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First time cruiser with tons of cruise questions? No need to worry! This post will answer the top 20 cruise questions and answers you need to know before going on your vacation.
If you’ve never been on a cruise before everything you need to learn and know can be overwhelming.
It is common to have tons of questions about cruising. What food do cruises offer? Should I buy a drink package? What should I pack?
Here are the top 20 cruise questions and answers you need to know before you embark on your vacation.
This post is all about cruise questions.
Cruise Questions Answered:
1. Do I need to bring towels from home?
No! You do not need to bring towels on a cruise ship.
These are provided for you by the cruise line. In most cases you can check them out on the pool deck but be sure to return them!
If you try to keep any of the towels and take them home a lot of cruises will charge you $25 per towel and trust me, they are not worth the money for the quality.
You are able to bring these towels off the ship as well if you need one for the beach or a shore excursion.
These towels are decently small however so if you would still like to bring your own higher quality towel, you definitely can.
I have this one and love how fast it dries/how large it is.
2. Can I do laundry on the ship?
Yes and no.
You, yourself cannot physically do laundry while on a cruise ship. However, cruise lines do offer laundry services you can take advantage of for a price.
Need your dress steamed before formal night? They can do it! Need some laundry washed because you’re on a back to back cruise? No problem!
Some cruises will offer their higher loyalty tier members a free bag of laundry per cruise.
3. What is the dress code?
When going on a cruise you will see a wide variety of clothing.
Formal Night
If you’re wondering if you have to dress up on formal night the answer is no! It is not required to wear formal attire to still be allowed to eat in the main dining room!
Some lines will still want you to be dressed slightly decently (no tank tops, shorts, etc.) for that night but you can still be fairly casual.
If you do want to dress up though you can! The variety you will see are sundresses, a polo shirt and khakis, cocktail dresses, suits, long formal gowns and tuxedos. Whatever you are comfortable with (within reason) you should wear!
If you do want to skip formal night altogether you can also go to the buffet for dinner that night.
Formal Dress Example:
Theme Nights
Cruises will normally have theme nights you can participate in if you would like to (again, not mandatory).
Common themes are:
-White night
-70s night
-Tropical night
-Gala night/Formal night
-And more!
Casual Days/Nights
When walking around outside of the themes on a normal sea day you will see people wearing lots of casual attire:
-Tshirts
-Shorts
-Simple dresses
-Swim suits/Cover ups
-Gym clothes
-Sweatsuits
-Etc
Click here for cruise outfit ideas from Amazon
4. How can I communicate with my party?
If you are traveling with a group of people, friends or family, you’ll want to be able to keep in touch. There are several ways to do this.
Wifi
You can purchase the cruise ship’s wifi package if you want to be able to communicate with not only your party onboard, but others at home. Unless you have gotten an all inclusive package, this will cost you money.
If you would like to book the wifi I would suggest doing so before your cruise as it should be on sale. Once you’re on the cruise it could be a much higher price per day. I’ve seen wifi range from about $12/day up to $25/day.
Cruise Line App
The most common way people will communicate with others is using the messaging section of the cruise line’s app.
In most cases this is a free service. It’s a great way to be able to check in with others that are cruising with you.
A lot of times these will have age limits so children might not be able to use it. The app might also not be the most reliable form of communication as sometimes it does not send you notifications when you have messages.
It’s still a great option if you aren’t looking to spend extra money (or much money if it’s paid for about $2/day) on wifi, etc.
Other
I have heard of some people bringing walkie talkies on the cruise with them to keep in contact with others. This is less common but still an option.
Some people will have international data plans as well that will allow them to use their phone without having to buy the wifi. Check your specific phone plan for details.
5. Do I have to share a table with strangers?/How can my family all sit together?
Cruise lines still table share to this day. If you are dining in the main dining room you might be sat at a table with people you don’t know.
If you don’t want to sit with strangers or have any other requests such as wanting to sit by a window, have a 2 person table etc. you can always reach out to customer service before your cruise to make a request. Depending on what you’re asking for just know that you might not get your request granted.
If you are traveling with a group and want to all sit at the same table you will also need to contact customer service and have your reservations linked.
This can be a tedious task. If you are working with a travel agent though they can make any of these requests for you. You’ll just need to let them know what you’re asking for and they will handle it.
6. Do I need to book a balcony for my first cruise?
Have friends or family who have been on a cruise and they’re telling you you HAVE to get a balcony room? The truth is there are several other types of rooms you might be perfectly happy with.
A balcony stateroom is the most common among cruisers and is a very nice room. When booking your cruise room you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Is price the most important factor? Are you going to be in your room much or out and about?
If the answer is yes to these questions you should consider an interior room! I mostly cruise in interior rooms to save money and be able to take more trips. They really aren’t all that bad and have just enough space to sleep, shower and change.
Do you need a window? Is budget still important but not the most important?
If so, an oceanview room might be for you! This will allow you some exposure to the outside world by having a window you can look out of in your room without totally breaking the budget.
Will you spend lots of time in your room? Do you want a private space to just relax?
If this sounds like you a balcony cabin is the right choice! A balcony gives you access to outside air. It also is a great place to get away from the crowds and just relax.
It is popular among cruisers with balconies to order room service for breakfast and enjoy their meal while sitting out by the ocean.
Are you looking for a more luxurious experience? More space? Budget is no problem?
A suite will be the best option for you! Suites come in a variety of sizes from junior suites all the way up to things like owner suites. They can become very expensive but also have great perks.
If you’re interested in upping your cruise experience, look into what suites are available to you and what extras they come with.
Accomodating rooms
If you’re in need of a room that can accomodate things such as a wheelchair, etc. Speak with customer service when booking your cruise or work with a travel agent to secure the room type you need.
7. Do I need travel insurance?
Some people may say otherwise but the answer should be YES!
You never know what could happen before or during your trip. Travel insurance is extremely important.
I personally have had to cancel a cruise the day of but because I had travel insurance I did not lose any money. I bought insurance through the cruise line for this particular cruise for only $58 for both of us.
When I called to cancel I was automatically refunded 2/3 of the cost of my trip back to my credit card. The last amount I did have to file with the travel insurance to get back.
They did not give me a cash refund but I recieved a future cruise credit I could use within a year so I didn’t lose any money.
If I hadn’t gotten travel insurance I would’ve been out the entire cost of the cruise. There are several things that insurance will pay for that is a great help so I would never go without it.
Do you need to book it through the cruise line or a third party company?
This is personal preference. I have done both. Usually I choose third party however for the cost. Compare the benefits they are offering to make the choice for yourself.
Some people also will buy travel insurance for the year to cover all of their trips instead of individual policies.
8. What is not allowed on cruise ships?
Common items not allowed on cruises are:
-Weapons
-Alcohol (besides the couple exceptions some lines make)
-Iron
-Steamer
-Extension cords with surge protectors
-Drugs
-Pets (besides service dogs)
-Coffee Makers
-And more!
If you bring any of these items through security check in they will be taken away and depending which one it is, you could be denied boarding.
Check with your specific cruise line to see what you are and are not able to bring.
One misconception many people have is that you are not allowed to bring a hair straightener or curler.
This is not the case. You should not have any issues bringing these items with you, along with a hairdryer if you do not want to use the one in the room that is provided.
Common Cruise Must Haves:
For a complete list of Cruise Must Haves click here.
9. Should I fly to my cruise port the day of the cruise?
If it can be avoided at all costs, do not fly the same day your cruise leaves!
This is a huge risk. It might seem like the best idea because you could be transported directly from the airport to the cruise port and hop right on your cruise.
However, even in this day in age delays and cancelations are still very promonate. The last thing you want happening is your flight being changed and you cannot make it on the cruise now because of it.
It does cost more to fly in the day before since you will have to get a hotel room but it is more than worth budgeting in the cost of your vacation to save you potentially missing your cruise.
Related Content:
33 Best Cruise Tips Every First Time Cruiser Should Know
Top Cruise Packing Tips Guaranteed To Make You Pack Like A Pro
10. Should I book a shore excursion through the cruise line?
This is a personal preference. You can book through the cruise line or a third party company.
For first time cruisers I would recommend booking through the cruise line so you can see how the process goes.
You need to do research if you aren’t booking through the cruise line to pick a reputable company that is known to get you back on time so you don’t miss your ship.
To learn everything you need to know about how to choose a shore excursion, the ins and outs, recommendations and more, click here to read this article.
11. How do I make sure the ship doesn’t leave me at port?
You will need to stay on ship time!
