Ten Tips from a First Time Cruiser

After many years of hearing friends and family "rave" about cruises, I finally took the plunge (figuratively), and experienced my first 4 day trip.

I embarked with Royal Caribbean out of Miami, Florida. Destinations were: the Bahamas, Cocoa Key (thier private island), and Key West. We were told we would not be allowed to board the ship until 2:00 pm, but later learned that many passengers had boarded hours earlier as the ship was ready and got permission to allow them on board.

So tip #1, arrive early incase you are able to get on board and begin becoming familiar with the ship. One of the keys to enjoying cruises is making the most of every moment, so be early to take advantage of every moment you can!

Keep in mind that you may have a long haul from parking to ship, so tip #2, be sure large luggage is on wheels for easy transport on and off the ship, and keep carry-on's as light as possible. Once on board your luggage will be delivered "outside," your stateroom, yes I did say outside, so be sure luggage is locked up and secure and keep valuables in your carry-on bag. The Majesty of the Seas was her name, and she was somewhat of an older ship, but still sailing 7 days a week non stop. Once boarding we headed straight to the room to check out the facilities. The room was much smaller then anticipated, so make sure when booking you get, tip #3, dimensions of your stateroom so you know exactly what you are getting for your money. Here is a hint too in booking a room: travel in the middle of the ship will always be the smoothest ride, try and keep your stateroom as center stationed as you can.

Before determining if you want to take valuables along, check to see if, tip #4, the ship has safes in each stateroom. Usually, safes are equipped to hold jewelry, wallets and other small valuables.

Most ships offer two dinner seatings each night. You will be asked to pick either the early or late seating when you book your cruise. Tip #5, by choosing the later seating, you will give yourself more time when visiting different ports and more time to enjoy the daytime activities on board. Don't worry about missing the shows, they also have two a night so both early and later diners can catch them.

Tip #6, food will always be available 24 hours a day on board, eat a good breakfast, go light on lunch as dinner is truly the star of the show when it comes to meals. Remember you can order everything on the menu, so be sure to save room for dessert!

Tip # 7, if you are concerned about the possibility of becoming "sea sick," bring any of the following on the trip: wristbands that ease motion sickness (usually found at any drugstore), the "patch" warn slightly below the ear called, Scopolamine. You will need a prescription from your doctor to obtain the patch. oBonine, a non drowsy formula for keeping your stomach calm.

Tip # 8, take time before the cruise to check out the itinerary of each port and activities available. Pre-booking ventures will save time and help keep you organized while cruising. While it's always nice to fly by the seat of your pants on holiday, having a plan can assure you will make the most of your time.

Tip #9, although the food is included in the price of your cruise, beverages both alcoholic and sodas are not. Some cruisers opt to bring a ration of beverages along or investigate to see if your cruise offers a package deal for non alcoholic drinks per day. For example, on Royal Caribbean's Majesty of The Seas, they offer guests a $6 unlimited non alcoholic drinks per day. You will have to purchase this has a package of course, meaning for the entire cruise, but if you are a big guzzler, this could save you some pocket cash.

Tip #10, if you have not been cruising before, start out by booking a shorter 3-4 day cruise. This is a great way to get "your feet wet," so to speak. Cruising is not for everyone, I know those who love it and those who hate it. Take a short jaunt to decide if this might be a possible longer vacation scenario for you.

One last Tip Extrodinaire, do some research on what areas of the ocean make for smoother sailing. Keep in mind that too thatseasons can also effect your ocean ride, so investigate the best time of year to take a first time trip.

In closing, cruising is something everyone should experience at least once to see how they fare. You can almost cruise to anywhere these days, including "nowhere," (cruises that go out to sea to allow guests to gamble for several hours). With a little preplanning and preparation, you will enjoy the cruising experience and be "anchors away!"