What to Expect on a Cruise: Boarding a Cruise Ship (2023)

FAQs

How does boarding work on a cruise ship? ›

Cruise line staff will be on hand to direct you to the correct line; suite passengers and high-status past-passengers will typically go into a shorter line or separate waiting area, while regular passengers join a main line. At check-in, you will present your ID and documents for the representative to check you in.

Long shifts and extensive working days (12-14 hours a day and 7 days a week). You could suffer from seasickness (nausea, dizziness, etc). The personnel are always on. Although there is a time off, the employee is expected to be ready to work twenty-four hours a day.

Embarkation day for your cruise vacation is an exciting day. You get to board the ship and check into your stateroom. You'll likely have a glass of Champagne or other drink in your hand within moments of boarding, activating vacation mode.

Cruise ship etiquette says to treat the crew with respect, consider your complaints, wait for your turn, call home from your cabin, give up your deck chair when you're not there, and engage others in real conversation.

What should I wear on my first day of cruise? ›

What should I wear on embarkation day? Since you most likely will be doing a lot of walking and standing in line, comfortable shoes are key. Dress casually, and don't be surprised to see tropical wear on Caribbean cruises or even groups in matching T-shirts. Also make sure you check the weather beforehand.

Embarkation day is one of the busiest days at the cruise port. You will have to wait in line to get through security and to check-in or verify your online check-in. If you have priority boarding because you're staying in a suite, expect to stand in line to get to security first.

Pack a cruise embarkation day bag

Items to pack include swimwear, armbands, sunglasses, sun cream any small toys to keep little ones busy. Don't forget medication, nappies and wet wipes. It's an exciting busy day and if you have kids they will want to jump straight into the pool.

No Pat-downs

Don't worry. We've never seen anyone being patted down for a cruise. They are looking for metal objects. If someone sets off the metal detector, then a wand will be used to find the object.

Upon reaching the Quarterdeck, salute, and say "request permission to come aboard, sir." In some cases, the person manning the watch may be junior to you or in some cases, may not even be an officer. Nevertheless, call him or her "sir" as they represent the authority of the ship's commanding officer.

Simply put, embarkation is the process of getting on your ship – it's the cruising equivalent of boarding a plane! While the embarkation procedure may vary slightly between the different cruise lines, it will fundamentally remain the same and require you to have similar documents to hand.

Will my bags be searched on a cruise ship? All baggage brought on board the ship will be X-rayed. When you go through security you will set your bags on the x-ray machine like you'd find at an airport. Checked luggage is also X-rayed behind the scenes.

Just like the security screening at an airport, we also screen all luggage our guests bring onboard to ensure everyone's safety. If there is an item in your luggage that is prohibited or is believed to be prohibited, your bag will be taken to a screening location and will be inspected by our Security Team onboard.

Your bags will be screened by security at the cruise terminal, in order to save yourself time and hassle there are certain things that you just can't bring with you. Oh, and don't accidentally pack your passport in your checked luggage – you will need it to get into the terminal to check in!

A majority of cruise ship lines offer their employees free food throughout the duration of their contracts. There's typically a special kitchen on the boat that prepares food for staff members. Employees may eat in separate dining areas, depending on their classifications.

Is it fun working on a cruise ship? ›

There is so much pride in cruise ship crew life, both the work and lifestyle. While it's definitely not the easiest travel job, it is the most rewarding.

Common interview questions might include 'Can you tell us a bit about yourself? ' or 'Why do you want this job? ' Meanwhile, job-specific questions could include: 'What skills can you bring to this cruise line?

As a general rule, plan to have $50 to $100 each day in the local currency. Also, you may want to bring an extra $20 a day for tipping crew members. Make sure to include smaller bills for tips. Fifty to a hundred dollars a day should be enough to cover small purchases, tips and snacks at each port.

How much should I tip? Most cruise lines suggest tipping $10 to $12 per day per passenger (not per couple), regardless of age. For a seven-day cruise, this means each cruiser should budget at least $70 for gratuities, or $140 per cabin for two people.

The higher the deck, the better and, often, more panoramic the view. Cabins on top decks aren't always the best on the ship, but many suites and specialty cabin categories are typically located on upper decks.

Generally speaking, mainstream, U.S.-based cruise lines automatically add gratuities of about $14 to $15 per person, per day, to your onboard bill. These tips are divided among the dining staff (waiters, assistant waiters and head waiters) and housekeeping staff (such as cabin attendants).

Bring a small purse to hold your cruise card and camera when walking around the ship. I always like to have my camera with me so carrying a small purse means I don't have to always have it in hand.

Sorry, but there is no refund on a cruise for rainy days. Even if it pours during your entire trip, if the cruise still happens then you won't be refunded any money. (Trips entirely cancelled due to storms may be entitled to a refund.)

