What Smart Cruisers All Do On Cruise EMBARKATION DAY

[@joreneegreenhaw9097]

I am a travel agent and believe "Tips for Travellers" may be the most valuable thing I can do to help my clients find the best cruise for them. Also, really appreciate all the helpful tips. Looking back, I realize all the mistakes I made BEFORE I started viewing his videos on a regular basis. It is impossible to know everything about all cruises but with his KZbin videos I feel knowledgeable and confident. Sharing the video with my clients is such a great tutorial! Thank you.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@RicCrouch]

On our first cruise almost 30 years ago (a short 4 night), we didn’t explore the entire ship right off the bat. As a result, on the last night we discovered a small jazz bar tucked away that we had missed out the entire trip! Now the exploration of the ship is our embarkation day tradition.

[@careym3901]

Nice to see my routine is very similar. I now always go a day early. My embarkation day is virtually the same as yours! I always screenshot my e documents( I try and bring printed copies too) as I've run into crappy wifi at the port so many times. I see people so stressed out because they can't bring up their documents. It slows everything down too. Good advice for those not used to Embarkation day!

[@russs7574]

Having a stress-free pre-cruise period is why, whenever possible I drive to our port of embarkation. Our cruise group lives just outside Pittsburgh, and everybody else flies out on Friday, for a Saturday cruise. I hate flying....not the actual flying, but I find the whole airline experience a pain in the ass. Now I have the luxury of being retired, but I did this even when I was working (nobody minded that I took 3 solid weeks of vacation in March...it left the more desirable weeks open for junior people). I would pack up the car and take of on either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on my destination, and plans for the trip down. This year, on Tuesday, I drove from Pittsburgh to Charleston SC, where I spent the evening with one of my retired buddies and his wife. On Wednesday...Charleston to St. Augustine, where I was also spending all day Thursday, so I could get my Covid test that Carnival required. Then on Friday, St. Augustine to Miami, where I met up with the rest of my group. I paid $10 a day to park at the hotel (not bad for Miami), and the shuttle driver that was taking my friends to the airport on Debarkation Day agreed to stop at the hotel on the way so I could retrieve my car. Coming home, I drove that Sunday from Miami to Tampa, to visit another retired co-worker. Monday, Tampa to Orangeburg SC...Tuesday, Orangeburg to Hillsville, VA...and then Wednesday, I spent part of the morning driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway before I headed home to Pittsburgh. Very nice and stress-free.

[@Tomallenny]

Stay at a nice quiet hotel and you wont need a day to rest up to listen to babies screaming on a ship for a week. I have no idea what the allure of the whole cruising thing is. It's not cheaper or nicer or more convenient than any other form of vacationing beyond... say.......... Mt. Everest base camp.

[@TheCatInTheHat6505]

Dropbox, dropbox, dropbox! Make a folder for what you will need and make that folder, and or files available off-line . And it will not matter whether you have Wi-Fi or data, or not.

[@dougwhiting6623]

Most of what you have discussed we do and have found out like you that it makes the cruise so much better. Our last curies we went on, one of the couples we were cruising with booked an airfare the day of the cruise. Needless to say they had some major delays at the airport and just barley made it to the ship with only 10 minuets to spare. There are a couple of things I don't really disagree with but would like to add a point or two. One thing about pre booking everything before you get onboard is the excursions. I have found out that some lines charge you once you pre book your cruise, so if you have an onboard credit you can not use it for your excursions that you have already pre booked. The other thing is about checked in luggage, we only bring carry on luggage, that way we don't have to worry about the airlines or the cruise ship losing them. On one of our first cruises as we were going across the gang way we watched in horror as a fork lift with a fully loaded cage of luggage hit the side of the pier and the cage tipped spilling about half of the luggage into the water. Some of them the workers were able to save, but a lot simply slowly sank. After that we always take our luggage onto the cruise ship and off ourselves. We have found out that when we first started cruising we way over packed and so now everything fits in our carry on and a backpack. If you are worried about dirty clothes all cruise lines will launder your clothes for a cost, this cost will always be much less then what the airlines will charge you for an extra bag. Also some cruise lines do have self serve laundromats. As for us we take some detergent pods and wash out what we need in the cabin sink, usually this is only our undergarments. One more thing about the checked in luggage is that you don't have to wait to check it in once you get to the airport or wait to retrieve it once you reach your destination. This alone has saves us from standing in what could be some very long lines. Thanks for your videos.

[@sroach2025]

I am thinking of doing this for our cruise in August out of Seattle. Many videos showing people just piling their luggage outside the terminal, no porter. So afraid of theft and/or losing things

[@irishinusa1615]

Great information 👍 My husband thinks this is silly, but for over 16 years I taken a highlighter 😆 🤣. Love highlighting daily planner. Cant help myself. Its as important as my passport. Lol

[@tipsfortravellers]

Agree! I’m a highlighter packer too 😂

[@irishinusa1615]

@@tipsfortravellers ❤️❤️❤️👊

[@vanessacarter6342]

I also pack a post it note cube. I leave notes for my family on them. One one cruise I also made up a daily story for the towel animals that appeared. Kept both myself and our cabin steward entertained!

