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Cruises could be magical — waking up in a brand new vacation spot day-after-day, countless meals, and sunsets that look straight out of a portray. However like every journey, a little bit of preparation could make or break your journey.
Now we have been overlaying cruises for the previous 15 years. And after we have been simply beginning out, we additionally had fairly a number of misconceptions that turned out to be false and made some errors that have been truly avoidable. And on this article, we’ll share with you 13 rookie errors to keep away from when reserving a cruise or boarding a ship.
Plan sensible and spend much less time stressing and extra time sipping cocktails by the pool.
1. Reserving the improper cabin.
Not all cabins are created equal. Some rooms and decks can set off movement illness greater than different areas, whereas others are higher for senior vacationers as a result of they’re nearer to the elevator. So while you guide a cruise, select a cabin or stateroom that most closely fits your wants.
On the whole, there are 4 major forms of cruise ship lodging:
- Inside rooms are normally the most affordable, but additionally essentially the most cramped, and haven’t any home windows.
- Sea/Ocean view rooms have a window that might let in some gentle and have a view of the surface.
- Balcony rooms have some additional area the place you’ll be able to step outdoors and get a greater view of the ocean and the ports.
- Suites have extra facilities than traditional. They arrive in all sizes and shapes, and normally include all types of perks.
So in the event you’re claustrophobic or susceptible to movement illness, it’s not a good suggestion to select an inside cabin that’s on both finish of the ship. As an alternative, select one within the center half. You’ll additionally really feel the movement essentially the most on increased decks or ranges.
In the event you’re touring with seniors or these with mobility points, select a room near the elevator. Ships are loopy lengthy, and it may be fairly difficult for them to stroll half the size of the ship day-after-day.
Learn evaluations and take a look at the ship’s deck plan earlier than reserving.
2. Not understanding the inclusions.
Each time we characteristic a cruise and point out the worth or price, among the traditional questions we see within the remark part are: Is that for the room solely? How in regards to the meals? How a lot if meals are included? Do we’ve got to pay to make use of or entry the swimming pools?
Typically or virtually all circumstances, while you guide a cruise on the cruise line’s web site and even with a journey company, the cruise fare already contains the next for everything of the crusing:
USUAL INCLUSIONS
Once more, these are lined by your cruise fare.
- Lodging
– the room the place you may be staying - Entry to most facilities (like swimming pools)
– not all or with exceptions - Fundamental leisure or reveals
- Full board meals
– breakfast, lunch, dinner
There are two forms of eating places on board: inclusive (or complimentary) and specialty (or paid).
In the event you dine on the inclusive or complimentary ones, you don’t have to pay something additional. These are included in your cruise fare. Normally, there’s a buffet restaurant choice. On Royal Caribbean, they’ve the Windjammer. On Star Cruises, it’s Lido. And on Costa Serena, Prometeo. However other than the buffet, there’s additionally a complimentary full-service (or superb eating) choice, which can be freed from cost. The names additionally differ relying on the ship.
Just lately, on our earlier cruise reel about Costa Serena, there was a remark that they bought uninterested in the buffet meals however didn’t strive eating at Vesta as a result of they thought it was superb eating and needed to pay additional. Once I instructed them that Vesta was truly free, they couldn’t imagine it. I even needed to clarify it additional. They thought that as a result of it was superb eating, it could incur additional charges and that solely the buffet was “free”. What a missed alternative! Think about, seven days of crusing and so they didn’t get to expertise the opposite complimentary eating places.
So earlier than the cruise, familiarize your self with the complimentary or inclusive options of the ship to maximise your money and time! Make each journey price it!
So, you need to know the inclusions, in addition to the exclusions!
3. Not budgeting for “hidden prices”.
However, many first-timers assume cruises are 100% all-inclusive. Spoiler alert: they’re not.
