If you are soon to be going on your very first cruise, one thing is for sure; it certainly won’t be the last time you holiday on board a cruise liner, and for most people, their first cruise is the start of a lifelong love affair. Of course, you first have to decide on the cruise, and with so many to choose from, there is bound to be something that fits the bill. Assuming you have already made your booking, here are a few important aspects of cruise preparation to help you get ready for what will surely be the holiday of a lifetime.
- Important Travel Documents– It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport has at least 6 months validity and that you have visas for all the ports of call. Insurance policies should also be kept in a secure place, and you should check to see whether you will require any vaccinations for the countries you are planning to visit.
- What To Pack– Whether you are going on a weekend cruise or a round-the-world epic voyage, you need to think carefully about what you are going to take with you. If, for example, you are going on one of those luxury Halong cruises, you will only need light clothing, with perhaps one formal outfit for evening dinners. It is always worth remembering that you will have a lot of free time while cruising the open seas, so if you like reading, take your Kindle and for music lovers, make sure you have a good selection of your playlists, plus, of course, your digital devices. Check out the ship’s dress code, an information that will be available at the tour operator’s website.
- Do Some Online Research– You should spend some time researching the various ports of call, which will enable you to appreciate the stop-offs so much more, plus you may not wish to go ashore at every port of call.
- Booking Land Excursions – There will be land excursions for every port of call and these are booked up very quickly, so book the ones you want to join before the cruise departs to avoid disappointment. Much like commercial airliners, the ship will depart at the scheduled time, so whatever happens, you must be on board by that time, and if you book a land excursion with the cruise operator, you are assured of arriving back at the ship in good time. There are articles you can find online on how to plan for your very first cruise holiday.
- Medication – If you are taking any form of medication, make sure you have an ample supply to last you for the duration of the cruise, and while the cruise ship will have pharmacies, you are advised to stock up prior to boarding.
The key to an enjoyable cruise lies in the preparation, so do make a list of important aspects and once they have all been crossed off, you are ready to experience life aboard a luxury cruise liner. Once you have experienced a cruise holiday, it won’t be long before you will be setting off again on a floating luxury holiday.