[@vanessacarter6342]

@@tipsfortravellers Try having a different colour for each men we of your party, that way you can keep track of who is going where/doing what.

[@irishinusa1615]

@@vanessacarter6342 thats a great idea. Cheers to "THE SILLY, but fun"🍷

[@anitan9834]

Completely agree! this is pretty much how my husband and I do embarkation day, as well. We've learned along the way

[@russs7574]

I cannot agree more that it is essential to plan to arrive in your embarkation port at least one day in advance. Weather, flight delays, etc. can really destroy your plans if you wait until Cruise Day to travel. If our embarkation port has a nearby racetrack that is running (Gulfstream in Miami, the Fairgrounds in New Orleans, Sam Houston near Galveston), I'll plan to arrive 2 days in advance, and spend a nice afternoon or evening at the track.

[@kathecobissears194]

We recently went to Alaska on Celebrity Solstice. Tips were spot on. One disappointment halfway through our dining server became ill. Now 3 of our 6 travelers have Covid! So disappointed what a let down.

[@bridgetcasement4522]

Additionally I always pack my bathing suit in my carry-on. Many times when we boarded a ship you can’t access the rooms yet. So this way we can have lunch if we’re hungry and then go sit in the pool area or the hot tubs.

[@matthewalker]

I disagree with specialty dining on the first night, or at least making any early bookings. I prefer to relax and watch the sail away than checking my watch to get somewhere on time. My first cruise was from Sydney and I had to go downstairs before we exited the heads to get to dinner

[@aussiejohn5835]

I agree, the sail away from Sydney is spectacular and shouldn't be missed. I sometimes just get room service to avoid missing the sail away and to avoid the very busy buffet.

[@edobkin]

Gary, I’m glad God gave you the chance to turn your retirement into a spectacular time with your partner spent cruising all while helping us make better, more informed decisions so that we can get the most out of our vacations! All the best!

[@charpnatl]

These tips are all well and good IF embarkation happens with a ready to sail ship. I’ve yet to walk onto a ship and have the option to go straight to my cabin. There has always been a lengthy wait in a public area on board as cabins are prepared.

[@rhondalyn100]

Good evening. I've never been on a cruise but am giving serious thought to such. This video is like a flashlight in the dark; I thank you so much for offering such great advice to novices such as myself.

[@sctony2000]

I always have printed copies of all documents. They are organized in a flexible notebook.

[@gwillis01]

Thank you for a pleasant, informative video

[@tipsfortravellers]

Glad it was helpful!

[@suntanman99]

I always wear a bathing suit on the morning of embarkation. Then immediately after I get on the ship, I head straight to the lido deck and swim in the pools and hot tubs before they get crowded. Often the cabin/stateroom and your checked bag are not available for hours after boarding which means if you aren't already dressed in a bathing suit you miss out on the least crowded time to go swimming. Related to this I recommend eating a good breakfast in the morning so you aren't that hungry around early afternoon, when food options are more limited on the ship. Most passengers don't follow this advice so they end up at the very busy buffet in the early afternoon.

[@mikeshaw4610]

Digital copy of documents. You can take a screen shoot of them so if Wi-Fi is not good you can pull them up from you pictures. Luggage: pass lighter and carry on. No chance of not getting your luggage.

[@xkr510]

I take photos of embarkation documents and passports and save to my phone so I don’t have wifi. I also look up the contact info for consulates and embassies of my home country and for local police. Office of the port management team can also be useful if you can locate it.

[@usaalways1869]

New subscriber that ❤your videos 🎉. I’ve never been on a cruise - thanks for all the advice

[@Goldsavergamer]

Went to Alaska and pacific coast , was going to go to Mexico before pandemic… next cruise I’ll make sure to follow this - great stuff!!!

[@raywiblelocksmithphilapa8766]

Thank you for your words of wisdom Gary. It will be very helpful. For our upcoming cruise

[@LisaAnn164]

This is great information 👍👏! I am sailing on my birthday in 2023 and have been trying to book the "Chef's Specialty Kitchen" on that night. However, that booking isn't available yet. I will have to wait a few months closer to the sailing date to book. I was able to book the Specialty Restaurants on OTHER nights😊👍.

[@Capt-Harpoon]

Thanks for your video. I have learned a lot. So now I will never ever in a million years go on a cruise😀

[@johnam1234]

Thanks for the help and information for my first cruise in the near future soon I hope

[@ronsteitz4535]

We enjoy going to show in theater the first night. Hopefully we can get the feel of our Cruise Director. This sets way for the way things will flow all week. We always have a balcony so rarely we will go to Cruise Sail Away Party. We have never tried the MDR on Carnival on first day for lunch. We don’t usually get our luggage until later in evening,so Lido deck eating is just fine.

