10 Tips for Cruising During a Pandemic
There is a lot of excitement with cruising starting up again. A bunch of things have changed since your last cruise, with new requirements, health checks and more. Today we are going to go over our top 10 Cruise Tips and Tricks so you are prepared for your next cruise.
Our first cruising tips and tricks is around documentation. There are two types of cruises going, vaccinated and not vaccinated. If your cruise line requires it, you will want to make sure you have your proof that you are fully vaccinated, which means you have had two approved vaccines by the CDC and have waited 2 weeks since your second dose and you will need the official vaccine card document. It is also always good practice to be sure your passport is up to date as well.
When preparing for a cruise we recommend that you research the ports that you are stopping at. Different ports have their own requirements when it comes to being allowed to explore on your own or if you need to be with a cruise line guided tour. Some ports are letting vaccinated people self explore while unvaccinated people need to do a guided tour. If you are going to be doing an excursion you will want some time to research where you might want to go and what is being offered. These are also good cruise tips for first timers, as you don't want to miss out on an experience at a port.
One of the best cruise tips for 2021 is regarding check in times at the cruise terminal. It is common practice to get a window of time to show up at the cruise terminal to get on the ship. Many people would show up early in hopes of getting on the ship earlier. To prevent overcrowding, cruise lines are really sticking to these times. So as much as it is hard to try to wait until your time, we recommend you do so you are not stuck waiting outside the terminal.
Our next cruise tips and tricks is about packing. Regardless of if you are on a fully vaccinated cruise or not there are going to be times when you will need a mask. It is good practice in this current climate to have a few masks that are comfortable and good in the heat so you will be prepared. That being said the cruise ships will have a lot of hand sanitizer around but you may want some of your own for travel days and at ports. In regards to packing you will also want to make sure you are prepared for all weather. You often only get one day at a port and if it is raining you don't want to miss out or be soaking wet on your excursion. This is a good tip to keep in mind whenever preparing for a cruise.
There is a lot of change when it comes to embarkation and repatriation. This is one of the best cruise tips we have for you to ensure you are prepared. It would be very disappointing to show up to the airport and not have what you need. Before you leave for your cruise you want to make sure you have all the testing and paperwork you need. You may need proof of vaccination, passports, baggage tags and a completed health check. If you are flying into a country to cruise they may require negative tests to enter. Depending if you are vaccinated or not the cruise lines will also have different rules for you. When your cruise is completed you will also want to know if you need to get tested to return home. Some cruise lines are offering testing on the last day which is great. So our cruise advice would be to talk to your cruise line and ask if they are offering free testing on the last day for international travellers.
Some of the other cruise tips and tricks we review are testing, unpredictability, the cruise line app and the changes it has seen. There are also changes to the muster drills, and dinning we discuss. There are a few more things to think about and organize these days when preparing for a cruise.
We hope that you enjoyed our cruise tips and hacks as you prepare to start cruising again. Are there other cruise tips for travellers you would have included? Was one of our cruise advice tips helpful for you? Let us know in the comments below.
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Happy Travels!
