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General Tips
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First Time Cruisers
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Smooth Sailing Tips from Matt Travel
Bon Voyage!
- Keep track of your boarding pass, on board charge/key card, as well as a picture ID to take ashore by slipping them into a bi-fold business card style carrying case. Cases with a "suede" finish are less likely to fall out of your pocket.
- Pack toiletries, clothing, and other items in clear zipper top bags for faster security examination of your carry-on at the airport and pier. This method makes it easier to repack if your bag is emptied and searched.
- Pack a pad of Post-It notes to leave messages for your cabin steward, family, and shipboard friends.
- Check prices before leaving home to insure you don't overpay for electronics and jewelry at "duty-free" shops.
- For minor emergencies, pack a first-aid kit with antiseptic cream & bandages in your carry-on.
- Take a picture of your passport, driver's license, and credit cards using your phone as well as making copies before leaving home. Leave one set of copies in a safe place on your ship. If the ship's purser holds your passport (which is often the case, to expedite clearing the ship in foreign ports), carry the passport copy ashore with you. Leave another copy with Matt Travel's Passport Bank. We then can send a copy to any Embassy for faster replacement should you lose it while traveling.
- Don't forget to pack and USE your sunscreen. Why take the chance of a nasty sunburn ruining a great cruise vacation? Protect your skin from injury and aging.
- Check the balance of your on board account before the end of your cruise. Straighten out any discrepancies immediately and avoid a long line at the Purser's Desk that last morning after your final bill arrives. You can typically monitor charges to your account through the TV in your room.
- Set aside gratuity money and keep it in your room safe. Many cruisers compute the "recommended" amounts in advance and get cash in the proper denominations before leaving home. If your ship automatically charges gratuities to your on-board account, you may adjust the amounts according to the level of service you receive.
- Make spa and salon appointments as soon as you can so you won't be disappointed--prime appointment times fill up fast! Often times you'll get a better rate on SPA service while in port. Schedule that massage in the morning before heading into town.
- Set aside a few moments every day to pack up your used clothing and spend the last afternoon of your cruise doing fun things while your fellow passengers are packing to go home.
- Most ships’ cabins have only one or two electrical outlets located near the desk/vanity table (not counting the shaver-only outlet in the bathroom). A short extension cord allows you to use more than one electrical appliance at once and gives you a bit more flexibility to move around, particularly if you’re using a laptop computer.
- Don’t miss the morning sun in your inside cabin. Before you retire for the night, leave the television tuned to the channel with the “view from the bridge” and you’ll awaken with a “window” on the outside world. Remember to turn the sound off.
- Take along an insulated mug with a lid. Fill it at the beverage station in the buffet area—your drinks will stay hot or cold and you won’t have to worry about spills. Most bartenders will fill it with ice and water or a soft drink. With a straw, your ice won’t melt instantly while lounging at the pool. Better still, mugs are great souvenirs—buy one that sports your ship’s name from the gift shop.
- A nylon tote bag that folds compactly into its own pocket can be used as a beach bag during your cruise and as an extra carry-on for your return home with fragile souvenirs.
- Take along a hanging shoe organizer for the closet. It extends your storage space for small items and keeps your shoes off the floor. You can also hang it on your bathroom door to store toiletries.
- A mesh laundry bag that allows damp clothing to dry out is ideal for gathering soiled garments during a cruise.
- Pack anything that can leak in zipper top plastic storage bags.
- After ironing items going in luggage, I fold them up with tissue. Like when items are 'new' from the store. This cuts down on wrinkles, and also because your 'stacks' are neater, allows you to put more in one suitcase. Also, as you're unpacking, keeps things much neater, and kind of gives you an extra lift when wearing that article. Also place several layers of tissue in the luggage, as the stacks get about 6" or so. As you wear the articles, the tissue sure comes in handy when repacking, for all the extra goodies that you will 'acquire' throughout the holiday/cruise."
- Unless you have tight airline connections, if you pack and check multiple suitcases they should all stay together and arrive with you at your destination. However, should one of them be delayed, you and your travel companion can be certain to each have clothing to wear if you "mix" up your garments. Pack "his AND hers" clothing articles in each suitcase.
- Pack small. Undergarments take only a third of the suitcase space they normally occupy when they’re compressed. Simply fill the largest size zipper top kitchen storage bags with these articles and force all the air out before zipping them shut. Not only do you save room in your suitcases but your clothing will stay dry.
- If you have soft-sided luggage and it gets caught in a downpour, either while being loaded on your airplane or ship, the contents could get soaked. You might also spray your luggage with Scotch Guard for additional waterproofing both inside and out. An added bonus of using zipper top bags is efficient unpacking--just leave everything in the bags and stack them in drawers and on shelves. Fast, neat, and space saving!