[@pagrant]

We do the same on holiday even for non cruising holidays, check the hotel room,/apartment to see how soft the pillows are etc and any problems, I had a problem with the bed, as one of the post on the bed kept jabbing me in the back so the cleaner put another mattress onto the other one to stop it happening. We do hang around to speak to the cabin steward and report any problems so he or she can sort them out

[@georgeemil3618]

3:57 It says "Specialty". So at 9:51 he pronounces it "speciality" - with the "i" between the "L" and the "T". I've heard this pronunciation by an American cruise director too.

[@mickmorrison]

You cannot book an embarkation time with P&O, they allocate the time.

[@williamd9205]

Thanks for the great tips Gary. Always appreciate your blogs.

[@tipsfortravellers]

My pleasure

[@mrCetus]

I've done everything permitted for my June cruise in advance, including booking supper at the small jazz club on board for the first night. Thanks to your tips, my cruise which originally was for the Baltic sea and included St. Petersburg has been changed to a Spanish cruise. Once St. Petersburg was removed from the trip thanks to the situation in Ukraine, I found another cruise and had only to pay for the extra few days. I can't tell you how much your practical tips have helped, and I'll report back once travel has been completed.

[@johnsmith9246]

Thank you, some excellent tips on embarkation, which we will be sure to try to implement. However, I am curious about your comments, suggestions, regarding your cabin. Surely if your cabin has an obstructed view or is situated in a nosy area, at that point in the process, there is very little you can do, particularly during the relative chaos of embarkation day. Perhaps I have misunderstood your point, perhaps you are suggesting that you are merely confirming what and where you have already selected. With the odd exception, we have always been well aware of where the cabin is, situated, the type and any issues regarding the views or not. Thank you again, some good practical suggestions.

[@HuddleAdventures]

Awesome vlog! We approach embarkation day in a very similar way.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching! Great to hear

[@PaulCashman]

Sadly, the first thing you say to do after embarking is the thing that many cruisers simply CAN'T do: go immediately to your cabin. On many lines, the staterooms aren't available for general occupancy until around 1 or 1:30 pm (although loyalty cruisers often get early access). So, for us peons who have to wait, we have to find other things to do. Also, on some lines the MDR is not open for sit-down lunch, although the maitre'd IS available for consultation and diet requests. There should be other dining options besides the MDR and the buffet, though. On the Mardi Gras there were no less than seven free/included lunch options, so it was easy to avoid the buffet.

[@steeviem1835]

I ignore that and 8 times out of 10, its actually ready. Or if not, the doors are open of all our stewards cabins that they attend to..And and he or she , will usually greet us and say it's fine to put our carry in cases in the room, just not stay in it , yet.

[@PaulCashman]

@@steeviem1835 I prefer not to be That Guy and don't want to bother them. They have their job to do and they are incredibly busy on turnover day. If the fire doors are closed, I won't pass them.

[@ryans4116]

Nowegin encore in a week

[@aolsweetsew]

great tips!

[@nicolaharvey6364]

Hi Gary What do you think of the new Cunard Queen?

[@dcrfire]

Very informative video Gary. I have a question, we have only been on a couple of cruises but have one planned for May. Our paperwork states that our cabin will not be ready till between 2-3pm. How do you get into your cabin so early?

[@floralscentkim1380]

Some cruise lines, such as Celebrity, will allow you to go to your cabin when you board to grab your key and put you stuff down. Typically you can’t stay in your cabin then but at least you can get a sneak peek. Happy sailing!

[@roundandroundmyworld]

Might be due to the ship arriving later than 5:00-6:00 AM from its last cruise, or it may just be a time when it is guaranteed to be ready. I've never had to wait on board a ship for a cabin to be ready, although on one or two trips I've been held in the terminal to wait for boarding until the cabin is ready (that was some years ago).

[@CrownRider]

Effectively you have an extra cruise day when arriving one day earlier than embarkation day....

[@billcollins2240]

Whatever happened to hippa?

[@knightfrompa]

Wife saves the qr code as a pic so if ahe doesnt have access to wifi she just pulls up the pictures

[@Clairewy]

I am confused I am going on a cruise in the med and have a roaming data pass do I still need to put phone in flight mode

[@gabrielst527]

A random question but someone knows if in a MSC cruise you get charged for tips even if you don't go to the dining rooms? Or it's only if you go to them that you get the charge? (asking as a first time traveller)

[@JamileSm]

How do you know what activities there are on embarkation day? Once you're on board, you get a printout of activities for the following day, but how do you know what's going on on embarkation day? I didn't know there was an introductory show in the theatre? Do they send out an email before the cruise starts?

[@mircat28]

Is that info on the cruise line app that he said to download before you go? That’s the first place I’d look!

[@halpen]

If you have pre-booked specialty dining before getting onboard, when is it (or is it ever) appropriate to make requests about seating (window seat, table for two, etc.) Is that done through a concierge if youre in a suite? Or should I be going around to the dining venues on embarkation day for this? Or is it simply not done?

