What to expect on a cruise
If you’re new to cruising, it may seem overwhelming to consider all that goes into sailing. While each cruise line is different, each experience has much in common.
When you arrive at the port and exit your vehicle, you’ll be greeted by luggage porters. Make sure your cruise line-supplied luggage tags are attached, and they'll whisk them away for you, to be delivered to your stateroom. (Be sure to keep passports/ID, medications, swimsuits, etc with you in a carry-on bag, as your suitcases won’t arrive until much later in the day.) These porters will appreciate a cash gratuity, typically between $1-2 per bag.
After leaving your luggage, you'll go through security, similar to an airport, and enter the cruise terminal. You'll wait to speak with a cruise employee, who will check your documentation (passports, birth certificates, photo ID, etc) and assign you a boarding group number. Once that number is called, you can board the ship and start enjoying your vacation!
Once you’re onboard, you may be asked to find your muster station immediately. The muster station is where you go in an emergency, so the crew knows where you are and can assist in getting you off the ship, if needed. The muster drill may also be performed later in the day, before dinner, but it varies from cruise line to cruise line. The only thing they all have in common is that this muster drill is mandatory for each guest, so don’t get so busy you miss it, or think you don’t have to do it. They will find you and make you complete this. It’s not hard, so just take the time to get it done, and you can move on with your trip from there.
Feel free to start exploring the ship, whether scoping out the buffet for lunch, getting into your swimsuit and heading straight for the pool, or wandering around and getting your bearings on your new home.
Sometime in the afternoon, typically around 1:00-3:00 pm, your stateroom will be available. This extra time allows the room stewards to clean them from the previous sailing’s guests. Once your room is available, you can enter, put away your carry-on bags, and possibly meet your room steward, if he/she is available. This steward will act as your host on the ship. They’ll make your beds and clean your stateroom bathroom each day. If you need anything in your room - towels, pillows, blankets, etc - you’ll get it from the room steward. They work very hard to ensure you’re happy. Your luggage will arrive sometime later in the day, typically around dinnertime, so don’t worry if you can’t dress up for dinner on the first night.
Speaking of dinner and dress, cruise lines as a whole have relaxed their dress code requirements for the main dining room. Most will only require no swimwear or cover-ups, but may have other rules like men must wear pants, no bare shoulders, no open-toed shoes, etc. Check with your Marigold Travel Company agent for guidance or check the cruise line’s website for ideas. If you have a specialty or adult dining experience, you can expect a stricter dress code, and some lines even require jacket and tie in some restaurants. Few cruise lines have a formal night anymore, which is certainly not required. Feel free to get fancy, you won’t be the only ones, but a nice dress and slacks and a button-down will do just fine, too.
(More questions about what to pack? Check out our helpful packing list at this link!)
During your cruise, each day will bring something new - whether it’s a new port to explore or a day on the ship filled with relaxing, swimming, playing games, and of course, eating - you’ll have a great time.
Toward the end of your cruise, you’ll receive documents in your stateroom about how and when to get off the ship. It’s sad, we know, but these documents are very important to take time and read. They’ll tell you about putting your luggage out for pickup on the last night of your sailing (be sure to keep your toothbrush and clothes out for the next day!), how to look at your final onboard bill, and what time the restaurants will be open for breakfast before you disembark.
On your final morning, before disembarking, and depending on your transportation times, you are allowed to have breakfast, but be sure to take any bags with you when you leave your room. This allows the room steward to start cleaning your room in preparation for the next guests.
You’ll exit the ship (keep your stateroom key handy!) and enter the port terminal once again. Here, you’ll go through the customs and immigration process for whatever country you’re in, so be sure to have your passport and other information available. If it’s a foreign country, they may ask when your flight home is, or if you’re staying at a hotel for a few days, they’ll want that address, so be sure you know what your plan is.
After customs, you’ll be able to find and claim your luggage. Porters are typically available in this area, too, and will assist with getting your bags to your transportation, whether that’s a taxi, a shuttle bus, or your own vehicle.
Ready to start your journey? Get a quote.
