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First Time Cruiser Tips 
What you need to know before you

book your cruise

  
So, you want to go on a cruise? Where to begin? There are so many choices, so many cruise lines, so many destinations. The cruise industry has exploded over the past 20 years. Cruising is growing in popularity because it is a safe and affordable way to enjoy a vacation. Of course, the main reason cruising is so popular is because it is fun! However, before you rush out and put down a deposit on that great Internet special for a 7-night cruise, here are a few things you need to know.

Tip One: Book your cruise through a cruise professional/travel agent

This one piece of advice can help a new cruiser avoid a lot of mistakes. First, it does not cost anything to use a travel agent to book your cruise. Travel agents are paid a commission by the cruise line. And, if you think that booking your cruise directly Ultimate Guide For First Time Cruise Travelerswith the cruise line will save you money (because they won't have to pay the commission) you would be wrong. The commission saved by the cruise line will drop to their bottom line, not yours.

A travel agent will have first-hand knowledge of the various cruise lines, ships and destinations available. They can help you to select the right cruise to fit your lifestyle and vacation interests. Travel agents also are aware of special deals and discounts that are often not available to the general public.
 
Tip Two: Get a passport

Most cruises will visit ports that are outside of the USA. You will berequired to show a valid passport before you are allowed to board the ship. Read the article on passports for more information. Also, don't be alarmed when the cruise line asks to hold your passport during the cruise. This is normal. Ships often arrive in port early in the morning, before the guests wake up. Customs and Immigration officials board the ship and go over all of the passports. Once the ship has been "cleared" by Customs, guests can go ashore. Your passport will be returned to you on the day you disembark the cruise.

 Read about the New Passport Requirements Appropriate valid travel documents such as passports, visas, inoculation certificate and family legal documents are required for boarding the ship and for re-entry into the United States and other countries.
 

Tip Three: Make a photocopy of your passport

Since the ship is holding our original passport, we always try to carry a photocopy of our passport photo page when we leave the ship in a foreign port.  Just in case of an emergency, which is extremely rare, a photocopy will help in identification purposes with a US Embassy in a foreign country.

Also, we have scanned our passports and emailed them to our Hotmail accounts so that, from anywhere in the world, we can access and print our passport photo pages. Important! You should have a very secure password on your Hotmail account before you store personal information like passports or credit card numbers.
 

Tip Four: Don't over pack

Most people pack far too many clothes when they go on a cruise. Remember that a cruise ship cabin is relatively small and there is not a lot of closet and/or storage space. Also, there is limited space, usually underneath the bed, where your empty luggage will have to be stowed during the cruise. Most ships have laundry facilities on board, either self-serve or for a fee by the ship's laundry personnel.

Read the article on Packing Tips.
 

Tip Five: Buy Trip Insurance

We recommend you never go on a cruise without a travel insurance policy. There are lots of choices out there. One choice to consider is Travel Guard. You should be aware that if you require medical treatment on board a cruise ship, you will be charged a fee by the ship's doctor. Medical treatment is not covered in the cost of your cruise. Also, most healthcare insurance plans do not provide coverage when you are traveling outside the USA. Check with your health insurance company to make sure. In any case, the cost of medical evacuation when in a foreign country can be outrageously expensive. We were on a cruise in the Greek Isles when a passenger had to be air lifted off of the ship (via helicopter) to shore for treatment. Helicopter evacuation can cost as much as $20,000 or more!

Example: I f you get sick on board and had to go to the ship's doctor and get an IV and a shot. The cost: $750! Travel Insurance would pay the entire claim, subject to the coverages allowed in the policy. 

Avoid the cruise line insurance plans - Often they only protect you if your cruise is cancelled. They may not provide coverage for medical emergencies, lost luggage, missed airline connections, medical evacuation, etc.

For more information on insurance plans, click here.
 


Tip Six: Do your research

Use cruisereviewsonline.com to read reviews of cruise ships before booking your cruise. We have over 1,000 reviews from consumers and professionals to help you select the perfect cruise.

Find Cruise Reviews
 

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