Once you’re reserving a cruise, the primary costs which are offered to you might be normally simply the so-called “cruise fare”. As talked about, it already covers your lodging, major meals, and entry to facilities and a few leisure. However while you attain the checkout web page, you’ll out of the blue discover some additions to the associated fee. That’s likely the “port prices”. Extra on this later. Under are the exclusions out of your cruise fare that you ought to be conscious of.
EXCLUDED FROM CRUISE FARE
- Port Prices. Port prices (typically known as port charges or port taxes) are the necessary charges that cruise strains pay to every port your ship visits, form of like “hire” for docking there. The cash goes to the port authorities for issues like upkeep, safety, and customs operations. You’ll normally see port prices already included in your complete cruise fare, however typically they’re listed individually to point out transparency. They’re not elective, even in the event you resolve to remain on the ship and skip the tour. The cruise line nonetheless has to pay the port to your ship’s go to. In the event you’re reserving with a journey company, the printed charges normally don’t embrace port prices but. So count on to pay extra upon reserving.
- Flights and Transfers. Attending to the port just isn’t included both, except you’re reserving a fly-and-cruise package deal.
- Journey Tax. Philippine passport holders additionally have to settle the Philippine journey tax.
- Gratuities. These are nightly service prices mechanically added to your invoice to compensate the hardworking crew corresponding to your cabin attendants, eating employees, and behind-the-scenes crew, who preserve all the things spotless and working easily. You won’t see most of them, however they’re those ensuring your towels are magically folded into swans and your buffet plates by no means run dry. Some cruise strains and sailings (like Singapore sailings of Royal Caribbean) embrace gratuities within the fare. However others cost them individually — normally round USD 10–20 per particular person per day. You’ll be able to prepay them earlier than your journey or have them billed on the finish of your cruise. And whilst you’re technically allowed to regulate or take away them in some circumstances, it’s typically frowned upon except one thing went terribly improper. These crew members work lengthy hours for modest pay, in order that little additional goes a good distance. In brief, it’s not a rip-off, it’s simply cruise tradition.
- Different Necessary Charges. For sailings to Japan, a JPY 1000 Vacationer Arrival Payment can be collected. For Sanya, China, in our expertise, we have been charged a HKD 15 dealing with charge.
These are a very powerful. Nonetheless, there are additionally elective gadgets that may make your cruise expertise extra handy or fulfilling however are additionally not included in your cruise fare.
OPTIONAL ADD-ONS
- Wifi. Cruise ships normally supply web packages for a charge.
- Shore Excursions. Sure, you will get off the ship and discover the locations. You are able to do it by yourself (DIY-style) or be a part of an organized tour. However both approach, these are usually not included. Your bills while you alight the ship are usually not included. DIY normally finally ends up extra budget-friendly.
- Meals at “paid eating” spots. Earlier, I discussed inclusive or complimentary eating places. You’ll additionally discover specialty or paid eating choices on board. Once you dine in one in every of these specialty eating places, you’ll be charged additional. However you’ll be able to completely get by with out these premium eating places.
Drinks are additionally restricted to water, primary espresso or tea, and typically, a number of flavored drinks. If you need soda, different juices, smoothies, wine, beer, or cocktails, you’ll should pay for them.
Drink packages are additionally quite common on cruise ships, which will provide you with limitless drinks, however they’re normally very costly and unhealthy. I’ve by no means paid for a drink package deal, and I nonetheless take pleasure in my time on board with out issues.
4. Lacking out on promos.
Cruise strains are continuously working promos. We regularly encounter gross sales like “4th visitor sails free,” “youngsters cruise free,” or “purchase one, get one 50% off.” These offers can slash a whole lot of {dollars} off your complete fare, however provided that you understand when and the place to look.
The issue is that many first-timers panic-book on the first respectable value they see. The bottom line is to remain looking out. Cruise strains are inclined to launch promos throughout off-peak reserving durations or after they’re filling up particular sail dates. In the event you’re versatile together with your journey dates and cabin sort, you’ll be able to snag insane offers.
