Thinking about taking a cruise? A little preparation before you set sail can make a big difference in how smoothly your vacation goes.
In this episode of Travel Talk, I’m sharing five important things to do before almost any cruise, regardless of which cruise line you choose. After recently sailing with Disney Cruise Line and preparing for an upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise, I’ve been thinking about the planning steps that can make the cruise experience easier from the start.
From arriving at your departure city early and completing online check-in to traveling with a passport, purchasing travel insurance, and downloading your cruise line’s app, these tips can help you be better prepared for your next cruise.
1. Book a Pre-Night Stay
One of the most important things you can do before a cruise is arrive at least one day before your sailing.
Unless you live close enough to comfortably drive to the port the morning of your cruise, plan to begin your vacation the day before. Flight delays can happen, and you do not want to be worrying about whether you are going to make it to the ship on time. If you are cruising from Europe or another destination farther from home, you may even want to arrive two days ahead. Even when sailing from ports such as Orlando, Miami, or Fort Lauderdale, flying in the day before makes the morning of embarkation much easier.
Depending on the port, you may choose to:
- Stay at an airport hotel and take a cruise line transfer the next morning.
- Stay at a hotel near the cruise port and take an Uber or Lyft.
- Use local transportation or hotel transportation to the port.
Your Magical Memory Planner can help you figure out which option makes the most sense for your sailing.
There is also a great perk for Disney Cruise Line guests sailing from Port Canaveral. If you stay at a Disney hotel before your cruise, the bell services team can collect your luggage at the hotel the morning of your sailing. You will not have to see or handle it again until it arrives in your stateroom. Staying at a Disney resort can also give you priority boarding when you arrive at the port.
The important thing to remember is simple: if your cruise sails on one day, think of your vacation as beginning the day before.
2. Complete Your Cruise Check-in Early
Every cruise line has some type of online check-in process. During check-in, you may need to submit travel documents, provide or take a photo, enter the credit card you will use for onboard purchases, and complete other important information.
One of the most exciting parts of the process is selecting your port arrival time. The earlier you can get to the port and board the ship, the earlier your vacation begins. Once onboard, you may be able to have lunch, head to the pool, relax, or grab a drink and start enjoying the ship.
Depending on the cruise line, completing online check-in may also give you access to reservations for certain activities or onboard experiences.
When you book your cruise, your Magical Memory Planner can let you know when online check-in opens. Once that date arrives, complete it as soon as you can, so you have the best selection available to you.
3. Travel with Passports
Please travel with passports. They are not required for every cruise. Some closed-loop cruises that leave from and return to the same U.S. port may not require them. Even when they are not required, I recommend having a passport for every member of your family.
A passport can make several parts of your trip easier. Online check-in can be easier, arrival at the port can be easier, and going through customs and immigration after your cruise can be much faster.
There is also another important reason to have one. If you ever need to leave the ship in another country because of an injury, illness, or another unexpected situation and need to fly home, your passport becomes extremely important.
Hopefully you never find yourself in that situation, but having passports provides an additional level of security when you travel. Even if your particular cruise itinerary does not require one, my recommendation is to cruise with a passport.
4. Consider Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a personal decision and you will want to look carefully at your individual needs and coverage.
Keep in mind that while cruising, you are generally considered to be outside of the country. That may affect what your regular medical insurance covers.
Our travel partners at Travel Insured offer a policy with a cruise bundle that has additional coverage that may be especially helpful for cruise vacations. For example, additional baggage coverage can be valuable because if your luggage is delayed or lost, getting it back becomes more complicated once your ship has sailed. Replacing items onboard may also be more expensive than replacing them on land.
There can also be additional travel inconvenience coverage for things such as itinerary changes or changes in ports.
Not all travel insurance is the same. Supplier-provided insurance and third-party policies may offer different coverage, so it is important to consider your destination and your particular needs. This is something we discuss with our clients when planning their cruise, including whether adding cruise-specific coverage makes sense.
5. Download the Cruise App
The cruise line app is something everyone in your travel party should have if they have access to a phone.
You can download it as soon as you book your cruise and link your reservation. Doing this early allows you to receive information about promotions or discounts, such as onboard experiences or drink packages.
Once you are onboard, the app becomes one of your most important cruise tools. Cruise lines used to provide printed daily newsletters or activity guides, but much of that information is now found inside the app.
You can use it to find information such as:
- Daily activities and trivia
- Kids club hours
- Dining reservations
- Dinner menus
- Activities happening around the ship
If only one person in your family has the app, that person becomes responsible for constantly checking everything for everyone else. Instead, have everyone who is old enough and has a phone download it.
The app can also be an important communication tool onboard. While cruise lines typically offer paid Wi-Fi packages, many allow guests to use the cruise line app on the ship’s Wi-Fi without purchasing an internet package. This means members of your family or travel group can message each other through the app.
It is especially helpful when traveling with teenagers or when different members of your group are enjoying different activities around the ship. You can easily check in, find out where everyone is, and decide when and where to meet.
Bonus Tip: Book with a Travel Agent
Cruise lines all have their own little nuances. There are differences in when activities can be booked, what can be purchased before the cruise, what needs to be purchased onboard, and many other details.
At Magical Memory Planners, our advisors cruise regularly and have experience with many different cruise lines. Working with someone who understands the cruise line you are sailing with means you have someone helping you navigate those details.
Even if you have cruised many times before, having someone else handle things, such as requests, planning details, and linking reservations for friends and family can make the process easier.
And cruising can be a fantastic vacation to enjoy with a group. Friends and family can spend time doing their own activities during the day while still having plenty of opportunities to come back together. There is something for everyone to enjoy, whether separately or together.
If a cruise is on your vacation wish list, the Magical Memory Planners team would love to help you plan it. With a little preparation before you leave, you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying smooth sailing.