Taxes, gratuities or a service charge, plus other “extras” are just some of the things not included with your cruise fare. As cruise lines encourage cruisers to pre-book specialty restaurants, beverage packages, photo packages and more, many new cruisers are wondering…

What are the top 10 cruise questions first time cruisers are shy to ask? ›

On average, a healthy, well-built cruise ship can last for around 30 years, including regular services and design refreshes. But some cruise ships last for much longer. We take a look a the oldest cruise ships still sailing the seas and chart some of the different stages in their lifespan.

Swimwear: Bring at least 5 swimsuits and 4 swim cover-ups. Dinner Attire: Bring enough smart-casual looks for 10 dinners. For men, that means bringing at least 7 button-down shirts, while women should consider packing at least 7 fashion tops.

Collared shirts, tailored pants or shorts, skirts, and dresses are suggested. Layers and a light jacket or sweater are suggested for cooler nights and in the ship's air-conditioned public areas.

Avoid arriving at peak boarding time

We recommend getting to the terminal either early, before the rush, or late (after 2 p.m.), when most people are already onboard. You might still have a little wait, but it won't be anything compared to peak boarding time.

Arriving about an hour before the end of the boarding window leads to fewer lines, allowing you to arrive and usually get right on the ship. Note: One thing you should never do is arrive late to the boarding window.

On cruises of 6 days or longer, no more than two bags, per person. Each checked bag and carry-on bag should not weigh more than 50 pounds and, when lying flat, bags must not exceed 16 inches high, by 24 inches wide (the length of the bag is not a factor). For security screening purposes, all luggage should be unlocked.

What do you wear on cruises during the day? During the day, you can wear casual attire such as t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, sundresses, and skirts. If you're spending the day at the pool, you can also have lunch or dine in casual pool clothes at the snack bar located next to the pool deck.

Upon entering the terminal, you'll need to show your cruise documents and go through a security line. You will need to pass through an x-ray machine and have your carry-ons scanned, but the process is not as rigorous as at the airport. (You likely won't need to remove your shoes, for example.)

Do you feel more motion on the front or back of a cruise ship? ›

The forward is subject to the most movement out of anywhere on a ship. And the higher the deck, the more pronounced that rolling and swaying motion tends to feel. Movement at the aft is a bit less drastic than the forward, but still isn't the most stable place for those who are prone to seasickness.

When you forego tipping on your cruise, you aren't hurting the corporation. You're just lowering the pool of funds that hard-working service employees share at the end of the journey. Automatically added gratuities take the confusion out of tipping on your cruise.

If you miss the ship, you'll have to either meet it in a subsequent port of call or call it a wash and head home. Your cruise line, travel agent or travel insurance provider might be able to help you make the plans; otherwise, you'll have to make arrangements on your own.

You will not go through customs when boarding a cruise ship at the embarkation port. But you will be screened. The cruise line typically takes your passport and returns it as needed during the cruise. The cruise line has security that will x-ray carry ons and you walk through a metal detector.

On cruise ships, decks are numbered from bottom to top, starting from Deck 1 and going up at high as 20 or more. On most cruise ships, the lowest decks aren't accessible to passengers, and you board the ship on Deck 4 or Deck 5.

A cruise ship can leave without you – and if you get left behind, it will cost you a bundle.

Avoid arriving at peak boarding time

We recommend getting to the terminal either early, before the rush, or late (after 2 p.m.), when most people are already onboard. You might still have a little wait, but it won't be anything compared to peak boarding time.

Will my bags be searched on a cruise ship? All baggage brought on board the ship will be X-rayed. When you go through security you will set your bags on the x-ray machine like you'd find at an airport. Checked luggage is also X-rayed behind the scenes.

Most cruise lines suggest bringing no more than 2 pieces of luggage per person, with a maximum of 50 lbs each.

What is a boarding process? ›

Boarding is the last step before heading into the aircraft. Passengers pass the last checkpoint and guided to the plane with the help of airport staff. Boarding time, therefore, refers to the duration of this procedure.

Remember: you must always wear a lifejacket when boarding one vessel from another, and take extreme care — particularly in poor weather.

Embarkation: It's when you board your cruise ship at the beginning of your trip. Port of call: A port of call is a destination on your cruise and where you'll likely be able to enjoy shore excursions.

The lower and more central you are in a ship, the less roll and sway you will feel. Even if you choose a balcony room, choose a low level and a room closest to the ship's center. The higher decks and cabins at the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship will rock and roll the most.

Cruise cabins near the elevator or stair access points are some of the noisiest staterooms at sea and their location will lead to a lot of noise during most parts of the night and therefore, should be avoided.

Major cruise lines have sophisticated security departments run by former federal, state and military law enforcement officials and are staffed by competent, qualified security personnel.