How do you imagine you’ll spend your very first cruise? If you want to experience your first cruise to the fullest, don’t just lounge by the main pool all day, waiting for the next island on your itinerary.
While pool lounging and island hopping are requisite parts of the cruising experience, today’s cruise ships offer so much more to enjoy. Here are 11 things new cruisers should always do on a cruise.
In This Article:
1. Get to Know the Ship
First things first, you need to get to know your ship. Explore the ship virtually, ahead of your embarkation date, by looking at deck plans for your chosen ship online, but then explore the ship on foot as well, as soon as possible.
Why is this important? Well, modern cruise ships are massive. Just take a look at Icon of the Seas. It has 18 decks that are open to passengers. It’s as long as three-and-a-half, full-sized NFL football fields. It has more than 20 elevators, more than two dozen restaurants and bars, and thousands upon thousands of staterooms.
In other words, it’s easy to get lost.
Getting to know your ship — walking your way through the various decks (or, if you’re traveling on a Royal Caribbean ship, the various ship neighborhoods) — will not only likely introduce you to a few features and venues you didn’t even know existed, but will also help you get your bearings.
Then, later on in the cruise, when you want to make tracks fast for the pool or you’re trying to beat everyone to a favorite restaurant or the buffet, you’ll know how to get there without a lot of roaming around.
2. Get Off the Ship — But Don’t Limit Your Shore Experiences
Cruise Ships Docked in Ketchikan, Alaska (Photo Credit: WESLEY FOULDS)
While there are many reasons to stay on the ship while it’s in port, there are just as many reasons to leave the ship while it’s in port, and shore excursions are one of them.
As mentioned, shore excursions are a requisite part of the cruise experience, especially for new cruisers. Snorkeling in tropical waters, ATV tours through deserts, walking tours through historic cities — these options are just a taste of the many shore excursions offered by major cruise lines.
However, don’t limit your shore experiences to just the guided tours offered by the cruise lines. These can be a bit pricey, you’re usually shoved into large groups and you may not get as authentic an experience as you would otherwise.
Instead, look to third-party tour and experience providers based in your destination. If you’re traveling to a very large and popular cruise port, like in the Bahamas, Jamaica or U.S. Virgin Islands, you’ll have no trouble finding a provider who can give you a great experience, while also ensuring that you make it back to the cruise ship in time for departure.
That said, if you do decide to just stick with the cruise line-offered excursions, there’s no shame there. For new cruisers, doing so can come with added peace of mind and ease of planning.
3. Meet Your Room Steward
Cruise Ship Cabin Steward (Photo Credit: Emrys Thakkar / Cruise Hive)
If there’s one person you want to be friends with during your cruise, it’s your cabin or room steward. While, when traveling on land, you may check in to a hotel and never even see the multiple people who clean and stock your room, that’s not the case on a cruise.
Instead, you’ll have one cabin attendant or steward who generally takes care of a group of cabins, and who’s responsible for ensuring your cabin is in great shape throughout the duration of your cruise.
Read Also: What a Cruise Ship Cabin Steward Really Does
They can also help with any needed maintenance and answer questions. Their general duties include restocking your toiletries, delivering your luggage, tidying your room, removing towels and trash, etc.
As such, meeting your room steward and establishing a friendly relationship with them the first or second day of your cruise can help ensure better service throughout the cruise.
Do note though that a room steward is not a butler. They can’t provide the same level of service a butler provides, such as delivering food or drinks, arranging special events, or unpacking or repacking your luggage.
If you’d like butler service during your cruise, then you’ll need to book a cabin that comes with it. For example, on Celebrity Cruises, all suite passengers get butler service. On Norwegian Cruise Line, cruisers staying in The Haven all receive butler service. On some luxury cruise lines, though, every single passenger gets butler service, such as is the case on Silversea.
4. Experience the Main Dining Room
Dining Room on Holland America’s Zaandam Ship (photo Credit: WESLEY FOULDS)
Cruise ship specialty restaurants get a lot of love, and for good reason. Cruise ships have really upped their culinary standards and now offer fine dining experiences that rival anything you’d find on land.
For example, Crystal Cruises has partnered with Nobu Matsuhisa to offer restaurants and sushi bars on select ships and Seabourn has likewise partnered with Michelin star-rated Thomas Keller.
Worth Reading: How to Truly Enjoy Your Dining on 3 Major Cruise Lines
However, don’t think that you need to spend extra to dine at the specialty restaurants, in order to have an amazing culinary experience on your cruise. In fact, you’ll want to definitely make sure that you don’t miss out on a meal in the main dining room.
A cruise ship main dining room offers a classic dining experience, with often exceptional service, a three-course menu, plenty of options and a high-end environment (even if you’re not expected to dress to the nines). And the best part? It’s all entirely free.
It’s truly something that you can’t find anywhere else, so it’s worth adding to your cruise itinerary, particularly if you’ve never been on a cruise before.
5. Book at Least One Specialty Dining Venue
Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas
On the flip side of this, though, don’t only go for the complimentary eats. While cruise lines offer tons of delicious free dining options, even beyond the buffet and main dining rooms, you still might want to try out the specialty dining venues.