Additionally, TPTers or our readers may also take pleasure in an extra 5% OFF on some cruises. All you could do is bear in mind and enter our promo codes. For Star Cruises (Star Navigator and Star Voyager) and Dream Cruises (Genting Dream), guide at www.stardreamcruises.com and use our code thepoortraveler, small letters or lowercase! That’s 5% OFF!
We even have a code for Royal Caribbean in the event you guide with Cruising.com.ph. The code is WORTHIT, which may also provide you with 5% OFF. You’ll be able to strive it on their web site, however typically the system doesn’t work. However in the event you guide with Cruising on the cellphone, simply point out that you just have been referred to by THE POOR TRAVELER and point out the code WORTHIT.
Additionally it is essential to do not forget that further providers and comforts are normally less expensive while you guide them BEFORE your crusing date — wifi, shore excursions or excursions, drink packages, and even paid eating places. You’ll save extra in the event you guide them prematurely than while you’re already on board.
Some employees, normally managers or head waiters, are additionally licensed to grant reductions. We normally expertise this on Royal Caribbean cruises. The pinnacle waiter assigned to us on the major eating room gave us 50% OFF on one other restaurant after we talked about we needed to strive it.
5. Not figuring out the visa necessities.
Many first-time cruisers assume that as a result of they’re “simply on a ship,” they will skip the entire visa enterprise. Fallacious. Even in the event you’re technically solely stepping off for a number of hours throughout a port cease, you’re nonetheless coming into one other nation. And if that nation requires a visa to your nationality, you higher have one — otherwise you won’t be allowed to board the ship in any respect.
Fortunately, a lot of the cruise ships accessible to us Filipinos don’t require visas. In the event you’re crusing to or from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, or Taiwan, no visa is required for Philippine passport holders.
For Japan, a visa is NOT required for cruise passengers arriving and departing on the identical ship. However you will need to pay the Vacationer Arrival Payment (JPY 1000). Cruise strains normally cost USD 10 for this.
For China, as of writing, in the event you’re staying in China for lower than 24 hours, you’ll be able to transit with out a visa. In the event you’re staying longer, you’ll want to use for one. To be protected, you’ll be able to apply for a double-entry visa.
For South Korea, no want for a visa in the event you’re visiting Jeju Island solely. However in the event you’re crusing to another a part of South Korea, you’ll want one.
IS VISA REQUIRED FOR FILIPINOS?
- Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong: NO
- Japan: NO – Not required for cruise ship passengers, however JPY 1000 arrival charge applies.
- China: NO – if staying for lower than 24 hours. However in the event you really feel such as you’re going over, higher apply for a visa.
- South Korea: Jeju Island – NO; Busan and the remainder of South Korea – YES
Notice: That is as of this writing, 2025. These insurance policies change over time, so ensure you get the up to date data. Cruise strains will normally inform you after reserving, however it’s nonetheless your duty to verify the necessities.
6. Not giving sufficient time allowance.
You could give your self sufficient time earlier than and after your crusing. Cruise embarkation and disembarkation could be chaotic. Flight delays, cancellations, and even site visitors can simply spoil your plans. Arrive on the port metropolis a minimum of a day earlier than departure. It offers you a cushion in case one thing goes improper.
The identical goes for after the cruise. Disembarkation can take hours, so don’t schedule an early flight residence. As an alternative, spend yet another evening within the metropolis. It’s far more stress-free and stress-free. It additionally offers you a while to discover the house port.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! If you could guide a lodge within the homeport metropolis, you’ll be able to guide with Agoda. However please use our promo code AGODATPT for as much as P5800 OFF. Utilizing the Agoda app, enter AGODATPT on the DEALS tab. Then when it’s time to guide a lodge, enter it once more upon checkout. That’s truly 10% OFF however capped at USD 10, in order that’s 5800 pesos based mostly on present conversion. That’s large! We additionally get credited for each reserving, which helps us preserve this web site.