[@tipsfortravellers]

yes if in suite but going to the venues on embarkation day is definitely best

[@sudeepchopade4223]

Hi sir can I get job in this cruise please help me please

[@peterjaro6804]

I agree with almost everything you do on the first day... apart from one. When I've been to the cabin, spoken to my stewart and watched the drill, I go to the pool area for jacuzzi. This is usually the ONLY time I have the Jacuzzi to myself on the whole cruise and no one is waiting for me to leave... THAT is when I feel I'm on holiday. I happily skip lunch for that.

[@irishinusa1615]

👊👊👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@LK-hy5jz]

And here goes your being alone! From now on there will be at least one more person with your secret in jacuzzi 🤣😂

[@peterjaro6804]

@@LK-hy5jz Ha ha yes... next time the Jacuzzi will be full on embarkation day, because they had all been reading a comment from some stupid person called Peter Jaro...

[@MrManMuff]

Also , it's the cleanest the jacuzzi is going to be for the entire cruise,by about day 3 it's just human soup

[@mcsabie1]

This may be obvious, but make sure you pack your swimsuit in your carry-on bag so you're not waiting for it to be delivered to your room hours later.

[@kylebradt7887]

Here is my “worst embarkation day” story. I live about 3.5 hrs away from Cape Canaveral and decided we would just drive the same day. Well everything that could go wrong did and as we pulled into the parking garage, we had to sprint to the doors into the terminal. They were literally about to lock the doors. We were the last ones on board. This was my first cruise and knew nothing about cruising. That feeling as my wife and I were running to the terminal was the worst.

[@mscolli3]

When did you leave home? Around noon?

[@PInk77W1]

I haven’t gone on a cruise yet. But when I fly I get to the airport 4-5hrs early

[@cp3onmtv963]

I mean what time did yal get on the road??!

[@jahbern]

We are the opposite- closer to PC and about 3 hours from MIA and FLL. We always give ourselves a HUGE buffer when we drive to port for your exact scenario. We have only had car trouble on the way back, fortunately. But we leave Orlando at 8 am to give ourselves plenty of time. Oh! But once we did forget a suitcase at home, so my husband had to drive back to Orlando from PC. Thank goodness we always give ourselves extra extra extra time. People who fly in the day of give me anxiety.

[@sal8454]

I’ve done this with running through the airport to our gate with my daughter. Funny now, but at the time! 😫

[@snerdterguson]

I've only been on 2 cruises, both with NCL, and on the first, I just ran around trying to see everything at once. The second cruise, I went in with a plan, and upon getting on board, I started running around trying to see everything at once. Lol. Couldn't help myself, its just so exciting boarding a ship bound for an exotic location.

[@Mleencihols]

Gary is the best cruise vlogger. He is informative, timely, and his topics are spot-on. I cruise every 2 months and he has made my cruising experiences much more enjoyable. His advice is objective and valuable. Thanks Gary...

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks ! Much appreciated

[@sroach2025]

Yessss love him

[@Tomallenny]

Every two months? Seek help. That aint normal.

[@Kimbaface]

I agree. So glad I found him!

[@pamelayoung6012]

I learn so much by listening to his videos

[@davedove67]

One thing I do on embarkation day is to get a decent breakfast before getting to the ship. That way, I'm not starving when I get to the ship and can avoid fighting with everyone else looking for food. Instead, I'll find one of the smaller cafes for a light lunch.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Good tip !

[@caroldoms4064]

We fly in the day before, and eat at the hotel. Some include breakfast, others we have to pay for or 'comped' because I have loyalty points with various hotel chains.

[@The_real_Y2]

@@tipsfortravellers Gary, when you eat at a specialty restaurant on embarkation day, did you book that ahead of time? Or, is that a meal you wait to book until you are on board? I’m asking with the first-day discount in mind. Thanks!

[@RicCrouch]

Absolutely! Once we realized that skipping that first buffet made life easier it became our standard embarkation plan! :)

[@emcee6365]

As a highly trained retired bureaucrat I keep a document file with a checklist and paper copies of everything in the order they will be needed including on the way hotel confirmations, airline reservations if I'm flying to the embarkation port, boarding pass, luggage tags, Covid-19 test results, Google maps of areas within walking distance of the ship in ports (to find places of interest I look interesting or the post office) grocery stores (where you buy specialty items and liquor at "locals prices." I also include a list of things I might forget (or have forgot in the past)--my camera, passport book where I also keep my original Covid-19 vaccination and booster cards, spare glasses, reading material, second car key and several other items. As a rudimentary Spanish speaker I have gone to Google Translate to download correctly some Spanish phrases I think I'm going to need--"I'd need a stamp for a postcard to the USA or Where is a supermarket near here?"

[@martinman4540]

Putting your phone on airplane mode is a great tip for sure. Our last cruise was to Alaska and only realized I was roaming after 3 days. Got a bill for $418. I was happy I discovered it after 3 days.

[@happytraveller2122]

Super important tip. I learnt that after my first trip away.

[@tomasgimenez4592]

I have watched a few of your videos, and I feel like I have already taken a cruise without leaving my living room, and saved a lot of money!