Some specialty dining venues are far more than just a meal — they’re an experience. Take, for example, the new Royal Railway Utopia Station on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. The dining venue is set within two full-size rail cars and, as you eat, you’ll watch a virtual train ride pass by the “windows.”
Scope out the various specialty dining venues that are available on your ship and then consider where you might enjoy the best meal, based on your specific tastes and preferences. Whether you’re looking for an entertaining experience, elegant date night or just some world-class fine dining, you’re sure to find it.
6. Try Out the Different Pools
Pool Deck on Celebrity Equinox (Photo Credit: JJava Designs / Shutterstock)
Yes, the main pool is where all the action is, and you should definitely swing by for some sunning and swimming at some point during your cruise — but don’t spend all your time there. Cruise ships often have a bevy of different pools and other water features to try. Some are big, some are small, but all are sure to please.
If you’re staying in a VIP area of a ship, like in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Haven area, you’ll enjoy your own small, private pool available to Haven guests only. Go there for quieter times and a more intimate setting.
If you’re not a VIP suite guest, but you do want a quieter space with less shouting or kiddos, try the Solarium Pool on Royal Caribbean’s ships, which offers an adult-only setting. Celebrity Cruises likewise has an adults-only pool, also dubbed the Solarium Pool.
Want a pool with a view? Try Seabourn Cruises’ aft pools, or Viking Cruises’ infinity pools. Whatever the pool experience you’re seeking, you can find something that differs from the main pool.
7. See a Show
Show Theater on Icon of the Seas
When you think shows on a cruise ship, you may think of just theatrical performances, maybe music reviews or all-out musicals. While these are definitely easy to find on most cruise lines, with showings taking place in the ship’s large theaters, don’t think that these are the only show options.
Yes, see a show in the theater, but if you’re not intrigued by Broadway-style tunes, see what else is playing during your cruise that might catch your fancy.
Depending on the cruise line and the ship, you could catch acrobatic shows (MSC Cruises boasts Cirque du Soleil-created shows), ice skating spectaculars, comedy sets and more.
8. Find Your Personal Haven
The Haven Pool
You don’t have to be sailing on an NCL ship with The Haven VIP suite area to enjoy your own personal haven while cruising. On every cruise ship, it’s possible to find quieter, more private areas where you can relax, take in the scenery and overall get away from some of the hubbub and chaos that can come with crowded cruise ships.
Maybe you find a small spot on the deck with scenic views and few other cruisers. Maybe you hide away in the ship’s library. Perhaps you take to the spa’s steam room during a port day, when fewer cruisers are interested in going to the spa.
Wherever you end up going, rest assured that it is possible to find a small, special and quiet spot during your cruise, if you need it.
9. Try a New Drink
Tropical Green Cocktail on Cruise (Photo Credit: galka3250)
While, no, on most cruise ships, drinks are not included in the cost of your cruise fare, it’s still worth visiting some of your ship’s watering holes and trying a few drinks. Some cruise ships and even entire cruise lines have a very party-esque atmosphere, and the drinks are free-flowing, if not free.
Unless you’re buying a cruise drink package that comes with plenty enough booze every day, pick your chosen beverages carefully. You’re on vacation, after all, so don’t just stick with your standard light lager or glass of white wine that you might have at home.
Read Also: Drinking Ages on Cruise Ships – The Rules
If you’re cruising around the Caribbean, lean into it, with a fruity tropical beverage like those offered by Carnival Cruise Line’s RedFrog Rum Bar or BlueIguana Teqiula Bar.
Or, try a brew that’s only available while you’re on the cruise ship. Carnival likewise has a few beers that are brewed exclusively for the brand, including its ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat and ParchedPig West Coast IPA.
10. Get Involved
Busy Lido Deck on Carnival Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani)
Cruisers are a friendly bunch. Don’t be afraid to get involved and make friends. You may just forge some lifelong relationships and end up with a crew of people that you cruise with over and over again.
The process can all start before your cruise even begins. There are myriad forums and Facebook groups that exist entirely to help cruisers all going on the same cruise connect.
You can get to know your fellow cruisers, plan group excursions or activities and more. Some groups will even plan to all wear similar outfits, either themed outfits in general or matching t-shirts, or they might coordinate similar décor on their cabin doors.
Another fun way to get involved with the cruising community? Ducking. Cruisers bring rubber ducks aboard the ship and hide them. As you find them, you catalogue their locations on social media and then hide them again for other cruisers to find.
11. Switch Off Your Phone!
Cruise Passenger on Phone in Pool (Photo Credit: Jacobus Djokosetio)
Last, but certainly not least, make sure that, as a newbie cruiser, you don’t commit a grave error: leaving your phone on after embarkation, resulting in expensive cell phone roaming and data charges! Put that phone in airplane mode before you set sail.
That doesn’t mean you’ll have to be completely disconnected from reality. If you still want to scroll social media or check your emails during your cruise, you can do so. You just need to buy a WiFi plan from the cruise line or purchase a cruising plan from your cell phone service provider.
These plans will allow you a certain amount of data privileges while you’re sailing, even if they don’t all come with talk and text privileges. Do note that the level of plan you purchase will dictate how much data you can use. Some, for example, aren’t suitable for streaming.
Source: Cruisehive.com
