Making the Most of Your Cruise Vacation

You're going to have a blast no matter what. How can days on the open seas, exploring new ports of call, indulging in all sorts of delicacies without ever setting foot in a kitchen, and being far away from work and daily household chores be anything but a recipe for fun?

Even so, there are things you should know and do to make sure you get the most out of your cruise vacation and guarantee yourself memories that will last a lifetime.

1. When Packing, Go For Variety Without Excess

Packing for a cruise can be tricky. Unlike some other vacations, you'll need clothing for a variety of settings, and possibly climates. When you're setting sail for the Caribbean, it can be tempting to throw nothing but bathing suits, shorts, tank tops and tee-shirts into your bag. But if your cruise ship is leaving from a colder port, you may have several chilly days at sea before the tropical sun starts warming your shoulders. Make sure to bring a few pairs of jeans or long pants and sweatshirts so that you can explore the ship's decks on those chillier days.

On a cruise, there are many opportunities to dress up and experience dining and dancing in your finery. Make sure to pack that formal gown, cocktail dress, or suit. Even if you plan is to skip most of the "dress up" activities in favor of more casual meals and events, it doesn't hurt to be prepared. When you see all the fun everyone else is having strutting their stuff, you may just change you mind.

While you want to make sure you have everything you need, don't give in to the urge to over-pack. Depending on the size of your cabin, storage may be limited. There are generally laundry facilities on board, so if you encounter more days of nippy ocean breezes than you planned for, you can always give that long-sleeved shirt a quick whirl in the wash and wear it again. If you forget or run out of certain toiletry items, you'll almost always be able to replenish them in the ships many stores.

2. Have Your Bags Tagged and Your Passport On Hand

Make sure to have your bags tagged before you get to the port terminal. In addition to using the tags that will usually be provided to you in the mail with the rest of your reservation materials, tie a unique ribbon or similar item around your bags so that you'll be able to easily identify them. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. In a last-minute packing frenzy, I've resorted to using a multi-colored hair scrunchie.

Keep your identification in a safe place on your person, ready to hand over as you go through the check-in process. If you don't have a passport, get one before your cruise. In the past, many US voyagers touring the Caribbean could get by with a driver's license and copy of their birth certificate. Increased security laws and regulations on most islands have changed recently, and you may need a passport at every port of call.

Besides, a passport is just easier to have on hand than several paper documents. On my first cruise in 2001, I went with two friends who had passports. While I dug through my wallet for my ID and copies of both my birth certificate and marriage license (since my name no longer matched the one on the birth certificate), they simply flashed their passports at officials and waltzed on through.

After that experience, I made sure to get a passport before my next cruise.

3. Be Aware of Special Services Available on Your Cruise

You can learn about the many personal touches available on your cruise ship long before you get on board. Browse the cruise line's web site, or talk with your travel agent.

Are you the type of person who feels lost if you can't check your email once a day? Chances are you can arrange for an internet connection in your cabin and bring your laptop so that you don't have to trek to the ship's lobby or internet café. Then again, maybe you should skip this so you don't spend your cruise online!

Is your cruise adventure a romantic getaway for you and your spouse or significant other? Or do you and your cruise mates plan to spend many of your evenings sipping fine wine? If so, then consider purchasing a voyage-long wine package from your sommelier. You can purchase a chosen number of bottles up front and make your selections as you go through your cruise, with the help of your sommelier. This option is often cheaper than purchasing wine on a nightly basis.

4. Manage Your Cruise Card Carefully

On board, at least with most cruise ships, you can put your cash away. Meals and much of the on-board entertainment are generally covered with the cost of your cruise, and everything else you purchase on board - from souvenirs and toiletries to a poolside beverage served in a pineapple to a luxurious spa treatment and an off-shore excursion - will be paid for with your cruise card.

At the end of your voyage, you will settle your account either in cash or by credit or debit card. When all you have to do to have another drink or buy that beautiful on-sale bracelet is pull out a card, it can be very easy to overspend on board. Check your account frequently. On most cruise ships, you can do this from the comfort of your cabin using special features on your television. If you aren't sure how to do this, just stop by the purser's desk and ask for a balance statement.

