TEST YOUR SEA LEGS ON A CRUISE
Some ships still have formal nights when everyone puts on the glitz, but you don’t need to break out the diamonds or tux. Women can get by with a cocktail dress or dressy pantsuit and men with a jacket and tie. If you despise dressing up, opt for the buffet or consider this the perfect excuse to order room service.
Most ships provide free self-service laundries with irons, as well as fee-based laundry services. Some charge per item, others per filled laundry bag. Laundries are busiest during sea days, so beat the crowds by washing before breakfast, very late or — if you aren’t on a shore excursion — midday when the ship is in port.
One more packing essential: A dual-voltage extension cord. Cabins have only a handful of electrical outlets, and they aren’t always very accessible. A simple multi-plug is all you need to charge up everything.
BE EARLY
This may sound obvious, but arrive at least one day early to your departure port. That eases worries about delayed flights or literally missing the boat. Once a ship opens for boarding, its restaurants and facilities are fully operational. Leave your suitcases with the porters and get on early with a carry-on packed with whatever you’ll need to entertain yourself for a few hours. You can eat lunch, familiarize yourself with the ship, and, if you’ve packed a swimsuit and sunscreen, be lounging by the pool before the ship even leaves port.
Every ship is required to hold “muster” (the emergency drill) before sailing, during which each passenger is accounted for with orange life-jacket in hand. This is one requirement you can’t skip; trust me, you do not want to be that person being paged over the loudspeaker.
Unless your ship allows you to disembark at your leisure with your luggage, be prepared to leave it outside your cabin the night before you reach port. You’ll pick it up dockside. Passengers usually disembark in groups based on their transportation needs.
EXPLORE THE PRACTICALITIES
Empty suitcases are typically stored under the bed, but there’s no rule that they have to be empty.
Let them double as storage for rarely used gear and souvenirs.
Read the ship’s next-day program of activities, events and shows before you go to bed. Highlight what you want to do and carry the schedule with you.
You can find a quiet place on the most bustling of ships, Swanson says.
The lounges, discos and theatres remain open even when there’s no entertainment. Look at the ship’s schedule to find the gaps in a venue’s use. On some ships, if you’re willing to shell out more money, you can pay for private spaces with chairs.
Your cellphone plan’s rates do not apply at sea. Turn off your phone or set it to airplane mode to avoid expensive roaming charges.
Ships offer Wi-Fi, but it can be pricey and sluggish. Swanson buys the cheapest package available and stretches his usage. He downloads his email and then, for any that require more than a one-sentence response, logs off, composes his replies off-line, then logs back on to send.
EAT (AND DRINK) WELL
One unequivocal fact: You won’t go hungry on a cruise. To avoid the snaking breakfast buffet line, skip it and head to the main dining room. It’s rarely crowded, you order from a menu and it feels like you’re treating yourself.
Do the math before buying an “all-you-can-drink” package. They run up to $70 per person, per day, plus a 15 to 18 per cent mandatory gratuity. Even non-alcoholic packages for soda, bottled water and coffee drinks (lattes, cappuccinos) can run as much as $29 a day.
MANAGE YOUR MONEY
Unless your fee is all-inclusive, expect to shell out money during the cruise and settle up at the end of the voyage. You may be dinged for Wi-Fi, restaurants other than the main dining room and buffet, shore excursions and spa treatments.
Most ships add gratuities to your final bill — between $12 and $20 per person, per day. That money is distributed among dining staff, cabin attendants and other personnel.
Even though you register a credit card when you board, it’s wise to bring cash to tip tour guides and cruise staff members who go above and beyond.