{"id":218955,"date":"2026-01-26T17:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/26\/21-tips-and-tricks-that-will-make-your-first-cruise-go-smoothly-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T17:00:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:00:22","slug":"21-tips-and-tricks-that-will-make-your-first-cruise-go-smoothly-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/26\/21-tips-and-tricks-that-will-make-your-first-cruise-go-smoothly-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Cruising is easy \u2014 or so cruisers will tell you.<\/p>\n

For starters, you only have to unpack once, even as you travel from place to place. You also don’t have to go hunting for a restaurant every night. Dining spots are usually just steps away from your cabin, with tables waiting for you. You’ll also have no trouble finding entertainment.<\/p>\n

But even in its simplicity, cruising still can be daunting for a first-timer. What should you bring? What should you plan on doing in ports? What is the best way to book?<\/p>\n

As the head of TPG’s cruise content team<\/a>, I get these sorts of questions all the time.<\/p>\n

This brings me to the tips below. If you’ve read this far, you are likely a first-time cruiser looking for advice for an upcoming trip, and that’s exactly what this story is meant to offer. It contains my list of 21 ways to make your first sailing go more smoothly.<\/p>\n

It’s a list drawn not just from my own 25-plus years of cruising but also the observations of more than 100 cruising fans who shared their tips with TPG in a lively conversation on the topic at the TPG Lounge<\/a> on Facebook. (If you’re not a member yet, we highly encourage you to join.)<\/p>\n

Arrive at your departure port a day ahead of schedule<\/h2>\n

If you only follow one piece of advice in this story, it should be this one. It is the only way to ensure you won’t miss your ship \u2014 something that happens to cruisers more often than you would think.<\/p>\n

Many cruises depart in the afternoon, so it might seem just fine to fly or drive to a port on the morning of departure. But all it takes is a moderate flight delay or a pileup on the highway to upset those plans. If you’re delayed in your arrival at the port, the ship will not wait for you.<\/p>\n

If you’re traveling overseas for a cruise, we recommend traveling to the port two or even three days in advance. This isn’t just so you don’t miss the ship. It’s also so you have some time to recover from jet lag. European cruises, in particular, can be port-intensive, with lots of touring, so you want to be refreshed and ready to hit the ground running right after the cruise begins.<\/p>\n

<\/picture>\n
\n

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter<\/p>\n

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG\u2019s experts<\/p>\n

\n
\n

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy<\/a>. You may unsubscribe at any time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pack your bathing suit in your carry-on<\/h2>\n

When you first arrive at a ship, before you even get on board, you’ll likely be greeted by porters who will whisk away your luggage. It will be delivered to your room later in the day. This is a great convenience, as there’s no need to haul your bags through the entire check-in process. However, it also means you might not have access to your luggage for many hours on your first day on board.<\/p>\n

\n
\"two<\/div>
ALL INCLUSIVE PHOTO PROJECT\/CELEBRITY CRUISES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Be sure to pack anything you think you might need for these first hours of your cruise in your carry-on bag. This includes medication, for sure, but also a phone charger, a bathing suit, a hat, sunscreen and other items that will allow you to head straight to the pool deck to start the fun.<\/p>\n

Related: Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Don’t overpack<\/h2>\n

Use this strategy when packing for a cruise: Throw all the clothes you think you’ll need during the trip in a pile, and then put away half of them. You won’t need them. Trust us.<\/p>\n

Most cruising these days is casual, and you really only need a few outfits to rotate through a voyage. If things get dirty, it’s no problem. Many ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks where you can run a load or two of laundry every few days. If not, you can send laundry out to be cleaned on board. It’ll usually come back in a day or two.<\/p>\n

The extra cost of doing a few loads of laundry on a ship is a small price to pay for the freedom of not having to lug a giant suitcase around as you travel to and from your ship. Plus, you’ll want to save room in your suitcase for all the little treasures you’re going to find along the way.<\/p>\n

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry service<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bring your own drinks on board<\/h2>\n

