With only a few weeks left until our next Caribbean cruise, I thought it’d be fun to share some cruising tips and tricks we’ve picked up over the years. As someone who loves group travel, cruising is another great way to explore the world and enjoy stress-free travel.
With set itineraries, planned adventures, meal plans, and so many included amenities, cruising is a great option for travelers who want to take a break from planning out every detail of a trip, but still want to see some incredible destinations.
Rick, having lived in Florida, absolutely loves cruising and is always checking out Royal Caribbean for a great deal for an easy, fun getaway in the tropics.
So, before we head off to the Bahamas next month, here are some of our favorite tips and tricks to enhance a Caribbean cruise experience!
Tips for Caribbean cruising
1. Get there early
We’ve heard horror stories of people planning to arrive on the day the ship leaves, which unless you live in the area can be a recipe for disaster. With potential flight delays, cancellations, problems with transportation, or lost luggage issues, you want to make sure you’re not running toward a disembarking ship on the day your adventure is supposed to start.
Rick and I are arriving in Miami the night before our cruise next month so we can start our vacation with an extra day of fun, and giving ourselves plenty of time to get to the ship the next day. It can definitely add a few dollars to your vacation expenses, but the peace of mind is well worth the cost.
Plan to arrive a day or two early and secure reliable transportation to the port. In Florida, there are many shuttle companies to pick from or with scheduling rides through rideshare programs, you can make sure you have someone who’s ready to get you to the port on time.
2. Download the ship’s app
Rick has nine billion apps on his phone and I have less than 25 as I hate cluttering my phone with things I never use. I do make an exception for travel apps and recommend downloading your cruise line’s free app. This way you have easy access to a ship map, port of call schedules and excursions, dining options, itinerary suggestions, and so much more at your fingertips. Wi-Fi is hard to come by on the ships and can be useless even when it is connected, so having an app is your best bet to get all the information you need without having to find a customer service desk.
3. Book excursions
Check out the options for cruise excursions and book a few that appeal to you! Whether it’s just a simple tour or snorkel adventure or a full day at a waterpark, many of the excursions are worth the cost. Most cruises let you pre-book excursions or if you’re not sure or don’t mind if you can’t go, you can always wait and check the availability after you board.
Or, another option is to book with trusted in-destination providers. Some tour operators specialize in working with cruise ship guests and are experts when it comes to timing the tours and making sure you’re back on the boat at the right time. These will have to be booked outside the cruise line, meaning you’ll want to have a copy of the operator’s contact info in case there’s an issue or delay with your ship or you need to move a tour up due to a dinner reservation.
4. Use the amenities
While cruising is great to help eliminate the stress of planning different parts of your trip, you will want to put a little thought into the amenities you want to take advantage of as those book up quickly! If you know you want to dine at a certain restaurant, book as soon as you get on the ship. Know you want a luxurious spa treatment? Book before you board or as soon as you’re on the ship.
For pool time, you’ll want to get there early to snag a good seat. But don’t waste your time getting up early to drape a towel over a chair and then having breakfast and coming back a few hours later – your towel will be gone. Most cruise lines have chair checks where they tag empty towels and if in an hour no one has come back to the seat, they reopen up it for other guests. Please be courteous to your fellow travelers and try not to hog chairs when they’re not being used.
Another great amenity is the on-board gym – perfect for looking good on the beach and working off those late night trips to the buffet! Many of the gyms also offer classes or yoga sessions if you want something outside the traditional cardio and weight equipment.
5. Open bar vs. BYOW
Price out your expected bar tab to see if a drink package is worth it. We priced out drink packages for our upcoming cruise and realized we’d have to drink about nine cocktails a day to make it worth it. But, on the other hand, drink packages include more than just booze so we’d also get bottles of water, coffee, and teas with our package. If you know you’ll be drinking in the restaurants or will be off the ship for the majority of port days, it might not be worth the cost to do a package. Obviously, the longer you’re cruising, the more economical the packages become.
Another option is BYOW – Bring Your Own Wine – as most lines allow you to bring two bottles of wine or champagne aboard that you can enjoy in your room. If you only plan to have a few cocktails on the ship and are fine with drinking in your room, this is a good way to enjoy a drink or two without the high price tag. Hard liquors and beer are not allowed to be brought on board and will be detained until you dock at the end of your cruise.
