Congratulations and welcome aboard! You’ve discovered the Royal Holiday Vacation cruise program, and so will discover a number of wonderful places around the world. But how do you get the most of your time at sea and in port? In short, plan ahead, pace yourself, and be friendly. The team at Royal Holiday Vacations has almost too many cruises for you to choose from once you’re a member. The following are five tactics used by seasoned cruisers to get the most out of their trip:
1. Packing hacks
You may want to bring a collapsible closet bin. They’re easy to pack and make for more storage in the closets. You may also want to bring a clothesline and extra hangers. Our ships’ cabins are spacious, but these sorts of tricks are used by seasoned cruisers to optimize your room for space. Also bring a carry-on and pack it with everything you’ll need within the first 5 or 6 hours of the cruise. While other people are waiting for their luggage, you can enjoy the pool, walk around, and get acclimated.
2. Don’t forget essentials
Remember swimsuit coverups, water shoes, waterproof bags, and of course, sunscreen. You may also want to bring your own pharmacy. Think of all the essentials you could possibly need–from motion sickness medicine to headache medicine to indigestion pills. You may find these items in the ship’s store, but they can be pricey there.
3. Book excursions before your trip
When you book an outing with the cruise line you don’t have to worry about being late or getting lost in the process. Excursions booked with the cruise line can also be economical, fun, and time sensitive. Think about what you want. Is history important to you? Would you rather windsurf, or snorkel, or parasail? Are you up for a hiking adventure with scenic views? Planning ahead and using your cruise lines connections can make all of this happen.
4. Moderate everything, even moderation
The whole world becomes like a buffet when you’re on a cruise. And of course there are the literal buffets. Since you’re on a comfortable but moving sea fortress, you want to be sure to eat until your satisfied, and not more. When at port, it may be tempting to buy all sorts of souvenirs, but only buy what you can bring back. You may be interested in supporting the local economies, but go easy on the floral-patterned shirts. Only buy items you’ll want to use and wear. This said, you want to be sure to splash out at times and fully enjoy the sun, food, drinks, shopping and people, which brings us to our fifth tip…
5. Get to know the people you’re cruising with
One of the unexpected joys of taking a cruise is getting know people from all walks of life who’ve set aside time to enjoy the sea, the sand, the ship, and the world. You’ll be surprised at how much you have in common with people with very different lives back home. Be sure to socialize, share stories, and be friendly while on board. We’re all in the same boat, after all.
For more information about your dream cruise visit: http://royalholidaycruises.com
