Make the first day of your cruise a breeze with these 31 expert cruise embarkation day tips. With these insider secrets and hacks, you will be one step ahead of your fellow cruisers, and your first day will be smooth sailing!
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GENUIS CRUISE EMBARKATION DAY TIPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:52 What is Embarkation Day?
1:37 Complete Online Check-In Early
2:12 Make Pre-Cruise Purchases
3:14 Pick Cruise Embarkation Day Outfits
3:56 Arrive a Day Early
4:31 Print Luggage Tags
5:09 Arrive at the Terminal on Time
5:45 Upgrade to Expedited Embarkation
6:32 Check Larger Bags With Porters
7:11 Have Documents Handy
7:53 Pack Necessary Items in Your Carry-On
8:32 Bring Bottles of Wine in Your Carry-On
9:07 Avoid Packing Prohibited Items
9:45 Don’t Head to Your Cabin
10:21 Sign into Ship’s Intranet
11:00 Book Entertainment Reservations
11:33 Last-Minute Dining Reservations
12:12 Check the Daily Schedule
13:04 Complete Muster Drill
13:56 Skip the Buffet
14:31 Explore the Ship
15:17 Sign up Kids at the Youth Center
16:29 Take a Spa Tour
17:27 Find Your Table in the Dining Room
18:18 Unpack
19:11 Organize Your Stateroom
19:57 Meet Your Stateroom Attendant
20:22 Attend the Sail Away Party
21:07 Don’t Go Overboard
21:52 Put Cell Phone in Airplane Mode
22:35 Browse the Gift Shop
EMBARKATION DAY TIPS
You want to ensure your cruise embarkation day is smooth sailing. To do so, planning begins before the first day of your cruise. Download the cruise line’s app and complete your check-in as soon as possible. With the app, make all your pre-cruise reservations, book shows, and other add-ons.
Once at the terminal, another embarkation day tip is to leave your larger luggage with the porters. This will make it easier to navigate the ship once onboard. However, do bring a carry-on with you on to the ship. On cruise embarkation day, this carry-on should include all your cruise essentials, two bottles of wine, and pack some musts like a bathing suit. Although, don’t pack prohibited items, like an iron or steamer.
Once onboard the ship, another embarkation day tip is to explore. While walking around, remember to take pictures and cruise embarkation day selfies! You’ll want to finish your muster during the first few hours onboard. Also, make sure you wrap up any last minute reservations. These could include dining reservations, show reservations, or booking other add-ons.
One cruise embarkation day tip you might overlook is getting a spa tour. This will help you know about deals and promotions in the spa.
At some point during the first day, we recommend you also unpack and store your bags under the bed. Packing cubes are a great aid in keeping all of your clothing organized. We always make it a point to meet our stateroom attendant on embarkation day as well, and you should do too.
Among other items to check off your to-do list on embarkation day is to check out the youth center with the kids. Cruisers should also attend the sail away party and put their phones in airplane mode before the ship sets sail!
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It's here your cruise embarkation day and honestly
this might just be the most important day of the Entire trip so whether you're new to cruising
or a seasoned sailor this video is for you as We have our expert tips and tricks to ensure
your embarkation day is smooth sailing up next Welcome aboard Cruisers and a special welcome
back to those eat soup Cruise subscribers now The wife and I have been on over 65 cruises so
that's plenty of embarkation days and in this Video we share with you our expert Cruise tips and
tricks to make sure embarkation day is Flawless Now if you're completely new to cruising you might
be asking yourself what exactly is embarkation day Well the term Embark means the board of [ __ ]
so essentially embarkation day is the first day The ship is accepting new cruisers for the next
Voyage on your cruise ticket or your itinerary Embarkation daily mocked as day one and once all
Cruisers are successfully on the ship it will set Sail for its next destination or first Port
of Call now that you know the lingo it's time To dive into our cruise embarkation day tips and
quite honestly to ensure you make the most of your First annual Cruise you actually need to start
planning weeks ahead of that special day first Thing you need to do after booking your cruise
is download the cruise lines app this will be Essential once you board the ship with the app or
the desktop version of the cruise Line's website You need to complete your check-in process and you
need to do this as soon as it becomes available Most Cruise Lines let you check in about 30 to 45
days prior to sailing the earlier you sign in the Better embarkation time you'll receive during
check-in you're able to select an arrival time Load security photos of your travel party and
complete other requirements like inputting your Passport information but even before your check-in
there are a few things you should probably do Ahead of time which will save you plenty of
time and headaches on day one of your cruise Now we can't stress this enough before boarding
the ship make sure to purchase any Cruise add-on Among the additional cost not covered in your
cruise fare are things like sharks versions Dream packages Wi-Fi and Specialty dining while
you may not need the packages almost all Cruisers Have plans to do something while ashore at the
different ports of call now you can book these Pores directly through the cruise line or with
local tour operators or even third-party retail Now in full disclosure our first couple cruises
