There’s nothing like that moment you first step onto a cruise ship. All those months of anticipation have finally come to a head and it’s finally your first day on a cruise. Even after 30+ cruises, I still get that feeling.
But the first day on the cruise is different from all the others, and there are things that I wish I had known about the first day that you just don’t learn until you’ve been there. From tips that will save you time and ways to avoid first-day headaches, and way, way more, I’ve got it all…
When You Arrive at the Port Matters on the First Day
The general thinking is, I’ve paid for this cruise, I want to get my vacation started, so I’m going to show up as early as I can to get on the ship.
And if you do, that’s fine. Just expect it to be very busy at the port. Cars are going everywhere, there’s people, suitcases, luggage, long lines lines… yuck.
I prefer to get the first day started much more relaxed. If you wait until later in the boarding window — say 60-90 minutes before it closes — things are way, way easier. By that time the traffic at the port is way less and lines are nearly non-existent. You simply show up, casually stroll through security and board the ship. It’s a much nicer experience.
Rooms Aren’t Ready at the Start of Embarkation
There’s also one more reason to board later in the day, and it goes beyond the crowds. On the day you board the ship, about 4,000 other people left that morning. The stewards then have to “turn over” about 2,000 rooms. Yeah, that takes a few hours.
As a result, when you board early your room isn’t ready. So you get to haul your carry-on bags all around the ship, there’s not a place to freshen up, and if you want to change clothes — to say a swimsuit — then you have to do it in a public bathroom.
Rooms open up usually around 1:30 or 2:00 in the afternoon.
To me, boarding before the room is ready is just a pain in the butt as I normally carry my bags aboard. That means I get the joy of walking around a cruise ship with a full suitcase, which isn’t exactly fun.
Elevators Are Useless in the First Few Hours
Continuing on that theme of those first few hours of your first day, one thing you’ll wish you knew is that at least until about dinnertime, the elevators are practically useless.
Or I should say they aren’t useless, but they are just so heavily used that if you can take the stairs, then do it.
Here’s the deal: You’ve got thousands of people with thousands of bags. And they are all trying to get to their room or explore the ship at the same exact time.
Later in the trip the crowds are more spread out, but the first few hours of the first few days the elevators are jammed packed. Expect it to take longer for the elevator to come and once it does, don’t be surprised if it’s already packed.
First Day is a Great Time to Eat at a Specialty Restaurant or Get a Spa Treatment
One tip I’ve learned and wish I knew earlier is that the first day on your cruise is the perfect time to do two things. First, it’s great to eat at a specialty restaurant and second, getting a spa service.
That first day on the ship, everything is new to everyone. There are a million food options that are all new, so paying extra to eat at a specialty restaurant doesn’t cross people’s minds. As a result, you can more easily find a reservation compared to later in the cruise, and you often get a chance to eat with fewer people around.
It’s similar with the spa. Most people aren’t stepping on the ship and then going directly to get a spa service that day. But if you do, you’ll find that it’s much less busy. In fact, you may even be able to get a discount on the service compared to a day at sea.
Just note that usually the first few hours the spa is open to tours so there may be more people in and out at that time.
First Day Tip: Memorize Your Room Number
When you board, you typically have a boarding pass with the room number written down for you. No big deal. But once you are around the ship, if you want to purchase anything or make a reservation, or any number of other interactions, one of the first questions you’ll get is “What is your room number?”
If you can, take 10 seconds to commit it to history. If it helps, the first digit is the deck you’re on, and that’s always pretty easy to recall. So room 9342 is deck nine, and you only have to remember the last three digits.
Wanting to Make Romance Right Away? There Are Lots of Distractions the First Few Hours
It’s likely you’re cruising with your significant other, and if so, then romance is hopefully on tap for your vacation.
One thing about the first day, however, is that if you want to immediately get down, it’s going to be better to wait.
The first few hours on the ship are full of interruptions. There are people walking to their cabins and you can hear them easily through the door. There are near constant announcements about muster drill, welcoming you aboard, and sharing what’s coming up that evening. And there’s usually a knock from your room steward introducing themselves to you and asking if you need anything.
