How to Prepare For Your Cruise

For some reason most people seem to think packing your bags is the only preparation needed for a cruise. Well, let me be the one that spoils the fun. There is more work to do. A lot more. The two most important rules? Number one; start preparations the minute you booked your cruise. Number two; bring your passport.

Most cruise ships travel on international waters and dock at international ports. Before being able to even board your ship, you'll have to show proper identification. With international cruises, this identification often includes a drivers licenses and most certainly a passport. You already knew that right? Well, you'll be 'flabbergasted' with the number of people that show up without a passport. Believe it or not, but a cruise ship hardly ever departs without leaving behind at least one not so happy camper. Often familys. Kids included. And take it from the captain: when you show up without a passport, there is absolutely nothing we can do to help you.

Medical care
Regrettably, as it comes to getting a passport, there are allot of individuals who wait until the very last minute. Here is your wake up call. Getting yourself a passport, will take at least a couple of days, maybe even a week or more to process.

You won't be automatically given a passport; instead you're required to apply for one. About anyone is granted one, but planning ahead is the better choice. Sure, last minute passports can be obtained. But only in the case of an emergency. And whether you like it or not, the authorities hardly ever consider your cruise to be an emergency.

It doesn't stop with your passport and driver's license. If you're covered under a health insurance plan, bring your health insurance card. In the event you fall ill somewhere along the cruise, your insurance cards will get you the needed medical care.

If you are on medication, bring those too. Don't be cheap. Bring some extra. Your doctor will write extra prescriptions if you tell him or her that you'll be traveling on a cruise ship. If your medication gets lost, the additional prescriptions may be a life saver.

Contact Information
To pay for onboard and port activities, you'll need to bring along some extra money. But please, don't bring large amounts of cash with you. If you must bring cash along, be smart and divide your money up and place it in secure locations. Ask the crew if there is a safe aboard. But even better: just bring credit cards, cashiers checks, money orders, or traveler's checks.

Great alternatives to carrying hard currency. By the way, did I mention to bring your passport?

Before you leave home to start your adventure aboard, give a copy of the cruise ship's travel plan to some friends, family members or the neighbors. This will make it easy for you to be contacted in case of an emergency. Not all cruise companies do this, but you may be asked to provide the contact information of somebody that should be contacted when something happens to you or your family. It can be anyone. Your next door neighbor, your boss, a close friend or a family member. Just make sure he or she is around and approachable while you are on the cruise ship.

"Ok Captain, you made your point. I'll do anything you just told me to do. Can I pack my bags now?"

Sure. If you want to. But what do you know about the cruise destinations? About the people that live there? The places you have to visit? And if this is your first cruise ever, do you know what to expect on your first day at sea? Sure, you can pack your bags now. But if you want to enjoy your cruise to the fullest. you'd better do some additional homework. Oh, and by the way, while packing your bags, please do me a favor and keep in mind that even in the Caribbean the climate can be surprisingly different then you would think. Bring an extra sweater. And your passport of course.

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