10 Things First Time Cruisers Should ALWAYS Do on a Cruise

If you're a first time cruiser, these cruise tips, tricks and "secrets" will help you out! Here are the 10 things first time cruisers should always do on a cruise. These cruise tips for first timers will help you to have an amazing cruise vacation!

If your best friend could give you cruise advice for your first cruise, what would it be? These no nonsense tips are practical and fun! Perfect for Carnival cruises, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises and more!

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🛳 THE ULTIMATE CRUISE PLANNER 🛳

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ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!

Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
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Music Credit: Surf Time by Lux-InspiraMusic
Video Credit:
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Princess Cruises

[sarahthomas]

For ALL cruisers: Be patient with the crew - be friendly and show them your appreciation! These people work so hard and are away from their families for months at a time. We always like to ask them about where they are from and about their families, country and life back home. It's a great way to enrich your vacation experience.

[Warriorbox]

My advice for first time cruisers -
1. do the muster drill as soon as possible, get it out of the way. It is important for your safety and the ship cannot sail (by law) until everyone has done it. Don't delay. Its much easier since covid.

2. Go to the main dining room for lunch if you board in the morning. The buffet is always crowded.

3. Get to know your room steward as soon as you can. If your bags haven't arrived he/she might be able to search them out for you, he/she will get you extra hangers if you need them. He/she will make sure you have everything you need.

4. Get a good position on an open deck to be there for the sail away. The feeling of excitement on your first cruse as you leave the home port is amazing.

[manonsinclairladyofblairad]

Tip: don' t bring a pair of shoes for every outfits (I was guilty of that the first few times I cruised). Bring some running shoes/sneakers to walk and exercise, a pair of good walking sandals, some flip flops and a pair of heels (black or nude should go with every dress-up outfits). That's all you need. 😊

[designdoctor]

my best tip....BE YOURSELF...if u like a low stress vacation DO NOT get off the ship ... i have my BEST days when others get off...❤️
i also have learned to give myself a PERSONAL goal list... so i do not get carried along w others going to the shows, the buffet, triva, jewery or art shows...i am a people pleaser and HAD to LEARN i DO NOT feel RESTED after vacation IF i w the planners... MY personal 🤗 goals are, read my book daily, see a sun set or sun rise daily, see the stars when we r in the middle of the ocean at night, long relaxing meals in the dinning room, avoid❤️ crowded places...buffet/pool/theater, i have no problem doing all these acticities alone and honestly enjoy my own company ... i love getting lost in a good book. 🥰

[melodymills]

Great tips. It's ok to take a nap and/or just sit around doing nothing. My first cruise I wanted to do everything and by day 3 I was exhausted. Now I still do a lot, but I also take time to just do nothing but sit and people watch.

[NancyReeves]

I prefer the paper daily planner. It’s so much easier to see the big picture and plan your day. And, of course, you need a highlighter to make it even better.

[jackredmond]

My best advice for a first-time cruiser… Always travel to the ship port area at least one day before your cruise. Our first cruise was on our honeymoon out of San Juan PR. And we flew in the day of the cruise. Our flight was delayed and we barely made it to the ship before it left. They were literally pulling up the gang plank as we boarded. We were so late, we never knew what a Muster drill was until our second cruise. Very stressful…😁 If you have to fly in the day of the cruise, book your flights through the cruise line - then it will be up to them to get you to the ship if it leaves without you.

[aronosonaicul]

Take pictures of your room before unpacking while it’s the cleanest.

[mjharris]

Both the app & hard copies of the daily planner were useful for differing times and reasons. I’m on team “both.”

[lorettafuhs]

I always check to see where the bathrooms are on certain floors. Knowing where the bathroom is after being in the Theatre and around the main dining room is important to me.

[jeffdinter]

If you do not bring any she's sick medicine or sea bands and you do begin to get seasick, you can first go down to guest services and ask them for some medicine, it will be free and complimentary to you. Secondly go up to the buffet and get some of those green apples that they put out at the buffet. They are for seasickness

[sedwards]

I tried to leave extra clothes in a suitcase under the bed. Steward was not happy with me basically offered more hangers and suggested she would do it for me the next day. So I got sorted, I was bullied into being tidy. 😂 Bless her she was adorable.

[camilledextraze]

Hi Ilana! Book your shore excursions with the cruise line you are travelling with: once, in Panama, the excursion encountered a series of mishaps; the excursion was due back at the ship before 5 p.m. never happened because of these mishaps. They eventually made it near 11p.m. And the ship waited for these people and had a nice, warm meal waiting for them. So…beware!

[christianoliver]

Don't be shy is the best advice.
Find something each day on the daily program that you would absolutely never do at home, and then DO IT!
You'll build confidence, have fun even if you don't really like the activity, and you'll meet folks to get together with later.
Plus there really is a sense of accomplishment stepping out of your comfort zone.

[brunkerj]

Go with the flow. Hands down my favorite. We had Dublin scrubbed for an additional day in Liverpool. Dang it. But....we decided to take the train to London and had an awesome day. Another stop was canceled, we ended up in Cherbourg, France. A delightful town that rarely had a large cruise ship in port. Several hundred came out to watch the ship depart. Smiling, waving, and exuding a warmth I appreciated. Go with the flow. Things change and you need to adapt your attitude. If you don't you may let it ruin your cruise. Don't do that!

[FraserAtSea]

I keep intending to put a video like this together - I remember how nervous I was before my first cruise, and not knowing ‘how to do a cruise’. I never even thought back then to check YouTube, but I’m sure this will help so many people!

[alyssasimon]

smile when you board- you are on most important.

[erniewarinner]

I save all of my paper daily planners from our cruises. A couple of nights ago we were trying to remember the name of the entertainer in the Corners lounge on a Princess ship from four years ago. I went to my cabinet where I store all of my travel memorabilia, and with just a couple of minutes, I had the answer.

[heavenranchwy]

Just completed my first cruise. my tip of the day: If you bought the drink package, when you embark you do not need the ships card. Just make sure you keep your boarding pass and show that to the bartender. Wish we had that advice - we waited in line forever at the guest services desk.

[idaliagonzalez]

Coming from the MSC seashore, it’s so large, so definitely walk and explore, see daily planner, schedule your days.
Something I forgot was a pair of binoculars and a reading light. I love sitting on the balcony and looking out.

Definitely, don’t be shy, get out and talk to people, dance by yourself, be happy 😃