Here's the good news -- for 99.9% of people, their cruise goes off without a hitch. But when
something goes wrong, it can be a disaster. That's because on a cruise you can't easily pack up and
go home and being hundreds of miles out to sea makes dealing with any situation a little tougher.
That's why to prepare you for what could happen, I've pinpointed some avoidable disasters that
you should know about... and how to prevent them in the first place. These are things you
want to avoid to keep them from throwing a major wrench in your perfect vacation.
Before you ever step foot on a cruise ship, you first need to check-in. These days most
of it can be done online ahead of time, making the process faster. Even so, you still need to
show your documents before you can board. And these days, there's more to show than ever.
Of course, you need to show your passport or your birth certificate
to ensure you have these documents. But now if your cruise requires testing then you'll
have to show that negative result before boarding. And with vaccine
requirements, then you need to show your card or proof of the shot as well.
In other words, there's never been more for you to remember to bring and without them,
it could mean you don't get to sail. To remember everything,
I like to paper clip things like my vaccine card to my passport so it's all in one place.
And just in case you do forget something, I also like to take pictures of the
documents on my phone as well. If you have to physically produce the docs, it may not work,
but some lines let you show pictures of things like the vaccine card to board.
The fastest way to ruin your cruise?
Be slow back to the ship. Every port you visit, the time for all aboard is posted in the gangway,
in the ship's daily planner, announced over the intercom, and any crew member will also know.
Even so, there are times where people -- whether through their own
fault or just the circumstances -- get back to the ship too late. Let's just say that
the all aboard times aren't suggestions. With a schedule to keep, cruise ships will leave
passengers that arrive back too late. Just search on YouTube for videos of pier runners for proof.
To prevent this, there are a few things you can do.
First, grab a cheap wristwatch to carry with you. You can also use your phone,
but just be sure that it's set to the ship's time. When it's time to head back,
I always like to leave plenty of time to make my way back to the ship, just in case.
As well, if you book an excursion through the cruise line,
they normally have guarantees that the ship will wait for passengers on these excursions
even if they are delayed in getting back.
Anything related to the stomach is awful. It seems like you could power through a cold or a headache,
but if your stomach feels even slightly off, it lays you out.
That's why many people are worried about seasickness on a cruise.
If you're feeling even a whiff of seasickness, it can make the trip into a nightmare.
The good news is that modern cruise ships are surprisingly stable.
You might feel some movement, but if you think you're going to be rocking and rolling the entire
time, that's not the case. As well, ships do what they can to stay in calmer waters.
The better news is that there are tons of over the counter remedies, from patches
to pills that you can bring with you on the cruise. And even if you forget them,
they are sold on the ship and often can be found for free at Guest Services.
If you're worried about seasickness, don't be. But it's also smart to be prepared.
Ok, let's talk about the elephant in the room -- Covid and cruising. Getting it is bad enough
anytime. Getting it on a cruise ship? That can be a disaster for your vacation.
The protocols call for passengers who come down with cases while at sea to be quarantined.
That possibly means having to move to another room and isolate from others on the ship. There
have been a number of stories from passengers who've had to do this, essentially spending
at least a portion of their cruise stuck in a cabin instead of being out and exploring.
Now, according to the cruise lines, the number of passenger cases onboard are
fairly low. But safe to say if there are cases on land, then there can be cases on the cruise ship.
That's why it's smart to use some easy precautions. Wearing a mask indoors isn't anyone's
favorite, but it is a good idea. It's also smart to be cognizant of being in close proximity of
people you aren't traveling with. Sometimes, however, that's impossible on a cruise ship.
Other things you can do is stick to shorter cruises if you're worried about getting sick.
With a shorter cruise, there's less time spent in close contact with others.
And if you do come down with something? It's a shorter time until the ship is back home.
There's not much that's better than that first day at sea when the sun is shining,
you're on vacation, getting some sun, and having a drink or two.
There's not much that's worse than staying out too long and being burnt to a crisp. I call
the day after the first day at sea "lobster day." It's when you see all those poor folks
walking around like cooked lobsters after spending the day before by the pool.
The worst part of it all may be that since it tends to happen early in the cruise,
you're dealing with sunburn for several days, making you miserable.
The good news is that it's all totally preventable. You know all the things you
should do -- sunscreen, hat, and limit time in the sun. It's not hard to avoid being sunburned,
but you just need to remember to keep it in mind. The sun at lower latitudes is no joke.
There's no doubt that attitudes toward things like marijuana have
changed in recent years. In fact, in most states it is now legal for medicinal
purposes and many have declared it fully legal for recreational purposes as well.
On a cruise ship, however, pot can cause a major headache for your vacation.
That's because federally the drug is still illegal and cruise lines
follow the federal law in this area. This goes even if you are sailing from a state
where it's legal. And it applies to all sorts of substances including gummies, oils, CBD, and more.
If it's even remotely associated with marijuana, then it's likely not allowed on the ship.
This isn't just due to laws in the U.S. Remember that ships sail to foreign countries
which will have their own set of laws. To keep everyone happy and make things simple,
the cruise lines just don't let it onboard.
If caught, you could be referred to the authorities and/or have it confiscated.
On a cruise ship you don't have to go far to get a drink. Bars are everything and no
matter if you like beer, wine, or fruity drinks with umbrellas, it's all there.
And with people on vacation, the drinks flow easily. Prices are high,
so many people opt to buy drink packages. Pay a set daily price and get whatever you want.
Of course, here many people want to make sure to get their money's worth.
So vacation mode, drink packages, and bars everywhere around the ship?
Yes, some people can overdo it. That mistake can make your next day a disaster
where instead of enjoying the cruise, you're just trying to nurse a hangover.
My advice, it may seem like you're on a cruise for only a short time,
but there is plenty of time to get your fill while on vacation.
So there's no reason to overdo it and then make the following day a bad one.