10 Cruise Travel Mistakes

1. Picking the Wrong Cruise Line
There are tons of options when it comes to cruising, and the important part is to work with a Travel Agent or do some serious research on finding the one that is best for you and your family. There are ships designed for every age and travel style. Be honest about what you are interested in, and you can find the right cruise for you.

2. Choosing the Wrong Room
When choosing your room you must decide how large you want it, if you want a balcony/window and where you want your room. The middle of the ship has the least amount of rocking movement and typically a higher price point. The other factor that must be considered is no window, porthole, balcony or suite in size. Personally the midship balcony has been a good choice, and should be a concern if you are a family with small children. You want to make sure that safety is first and balconies with children are something to keep in mind.

3. Skipping Specialty Dining Reservations
Ships can have speciality dining for a steak house, hibachi, sushi, etc. This does have an additional charge typically, and if you love food as much as I do- is worth it. The dining packages vary by cruise line and # of dining reservations, and the hospitality and food quality is typically a huge jump from the standard dining room. This is a highlight of cruising for me. Just make sure you make your reservations, as these rooms book up quickly!

Our Cruise out of Miami

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4. Forgetting to Pack the Proper Outfits
Take note as to if you need to have any Formal Wear for your cruise. Each cruise line is different. Making sure you have everything from a nice dress and gym clothes to your swimsuit and T-shirt with shorts is very important. Typically I focus on sun dresses and options that can be layered or worn with one another. Your room is only SO big and your suitcase can only carry SO much. Make sure your outfits can be layered or tops/pants can work with one another.

5. Wasting Time & Budget on Excursions
When choosing what excursions you will partake in, do your research. This is definitely dependent to the cruise line and the port that you are going to be exploring in. This also depends on what you enjoy to do when you are traveling. Cruise ships offer tons of opportunity to do any activity you can think of. If they do not offer it through the ship, your Travel Agent typically can find options as well for private or small guided tours or custom activities.

6. Thinking You'll Be Spending All Your Time in Your Room
While on a cruise, your time can be spent at the spa, pool, dining room, bar, gym or in one of the organized activities on any given day. Your room is typically used for sleeping and getting ready. On our last cruise we "bid" on a Suite a few weeks before our trip, crossing our fingers we would get it. We didn't, and in hindsight it was a blessing. We wouldn't have spent any additional time in our room and this wouldn't have been a good use of our budget.

7. Not Bringing Your Essentials in Your "Cruise Carry On"
The day you board the ship, you will check your large suitcases. Your suitcases will be dropped off later in the day within your stateroom. You will not have access to this luggage for several hours. However, you can bring a small bag with you onto the ship (like an airport carry). Make sure that you pack anything you definitely want to have with you. If you know you want to hit the pool immediately, have your swimsuit with you in your carry on.

8. Forgetting your ID anywhere
Your ID is everything during your trip! It's how you order drinks, confirm dining, purchase anything, get on and off the ship. If you misplace it while on the ship you can get a new one printed, but it's important to do your best to keep this with you.

9. Not Following the Ship Timeline
Each day you will get a schedule for the day. It will list the daily activities on the ship, dock time & departure time from port. Personally I highlight the activities that my family wants to participate in, and we use that as our guideline for the day. Also be aware that if the ship is scheduled to leave port at 4:30pm, it will depart at 4:30pm. Do not be late!

10. Missing Out on Friendships with the Staff
One of my favorite parts is to find "my" restaurant or bar and make friends with the staff. You get to learn about where they come from and what it's like to live on the ship. They also have insights into the ports and different activities. I have left ships with lifelong memories made with the teams that helped us during our cruises.

If you are ready to find the cruise that is right for you, let me know