we didn't know any better and we waited till we Boarded the ship to book our shore excursions but
we don't make that cruise mistake anymore waiting Too long to book your sharks versions might lead
to sold out tours and some disappointment same Could be said about things like specialty dining
or drink packages they're often cheaper pre-crews And you have a greater selection of options
finally if your cruise line allows you to pre-book Entertainment reservations before boarding a ship
you should definitely do that as well that gives You one less thing you need to worry about on
embarkation day think of embarkation day like The first day of school which means you should be
definitely planning your embarkation day outfits
You want to ensure that you have a comfortable
region appropriate outfit for that first of your Cruise and to be completely honest the wife
and I always plan something fun but function It's okay to Don that loud Caribbean shirt
God knows I have a closet full of them or Wear matching t-shirts for the whole family
after all you are officially now on vacation Just make sure the outfit fits the destination
if you're cruising to Alaska shorts and a t-shirt Probably won't cut it likewise you'll probably do
a good amount of walking and standing during your Cruise embarkation day so you'll want comfortable
Footwear being home ported here in Boston means Oftentimes we need to hop on a plane to get to our
cruise departure point if you're like us then we Strongly encourage you arrive a day early we
always fly in the day before our cruise and This ensures there's extra time in case of travel
delays or issues with Transportation you certainly Don't need the added stress of writing the date
of your cruise or Chance missing the ship due to Flight cancellations while this has always been
true it's more important now than ever before so Let's all face it flying right now is a complete
disaster plus arriving at the HomePort a day early Means you get to start your vacation a little bit
sooner unfortunately most Cruise Lines don't send Luggage tags to your home anymore so you'll need
to print and hear your luggish tags to your check Bags we suggest you do this before you leave your
house days before your cruise we are very fond Of luggish tag holders to ensure the tags stay
in place on our bags and we have a link to our Preferred luggage tags in the description down
below of course you can sample the Paper Tags To your bags as well at your pre-cruise hotel
either way make sure you have these in place Before heading to the port again it will save you
time and make boarding the ship more efficient Since a cruise restart cruise lines have been
enforcing Port arrival times so one cruising Barrication day tip is to arrive at the terminal
close to your poor arrival time long gone are the Days that you can show up as early as you want
get in line and be among the first on the ship It is okay to get there a little early but
not an hour or more early if you arrive too Early you may be ushered into a separate line
and made your way outside the terminal until Your designated check-in time thus if you have a
late arrival time don't rush to get to the port If you want to get your vacation started soon as
possible make sure to complete that pre-cruise Process ASAP the snag in an early time if you
miss out on those Early Times some Cruise Lines Allow you to upgrade to expedited embarkation
Royal Caribbean and convo Cruise Line both offer Options with upgrades that include priority
embarkation Royal Caribbean is the key is a Program that includes several benefits and one
of these perks is priority embarkation it also Includes priority tendering and disembarkation
along with internet and exclusive welcome lunch Likewise carnivals faster to the fun allows
guests the ability to be among the first on The ship it also provides Priority Access for
tendering and disembarkation among other parts
Now some individuals are amazing it can fit
a week's worth of clothes in a small carry-on But neither one of us are really that Savvy
when it comes to packing and if you're kind Of like us don't try to Lug those 50 pound
suitcases onto the ship with you if you do Have larger luggage you should definitely check
it with the porters located outside the cruise Terminal by doing so your bags will be delivered
directly to your estate room prior to sail away If you choose to take larger items on board with
you just remember that you'll be responsible for Them for the next several hours this means
lifting them onto the security conveyor belt Wheeling them up the gangway and lugging them
around the ship until your cabins are ready Trust us you don't want to do this even though we
leave out larger bags with the porters we do bring A carry-on bag typically a backpack or a tote
bag on board with us during embarkation in these Carry-ons we ensure we have some Cruise Essentials
these include copies of our boarding passes even Though we also have the additional versions along
with receipts for any prepaid items like drink Packages just in case paper copies are a great
backup as your phone signal may be spotty in the Terminal building you will also need your passport
or other form of ID during the check-in process Be sure this is on your person and not in the bag
you just left with the porters so my itineraries Might require other additional documentation
beside your passport so have that handy too Using the cruise Line's app during this process
will definitely save you time having completed the Health questionnaire and loaded your security
