My husband and I had decided we really weren’t big cruise fans. But then we went on a Virgin Voyages cruise in the summer of 2022, and it turned out it wasn’t that we weren’t cruise people – we just hadn’t found our “niche” cruise line. Thanks to Virgin, we’ve found our niche.
Preparing for a cruise isn’t the same as preparing for a typical vacation. There are several things you need to think about differently, especially in terms of planning:
When to go
Timing is everything.
A cruise to the Caribbean sounds lovely for your summer vacation. Except it’s going to be 95 every day, and more humid than the devil’s armpit. It’s also going to be more crowded than if you went in, say, January, because everyone else thought cruising in the Caribbean during the summer would be a good idea. And let’s not forget that hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
Want to go whale watching during your Alaska cruise? Make sure you go when the whales are most likely to be seen.
When to arrive before your cruise
Cruises, of course, depart from ports. So unless you live within driving distance of the port (and if so, lucky you!), you’ll have to fly to the nearest city to get to your cruise.
Y’all, if at all possible, don’t fly in the day of your cruise. Sure, I know you’re giving yourself “X” hours of extra padding so you get there before the past possible embarkation time. But you know how flights are. If there’s only one flight from your city to where the port is, what will you do if your flight is significantly delayed or even cancelled? That ship isn’t going to wait for you.
If you’re in the US and are flying to your cruise, fly in the day before. Oh, and use an airline that has several flights per day, so you can get onto another flight if something happens to yours. Read: now is not the time to see how Frontier or Allegiant works out with a “2 flights a week per city” schedule.
And if you have to fly to another continent? Give yourself at least 2 days. Besides worrying about flights, it also allows you to get used to the time difference.
Plan your add-ons ahead of time
Of course, it wouldn’t be a cruise if there weren’t add-ons you could purchase beforehand. Consider them.
Case in point, Virgin Voyages doesn’t offer a drink package like other cruise lines do. Instead, they have a Bar Tab, which is essentially an onboard spending account. If you buy a Bar Tab for “X” amount, they’ll throw in a certain percentage more, for free (so if you buy at least $200 in Bar Tab, they’ll give you 15 to 25% more). However, Bar Tabs can only be purchased up to 48 hours the day before the voyage sets sail.
Other cruise lines offer Wi-Fi, shore excursions, and other services at discounted prices if you book them before your cruise starts.
Getting travel insurance
When you’re on the sea or in another country, chances are excellent that your medical insurance won’t cover you if you have a medical emergency. And, of course, you won’t be covered at all if something unforeseen and horrible happens at home and you want to get back home NOW (or at least when you get to the next port).
Even the best travel insurance is relatively cheap. Get it.
Don’t overpack
Unless you’ve splurged on some amazing suite like that new one Royal Caribbean offers for $30k per week, chances are your cabin will be small. Closet, drawer and shelf space will be limited; plan accordingly.
Bring cash!
You may think, “I’m on a cruise! Everything is paid for, and the rest will be charged to my credit card. I don’t need cash!”
You’d be thinking wrong.
Do you gamble? Almost every cruise line (except Disney) has a casino on board, and you get the best value for your money if you use cash.
Also, especially if you’re cruising outside the U.S., not every place will accept credit cards. Most will. If you’re cruising around Europe, having a few Euros with you won’t hurt, just in case you need them for small purchases, toilets, etc.
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