cruise embarkation...the big day!

Embarkation Tips for the BIG Day! By Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel

Your Embarkation day is a day that you have been looking forward to since you booked your cruise.  Yahoo!!  The day has finally arrived!  It is a very exciting day and one of my favorite moments of a cruise.  It's the moment you step on deck of your ship and the moment that the ship begins to sail away from the port.  You've waited so long for this day and it's finally here!

Here are some quick tips to help ensure that everything on this day goes smoothly and is filled with some great FUN:

• Before you leave home, double check to make sure you have all the proper government documents that you need (passports, birth certificates, photo id etc.)  Anything else you forget can be bought on board, but you have to have the required documents with you in order to board the ship.

• Parking at the port can cost as much as $20/day.  Look into taking a shuttle or cab if possible to the port to save money.  Consider paying for a "park and cruise" package at a local hotel that many times offers you a FREE shuttle both to and from the ship.  Even at a minimal fee, this may save you money.
• Try to get to the port as early as possible, you must be on board 90 min before sailaway.  Get on early, have a nice, leisurely lunch onboard  and enjoy a day by the pool.
• Your ship will not wait for you if you are late! Flying or driving in the day before is highly recommended when possible.
• Your room will not be ready if you board early.  Don't do what we did trying to find your room ahead of time, it's not ready and your hallway to the room will most likely be blocked off, as the staff has very limited time from the last cruisers until you board to prepare your room.  If you want to enjoy the pools or hot tubs, pack your swimsuit in a carry on.
• Your luggage will be x-rayed, so don’t try and sneak alcohol on the ship, they will catch you.
• Walk around the ship and get familiar with your way around, each ship is laid out completely different.  This is the fun of a new environment, you can see all there is on board so you know where to go for each exciting activity!
• Turn data roaming off on your cell phone, it is the #1 way to save money on a cruise.  Give family the ship's emergency number to reach you in an absolute emergency and enjoy this time away from all communications, if only for a few short days.  We've heard of passengers receiving bills from their cell phone carrier a month later with hundreds and hundreds of dollars in roaming charges, don't text!
• Your luggage will randomly appear at your room throughout the afternoon, sometimes all at once and other times just a suitcase at a time.

Want to cruise like a pro? Check out our other Cruise and Travel Related Articles on our website:  www.escapedestinationstravel.com