[@Marcus51090]

The digital virtual muster (because of covid) I liked, rather than getting dragged up and down the ship. I hope they keep it. No idea about the big ships I’ve only ever been on the small expedition ships, the big ones really don’t appeal to me at all

[@jlawrence0181]

My tip on trip planning in general based on what my wife does for EACH trip.: 1) Lists out everything that needs to be done to close up our home. 2) Lists out everything that we will need for that particular trip. 3) Specialty lists of things to bring along for the cruise or Las Vegas. (specialty list) This is done on a MS Excel spreadsheet and she prints it out. At the end of the trip, she will edit the list so that it is ready for the next trip. When you know upfront that you have everything you need, you are relaxed when you get to the ship.

[@toddmac2020]

I actually do everything you mentioned except for one thing. I love sitting on my balcony as we set sail. I have never gone to the Sail Away Party on any cruise.

[@russs7574]

My preference is to go up a deck, or two, or three from the party on the Lido deck and take a bunch of picture, both of the party, and the scenery going past the ship as we leave port. I am an unabashed tourist.

[@RicCrouch]

Top deck with an umbrella drink, watching the shore leave us. THAT’S when I’m on vacation! :)

[@shelleythistleton4935]

@@russs7574 me too!

[@Tomallenny]

Once you become a seasoned cruiser, you learn to avoid "planned activities" at all costs. They attract people who simply can't afford the high-class Cunard cruises but want to annoy people with talk of dragging a freaking tuxedo on vacation. I barely have enough room in my suitcase for all the cheap medicine and bottles of cheap vanilla extract that I am smuggling back in here and got no room for a costume to play "dress up". on a low class cruise ship full of like-minded smugglers. GTF outta here with alll that stupid talk.

[@pamelacrowell2007]

Unpack, unpack, unpack your luggage. Get organized and it makes the rest of your trip more enjoyable!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Good point !!!

[@hume6900]

We use packing cubes whenever we travel, so we don’t find the need to totally unpack. We also pack mostly low maintenance clothing so that we don’t have to spend a lot of time ironing or the like. I agree with being organized and Gary has given us great tips.

[@SirenaSpades]

What if you don't want to use your phone at all during the cruise? I'm not joking. I've made great efforts to stop using a smartphone and I don't plan to have to get one just for taking a cruise. Surely it's not necessary. Gen Z's are purposely avoiding smart phones so it seems like a silly thing for cruise lines to do.

[@Stripeysnave]

Great video, Gary. I also always take anti-bacterial wet wipes, and clean all points that can be handled - including the remote for the tv plus of course all door handles, plugs & switches. In our 45 cruises we have never been ill though now in our late 70s. We usually travel off peak and pick ships with no children aboard. We like going to talks and all the shows.

[@russellbenton2987]

Interesting . Lots of good tips there . We usually book fixed dining in a large table (usually 8) so we would never go to a speciality restaurant on first night . I haven’t done a cruise since Covid, so I don’t know if it’s still possible to do that , but meeting people at dinner is a big part of the cruise for us .

[@lorettaolson8748]

Old school. We always take paper copies of our boarding passes and our docs.

[@brigidconroy2111]

GREAT TIPS, I appreciate your advice about having a paper copy as well as a digital file.

[@paulaarons9393]

Love your videos mate. Very interesting, balanced and informative. I would appreciate any advice on cruising again - from Australia. Although staunchly against cruising over the past two years, I have changed my mind, principally because of the videos you have produced. (P.S. I’m 70 so I’m after age appropriate cruises mate.) cheers, Paul.

[@TaisToiRQ]

Just did Alaska on Holland America's Zuiderdam. His advice is great. There were small amounts of children who were all well behaved, just 2 isolated push ins and noise at the buffet by 2 family groups, one group of kids without parents. These 2 moments wer easy to tolerate considering this was a 7 day Cruise. It's funny how some cultures just push in everywhere they go and I experienced none of this except as above. Everyone on the boat was quite chilled. Although it's the only Cruise we've done, if I was your age and above if go with them. Definitely not an Aussie booze cruise 🙂

[@AIRDRAC]

I'm sure all of this is really good and useful advice, but I'm just sitting here wondering: A) How can he afford to go on so many cruises? B) How did he manage to say the words "embarkation day" so many times throughout the video?!

[@KMMK2371]

You're the best Gary! We will board as early as possible and check the everything is working in our cabin. Great idea! Another thing we do is look for the daily news and events. When we were on Royal Caribbean we would receive a daily events list. I hope this is still being handed out? This really helps plan out things to do and gives you a good idea on what the ship has to offer including spa, dining and shopping specials. I'm with you on the sail away parties! 🎉

[@cbpd89]

What a perfectly timed video! One week till I embark on my first ever cruise. Watching your videos will hopefully save me from making too many mistakes that might stress me out on my vacation!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Have a great trip!!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Absolutely 😂

[@seeking70]

Have a great time.

[@anitan9834]

Enjoy!!