6. Keep essentials in your carry-on
The cruise lines scan your luggage to ensure you’re not bringing anything dangerous or banned on-board, but they’re not as fast as going through security at the airport so you may not get your luggage delivered until well after you’ve set sail. Have your swimsuit, a swimsuit cover up, a change of clothes, toiletries, and any other essentials you need in your carry-on in case your suitcase is last in the long line of luggage.
7. Know the dress code
Some of the restaurants have a formal or business casual dress code, so be sure to pack appropriately. While it’s tempting to say you won’t visit those restaurants so you can pack more strappy and lightweight clothing, it’s best to have a set of nicer clothes in your suitcase just in case you change your mind.
Another good thing to pack for your Caribbean cruise is a poncho or light jacket in case of an afternoon shower or light drizzle. A jacket can also be good for the evening after the sun sets and the decks get a bit colder with a chilly breeze blowing by, or you may want to pack a sweater for inside the air conditioned restaurants.
8. Pack a beach bag or backpack
The cruises going to the Caribbean have their own little islands and often include a day anchored just offshore of these pristine tropical paradises. Bring a tote, beach bag, or backpack to carry your towel, sunscreen, hats, phones, and books or magazines. If your shore excursions are a little more active, like hiking or biking, a backpack is your best bet.
9. Bring your own personal items
There are times that Rick and I will skip bringing travel-sized items like sunscreen or shampoo as it’ll be more economical to buy it at our travel destination, but a cruise ship is not one of those places. The high markup on these items will often make me feel like suffering is the better option instead of paying $15 for something that costs $5 in the store. Bring any and all medications you may need as well as travel-sized toiletries.
Items to pack for your cruise:
- Sunscreen
- Shampoos and conditioners
- Soap
- Razors
- Toothpaste
- Ibuprofen or Tylenol
- Sleep aids
- Allergy remedies
- Pepto, and constipation and/or diarrhea meds
- Motion sickness meds
- Band aids
10. Stave off seasickness
As someone who can’t handle the back-and-forth motion of boats, I always triple-check that I’ve got some Bonine in my bag before we go anywhere tropical. While the cruise ships are big enough that I’ve never felt seasick on them, I know there are many people who do and so it’s imperative to plan ahead so you’re not miserable on your trip.
If you can, book a room in the center of the ship to feel more stable. If you have the budget, go for a balcony room as keeping an eye on the steady horizon can help; but if you get an interior room, change the channel on your TV to the ship cam to bring in some natural light and lessen the feeling of claustrophobia.
Other seasickness remedies for your cruise could include getting a stronger prescription from your doctor or getting those seasick patches you put behind your ears or a Sea-Band, a fun anti-seasick bracelet. Be sure to take your Dramamine before boarding to let the medication do its job. You may also want to pack some ginger candies or peppermint, and don’t be shy about ordering a ginger ale from the bar to help settle your stomach.
11. Treat yourself with the dining
On my first cruise as a kid I was shocked to find out you could order more than one entree at dinner, and I’ve taken full advantage of it since then! When you have lunch or dinner in the main dining room, you can order your meal however you like. Want a few appetizers instead of a main dish? No problem. Want to try two entrees? No problem. Want a little feast of desserts at the end? You got it. It’s a great way to try the different dishes available or avoid something you know you won’t eat or are allergic to.
Another fun tip: Most ships offer free soft-serve ice cream near the bars or pools! Grab a cone and start filling it up with some yummy soft-serve vanilla, chocolate, or twist!
12. Go unplugged
While some cruises offer free Wi-Fi or even paid options, the connection can be spotty and slow and frustrating to use. We opt to go Wi-Fi-free and just enjoy our cruise experience without getting notifications from the outside world. It’s a great way to reconnect, focus on each other, and enjoy fewer distractions our vacation.
13. Check gratuity
Double check your invoice to see if automatic gratuities were added into your bill or other bookable services, like spa treatments. Most cruise lines build gratuity (for housekeeping, bartenders, etc.) into their base pricing so don’t feel like you need to tip extra, unless the service was exceptional and you want to leave a little something extra.
What are your best cruise tips? Tell us in the comments below or join the conversation on Twitter!
