Being organised with your travel arrangements on cruise holidays is important (Image: Getty)
When heading off on a cruise holiday, there’s nothing more exciting than taking that first step onboard the ship and having a good nosey around before you set sail. It’s natural to be eager to explore the lavish floating hotel that you’ll call home over the course of your trip, but sometimes it pays to be patient – particularly if you’re sailing from a port that’s not within driving distance.
If you’re sailing from a port overseas then deciding when to for can be a tricky decision, as the earlier you go the more expenses you face at the other end. But while it may be tempting to try and save on before you can board the ship, passengers are urged to follow a ‘one day rule’ to ensure they quite literally don’t miss the boat. Cruise Critic recommends always flying to your port destination a minimum of one day before you are due to set sail to account for any you might encounter.
While most cruise ships typically set sail in the late afternoon – to allow time for departing passengers to exit the ship and new passengers to board – it’s easy to think that travelling in the early morning on departure day is enough time.
But if flights are delayed or cancelled, there’s long queues at customs, or your bags get lost, then this can easily sink your cruise holiday before it’s even started. As such, it’s better to prepare for any possible travel mishaps and leave at least a one day gap to get to your port destination.
Cruise Critic says: “Arriving a day or two before your cruise not only enhances the overall experience with a mini-land vacation, but it also eliminates the stressful race against time — and the risk of missing the ship.
“Long flight times, customs, visas and potential baggage delays are just a few reasons to add an extra travel day when flying overseas for a cruise. More flights and security checks create more opportunities for things to go wrong. Plus, if you’re already traveling across the globe, why not take the opportunity to explore the local culture before your cruise begins?”
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The cruise review website adds: “Even a morning flight can leave you waiting in long lines at the cruise terminal, putting you far behind others who arrived earlier.
“Getting to the ship early – something that’s harder to guarantee with a flight – lets you make the most of your first day onboard. You’ll have time to explore the ship, drop off your bags, relax by the pool, grab a bite to eat and fully settle into vacation mode.”
So while adding extra days to your holiday before you set sail may require more expense, the benefits it provides definitely make it worth it. It gives you a chance to relax at the hotel, have a lie-in the following morning and do a spot of sightseeing in a new place before your cruise holiday gets going, which sounds like a much more favourable option than enduring a mad dash to the ship on the day.