photos ahead of time you can zip through the Check-in process since you won't see your checked
bags for a few hours you should also make sure Your carry-on has some necessary items beyond the
documents you just mentioned you'll want to pack Other Cruise Essentials some things to include
are any required medication Electronics like Laptops or digital cameras and chargers for your
devices it might be smart to pack some toiletries Like toothpaste and a toothbrush or a hairbrush
in case you need to freshen up and don't forget Any Necessities for the kids we also bring a
refillable water bottle used throughout the trip Not to mention a bathing suit suntan lotion
and sunglasses but don't worry you can leave The beach towels at home there'll be plenty of
those on the pool deck most Cruise Lines allow Cruisers to bring two bottles of wine per cabin on
board others like Carnival Cruise Line also allow A limited number of non-alcoholic beverages check
your cruise Line's website for accepted items then Be sure to pack them in your carry-on bag if you
pack the wine in your check luggage it might be Confiscated by the cruise line do know that many
Cruise Lines charge quarking fees for bottles of Wine that you bring on board the ship so honestly
you might not be saving as much money as you think Along the same lines you want to check your
cruise Line's website to ensure what items you Can and cannot bring on board the ship this goes
for both your carry-on and checked luggage don't Try to bring anything on board that's prohibited
by the cruise line as it will get confiscated and
Could delay getting your luggage and your cruise
boarding some of these items include bottles of Liquor or other alcohol besides the two bottles of
wine along with typical Contraband like Firearms Or illegal substances most cruise lines also
don't allow things such as irons Steamers and Hot plates but again double check that Cruise Line
website see what other items are not allowed on Your particular cruise ship we get it you're
super excited as soon as you board that ship And you can't wait to see and do everything well
resist the temptation to go to your stateroom With odds are your cabin will not be ready most
Cruise Lines do not allow access to staterooms Until between 1 pm and 2 pm this gives the
housekeeping staff time to clean and change Over the rooms from the previous sailing again
this is another reason checking your luggage is so Worth it of note some cruise lines like Celebrity
Cruises do allow guests to drop off carry-on items But most do not with your manageable carry-ons and
Tow it's now time to take care of any Loose Ends Long before this Cruise you download the cruise
lines app check so now you can sign on to the Ship's Wi-Fi once you access the ship's Wi-Fi you
will be able to use the app but you do need to Purchase internet if you want to access external
websites or social media or your email if you did Purchase a Wi-Fi package it's worth setting up
now as well depending on which wi-fi package you Purchase you'll be able to check email surf the
web post on social media and even stream movies And music but even if you didn't purchase Wi-Fi
the app will still be vital throughout the week And may even come in handy in just a few minutes
depending on the cruise line and Chip you may need Reservations to see some of the shows if you're
not able to do that pre-cruise you should do it Right now the popular shows and ideal showtimes
fill up quickly often there'll be a designated Spot to book entertainment reservations like a
box office or a kiosk in the Promenade some Cruise Lines offer touch screens throughout the ship
that let you book these shows as well or might Even be able to claim your reservations right
in the cruise lines app it doesn't hurt to ask A crew member near the boarding point where and
how you can make these reservations once you know Take a few minutes to review the schedule and book
those must-see Productions before they're all gone With your show secured you should confirm
any dining reservation if you have a dining Package some Cruise Lines don't let you make those
reservations until you're on the ship so now is The time or you had a last minute change of heart
want to die in a specialty restaurant or need to Change a pre-cruise reservation we suggest you do
that sooner rather than later on embarkation day Typically by the end of the day most of the highly
coveted dining times and restaurants will be full If you're doing traditional dining and want
to change a dining time you should also do That early on embarkation most cruise lines have
specific kiosks for such dining changes as well There is no excuse for not knowing what's
happening every moment on your cruise the Cruise ship's daily schedule will actually become
your best friend over the course of the week
This magazine lists all the day's activities
events dining times entertainment and live music Throughout the ship often there are paper copies
of the daily guest services or other venues like The coffee shop although many cruise lines are
doing away with leaving paper copies of the daily In your estate room each evening but the good news
is the daily is always in the palm of your hand or Your pocket almost all Cruise Lines apps will
provide the same information which is updated Every day so before you head off to explore check
out what events are on the schedule for that day Some apps are better than others so it might
take a few minutes to find where all the hours And activities are listed but once you know
you will be so thankful that you have the app One Innovation the cruise lines develop where the