Ship time might be different than the local time at your cruise port. Be sure to stay aware of what time it is on the ship so you do not stay too late and miss all aboard.
Unless you are on an excursion booked with the cruise line, the ship will not wait for you. You will be left in port and have to find your own way home if you come back after the set time your ship has said it was leaving.
12. Do I need reservations for shows on a cruise?
This will depend.
For some cruise lines and ships you don’t need a reservation for the shows. This is more common on the smaller ships.
However, there are ships that you need to make a reservation. You can do this online before your cruise sets sail for some and others you will need to book once on the ship.
Check your specific cruise to see what you need to do ahead of time.
13. Will I be able to eat and drink for free?
The simple answer is yes!
When paying for your cruise among other things, food and basic drinks are included in that cost.
The number of complimentary options will vary depending on what ship you are sailing on but regardless you will be able to eat all of your meals and snacks for free on a cruise.
You can upgrade to specialty dining and pay a fee but you do not have to.
Included drinks on most lines will be things like filtered water, milk, coffee, tea, lemonade, and some juices.
Anything else you want will be an additional charge unless you have booked a cruise that has more drinks included.
Wondering what else is included on a cruise? Read this:
Are Cruises All Inclusive
14. Is the drink package worth it?
This is not a simple yes or no question. It will vary person to person even though most people will say you HAVE to get one.
When deciding if you should get a drink package consider how many drinks you will consume every day and what types. Also look and see what your cruise is charging for these drinks.
If you can break even or will go above the individual price, buy a drink package.
If you just want a couple drinks per day, most likely it’ll be cheaper to just pay for them individually.
Looking for recommendations? Here are 10 Must Try Drinks If You Have A Cruise Drink Package
(You can order them individually as well though)
15. What happens if I sneak alcohol on a ship?
This is up to the cruise line and the discretion of the staff.
Several cruise lines will allow you to bring things such as 1-2 bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom/person.
Others will not allow you to bring anything. All do not allow you to sneak on other alcohol than what is permitted.
It is very popular to do so though. I’m not recommending it and if you choose to do so that’s at your own risk.
The cruise line will most likely just take the alcohol away from you. They do have the power to not let you board the cruise though so that is important to know.
16. Do I have to put my phone on airplane mode?
YES.
Now I will say depending on the country you’re from and the phone plan you have, you may not have to.
However, for the vast majority of cruisers (especially out of the US) you should 100% put your phone on airplane mode as soon as you leave port on embarkation day and keep it that way until you return.
You want to do this so you do not get charged international data roaming by your phone company. I have had countless comments on my TikTok page about people forgettig to do this and being charged hundreds of dollars for this simple mistake.
You can still use your phone for a camera and connect to wifi while on airplane mode.
17. Do I need a passport to cruise?
This is a yes and no answer.
For some cruises you do not. An example would be a closed loop cruise out of the US. Say you leave out of Florida, go to the Bahamas and come back to Florida. You would need a certified copy of your birth certificate and a government ID.
The best way to travel on a cruise though is with a passport. I would recommend this option to everyone.
Read more about what documents you need and why here.
18. What is the check in process like?
Like all things with cruising this will vary based on line and status but here is a simple breakdown.
- Get dropped off or park your car
- Drop off your bags with porters outside of the terminal
- Show your travel documents
- Go through security, similar to the airport.
- Possibly show your travel documents again to someone else and/or take a photo.
- Board the ship (there may be a waiting time before this step)
19. Do I have to pay for my cruise all up front?
No!
The great thing about cruising is you can pay small amounts up until final payment of your cruise.
Most of the time they will require a deposit between $200-$500 up front but after that you can pay in installments.
The only time you will have to pay in full is if you’re booking a cruise not that far out and it has passed final payment for the cruise line so you have to put up the entire balance.
20. Do I need to bring cash on the cruise?
Technically, no but you should bring some.
This will also depend on the types of activities you want to do.
You can/will pay for cruise purchases using your cruise card so there isn’t a need for cash in most instances.
If you are going to be shopping in port or paying for an excursion on your own once you get there, you should bring cash for that.
I would also recommend bringing cash for the casino if you are going to participant in gambling (at your own risk, I am not recommending).
Hopefully this post was helpful to you and you feel more knowledgeable for your cruise!
This post was all about cruise questions.
