By Emily Miller
Booking your first cruise entirely by yourself can be a rather daunting task, as cruises typically involve more preparation than your regular vacation. Poor planning could cause some serious complications such as missing your cruise, traveling during bad weather, booking the wrong cabin or experiencing problems with security.
If possible, book your cruise through a licensed travel agent as they are skilled to make this process run smoothly. And if a problem were to arise, you could pass off the issue for them to handle.
Following these ten common cruise mistakes will also help ensure your cruise will be the best it can possibly be:
Picking the wrong cruise line or ship
Selecting the appropriate cruise line or ship is the first and foremost important step you should take. Nowadays, there are cruises tailored to fit the needs of almost every type of traveler. Cruises can range from a formal setting to a more relaxed atmosphere to being family orientated. Booking the wrong ship could offset your vacation from the start. The best way to learn more about a certain cruise line is to talk with friends and family members who have taken them before.
Misinterpreting cruise lingo
There are certain terms that cruise lines will use when describing cabin types. If you are not familiar with these terms, you could end up in a room that does not meet your standards. Two common terms are “obstructed cabin” and “guaranty cabin”.
With obstructed cabin, the window in your cabin will most likely be blocked by some sort of object hanging off the external part of the ship. This could be an issue if you are hoping to see the water from your cabin window.
With guaranty cabin, you are guaranteed the cabin type you have chosen but will have a choice on where it would be located. If ship location if a concern for you, it is not recommended to pick a guaranteed cabin. While they can be a really great deal, they are not recommended if you are prone to motion sickness or want to be located in a particular part of the ship.
Booking a cruise solely based on the price
Like any other travel amenity, price can be rather low during the off season. However, this could be an issue when booking a cruise since you will be on open water a majority of the time. Prices can be extremely low during the off season due to the weather but that could have an impact on your trip.
Booking a cabin solely based on the price
Cabins on cruise ships are not all created equal. They are tailored to fit specific budgets, needs and desired qualities. If you are prone to motion sickness, it is advisable to select a room that would help eliminate that issue. Picking the lowest price room might be good economically but not the best decision if you are claustrophobic.
Booking flights too late or too early
All cruise lines have guidelines for the latest flight time for your travel to the ship and earliest flight time for your trip home. Pay careful attention to these times as booking the wrong flight could lead you to missing your cruise or missing your flight home. This is especially true for cruises that involve international travel due to increased security at the airport. In fact, it is recommended to fly in a day before your cruise to ensure that nothing goes wrong.
Incorrectly entering names and dates of birth
Providing the cruise line and/or airlines with incorrect names and dates of birth could cause difficulties with security and you may be denied boarding of the flight, cruise or both. An individual’s information should exactly match the information issued on their government issued ID card and passport.
Neglecting passport and visa requirements
Whenever you book a vacation to somewhere other than your country of origin, it’s important to research any passport or visa requirements. Important can be found on the US Department of State website. Be sure you have the correct credentials because if you don’t, the cruise will have no choice but to deny you entry or keep you abroad if you don’t have the necessary visa to visit a specific port.
Not carefully reviewing the cruise line’s cancellation policy
It is important to know the cancellation policy of your cruise in case something were to arise that would prevent you from taking the trip. Each cruise ship has their specific set of guidelines for canceling one’s voyage.
Not using a travel agent
One of the most common mistakes first-time cruise goers make is planning the entire trip themselves. While it’s not completely necessary to use a travel agent, using one could ensure that your trip will run as smoothly as possible. It is their job to keep everything organized and up-to-date. One major benefit of using a travel agent is that if something were to go wrong they would be there for you. They can also help you secure good deals on excursions, on-board amenities and on the overall price of the cruise.
Forgoing travel insurance
Travel insurance is one of those things that you should always have but hope to never use. Having travel insurance can help recover the money you paid for a cruise in case an unfortunate event were to happen.
