From picking a cabin to walking up the gangway.
Here's the whole process laid out in order, so nothing catches you off guard between booking and boarding.
Choosing your cruise line, ship, and cabin
Three decisions matter more than everything else combined for a first cruise: the cruise line, ship, and cabin type. The itinerary matters less than you think - most Caribbean ports are lovely and interchangeable on a first cruise. The ship is where you'll spend most of your waking hours, so you'll want to pick it deliberately.
Cruise line matters. Each line has its own personality and type of guests it best suits - entirely dependent upon what you are seeking to get out of your cruise. Some cruise lines have specific ships that are more family-friendly with other ships providing a different degree of entertainment, dining, privacy, etc.
On cabins - interior is generally the cheapest option, inside with no window view, oceanview provides a window only to the outside, balcony provides the private sitting area with a door to fresh air right outside your cabin, and suites can provide a different vacation experience altogether. For first timers on a budget, an interior on a nicer ship might beat a balcony on an older one.
Putting down your deposit
A deposit locks in your cabin and price. Depending on the cruise line and fare type, if you were to decide to cancel, the deposit is either refundable up to a certain date or non-refundable from the moment you book. Always verify.
Generally the cheapest fares will require a non-refundable deposit, and the cruise lines make no exceptions if you later cancel the booking.
Final payment
The remaining balance is due by a set date, usually 60-90 days before your sail date depending on the line. Do not miss this date! The cruise line can, and will, cancel your booking. As your agent, I will not let you forget final payment, no worries.
Add-ons: drink packages, excursions, Wi-Fi
Once final payment is done, most people go back into their cruise planner to add extras - shore excursions, drink packages, specialty dining, internet. Prices are almost always lower pre-cruise than they are once you're onboard. You will need to create an account directly with the cruise line to access your cruise planner.
Online check-in
This is where you upload your ID/passport info, add your credit card for onboard spending, choose a boarding time, and print or download your boarding documents and. Most lines lock this in a set number of days before departure. Check-in is required.
I always recommend doing it as soon as it opens. You'll get to pick your boarding time, and the earlier slots can go fast. You'll need to verify your documents that same day. If you are traveling on a closed-loop cruise (meaning it departs a U.S. port and returns to the same U.S. port) you can technically sail with just a birth certificate and government ID, but I highly recommend a passport. A passport will save you in any scenario where something goes wrong and from my experience provides a slightly faster route through customs.
If you have a passport - check the expiration date now, as the six-month rule surprises people every single day.
Packing and final details
Passport or required ID, medications in a carry-on, a copy of your boarding pass, and anything you'll want before your checked luggage arrives at your cabin later that day. This is also when you should confirm your boarding time and transportation to the port. Give yourself enough time to get there.
Embarkation
You'll check in at the terminal at your assigned boarding time (from online check-in), clear security, and board. Arriving early does not allow you to board early, you will have to wait until your assigned boarding time. Keep a day-one bag on your shoulder with your documents, meds, chargers, and a swimsuit.
Your checked luggage will be delivered directly to your cabin sometime between 'soon' and 'dinner.' Immediately upon boarding you will be instructed to complete your muster check-in. It is required and your name will be announced over the intercom system if you are the one preventing the ship from leaving by not having it complete.
Cabins aren't usually available until the afternoon, so go eat and explore the ship while it's empty-ish. Soak up all that excited energy, it is contagious. The ship leaving the dock with you on the rail, drink in hand, is the actual start of the vacation. You wouldn't want to miss that because you were unpacking.
What you're charged for while onboard
Cruise ships are cashless. You will get a ship card (which you link to a credit/debit card during online check-in) pays for everything. This is convenient, but also can lead to surprising totals.
Gratuities are added daily per person unless you prepaid prior to sailing (I highly recommend prepaying so they are taken care of ahead of time.)
Beverages such as water, tea, milk, and basic coffee are generally included for free. Unless you purchase a drink package, you will be charged per soda, specialty coffee, energy drink, alcoholic beverage, among others.
Specialty dining is an extra charge per meal. Every ship has a myriad of free options, including the buffet and main dining experience, and generally other casual spots scattered around the ship. It is nearly impossible to accidentally eat at a specialty dining eatery, as prices are listed clearly on all menus.
Wifi, spa treatments, shopping, and gambling are but a few other ways you can indulge yourself if you choose. I don't judge. I'm a huge fan of spending as much as is required to have the time of my life on vacation.
You can truly have an unforgettable experience without spending anything extra, if that's your objective. If you want to keep expenses during sailing down, plan ahead for gratuities and consider which amenities you'll need on board. You can keep track of all expenses on the ship's app (free to use) while you're on board for no surprises.
Literally the one rule you have to remember
You'll pre-plan your shore excursions or decide to explore on your own, or maybe you'll stay onboard with a few others and enjoy a mostly empty ship - either way, always remember ship time and local time can differ. The ship leaves at the printed all-aboard time whether you're on it or not. If you booked your excursion through a random beach guy instead of through the cruise line, the ship does not know nor care where you are. They will absolutely leave you behind.
It can be cheaper to book excursions or tours with the vendors right off the ship, that is true. But weigh that against the cost of getting home when a tour van has a flat tire or you fall asleep on the beach. I always recommend booking direct through the cruise line, even if it is a bit pricier, where you'll have a guarantee that they will get you back on board on time - and if they don't, the ship will wait on you if it was booked through them.
Either way, wear a watch set to ship time, and build in an hour of slack. I can not handle another client getting stranded on an island with no documents to return home. Please don't do that to me, it is so stressful.
Generally good to know
On sea days, the app will be full of stuff to do. You literally can not do it all. I've tried many times. Pick two things for that time period, and let the rest go.
Every member of the crew works staggeringly hard and remembers kindness. It's not required, but I personally always bring an extra tip for my cabin steward (cleaning up my mess every day) and leave it for them with a thank you note on day one.
At embarkation, I tip the porters collecting luggage. In most cases they do not work directly for the cruise line, and do not get a share of the standard gratuities paid. They are immensely grateful.
Elevators are slow at dinner time, take the stairs if you can. If you need a mobility devic, bring one or rent one! Ships can be massive and require a lot of walking to get from dinner to a show.
Motion is usually gentle, but if you aren't sure how you will handle it, bring something for motion sickness. It might take a day or two to get your 'sea legs.'
The last morning involves leaving your cabin by breakfast and waiting to disembark, which is nobody's favorite part, especially if you were at the bar the night before. Budget your energy - and your patience - accordingly.
Ready to start?
I'll walk you through every one of these steps directly. You won't ever have to guess at which deadline is coming up or worry you'll miss something. I got you.
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