The excitement is building—it’s only a few days until your long-awaited cruise. You’re checking off your packing list, dreaming of lazy days on the pool deck, and traveling to exotic locations. And with embarkation day just around the corner, the cruise vacation seems within touching distance.
How can you navigate embarkation day and get your sea legs to enjoy smooth sailing when you arrive at the cruise terminal? After all, navigating a vast, luxurious floating village can be overwhelming if you’re unprepared. From finding your cruise ship cabin to locating the buffet and figuring out where the fun begins, the first day on a cruise seems like navigating unfamiliar waters.
In this article, I’ll share insider hacks to ensure you steer clear of choppy waters on embarkation day. Are you ready to cast off on your dream adventure? Let’s dive into everything you need to know to make embarkation day successful.
Tips to Make Embarkation Day a Success
The key to a successful embarkation day starts well before you leave for the cruise terminal. Savvy cruisers typically plan to arrive a day before embarkation, check off all items on their cruise packing list, and ensure they’ve got all travel documents ready. This way, they ensure they aren’t refused boarding the cruise ship.
Additionally, there are several crucial actions to take just before embarking to make sure everything goes smoothly. Here are seven essential tasks to complete in the few days leading up to your dream cruise.
Arrive early
Every seasoned cruiser will tell you to arrive in the embarkation city a day early. This is the number one tip to avoid stress and last-minute travel nightmares. This way, you don’t have to worry about flight delays, lost luggage, or traffic jams.
Arriving in the cruise port city a day before enables you to kick-start your vacation. You can spend a relaxing evening exploring the city’s sights, enjoy an intimate meal, and get a good night’s sleep. You awaken, refreshed, and prepared to board the ship on time—stress-free.
After all, who wants to start a relaxing cruise vacation by stressing out in heavy traffic and then making a mad dash through the terminal to avoid missing the ship? Remember, the ship won’t wait if you’re late.
For example, Royal Caribbean says that “guests must be checked-in and onboard the cruise ship no later than 90 minutes before the published sailing time or you will not be permitted to sail.”
Download the cruise app
Download the cruise line’s app well before embarkation day to ensure smooth sailing through the terminal. The app becomes your best friend on board, from early check-in online to booking shore excursions, viewing daily activities, and watching the muster drill.
Most cruise experts advise against downloading the app at the cruise port. Apart from WiFi or phone service issues, you only add to the plethora of things to organize on departure day. One cruiser shared that the app saved so much time, and pre-booking activities before stepping onboard was a game-changer.
Do you really want to add stress to your vacation? Probably not.
Book early check-in
Do you want to sail through the terminal as smoothly as a ship cutting through calm waters? If so, use the cruise line’s app to check in at least the day before departure. This strategy lets you scan your passport, take a security photo, answer health questions, and choose an arrival time.
Here’s what one seasoned cruiser commented on a cruise forum: “Early check-in always helps us avoid the rush. Usually, by noon, we’re exploring the ship while others are still waiting in line.”
A helpful cruise tip: Don’t confuse all-aboard time with departure time. There can be up to 90 minutes between the final time to board and when the ship departs port.
Prepare documents
Did you know the top reason for being denied boarding is incorrect documentation? The first thing to check is that your passport is valid for six months after the last cruise day. I’ve read about countless passengers shocked to discover this requirement. There are no ifs, ands, or buts—security won’t let you board without a valid passport.
You may need other documents in your carry-on luggage, depending on your circumstances. These can include the following:
- Travel insurance
- Official documents confirming name changes, like a marriage license, divorce certificate, or proof of name change
- A notarized letter if a minor in the travel party is traveling without a parent or guardian
- For pregnant women, a letter from a doctor confirming the expected delivery date is more than 24 weeks after the last cruise day
Pre-book activities
Always pre-book popular specialty restaurants, onboard activities, shows, and shore excursions before embarkation day. These activities fill up quickly, and booking early not only secures your spot but can also get you the best discounts.
