Tips for First-Time Cruisers
Over the past few months we’ve had many valuable conversations with customers who haven’t cruised before. To answer some of these commonly asked—and extremely important—questions, we have plans to assemble the biggest collection of first time cruiser information on the web and make it easily accessible. But to start, we’re going to answer some of the broadest questions that will help even the most inexperienced customer choose the right cruise.
What are my dining options?
There are many ways to enjoy the vast selection of cuisine available on a cruise ship. From traditional dining rooms to specialty restaurants, cafés, and buffets—the list of what’s available is endless. One of the most common questions we are asked about dining is whether food is included in the price of your cruise, and the answer is YES! With the exception of optional specialty restaurants, most of the food you see (and you’ll see a lot) is included in the cruise fare.
Ever since cruising came into fashion, cruise lines set specific times for dinner to serve the ship’s capacity in the most efficient way possible. Eventually dining evolved into having two different seating times: early seating and late seating. Today, the industry is trending towards having a third option for dinner, typically called flexible dining or “any time” dining. With traditional dining you retain the same dinner wait staff for the entirety of your cruise, whereas flexible dining allows cruisers to choose the time they wish to eat at each night.
With a customer base that is as diverse as the industry’s growth, it’s key for cruise lines to offer a wide breadth of options for dining. Look out for growing trends such as even more flexibility, a focus on brunch, and healthy menu options.
What cabin do I choose?
Here at ShipIcons we believe one of the most important deciding factors for your cruise is cabin selection. For a first timer there may be an overwhelming number of options and no base for understanding what is what. Below are key terms and what they mean for your choice.
Guaranteed: A guaranteed cabin will (many times) be the cheapest option available in a given category, but it can have both positive and negative aspects. On the bright side, you may be upgraded to a better category than the one you booked into, but on the other hand you run the risk of having an obstructed view from your ocean view window or balcony.
Category: Cabin types—suite, balcony, ocean view, and interior—do not all contain the same exact cabin design. Based on ship location, quality of the cabin, and square footage, cruise lines assign cabins to different categories and price them differently, giving the cruiser the power to choose their price point within a cabin type.
Cabin Location: To feel the least sway of the ship as you transit between ports, it is best to pick a lower deck and mid-ship location. Noise risk is also something to consider, as being below the pool decks or above the theater may keep you up at night. To be on the safe side, choose a cabin that is sandwiched between two passenger decks.
What do I wear?
Traditionally, cruises will feature “formal” nights on one or two nights depending on the length of the itinerary. Naturally, each cruise line’s personality will help determine how dressed up you must be, and guidelines can be found on a line’s website and in the daily program.
Lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney will have a more relaxed, yet still slightly traditional policy, while lines like Cunard expect a higher level of formality. More contemporary lines like Azamara have actually eliminated formal nights and maintain a “smart casual” policy for the evening.
What is included & what is not included?
Cruising is one of the easiest and best ways to travel, mainly because everything is taken care of. Transportation, main meals, entertainment, and accommodations are all included in your cruise fare. Once you pay the base price, it is completely discretionary how much more you spend on board.
Once you’re on board, passengers can use their onboard charge account to choose from a variety of special extras to enhance their experience. Specialty restaurants provide a taste of the line’s most extravagant meals and spas relax and rejuvenate with top-of-the-line treatments. Even though these extras do come at a cost, each experience is a unique treat on your new favorite way to vacation.
How do I get in touch with friends and family on shore or on board?
When I was a young gal, cruising with my family meant always predetermining a meeting place upon separation if you wanted to see each other. Nowadays, with advancing technology, many cruise lines have solved this problem for you. For a fee, you may have the option to rent a phone that has GPS locators and texting abilities pre-programmed.
On Royal Caribbean passengers can rent Royal Connect phones. The array of features on this phone is impressive. Not only can you call others in your party when you connect your phones, you’re able to ‘text’ with them, see where they are at any given moment, or even check your daily cruise compass for activities around the ship.