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There are so many reasons that we love cruise holidays, including amazing destinations, ease of travel, great value for money, and so many options for onboard entertainment and dining. Our expertise isn’t limited to matching you with the perfect itinerary, cruise line and cabin type. As cruise fanatics ourselves, we have plenty of handy cruise travel tips to help upgrade your debut holiday from great to incredible.
Cruise lines put great effort into ensuring that every aspect of your voyage runs as smoothly as possible, starting with the embarkation process. You’ll usually check your luggage prior to boarding, and it can take several hours for the ship’s crew to deliver all those bags to their designated cabins or staterooms.
We recommend packing any items you are likely to need on day one into a small carry-on bag that goes aboard with you. This allows you to keep essentials like medications, a change of clothes and travel-sized toiletries handy until the rest of your luggage is available. Remember to include your swimwear so you can maximise your time poolside.
You may also find it helpful to pack a beach bag to use when you’re heading poolside or venturing ashore for a shore day. Opt for something that packs easily into your suitcase and has enough space to fit all your day-to-day holiday essentials, such as sunscreen, hat, swimwear and trashy holiday novel.
Remember to ask your PTM to check what sort of power sockets your ship has – you may need to pack an international adaptor for some cruise lines. You can check out our blog for more helpful advice on tech-savvy travel.
Popular onboard activities, specialty dining and headline shows often have limited availability, and savvy cruise passengers know to sign up in advance or shortly after boarding to avoid missing out. The same applies to shore excursions – plan and book your shore excursions before your cruise begins to ensure that you maximise your time at each port of call. Popular excursions can fill up very quickly, so booking early is the best way to avoid disappointment.
Popular events like 80s nights, white parties, quiz shows and salsa evenings are an integral part of life on the water. Some cruise lines will let you know about specific themed events prior to departure so you can pack the appropriate costumes and accessories. Once aboard, be sure to check the daily schedule of events to ensure that you’re not missing out on any of the fun.
These evenings are a fabulous opportunity to get your picture taken by the ship’s photographers. They can be in hot demand, so be sure to allow yourself a little extra time, especially if you have booked dinner or show reservations.
Many cruise lines offer onboard apps that ensure you are always up to date with the daily schedule of events and activities, and may even allow you to set reminders for the ones you don’t want to miss. You can also use the app to check out the menus and make dinner reservations at specialty restaurants, communicate with other passengers, pre-book your shore excursions and tender times, and even check the local weather forecast. The most popular times for headline shows tend to be snapped up quickly, so be sure to reserve your seats as soon as they become available on the app.
If you’re planning to attend one of the popular onboard entertainment shows, be aware that the theatres tend to fill up quickly – and early. With or without a reservation, we recommend arriving at least fifteen minutes prior to the start time. You could even grab yourself a drink, take your book and find yourself a good seat as soon as the doors open, so you can relax until the show begins. Pro tip: don’t sit in the front row or two of the theatre unless you are prepared to become part of the show!
Some cruise lines allow passengers to bring a limited quantity of beverages onboard. Check your cruise line’s policy or ask your personal travel manager to advise whether you are allowed to bring alcohol and/or soft drinks onboard – and if so, how much is permitted per passenger.
We also recommend bringing your own (empty) drink bottle and/or keep cup on board, which you can then refill as you go. Cruise lines are very committed to minimising their environmental impact, and this is a great way to play your own small part whilst ensuring that you stay hydrated.
Cellular charges for maritime roaming are eye-wateringly expensive, which is why failing to turn off your mobile data is a mistake that’s only ever made once. The best way to avoid a crushing post-cruise phone bill is to switch your phone to airplane mode before you even set foot on the ship. Once aboard, you can simply connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi to stay in touch.
Wi-Fi accessibility will vary depending on your choice of cruise line – some ships offer limited free access so that passengers can use the onboard app and access vital websites like online banking and immigration. If you want to maintain your usual unlimited access to social media, emails and other websites, you may need to upgrade to a paid Wi-Fi plan if it’s not included in your cruise fare – ask your personal travel advisor for details.
