The countdown was agony when you booked your cruise all those months ago, but now it’s here — just one week away — and you’re walking on sunshine with that unmistakable pre-cruise anticipatory glow (trust us, it’s real).
Given your current level of pre-vacation elation, it might be easy to let a few things slip off your to-do list, but no worries. Here’s a list of 11 things cruise passengers should do in the week leading up to their cruise, not only to make for a smoother vacation, but also to make for a more bearable reentry back to normal life (sorry to bring this up) once that magical journey is over.
1. Pack for Your Cruise
Yes, you can pack carryon only for your cruise (Photo: Colleen McDaniel)
This one might seem sort of self-explanatory, but we recommend packing sooner rather than later (helps to catch all those last-minute items you may forget if you wait until the last minute).
Check the weather forecast for your ports of call as close to your trip as you can to make sure you’re getting good intel on whether there might be rain, snow, or maybe strong weather systems predicted (in which case, it’s good to at least talk through your Plan Bs and Cs).
Pack accordingly — a poncho, umbrella or extra jacket can be worth their weight in gold once you’re on board with limited shopping options. Try on clothes you haven’t put on in a while to ensure proper fit and visualize each day on and off the ship as much as you can, packing your formal evening attire as well as your comfortable shore excursion wear. Be sure to print off a cruise packing list. If you need one, email or DM me!
2. Check In Online and Double Check Your Documentation
MSC's new terminal in Miami is the world's largest cruise terminal (Photo: MSC Cruises)
Perhaps even more important than anything else when it comes to cruise preparation is ensuring that your documents are in order. No passport (or in some cases, birth certificate)? No cruise.
So in the week before your cruise, check in online, upload any required documents, make sure that your shipboard account is ready for your charges, and (if it’s an option) snap your security photo to ensure boarding goes as quickly as possible. Ensure that your passport is in a location where you aren’t going to forget it when it’s time to leave for the airport or cruise terminal.
Finally, print out your boarding pass, your luggage tags, your airline boarding pass, and any other documents that might be necessary to have with you (always handy to have a paper backup in case you lose internet access or your cell phone battery dies).
3. Get Your House in Order
Emerald Princess in Boston, MA (Photo: Marilyn Borth)
This is one of the least fun parts of vacay prep, but pretty important in terms of ensuring a good reentry back home: Prep your home for your time away. Initiate a mail hold with the post office, inform a trusted neighbor about your vacation and ask friends or family to keep an eye on your house periodically and snag any errant packages that might get delivered in your absence.
Ensure that your pet care arrangements are set, water your plants, recalibrate your thermostat, and shut off your water line, if that’s something you typically do. We like to come home to a clean house and a freshly made bed, too — just something that dulls the pain of reentry. If you want to go the extra mile for yourself, line up a grocery delivery for the day of your return so your staples will be ready.
4. Money Matters
Vancouver's YVR Airport on a quiet moment (Photo: Aaron Saunders)
If you haven't done so already, run out to the ATM to make sure you have some cash on hand for airport/road trip snacks, gas if you’re driving, money for cabs and tips for shuttles and porters. If you’re traveling abroad, having cash in the local currency will help, but if you forgot to make it to the bank, you’ll be able to withdraw local money at ATMs in that country.
Always call your bank before traveling abroad to put a travel notice on your card. It’s easier to make one phone call from home than to figure out why your card was blocked during your cruise. While you’re on the phone, check to see what foreign transaction fees your debit or credit cards are subject to. Now might also be a good time to have a budget chat with your family to make sure you’re on the same page on spending limits (we’re looking at you, souvenir-happy kids).
5. Plan Your Ports of Call
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (Photo: Kyle Valenta)
Though you might have already done your research on your ports of call, now is a great time to make any last-minute reservations or changes to shore excursions.
Popular excursions tend to book quickly and reservations can be hard to come by once you’re on board, so it’s a good idea to snag any remaining tickets now. Spend some time checking local news sites to familiarize yourself with any noteworthy news, such as advisories or upcoming events, in your ports of call, as well as a few handy phrases or greetings in any foreign languages.
6. Make Onboard Reservations — And Don’t Forget Celebrations
The entrance to the upscale Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud on Celebrity Ascent (Photo: Celebrity Cruises)
Aside from shore excursions, highly sought-after specialty restaurant reservations can be hard to snag once you board the ship, too, so if you have your heart set on dining at a specific venue (or on a specific night), make those reservations in advance. This also goes for other specialty reservations, such as on-board attractions, spa appointments, shows, and cabanas.
And if you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion, make sure to give the cruise line a head’s up now. Most cruise lines offer the option of pre-ordering flowers, champagne, or even door decorations on your stateroom, so you can begin the celebration the minute you set foot on the ship.
7. Post on Cruise Critic
If you’re a member on the Cruise Critic Community, it’s always fun to follow up a long cruise countdown with a post that you’re headed out to sea. Did you join a Roll Call? By signing up, you can virtually meet other Cruise Critic members who are sailing with you.
You can plan group excursions, organize a Meet & Mingle and chat about everything related to your cruise holiday with people who are just as excited as you are.
8. Arrange Your Transportation
One of Viking's branded American motorcoaches in St. Louis, MO (Photo: Aaron Saunders)
If you haven’t booked a package that includes port transfers through your cruise line, think through and book reservations for getting from the airport to the terminal, and then from the ship back to the airport at the end of your cruise.
Intrepid cruisers often turn to rideshare services like Uber and Lyft to get to and from the ship, but it’s worth taking a few moments to familiarize yourself with any local information about how and where to find those rides — and whether better options might exist.
9. Download the Apps
The Royal Caribbean app (Photo: Royal Caribbean)
Familiarize yourself with your cruise line’s communication options. Many offer free apps you can download to your cell phone in advance, allowing you to text and chat with your fellow cruise companions while on board.
Occasionally, there might be some hidden benefits to doing this before you leave home, but in all cases, it’s a great idea to do this while you have access to WiFi.
10. Stock Up On Essential Meds
This is an important one if you rely on regular medications. Make an appointment to see your medical practitioner or, if you require over-the-counter meds, from seasickness pills to regular common pain relievers, make time to call by your local drug store in the lead up to your cruise.
11. Get Your Sleep In
Princess Luxury bed on Enchanted Princess (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)
Despite all the last-minute fussing and anticipation, it’s also important to get some shut-eye the night before your cruise.
Resting up before a busy day of traveling, boarding and exploring the ship could be the difference between catching a show on the first night or sneaking in a nap (that might just turn into a full eight hours of Zs).
