Getting on a cruise ship is one of the best feelings. You know your trip is about to begin and you can’t wait to explore the ship and discover all the places you’ll see during your vacation.
However, embarkation day can be a bit overwhelming as well.
As soon as you get on the cruise ship there are several things you should do and it is easy to forget some of them.
In this article we will go over the most important ones to do, I recommend you follow it carefully to have a great stress-free vacation.
1. Drop Off Your Carry-On
The first thing you should do as soon as you board the ship is to drop off your carry-on bags.
A carry-on bag for a long vacation might be very heavy, and it doesn’t make much sense to carry it around the ship. If you don’t have another bag, you can simply empty it of the heaviest items and then carry it with you.
If you’re not sure what to include check the 20 things you should always pack in your cruise carry-on bag.
2. Check Your Cabin
Since you will probably be heading to your cabin, take a few minutes to check that everything is in order.
Check that the cabin category is right, that it has been cleaned properly, and that everything is working perfectly.
I’ve talked about all the things you should check in the article on the 10 things you must do as you enter your cruise cabin.
3. Explore the Ship
Once you are done with the cabin you can take some time to explore the ship.
Most passengers are getting on that specific ship for the first time, so it takes some time to explore the spaces and become familiar with it.
If you find it difficult to get around, use the signs or maps that are located near the elevators or at specific points on the ship. If you get lost, don’t be afraid to ask the staff to help you.
4. Check-In at Your Muster Station
One of the things you usually do as soon as you get on board is the emergency drill.
This is a mandatory test for everyone where they explain to you what to do in emergency situations.
Usually, after the explanation you have to go to your muster station, the rendezvous point where you should go in case of emergency.
You can find more information on this topic in the article where I explained what to do in case of a fire on a cruise ship.
5. Make Reservations
I think I have said this already in several articles here on the blog, but I still want to repeat it since it is quite important.
You have to reserve extra activities as soon as you get on the ship, otherwise you risk running out of available slots.
For example, right after embarkation go to the spa if you wanna book massages, treatments, manicures, or hair salon sessions.
You can find the prices for these services on Royal Caribbean here.
6. Connect to Wi-Fi
This procedure changes by cruise line, but usually, as soon as you get on the ship you can connect to the Internet, in case you have already booked an Internet package before departure.
It’s usually quite simple. Go to the wi-fi setting of your smartphone and choose the wi-fi connection of your ship. It’s usually “royal-wifi” on Royal Caribbean and “Carnival WiFi” on Carnival.
Connect your smartphone to that network and then follow the instructions to complete the log-in.
7. Grab a Bite to Eat
After you’ve done most of these things you’ll probably be hungry.
There is a bit of a dispute over this topic. Most passengers go to the buffet to eat something on embarkation day while others prefer the restaurant.
I personally prefer the buffet. Embarkation day is very hectic and you don’t want to waste too much time eating at the restaurant. There will be many other opportunities to relax.
In this respect, have a look at the 20 cruise ship embarkation day do’s and don’ts.
8. Change into Comfortable Clothes
A few hours after you are on the ship you can go back to your cabin to check if your suitcases have arrived.
It can usually take up to 4 hours for your luggage to arrive, but it also depends on what time you boarded.
If they have arrived I recommend that you get changed and wear something more comfortable for the next step.
9. Unpack and Settle In
Some of you may have already guessed, the next step is to unpack and organize everything.
I prefer to do it right away. I know some passengers wait to organize their clothes, but in my opinion, it creates too much clutter in the cabin.
Especially if there are several people in a single cabin, it’s best to get the suitcases out of the way right away (usually, once emptied, they can be stored under the bed).
9. Meet Your Stateroom Attendant
It is not a mandatory thing but if you want you can meet your stateroom attendant.
You can introduce yourself especially if you have some special need or some recommendation that needs to be made.
If you make any requests, such as to fill the ice bucket, additional hangers, or extra pillows, it is a good practice to give them a small tip. As we saw in the article on cruise workers’ salaries, much of their earnings depend on passenger tips.
If you don’t really know how much you should give, take a look at how much extra you should tip cruise staff.
11. Get Ready for Sailaway
The Sailaway Party is the party held to mark the ship’s departure. There will be lots of music and fun to kick off the vacation with joy.
Usually, this party begins as soon as the ship leaves the port and is held on the pool deck, weather permitting.
Don’t miss it! It will also be a good opportunity to take beautiful photos of the ship’s departure.
12. Download and Set Up the Cruise App
As soon as you get on board, download the cruise line’s official app.
Over the past few years, these apps have become more and more vital and have a lot of useful information.
On many cruise lines, you can book activities, see the daily schedule, and even chat with other passengers.
13. Check the Daily Planner
The last thing I recommend you do right away is to check the daily planner.
As I was saying earlier, you can find it on the official app or in paper form in your cabin.
The daily planner has a lot of useful information: restaurant, spa, gym, and front desk opening hours.
You’ll also find a list of all the activities, classes, quizzes, games, and shows happening on board.
I usually bring a highlighter to mark all the things I don’t want to miss. Unfortunately, it’s among the 43 things people always forget to pack for a cruise.
BONUS POINT: Link a Card to the Cruise Account
If you want to start purchasing things, you also need to link a payment card to the onboard account.
Many cruise lines allow you to link a credit or debit card to your onboard account during the online check-in process. If you have not done so, remember to do it as soon as you get on the ship.
You should go to the guest services or to a self-service kiosk. Some cruise lines may allow you to do it through the mobile app as well.
