Planning a cruise takes time. From establishing your budget and deciding on the cruise length to picking your destination and choosing a cruise line—there’s plenty of thought that goes into the booking process (and nobody wants to make a mistake).
Besides wasting money, one of the worst mistakes you can make when planning a cruise trip is squandering time.
Not everyone thinks about it. Many only look at money and cost, but time is money, and for this reason, I’ll share the 10 ridiculous time wasters all cruisers must avoid to make the most out of their vacation.
1. Not Booking Months (or Years) in Advance
Booking your trip in advance does more than secure the best cabins.
Early bookers enjoy money-saving opportunities, such as limited-time promotions, exclusive perks, complimentary excursions, cheaper drink packages, and many more.
I think I mentioned this in another article a while back. The best time to book a cruise is between 1 year and 2 years in advance, or about 60 days if you’re looking for last-minute deals.
Another important tip: always keep an eye on when your cruise line will open online check-in.
When you can, select the earliest check-in slot to skip long lines. If you do so, you can avoid crowded halls and also go to the guest service before the others if you want to book some services on board or point out specific preferences.
2. Neglecting to Download the Cruise Line App
Before embarking, one of the first things you would want to do is download the cruise line app.
That’s right. Gone are the days of walkie-talkies and mile-long desk queues (although you may still need guest service for some specific problems).
Besides booking various services, most cruise line apps let you chat with your friends and family onboard.
Some apps also have interactive maps, event and activity pins, daily food menus, language translation functions, and luggage tracking.
3. Lining Up On Guest Services Only When Really Necessary
As I mentioned before, unless you’re experiencing major issues, avoid going to guest services, especially for the first few hours after embarkation.
If you do need assistance with a problem, go late at night or early in the morning to skip the queues.
Guest services on cruise ships are usually open 24/7, so you won’t need to worry about going too late or early. This little know-how will save you hours!
4. Purchasing Packages and Excursions Onboard
One of the pitfalls cruisers fall into is thinking they’ll figure everything out once they’re on the cruise ship. Over the years, I have seen this mistake so many times, and I don’t understand why so many passengers continue to do this!
Buying things on board means long waiting in queues and even higher prices.
You should always reserve your excursions and buy drink packages, Wi-Fi packages, and spa entrances before boarding the cruise ship. You can do this effortlessly through your cruise line’s website or app.
If you are afraid of making mistakes, you can always consult the list of 10 drink package mistakes you should never make on a cruise.
5. Forgetting to Plan For Port Calls
If you’re a first-timer, planning is a great way to manage your time, research things you’d like to do, and plan for the port days.
Remember, you’re only on cruise ports for a few hours, so you don’t want to waste valuable time deciding what destinations to see and explore when you get there!
For those unsure what to do, booking a shore excursion is a fantastic way to spend your port days. Of course, you can always go on an adventure and see where your feet take you instead.
The only important thing is to always be aware of these scams targeting cruise passengers.
6. Open-Seating Dining vs Traditional Dining
Depending on your preference, you may choose between open seating and traditional dining during the cruise.
Open-seating dining is much more flexible as you can choose when to dine within the allocated hours. Still, it also means you’ll have to eat alongside plenty of others, which can mean waiting during peak times.
Traditional dining, on the other hand, allows you to eat on a set schedule, typically early or late seating. It’s not as flexible as open seating, but you don’t need to make a reservation or plan whenever to eat.
7. Standing in Line For Cruise Ship Attractions
Many cruise ships have amusement attractions like race cars, roller coasters, zip lines, and surfing pools. However, these attractions are often hidden behind long piles of people.
While you can’t skip such queues altogether, you can stay onboard during port calls when most passengers are exploring the land. This way, you won’t have to get stuck in a line with hundreds of others waiting their turn.
In particular, you can think of staying on the ship if you visit one of the 10 worst cruise ports.
8. Linking a Payment Card to Your Onboard Account
Most cruise ships use a cashless system for all onboard purchases and services.
Every passenger has a personal account where all purchases made using their cruise card are automatically charged.
This account can be settled by depositing cash at Guest Services or by linking a payment card during online check-in.
Obviously, while bringing cash for small purchases is a great idea (especially for souvenirs in ports), linking your card for your onboard expenses can save you a lot of time.
9. Getting Lost on the Cruise Ship
It sounds funny, but some cruise ships are so massive people get lost in them. As a result, you may miss your dining time or fail to catch a show.
Many cruise line apps have interactive maps you can use to orient yourself. These maps allow you to navigate different areas of the ship, such as amenities, restaurants, and specific cabin locations.
That said, one simple way to stay on course is to dedicate some time to exploring the entire cruise ship (I usually take a good tour on the first day).
Obviously, if you are lost and don’t know where to go, feel free to ask staff members for help.
10. Eating at the Buffet on Embarkation Day
One of the best things about cruise vacations is the food. However, if you’re one to get crabby when hungry, you’d best avoid the buffet on the first day.
It’s usually very crowded on embarkation day since everyone wants to eat something quick and then enjoy the ship.
Instead, I suggest eating in the main dining room or an open restaurant. If you really want to go to the buffet at least read these things to always avoid before you go.
Final Thoughts
Just a final reminder from me. I always say that a holiday well spent is one that’s well planned ahead!
This is especially true on cruise trips where you’ll be with thousands of other passengers and tourists.
Plan well in advance, and I assure you that you will have an unforgettable cruise!
I have tried several of them but these are the most durable and sturdy.
