First Time Cruising
First Time Cruising
New to the world of cruising? Congrats! If you’re reading this, then it means you’re going – or thinking about going – on your first cruise. Exciting, right? Definitely: you’re about to have the time of your life.
But while we wish it was a simple case of packing your bags and hopping on your ship of choice, you’ll actually need to do a bit of homework ahead of your departure. The good news is we know a thing or two about cruise holidays, so you’re in the perfect place to get up to speed ahead of your maiden voyage.
Packed with top tips so you can get to grips, this first-time cruise guide covers everything you need to know ahead of your debut journey at sea.
What should a first-time cruiser know before they sail?
There’s usually a dress code
Although the vast majority of cruise ships like to keep things casual, a cruise holiday isn’t just a wardrobe free for all. While some ships and lines are dress code free, you’ll find that most have some sort of rules when it comes to what you can wear.
For more information on what you can and can’t wear onboard your ship, head here.
Tipping is the norm
On a cruise, tipping is very much a thing. Though there are ships where gratuities are included, for the most part, you might be expected to hand over a little extra when paying for your drinks, baggage handling, and spa service too.
We’ve covered what you need to know about tipping in another guide here.
There are things you can’t bring onboard
It goes without saying that you can’t bring drugs and knives aboard with you. But there are other items that are a no no that you might have thought were perfectly innocent to carry onto the ship.
Alcohol, for one thing, will be confiscated and returned to you at the end of the cruise. Irons should also be left at home, along with candles, incense, hot plates, and similar items that could cause hazards in your cabin.
A full list of items you can’t bring onboard can be found here and here.
You should take out cruise insurance
Just like any other holiday, you’ll need to book cruise holiday insurance before you set sail so that any medical costs, missed departures, and lost or stolen baggage can be covered.
For more details on how to go about booking your cruise holiday insurance, we’ve got you covered here.
There’s a right time to cruise
There’s a time and a place to cruise that can help you to maximise both cost savings and enjoyment levels. Of course, it depends on where you’re travelling to, but all cruise locations have periods of demand that can make your holiday even more amazing.
High season, where demand is at its highest, tends to correlate to the best weather, but this is usually the priciest, busiest time to go on a cruise. Moderate demand, also known as shoulder season, tends to be spring and autumn, while low demand (or low season) usually means worse weather but cheaper fares and uncrowded ports. Of course, it all depends on what you want out of your holiday.
The best cruise for the first-time cruiser
Of course, the best is always subjective, and a lot of it will come down to personal preference, but we’d recommend these if it’s a great maiden voyage you’re after.
For young families: Unsurprisingly, Disney Cruise Line has plenty of all-ages fun in store for guests, from an exceptional kids’ club to nightclubs and restaurants for mum and dad.
For non-flyers: If you’re not the biggest fan of flying, or just don’t fancy the stress of an airport, then P&O Cruises have many holidays that sail from Southampton, with some even going as far afield as the Caribbean!
For solo travellers: Going on your own? A Norwegian Cruise Line cruise could be the best option. Many of their cabins are tailored to singles, and there’s plenty of opportunity to mingle with other folks – whether it’s at the dining table, dancefloor or during a shore excursion.
For LGBTQ: With informed, trained-up staff and same-sex marriages at sea, Celebrity’s LGBTQ bona-fides make it a welcoming, inclusive environment that everyone can feel at ease around. Wherever you’re heading, Celebrity Cruises celebrates what makes their guests unique with everything they do.
For luxury: Who says your first time shouldn’t be extravagant? If you’re planning on going all out, go with Silversea. With its all-suite accommodation, lavish restaurants, and chic cocktail bars, getting yourself a slice of the good life has never been easier.
How long should your first cruise be?
Booking a two-week cruise holiday might seem like a great idea at the time, but what if you get to day three and realise that cruising just isn’t for you? Three-day sampler itineraries, on the other hand, aren’t all that representative of cruising either. You won’t have all that much time to explore and relax, and ships on these three-day jaunts aren’t always the best the cruise line has to offer either.
A week to nine days tends to be the right amount. These longer runs will let you see around three to six ports, give you plenty of time to experience what cruising is all about, and are short enough that you won’t get cabin fever should you and cruising not see eye to eye!