Flight delays or sudden emergencies could greatly impact your cruise ship experience with an added stress no one needs – making it key to plan for your trip in advance.
Award-winning travel writer Sue Bryant has shared some of her top cruise tips that would surely be useful to both a first-time cruiser and an expert.
In her blog for Celebrity Cruises, Bryant discussed the importance of arriving a day early before your cruise ship getaway begins.
Taking this vital step allows you to lower any potential stress that may occur, including travel delays.
It also allows you to explore the port city before embarking, giving you a bit of extra time to soak up the region and purchase any last-minute needs.
“If you’re traveling a long distance, why not add on a night in a hotel before joining the ship?”, she began.
“You’ll be able to enjoy a little local culture on your first night—for example, a stroll through Venice, or fresh seafood in Athens with a view of the floodlit Acropolis—and sleep off some jetlag”.
Arriving a day earlier also ensures there’ll be less rushing to board the ship on the day of departure, ensuring a far more relaxed start to your vacation.
Bryant added: “You’ll arrive at the port fresh and ready for an adventure at sea.”
The Points Guy, another respected travel expert, reiterated Bryants advice, adding: “One of my least favorite things about cruising is the limited amount of time most ships provide in port.
“If you fly in a day early for your voyage, you’ll have a chance to explore your city of embarkation before your ship departs.”
The expert added that being early allows you to check out a local restaurant or two and visit any of the port city’s attractions.
In regards to how many days you should arrive early, the magic number is only one.
“It’s sufficient, but if you have the time, consider a two- or three-day pre-cruise stay to enhance your vacation and really explore the area,” added Points Guy.
Put simply, by arriving a day before your cruise, it will not only enhance your overall experience with a mini-land vacation, but also eliminates the stressful race against time often seen when travelling.
At the end of the day, with such an epic journey ahead of you, you don’t want to run the risk of missing it.