The first day of your cruise is quickly approaching. Now all you need to do is make sure you finish packing and don’t miss the ship, right? If you’re that laissez-faire, bless your heart. But here’s the thing: From unexpected delays and miscalculated budgets to sicknesses, travel is full of surprises—especially travel with kids.
You certainly can’t avoid ‘em all, but there are some simple measures you can take to bypass blunders before you even board the ship. Here are five steps you can take ahead of embarkation day to increase your chances of smooth sailing.
1. Get to your departure port at least a day or two early.
Taking your family on a cruise isn’t cheap. Some people try to save by flying in the morning of their cruise, to avoid paying for a hotel stay. But those few hundred bucks you might save could end up costing you your cruise.
PREFER TO DRIVE? Here are the best family cruises from every U.S. homeport
Flight delays or cancellations, traffic, and other bumps in the road could easily consume an entire day. As a buffer, you should always plan to arrive at least one night before (I recommend at least two for an international cruise). The peace of mind, knowing you’ll get to your ship on time, is priceless.
2. Don’t assume, when it comes to documentation.
Your cruise line will inform you of what documentation you’ll need to bring in order to board the ship. Don’t ignore the fine print, and don’t make assumptions—especially when it comes to your kids.
Even though you’re embarking on a closed-loop sailing (one that begins and ends in the United States), passengers under 16 still need either a birth certificate or passport. These requirements are sometimes confounded with those of domestic air travel, for which minors don’t need ID as long as they’re with a documented adult.
3. Pack your carryon bag just as thoughtfully as your other luggage.
If you drop off your luggage with an attendant at the cruise terminal, you’ll be left only with your carryon. It could be several hours before you’re reunited with your other belongings, so pack everything you might want or need for your first day onboard.
UP YOUR GAME: 7 foolproof tips for packing a carryon suitcase
Swim suits and goggles for an impromptu pool dip as well as spare changes of clothes for everyone in the family will help you slip right into vacation mode. Additionally, be sure to pack any medications, toiletries, and extra baby gear a la diapers and wipes.
4. Bring your own drinks (and snacks) for the kids.
Most family cruise lines limit which drinks are included in the cruise fare to non-bottled water, lemonade, iced tea, milk, hot chocolate, non-specialty coffee, and tea. (Disney Cruise Line includes more soft drinks.) But many families don’t realize they can bring their own beverages onboard. Exactly what you can pack, as well as how much, vary by cruise line.
Carnival Cruise Line, for example, allows each passenger to board with 12 standard (17-ounce) cans or cartons, excluding water. Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, allows only 12 drinks per cabin, but does allow water. Disney doesn’t have a limit on drinks, per se, but does indicate that whatever you bring must fit in your carryon. Parents and caretakers may also bring wine onboard (again, the allowance varies by line), though corkage fees will apply.
In addition to drinks, plan to pack your kiddos’ favorite snacks. Cruise lines allow you to bring prepackaged, non-perishable foods onboard in limited quantities.
5. Go crazy with the toiletries and First Aid essentials.
Reef-safe sunscreen, bug spray, bandages, antiseptic, your preferred over-the-counter pain medication, allergy medication, hand sanitizer, lip balm, feminine products, eye drops, a motion-sickness remedy even if you’ve never been prone to it—pack it all. Cruise ships do have stores that sell these types of items. You’ll just pay a ridiculous amount of money for them.
In addition to preparing for every possible scenario, consider bringing your own toiletries. Even though cruise lines provide essentials like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion, they typically aren’t the best quality. I also recommend packing kid-safe, all-purpose antibacterial wipes that you can use not only on dirty hands but also in your cabin to wipe the remote control, cabin phone, and other surfaces.
