First time cruiser questions
Thanks for visiting us again! Let us know what topics you would like to learn more about. We are here to serve you. Happy Sailing!
Will the ship leave without me?
One of the services we offer clients leaving from a domestic port is a phone call on the day of embarkation. We like to be sure the stateroom is satisfactory, our client made it on the ship, and if there are any last minute questions or issues. Yesterday we called our client and could hear a bit of frustration in his voice. Through a bad phone connection he said one of his bags was missing then the phone disconnected. He soon called back from his wife’s phone and this time the connection was better. He was okay with the fact that one of his bags was missing. I knew he had driven to the port so I began to do a little investigating. He said that only one piece of luggage had been delivered to his stateroom. It was at that point that realization hit. We knew our clients were first time cruisers, and even on the day he boarded the ship he still had first time cruiser questions.
Our client is sailing on a smaller ship that still holds over 2,000 passengers. With an average of two bags per person, we explained that it can take hours to deliver 4,000 pieces of luggage throughout the ship. Even when you drop off the bags together, it does not mean you will get them at the same time. Frequently we have come back from dinner to find our missing bag waiting for us our stateroom. I could hear the anxiety leaving his mind upon hearing that. We also understand the anxiety. For some, they want everything put away just so so their vacation can truly begin. George Carlin referred to this in his routine about “A Place for My Stuff.”
We know there are many more first time cruiser questions. Some of them include:
Will the ship leave without me? We make recommendations to help our clients avoid this both for the day of boarding and when visiting the various ports. We do also recommend travel insurance which includes a trip interruption provision to help you catch up to the ship should circumstances cause the ship to leave without you.
Will I get seasick? We are not doctors, but modern ships are very stable. There are medications and other remedies that can help you combat seasickness. Though a far less common occurrence than in the past, we can recommend onboard accommodations to help prevent getting sick. Every client is different, and we do defer to a health care professional who knows their patients best.
Will I gain weight? If you take in more calories than you burn on a day to day basis, you are going to gain weight. Being on a cruise has nothing to do with this fact.
What should I wear? Based on the cruise experience we recommend, we will provide you with advice on your daytime and evening attire.
How do I get to and from the port? We can recommend flights, pre and post cruise hotels and transfer and parking arrangements.
How much should I expect to spend on my vacation? Depending on the length of the cruise and the destination, we recommend a per person per day amount of money to bring with you. On board cruise ships, a cashless system is used. All of your extra spending, from drinks and shore excursions to onboard shopping and bingo goes on your onboard account. You “pay” with the same card you use to open your stateroom door which is linked to a credit card you give when you check-in before you board. You can keep track of your spending by looking up your account on your in-room television or by inquiring at guest relations.
What is the best cruise line for me? It depends. Part of our service is to ask our clients a series of questions about what they want from this trip to where they have traveled before. We then make a recommendation and every client is different.
Can I stay in touch with home? Just about every ship now has onboard Wifi but it is expensive. Most cell phones now work on a ship, but the price can cost up to $2.99 a minute and more. We give our clients more details about this once we have selected the itinerary and ship.
When will I get my luggage? Usually you will get your luggage before you go to dinner, but the staff has to distribute on average two pieces of luggage per person. This can take several hours. We always recommend our client’s take a change of clothes for the evening’s meal and possibly for the next day in their carry-on luggage. Remember though, it will be screened before you board so there are size limits to your carry-ons. We do always tell people to lay out all the clothes they think they will need for their cruise and then put half of it away. You can always mix and match your clothes!
What cruises offer the best value? Talk to us directly about this question in particular. If you can go at a moment’s notice, or have the time to travel, we can find you really amazing values on cruising.
And more…
Working with a professional cruise consultant will help you answer these questions and more. We like to get our know our client’s preferences, and we strive to answer the questions our clients haven’t even thought of yet! One thing that is important for us to stress is that we do not sell on price. We know our clients are just as cost-conscious as we are in these economic times. However, our mission is to make sure that the money our clients spend on something as personal and as important as their vacation is money well spent and not wasted on what could be a nightmare.
By the way, whether it is your first or your twenty-first cruise, it our pleasure to serve you and answer any questions you may have!
Chuck and Laura Flagg own The Flagg Agency in Canton, GA
We are fee-based cruise consultants and our specialty is the selecting,
planning, marketing and administering cruises for groups of all sizes.
We help people find a cruise experience that matches both their wants AND their needs.
Related posts: