A cruise can be a wonderful vacation for families, singles, and couples. There are many cruises available that will bring you to different places around the world. There are also river cruises that will sail in smaller regions that are more intimate than ocean cruises.

When planning your cruise, you should:

• Decide where you want to go
• Book rooms in advance
• Plan for additional travel expenses (airline tickets, car rentals, ect.)
• Decide how long you want to go on the cruise
• Find a cruise that fits your needs (family activities, romantic activities, ect.)
• Find out what the amenities are included (meals, entertainment, maid service, ect.)
• What the weather will be like
• If the ship will docking anywhere

Planning for a cruise is much more than deciding where to go and packing a bag. You will have to consider the following:

• Items to bring on the cruise
• Travel to and from the ship
• Pet care while you are away
• Activities aboard the ship
• How to keep children entertained
• Travel insurance
• First aid kit

Going on vacation requires thought and proper planning. Being prepared when on a cruise will help you and your guests have a great time.

Items to bring on the cruise

Before packing clothing and other items, you should find out what the weather is expected to be like during your cruise. This will give you a better idea of what to pack.

You should bring enough clothing to last for the entire cruise, an extra sweater or light jacket, extra socks, and a waterproof rain jacket. You do not have to bring everything that you own, but you should plan on bringing a few pieces that can be worn in different weather conditions.

If bringing children, you should make sure that they have extra clothes in case of weather changes also.

At nighttime, the temperature is usually colder because you will be on the ocean. Be prepared so that you can enjoy being outside under the stars. 

Additional items include sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, bathing suit, and a good pair of walking shoes if the ship will be docking along the way.

You might also want to bring your cell phone, laptop, and a few travel books that will tell you about the region you will be traveling to and also about any stops you will be making along the way.

Travel to and from the ship

Many people forget to include travel to and from the ship into their vacation plans until the last minute. If you will need to fly to the cruise ship, you will need an extra two days of vacation time. Plan for this additional travel as soon as possible so that you can get lower rates on plane tickets and get the time off you need from your employer.

If you live close to the cruise ship and want to drive to the location, make sure you have a place to park your car while you are gone. Many cruise lines have extended parking, but you may have to pay extra. If you can, hire a car service or have a friend drive. Either way would be more convenient.

When you are booking your room for the cruise, ask about parking and shuttle service to and from the airport or hotel if you need to arrive the night before. Taxi rides can be expensive, so be sure you know exactly what it will cost you to get to the cruise ship.

Pet care while you are away

If you have pets, then you must find someone who can care for them while you are away or find a kennel that will take care of them. Depending on the number of days you will be gone and the number of pets you have, you may be able to find a friend or family member to check in on your pets every few days to make sure they have food and water.

If you need to put your pets in a kennel, you should make arrangements for this before booking your cruise. Kennel space can fill up quickly especially during the summer months when cruises and other vacations are popular. Make sure your pets are taken care of before you book your vacation. This will save you the headaches later on when you are desperate to find someone to take care of your pets.

Activities aboard the ship

There are many activities aboard cruise ships that are appropriate for any age. Swimming, lounging, tennis, rock climbing, restaurants, shopping, shuffle board, dancing, music, and more. Most cruise ships have activities departments that plan events and activities during the cruise. As soon as you book your cruise ask for additional information about activities aboard the ship. You may need to bring extra clothing or other items in order to participate.

If you would like to participate in certain activities while on your cruise, you should compare different cruise lines to determine which one will suit your needs.

How to keep children entertained

The first step in keeping children entertained is to find a cruise that includes activities for children that are age appropriate. Most cruises include swimming pools and games for children. This may be enough to keep your children happy. If not, then you should look for cruise lines that plan activities specifically for children. They may have crafts, games, ice cream socials, pie eating contests, and more.

If your children are young, don’t plan a two-week cruise. Young children can become bored easily. If they are too young to enjoy seeing the sights when the ship docks, then perhaps they are too young for a cruise. But if you have children that are of mixed ages, plan a three day or five day cruise instead. This will give older children a chance to see new places and limit the amount of time younger children will have to be aboard the ship.

Travel insurance

Many people take out travel insurance when they are traveling with their families or when they are traveling alone. Travel insurance can be purchased through your insurance company or through a travel broker. Many cruises offer this type of insurance with the cruise package for an additional cost. Travel insurance will cover the following:

• Lost or stolen luggage
• Lost or stolen money
• Illness while on the ship
• Emergency air lift to hospitals
• Emergency rescue
• Hospital stay
• Room and board for family members if a hospital stay is required
• Transport of body in the event of death

Read the travel contract carefully before signing it. There may be restrictions on coverage to and from the cruise ship, medical attention in certain parts of the world, and include information about the maximum costs that will be covered.

Most people buy travel insurance for peace of mind. If you currently have an insurance policy that covers most of the above, you may not need to purchase additional coverage.

First aid kit

Even though cruise ships have medical personnel on duty, you should bring a first aid kit for those cuts and bruises that children or adults may suffer while on a cruise. You first aid kit should include: band aids, rubbing alcohol or peroxide, cotton swabs, anti-itch ointment, eye drops, tweezers, and medication that may need to be taken.

If you suffer from allergies or need to take medication regularly, you should make sure you have enough for the cruise and be sure to pack it with the rest of the medical supplies.

Your first aid kit does not have to large, but it should contain enough supplies to mend the entire family in case of an emergency.

In your first aid kit should be a list of allergies that you or your family members may have, this can include food allergies or medication allergies, and a list of emergency contacts in case they need to be contacted. The cruise line will ask for one or two contacts, but you should still bring a list just in case.

It is important to be prepared for anything that may happen while on your cruise. Even though most people return safe and have only good things to say about cruises, there have been incidents that have not been so pleasant. Reduce your stress by being prepared. This will allow you to spend less time worrying and more time with your family and friends.