The Rookie Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them): Top 20 Tips for Your First Cruise 🚢
Welcome to the club.
You’ve booked the ticket. You’ve watched the ship tour videos on YouTube. You’ve mentally already eaten three soft-serve ice cream cones. But if this is your first time setting sail, there are a few "unwritten rules" of the high seas that can mean the difference between the best vacation ever and a logistical headache.
Cruising is easy—that’s the whole point!—but a little insider knowledge goes a long way. Here is The Cruise Boys™ official guide to cruising like a pro on day one.
1. The Golden Rule: Arrive a Day Early ✈️
If you only listen to one thing we say, let it be this: Do not fly in on the day of your cruise. Airlines delay flights. Tires go flat. Traffic happens. If you are late, the ship will not wait for you. (We have seen the pier runners; don’t be a pier runner.)
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: Fly in the day before, get a nice hotel, sleep in, and arrive at the port refreshed and stress-free.
2. Pack a "Day One" Survival Bag 🎒
When you arrive at the port, porters will whisk your large suitcases away to be delivered to your cabin. You might not see them again until 8:00 PM.
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: Keep a carry-on backpack with your essentials:
Passports & Boarding Docs (Keep these on you!)
Medications
Phone Chargers
Swimsuits & Sunscreen: The pools are open the second you board. While everyone else is sweating in jeans waiting for their luggage, you’ll be holding a cocktail in the jacuzzi.
3. Zig When They Zag: Skip the Buffet 🍔
Upon boarding, 99% of passengers head straight to the buffet (the Windjammer, Lido Marketplace, etc.). It becomes a chaotic zoo of hungry travelers and luggage carts.
The Cruise Boys™ Hack: Most ships have other lunch spots open on embarkation day—often the Main Dining Room, a pizza joint, or a specialty café—that are quiet and empty. Ask a crew member what else is open and enjoy a peaceful lunch.
4. The Walls Are Magnetic (Literally) 🧲
Cruise ship cabins are marvels of engineering, but they can be tight on storage. Here is a secret: The walls and ceilings are usually made of metal.
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: Buy a pack of heavy-duty magnetic hooks on Amazon before you go. Stick them on the walls to hang your hats, lanyards, daily itineraries, and wet swimsuits. It keeps the clutter off the tiny desk!
5. Airplane Mode is Your Best Friend 📱
We cannot stress this enough: Cellular roaming at sea is incredibly expensive. We are talking hundreds of dollars for a few background app updates.
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: As soon as the ship pulls away from the dock, put your phone in Airplane Mode and leave it there. Turn on Wi-Fi to use the ship’s internet (if you bought a package) or the cruise line app.
6. Download the Cruise Line App Before You Leave
Speaking of apps—download it while you are still on your home Wi-Fi.
The Cruise Boys™ Tip: The app is your new best friend. It has the daily schedule, deck plans, restaurant menus, and often a free chat feature to message your family on board. You don't want to be trying to download a 200MB app on spotty terminal 3G.
7. Bring a Non-Surge Power Strip 🔌
Modern travelers have a lot of gear: phones, watches, cameras, tablets. Cruise cabins often have... two outlets.
The Catch: You cannot bring a standard surge protector (the kind with the little light switch) as they are a fire hazard on ships and will be confiscated.
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: Bring a "cruise-approved" non-surge power strip or a USB hub to charge everything at once.
8. Don't Be a Chair Hog 🐷
This is cruise etiquette 101.
The Rule: Do not go out at 7:00 AM, throw a towel on a prime pool chair, and then leave for four hours to get breakfast and a massage. The "Chair Police" (crew members) are real, and they will remove your stuff. Be cool, share the deck.
9. Book the "Must-Dos" Early 📅
Gone are the days of just walking into the steakhouse or the comedy show whenever you want. On today's mega-ships, the popular spots book up fast.
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: As soon as you book your cruise (or as soon as the app allows), reserve your specialty dining, shore excursions, and theater shows. You can usually change them later, but secure your spot first!
10. Watch Your "Ship Time" vs. "Island Time" ⌚
This is how people get left behind in Mexico. Your smartphone might automatically update to the local time zone when you get off the ship, but the ship stays on "Ship Time."
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: Bring a cheap waterproof watch or manually set your phone clock to stay on the ship's time. Always trust the ship's clock over your phone.
11. Bring a Refillable Water Bottle 💧
The tap water on cruise ships is processed to incredibly high standards—it is perfectly safe to drink.
The Cruise Boys™ Hack: Don't pay $5 for a bottle of Evian every time you are thirsty. Bring a Owala, Yeti or Hydroflask, fill it up at the buffet, and keep it in your cabin fridge.
12. Be Tip Aware 💸
Most cruise lines charge a daily "Hotel Service Charge" or "Gratuity" automatically. Also, when you buy a drink at the bar, an 18-20% gratuity is usually added automatically.
The Cruise Boys™ Tip: You may see a line for "Additional Tip" on the receipt. You are welcome to add more for great service, but know that you may have already tipped (just check those receipts)!
13. Take the Stairs (Trust Us) 🏃♂️
Elevators on cruise ships can be notoriously slow, especially right after a show ends or around dinner time.
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: If you are only going up or down 2-3 decks, take the stairs. It’s faster, and it helps burn off that second dessert you had at lunch.
14. Treat Seasickness Before You Feel It 🤢
Modern ships are very stable, but if you are sensitive, don't wait until you are green to take action.
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: Pack Bonine or Dramamine (non-drowsy!) and take it the morning of embarkation. Green apples and Ginger Ale (available on almost every ship) are also natural stomach settlers.
15. The "Secret" Breakfast Hack ☕
Room service breakfast is often free (check your specific line) if you order the continental items.
The Cruise Boys™ Hack: Fill out the door hanger menu the night before. There is nothing better than sipping coffee and eating a croissant on your private balcony while watching the ship pull into a new port.
16. Unpack Completely 🧳
You are going to be there for a week. Don't live out of a suitcase!
The Cruise Boys™ Tip: Cruise ship beds are raised high enough to slide your empty suitcases underneath them. Unpack your clothes, hide the luggage, and make the cabin feel like home.
17. Take a Photo of Your Passport 📸
In the unlikely event you lose your passport while on shore, having a clear photo of the information page can speed up the replacement process at the embassy significantly.
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: Snap a pic on your phone and email it to yourself so it's accessible anywhere.
18. The Sun is Stronger at Sea ☀️
That ocean breeze feels nice, but the reflection off the water means you burn twice as fast.
The Cruise Boys™ Fix: Apply sunscreen before you leave the cabin, not once you are already baking on the pool deck. Don't forget the tops of your feet!
19. Find the "Secret" Decks 🌅
On the top decks, if you walk all the way forward or all the way aft (back), you can often find quiet observation decks that few people know about. They are perfect for sunsets or sailing out of port away from the loud music at the main pool.
20. Use a Travel Agent (Hint: Us!) 🙋♂️
Cruising is complicated. There are drink packages, dining packages, gratuities, port taxes, and confusing cabin categories.
The Truth: It costs you $0 extra to book with The Cruise Boys™ versus booking direct. We handle the hold times, we know which cabins are under the noisy gym, and we watch for price drops so you don't have to.
Ready to set sail? Now that you are armed with the secrets, let's get you on board. Contact us today to start planning your perfect first voyage.
Sea More. Cruise More. Stress Less.
The Cruise Boys™
Info@TheCruiseBoys.com