Many first-time cruisers assume they can’t bring their own drinks on board a ship, but many lines will allow this, usually with some limits. It’s one way to save money when cruising, as drink prices on ships can be high.<\/p>\n

Among the lines that will allow you to be your own bartender is Disney Cruise Line<\/a>. Adults can bring up to two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne or six beers onto Disney ships at the start of a cruise and at every port of call. Note that these beverages must be packed in carry-on bags. At Royal Caribbean<\/a>, the bring-your-own allowance is one bottle of wine or Champagne per passenger at boarding. You can also bring up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks per cabin.<\/p>\n

One caveat: Many lines levy a “corkage fee” if you want to bring your wine into an onboard restaurant. Be sure to read the rules for your line before you bring any drinks on board.<\/p>\n

Related: Cruise drink packages: A line-by-line guide<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bring extra toiletries<\/h2>\n

Yes, you’ll be able to find sunscreen, aspirin and Band-Aids on a cruise ship, but it’ll cost you. Cruise lines know you’re a captive audience and price their shipboard stores accordingly.<\/p>\n

I have a small “go bag” of over-the-counter medicines that I throw into my suitcase for every cruise. It contains everything from cold medicine to seasickness pills. I rarely use any of it, but I also never get hit with a ridiculous toiletries charge when I do.<\/p>\n

While we’re on the topic of sundries, don’t forget extra batteries for your camera if you are bringing one.<\/p>\n

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bring these 6 other things, too<\/h2>\n

In addition to extra toiletries, cruising regulars often bring Clorox wipes or something similar to wipe down surfaces in their cabin upon arrival (and to bring along on shore excursions). I admit, I’ve never done this, though I know I should \u2014 if only to wipe off the remote control for the cabin TV.<\/p>\n

Many cruisers also won’t head to a ship without room freshener spray, a foldable shoe rack (to hang in the cabin bathroom to store toiletries), a highlighter (to highlight activities on the daily planner) and a lanyard (to hold their cabin keycard). I am, of course, too cool to ever put a keycard lanyard around my neck, which means I lose my card once or twice on every trip. The line always gives me a new one at the front desk. My former cruise team colleague Ashley Kosciolek also eschews lanyard-wearing on ships, but that didn’t stop her from writing this wonderful guide<\/a> to the coolest cruise lanyards around.<\/p>\n

Some cruisers also swear by bringing magnets to ships to affix dinner invitations, excursion tickets and other important papers to their cabin walls. For fire safety reasons, walls on ships often are made with metal (even if they look like wood, thanks to faux wood veneers) and will hold a magnet. Some cruisers even bring magnets with hooks so they can hang up clothes and other items on their walls.<\/p>\n

Related: Must-have cruise items \u2014 including a roll of duct tape<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Skip the buffet on your first day on board<\/h2>\n

There’s nothing more jammed than a cruise ship buffet on embarkation day. Everybody who boards a ship heads straight up to it.<\/p>\n

To avoid the first-day buffet crowds, head to whatever secondary dining option is available. Sometimes, a ship will open one of its eateries with table service for lunch on embarkation day. It’ll likely be much less crowded than the buffet.<\/p>\n

Research ports in advance<\/h2>\n

There are some types of vacations \u2014 a beach trip, for instance \u2014 where you don’t have to do much advance research. You just sort of show up.<\/p>\n

Most cruises aren’t this way \u2014 at least, if you want to get the most out of them. At the heart of most cruises are port calls that, in many cases, are very short \u2014 often just a few hours. You want to have a plan for what to do in these ports or you’ll miss out on a big part of the cruising experience.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Colorful<\/div>
Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas in Labadee, Haiti. ERICA SILVERSTEIN\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once you know what ports you’ll be visiting, research them as much as you can at various travel sites. TPG, for example, has a variety of home port and destination port guides, including ones for Miami<\/a>, Honolulu<\/a> and Venice, Italy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related: Caribbean cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Join a Facebook group for your line<\/h2>\n