If you want until the ship sails away, there will be far fewer interruptions.
Do Not Wait In Line at Guest Services on Day One
It’s likely that during the course of your cruise, you will need to make a stop by Guest Services for one thing or another, even if it’s just to ask a simple question.
One thing you’ll wish you knew is not to do this on the first day. The first day of the cruise, I’m not entirely sure why, but tons of people seem to have issues. The lines are long and slow. The result is that instead of starting their vacation poolside, tons of people are starting it waiting in line.
But here is the thing, Guest Services is open 24 hours a day the entire cruise. If you wait until the second day, the lines are practically non-existent. So unless it’s something that has to be addressed immediately, just come back after the first day.
Unpack Now so You Don’t Have to Later
There’s an old saying that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.
On a cruise, that can be adjusted to the best time to unpack is when you first get to your room. The second best time is now.
Of course, when everything is new and exciting on the ship, you don’t want to unpack. You want to go explore. But I can tell you from experience that when you’re out and about that first day… likely enjoying yourself a little too much… the last thing you want to do is have to dig through a suitcase to get ready for bed.
It’s much nicer just to take 15 minutes and unpack all your stuff and put the suitcase away. That way you have everything ready for the rest of the trip and there is no luggage to navigate around.
Study a Map or Take a Tour Around the Ship
I’ve been on more than 30 cruises, and I can tell you that any time I’m on a new ship I still get lost.
That’s why one of the first things I like to do — and something I wish I realized, say, 29 trips ago — is to give myself a tour of the ship.
Now there are always maps of the ship on your phone, but I’ve found those to be sort of vague. Maybe I’m just someone that needs landmarks to orient myself.
Instead, I like to do a quick walking tour of the main areas of the ship so that I know exactly where things are in relation to each other. It still takes me a day to fully get my bearings, but I spend way less time turned around than when I don’t explore the first day.
Download the Cruise Line App, Then Put the Phone in Airplane Mode
It used to be that a cruise ship was a place to completely disconnect. And you can still do that if you want. These days, however, we all use our phones and that includes on a cruise. Not only can you connect your phone to wi-fi to keep in touch back home, but cruise lines also all have apps that are extremely useful with things like schedules, maps, and your onboard account.
Bottom line: You’re likely going to use your phone on the ship.
In that case, it’s a good idea on the first day to do two things. First, go ahead and download the cruise line’s app ahead of time. You can wait until you’re on the ship, but it’s easier and faster just to do it ahead of time. That also means you can start using the app as soon as you’re onboard.
As well, the first day you also want to put your phone into airplane mode. There are horror stories of people leaving their phone on and getting hit with outrageous roaming fees. You don’t want that to happen to you.
Check the Safe Before You Need it
Every cabin on the ship has a small lockbox safe. It’s nothing crazy, just a spot that’s a little more secure than leaving things out in the open. If you have electronics or passports or cash, it’s perfect to stow them away.
The only issue is sometimes there are issues. They run on batteries, so sometimes the batteries die. Other times it just doesn’t work. And wouldn’t you know it that you are going to discover it right when you’re about to head out to an event on the ship or into port.
Instead, the first day of the cruise — maybe when you’re unpacking — go ahead and check the safe to make sure it works as intended. If not, you can call down to maintenance and they can come fix it before you’re in a rush to go somewhere.
The First-Day Muster Drill Is so Much Better
Covid was the absolute worst, but at least one good thing came out of it… the change to cruise ship muster drills.
If you didn’t cruise before the pandemic, then you missed out on the worst part of the first day. At a set time the entire ship would shut down, everyone would assemble at their muster station and stand in tight lines while listening to a safety lecture.
These days, it’s completely different. The ship doesn’t shut down. Instead, you watch a video on your phone or cabin TV and then check in with your keycard at the muster station. It takes five minutes and the ship doesn’t shut down.
I personally like to do it as soon as I can just to get it over with. I certainly wish they had this back when I started cruising.
