Embarkation day can feel like Christmas morning to cruisers. Along with the anticipation and excitement, there’s also the reality of a potentially chaotic day ahead. Smart, savvy cruisers have a system that helps them avoid crowds, common mistakes, and actually get to relax way earlier than anyone else.
Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned sailor, these tips and reminders are going to be super helpful. Some mistakes on embarkation day happen even to experienced cruisers, so it’s worth reviewing your approach before your next sailing.
Start Your Embarkation Day the Day Before
Smart, savvy cruisers start their embarkation day the day before their actual embarkation day. This means flying in one day early and choosing a hotel that will start your vacation off right.
The hotel choice matters. It could be the right location, something relaxing, in the heart of town, or even near the cruise port. Every step of the way should be intentional.
Here’s why arriving at least a day in advance matters. There can be storms, mechanical delays on your flight, or even traffic congestion or accidents. Experienced cruisers know that unfortunately, every single cruise, some people do not make it in time for boarding day and miss their cruise entirely.
Choose the Right Boarding Arrival Time
Smart cruisers choose the right boarding arrival time. When you book a cruise and complete your online check-in, many cruise lines will have you choose a boarding time. You should always try to arrive as early as possible, staying within your arrival window.
Choosing as early as possible gives you as many hours as possible on your cruise ship so your vacation can start early. There’s actually a reason people pretty much never talk about though: there’s a cut-off time on your boarding day, typically 90 minutes to 2 hours before your sail away. If you get caught in traffic or have any other problems, you can actually miss your cruise.
On a recent cruise from Fort Lauderdale, what should have been a 10-minute shuttle ride from the hotel to the cruise port took an hour and a half. Someone else reported it took them 2 hours simply because there was an accident on the road. Leaving the hotel around 11:30 meant arriving at the terminal around 1:00. Can you imagine if departure had been later and the same thing happened? That would have been a really bad spot to be in.
Plan Your Embarkation Day Outfits
A lot of first-time cruisers aren’t aware that there’s an opportunity to take photos with the ship photographer at the cruise terminal. It really does make a nice photo opportunity and souvenir, especially if it’s your first cruise.
Some first-time cruisers said they weren’t aware of this and, had they been, would have been more intentional about how they looked on embarkation day.
Get Familiar with the Cruise Ship Layout
You can do this by checking the cruise line’s website and reviewing the deck plans. One of the best ways is to watch some ship tours and cruise vlogs on YouTube. Once you get onto the cruise ship, you can look on your cruise line app and see a deck plan there.
Many cruise ships also have little cruise ship maps that you can unfold and pick up at guest services.
Download Your Cruise Line App and Boarding Documents
Many cruise lines now have boarding documents right on the app. Make sure you’ve downloaded your app in advance. Do not wait until you’re on the cruise ship or at the cruise terminal, which, by the way, tends to have wonky Wi-Fi.
Experienced cruisers screenshot their boarding pass. What can sometimes happen is you open up your app or try to in the terminal and you cannot access it. This screenshot is going to help. If your cruise line asks you to print your boarding document, make sure that you do.
In the cruise line app, you’re also going to find your daily planner. Starting right away when you get onto the cruise ship, you’ll have different activities that you could take a look at, restaurants that are open, and more. Look for ship tours or orientation sessions for first-time cruisers and definitely attend those.
Have a Plan to Avoid Seasickness
A lot of people won’t get seasick on a cruise. If you are prone to motion sickness though, think about this in advance. There are things you can take preventatively, like putting a patch on behind your ear or taking an over-the-counter medication like Bonine. You don’t want to wait until you feel the movement to take it.
Avoid Early Embarkation Programs
These programs exist to get you onto the cruise ship faster with some perks. It is going to be pricey though. If you plan accordingly by booking early, there’s a good chance you’ll get on the cruise ship just about 15 to 30 minutes after those who might have paid hundreds of dollars.
Avoid These Luggage Mistakes
First, if you are parking, make sure that you drop off your luggage before you park. Make sure you remove any old cruise luggage tags from previous sailings. Make sure you attach your luggage tags in advance and use reusable plastic luggage tag holders.
On one cruise in San Diego, some cruisers dropped their luggage off at the cruise ship next door by mistake. They didn’t put their luggage tags on and relied on the porters to do that for them. Not a good idea.
Have a couple of dollars with you to tip the porters as well. It’s not mandatory but is customary.
Speed Up Check-In by Completing Online Check-In
Do your online check-in before your cruise. On one upcoming cruise, a mistake was discovered during the online check-in: a guest’s birthday was incorrect in their booking. This meant they could not get into their booking or the app to do the online check-in.
Finding out in advance meant emailing the travel agent with the correct birth date, who got it all sorted out on a weekend, no less. This is why working with a good travel advisor matters.
Keep Your Carry-On Bag Light and Manageable
You’re not going to get your checked luggage for several hours after you embark your cruise. You don’t want to be dragging around heavy luggage. Bring a backpack, a weekender duffel bag, or a rolling carry-on, but something that is easy to manage for the first hour or two until your cabin is ready.