[@Tomallenny]

The main thing is to not bring much beyond flip flops couple pairs of shorts a couple tshirts and some underwear. Don't get stupid and waste your space with "play dress up clothes" or anything stupid and pointless like that. The Oscars do sell tickets if you want to play "dress up". Sunblock is key, the cruise ship canteen gets a little gougy when it comes to needed things like sunblock, very expensive. Bring your own. I dont go running to customer service looking for free vouchers because someone farted in the elevator. They have. They are funny. grab a chair near customer service and watch the "professional anglers' at work trying to get a free cruise. lol. Too funny watching them. Everyone on the cruise ship is always deserving of a free follow-up cruise for no good reason. Just listen around the ship. You will be laughing. You will hear: " I am speaking to customer service about this" about three hundred times. Too goofy. Those cruise lines created their own monsters. Most of them cant evem afford a week at the motel six and act like it too. Nice they can get out though, I mean it. I am at the Hilton by the way. lol. suckers.

[@Mr.PetePrice]

Great video. If flying to Port, getting there a day early is key! Would also suggest that if flying opt for a longer layover if transferring flights. We did a cruise one year that sailed out of Barcelona. We decided to get there 2 days early because we wanted to visit Barcelona as part of our vacation. Our flight from Home was delayed which meant when we got the airport to our connecting flight we had to run across the airport arriving to the gate out of breath just as they were closing the door, but they let us on, however, none of our luggage made it. Thankfully because we got to Barcelona 2 days early I was able to go back to the airport the next day and our luggage showed up. Had we not done that we would have to go one the cruise with none of our luggage.

[@kathyslocombe1182]

Thankfully, we pretty much do everything you mentioned and most of it is already done for our May 7th cruise. I have been known to be detailed to a fault but have found, without fail, that embarkation day is stress free and very enjoyable. You truly are the best cruise vlogger.

[@BrandyHoelscher]

Enjoy your trip. I hope today has gone smoothly!

[@kevinhohenkirk8578]

How is ur cruise going ?

[@carolinelane9599]

Depends on where your getting on board. Cruised out of Miami twice. What a zoo. Took nearly 4 hours to get onboard. Crazy. Hong Kong, Singapore, Rome, 45 min max. Seattle maybe 1.5 hours.

[@raypackard9010]

Lane

[@raypackard9010]

Lane

[@hillsidebilly4649]

Thinking about going to a cruise with a facemask gives me shivers… no way.

[@portisleft6483]

All cruises that I’ve been on lock the access to the cabins prior to a certain time in the afternoon.

[@suekarecki4390]

Hi Gary, we also pack our swimsuits in our carryon bags--and head right to the pool/hot tubs. Thanks for all your tips! I really look forward to your videos!

[@cob9834]

I always look for no sugar drinks and it’s very hard, I’ve come to the conclusion that most people do not like the taste of alcohol, the only like what alcohol does to them and they prefer The taste of alcohol to be covered up with sugar. I’m drinking alcohol I want to taste alcohol and not a bunch of sugar. I think that’s how most people get intoxicated and it’s dangerous and embarrassing to get intoxicated.

[@pauljakubowski4322]

Given our situation, perhaps rare but not unique, we approach embarkation day a bit differently. Because we live in Florida, we drive to the cruise ports. We have "frequent parker" accounts with off-terminal parking lots in Ft Lauderdale, Miami, and Port Canaveral. As soon as we book a cruise, I look for the most recent discount our favorite parking lots are offering (% off, free days, etc) and pay parking in advance. Even including drivers' tips, that usually saves at least 30% over parking in the terminal garages. And is, in our opinion, easier, as the shuttles drop us right at the door, so we don't have to shlep our luggage down several floors and across the street from a parking place in the garage. We try to be among the last passengers to board, say 2:30-3:00PM for a 4:00 departure. That way, there is never a check-in queue to stand in, and the staff is MUCH less stressed and short with us. Our thought is that this lack of stress in embarkation is well worth the competition for that one extra meal in the Lido that is on everyone else's' minds. As you do, we also arrange as much as we can online prior to the cruise, and find that about the only thing we need to do once onboard is to take one trip each to book specific spa (BW does this) and specialty dining times (I do that) we want. This is usually not available in the smartphone apps, as the spa and specialty dining staffs invariably want to do the old fashioned high pressure upsell in person. (We resist.) We then meet back wherever is necessary to satisfy whatever muster requirements there are, confident that we're prepared to have a great time for the rest of the cruise!

[@donnakroner7603]

Hope that you can help Emma with her charity HAIRCUT. I suggested that you and Don assist her because you have both had experience with short hair. It will be done LIVE so it may not work for you..

[@peterjaro6804]

Yea... I want to see Gary cut his hair... oh no wait... he has no hair! I think Gary should wear a wig(!) for charity that day. A cheap 1970ies type... They usually cost around £2 or £3 in a charity shop. If he does, I will give Emma's charities £100 instead of £50.