- Use ALL the tags provided by the cruise line when tagging our suitcases. At a minimum, put TWO identification tags on each suitcase. Those tags, with cotton or elastic string, can easily become detached.
- Always put your itinerary outside, as well as inside your luggage. To do this, type up the itinerary, reduce it, and tuck it into the luggage tag, behind your identification.
Bon Voyage!
Tips for Enjoying Your First Cruise
Congratulations! You have joined millions of other vacationers who have discovered the all-inclusive pleasures of a cruise vacation. I hope the following suggestions I have put together for you will help you have the vacation of a lifetime.
1. What is included in the price of the cruise? Cabin accommodations with the service of a room steward to look after your every need while on board. The room steward will see that you have a clean cabin, fresh towels, ice, turn down service and help with anything else. Even if you forgot to pack an item such as a hair dryer or an iron, they will do everything they can to assist you. Most cabins have twinned bedding. If you prefer, ask your cabin steward to convert the 2 beds into 1. Your cabin steward will find you soon after you come on-board to introduce themselves.
All of your meals, including in-between snacks and room service. Typically you will have the following dining choices daily.
Entertainment of the highest quality from DJ’s, live shows, TV monitors in cabins, musical reviews, exercise classes, dance classes, various contests, children's programs, etc. There will also be swimming pools, saunas, spas, gym facilities, possibly a lecture or a foreign language class, comedians an live music. Sometimes you can even tour the ship’s bridge or galley.
2. Before you Go
A passport is always a good idea to have. If you do not have one it usually takes about six weeks to process. I can assist you with information about obtaining a passport. If you do not have a passport and are a US citizen then you will need the original or a notarized copy of your birth certificate or proof of citizenship (they need to see the raised seal) and a picture ID. For non-US citizens we will need to check the document requirements based on your country of citizenship.
3. What to Pack
Depending on the length of the cruise and the destination this can vary somewhat, but typically you would bring clothes that you would normally wear at a resort. On shorter cruises there is usually at least one Captain's Gala where you will want to wear something more formal. This means a dark suit to a Tuxedo for men and cocktail dresses to gowns for women. During the day the ship is generally casual. The only restriction is no bathing suits in the dining room and no shorts in the dining room at dinner. Remember, the evenings out on the decks you can experience the cool evening ocean breezes, so remember to pack a sweater or light jacket. Many of the ships have laundry facilities and if not, your cabin steward can have clothes laundered or dry-cleaned at a nominal charge.
Always keep prescription medicine and eyeglasses with you in case of lost luggage.
4. Here you go…
Approximately two weeks after final payment your cruise voucher and tickets will be given to you. Some cruise lines only provide a digital version and require you to download their app.
If a transfer service has been arranged to take you from the airport to the ship they will meet you in baggage claim, unless otherwise stated. I will have already given the transfer service your name(s) and flight information, so they will be looking for you. They will then shuttle you to the ship. The transfer service will be responsible for getting your luggage to your cabin. You will have received baggage tags from the cruise line in your documents. It is important to have these on your luggage with your cabin number.
Note: The process of loading and delivering a ship full of luggage can sometime take quite a while. Sometimes the luggage will be delivered piece by piece. Make sure you count the number of pieces before you get on the plane and have clear identification tags on everything, including carry-on's. A lot of suitcase looks a like. I recommend tying a bright colored ribbon on each piece to help you locate your luggage in baggage claim.
5. Embarkation (Process of getting on the ship)
Next you should go to your dining room and check out your table location. You will be going to this same table for every meal you have in the dining room. (The only exception to this would be if they have an open seating meal, which means you would be seated at the first available open table. Your daily activity schedule will advise you on dining room seating exceptions.) This is also the time to make sure you have the correct dining times requested. If there are any problems see the headwaiter and he will try to accommodate you.
If you want to experience a wonderful spa or beauty treatment while at sea, make sure to book your appointments early since space is limited. I recommend making the appointments when you first get on the ship. Ask the purser's office or staff where to make appointments. All spa and beauty services such as massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and hair styling will be available. Take a look at your cruise itinerary and book your appointments during days at sea. Be aware that spa and beauty appointments book very quickly for formal nights.
Usually the shore excursion desk, where you arrange optional land tours, is near by the purser’s desk. As with any spa or beauty appointments, I recommend that you book your shore excursions as soon as you get on board. You don't want to be disappointed if the tour you want is sold out.
