When you are a first time cruiser, there can be many things that may seem scary, but your MDT Advisor will help make sure you are prepared. There are some basics that you need to be aware of when you are going on your first cruise.
1. Make sure you know what the document requirements are. Some cruises only require a birth certificate (with a raised seal) and a state issued ID, but some require guests to have a passport. Always know what documents are required for your sailing to ensure that you won’t have any issues at port on embarkation day. I always recommend cruising with a passport to take away the stress should you need to leave from a different port.
2. Understand the inclusions and exclusions of your sailing. Each cruise line includes different amenities in your cruise fare. Some include your soft drinks while others don’t. Some include gratuities while others don’t. make sure you understand what is included in your fare type so you don’t have any surprise charges on your vacation.
3. Don’t overplan. Cruising can be stressful enough on embarkation day. Don’t try to cram in too much because you still want to allow for relaxation time. There is so much to do onboard and at port that it will be tempting, but make sure you allow yourself wiggle room between activities.
4. Check the forbidden items list. Don’t make the rookie mistake and take an item that will get confiscated when boarding. There are certain items on this list to avoid a fire hazard in the staterooms. Make sure that you are abiding by the list so you don’t have to worry on embarkation day. You’ll want to have a carry on bag for items that you may need throughout the day as you won’t have access to your stateroom or luggage for several hours.
5. Arrive a day early! The last thing you want to do is miss your first cruise. Always plan to arrive a day early to avoid any flight cancellations, traffic backups or unknown delays. If these do occur, you have extra time to figure it out and get to port still before the ship leaves.
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