Unlike many destinations on dry land, there’s no open container ban onboard cruise ships – you’re free to move around the ship with any beverage from any venue. It’s perfectly normal to walk into the dining room carrying your pre-dinner cocktail, or to take your unfinished glass of wine from the dinner table to the theatre for the evening’s show. You can take an early morning stroll around the promenade deck with freshly brewed coffee in hand, or settle into your favourite deck chair with a cup of tea, ready for an evening of star gazing.
Cruise holidays are ideal for family and multi-generational holidays, combining all-inclusive value for money with the freedom and flexibility to plan each day around nap times, meltdowns and picky eaters. Each cruise line has its own policies regarding child ages, including some that are strictly child-free. In many cases, children must be at least six months old to sail, although this can vary depending on your chosen cruise destination and cruise line.
If you’re planning to take advantage of the incredible kid-friendly facilities that are a highlight of many cruise ships, be sure to check the minimum age requirements. There are some that cater to all ages, with age-appropriate areas that range from baby clubs to teen hangouts. Others have a higher age limit or only accept children who are fully toilet-trained, although in some cases, younger children may be permitted if a parent is present. Likewise, ask your travel advisor about your chosen ship’s pool restrictions, as in some cases babies must be at least 18 months’ old to enter the communal pool.
All cruise ships are required to carry out safety drills before they can set sail. It can feel a bit doom and gloom, but they are designed to ensure that all passengers are familiar with emergency procedures. Even if it’s not your first time on a cruise ship, don’t assume that you already know where to go and what to do in the event of an emergency.
Although the process differs for every ship and every cruise line, it’s often as simple as watching an instructional video in your cabin and then heading to your muster station to verify that you’ll completed the safety drill.
Whether you’re sailing aboard one of the new generation of mega-ships that can carry more than 7,000 passengers, or you’ve opted for a luxury boutique vessel that carries less than 100, every ship is designed to ensure that there are quiet spaces where you can relax and enjoy the passing scenery.
The location of your stateroom can have a significant impact on your peace and quiet, and your PTM can help you decide what’s going to best suit your needs. Some passengers enjoy the convenience of being located close to elevators and stairwells, while others prefer something more out of the way. On some ships, you may find that noise travels from outdoor restaurants and pool areas, especially if your stateroom has an outdoor balcony. We recommend reserving your preferred stateroom location at the time of booking to avoid disappointment.
Modern cruise ships use clever stabilising technology to make your voyage as smooth as possible. However, if you are prone to seasickness, it’s worth reserving a stateroom located mid-ship on a lower deck to minimise the effect of the ship’s movement. You could also consider upgrading to the extra space and fresh air offered by a balcony stateroom.
It can take a day or two to adjust to the ship’s motion, and many people find that regular doses of fresh air while keeping their gaze on the horizon as much as possible is all that’s needed. However, you may need a little extra help finding your sea legs – happily there are plenty of effective options that you can purchase prior to your cruise or onboard the ship. These range from natural remedies like ginger tablets and acupressure bracelets to prescription-only patches – your pharmacist or GP can talk you through the best options to suit you.
The variety of dining options provided on most modern cruise ships can take some getting used to – speciality and fine-dining restaurants, poolside burger bars and late-night pizza joints to name a few. And of course, there’s the main dining room – typically a buffet-style restaurant offering a mouthwatering variety of cuisines. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of wanting to try every delicious-looking dish, including three helpings of dessert, so remember to pace yourself.
It’s a fun way to try new cuisines, especially those that reflect the destinations you will visit during your holiday. And of course, if you choose something that doesn’t hit the spot, you can always go back for something else. Pro tip: most ships feature a promenade deck and/or walking trail where you can work off a few excess calories or develop an appetite for your next meal while enjoying the fresh sea air.
If you’ve booked a shorter cruise that doesn’t leave Australian waters, you may not need your passport. However, if you’re travelling with children, you should ask your personal travel manager to check whether you need some form of identification for them (Medicare or sometimes a passport will suffice). Remember to pack your driver’s licence if you’re planning to hire a car during your time ashore.
One of the many benefits of booking your cruise holiday with a PTM is that they often have exclusive access to special fares and extra perks like onboard credits. As experienced cruise passengers, they have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to ensure you are matched with the right cruise line, itinerary and cabin type. They have plenty of insider tips and advice to ensure you have best introduction to the wonderful world of cruise holidays.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