cruise restart was virtual muster or sometimes Referred to as an e-muster and seven in-person
drawn out safety drill this new muster consists of Two steps first Cruisers need to watch the safety
video in the app or on your stay room television After watching the video Cruisers can then
check in at their muster station for a short Life jacket demo and safety highlight briefing
this process is efficient it's easy and it's a Vast improvement over the old model however you do
need to complete this mandatory muscle drill and You should do it sooner rather than later if your
cruise line doesn't have this technology or it's Reverted to the dreaded in-person muster then make
sure you know when and where to go for that brief Once you board the ship hordes of people will be
ushered into the same spot a buffet unless we have No alternative option we always skip the buffet
on embarkation day and you should resist the urge To dine there too most contemporary Cruise Lines
offer a variety of other casual dining options These might include Tex-Mex shops cafes pizza
parlors outdoor grills among other options Some cruise lines also serve as sit-down launch in
the main dining room on embarkation day again that Daily schedule is going to come in handy it will
indicate the times and locations of restaurants That are open for embarkation day launch if
the buffet is the only option you try to go At off-peak times like later in the afternoon
one of our time honored Traditions regardless Of the cruise ship is to explore the ship on
embarkation day hopefully you've reviewed the Ship's onboard deck plans prior to boarding
but now it's time to explore the ship in real Life even if you skip some of our other Cruise
embarkation day tips exploring the ship is a most We even walk around ships we've already sailed
on in the past just to re-familiarize ourselves With the layout by exploring on day one you
can get a general sense of where different Venues are located or you might discover
some different spaces you didn't know about This will have you navigating the ship like a pro
and staying one step ahead of everybody else once Done you can grab your bathing suit and take a
dip in the pool or get ahead of the crowds and Use some of the popular amenities like the water
slides for families embarkation day is also the Perfect time to check out the youth center many
ships offer several distinct kids and teens areas
Throughout the ship these are often organized by
age groups most Cruise Lines host a open house on Embarkation day that gives you in your little ones
an opportunity to meet the staff and walk through The facilities even if you don't think your kids
will use the kids club you might still want to Have a look as some are quite impressive with
video games board games arts and crafts and other High-tech features Additionally you the parent can
learn more about the services offered the hours of Operation and your kids will receive a bracelet
which will help staff in the case of an emergency Now it's time to take plenty of pictures honestly
this might be one of the rarest times that certain Venues are not busy like the pool deck or
Main theater so if you want certain pictures We recommend taking them now we always spend some
of the day taking pictures and videos of popular Venues also don't forget some selfies in fact I'll
welcome aboard drink selfie is all but mandatory On any Cruise if you didn't purchase the Wi-Fi
package just make sure to post them to social Media before you sail away of course you'll want
to show everyone back home how much fun you're Already having on your vacation another place you
should visit an unembarkation day is the spa in Fact a spa tour is something we almost always
do on the first day of a cruise again this is The rare opportunity to check out this venue and
the nearby fitness center with few fellow Cruisers Spa Personnel will guide you through various
rooms and describe the different treatment options Available many newer ships also have a thermal
Suite with experiences like a hydro pool sauna Steam room and other relaxing spaces on many ships
passes through the thermal suite and other Spa Appointments book up quickly also there are often
promotions for those who take one of these tours Likewise Fitness fanax will want to check out the
onboard gym and inquire about additional offerings Most Cruise Lines offer group classes
for a fee that also require reservations The wife and I are big fans of traditional
dining for those who are new to cruising Traditional dining means you have the same table
and wait staff any at a set time every evening so If this is your dining arrangement we suggest an
embarkation day taking a few minutes to find your Assigned table in the main dining room if there
are issues with the assignment now is the time To speak up to the host or Hostess about changing
it perhaps you prefer to sit at table at two let's Have a large table without a guess or maybe you
forgot to link guests from other staterooms to Your travel party and you want to dine with them
for Cruisers with flexible dining options now is The time to make your reservations for tonight's
dinner if you haven't already done so of note Many cruise lines that offer these dine anytime
options do allow Cruisers to pre-reserve time Slots for the duration of the cruise and let's
just say the first night in the main dining room Can get a little chaotic so anything you can do to
avoid the masses is highly recommended plus some Cruise ships have multiple dining rooms that are
spread out around the ship so if nothing else you Can learn where these dining venues are located
