As much as I’ve traveled (thanks mom and dad) around the world you’d think I’d have it down to a science. However I don’t, in fact I’m still a beginner traveler. The first time I ever traveled overseas alone was my Junior year of high school when I went to Africa. All my other trips out of the United States to Paris, London, St. Thomas, St. Marteen,Nassau etc. consisted of places my parents had planned and booked for us when we were children. Now in my mid twenties I planned a mini vacation for my husband and I. As I count down the days with list after list to make sure everything’s in place, the fear is still there. So if you’re like me, I’ve come up with some tips to help prepare you for a better cruise.
1. Pack your passport in your carryon. Absolutely make sure you have your passport with you. Be sure to pack it in your carryon, or cross body purse. On your way out the front door check again before you leave to make sure it is with you. The worse thing would be preparing for a trip you’ll never take because you forgot the most important item.
2. Get there the night before. This will relieve any stress you may have about missing the boat. By doing this you have a whole day to prepare for the unexpected. You’re also able to do a drive by to see exactly where you will board your ship. This will help you to be able to time how long it took you to get there from your hotel and what’s the best route to avoid traffic is.
3. Book a hotel close to your port. Trust me this is a no brainer. It’s the most reliable way to make sure you can go directly from your hotel to the ship. It also gives you extra time to prepare on the day of. You won’t be scrambling around to make sure you have everything you need while still trying to make your cruise.
4. Transportation. If you decide to rent a car to travel instead of flying to your cruise port the best and cheapest thing would be to leave it at the ships terminal. It would be even more cheaper to do this if you bring your own car and leave it at the terminal. Royal Caribbean charges a flat fee for however many days your cruise is. This is easier than renting a car, taking it to the nearest airport and then having to rent one to get back home.
5. Have Fun! Now that all the stress is over and you’ve made it enjoy the moment. Relax, unplug, and explore.
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