From my experience, seasoned cruisers make these bookings months in advance to ensure availability. One experienced cruiser I spoke to was grateful for booking a popular shore excursion ahead of time—it was fully booked by embarkation. Pre-booking gives you peace of mind and ensures you get the most out of your vacation.
Pack a smart carry-on
Savvy cruisers understand the importance of packing their carry-on smartly. What cruise lines may not tell you is that checked luggage can take several hours to arrive, sometimes as late as midnight. To avoid any inconvenience, make sure your carry-on bag includes essentials like:
- Travel documents
- Change of clothes
- Swimwear
- Medications
- Cruise lanyard
- Mobile devices
- Bottle of wine (if the cruise line allows it)
Here’s what one seasoned cruiser said, “Having my swimsuit in my carry-on meant I could hit the pool while everyone else was still waiting for their luggage.”
Avoid packing prohibited items
Avoid packing banned items in your carry-on or checked luggage if you want to go full steam ahead through embarkation. Cruise lines have strict policies about what’s allowed onboard. Some common no-nos include bottles of liquor, surge-protected extension cords, electrical items, candles, drugs, flammable liquids, and weapons. Every cruise line publishes a list of items you cannot take onboard.
Although it’s rare to be denied boarding due to banned items, the cruise line will confiscate it. One cruiser lamented that they had brought a travel iron by mistake. The hassle occurred when trying to get it back at the end of the cruise.
However, the cruise line may report you to the authorities if you carry anything illegal. You could end up being led away in handcuffs rather than sailing from the terminal on vacation. A news report also told about a woman who had CBD gummies in her carry-on bag. Although legal in her state, the cruise line banned her for life.
What to Do on Embarkation Day
So, embarkation day has finally arrived, and the excitement is building. How can you ensure your first day onboard is unforgettable for the right reasons? Here are the top cruise embarkation day tips.
Arrive before your scheduled check-in time
Cruise lines stagger check-in times to streamline the boarding process. However, always plan to arrive earlier than your scheduled time. You can avoid long lines and go through security faster. Of course, using your cruise app to check in the day before is a savvy move.
Arriving early also ensures no travel hiccups between the hotel and the cruise terminal. You don’t want to be stuck in traffic, looking at your watch in a panic, wondering if you’ll make it on time.
Head to your cabin
Your first stop on board is usually your cabin. Here, you can unpack your carry-on, freshen up, and check out the ship’s plan. After you’ve unpacked, changed, and got your cruise card in the lanyard, it’s time to explore the ship. Don’t wait for your checked luggage, which could arrive several hours later.
A word of advice: if you boarded super early, chances are that your cabin won’t be ready. Wait for the announcement that the cabins are ready. In the meantime, explore the ship or grab a bite to eat.
Meet Your cabin steward
Cruise experts always try to meet their cabin attendants as early as possible to ensure excellent service. They are your go-to person on the cruise. You can let them know if you need anything. For example, empty the mini bar, get extra pillows or towels, bring beach towels, or rearrange the beds.
They’ll also be happy to cater to your needs throughout the trip. Many seasoned cruisers also ask the cabin steward about the quietest places and times onboard. This can help you plan your cruise days and avoid crowds of passengers.
Introducing yourself goes a long way to building friendly rapport from day one.
Set up your phone
Before the ship departs, remember to adjust your phone settings. Experienced cruisers will first tell you always to set your phone to airplane mode. This simple step helps you avoid hefty roaming charges onboard or in port cities. I’ve read that cruise ship roaming charges can be as high as $10 per minute.
Next, turn on the WiFi and connect to the ship’s service. Even if you’ve not purchased an internet plan, a WiFi package isn’t necessary to use the ship’s app. Some apps also have convenient messaging services to contact other passengers in your group.
If you need to use your phone to make calls, consider getting an eSIM roaming connection beforehand. This works out far cheaper than your phone provider’s roaming charges.