Pack any of your essentials in your carry-on bag. This includes medication, valuables, electronics, money, documentation that should be on you, as well as any passports and government ID. None of these things should ever be in your checked luggage.
Don’t Bring Any Prohibited Items
You definitely want to be familiar with what you can and cannot bring on a cruise. Some things you can’t bring include an iron and a steamer (fire hazards), hard alcohol, and any form of illegal substances. Bringing these things can not only delay you getting on to the cruise and result in confiscation, but you can actually be denied boarding.
Know Where You’ll Get Your Room Key Card
Depending on your cruise, you’re going to pick up your room key card or cruise card either in the cruise terminal at check-in or once you board your cruise by going up to your cabin where it will be right outside your cabin door.
When you are permitted, go to your cabin and drop off your carry-on luggage. Make sure you use the safe and put any of your valuable items, including your passport, in there.
Have a Day One Action Plan
Think of this as a checklist of tasks you need to get checked off as soon as possible.
Complete Your Muster Station Check-In
Most cruise lines have a sort of e-muster where you’re going to check in at your muster or safety check-in. Some cruise lines like Disney Cruise Line do an in-person gathering, and some others have a hybrid approach. Either way, always follow the instructions.
You’ll also want to watch your safety video. You can watch this in your cabin while you’re unpacking or putting a few things away. If you want to save time, you can actually watch this on your app right from the cruise terminal or sometimes from your hotel in the morning.
Make Your Onboard Reservations
Some cruise ships save many reservations in specialty dining restaurants for once you are on board, even though you can do some reservations in advance online. Norwegian Cruise Line does this, and it’s first come, first serve. Head over there and snag the best dining times and restaurants you want to go to as quickly as possible.
If you want to book any adult-only areas like the Sanctuary on Princess or the Retreat on Holland America, it’s a good idea to head up there and book those right away. The same thing applies for any thermal suite passes. There are often a limited number available for the cruise and they might sell out in a few hours.
Skip the Buffet Chaos
You can look on your app and find out what restaurants are open, or look on the daily planner that is printed out and might be left in your cabin depending on the cruise line. Head to the main dining room for lunch.
Some people like to go to a specialty restaurant that is sometimes open on embarkation day with a reduced lunchtime rate. Others grab pizza or burgers by the pool. Don’t assume the only place open is the buffet.
Check Out the Kids Club
If you have kids or teens, this is not something to wait for because it can truly affect your cruise. There’s going to be an open house time, typically around 2 to 4:00. Make sure you get there.
Your kids will have a chance to visit, you’ll have a chance to talk with some of the animators or counselors, and they might already make a few friends. It’s much easier for them to go back later that evening or the next day if they’ve already gotten acquainted.
Look for Exclusive Embarkation Day Offerings
You can often find out about these in a cruise Facebook group or cruise roll call before your cruise. Look for everything from certain foods that are only available on embarkation day to certain drinks like sail away drinks, including keeper cups. You can keep your drinks cold the entire week if you buy them on the first day.
Look for embarkation day specials. One favorite is to check out the spa. Oftentimes on embarkation day, there are specials you can use later in the week, and if you sign up on embarkation day, you get bonuses. The spa is usually cheaper on embarkation day.
If you’ve been under a lot of stress, think about how good it’s going to feel to have a massage on embarkation day or to start using that thermal spa on embarkation day evening after supper.
Join Any Embarkation Day Raffles
In addition to specials, raffles are available. Definitely participate in these.
If you like to use the gym, there’s usually a sign-up for some gym classes available through the week. Sometimes they have an extra cost and sometimes they’re included, but they do fill up quickly. If you know there’s a class you want to join, make sure you do this on embarkation day.
Put Your Phone on Airplane Mode
Do this right before sail away or even earlier, especially if you have cruise ship Wi-Fi. You’re better off getting off your land Wi-Fi and getting onto the cruise Wi-Fi as soon as possible.
You’ll have instructions in your cabin, or you can find them in the cruise line app. On the first day, you’ll have a lot of crew members there to help.
You can skip going to guest services because usually there are different crew members responsible for helping with the internet right around the area, so you won’t have to wait in line.
Get Ready for Sail Away
Decide where you’re going to enjoy your sail away. Are you going to go to the sail away party? That can be a lot of fun. Some people enjoy sail away at the aft of the cruise ship, and others really enjoy it on their balcony.
Unpack and Sanitize Your Cabin
Get to your cruise ship cabin and unpack sometime after sail away or before. When you do get to your cabin, before you unpack, make sure to sanitize it. This is something many savvy cruisers do because it can help prevent illness.
Final Thoughts on Embarkation Day
There are several things you’ll want to do in your cruise cabin on the first day, including what you want to ask your cruise cabin attendant for. Having an embarkation day routine helps ensure you don’t miss any of these important steps.
Your embarkation day sets the tone for your entire cruise vacation. Following these tips from experienced cruisers helps you avoid common pitfalls, maximize your time onboard, and start relaxing sooner. With a little advance planning and this strategic approach, you’ll be enjoying your cruise like a pro from the moment you step aboard.