Top tips for making your cruise experience perfect!

Have you ever thought of taking a relaxing cruise, gliding across pristine waters, and having all your whims catered to? If so, the first place to start is – where would you like to go? Of course, you’re only limited to ports of call, but this can encompass far-flung destinations such as India, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as Southampton, Kingston, and Miami.

The longer the cruise, the more expensive it is – and you need to take how long you stop at your desired destination into consideration too (you may want to cruise there and fly home, for example.) You’ll also need to factor in the costs for accommodation, transport and sightseeing and shopping.

What’s included for the price?

A lot of cruise lines will advertise incredible deals that seem too good to be true. In those cases, you need to read the fine print to know what’s included and what costs extra. Dining in certain restaurants may not be included; certain amenities such as spas and onboard entertainment may not be included either. If you don’t want to be caught short, look for “all inclusive” packages to make comparisons.

Book dining and activities in advance

As soon as you can, book all your dining and activities and room allocation. If you are prone to seasickness, you may want to book a cabin in the middle of the ship. If you can’t book certain activities or make dining reservations in advance, make this your first priority when you board on the first day. Some cruise liners will offer an app – so download that as soon as you make an account with the liner.

Get up to date with vaccinations

Cruise ships are only profitable when every cabin is filled. That means you are in close contact with hundreds, if not thousands of people in a confined area. If one person has an illness on the ship, very soon everyone will have it. That means you should keep up to date with your vaccinations such as COVID or ‘flu vax, as well as recommended vaccinations for your intended destinations (malaria, yellow fever, etc.) 

Get travel insurance

Cruise ships are floating hotels – and even stationary land hotels come with their share of risks. You need to prepare yourself by getting travel insurance in case you need to visit the sickbay or infirmary. In fact, some cruise lines will insist upon it before you embark. Ensure your policy covers illness or injury on cruise liners to ensure you’re covered.

Have a good carry on

Once your luggage is loaded on board, it’s likely you won’t see it for some time. Pack a strategic carry on with medications, beachwear, sunscreen, phone and device chargers, entertainment for the kids, water bottles, and anything you might need for at least a few hours wait.

Funding your trip

Many people save for years for a cruise – you may be unaware that you can get a travel loan to help fund your dream cruise instead. Paying for it on the credit card can prove extremely expensive in terms of interest, but a travel loan is a fixed personal loan that you repay until it’s completely paid off. This can strike a balance between having it now and paying for it in instalments. You may as well make the most of things now instead of way off into the future!