Cruising for Beginners

A little change of pace here. This is just a briefing document I made up for some friends who are new to cruising and I thought I would share it.

What’s Included

• All Meals in main dining room, buffet and quick service stands
• Snacks
• Room Service (customary to tip a few $$) Note: some cruise lines have implemented an after hours service charge.
• Coffee, tea, iced tea, (juice in the morning) (Some lines also include soda)
• Entertainment
• Use of exercise facilities, pools, hot tubs

What’s Extra

• Alcohol (gratuity automatically added to bill) (optional)(Some lines have all you can drink packages -- see entry on beverage packages)
• Gratuities for stewards and wait staff ($X /person/night) varies by Cruiseline. Usually added to your account or prepaid. We are usually moved to tip extra, the service is good.
• Some specialty restaurants (optional)
• Port of call excursions (optional)
• Beverage packages of varying types (optional)
• Mini-bar items (overpriced)(optional) depending upon line
• Spa services (optional)
• Tips for porters (yeah, they’re unionized, and you’re not supposed to tip them, but I like my bags on the ship and not in the water) (“optional”)

What You Need

• Passport
• Credit Card (on board, cash is only used for tips: your room key card, which is linked to your credit card, is used to charge for everything)
• Singles (to tip room service and salt the bartenders)
• SunBlock (for warm weather cruises)
• Bathing suits (for warm weather cruises)
• Non-shorts to wear in dining room
• Formal dress if your line does formal nights
• “Half the clothes, and twice the cash”

What to Expect

• A room (maybe with a window or balcony depending upon what you select, a queen bed and other possible bunks/fold out sofas depending upon how many are travelling in your room), a bathroom and a closet
• Assigned seating at dinner, possibly with strangers - if your cruise line offers traditional dining, and you choose it. Restaurant-style dining is becoming more common on cruise ships.
• Attentive wait staff who will try to get you to eat more
• A steward who makes up the room twice a day -- includes turn down service
• Beach towels (not to keep, but to use on the cruise)
• As much or as little as you want to do

ToDo

• Finalize date
• Book cruise (deposit due)
• Make final payment
• Do online check-in
• Select excursions
• Book flights  -- I recommend flying in the day before so there is no chance of missing the ship due to flight delays.
• Book hotel (1 night)
• Fly to Port 
• Spend the night
• Go to the port ($$)
• Give porters the bags ($$)
• Go through security
• Go through port check-in process
• Lunch buffet *Check your ship, there might be better options
• Relax, explore the ship, swim.
• Muster drill (mandatory)
• Dinner, etc.
• Enjoy cruise
• Disembark - perhaps with excursion
• Go to airport ($$)
• Fly home