[@rednival]

In general, this guy is a bit too uptight once he’s on board for my liking. All the stuff he suggest before embarkation is terrific, and making sure everything in your state room is in order is very smart; however, once you’re done with that, I’d advise you to stop being mechanical and start having a good time. To help with that, do more research on the specific ship ahead of time so you can relax once you are on board. Research can pay off. While this guy recommends doing the speciality dining the first night, I’m not sure this is a solid tip for all lines. On some cruise lines, the included restaurants have special items they ONLY serve on embarkation day, so do your homework and make sure you don’t miss out on something by following the generic regimen recommended by a random KZbinr.

[@briannickerson6858]

Living in Maine and going to Florida for Caribbean cruise, we plan three days out. We drive to a hotel near Boston’s Logan airport on that first of the three days where we leave our car for the duration of the cruise. The hotel buses us to Logan very early the next morning and we fly on the first nonstop plane to Fort Lauderdale. The early plane has most probably flown into Logan the previous evening and is ready to go. It’s much more likely that the plane will take off even in bad weather conditions. Regardless, being very early gives us flexibility to rebook for flights later in the day if necessary. Having a three day window, it gives us the alternative to drive to the cruise if weather prohibits flying.

[@ERRNCJ]

Mainer here too, we do the same! 🌲

[@peggytran5054]

Thanks for the tips. My husband and I just came from 18 Day Panama Canal Cruise with Caribbean Princess. It was a amazing trip. Love Princess.

[@Retiredtraveler1961]

Hi Gary, you’ve got great videos. I’ve traveled all over the world on cruises. What I’ve found to be the case is the embarkation depends on the local facility. For example, leaving out of Southampton on Princess the local port crew dictated everything; when I could enter, where I sat and when I could board despite the pre-check in allotment time you mention. It was extremely frustrating. The same experience happened to me at Boston cruise port “we don’t pay attention to your arrival time “ was said to me. Again the same thing happened on Buenos Aires cruise port, on Princess, it was a debacle (2022). So I guess my point is that other than perhaps Miami & Ft. Lauderdale l, where there are up to 9 ships a day leaving in each port, the process is not well controlled. Pack you patience and maybe a valium. I understand you’ve taken way more cruises than Me, but except for Dover UK on Pacific Princess (2019) & Fort Lauderdale on Princess (2021) it’s been a chaotic mess. Happy cruising 😊

[@evangewho56]

I want to warn people about the spa drawings. There was one time I won and it was like $50 off a treatment of regular price (which turned out to be more than their specials.) Another time I won one and bought a couple from someone who won some and was told over the phone that I could combine them to get a spa treatment which changed when they found out they were not bought but won gift certificates (I had checked before I bought them to be sure I could use them the way I wanted) and had no recourse as couldn’t return it to seller (a gift certificate should be a gift certificate no matter where it was from) and the last was when I won what I thought was a spa certificate with no strings attached(in the past it was just a discount for a full priced service but maybe they got complaints about it) for $150 and that was the worse. Of course it could not use for the embarkation day special which was a good deal, at a pamper party later they said one should get a facial once every two months so since it was one of the few services that could be bought for around $150 I booked that one (and THAT was a hassle as they were more but as a Plantinum member I automatically get a discount from the spa) so was worried I wasn’t getting that. I was very specific that I wanted a service where it came under $150 INCLUDING tips, was hard to get but finally did. When I went to get that facial, facialist said that was not right for my skin and tried to upsell me to a more expensive one, finally she found another one for the same price, I wanted to pay then and there but was told to wait. After she gave the facial she said they would take $50 off and save the other $100 for another service I said, no, I said in the beginning I wanted this to cover the whole thing, finally the facialist said I would owe nothing. On the last day of the cruise I found a $30 charge on the bill, guest services called the spa and the manager said it was a “service charge” and I said I thought the gratuities were included and she said it was not but a “service charge”, first time I heard of that! I am complaining to corporate but what they want is you to use their services yet still pay for SOMEthing and it’s sort of bait and switch, they just want to tell about their services and that’s how they get you to come. I think they should just have a special of the day, that only the first 10 people who book it each day (so one can know the schedule of activities to see when they want to book them) get that price, or be honest as in the past where it’s only good for a discount but not make it seem you are winning a FREE prize, I’d like to know what ship he was on (hope he sees that) where he got it completely FREE.

[@5stardave]

Since I will only have a flip-phone, I guess no cruising for me.

[@alongstorycutshort]

Something I do for QR codes, booking numbers etc. is screenshot them on my phone so they're in my Photos if I can't get online.

[@marciaolsson]

I spreadsheet the whole trip. Not so much a cruise out of my home port but each part of a multi trip. I recently dragged the kids from Australia to LA then a hire care and we reeled California and then an Amtrak to an Alaska cruise. Then after the cruise an Amtrak to Vancouver. Couple nights then home. In a spreadsheet I can see my costs and prepayments and port options. Even the expected weather. And I use all bonus vouchers and bits I’ve found along the way. For hot and cold sectors I packed relevant clothing for a few days in travel compression bag and that way reduced the luggage. We had 1 hot weather suitcase and 1 cold weather suitcase between the 3 of us. With a car seat and 1 carryon it was enough to manage.

