How to Make the Most of Your Cruise Trip

By Tammy Wynds –

Cruising is one of the most popular ways to vacation, and it is easy to understand why: you can visit multiple destinations, without the hassle of packing or unpacking, and all whilst enjoying the luxury amenities of today’s modern liners. If you’ve never been on a cruise, and are wondering how to go about booking one, or just want to know what things to prepare for to ensure your vacation is nothing but smooth sailing, then check out these tips for some of the smartest ways to make the most of your cruise.

Book Well in Advance

This is a staple for most vacations, but for cruises it becomes even more important, as there are a number of factors to consider when selecting your voyage. If you want to make sure that you get your first choices in destinations, room type (i.e. a balcony/sea-view as opposed to an interior one), ship (one filled with activities and entertainment you want), and more, then you need to make sure you book your trip well in advance. There are great last minute offerings available for cruises, but you will seldom find that they fit all your preferences or requirements.

Don’t Worry About Over Packing

One of the great advantages of going on a cruise is that you have the ability to travel from one great destination to the next without ever having to leave the comfort of your hotel room. This means that once you arrive on-board, you will not have to pack your bags again until your cruise comes to an end. And because you will be out at sea and making multiple stops along the way, it is always best to bring a few extra clothes as opposed to being short on something you end up needing along the way.

Do Your Currency Exchanges in Advance

There will be places where you can exchange your money along the way, but in order to get the best rate on your exchange and to save yourself valuable time during your vacation, it is best if you do all your currency exchanges before you leave on your cruise. The last thing you want to be doing is waiting in line to exchange money while you could be relaxing on the beach or visiting historic and cultural sites.

Research your ship

While it might be easy to assume that most cruise liners have relatively similar features on-board, you will find that they actually tend to cater to quite specific interests and age groups. There is so much choice, from singles holidays, to family oriented ships, adventure cruises and voyages for +50s only. Be sure to research the type of activities available on your ship before booking your cruise, so you can take full advantage of everything on offer.

By following these easy tips you’re bound to have the time of your life on your next cruise vacation.

Tammy Wynds is a travel writer from Galway. Having always lived by the sea, she has sturdy sea legs and books cruises whenever she can to see as much as possible and to escape the dreary Irish weather!

Photo credit: peterolding / VisualHunt.com / CC BY-SA