Planning your first cruise? We have all the insider details to have you cruising along from passports and packing to embarkation day and shore excursions. 

This Get Away Today guide covers everything first-time cruisers need to know before they set sail. Whether you're sailing with Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or another cruise line, these beginner tips will help you avoid common mistakes for a smoother vacation.

You will need:

• An incredible deal on the cruise of your choice booked with Get Away Today
• All required travel documents (we’ll go over this and more later)
• Understand what’s included in your cruise fare and what might cost extra
• Know your arrival time, the how and when to get to your port
• Packing essentials along with a carry-on bag for day one
• Book excursions and extras early for best pricing and availability

Many first time cruisers ask, “Do you need a passport to go on a cruise?” You may not NEED a passport, but if you're traveling internationally, we always recommend you bring one. The rules are a bit different for cruising in and out of the United States (often called a “closed cruise”). 

You are NOT required to have a passport if:

• you are departing from and returning to a US port 

AND 

• you are a US citizen

But you WILL NEED a government issued photo ID, like a driver's license, and/or an original birth certificate.

Why? If you need to return from your cruise by air or car for any reason, you won't be able to travel without a passport, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

Each cruise line is a little bit different with what is included with your cruise fare. Almost all cruise lines include meals in the main restaurants, onboard activities, entertainment, kids' clubs and a few non-alcoholic beverage choices with meals. 

Some cruise lines have beverage packages that you can purchase at a discount, and some cruise lines, like Disney, have free non-alcoholic beverages all of the time. See the entire list of what’s included on a Disney cruise here. 

What’s Generally Included on a Cruise (Quick List):

• Main dining rooms
• Buffets
• Pools
• Shows
• Kids Clubs
• Fitness Center

What’s Generally Extra on a Cruise (Quick List):

• Alcohol
• Specialty Dining
• Shore Excursions
• Internet
• Gratuities

Most cruise lines have restaurant upgrades available for a small fee which gives you a fine dining experience at a fraction of the cost you would find on land. 

Gratuities for all of the incredible staff members who assist you during your cruise are often not included, and can be prepaid or paid before you leave the ship. You can leave the minimum suggested amount, but you may find you are so spoiled that you'll want to leave a little more. Our agents can help guide you with what's included on your cruise.

Get Away Today Cruise Bonus Tip: Almost every cruise line offers room service at no extra charge, including Norwegian Cruise Line.

Once you’re actually ready to leave for your first cruise, you’re probably wondering what the whole process is like from start to finish. The first day is called “embarkment day” where you’ll check in at the cruise port and board the ship. 

We recommend arriving at your port city the day before your cruise. Flight delays happen and you don’t want to get left behind. We can also help you book a nearby hotel for the first night to keep all your travel plans in one place. 

Here are some quick tips and information to have for day one of your cruise:

• Cruise ports often aren’t fancy, but don’t be discouraged—all the luxury awaits once you get on board.
• You will often drop off your bags (with tags printed at home) at the cruise terminal. This process might seem strange if you’re used to air travel and never letting your bags out of sight.
• Expect lines to board the ship, even though everyone is assigned a specific boarding time frame.
• You can skip the photo op when you’re boarding if you don’t want to pay for a photo package.
• Enjoy activities on the ship on embankment day. There might be things like a ropes course, mini golf or other leisurely activities that will likely gain popularity once more people are on board and throughout the trip. You can beat the crowds by trying it early.
• Head to the buffet early to avoid lines or choose specialty dining for day one and avoid the crowds.
• Muster drills are required. But wait, what is a muster drill? It’s a required safety briefing so you know how to safely exit the ship in an emergency. Some cruise lines allow you to complete this online beforehand and some will require you to complete this step in person once on board.

On day one, be prepared to bring a small backpack or bag of essentials to carry on the ship. We like to pack swimwear and sunscreen. It’s nice to have a few things before your bags are delivered to your stateroom.

Staterooms on cruise ships used to be known as small, cramped spaces where you could barely store one piece of luggage. While rooms on cruise ships are likely smaller than the ones you enjoy at home, cruise lines really know how to maximize their space! There are so many places to hold your luggage, shoes, vacation outfits and more. 

But don’t overpack too much—chances are if you're cruising to the Caribbean or any other tropical destination, you'll spend most of your time in a swimsuit or lightweight clothes. If you're going on a longer cruise, you may want to do laundry on the ship instead of over packing. 

In addition to your regular packing list, here are few things that come in extra handy on a cruise vacation:

• Non-drowsy dramamine and other over the counter medications
• Towel clips (it gets windy onboard!)
• Hair things, hats with straps (again, the wind)
• Magnets with hooks because most things in your stateroom are magnetic, great for storage
• Ziploc bags for clothing. We also like to use baggies for leftover food you might want to save or even take off the ship during excursions

Get Away Today Cruise Bonus Tip: Some of the largest staterooms are found on Virgin Voyages, an adults only cruise line.

Another important time for first time cruisers is to know about special themed nights. Most cruise lines have fun themes that encourage specific types of dress. 

Whether it's a black-tie affair or a pirate themed party on deck, you’ll definitely want to look the part. Some cruise lines even have clothing that you can rent for these types of affairs so you don't have to pack and prep your own. Check with your Get Away Today travel agent and download the cruise line’s app for more details. 

Get Away Today Cruise Bonus Tip: Pirate themed nights on Disney Cruises are very popular, so be sure to pack accordingly!

Excursions are optional entertainment and activities while you’re in port. It’s a huge part of the fun to explore the destinations you came to see, but these on land, in the air or sometimes in the water activities come at an extra cost. 

You can pre-purchase excursions directly through the cruise line, which guarantee that the cruise ship will wait for your return should any unexpected delays occur. It's nice to have that kind of peace of mind. There are other reputable companies that offer shore excursions with their own guarantee. 

No matter which route you choose it is a  good idea to book excursions ahead of time because the most popular ones can sell out. 

Get Away Today Cruise Bonus Tip: If you’re visiting a private island owned by your cruise line, some things might be included in your cruise price like meals on your Perfect Day at CocoCay when sailing with Royal Caribbean. Then there are often extra upgrades like access to private cabanas, tours of the island and more. 

We also love cruising with Disney for their exclusive island options Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay. 

Things happen on vacation, we get it! And we’re always here to help. Here’s a quick look at some first-timer mistakes you can take off your worry-list since you already know about them!

Cruising Don’ts:

• Arrive late (the ship will leave without you!). Fly in the day before and book excursions with guarantees. 
• Forget medications, including prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. While they do sell some OTC medication on board, your most economical option is to bring it with you.
• Overpack. One of our rules for travel is, “if I pack it, I wear it” so try to keep that in mind when you consider your “what if” outfits.
• Miss the muster drill. It is required! It will happen shortly after boarding. Ask any crew member if you need help knowing how it works. 
• Booking excursions last minute. The most popular ones fill up quickly and the prices increase with time.
• Forget to bring a bit of cash. Most ports accept US dollars and it’s nice to have some smaller bills handy.

And of course, don’t forget to book with Get Away Today. We offer all the savings and usually MORE than you can find by booking directly. 

Give us a call at 855-GET-AWAY and we can help you find the perfect cruise and the perfect price or you can book your first cruise with ease online and still get that great pricing you’re looking for. 

Want more cruise tips? Check out our entire suite of Cruise articles like How to Get the Best Price on a Cruise, Disney Cruise Line tips, Royal Caribbean destinations and more.