5 Top Tips for First-Time Cruisers

As a Customer Care Guide, I speak with many clients who are first-time cruisers.

They often call because they just found out at the last minute they’ve missed a step and are now racing to make sure everything is in order. I’m always happy to help, but I feel bad knowing the issue could have been avoided if they had the proper information.

Cruising is a unique and exciting way to vacation, but it’s a bit different from just making hotel and flight reservations and never thinking about it again until the day you leave home.

So, to help out all these first-time cruisers, I’ve come up with 5 tips about booking and preparing for your cruise vacation.

First-Time Cruiser Tip #1 – Call a Personal Cruise Guide vs. Booking Online

Now there is nothing wrong with booking your cruise online if that is what you want to do. But for first-time cruisers, you may want to consider having some professional guidance.

• A Personal Cruise Guide is a wonderful source for insight and suggestions to make your cruise a dream vacation. For instance, she can tell if you’ve chosen the right ship or cruise line for your family’s needs, and tell you what shore excursions are the most popular and therefore need to be reserved in advance.
• Your Personal Cruise Guide will tell you all the reasons why a balcony cabin is so much better than an ocean view cabin and why it’s totally worth the extra money.
• They will also tell you how important it is to purchase travel insurance (this may be one of the most important, and often overlooked, factors in having peace of mind and a restful vacation).
• She will pay attention to the details you may not be thinking about, such as if you’re celebrating a special occasion, or if you have any medical needs or dietary restrictions.
• Your Personal Cruise Guide will do all these things and more, and it’s a FREE service! They have the answers to all your questions, and advice for things you didn’t even realize you needed!
• Most importantly, your CruiseNow.com Personal Cruise Guide cares about you and will do everything she can to make sure everything runs smoothly for you. Can you honestly say that about your computer?

Call a Personal Cruise Guide; you won’t regret it.

First-Time Cruiser Tip #2 – Keep an Eye on Prices

The general rule of thumb is the earlier you book, the lower your rate will be. The closer you get to the sailing date, the rates will most likely go up.

• When you book early, and notice later that the price has gone up, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing you locked into a lower rate.
• That being said, most first-time cruisers don’t realize that, outside of final payment, if the price of your cruise goes down, your Personal Cruise Guide may be able to adjust the rate, upgrade your cabin, or acquire onboard spending credits! But please be aware, after the final payment date, which is approximately 75 days prior to sailing, it is very rare to get a price adjustment.
• If you make reservations for last minute cruises (making your reservation within 75 days of sailing), there aren’t too many opportunities for price adjustments. So when you book your cruise, make sure you are in the type of accommodation that fits your budget.

Your Personal Cruise Guide is invaluable in helping you find the perfect cruise at a price that fits your budget.

First-Time Cruiser Tip #3 – Be Sure to Pre-register

Once you’ve made your reservation and put down the deposit, you can go directly to the cruise line’s website to fill out the online check-in. This is one of the most important steps in the cruising process!

• If the online check-in is not completed, not only does it lengthen your time at check-in (time that can be spent doing better things, like sitting at the pool, eating or getting your first of many drinks that come with umbrellas), but, in some cases, you could be denied boarding.
• In many cases, your online check-in will act as your boarding pass.
• In other cases, your boarding passes and documents will not be sent to you if the online check-in has not been completed.
• Also, since most cruise lines have gone paperless, your documents and boarding passes are all electronic. They are either emailed to you, or can be downloaded directly from the website.

Pre-registration will go a long way to make the beginning of your cruise a smooth and easy process.

First-Time Cruiser Tip # 4 – Purchase Transfers

Your Personal Cruise Guide will offer the purchase of transfers to you when you book your cruise (if they don’t, be sure to ask).

• While it is an option to take a taxi to the pier, it can be stressful to wait in line for cabs, hope the driver knows how to get to the pier, and hope he gets you there in time.
• With transfers, the price is often comparable to cab fares, and it’s a stress-free way of knowing that you’ll make it to the ship on time and also back to the airport for your return flight!
• And for travelers cruising in Alaska, the transfers offer scenic views! You can’t beat that!

First-Time Cruiser Tip #5 – Know What Is Included in Your Cruise Price

Many first-time cruisers don’t realize just how much they truly get for the price of a cruise vacation. At the same time, they also don’t know what is not included in the price.

So, here are some of the awesome things that are already included in the price you pay:

• Lodging (your stateroom)
• Meals served in the main dining room and buffet areas
• Basic beverages (water, coffee, tea, juice, and lemonade)
• Room service
• Entertainment shows
• Access to the gym
• Onboard activities, such as rock climbing and mini golf

It’s also important to know a few things that are NOT included in the price of your cruise, but are still only a small price for the extra service:

• Specialty restaurants
• Alcoholic beverages and sodas
• Spa treatments
• Souvenirs
• Shore excursions
• Internet Cafe
• Gambling in the casinos
• Gratuities (for ease, sometimes gratuities can be purchased prior to your cruise, and, on some luxury cruise lines, gratuities are included).
• One more point: It is important to know, unless it is otherwise stated by your travel agency, that your flights are not included in the price of your cruise.

I hope these tips help you feel more comfortable and confident when booking that first cruise vacation!

When in doubt, ask your Personal Cruise Guide!

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