Another great place to get ideas for what to do in ports and on ships \u2014 and what to bring on a cruise, for that matter \u2014 is the many private Facebook groups dedicated to particular lines. I belong to a number of them, including the Royal Caribbean Cruises<\/a> group, the COPs (Cruisers Opinion Page)<\/a> group and the Holland America Line Fans<\/a> group.<\/p>\n

You’ll find thousands of cruise fans on these pages who often are more than willing to answer questions about their favorite line, its ships, its itineraries and the destinations on the itineraries. I’ve met some wonderful people in these groups, some of whom have become my longtime friends on Facebook.<\/p>\n

Sign up for private tours<\/h2>\n

Booking a shore excursion directly with your cruise line is easy. You just check a box on an online form before sailing or while on board, and \u2014 poof! \u2014 it’s all arranged. But booking tours through your line isn’t the only option, and it’s not always the best option. In many cases, you can save money \u2014 and get a better touring experience \u2014 by booking shore excursions through independent tour operators in ports or a tour booking service such as Viator<\/a> or ToursByLocals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Often, independent tours will be more intimate than the tours offered through cruise lines. They might go to the same sites but in a small van instead of a big motorcoach. You might have just six or eight other people on a tour with you instead of nearly 40. If your group is big enough, you might even be able to book a private tour with an independent tour operator.<\/p>\n

Related: Shore excursions: What new cruisers need to know<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Independent tours can also take you to places that the cruise line-organized tours don’t. Plus, they often come with excellent service. ToursByLocals has staff members on hand around the clock to respond to questions, and \u2014 for those worried about missing your ship \u2014 it offers a return-to-ship guarantee with every tour.<\/p>\n

Sign up for activities in advance or soon after boarding<\/h2>\n

Some lines will let you sign up for shows, tours and other activities (including meals at specialty restaurants) in advance of sailing using online portals. If you want to be sure that you get a seat for a specific show on a specific night or a certain tour or restaurant reservation time, it’s a good idea to do this. It’s not uncommon with some ships to find that some shows, tours and restaurant reservation times book up in advance.<\/p>\n

If you don’t sign up for activities in advance, a backup strategy is to do so just after you board a vessel. That said, whether you need to race to sign up for activities at the start of a voyage depends a lot on which ship you are on. I am more careful about signing up for many things in advance when I am sailing on a giant ship such as Royal Caribbean’s record-size Icon Class ships<\/a>, where thousands of other passengers are competing for the choicest reservations.<\/p>\n

Related: The best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Don’t feel like you have to do it all<\/h2>\n

While we’re on the topic of signing up for activities, note that it’s OK if you miss a few things. You don’t have to do it all. In fact, you should force yourself to try to not<\/em> do it all.<\/p>\n

Remember, you’re on vacation. Relax. Take some downtime. Sit on your balcony, if you have one, and just stare out at the ocean for a couple of hours. You won’t regret it.<\/p>\n

Always carry the ship’s contact information with you<\/h2>\n

When going ashore, always bring the ship’s contact information with you. Those details are usually printed in the newsletter that’s delivered to your cabin each night. If something goes wrong when you’re away from the ship, you’ll want to get in contact with the cruise line right away.<\/p>\n

Keep your phone in airplane mode<\/h2>\n

Some of the biggest cruise ship horror stories you’ll find on the internet are tales of cruising newbies who racked up thousands of dollars in cellphone charges while on ships. This can happen when you leave your phone turned on and, say, watch videos on the internet. Many phone plans \u2014 even international plans \u2014 do not include talking, texting and data on cruise ships, and you’ll pay exorbitant roaming rates for such services that will show up weeks later on your phone bill.<\/p>\n

There are ways to make calls and access the internet from ships<\/a> without spending a boatload of money. You can buy a Wi-Fi package, for instance, that will let you make FaceTime calls and stream videos (on some ships) over Wi-Fi without using phone data.<\/p>\n

Some phone companies have cruise-specific plans you can buy in advance of a voyage, but I personally never go that route. I keep it simple. I just put my phone in airplane mode the moment I step on board a ship and never switch it back on. I then turn on the phone’s Wi-Fi, buy a Wi-Fi package and do all my calling, texting and internet surfing over Wi-Fi. That way, there’s no way that I can be surprised by an unexpected charge.<\/p>\n