7. Battling time zone confusion.
Some sailings cross time zones, which makes time-telling fairly difficult. Abruptly, your cellphone says one factor, the ship’s clock says one other.
Quite a lot of first-timers don’t notice that the ship’s “official time” doesn’t all the time match the native time at port, which might trigger chaos when planning shore excursions or assembly factors. Miss the all-aboard time as a result of your cellphone auto-adjusted? The ship gained’t wait.
Cruise strains normally announce time adjustments over the intercom or within the each day bulletin, however folks are inclined to miss it between buffets and bingo. All the time double-check the ship’s time earlier than getting off. It’s normally posted all over the place or displayed on the in-room TV.
TIP! When unsure, set your cellphone to airplane mode and manually alter the clock to “ship time.” This manner, your gadget doesn’t betray you mid-shopping spree overseas. It seems like a small mistake, however it occurs quite a bit.
By the best way, each evening, your cabin steward will depart a each day program in your room. It lists all the things taking place onboard the following day: reveals, trivia video games, dance courses, film screenings, meals tastings, and even karaoke. It additionally tells you if there can be time zone crossing quickly.
8. Overlooking shore tour logistics.
Some stops or ports of name are simpler to discover than others. For instance, Penang and Malacca in Malaysia, Phuket’s Patong Seashore in Thailand, and Naha in Okinawa are straightforward to discover even with out becoming a member of a tour. In Penang, the very talked-about Artwork Road is simply inside strolling distance. In Naha, you can even stroll to a bus cease or get a cab simply.
However Port Klang is sort of indifferent from Kuala Lumpur. And in Taiwan, in case your goal is Taipei, it takes time to succeed in it from Keelung, particularly in the event you’re taking public transportation. In Japan, Ishigaki’s port is sort of remoted, with a really restricted variety of taxis, so it’s greatest to constitution one prematurely.
Bear in mind! Cruise ships comply with strict schedules, and they won’t await late passengers.
In the event you be a part of a ship-organized tour, you’re protected — they’ll ensure you’re again in time. However in the event you discover independently, be aware of the all-aboard time. It’s not like lacking a bus; in the event you’re late, the ship will actually sail with out you. All the time keep watch over the clock, and provides your self a minimum of an hour’s buffer earlier than departure.
And oh, it’s all the time greatest observe to buy journey insurance coverage earlier than your journey. It’s not only for accidents; it additionally covers journey cancellations, delays, misplaced baggage, and people little “plot twists” that are inclined to occur on the worst attainable time. You most likely gained’t want it (fingers crossed), however in the event you ever do, you’ll be so glad you bought it. Consider it as essentially the most boring buy that might find yourself saving your complete trip.
The factor is, not all journey insurance coverage firms present protection for cruises. However one which I do know positively does is PGA Sompo’s TravelJoy. To guide, simply go to www.thepoortraveler.web/shield. It will lead you to PGA Sompo’s official journey insurance coverage citation web page.
Cruise insurance coverage insurance policies are barely pricier — normally a 30% premium is added — however that’s higher than nothing. To assist cut back the associated fee, use our code WORTHIT, which will provide you with 5% OFF.
9. Forgetting the costume code.
Most cruise ships working in Asia are fairly informal. But it surely’s nonetheless fairly enjoyable to decorate up. You may suppose, “It’s trip! I’ll put on slippers all over the place.” However not all eating rooms or lounges agree. Whereas ships have grow to be extra lenient, full-service eating places normally don’t permit swimwear, flip-flops, and pajamas.
I normally pack two units of outfits per day. One informal for daytime exploring and one thing extra smart-casual for nighttime actions. On the very least, my private rule is, at fine-dining locations, my prime ought to a minimum of have a collar.