Take time to wander around the ship to become familiar with the lay out.
6. Shipboard Accounts: Virtually all ships are now cashless. When getting on board the ship you will need to find the credit desk. After giving them a form of payment, either credit card or up front cash, you will be given some form of a charge card that you can use for anything on-board, including shore excursions, gifts in the shops, drinks at the bar, wine at dinner, spa treatments, beauty salon, etc. A 15% gratuity will be automatically added to beverage service bill. All accounts will be settled at the end of the cruise.
7. Mandatory Lifeboat Drill (muster): Sometime after embarkation everyone on board the ship will be required to attend a mandatory lifeboat drill. You need to do so and listen carefully. You will have life vests in your cabin with instructions and location and directions to your station. When they make the announcement to go to your station you must put on your life vest and go to your designated station. Pay attention to the weather and dress accordingly since your station may be outside on one of the decks. Once at your station, emergency procedures will be explained and your name will be called to make sure you are in attendance. If you have any questions or need directions ask any available staff.
8. On With the Fun
This is your cruise and hard-earned vacation. Make sure everything is to your satisfaction. Try to enjoy all of the activities that are offered to you. Some of the most entertaining times are watching some of the other passengers participating in different games like the newlywed and not-so-newlywed game. There is as much to do as you like or just enjoy the cruise and relax. The whole key to taking full advantage of everything the cruise line has put together for you is to really go over the daily agenda that will be delivered to your cabin everyday. All activities including TV schedules, bingo times, casino hours, shop hours, photo studio hours and dining times will be listed. Some of the best live entertainment I have ever seen has been aboard a cruise ship. There will be lounges, discos, libraries and so much more for you to enjoy.
9. All Ashore:
The ship will have a Shore Excursion Desk where you can pre-arrange shore excursions, tours and port activities for each destination stop. Usually the Shore Excursion Desk is close by the Purser's Desk (hotel lobby). If you are not sure about what activities to choose I would suggest going to the Shore Excursion talk. The ship staff will talk about each destination and give details about what is available to you. The talk normally takes place the day or evening prior to reaching the next port (destination/stop). Again, check your daily agenda for times and location of the Shore Excursion Talk.
IMPORTANT: PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DEPARTURE TIME OF THE SHIP FROM EACH PORT. MOST SHIPS DO NOT TAKE ROLL OF PASSENGERS COMING AND GOING FROM THE PORTS. WHEN THE SHIP SAYS IT IS LEAVING AT (example) 4:30PM…. IT WILL LEAVE AT 4:30PM. I HAVE SEEN PASSENGERS RUNNING TO GET ON THE SHIP AND THE SHIP KEEPS ON SAILING….THE SHIP WILL NOT WAIT FOR PASSENGERS. IF YOU SHOULD MISS THE SHIP'S DEPARTURE IT WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET TO THE NEXT PORT. AS I GET OFF THE SHIP, I ALWAYS ASK WHAT TIME I NEED TO RETURN BY.
10. The Last Night:
The last night of the cruise is full of business. You will be asked to pack everything, except what you will need for the next day, and put your luggage outside of your cabin door before you go to sleep. Do not forget….keep your medications and important documents with you.
11. Tipping:
Unless you have pre-paid your gratuities, this is the night you will find the envelopes in your cabin to use to put the tips in to give to your cabin steward, waiter and busboy.
Tipping is a matter of personal preference. A general rule of thumb is to plan for about $2.50 to $3.00 per person per day for your room steward and dining room waiter and about half that amount for your bus boy. Other shipboard personnel can be tipped for special services at your discretion.
12. Disembarkation (Getting off the ship)
The next morning you will be asked to go to breakfast and not return to your cabin (they need to get ready for the next passengers). I suggest having a leisurely breakfast and if more time is needed to take a book or deck of cards to a nice lounge area and wait till they clear you. Your luggage will have been delivered to the dock and will be colored coded according to the color of your ship baggage tags.
A Few Helpful Nautical Terms:
BOW The front of the ship.
AFT The rear of the ship.
PORT The left side of the ship when facing toward the bow.
STARBOARD The right side of the ship when facing toward the bow.
BERTH Can mean either the dock, pier or beds within a cabin.
TENDER A small vessel sometimes used to move passengers to port when ship is anchored.
GANGWAY The open ramp by which passengers embark and disembark.
EMBARK The process of getting on the ship.
DISEMBARK The process of getting off the ship.
An easy way to remember whether Port is right or left. PORT and LEFT both have 4 letters.
Congratulations! You have joined millions of other vacationers who have discovered the all-inclusive pleasures of a cruise vacation. I hope the following suggestions I have put together for you will help you have the vacation of a lifetime.