before heading to dinner on the first evening
Sooner or later your state room will be
available and what it is you should find Some time on embarkation day to unpack whether
this is before the sail away party or before Heading to dinner or even going to bed this step
will help you get settled in for the rest of the Week given the tight quarters of membership cabins
it's not advisable to live out of your suitcase You're going to need that valuable space in the
room so unpack then store your larger bags under The bag while it did take us a while to figure
this out packing cubes can make this vacation tour A whole lot easier you can simply unzip them and
store these cubes on the shelves or in the drawers You'll want to hang your formal outfits and other
attire in the closet to reduce wrinkles not to Mention if you forgot to pack something Now's the
Time to find out you can always grab Necessities Or other items at the first Port of Call instead
of paying the high price tags on the ship once You're unpacked another embarkation day tip the
get your estate room organized you might want to Rearrange the furniture by moving smaller tables
and such out of the way we also recommend using Magnet hang items like bags and hats given the
walls of most cruise ship cabinets are metal this Tip is a great space saving hack for Cruisers an
over-the-door shoe organizer is another one of our Space-saving hacks you can use this to store small
items like sunglasses medications and toiletries Fact we actually don't even use it for shoes
further ice take out a spot that will double as my Office for the week with the cruise line approved
power adapter I organize all my electronics and Associated Chargers in one central location during
your cruise vacation your state room attendant Will take good care of you so it's very important
to meet him or her on the first day of the cruise Normally the attendance will be around in the
hallways eager to say hi if you had a chance To unpack and look around your room already
you can request any additional items you may Need like extra hangers or towels plus you
can let them know any of your preferences it Will also likely ask about your dying times as
well so they know when your room will be vacant The official kickoff of any cruise is a
sail away party this normally happens on The pool deck somewhere around four to five
PM depending on your ships expected departure Grab a drink and a good rail position to enjoy
all the fun from the dance party near the pool To the coastline is a Ship Sails out of port
maybe even at Sunset there's plenty to soak in This Lively and energetic launch is something
we never miss no matter how many cruises we've Taken this is also first time you get to
see the cruise director and the activity Staff if you'd like to get involved these will
be the people keeping the party going all week We know you're very excited about your cruise
vacation and temptations all around you but be Sure to pace yourself first day of the cruise
can feel hectic thus another one of our tips Is to ensure you don't overdo it on the first day
yes take advantage of the amenities enjoy a nice Dinner check out the shows in live music and have
a few drinks just remember though there are likely
Six more days of your cruise if you want to enjoy
a cruise vacation don't eat or drink too much you Don't want to wake up sick or with a headache the
next morning still we do recommend front loading The cruise but you don't have to eat drink and do
everything all the first day over the next couple Days we suggest prioritizing the onboard amenities
you want to try the most whether it's go-karts Rock climbing walls a taste or food demonstration
a dance class or whatever don't put it off until The end of the week regardless of whether you
purchase internet or not you'll want to put your Cell phone in airplane mode once the ship set sail
it won't take long for you to be out of service And roaming once at sea if you're not careful you
could rack up quite a bill with roaming charges If you forgot to do it right away your provider
might even send a text message advising you that You're out of network you can still use the app
and the ship's Wi-Fi with your phone in airplane Mode just won't be able to access any of your
cellular data check with your service provider as Your reports of call may or may not be within your
coverage area this could mean that you can take Your phone out of airplane mode to use it while
your ship is docked in a certain Port of Call If you're like me and a cruise nerd you might
collect items for your trips like ship models Or t-shirts night one is the best time to snag
them this is especially true if you're on a new Ship I select items and clothing sizes
sell all fast or this is true if you're On any Disney Cruise Line ship the armboard
shops will usually open once the ship's at Sale so stopping in before or after dinner
make your purchases is always a good idea Of course if you have a change of heart or find
something better later you can often return The unused items for a refund just make sure to
confirm the return policy before swiping your room Key card if you're brand new cruising and still
need more help don't worry we have you covered Right here on YouTube we have our top Cruise tips
for first time Cruisers there we help you navigate The waters to learn more about the onboard
activities entertainment dining how to save money On a cruise plus more that video is a great place
to start for those who have never taken a cruise Or haven't taken a cruise in a while and it will
help ensure your cruise vacation is smooth Sail