Some ships even have formal or gala nights, which require correct apparel — like a costume or a collared shirt. Don’t fear, you don’t actually need to convey a tux. Simply one thing a bit nicer than your “mall” outfit.
And in the event you intend to swim, correct swimwear is normally non-negotiable.
10. Overpacking
Cruise cabins are cozy — and by cozy, we imply small. Generally, actually small. Bringing two suitcases filled with “simply in case” outfits will depart you tripping over your baggage. The trick? Pack sensible.
Follow mix-and-match items, convey one pair of costume sneakers, and don’t neglect swimwear and one thing heat for the chilly decks at evening.
Additionally, don’t neglect a small day bag for shore excursions. You’ll want someplace to stash sunscreen, your cellphone, and that “memento” you didn’t plan to purchase.
11. Bringing prohibited gadgets.
Cruise strains have strict guidelines about what you’ll be able to and may’t convey on board, and so they take them significantly. These guidelines differ relying on the ship or cruise line, however on the whole, weapons, unlawful substances, and gadgets which are sharp, flammable and harmful are prohibited. These are fairly apparent.
However there are different issues that individuals mistakenly attempt to convey on board, however find yourself getting confiscated. These embrace:
- Warmth-generating gadgets like flat iron (though hair straighteners and curling irons are normally exempted).
- Extension cords or energy strips, as these are fireplace hazards. As an alternative, convey these small journey adapters.
- Alcoholic drinks, typically prohibited on most ships, with a number of exceptions, like one bottle of wine per cabin (Royal Caribbean).
Once more, these guidelines differ from firm to firm, so simply test the superb print earlier than packing.
12. Not making ready for seasickness.
Some vacationers deal with sea days (days with out a port cease) as “wasted” days. Massive mistake. Sea days are literally the perfect a part of cruising, the calm between adventures.
Use them to calm down. Lounge by the pool, hit the spa, be a part of a wine-tasting, or simply nap prefer it’s your job. You too can use the time to discover the ship. By the tip, you’ll notice sea days are while you really really feel the cruise life.
However it’s as of late at excessive seas that are usually the shakiest. Even in the event you suppose you’re not the sort to get movement illness, the ocean may humble you. It occurs to the perfect of us — even seasoned vacationers.
Pack motion-sickness patches, tablets, or wristbands simply in case. And in the event you begin feeling queasy, go outdoors and take a look at the horizon. It helps your mind recalibrate.
I don’t actually get dizzy quite a bit. However I’m all the time ready for it. Fortunately, I by no means had to make use of it. Not but, a minimum of.
13. Not bringing backup money.
On most cruise ships, all the things you purchase onboard will get charged to your room key or card. However when you step ashore, it’s a special story. Some ports, markets, and even taxis nonetheless want good old school money. And in case your bank card out of the blue decides to have belief points mid-trip, you’re in hassle.
Right here’s the factor: typically, your financial institution sees overseas transactions and freaks out, assuming your card’s been stolen despite the fact that you’re simply attempting to purchase souvenirs. When that occurs, the cardboard will get blocked. Been there, executed that. It occurred to us after we have been crusing within the Caribbean from Miami. It additionally occurred to a pal after we have been crusing from Singapore to Malaysia.
It’s not straightforward to contact customer support overseas whereas everybody else is fortunately exploring. That’s why it’s all the time sensible to convey backup money and one other card, ideally from a special financial institution or community (like one Visa and one Mastercard). Maintain some native foreign money for every port, plus a number of crisp USD payments as common backup. It doesn’t should be quite a bit — simply sufficient for emergencies, ideas, or that impossible to resist road meals.
Convey some small payments, too, for tipping crew members who go the additional mile. Slightly generosity goes a good distance, and these hardworking of us typically bear in mind your kindness (and your favourite drink order).
It’s your flip! Do you’ve got ideas so as to add to this checklist? Or have you ever been responsible of any of those? Tell us within the feedback part under.
Updates Log
2025 11 5 – First uploaded
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