1. What is included in the price of the cruise? Cabin accommodations with the service of a room steward to look after your every need while on board. The room steward will see that you have a clean cabin, fresh towels, ice, turn down service and help with anything else. Even if you forgot to pack an item such as a hair dryer or an iron, they will do everything they can to assist you. Most cabins have twinned bedding. If you prefer, ask your cabin steward to convert the 2 beds into 1. Your cabin steward will find you soon after you come on-board to introduce themselves.
All of your meals, including in-between snacks and room service. Typically you will have the following dining choices daily.
- Breakfast and lunch: Either at your assigned dining table at your specified dining time or a buffet service. The buffets are usually served on a higher deck where you have the option to enjoy the food inside in a casual dining room or outside on the open-air deck. The times for the buffets will usually be posted on your daily activity schedule.
- Dinner: Fabulous theme dinners will be served nightly in your assigned dining room. Your dinnertime will be the same each night with your own personal waiter and bus person that you will have throughout the length of the cruise.
- Snacks: Items such as ice cream, pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs or high tea will be available throughout the day and evening.
- Late night dining: Do not miss the Midnight buffets. They can be truly spectacular.
- Note: Alcoholic beverages are not typically included. Ask your waiter what beverages are included at no extra cost.
Entertainment of the highest quality from DJ’s, live shows, TV monitors in cabins, musical reviews, exercise classes, dance classes, various contests, children's programs, etc. There will also be swimming pools, saunas, spas, gym facilities, possibly a lecture or a foreign language class, comedians an live music. Sometimes you can even tour the ship’s bridge or galley.
2. Before you Go
A passport is always a good idea to have. If you do not have one it usually takes about six weeks to process. I can assist you with information about obtaining a passport. If you do not have a passport and are a US citizen then you will need the original or a notarized copy of your birth certificate or proof of citizenship (they need to see the raised seal) and a picture ID. For non-US citizens we will need to check the document requirements based on your country of citizenship.
3. What to Pack
Depending on the length of the cruise and the destination this can vary somewhat, but typically you would bring clothes that you would normally wear at a resort. On shorter cruises there is usually at least one Captain's Gala where you will want to wear something more formal. This means a dark suit to a Tuxedo for men and cocktail dresses to gowns for women. During the day the ship is generally casual. The only restriction is no bathing suits in the dining room and no shorts in the dining room at dinner. Remember, the evenings out on the decks you can experience the cool evening ocean breezes, so remember to pack a sweater or light jacket. Many of the ships have laundry facilities and if not, your cabin steward can have clothes laundered or dry-cleaned at a nominal charge.
Always keep prescription medicine and eyeglasses with you in case of lost luggage.
4. Here you go…
Approximately two weeks after final payment your cruise voucher and tickets will be given to you. Some cruise lines only provide a digital version and require you to download their app.
If a transfer service has been arranged to take you from the airport to the ship they will meet you in baggage claim, unless otherwise stated. I will have already given the transfer service your name(s) and flight information, so they will be looking for you. They will then shuttle you to the ship. The transfer service will be responsible for getting your luggage to your cabin. You will have received baggage tags from the cruise line in your documents. It is important to have these on your luggage with your cabin number.
Note: The process of loading and delivering a ship full of luggage can sometime take quite a while. Sometimes the luggage will be delivered piece by piece. Make sure you count the number of pieces before you get on the plane and have clear identification tags on everything, including carry-on's. A lot of suitcase looks a like. I recommend tying a bright colored ribbon on each piece to help you locate your luggage in baggage claim.
5. Embarkation (Process of getting on the ship)
- Check-in at the Airport
- Photographs
- Getting Familiar With the Ship
Next you should go to your dining room and check out your table location. You will be going to this same table for every meal you have in the dining room. (The only exception to this would be if they have an open seating meal, which means you would be seated at the first available open table. Your daily activity schedule will advise you on dining room seating exceptions.) This is also the time to make sure you have the correct dining times requested. If there are any problems see the headwaiter and he will try to accommodate you.
If you want to experience a wonderful spa or beauty treatment while at sea, make sure to book your appointments early since space is limited. I recommend making the appointments when you first get on the ship. Ask the purser's office or staff where to make appointments. All spa and beauty services such as massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and hair styling will be available. Take a look at your cruise itinerary and book your appointments during days at sea. Be aware that spa and beauty appointments book very quickly for formal nights.
Usually the shore excursion desk, where you arrange optional land tours, is near by the purser’s desk. As with any spa or beauty appointments, I recommend that you book your shore excursions as soon as you get on board. You don't want to be disappointed if the tour you want is sold out.
Take time to wander around the ship to become familiar with the lay out.
6. Shipboard Accounts: Virtually all ships are now cashless. When getting on board the ship you will need to find the credit desk. After giving them a form of payment, either credit card or up front cash, you will be given some form of a charge card that you can use for anything on-board, including shore excursions, gifts in the shops, drinks at the bar, wine at dinner, spa treatments, beauty salon, etc. A 15% gratuity will be automatically added to beverage service bill. All accounts will be settled at the end of the cruise.
7. Mandatory Lifeboat Drill (muster): Sometime after embarkation everyone on board the ship will be required to attend a mandatory lifeboat drill. You need to do so and listen carefully. You will have life vests in your cabin with instructions and location and directions to your station. When they make the announcement to go to your station you must put on your life vest and go to your designated station. Pay attention to the weather and dress accordingly since your station may be outside on one of the decks. Once at your station, emergency procedures will be explained and your name will be called to make sure you are in attendance. If you have any questions or need directions ask any available staff.
8. On With the Fun
This is your cruise and hard-earned vacation. Make sure everything is to your satisfaction. Try to enjoy all of the activities that are offered to you. Some of the most entertaining times are watching some of the other passengers participating in different games like the newlywed and not-so-newlywed game. There is as much to do as you like or just enjoy the cruise and relax. The whole key to taking full advantage of everything the cruise line has put together for you is to really go over the daily agenda that will be delivered to your cabin everyday. All activities including TV schedules, bingo times, casino hours, shop hours, photo studio hours and dining times will be listed. Some of the best live entertainment I have ever seen has been aboard a cruise ship. There will be lounges, discos, libraries and so much more for you to enjoy.
9. All Ashore:
The ship will have a Shore Excursion Desk where you can pre-arrange shore excursions, tours and port activities for each destination stop. Usually the Shore Excursion Desk is close by the Purser's Desk (hotel lobby). If you are not sure about what activities to choose I would suggest going to the Shore Excursion talk. The ship staff will talk about each destination and give details about what is available to you. The talk normally takes place the day or evening prior to reaching the next port (destination/stop). Again, check your daily agenda for times and location of the Shore Excursion Talk.
IMPORTANT: PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DEPARTURE TIME OF THE SHIP FROM EACH PORT. MOST SHIPS DO NOT TAKE ROLL OF PASSENGERS COMING AND GOING FROM THE PORTS. WHEN THE SHIP SAYS IT IS LEAVING AT (example) 4:30PM…. IT WILL LEAVE AT 4:30PM. I HAVE SEEN PASSENGERS RUNNING TO GET ON THE SHIP AND THE SHIP KEEPS ON SAILING….THE SHIP WILL NOT WAIT FOR PASSENGERS. IF YOU SHOULD MISS THE SHIP'S DEPARTURE IT WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET TO THE NEXT PORT. AS I GET OFF THE SHIP, I ALWAYS ASK WHAT TIME I NEED TO RETURN BY.
10. The Last Night:
The last night of the cruise is full of business. You will be asked to pack everything, except what you will need for the next day, and put your luggage outside of your cabin door before you go to sleep. Do not forget….keep your medications and important documents with you.
11. Tipping:
Unless you have pre-paid your gratuities, this is the night you will find the envelopes in your cabin to use to put the tips in to give to your cabin steward, waiter and busboy.
Tipping is a matter of personal preference. A general rule of thumb is to plan for about $2.50 to $3.00 per person per day for your room steward and dining room waiter and about half that amount for your bus boy. Other shipboard personnel can be tipped for special services at your discretion.
12. Disembarkation (Getting off the ship)
The next morning you will be asked to go to breakfast and not return to your cabin (they need to get ready for the next passengers). I suggest having a leisurely breakfast and if more time is needed to take a book or deck of cards to a nice lounge area and wait till they clear you. Your luggage will have been delivered to the dock and will be colored coded according to the color of your ship baggage tags.
A Few Helpful Nautical Terms:
BOW The front of the ship.
AFT The rear of the ship.
PORT The left side of the ship when facing toward the bow.
STARBOARD The right side of the ship when facing toward the bow.
BERTH Can mean either the dock, pier or beds within a cabin.
TENDER A small vessel sometimes used to move passengers to port when ship is anchored.
GANGWAY The open ramp by which passengers embark and disembark.
EMBARK The process of getting on the ship.
DISEMBARK The process of getting off the ship.
An easy way to remember whether Port is right or left. PORT and LEFT both have 4 letters.
