If you are thinking about booking your first cruise, you may be wondering what to expect. Most people have some sort of preconception regarding cruises.
For a lot of us, this picture is one of a massive cruise liner, with cheesy entertainment, plenty of dining options and things to do on board, and thousands and thousands of people.
But, is the reality really like that or is it different? Let’s take a look at what you should expect from your first cruise…
(This post may contain affiliate links)
Expect to do your research beforehand
The image that has just been conjured up is very much what you will get on some cruises. It is important to stress that there are so many different types of cruise ships and cruises to choose from today, and so there really is something for everyone.
You can see this for yourself at Globesailor. If the thought of being on a massive ship with hundreds of people sounds like a nightmare, why not consider a small cruise liner that only caters to a couple of hundred people?
You really can cater your cruise to suit you today, and this eliminates a lot of the worry you may be experiencing.
You need to plan
Once you have booked your cruise, the planning and organising does not stop there. You need to figure out how much time you want to spend on the excursions, relaxing, shopping, and so on.
You then need to work out how much everything is going to cost. A lot of people assume that certain things are free and then are disappointed to find out this isn’t the case.
Every cruise liner is different, so research beforehand, and find out about the currencies and cards that are accepted on board too.
Excursions sell out, and they sell out quickly
If you leave all of your excursions until you end upon the cruise ship, you could be very disappointed. A lot of people assume that everyone on board is going to be able to go on each and every excursion while on board.
Unfortunately, all excursions have a limited number of people, and the popular excursions will sell out quickly, so it’s best to get yours booked as soon as you know you want to go on something.
Don’t pack too much
Staterooms aren’t usually as big as they appear in the photographs. If you pack too much, you will have no room for yourself! Remember, you will have access to plenty of washing facilities there, so there is no need to pack excessively.
What should you take? Don’t forget a light jumper, even in the tropics, as well as clothing made from polyester-blend knits and rayon, as they do not wrinkle easily and they take up little space.
Hopefully, you now have a better idea regarding what to expect from your very first cruise. But, as mentioned, a lot of this does come down to the type of cruise you book.
Nowadays, there are so many different types of cruises to choose from. From big ships for family vacations to small luxury liners, there is something for everyone.
What type of cruise will you book?
If you enjoyed reading this contributed blog post, please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!
Happy Travels
