Cruising the world is one of the most exhilarating experiences a person can have. Being able to travel multiple destinations, some times in a single trip, and having to unpack once is the best. However, there is a wrong way and a right way to cruise. Here are a few DON’T tips for your next cruise.

Cruising without a Passport

Yes passports bring an additional expense to your cruise vacation. However it’s a small price to pay in the event that you need to leave your vacation early due to a family emergency or get left behind at port due to your own personal emergency. There isn’t an airline that will allow you to board their plane without a valid passport. Having a passport is a small investment for ensuring that you can get back to the United States without any issue.

While you can cruise without a passport, the destinations that you can travel to/from is limited to “closed loop” sailings. This means that you have to start/end from the same place in the US. As you become adventurous and want to sail Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, etc, you will need to have a passport because those cruises typically start/end outside of the US.

Note: a Passport card is a cheaper option but isn’t allowed on cruises. These cards are meant for DRIVING across the border…not flying or sailing.

Cruising without Travel Protection Insurance

When planning your vacation no one plans for anything to go wrong. Why should you? It’s supposed to be an enjoyable experience. The reality is that things can go wrong. For instance, you could have a family emergency that prevents you from traveling. If you are within the penalty phase of your vacation, you could lose your entire investment if you don’t have travel protection insurance. What if you or a traveling family gets hurt while vacationing? Most medical insurance plans don’t work outside of the US, and many hospitals in foreign destinations require payment BEFORE they will treat you.

A good travel protection plan protects BOTH you and your travel investment.

Not Traveling in the Day Before the Cruise

So following the theme of things going wrong…..while most people can travel the same day the cruise departs with no problems, why take the chance? Flights get delayed. Connections get missed. Bags get lost.

Chances are you are already planning to fly into port. So why not extend the vacation? Fly in a day or 2 early. This minimizes any chance for delays but also gives you an opportunity to experience your first port.

Booking Your Return Flight too Early

When the cruise returns to the original port, you are typically allowed to disembark the ship around 7:30am or 8:00am. If you book your return too early, you run the risk of missing your flight because you haven’t factored in the time to get off the ship, find your bags, get through customs and immigration and travel to the airport. There are too many things that can go wrong. I recommend not booking a flight before 11:00am.

Not Syncing Their Watches or Smart Phone with the Ship’s Time and Getting Left Behind at Port

Once on the ship, the only time that matters is the “ship’s time.” As you sail, it’s possible that you will be changing time zones. Many of our watches or smart phones will automatically update as time zones change. This can be a problem if the time on your watch or smart phone is different than the time that the ship communicates. Here’s why it’s an important distinction. Let’s say your at port and all aboard is 4pm. Your smart phone says it’s 3pm but ships time is 4pm. You may think that you still have an hour at port. Meanwhile the ship is preparing to leave you. Once the ship departs, it’s your responsibility to figure out how to get to the next port.

Eating ONLY at the Buffet

Everyone knows that one of the best things about cruising is the food. However some people ONLY eat at the buffet. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying eating at the buffet is a problem. I am simply saying that to enjoy the full experience of the cruise try other restaurants on the ship. Typically there is a main dining room that serves 4 course meals, specialty dining (e.g. French, steak, Italian or sushi restaurants), a Grill and healthy options.

If you are worried that you won’t get to sample different things if you don’t eat at the buffet, rest assured that is not the case. Can’t choose between salmon and the steak? Get both. Want to try two appetizers? Your waiter will bring you both.

Going it Alone at Port

Because you only have a short time at port….some times 8 hours or less. Why would you not want to maximize the time that you have on the port? A tour or excursion can help you experience your port of call more effectively. Many ports offer shopping, restaurants and maybe even a beach. Some don’t offer much at all and in some cases nothing. Excursions can vary from city tours that stop at some of the more popular hot spots to foodie tours to snorkeling tours and much more. Maximize your time at port and take an excursion or tour.

Stiffing the Crew of their Gratuities

While on the ship, the crew works very, very hard to ensure that guests have a fabulous experience. You’ll some times see the same person working multiple shifts or multiple jobs throughout the ship. Gratuities are a big part of their compensation. Many of the crew have families back in their home country that they send money back to. Most cruise lines will include a daily gratuity to be paid at the end of the cruise. While most guests pay the gratuities with no issue, a guest can adjust the gratuities down. If this happens, guests services will want to understand why and to see if there is anything that they can do to resolve any concerns experienced on the ship. In the rare occasion, I have heard of people simply not wanting to pay the gratuities. Each of us has a job. Would you not want to get paid after doing a good job? Would you go out to a restaurant and not pay the tip? Don’t stiff the crew. They work really hard and count on those gratuities to support their families.

Traveling on the SAME cruise line or to the SAME destination

I am all for staying loyal to a brand. Many times you’ll receive perks for staying loyal to a particular brand. However sometimes there are good reasons to try a different brand.

Did you know that some cruise lines specialize in the Caribbean but not Europe or Alaska? Did you know that some cruise lines have mega ships while others offer a more intimate experience on a smaller ship? Did you know that when river cruising that you won’t experience sea sickness? There are cruise lines that are better suited for families with children while there are others that are not. There are cruise lines for the budget conscious client to the ultra luxurious client. There are cruises for the adventure seeker to those that want an art or foodie experience.

By sticking to the same brand or destination, your missing out on all of what cruising has to offer. `

Not Booking Your Next Cruise While Onboard

The best deals hands down are when you are onboard your current cruise. Incentives from low deposits to onboard credits are typically offered to entice guests to book a future cruise. Take advantage of these offers. Maybe try a sister brand or a different destination. Often times these same incentives will apply. If you are working with a travel professional, don’t worry they will get credit for booking.

There are so many benefits to cruising which is why the industry is growing by leaps and bounds. Follow the above tips to not only get the best out of your cruise but to minimize any future problems or issues while onboard.