Canal cruises are amazing! My in-laws did one and thought it was very interesting going through the locks.
Thanks for these helpful tips. Leaving for first cruise 🚢December. 3rd!!!!
I’m so glad you found the tips helpful! I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic first cruise. What cruise line are you sailing with?
I’m taking ALL advice into consideration…..1st time cruiser….leaving March 2018…
Yay for a first cruise! Where are you headed?
Me too! Leaving LA March 5th 😀
Have fun!
I just enjoyed my first cruise, it was Amazing! One thing I didn’t think to bring, and I didn’t see it mentioned in the blog, was Chapstick with spf. My lips got burnt, they were very tender and then started peeling. Hope u have a fantastic time. There is something for everyone.
Good tip to bring Chapstick with SPF! The sun and wind can do a number on your lips. I’m sure it’s expensive in the cruise shop.
Oh yes. This is my 25th cruise. Every thing is super expensive. We have found that the very first docking we take a run to Walmart if there one and get our water and coke. We save alot
Definitely stopping at a store such a Walmart is a huge money saver if the cruise line allows water and soda to be brought on board. Unfortunately, we just sailed with NCL and they don’t allow water or soda to be brought on board the ship.
You allowed to bring pop and water?
so you can bring your own water and soda’s? taking a cruise January 2020 first timer
Rebecca, what cruise line are you sailing with?
I too am going on my 1st cruise in March!! So excited.
So exciting! I’m sure you’ll have a fabulous time! I’d love for you to come back and share how it went.
Enjoy! Have been on 4 so far we are booked for a 5th in Feb 2019…indeed addictive!
Awesome! We just got off a cruise and are already planning the next 🙂