Things you should know before going on a cruise
Ship Departure
It is important to arrive at the departure port early (3-4 hours), as you need to allow time for check-in and boarding. Remember that everything is as serious here as when flying on an airplane. Don’t worry if you arrive early: there is plenty to do on the liner!
Safety precautions
Don’t be alarmed when you hear a piercing, heart-rending ringing sound after boarding. This is an emergency drill, or training in emergency response. You must leave your cabin and follow the escorts to the muster station (its number is indicated on your cabin card). The muster station is a place on the ship where you must run, putting on a life jacket, as soon as you hear seven short and one long emergency signal.
Such drills are always held within one to two hours after boarding the liner. And don’t think that you don’t need it, since you know everything. These are basic safety precautions that should be followed. So don’t be lazy and go to this meeting. There is always a roll call by cabin numbers, it is unlikely that you will be able to sit in yours. The drills take 10-20 minutes.
Well-being
When people hear about traveling on a cruise ship, the first question that comes to mind is: will you get seasick? I can say with all responsibility that you shouldn’t be afraid of it. These giants have such serious stabilizers that even those who don’t tolerate flights or boat trips very well (I am one of these people) don’t get seasick. You can move around the ship without any problems, have lunch in restaurants, work out in the fitness club, play cards in the casino, read a book, and you won’t feel at all like you are sailing fast on a huge vessel at sea.
Dress code
Don’t forget to pack an evening outfit in your suitcase or take it with you in a garment bag. At least one. Leave shorts and T-shirts for breakfast, lunch, walks on the deck and at stops. Dinners are that pleasant fairytale time when you can show off all your chic evening dresses, cocktail dresses, tuxedos, suits.
Stops in ports
The good and interesting thing about a cruise is that almost every day you have the opportunity to explore a new city, a new island or even a new country! You leave your suitcases with things in your cabin. Believe me, nothing will happen to them if you hide all your valuables in a safe or in a suitcase with a code.
An important rule is not to be late! If they announce that you need to return to the liner at 19:00, then you need to be on board at this time. The liner will not wait for you for long, it has its own schedule. There are cases when you need to arrive at least half an hour before the ship’s departure. This applies to those ports where disembarkation takes place on the water and you need to get to the shore by boat. Do not worry, you will be warned about this in advance even before arriving at the port. Listen carefully to the announcements and read the daily bulletins, which every evening will be carefully slipped under your door, in your pocket on the door or left on the table or bed in the cabin.