Cruising is so much fun but some passengers don’t get it. I’ve just completed my eleventh cruise (yes, I’m addicted) and have some tips to help make your trip easier, less expensive, more fun, and less stressful. Americans are known as workaholics and don’t use enough vacation time, according to Timothy Egan in The New York Times. Avoid that statistic.
Make the cruise at least 5 days to break the routine you’ve gotten yourself into. The first two days are spent letting go of your mental ruminations about work/family/health. Spend those days learning the ship’s layout (for-ward is the front of the ship, aft-er is the back of the ship) and count how many decks you need to go up or down for dinner, for the buffet and for the gym. Walk those decks, use the stairs, you need to burn every calorie you can. I know, you’re on vacation and don’t want to think about physical stuff, but you’ll have more energy if you exert the effort.
Cruise lines are changing the check in/check out procedures. Some now allow you to bring whatever bags you can easily handle on board with you. You can settle into your cabin sooner. The same with leaving the ship on the last day. If you pack light and can easily transport your luggage, take it off with you and avoid the hide-and-seek game of finding your luggage in a line with fifty other bags that look just like yours.
This brings up the booze situation. Some cruise lines allow a bottle for a special occasion (you have to pay a cork fee), some look the other way, and some confiscate every drop of alcohol they find. Long before your cruise date, save large non-drink plastic bottles such as mouth wash, contact lens solution, shampoo and conditioner (rinse thoroughly many times). Fill them with your bourbon or wine. Use cling wrap under the cap to prevent leakage. Seal in a plastic bag if you’re really worried about your clothes smelling like booze. Pack it in your suitcase. Sorry, I haven’t figured out how to bring on champagne or beer. Another ploy would be to gift wrap a box of wine and pretend it is a bon voyage gift given to you. Pack that in the suitcase also.
Be sure to go to the first Art Auction and pick up a couple of glasses of free champagne. Check the ship’s fliers for other Art Auction days, not all of them offer free champagne. Go to the Captain’s Formal Night Cocktail Party for free drinks. If you are a returning cruiser, you will be invited to a private party which also has free drinks. Check the ship’s flier for other events such as Free Liquor Tasting, Wine Seminars or Martini Mixing Class.
Cabins require compact thinking which means being neat. Rehang clothes immediately or put the dirty ones in a plastic bag which you packed for that purpose. Find a home for that laundry bag in the corner of a closet or under the desk (if you don’t plan to sit at it). Before you sail, go online and look at the ship’s layout. Most have laundry facilities. Bring powdered soap in a baggie. Be prepared to pay two dollars to wash and two dollars to dry. The dryers aren’t that efficient so jeans, sweats and other heavy items will still be damp. Therefore, do the laundry at least two days before the end of the cruise.
If you need to check a clock during the night, bring a battery powered one that lights up. Electricity on board ship is not as steady as on land and an electric clock will leave you running late for dinner. If you are hot natured and your cabin mate is not, pack a small fan and an extension cord. That way, the room can be a little warm and both of you will be able to sleep.
Put the many fliers/papers in a specific drawer or toss them as you get them. Designate a drawer for room key, ship card, car keys. Include passport and wallet if you don’t use the safe. Pick up after yourself and give your cabin mate a break.
My first cruise was in 2000, before my first novel, Appalachian Paradise, was released. Since then, a cruise has become my reward for finishing the first draft on a novel, for anniversaries, for birthdays–you get the idea. Next time, I’ll talk about your first day on board.
