Vacations aren’t just a break from the daily grind – they’re a chance to escape the humdrum and indulge in all the good stuff: comfort, excitement, relaxation, and pure luxury.
And what better way to do that all at once than on a cruise? But here’s the thing: if you don’t plan ahead, your high-seas adventure could turn into a Titanic-sized disaster. Fear not, matey! Follow our tips to ensure a smooth sailing and the vacation of your dreams.
Table of Contents
Before Booking The Cruise Vacation
Before booking a cruise vacation, you should consider the following:
Your Choice of Cruise Line
Choosing a cruise line is pivotal to having the cruise vacation of your dreams. Cruise lines are service providers with varying services and styles. Different cruise lines have their own unique features, itineraries, amenities, and destinations.
So, if you want to cruise destinations like The Galapagos Island, The Mekong, Indonesia, Cambodia, or The Amazon, you might want to consider a cruise line like Aqua Expeditions. Ensure you research each destination and ensure it offers the experiences, attractions, and activities that interest you.
Be sure to consider the quality of onboard service you want, the size of cruise ships available, the itinerary, bonus features, and cost. You should also consider your budget, as you don’t want to spend all your life savings on a single trip.
Make Early Bookings
It is best to make early bookings in order to get the best deals and the best room. Also, if you are traveling during the peak season, things can get really expensive so fast, and you might have to pay more when you could have saved money by booking much earlier.
After Booking
Planning for a cruise vacation does not end with booking. Here are helpful tips to make smarter plans once your cruise is booked.
Luggage
You must consider both the size of the luggage and its contents. It is advisable that you go with a carry-on bag for ease of movement and comfort. Food and drinks will be available aboard, so you don’t have to include food items in your bag. You should prioritize items such as clothing and medical supplies when packing.
The weather and itineraries should determine your choice of clothing and perhaps the number of clothing items you take along. Also, bear in mind that it is a leisure cruise, and you will need more casual clothes.
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Cruise Schedule
The cruise line you chose determines the lineup of events that will be available throughout your vacation. Ensure you familiarize yourself with the itineraries as well as the schedule for each activity so you don’t miss out on any.
You can also save some extra cash by finding out what is available for free. For example, many cruise lines offer free shore excursions.
Some cruise lines also have a mobile app or an online application that allows you to keep track of the daily schedule of events, promotional offers and to receive important updates and messages from the cruise line. So, be sure to ask your cruise line about their mobile or online app or an alternative that allows you to keep track of things after you’ve made bookings.
After Onboarding
After onboarding, consider the following so you can have maximum satisfaction while on board.
Settle in and Explore
Once aboard, you are free to move around the ship. Take advantage of the short time before the cruise begins to settle in your suit and familiarize yourself with the cruise ship’s layout.
Since you will be onboard for a long time, it is very good to be familiar with where the bar is, where the dining is, and where the convenience is. This makes moving around seamless once the cruise begins.
You also get to meet people as you move around. Most leisure activities are known to be more fun and relaxing when other familiar faces are involved.
The earlier you tour the ship, the better. Once the ship becomes crowded, moving around to explore the ship might be more difficult.
Get a Drink and Book a Spa Appointment
Consider buying your drinks before sailing. It is often more costly once the cruise begins.
If you would love to visit the spa while on your cruise vacation, you should make reservations as soon as you get on board. Also, check out the spa and any promotional offers they have. This will allow you to take advantage of any early bird discount they might be offering. Some of these services sell out fast, so make hay while the sun shines.
You should also note that special reservations can be made for other onboard and shore activities that appeal to you.
Bon Voyage
Once you have considered all of these things, you can start enjoying that cruise vacation of your dreams. The pleasure, relaxation, fun, and memories that a cruise comes with are predetermined by proper planning. We hope you found these tips helpful. Enjoy your vacation!
