But all it takes is a moderate flight delay or a pile-up on the highway to upset those plans. Many cruises depart in the afternoon, so it might seem just fine to fly or drive to a port on the morning of departure. It is the only way to ensure you won’t miss your ship - something that happens to cruisers more often than you would think. If you only follow one piece of advice in this story, it should be this one. (If you’re not a member yet, we highly encourage you to join.) Arrive at your departure port a day ahead of schedule

It’s a list drawn not just from my own experience over 20-plus years of cruising but also the observations of more than 100 cruising fans who shared their tips with TPG in a lively conversation on the topic at the TPG Lounge on Facebook. It contains my list of 21 ways to make your first sailing go more smoothly. If you’ve read this far, you are likely a first-time cruiser looking for advice for an upcoming trip, and that’s exactly what this story is meant to offer. What should you bring? What should you plan on doing in ports? What is the best way to book?įor more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.Īs the head of The Points Guy’s cruise content team, I get these sorts of questions all the time. See privacy policy.īut even in its simplicity, cruising still can be daunting for a first-timer. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions.

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