Trifter

Are you ready for your best vacation ever? Are you ready to eat delicious food, play all day and night and see new sights? If the answer yes, then let’s get you past the stuff you HAVE to do and get to the stuff you WANT to do on your cruise!

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Travel

You’ve booked your cruise.  How are you getting to there? If you are flying make sure you have a window of a few hours to land before your cruise leaves.  This gives you time to still get to your ship even if your flight is delayed.  If your flight is delayed, make sure and let the airline help know.  If you are driving, give yourself enough time to get to the pier, find parking and haul your luggage to the cruise terminal.

You can buy a ship transfer to get you from the airport to the pier. Or you can take a taxi etc. Check out prices for both.  A taxi will get you to the pier faster.  A ship transfer may be cheaper but you will be on a full bus which isn’t such a bad idea either.  All the passengers will be on your ship!

If your cruise leaves at 5 P.M. you will want to be at the ship by 4 P.M.. Most ships let you board by noon!  So why not take advantage of starting your vacation early?

Paperwork

When you get your cruise documents, read through them.  Fill out any paperwork needed.  Some cruise lines let you do paperwork on-line now which will speed up the process of getting on board the ship. Put the luggage tags on the CORRECT way before you leave home.  Have your passport, another form of picture idea, credit card and cruise documents in your carry-on/on you when you get to the pier.  You will check in with hundreds if not thousands of other excited cruisers.  Have your documents ready when you get to the front of the line so your boarding process will go smoothly. 

Boarding

As you walk the gangplank to board the ship, you can feel butterflies in your stomach.  You are almost there! Then someone stops you to take your first of many pictures on your cruise.  Stop and smile. You never know if you’ll want to buy it later. There is a photo kiosk on board where you can look at your pictures and buy them or throw them away.

Another photo opportunity you have to take is one for your room card.  This card not only gets you in your room it is your ‘cash card’ or ‘credit card’ while on board.  No cash passes hands on ship.  When you checked in at the terminal, the cruise personnel asked for a credit card.  All your purchases while on the ship will be charged to the credit card.

You HAVE to have your room card to get on and off the ship. 

Now You Are On Board!

Yippee! Someone will greet you as you go through the door.  They will direct you to your room or to the floor with the food.  There is usually a buffet somewhere on board.

Go check out your room. It will be smaller than you expected but you will not be spending much time there! If your room is ready, you can leave your carry ons and go explore the rest of the ship. You will have a stateroom attendant who will cater to your needs. (Remember, s/he will also be catering to many, many others, so be thoughtful).

Your dining assignment will be on a ticket in your room. Go find the dining room and your table.  If there is a problem, talk to the person in charge. Most likely there is already a line.  If your table is not a problem go exploring or find the buffet.

If you want any spa treatments, exercise classes or reservations at the speciality dining room, now is the time to make those unless you did it on-line (you can make reservations on-line!). OR if you packed a swimsuit in your carry-on you can change and go for a swim.

YES! You are on vacation! Sing it with me! I am on vacation! Vacation!

OH! One more thing that is very important before the ship leaves. The muster drill (safety drill). You will NOT get out the muster drill.  Everyone gets to don bright orange lifevests, find their way to their safe area and wait. Everyone on ship has to do this, even the staff. They are the ones directing you. Be courtesy.  And don’t do chest butts with your vest. They hurt. After everyone has been accounted for, the drill is over and you can take your lifevest back to your room.  Now! Go to one of the top decks and watch the port get smaller and smaller as you sail out to sea! ENJOY!

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