I spent over two months on a cruise ship in 2025, and sadly I made my share of errors alongside the best way.
After counting up all of my Royal Caribbean cruises (and one Silversea cruise), I spent 73 nights cruising. It is unbelievable and I am fairly lucky to have the ability to sail that a lot. I attempt to not take it as a right, and I like with the ability to see the world on this method.
Nevertheless, I had a number of missteps throughout my journeys. Fortunately, there weren’t any actually horrible errors. I prevented the key pitfalls of cruising, and looking back, the errors I made had been methods I can enhance how I cruise sooner or later.
Listed here are the six issues I did mistaken on cruises this 12 months, and the way I am going to hopefully keep away from all of them subsequent 12 months.
I as soon as forgot to pack pants
I used to be about midway to the airport after I realized I did not pack pants for my first crusing on Star of the Seas.
I packed loads of shorts, however I utterly forgot to pack denims or slacks to put on within the night. This was an issue that would have simply been prevented with a packing checklist.
Now we have a complete cruise packing checklist so nobody has to overlook to pack pants, however I uncared for to verify it throughout earlier than I left.
Fortunately, I used to be flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico, so I used to be in a position to make a pit cease at Walmart and decide up a number of pairs. However going garments procuring at Walmart will not be how I wished to start out my journey.
It is at all times a good suggestion to evaluation a packing checklist so that you’re sure earlier than you permit that you’ve every part.
Balancing shore excursions and leisure
In the event you’re like me, then you definately get so excited for a cruise that you simply need to select wonderful shore excursions in each port of name. The draw back is you’ll be able to simply over do all of it with what looks like enjoyable plans.
I discovered on my spring break cruise on Icon of the Seas after a few seaside days in a row, my household had “hit the wall” with a lot occurring.
It is simple to over plan after which really feel exhausted. However it’s additionally a advantageous line with how a lot is an excessive amount of.
The lesson realized right here it is a good suggestion to depart plans in a port or two extra ambiguous. That manner, you have got the choice to not do a tour and wing it with lunch or some procuring. And in the event you’re within the temper for one more seaside, then hop in a taxi.
Neglecting to verify airfare costs with the cruise line first
Early within the 12 months I went to ebook my summer season European cruise airfare and virtually overpaid for it.
I assumed reserving the flight immediately with the airline can be a good suggestion, however later I found that it was cheaper to ebook the identical flights by way of Royal Caribbean.
Because of the Air2Sea program, there are subsidies for choose Alaska and European flights.
Fortunately, I had booked refundable flights so I cancelled it after which rebooked with Air2Sea to make the most of the decrease costs.
When you’ve got a cruise booked in 2026 to Alaska or Europe, there’s already the same low cost on flights that you need to take into account earlier than reserving any flight.
Limiting myself to the buffet after I cruise solo
Generally I’m going on cruises on my own as a result of it would not work out for my household to affix me for them. Once I cruise solo, I prevented sit down eating places just like the Fundamental Eating Room, and that was a mistake.
I gave consuming within the Fundamental Eating Room alone a attempt to I appreciated it a lot greater than I anticipated.
Because of how expediate the service is, I used to be in a position to get pleasure from my favourite MDR dishes with out feeling awkward being there alone.
Furthermore, I by no means as soon as felt like I used to be misplaced as a result of I used to be consuming alone. The workers was very attentive too.
Whereas I won’t need to eat with strangers within the Fundamental Eating Room, having a desk for simply myself was the proper technique to get pleasure from dinner past each evening on the buffet.
Ready for a Black Friday sale
This 12 months’s Black Friday gross sales saved me cash on my Royal Seaside Membership reservations, however total it felt just like the reductions weren’t nearly as good previously.
The lesson is rarely look ahead to one sale to financial institution on one of the best reductions.
It felt just like the Black Friday reductions on pre-cruise purchases had been higher in 2023 and 2024 than this 12 months, primarily as a result of there have been deeper reductions provided on drink packages and Good Day at CocoCay add-ons.
I in all probability discovered higher gross sales throughout random promotions over the summer season than on Black Friday. That is advantageous, as a result of I routinely verify the Cruise Planner to see if there are new presents.
However I guess there are some individuals that don’t search for new reductions as usually as I do, and no single Royal Caribbean sale is ever “one of the best” time to ebook for decrease costs.
Not playing sufficient to keep up my on line casino presents
As I’ve explored Royal Caribbean’s on line casino loyalty program, it is turn into clear it’s important to preserve a sure degree of playing as a way to maintain these discounted/free on line casino presents rolling in.
At one level within the 12 months, my presents dried up and I wasn’t getting something whereas buddies had new presents.
It appears you’ll be able to’t go on a cruise and skip playing to keep up your standing. It is obscure how these presents get despatched out within the first place, however most cruisers agree it’s essential to gamble not less than 200 factors per cruise to point out them that you simply’re energetic.
To get 200 factors, you’d must wager $1,000 over the course of your crusing.
After all, you will not lose each single guess you make and also you may truly win cash occasionally. So realistically, I discovered I may get to 200 factors with about $400 or $500. Much less, if I truly hit an honest payout.
My plan within the coming 12 months is to gamble much less onboard, however dropping 100 bucks right here or there over the course of per week is a technique to have slightly enjoyable between different actions. And if it will get me extra presents for cruises, then that is a win.
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