[@anthonylawlor9130]

Excellent tips, just how we been doing for years. Hard copy of all your documents in a simple file is a great idea that has helped us out on a couple of occasions. Do everything from home on your computer is the only way to go.

[@mscolli3]

In my personal opinion I prefer boarding about 2 hrs before the ship is due to leave. The lines are greatly reduced, my cabin is cleaned and ready and I don’t check my bags just take them direct to my room.

[@AvoksimTami]

Can anyone give me a link to a video in which Gary talking about what not to take? I can't find this video on his channel.

[@silentcade7040]

Here’s a tip I do . When getting back on the ship to beat the crowd in front of the elevators walk up one flight of steps and catch the empty elevator as it’s going down to the floor below you , ride it down a level and let some of the crowd get on then ride it to your floor

[@misamsung6191]

I like the idea of a "bug out bag" for embarkation day and have been doing that for many years for business and personal travel. I would add that one should carry personal hygiene (travel sized), products, underwear and a t shirt. You said that you could buy many of the things that you might need but from my experience that isn't always the case. I've run into situations even in first world countries where a product wasn't available or they didn't have my size. Even though we aren't cruisers I do enjoy your travel tips and suggestions.

[@jeffaltier5582]

I think you make a great point about having both physical and digital copies of everything. My kids make fun of me, but that way I know I am covered.

[@leonkirby9294]

I’ve never had the battery go flat on a piece of paper

[@coolietoolie]

We are frequent cruisers and one thing we have found, if you do board early, is that your room might not be ready for you yet so you will have to hang around in other common areas for awhile. Before Covid, and ships were at full capacity, this was fairly common and you could almost count on rooms not being ready until around 1:00 because they were still cleaning from the previous cruise. Post Covid, the ships are not currently at full capacity, and they don't have as many rooms to clean so it is a little bit easier to get in earlier. Keep that in mind.

[@voyager619sd]

I wish I had seen this video when I went on my first cruise Princess cruise back in 2013. I missed a lot of the areas he covered. When I went on a 2017 Panama Canal cruise, I did better but still missed some of his areas. Where I did do well is being "Anal Retentive 🤣🤣😂😂" to make my master checklist in Excel. I had what to do in advance of the trip, what to pack in carry on and checked baggage. I set up the spreadsheet so as I worked each area it gave me my completion percentage. Showing me exactly where I stand to complete everything. When complete, I print it out and take with me. If my checked bag gets lost, I know exactly what is in it. During the trip I frequently make pencil adjustments to the packing list to work better next time. One packing list or ocean, one for river cruises. If all goes well with COVID-19 not being an issue, I'll be on a Holland America Mediterranean cruise starting in October. Two plus travel years lost, lots to make up.

[@pagrant]

first night of cruise, we have made sure we have packed evening wear for the main dining room in our carry on bag, and clothes for the next morning, and unpack the other items from the suitcases the first day as usually we at sea.

[@Pavelpetuniablue]

Soon i'll be going on my 11th cruise. Would you believe i've never gone to a sailaway party? Didn't even know there was one, what it was or where it was held. How does one find out about the timing of this and am i the only dunce onboard? Actually just found out my ship will depart at 11p.m. Will there be a party then?

[@kennethgadwah1753]

My wife and I pack 2 days worth of our clothes in each other's suitcases, so if a bag goes missing we have 2 days worth of clothing.

[@rogermagill3779]

One thing we have found useful…..find out if there is a specific spot you can leave your roll-on luggage until your room is ready. Nothing worse than having to lug it around waiting for the cabin to open up.

[@janegallagher5427]

Another thing to check when you do the initial check of room, if you have a fridge and require one (I had a medication that needed to be refrigerated).

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great tip !

[@gw2078]

Thank you very much for a really helpful and concise review. You go to a lot of trouble in your videos and have some really useful content in them. I have only cruised 8 times but intend to do a lot more and your tips will help enormously.

[@jasonlott4885]

Start to explore the ship from the top down. It is a whole lot easier down than up on the first day. Most cruise lines are breaking down on surge protectors not extension cords. A plain extension cord/power strip is ok just unplug when not in use. Surge protectors can interfere with the ships own surge protection.

[@chrisrainville8713]

If you are using digital copies on your phone take and use screen shots of your docs instead. I learned this when flying. The screen shots are retrievable from the photos app so you won't need an internet connection.

[@timkline162]

One thing we like to do when we first get on the ship, the main elevators always have huge crowds of people in the lobby waiting to go up. If you go to the elevators all the way at the front of the ship or the back, there's rarely anyone waiting there and you can hop right one. We also avoid the buffet on embarkation day, way too crowded. If we're hungry we'll go up to the top deck and get a burger or something like that instead.

[@adrianne7882]

One thing that I do on the first day is after the drill I go back to my cabin for a shower and a nap.