Your cruise card is also a piece of identification that will allow you to get on and off the ship. Keep your cruise card in a safe place alongside your other important documents while you are roaming about on land.

5. Plan Excursions in Advance

Your days at ports of call will fly by. Depending on the length and itinerary of the cruise you have selected, you'll have as few as one or as many as a dozen ports of call. You'll typically have anywhere between five hours and an entire day to explore a port.

You and your group of friends or family can choose to discover a port on your own, or sign up for various tours and excursions offered by the cruise line. In addition, you will also be able to sign up for excursions offered through local tourism ventures. Since excursions usually have a fee associated with them, it can be tempting to just opt to wander on your own. But I strongly recommend excursions. Tours and activities offer the expertise of your guides. You'll learn tidbits about the culture and customs of the area you're visiting, whether your excursion is a tour of ancient ruins, a shopping extravaganza or a kayaking adventure.

You'll also try things you may not be able to do on your own. My cruise excursions have included a late-night glass-bottom boat tour of the Bermuda Triangle, snorkeling with sting rays in Nassau, more snorkeling with sea turtles followed by a rum-soaked party boat ride in St. Thomas, and a nature walk and cave tubing adventure in Belize.

If your budget is limited, choose excursions in areas you've never been and fly solo in ports where you feel a bit more knowledgeable.

Often, you can book excursions online weeks or months in advance of your cruise. You can also book them from the ship, but the more popular excursions can and do sell out.

6. Be Mindful of Time When Exploring Ports

It is very easy to lose track of time while exploring a port, especially when you only have a few hours. But pay attention to instructions given by your ship's crew about when to be back on board, and watch your time carefully.

While it has never happened to me, I have heard tales from other cruisers of being left behind by their ships. A sun-drenched island in the Caribbean is hardly the worst place to be stranded. But if it happens, you'll miss the rest of your cruise adventures and other unexplored ports of call, and you'll need to arrange and pay for your own way home or back to the ship.

7. Make The Most of Dining Opportunities

Everyone knows that there's no shortage of food on a cruise ship. From fine sit-down meals to buffets to room service, you can find delicious offerings just about any time of day.

Your meals are paid for up front, so take advantage of them. Try that exotic menu item or buffet offering you'd never order at a restaurant back home. If you don't like it, you can grab or order something else.

Even if sit-down dining isn't your thing, I recommend taking at least a few meals in the ship's formal dining room. Meals on board are a treat for all the senses. Don't be put off by the fact that the fine dining menu doesn't list much in the way of plain and simple fare.

My friends and I love to try new cuisine. But my sister has much simpler tastes. When we cruised together, she was a good sport and experimented with new culinary combinations for a few nights. By day three, she sat at the dining room table looking at the dinner menu with a sigh. When our head waiter came to take our orders, she looked up at him with a resigned expression and said "I don't guess there's any way I could just get a simple piece of grilled chicken, is there?"

She got not only her simple piece of grilled chicken, but home style mashed potatoes too. Most cruise lines will go out of their way to accommodate the dining needs of passengers, and understand that to some an overload of delicacies prepared with sauces and spices is hard on the stomach. If after a few days of delving into culinary mysteries what you're really hankering for is some plain fare, just ask for it.

8. Read Your Cruise Ship's Newsletter

There is as much or more to do on board as there is on land. Cruise ships are like small cities, full of things to explore. From poolside fun to hours of pampering in the spa to lectures on art and history to trying your luck at the casino, there's something for cruisers of all ages, activity levels and interests.

Most cruise ships produce a daily newsletter full of information about activities and specials. This newsletter is usually delivered to your cabin each night, so that you can use it to prepare for the next day. Take time to read your ship's newsletter. You'll find everything from drink specials to entice you to try a new tropical beverage to info on activities in the spa and gym to an outline of the next evening's themed parties, buffets, comedy shows, talent productions and club music.

9. Go With the Flow

Cruise lines go out of their way to create the perfect vacation experiences for their passengers. But in spite of everyone's best efforts, sometimes things don't go as planned. Even a ship captain can't control the weather.

On my first cruise, we had to skip a port of call due to a tropical storm. On my second cruise, crew had to round up passengers a few hours early to depart from Charleston, South Carolina due to a mix-up in communications with port authorities. Things like this are rare, but they can happen.

