Set sail on your first cruise with these top tips

If you have never been on a cruise before we are here to share some top tips to help you enjoy your first cruise experience. No matter which ship and itinerary you choose, these little insights will help you look like a seasoned cruiser when you step aboard.

Plan before you set sail

Seasoned cruisers will log on to their cruise ships portal and scout out the best shore excursions as soon as they come on sale. To make sure you get a place on the tour you want, ask your Cruise Holiday Expert when the shore tours will be available to book for your cruise.

Dinner reservations

Depending on the type of cruise you choose there may be multiple dining options. Whether you have to choose an early or later seating time on more formal cruises or make reservations for specialty dining restaurants on larger ships; you need to get in early to make sure you don’t miss out. As you set sail on your cruise, find out which of the restaurants you fancy trying requires booking in advance. You normally call the morning you want to dine and reserve a table, but make sure to set that alarm early!

Know what you can’t take on board

Of all the cruise tips that will help you along as a 1^st timer on a cruise, it is knowing what you can and can’t pack. With the increasing popularity of drones, there is a rule against taking these on many ships now for safety reasons. You are also not allowed to take your own iron or coffee machine. On most ships leaving from Australia you can’t take any alcohol onboard; not to worry, if you buy any while ashore you can leave it with the crew until the end of the cruise. Depending on the cruise line you can normally take cans of soft drink though, so if drinks aren’t included in your fare, this is worth considering.

And what you can…

As well as the restrictions on what you can bring there are also some must packs including: a pack of cards or board game, perfect for sea days; some seasickness pills, just in case it gets rough; and clothes for all occasions, from the beach to the bar, rain or shine, make sure you are prepared! Similarly to flying, it is a good idea to pack a few essentials in your hand luggage in case your suitcase is misplaced or delayed. Luggage can take a while to reach your room, so if a soak in the spa is high on your agenda make sure you put swimmers in your carry on. Most importantly, don’t forget travel documents such as tickets, cabin bag tags, passports and visas.

Another plus is that the luggage allowances for cruises are much more generous than flying, so you don’t need to spend hours choosing between which shoes might go with which outfits. You can just pack them all! You will even have space to bring back any goodies and souvenirs you pick up along the way.