Download the cruise app<\/h2>\n

A growing number of lines now have apps that you can download to your smartphone in advance of sailing. The apps vary in what they offer, but many will show you a daily list of activities and all the things you have reserved. Many will also let you make restaurant reservations and book shore excursions and other activities, and a few will let you order drinks and other items to wherever you happen to be standing. That’s pretty cool, right? The best part: The apps will work on board even if you don’t pay for a Wi-Fi package.<\/p>\n

Related: The best cruise apps to streamline your vacation at sea<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Use a travel agent to book<\/h2>\n

Given the complexity of booking a cruise \u2014 there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process, trust us \u2014 we recommend that you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises to help you arrange things. A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. The agent can also help you if something goes wrong before, during or after your voyage.<\/p>\n

Additionally, travel agents can often secure extra onboard credit and other perks that you might not be able to get by booking directly with a line.<\/p>\n

Related: Is it better to book a cruise through a travel agent? We say yes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Consider travel insurance<\/h2>\n

It’s not always smooth seas when it comes to cruising \u2014 or any sort of travel. We hate to even bring it up, but you might need to cancel your cruise in advance due to the sudden onset of an illness. Or, maybe you’ll fall ill during the cruise and need emergency medical attention. Maybe your flight to your ship gets canceled and you miss the vessel’s departure.<\/p>\n

These sorts of things can happen to cruisers, and they’re all the sort of situations where you might benefit from having travel insurance. Here are a comparison of the top travel insurance providers<\/a> and information about “cancel for any reason” add-ons<\/a> to decide whether to purchase travel insurance \u2014 and, if so, which kind of policy makes the most sense for you.<\/p>\n

Related: Cruise travel insurance: What it covers and why you need it<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Don’t book a cabin near an elevator<\/h2>\n

Not every cabin on a ship is created equal. When choosing a room on your first cruise, you might want to stay away from those near elevators and just above nightclubs and other late-night venues, as they can sometimes be noisy. Cabins just below the pool deck, near the anchor and near casinos can also be problematic.<\/p>\n

Related: Cabin locations on cruise ships that you definitely should avoid<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Use a points card for onboard spending<\/h2>\n

You saw this one coming, no? Given TPG’s origins as a points and miles website<\/a>, we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you to maximize your credit card points<\/a> while making purchases on ships. The way to do this is to tie a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases<\/a> to your onboard account. This could be the Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae Card<\/a><\/span> (see rates and fees<\/a>), which earns 2 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining.<\/p>\n

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Don’t tip twice for drinks and spa treatments<\/h2>\n

Most cruise ships now automatically add a gratuity to bar bills, often in the amount of 18% to 20% of the total. Such automatic gratuities are also becoming more common in ship spas.<\/p>\n

Alas, many first-time cruisers don’t know this and write in a hefty tip at the “additional tip” line on bills at cruise ship bars and spas. Be sure to ask if a gratuity has already been included before adding another 15% or 20% to the total. Otherwise, you may end up tipping twice.<\/p>\n

Related: Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Use points to get to your cruise<\/h2>\n

Using points and miles to pay for a cruise doesn’t always make sense, as it often requires a huge number of them to secure a cabin. But that doesn’t mean you can’t save big time by booking your flights to and from a ship using points and miles.<\/p>\n

You’ll find plenty of stories here at TPG about how to, say, upgrade to first class without spending a ton of money<\/a> or book your Disney resort stay before your Disney cruise with points<\/a>. Scroll around a little, and you might never pay cash for a flight to a cruise ship again.<\/p>\n

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cruising is easy \u2014 or so cruisers will tell you. For starters, you only have to unpack once, even as you travel from place to place. You also don’t have to go hunting for a restaurant every night. Dining spots are usually just steps away from your cabin, with tables waiting for you. You’ll also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":218956,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-218955","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218955"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218955\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}