My husband and I met a lot of people who were going on their very first cruise. Others were honeymooners, and some were couples. They asked us for tips on our first cruise when they learned that this was not the first time we had cruised. These tips were often based on mistakes made by people who take their first cruise.
First, a warning about the most common cruise mistake: forgetting your ID and documents. Nothing is more crucial than planning your first cruise. Without cruise documents, you can’t go on your first cruise. You may be able to replace sunscreen and clothes but not cruise documents.
1. Bring Identification And Cruise Documents
We joined a Facebook group for cruisers to “meet up” months before our Disney Cruise to the Bahamas. Two days prior to sailing, one family sent out a mayday, explaining that their passports and documents were still at home in South Carolina. We met one of the family members in South Carolina to obtain their cruise documents, since we were driving through South Carolina. We gave them their cruise documents the morning of the trip and made lifelong friends.
A second incident occurred on our recent cruise that didn’t end well. The couple was carrying their marriage certificate, but this is not acceptable as a form of identification for cruises. The couple was pulled from the line, and last I heard the officer explaining to the couple in tears that they would not be allowed to board. There is little room (or none) for exceptions with the stricter security measures that are in place across all travel areas.
CRUISE TIP:Passports make the best identification when traveling on a cruise. Consult your travel agent or cruise line if you are unsure of what documents you will need.
2. Pack the Right Cruise Clothing
This was the easiest question to answer of all the questions asked by first-time cruisers: What do we wear on formal night?
On cruises lasting three or more nights, there is usually a formal or semi-formal night. Some people dress up in evening gowns or tuxedos. Some people don’t bother to dress up, opting for shorts and t-shirts, with dinner served at the buffet at the poolside.
Three families were on their first cruise. They didn’t bring formal dining wear to the main dining area. One woman looked very sad and explained that she did not have any formal clothes at home, nor could they afford to buy a fancy dress.
Tips for formal nights, especially when you’re on a cruise budget.
- Borrow clothes from a friend. (My BFF and me share clothes a lot).
- Visit a thrift shop in a fashionable neighborhood. My friend bought a sequin dress for $30 at a thrift shop. She felt and looked stunning!
- You don’t need to wear a gown and tuxedo for a formal evening. Dress pants, a shirt and tie are all that you need for men and a dress for women.
3. Try something you’ve never done before
I remember our first cruise (with regret). We had no idea what to expect from a Caribbean cruise, and we missed out on lots of fun. We didn’t go to dance class because we did not want to embarrass our selves. All for the same reasons, we didn’t do much. We were stupid — we missed out on free entertainment and chances.
We had more fun than ever on our last Royal Caribbean cruise, 25 years later. We took part in a selfie race, which sent us around the ship. This was something we had never done before. Guess who won?
Yes — US! I’m going to be 50 in less than two months, but I still know how to take a selfie!
Our son’s wedding was a big motivator for us to take a dance lesson. We also wanted to try out something new. What do you know? All the students in that class were new to dance. We all made mistakes. We had a good time. This is how you have fun on a ship! If you don’t feel like doing something, then don’t. After all, it’s your cruise.
4. Tipping Your Cabin Steward and Server
The crew is not being tipped properly can be one of your worst cruise mistakes. This is not the best way to save money on your first cruise. Sorry! The majority of cruise lines do not have a US base, therefore they are exempt from paying their staff the US Minimum Wage. The people who serve you are not paid if you do not tip.
Cabin stewards are available to help first-time cruisers and others who may not be aware of their services. They will carry luggage, clean the public areas in the cabins and take care of any other needs. Even those who have the “do no disturb” sign up all week will still get housekeeping in nearby areas. The servers work at the breakfast and lunch buffets, serving everyone — even those guests who never dine in the main dining area. It’s not fair to leave them without a tip, as they do so much work behind the scenes.
5. Budget your money
The most important tip I can give you is to stick to your budget. Your budget doesn’t have to be $2,000 or $20,000.
The last night of every cruise has almost brought me to tears. Customers wait in long lines at customer service to dispute charges. I’ve heard people say, “I’m sure I didn’t pay that much.” “It breaks my heart!” Cruise lines make fewer billing mistakes these days because all charges are tracked electronically. This is the most damaging cruise mistake (except not being allowed to board).
Many people who were on our return flight had also been on the cruise ship we just left. The lady on the other side of the aisle pulled out her cruise charge printout solemnly from her purse. She opened it up and ran her finger along the list of charges – page 1, page 2, pages 3, 4, page 5. She stared, frozen in place, at the final page. She then folded it smaller and smaller, and shoved it into her purse. I watched as she dripped a tear on her hand.
It doesn’t matter how much she spends. She spent way more than she could have afforded or planned.
CRUISE SUGGESTION: Track your spending in your cabin on the TV to keep track of your budget.
Are you planning your first cruise? Budgeting is easy!
Talk to your travel companions about your vacation budget.
- Spending limits per day on alcohol or soda
- How much money to spend on souvenirs. We avoid the ship shops entirely except for pre-planned items — a t-shirt or toy for the children and a Christmas decoration for us. Budgets are set for each destination.
- How much money you can spend on the casino (and how much you should lose) during the cruise.
- What to spend for last-minute shore excursions on the whole trip (once it’s gone, there are no more shore excursions).
- How to calculate the amount of cushion you should add each day to your budget.
- If you haven’t pre-paid, tips will be added to the bill at the end (usually $15/day for each person including children) unless otherwise stated.
Add up the total and you’ve got your cruise budget planned. Be realistic and adjust before you travel.
Try this When you’re on a cruise with your teens! We give our teens a budget for their entire week’s spending. We also tell them to keep whatever they do not spend at the end. We don’t appear as bad guys and they learn how to budget. It’s a great system.
What do you wish you had known then, as an experienced cruiser? Share your tips with first-time cruisers to avoid costly mistakes.