How to prepare for a boat cruise? Nine things worth knowing
With an unlimited amount of food, world -class entertainment and dream views of the ocean, cruises sound like dreams of dreams. They can be really great. However, booking a cruise is not always so easy. I say this from my own experience – I worked on various ships for several years.
Here are a few things that in my opinion you should know before you plan your next vacation at sea:
Read also at Business Insider
Not everything is included in the original price
It is often mistaken that the cruises are fully All-Inclusive.
Although most of the cruise lines provide accommodation and unlimited amount of food in the buffet and the main dining room, some things will be additionally paid.
For example, alcoholic beverages are usually not included in the price, so you will have to buy a package of drinks or buy cocktails separately, which can significantly increase the cost of departure.
Other things, such as Wi-Fi, land trips, SPA services, dinners in special restaurants and professional photos are also usually extra-so make sure you include them in your budget.
There are periods of the year when the sea is more agitated
On huge ships you will almost never feel that you are in the middle of the sea. However, rough waters can remind you to you that you are on the boat. When planning a cruise, try to avoid terms for typical storm seasons – especially if you are prone to maritime disease.
For example, consider avoiding cruises after the Caribbean during the hurricane season or after the Atlantic Ocean in winter, when the sea can be restless.
Some stops in ports are shorter than guests expect
Stands in ports are a great way to see many countries during one journey.
Usually, guests have about eight hours at the port, but sometimes the ship stays in a given place shorter. This is usually due to the rules in force at the port or scheduled schedule – the ship must reach the next stop on time.
If you plan to spend more time in a specific port, check the duration of the cruise before booking it.
See also: I fulfilled my dream of visiting Slovenia. There was basically only one disappointment
You can be planted at the table with other guests at dinner
Although this tradition is becoming rarer, there are still situations in which you can be assigned to a large table with other guests at dinner.
Sometimes such an assignment is obtained before the cruise.
Although many people like to meet fellow passengers, don't worry if you prefer to keep privacy – just talk to the service after boarding and ask to change the table.
The time of arrival of the ship to the port given in the travel plan does not mean that you can get off the ship then
I saw many disappointed passengers who reserved external trips and assumed that the time of arrival means the possibility of going ashore.
Meanwhile, the time of arrival is only the moment when the ship officially moor in the port. Then he must undergo an inspection of local authorities and get permission to release passengers, which may take from 20 minutes to over an hour.
If you want to have a more realistic idea of when you can get off the ship, look for information about “estimated opening time” (Gangway Clearance Estimation), which is usually in the guide after activities on the ship.
You can't stop alcohol bought in ports
Your purchase plan to buy 14 bottles of the best Mexican tequila and making shots in the cabin will rather fail.
Usually, alcohol bought on land must go through the scanner after returning to the ship and is transferred to the protection until the end of the cruise.
In many cases, it will be delivered to your cabin last evening.
Formal and thematic evenings may take place, so pack
Although compliance with these rules of clothing is often optional, I will not count how many times guests told me that they regret that they did not know about the formal or thematic evening – for example in the style of the 70s.
All information about entertainment is usually provided in the flight line application or on the website before the cruise, so check them before you pack.
Your cabin may not look like you expect
Cabins on ships differ from each other – from small internal rooms without a window to the apartment size apartments.
Anyway, check the opinions on the internet and make sure you see real photos of the selected type (or class) of the cabin – especially if you book through the travel agency – to know what to expect.
This is a completely different experience when you book a room with bunk beds and without a window, compared to the one that has a picturesque balcony and separate beds.
The tips are automatically added to each passenger, but you can change them
Guests usually check the account of the last day of the cruise and panic when they see fees for tips assigned to each member of their group.
On most cruises, the tips are automatically calculated for the person and day – they relate to waiter service and the cleaning team – but you can change them by reporting to the Guest Service Office.
However, remember about the crew before you decide to lower this amount – they work really hard.
The above text is a translation with American Business Insider edition
