Cruises are a different breed of accommodation. These large hotels on the water provide you with all the amenities and comforts of a hotel while taking you to exotic locales. They offer you entertainment, great food
and relaxation all while floating on the ocean! Imagine watching the sunset as the sunlight cascades off of the ocean water. Or perhaps you catch a glimpse of a mysterious fin arise and delve into the ocean for a split second. How cool would that be? Cruises are by no means dull. Guests can enjoy shows in the theater, interact in games on deck or just snooze all day on a lounge chair. The choice is yours.
Getting To The Terminal
Just like vacationing any other way, how you will get to the terminal of your cruise ship can be done by driving to it or flying. When flying to your destination, if possible, arrive a day early to avoid any worries. If this is not an option reserve
your flight a considerable amount of time earlier to avoid missing the boat. More than likely a shuttle service will be provided to take you from the airport to the cruise ship terminal. Also, set your departure flight to leave well after your cruise has arrived back from its voyage. You wouldn’t want to watch your plane take off without you. The same thing goes for driving in to the terminal. Arrive early enough before the ship takes off to give a sufficient amount of time for parking. Preferably, try to be there 90 minutes before the ship departure time. Remember, you are not the only one going on a cruise. There could be lengthy procession lines leading to the long-term parking.
Boarding Your Luggage
Once you have gotten through parking, depending on the cruise line you might stop at a check in point to receive a tag for your luggage. A porter at that time will take your bag and it should be waiting for you at
your cabin door. After this, you move onto a security checkpoint. Here is where you will show your ID or passport and receive a swipe card of some sort before you embark the ship. This card is used as the key to your room or for placing money on your account.
Check Account From the Start
When you first arrive on the ship check with the “Purser’s Desk” or something similar. Checking here will allow you to see if everything starts out on your account as it should, such as if you’re supposed to have certain credits or special options in your package. This can avoid unhappy surprises later on. If something is amiss give it a day before panicking. It may show up. Also, the lines will be long because other people are thinking the same thing. So in the meantime find your room, unpack, explore the ship, get lost a couple of times and when you happen upon the Purser’s Desk check out your account. After that, enjoy the rest of your journey. Have a safe cruise and Bon Voyage!