More Tips for the First Time Cruiser

In my last post, I started by telling you how to save on your first ever cruise without having to use a travel agent. I know they are experts, but that doesn't mean you can't be one, too, even if you've never been on a cruise before. Being different from any other type of travel can make a cruise vacation a bit of a challenge to navigate, but I have faith you can do it, especially with these tips and little bit of planning and persistence. 

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You know how to save, but how do you pick the right cruise and cabin and all that other good stuff? I'm about to give you some help! 

What to Consider

There are a lot of factors to deal with when booking a cruise, so don't just close your eyes and point at something, because that probably won't go well. My first cruise was on a very small ship and it gave me a good bout of cabin fever. The ship seemed bigger when looking at everything online, but in reality, it was fairly small compared to all the others out there. I learned for next time. 

• Decide how much you want to spend. This is always number one. If you don't know, perhaps look around at cruise deals to figure out what sort of budget you'll need. Keep in mind what is included – cabin, food, beverages, most entertainment, kids club (most of the time), room service – and what's not – some activities, shore excursions, alcohol, soft drinks (usually), fancy coffees, specialty dining, childcare, tipping, spa service, casino, shopping, personal trainers and exercise classes. Gratuity generally adds about $10-15 per person per day to your cost, which will add to the posted cost. In fact, the posted price is always going to be less than what you will actually spend.
• How long do you want to be gone? As a first-timer, I wouldn't suggest anything longer than 7 days, but it also depends on the itinerary you choose. If you're unsure how you'll feel about being on a big ship, maybe pick a shorter cruise to start off, and if you like it, you can plan a longer cruise in the future.
• Where do you want to go? This is usually the first thing I think about and then figure out how I can make it work with my budget. It also depends on what time of year you can go what's available. Most cruises don't sail year-round. 
• Who's going with you? Some cruise lines are more suited to families than others, which cater more toward grown-ups.
• Are you cool with crowds? It's simple math. The bigger the ship, the larger the crowds on it. If you want a more intimate experience, go for a smaller ship. If you don't care and you want a long list of available activities, then a large ship is where it's at.

Really just want a good cruise for your first time without all the effort? Then check out Cruise Critic's list of 12 best cruises for newbies. They are also a great resource for researching all ships and itineraries.

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Choosing the Right Cabin

I'm not big on staying in my room, whether I'm on a ship or in a hotel. I mean, I like to be comfortable, but I tend to be out more than I'm in on almost all my trips. That said, you may end up in your cabin more than expected, so picking the right one for you can make or break your trip.

• If you get seasick and are planning a trip on a smaller ship, choose one that's in the middle of the ship for the least amount of rockage. That said, you probably won't feel any rocking at all, no matter what ship you choose, unless the weather is pretty iffy. 
• If you like to sleep and enjoy your blackout curtains, go for an inside cabin. This is also great for those that just want to enjoy the ship and ports and want to save as much money as possible. Keep in mind, if the lights are out, even if it's the middle of the day, your cabin will be pitch black. 
• If seeing the outside world is important to you, or you just need sunlight to feel like a person who doesn't live in a cave, choose an outside cabin. If nothing else, it'll have some portholes that will let light in, so you'll at least know if it's daytime or not. Those higher up on the ship will have larger windows.
• Some people value their connection to the sea and want to experience it 24/7. This is when you should get a balcony, or at least a Juliet balcony (which offers a sliver of standing room outside your sliding floor-to-ceiling window. 

Extra Tips

Staterooms on ships are not the largest. The bed takes up most of the space, so you’re going to want to hang everything you can. 

• Bring some magnetic clips to keep stuff organized that you can stick to your cabin walls (because they’re magnetic!). 
• Pack a cloth shoe organizer to hang in the closet to stash things that you don’t usually hang up, but don’t want to have to keep on the closet floor or wrestle out of your suitcase each time you want to use it.
• Keep your dirty clothes separate from your clean ones by bringing along a mesh, pop-up hamper. I tend to take mine down to the laundry to clean everything before I leave so I don’t go home, or to my next destination, with a bag full of dirty clothes.
• Pack a small power strip, because like hotel rooms, staterooms are woefully lacking in outlets. I like this one from Belkin and have one in my travel bag at all times and two at home.

Some cruise lines try to dupe you into paying more for less. I mean, it's like Vegas. Why not charge for everything when you still have money in your pocket? Here are some things to watch out for:

• Check the room diagram (and reviews). Some lines are claiming rooms are suites when they really are not. A suite should be more than one room and a few are offering one room separated by a curtain, and some not even that.
• A balcony should be able to hold a few chairs, at least. Watch out for those that claim you get a balcony, but it's either the smallest standing room, where you're basically standing in the doorway to be "outside".

Just because there are so many different things to do on the ship, it doesn’t mean you need to bring your whole closet. In fact, you can still pack light and have everything you need for your cruise.

• Bring multi-purpose items, like a top that you can dress up or down depending on the situation. A plain black tank top can work for a formal night when paired with a statement necklace and a light wrap.
• A nice pair of sandals can also be worn for formal nights, so you don’t have to pack a pair of heels that you’ll only wear a few hours the whole time you’re cruising.
• Men can bring a lightweight sport coat and a few ties to dress up any outfit…and not have the same look twice if there’s more than one formal night on your ship.
• Aside from these things, bring what you normally do: 5 tops, 3 bottoms, a pair of really good walking/running shoes, a rain jacket, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. If you need more help packing light, here’s a post for you.
• Don't forget your passport if you aren't going to a closed-loop U.S. port.

Now you're practically an expert on all things cruising. You can pick the right ship, the right cabin, the perfect excursions on your own and even save money once onboard. The only thing that's left is to pack and put on your sunglasses! 

If you've been on a cruise, where did you go and what was your favorite thing?

Tips for the First Time Cruiser

Cruising is unlike other travel. Most people book through a travel agent, because it’s so foreign and they are afraid of making a bad decision or getting a crappy deal. The thing is, you don’t need an agent, you just need to know-how to do it right, even if it’s your first time cruising. Unlike booking a hotel or a plane ticket, you’re stuck on the boat and in your cabin for three nights to three weeks (depending on your itinerary) and there’s really nothing you can do if you hate your boat or your room.

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So, how do you figure it all out and still save money? It’s really not that difficult. You just need to do a bit of research and planning. This is the time to make sure to check out previous cruiser reviews.

How to Save Money

There are a lot of ways, big and little, that can help you save on your cruise. Some are no brainers (to me, anyway) and some are little known.

• Book your cruise early. Unlike airfare, you can really save a lot of money if you book your cruise far in advance. I’m talking a year out, maybe more. Cruise lines lure you in with the promise of incentives like beverage packages, free gratuities, onboard credits, free upgrades and much reduced rates. 
• Book your cruise late. If you don’t like to plan ahead (or that far out), look for last-minute cruise sales where you can get similar deals to early-booking. You may not get your first choice of cabin, but you’ll save big time on those that need to be filled before sailing.
• Sail in the off season. When you can, choose off-peak times to cruise to get a better deal and possibly a less crowded ship. Obviously, prices are lower for the less desirable cruise times, like hurricane season (which rarely sees a hurricane).
• Tip strategically. Most gratuities for services on the ship are included, which you’ll see on your receipt when you sign for them to charge them to your room. Unless your service was over the top outstanding, don’t double tip. In fact, if you go to check out your bill before debarkation and you feel like your gratuities are…uh…gratuitous, you can certainly dispute this to change them. And the reverse is also true if you want to add to your total.
• Book your shore excursions separately. I can’t tell you how much cruise lines mark up excursions. They make tons of bank on people who either didn’t know they could book independently or were too lazy to do it. You can save an average of 50% by doing it yourself, even through the same companies that the cruise works with. Just make sure to check reviews to see what others had to say.
• Book a package. If you know you’ll want to drink a ton of soda (or anything other than tea, water and coffee), purchase the beverage package and save yourself some bucks. If you want to spend time hitting up the specialty dining on your ship, look into the dining packages. You may save quite a bit by doing these instead of paying every time you decide to go “off menu”. 
• Skip the spa or book on port days. You’ll probably be so busy doing other stuff on the ship that you won’t have time to get pampered at the spa, but if not, know that you may end up paying twice as much for services as you would on land. Prices drop significantly if you book when the ship is in port, since most people will be out and not interested in staying on the boat.
• Save your drinking for port days. I know most people get super excited to sit by the pool and drink their days away. By doing this, you’re spening way more on booze than you need to. Instead, do other things on the boat and then drink for much less in port. If you must drink while cruising, here’s an article I did for Travelwise on how to do it cheaply or free.
• Link your cruise card to cash instead of a credit card. This is a new tip I just learned. In order to combat overspending, which is super easy to do when you just hand over your stateroom card for everything, head to the purser’s desk and give them half of the cash you have allocated to spend onboard on the first day of your cruise instead of linking to your credit card. Halfway through, give them the other half of your cash. One, this eliminates the willy-nilly spending for things you don’t need. Two this allows you to have cash available for excursions instead going broke before your trip is over and
• Book your next cruise while you’re on your cruise. This is more a tip for potential second cruisers, but you can do it while cruising for the first time. Cruise lines give deals to loyal cruisers with significant discounts, onboard credits and more.

Okay, so now that you know how to save on your actual cruise, you need to know how to pick a cruise. Well, like you must wait for the winner of The Voice…after the break…you’ll have to wait for my next post to learn more about how to be awesome at cruising.

If you've cruised previously, what are your best tips for saving on one?

Review: HappyLuxe Wayfarer Wrap

When I travel, I like to pack items that are multipurpose, because the more things I have that can do several things, the fewer things I need to pack. I’m often cold and have an impressive selection of cardigans and jackets and often have a blanket on the couch that I share with the dog. Even when you go to warm climates, there are times you go inside with air conditioning and it’s chilly. Your tank top and shorts are not sufficient. Usually, I either stash a lightweight cardigan or scarf in my purse. The same goes for the plane. It’s either really hot or really cold and no way to tell what you’re going to get.

photo credit: HappyLuxe

HappyLuxe has fixed all my chill problems with their Wayfarer Wrap. It can be worn multiple ways, it’s pretty, it’s super soft and you can even add a hand warmer to the pouch to give it even more warmth. Perfect for the weather in Portland right now, where we went from cold to blizzard in a day.

The Wayfarer looks and feels lightweight, but it’s quite substantial, with lots of coverage. It’s nice enough to wear with a dress, but can also look casual if you want to wear it with less formal clothes. I look forward to taking it with me to Southern California where it will be warm during the day and then cool at night.

Wear it like a shawl

When we were in New Orleans and it was 90 degrees outside, it was often much, much cooler inside, making a wrap a necessity. The same goes for our trips to Las Vegas, even in the middle of summer, and theme park trips where there are shows inside. They crank the air up to combat the crowds of people and make it more comfortable than the temps outside, but the difference can make it feel like winter. The Wayfarer worn as a shawl will definitely keep my arms and shoulders warm – and probably make some people jealous that they don’t have their own.

Instead of a coat, which doesn’t always look great with a dress, this lovely wrap completes an outfit much more beautifully. Nobody wants to go to dinner and have to put their outside jacket on if they’re cold. Same with the theater. The Wayfarer is a better fit and allows you to actually eat without getting your coat sleeve in your food.

Sometimes, you just need to cover your shoulders…or your head. Many religious sites will ask for these things. No problem! Your wrap can take care of both of these things, at the same time if needed.

Wear it like a scarf

Is it cold outside? We travel in the fall a lot, so it can be crisp outside in certain destinations. That coolness can creep in under the collar of your coat, so you’ll need a layer around your neck. No matter the collar style of your coat, your Wayfarer Wrap can fill in the gap.

Is it really cold? Pop a hand warmer into the hidden pocket of the wrap and it’ll be like walking around with a pretty heater around your neck. This would have been perfect on our last trip to Paris, where it was mostly 20 degrees out the whole time we were there and required several layers. Even Eric was cold and we needed to buy a second hat and scarf for him, so being outside wasn’t the worst experience.

The Wayfarer is totally going to get me through this harsh winter they’re predicting for Portland, so I can run around outside without wishing I were anywhere else. I’m not into the cold this year, but at least I’ll be warmer and prettier now.

Use it as a blanket

I have to admit, even on vacation, I wish I had a blanket with me. The plane is cold and I’m trying to sleep. The hotel room is cold, but too warm to sleep comfortably without the air on. The car is cold, because everyone else is hot. This way, I have a blanket with me wherever I go. A lightweight, but suitably warm blanket that folds up small when I’m not using it or need to toss it in my carry-on bag.

Many times we go to the movies and I end up putting my coat on my lap, because my legs are chilly. Sadly, I have a bit of arthritis in my joints, so being cold can make it feel worse. Being able to cover up is important for my comfort. Bringing a scarf along, even in the warmer months, seems a lot more common now than if I were toting around a jacket.

Other reasons the Wayfarer Wrap is awesome

As if the Wayfarer doesn’t sounds amazing enough, it’s totally got more going for it!

• The colors it comes in are pretty, classic, and complimentary. There’s even a fun print!
• It’s larger than most scarves, but if you love a blanket scarf, you’ll love this. This means it gives you a lot of coverage and is the size of a smallish lap blanket. You could totally use this as a regular size blanket for napping on the plane or the back of the car or the couch of your Airbnb.
• The fabric is crazy soft that feels like cashmere, but is actually sustainable and made from beech trees. It’s breathable and machine washable. It’s also made in the U.S.
• Did I mention it’s amazingly affordable? Plus they offer free shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee – that I doubt you’ll need – because the Wayfarer Wrap is remarkable. 
• It makes a great gift for yourself and all the ladies on your list, whether they travel or not.

More details:

Where can I buy it? On the HappyLuxe website

How much is it? $39, but now through Christmas, you can get it for just $22.49 + free shipping + that money-back guarantee. 

What colors does it come in? jet black | cool grey (shown at top) | midnight blue | sea foam | aloha floral | pink crush (shown)

Other specs: 72" x 35", MicroModal fabric

What's your favorite multi-purpose travel item?

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Wayfarer Wrap by HappyLuxe for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.