THE 10 WORST MISTAKES YOU CAN MAKE ON A CRUISE

To get you ready for cruising once it does open back up, I’m sharing the 10 worst mistakes you can make on a cruise.  
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​1. Not arriving at your departure port the day BEFORE your cruise.
 
So much can go wrong with airport delays, interstate traffic, cancelled flights, 
etc. Isn't it worth the cost of a hotel room to know for sure that you will be 
boarding that ship before the crowds?

​2. Getting too drunk.

​No one enjoys having an obnoxious drunk by them on the lido deck or at their 
dinner table. Just because you CAN drink a bucket of beer before lunch doesn't 
mean you SHOULD. New beverage packages make it even more tempting to 
over-drink. Pace yourself! Your body will thank you later!
 
3. Cruising without travel insurance.
 
Cruising without travel insurance is like playing with fire. There are a wide 
range of policies offered that include coverage for medical (your medical 
insurance most likely won’t cover you out of the country), travel delays and 
interruptions, and cancellations. 
 
4. Cruising without a Passport can be a disaster.
 
If you have to fly home from any of your ports-of-call because of a family 
emergency or an illness or injury, you could be totally out of luck! A Passport 
is a small investment to insure that you can return home hassle-free.
 
5. Forgetting to turn data roaming off on your cell phone.
 
Before stepping foot on the ship, you should go to the settings on your phone 
and make sure that data roaming is turned off. This will keep your cell phone 
from racking up huge charges and using data even when it is in your pocket.
 
Putting your phone in airplane mode will also keep you from racking up 
additional charges. 
 
6. Getting left behind in port.
 
When the captain says that the ship is leaving port at 5:00, he means it. He isn’t 
going to wait around for those who lost track of time. If you get left behind in 
port, you are responsible for your own transportation to the next port or back 
home. The costs can be several thousand dollars each and will be even more 
complicated if you are traveling without a passport. Our advice? Plan on 
arriving back near the ship 1 to 1 1/2 hours before you are scheduled to leave.
This not only gives you some time to shop in the port area, but also gives you 
plenty of leeway if you run into traffic or your taxi or bus has a breakdown on 
the way back. 
 
7. Eating only at the buffet.
 
While newer ships have great buffets, the best food on a cruise is almost 
always in the main dining room or specialty restaurants. By eating only at the 
buffet, you miss out on the great food and service that you can experience if 
you slow down and enjoy it. 
 
8. Stiffing the crew.
 
While most cruise lines automatically charge a daily gratuity or service 
surcharge to your stateroom, you can have the charges removed by going to 
guest services. However, just because you are allowed to have them taken off 
doesn’t mean that you should. You wouldn’t go to a restaurant without tipping 
and you shouldn’t go on a cruise without tipping the staff that works so hard 
to make your trip a pleasant one. 
 
9. Treating the crew like 2nd class citizens.
 
We all have bad days, but how many would you have if you worked 7 days a 
week and were away from your family for 6-9 months at a time? Kind words to the crew will go a long way. Treat them with the same respect that you give to 
your spouse or partner. (or maybe even a little bit MORE)
 
10.Booking early flights on disembarkation day.

Cruise lines recommend not booking flights before noon on disembarkation 
day. Just because your arrival time says 7:00 a.m., there is almost no chance 
of catching an 8:30 flight. There have been times I’ve walked right through 
security, and other times it took over an hour to get through the line. Why end 
your vacation with a stressful travel day?