Complete the muster drill
After embarking, Get the muster drill out of the way quickly, so you can kick back and enjoy your first moments of freedom onboard. This mandatory safety exercise usually involves watching a briefing video and checking in at the muster station. A crew member will confirm you’ve completed all steps.
One cruiser shared, “We completed the muster drill as soon as we boarded, and it was quick and easy—plus, it freed us up to relax without any interruptions later. “
Did you know that refusing to complete the muster drill—even if you’ve sailed before—is a reason to get kicked off a cruise ship?
Tour the ship
Once settled, take some time to familiarize yourself with the ship’s layout. The top spots to find are the buffet, main dining rooms, and lido deck. However, take your time, as you may discover hidden gems or quiet spots. It also means that navigating the ship will be easier once you sail.
It’s also a good idea to find where the ship’s medical facility is located in case of emergency.
Explore dining options
While touring the ship, check out all the dining options. Besides the typical buffet and main dining restaurant, cruise lines have a range of free places to eat. For example, Carnival Cruise Line has Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina, Royal Caribbean has the Windjammer Cafe, and Norwegian Cruise Line has O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill.
While checking out dining options, pay attention to specialty restaurants. You can often snag great deals on embarkation day as they want to attract more passengers. Also, most cruisers say that the main buffet is usually packed, and specialty dining venues offer a more tranquil environment.
One cruiser shared that they explored the dining options on embarkation day to discover the restaurants that aren’t usually crowded. They then created a meal plan to avoid peak times.
Book a specialty restaurant for dinner
Of course, you may find a specialty dining venue that looks exceedingly tempting. You can set up reservations and book a table when you want. It’s usually best to do this as early as possible, as the most popular for-a-fee restaurants fill up fast. You can also use the cruise line app to make reservations.
Book shore excursions and shows early
During your tour, stop by Guest Services to check out deals on shore excursions and other special offers. It’s also recommended that you book the must-see shows on your things-to-do list. Like popular specialty restaurants, these fill up quickly and can be full by showtime.
The Guest Relations desk is also the place to enquire about spa passes, drink packages, and the thermal suite and ask any questions you may have. Also, if anyone in your travel party has mobility issues, you can enquire about mobility equipment and accessible shore excursions.
Register kids for the kids’ club
Are you traveling with kids? If so, register them with the kids’ club as soon as possible after embarking. This ensures you get them a place in the childcare facilities to let you enjoy relaxation time on board. You can also check out the activities and daily schedule to plan your days at sea or in port.
Take advantage of embarkation day deals
Embarkation day is the best time to grab great deals on spa services. Some cruisers also say that you can get smaller treatments for free, gift packages of spa products, or extended massages for lower prices, though these offers can vary. I found online that embarkation day discounts typically range between 20% and 25%.
If you don’t want to spend your first cruise day in the spa getting pampered, consider the advantages of spending a port day on board. You can often get excellent discounts on spa treatments because the ship is typically empty.
Top from experienced cruisers: Remember, you usually get the best deals for drink packages, WiFi, and specialty dining pre-cruise. This also includes embarkation day deals.
Grab a drink
After unpacking and exploring the ship, it’s time to really kick off your cruise vacation with a refreshing drink. Either head to one of the bars to enjoy a tasty cocktail or relax on your balcony with a glass of wine. This will help set the mood for your trip.
Attend the sail away party
The sail away party is one of the most fun things to do on embarkation day. As the ship pulls away, it’s time to raise a glass to leaving your cares and worries behind. The cruise parties are typically on the Lido deck, where you can enjoy music, dancing, and a festive atmosphere.
One traveler said, “The sail away party was a blast—everyone was in such a great mood, and it felt like the real start of the vacation”.
However, it’s good to note that not all cruise lines organize sailaway parties. The best ones seem to be on Carnival Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Royal Caribbean. However, Holland America and Celebrity Cruises don’t usually plan anything special.
Related articles:
