Travel Hacks That Will Make Getting to Your Cruise Ship a Breeze

Travel Hacks That Will Make Getting to Your Cruise Ship a Breeze: When it comes to cruising, it can take a while to get from locking your front door to lazing on the sun deck with a drink in your hand.

Most cruisers travel several hours by plane or car to get to their embarkation point. Real travel difficulties exist, and there is a high likelihood of crisis or disorder.

Although we can’t beat you up Star Trek-style to your cruise cabin, we can offer you some tips to make your pre-cruise travel a little less stressful. You’ll be dining at the buffet and swimming in the pool in no time if you follow this advice.

Check-In Early

Any traveler would be wise to check in for their flight as early as possible online.
By doing so, you can select the best seats available, take advantage of any last-minute upgrades, avoid being booted from an overbooked flight, and receive advance warning of any flight changes or issues (like your family not being seated together).

Plan to arrive early and reserve a hotel room

The last thing you want to happen is to arrive at the cruise ship too late due to severe weather, traffic, or other unanticipated circumstances.
Arriving a day early in your departure city will save you money on hotel accommodation and give you extra time in case of travel delays.
If you choose the proper hotel, your price may include either a free shuttle to the cruise port or free parking for the duration of your trip.
Additionally, you can bring the hotel’s toiletries to use on your ship if you are aware that your cruise ship only has dispensers for generic shampoo-body wash combinations. Well-spent cash!

Layer your clothing

Dress formally if you intend to take a flight the day before embarkation to get to your cruise port.
While it may be windy and below cold where you are, your Florida or Texas cruise port will likely be bright and warm.
We advise layering your clothing so that you may arrive and shed your heavy coats and sweaters to reveal only a T-shirt. Put a pair of adorable flip-flops in your carry-on so you can ditch your boots as soon as you land and show off your manicure.
You won’t have to endure the icy drive to the airport or the sweltering wait to join the ship.

Carefully pack your carry-on

Make the most of embarkation day by packing only what you can fit in your carry-on, according to one of Cruise Critic’s favourite bits of advice.
Before your cabin is ready or your luggage boarded, make sure you have your swimsuit, travel-sized sunscreen, sunglasses, and a foldable sun hat so you can run to the pool.
Put a change of clothes (or at least underwear) in your suitcase just in case it gets misplaced or, worse, is delayed.
Make sure all necessary paperwork, medications, and items for a post-flight freshening up are in there.

Make a transfer strategy

Taking a taxi or Uber from the airport to the cruise port is simple in many U.S. ports, but not all departure ports are close to the airport. Make a strategy for your airport transfer in advance after doing some research.
The shuttle buses used by cruise lines are frequently slow, congested, and pricey.
What would be the most cost-effective option—a taxi, a private transfer, or even public transportation—for you? Consider asking fellow passengers on your Cruise Critic Roll Call if they’d want to share a van with you if your airport is far from your cruise port, such as in Rome or London.

Visit the grocery store before boarding

Make a mandatory stop at the grocery store on the route to the cruise port.
You don’t have to suffer on a Pepsi cruise if you’re a Diet Coke fan or pay $2 every time you want a seltzer because certain cruise lines allow you to bring on bottled water and cans of your preferred soft drink without paying a fee.
Most allow you to bring a certain amount of wine onboard, but you will have to pay corkage if you want to consume it in an onboard restaurant.

Create a Folder for Actual Documents

Booking a cruise involves a tone of paperwork.
You must keep your cruise documents, your passport or birth certificate, plane tickets, hotel information, and contact information for independent shore excursions in your memory.
You don’t want to begin your vacation stressing out while rummaging through your carry-on as a security guard is glaring at you.