“Never, ever, ever fly in the day of,” she says.
That way, your morning of the cruise is smooth sailing."
Overpacking
Viktor Tuparovand his partner have more than 50 cruises under their belts collectively.
Courtney Ball, an Instagram and TikTok travel content creator, says one of her biggest tips for first-time cruisers is to avoid flying into port on the day of your cruise,.Credit:Courtney Ball/@theshrinkingcreative
“Now, Ive got packing down to a science.
I can fit everything I need into a carry-on for a weeklong trip.”
Viktor Tuparov/@vtuparov
The soultion:
So how should first-time cruisers pack for their vacation?
Courtney Ball, an Instagram and TikTok travel content creator, says one of her biggest tips for first-time cruisers is to avoid flying into port on the day of your cruise,.Credit:Courtney Ball/@theshrinkingcreative
“The trick,” says Tuparov, “is to think about versatility.
Pick clothes you could mix and match and remember to dress them up or down as needed.
Most importantly, wear what makes you feel good.
Viktor Tuparov and his partner have been on more than 50 cruises. Tuparov says over-packing is a major mistake made by first-time cruisers.Credit:Viktor Tuparov/@vtuparov
This is your vacation, so comfort should be a priority.”
It pays to do some advance research for ports along your individual cruise itinerary.
No time to plan in advance?
Vicki Winters is a luxury travel advisor who says booking a cruise through a travel agent may be a good way to avoid unexpected fees.Credit:Vicki Winters/@mybigfatmouth
Not Buying Travel Insurance
Another must-do for Ball?
Purchasing travel insurance in advance.
“Life can be unpredictable,” she explains.
Content creator Brandy Yearous has cruised many times with her family and recommends bringing a carry-on bag onto the ship with you that contains first-day essentials like sunblock and a swimsuit.Credit:Brandy Yearous/@supermomworkout
In short, if a trip is worth buying, it’s worth protecting your investment, too.
“The best thing to do is buy insurance ahead of time,” says Ball.
Depending on the line these charges can be astronomical and surprising to say the least."
“An agent [may] be able to save you a lot of grief,” she adds.
“Something more hip, sans kids?
More ports, less time at sea?
Lounge on your balcony?
Ned to get some work done?”
Winters says to remember most travel agents “have done the hard work for you already.
“Pack your swimsuit and sunblock in your carry on.”
Other items to toss into your day bag?
“Dont book early dinner just because thats what time you eat at home,” says Yearous.
“Ship time is very different and so are your eating habits while aboard,” Yearous explains.