Instead of sulking over bypassing an island we'd all really wanted to see on my first cruise, my friends and I took advantage of an extra day at sea to relax by the pool, take in spa treatments, and attend a wine tasting. On our second cruise, we were of course disappointed to have our explorations of historic Charleston cut short. But rather than stew in that disappointment, we took advantage of the 2-hour ship-wide open bar the cruise line provided by way of apology for the mix-up.

Neither you nor the cruise staff can control the weather or some things that may happen along the way. But remember that a rainy day on a cruise ship is better than a rainy day at work. Instead of holing up in your cabin, get out and about onboard. Drop a few dollars in the casino, or do something you'd rarely if ever do at home, like attending an art auction or cooking demonstration. Or take an afternoon siesta so that you can party all night in one of the ship's clubs.

10. Don't Let Seasickness Ruin Your Vacation

I won't lie. Seasickness happens. When the waters get choppy, some passengers will find themselves fighting nausea and dizziness.

Before my first cruise, I worried that I'd find myself spending most of a cruise fighting the urge to heave. I was surprised to find that the motion of the ship on most days was in fact quite soothing. After a while, I didn't notice it at all. At night, I came to love the feel of the ocean rocking me to sleep, and actually missed the gentle swaying my first night back home in my own bed.

But when you run into rougher seas and choppier waters, it can feel being tossed around in a big blender. Even crew experience seasickness occasionally, although they've learned to tough it out.

Should you find yourself in this situation, avoid areas that feel confined. Sometimes holing up in your cabin is the worst possible option. Find a slice of deck where you can breathe fresh air. Sometimes just being able to see the ocean rolling beneath you, instead of being tumbled about by unseen forces, is enough to settle your stomach. If you're feeling a bit queasy, also avoid areas that are overrun with scents, even if those smells are things you usually enjoy. The smells of everyone's dinners wafting through the dining room or the aromatherapy rooms in the spa are usually delightful, but they can put you over the edge in the throes of seasickness.

You can prepare ahead by bringing Dramamine or Sea-Band seasickness wristbands with you. If you forget, you can usually get either in the ship's store or medical facility. Sometimes gingerale, a few slices of apple or breadsticks can help too.

11. Listen to the Experts

Are you planning to explore an island port on your own instead of participating in an excursion? If so, then ask the staff at the purser's desk or read information in your ship's newsletter about recommended transportation options.

Most cruise lines wills provide you with information on reliable and trustworthy taxi, ferry and bus services. Sticking with their recommendations can save you headaches, guarantee your safety, and keep you from worrying about whether your cab driver or ferry service will get you back to your ship on time.

Looking to do a little shopping for jewelry or souvenirs while on land? Again, read the information given to you by your cruise staff. Or attend one of the information sessions your cruise ship is almost sure to provide on recommended shopping venues and bartering customs in upcoming ports of call. The knowledge you'll gain can ensure that you purchase genuine items and don't get taken advantage of by unscrupulous vendors.

12. Prepare For Disembarkation

All good things must come to an end, even cruises.

The night before your ship docks in its final port, you'll be asked to set your packed bags outside your room, so that they can be loaded up and ready for you when you disembark. Make sure to pack an overnight bag ahead of time so that you'll have the clothes and items needed for your last night on board and your trip home. Make sure your account is settled and that you are aware of customs processes at the port where you'll be disembarking.

On the day you leave the ship, you may find that several hours go by between the time that passengers begin disembarking and when you set foot on land. Passengers are allowed to disembark based on their pre-indicated travel arrangements. Those who have flights to catch will be given priority over those who have their own cars waiting for them at the port terminal.

You usually won't be able to stay in your cabin during your wait. Instead, you'll gather with other passengers in one of the many public areas. Have a good book, hand-held game or other form of entertainment on hand to keep you busy while you wait for your turn to leave the ship.

Even if you ignore all of this advice, chances are your cruise will be a wonderful experience. There's just something magical about time on the open sea, and the pampered treatment you'll receive on board doesn't hurt either. But a bit of preparation and forethought can make a great experience even better, and guarantee that you don't miss out on adventures on board an on land.