Nervous about your first cruise? Don't be!

[meghan1317]

First of all, congratulations on going on your first cruise! You’re going to have so much fun, leave all your fears and problems at home. As an experienced cruiser myself, I’d like to let you in on a few reasons why cruising is a safe and enjoyable way to travel!

Cruises are very similar to airplanes on their security reasons. All passengers are sent through a metal detector and all bags are x-rayed. You will have you ID and passports checked. This procedure is the same when you first get on the boat and when you get back on at any point during the cruise (like in port).

If you’re nervous about getting seasick or another sickness on board, then come prepared. Some common ways of preventing seasickness are acupuncture bands, pills (like ginger pills), or patches. On board, you will have opportunity to buy this and much more on the shops on board. Green apples and ginger ale help for an upset stomach. In caution for other sicknesses, use the hand sanitizer stations placed around the ship (especially when entering a restaurant or buffet!). Sickness can spread quickly on cruise ships, so take caution!

You’ll never be bored on board! There are always many activities happening around the ship, check your newsletter or just walk around and see what’s going on! There is a whole team dedicated to having on board activities. Depending on what cruise line and time of year you have chosen, you will find activities targeted to different age groups. You should be able to always find something to do though!

If you choose to spend your time in the sun, take caution! The sun’s rays are amplified at sea. A half-hour in the sun on a cruise can equivalent to a few hours back on land. Make sure you wear sunblock and take note of how long you are out in the sun; you don’t want to be the person who shows up bright red to dinner!

That brings me to the food; it’s delicious and free! Eat up, but with caution. It’s very easy to over eat. The servers will do their best to make you happy, so if you want 2 orders of something or want an entrée as an appetizer, just ask your server and they should be able to meet your requests. Drinks will probably cost, so be careful how much you spend, or bring some with you (but check how much you can bring with your cruise line before hand!).

When you’re in port, be a smart traveller. The people of the city will probably know that you’re from the cruise ships. If you’re really unsure what to do in port, go on a excursion through the cruise line. Ask the crew for recommendations on what to do in port; they will probably give you some good ideas or hotels/resorts that are nice to relax at. If you decide to venture out, do with caution!

Overall, enjoy your cruise and have fun! Make sure to check out the future cruise sales desk on board to start planning your next trip!

:D