Bella's Log

The first time I went on a cruise I had no idea what it meant to travel on a ship. Living on the island of Manhattan I saw cruise ships come and go many times. I also heard about the experiences of friends and family who had gone on cruise vacations. Even so, the experience was unique and I recommend everyone to experience it at least once in their life.

I booked my first cruise a little less than a month before the embarkation date. That didn’t give me much time to prepare. So I created this list of five things I wish I had known before my first cruise, and I hope it will help you be better prepared than I was on my first cruise.

1. The Name of the Cruise Ship

When I was searching through the cruise websites, one of the options was to search for sailings based on the name of the ship. I didn’t understand why that was important and omitted it in my search. However, later I learned that the name of the ship will let you know what type of ship it is. Cruise companies release different classes of ships every few years, and by searching the name you can see the size, age, and cruising amenities. Ships in the same class have a similar layout, so the more you travel, you can choose if you want a different ship that is similar to a previous one you liked. Or, maybe you want to go to a different ship but on the same cruise line. In that case, you can go on one from a different class.

2. Facebook Groups

One of the best resources I found after my first cruise was the cruise Facebook groups. For each cruise, you can find a Facebook group designated for that ship and one for that specific date. In these groups, you can ask questions about doubts you have about your trips and find people who plan activities for the date you will go. For example, on one of the cruises I went on, one person planned a party for those who wanted to go to different bars, and another person invited those who like to crochet to get together and do a crochet party on a sea day. I’ll talk more about sea days on point number five.

3. Sailaway Party

On boarding day the cruise will have a celebration party. The time and location of this party vary depending on the ship and the weather. On a nice, hot day, the party is usually at the pool located on the top deck. On a rainy day, the party can take place in an indoor promenade. Either way, the crew of the ship hosts what I would call a “welcome parade” with music, dancing, and cheering. One barely notices the ship is moving away from the port because everyone is in a great mood and focused on the celebration. You are not required to attend the sailaway party, but I would recommend every new cruiser to give it a try.

4. Tender Ports

A tender port is where the ship anchors away from land and uses small boats to transport people back and forth from the shore. These small boats are called “tender.” The itineraries on the cruise line’s website show which ports will use a tender. This information is especially useful for people with disabilities who need wheelchair accessibility. During my first cruise, the Rhode Island port was a tender port. We arrived there on a day with bad weather and the tender boat was swaying too much for my comfort. I was afraid the movement would trigger vertigo and I would be dizzy for the rest of the cruise. However, on another tender port day at Bar Harbor, I was able to sail from ship to shore with no problem. Consider your circumstances as you book cruises that have tender ports scheduled. 

 5. Sea Days

Your cruise may have sea days scheduled depending on your destination. Sea days are those when the ship will not stop at a port. These days are perfect for exploring the ship and doing activities you would otherwise not do when you are on land. The itineraries placed by your room steward will show you all the activities happening on the ship. Some activities happen more than once a week. You can check if an activity you would want to do when you are out on an excursion will also be available during a sea day. Beware that some activities need booking in advance during the sea days because many people will be attending them as everyone is on the ship. This was my experience when going to the spa on a sea day. Those who booked an appointment in advance for the sea day had priority if the spa was full. I  recommend you book your spa appointments ahead of time if you are planning on going there on a sea day. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

What about you? Was there anything that surprised you on this list? Was there anything you wish you had known about cruises the first time you went on one? Leave a comment below!