03/18/2024
Anyone else in their cruising era?
I wanted to share some tips and info about cruising with you all...
✨Documentation - most cruise lines allow you to cruise with a birth certificate (and I always recommend bringing a marriage certificate along as well showing your name change from what is on your drivers license vs your birth certificate. This works for "closed-loop" cruises that leave from and come back to the same US port. HOWEVER, a passport is HIGHLY recommended. If there was a reason that you needed to get back to the port a different way than the ship, a passport is needed.
✨Supply and demand - Cruising is at an all time popularity right now, and gone are the days of "last minute deals." Pricing is based on supply and demand, so your best price for a cruise is going to be further out when there are more rooms available vs waiting until not many rooms are left and pricing has gone up due to the demand. If you haven't cruised since restrictions were lifted post-pandemic, it is very different.
✨Know what is most important to you in a cruise - Cruise pricing will vary across different lines and ships, and I am a big believer in "you get what you pay for."There are ships for everyone - some are best for families, while others are more quiet and relaxed with few kids onboard.
✨All cruises must visit an international port - this is why you will never see a cruise that only goes to ports in the US. For Alaskan cruises, at least 1 port will be in Canada (same for New England cruises). Cruises from Florida will visit Mexico or the Bahamas typically.
✨Always arrive the day before your cruise and stay near the port the night before. Trying to arrive the day of your cruise can be super stressful, and all it takes is bad traffic or a slightly delayed flight with weather or a mechanical issue to throw off your travel plans. The ship doesn't wait for late arrivals, as they have a strict timeline they have to stay on.
✨There is always something to do on your cruise! At all hours of the day, there are multiple activities to choose from. There are shows (Broadway style, comedy, and some ships have ice shows and aqua shows), karaoke, trivia, mixology, silent disco, characters (Disney), crafts, kids clubs, etc. There is always something to do!
✨Ports - when your ship is at a port, you will typically have 7-8 hours there. During that time, you can book an excursion for an adventure on the island, walk around the port on your own, or stay on the ship and enjoy the amenities. You can come and go at your own leisure, but don't be late getting back on!
🛳Cruising is an amazing way to travel, unpack once, and see multiple destinations in a short amount of time! Remember - I can book cruises on Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line.