189 NE 2ND STREET
When you go on a cruise, the general idea is to enjoy yourself and bask in the luxurious amenities of your trip. Gourmet food, fun activities, top of the line entertainment—a cruise is truly the epitome of vacation. With all of this in mind, you don’t want to have anything hanging over your head to cause any undue stress, and you want to make the most of your time on the cruise. Here are four tips for having the best time possible on your cruise.
Research Your Cabin
Nothing can put a cinch in your relaxing cruise experience quite like having a problem with the room you’ll be staying in. Therefore, you don’t want to just accept the first cabin you are offered. Do your research—find out what rooms will be around your cabin. For example, having a cabin directly under the dining room could be a disaster. Imagine trying to relax in your cabin and hearing chairs scraping above you, or a massive amount of foot traffic right over your head—especially if you are the type who likes to sleep in, and want to do so while the early birds get their eggs. The same goes if your cabin is directly over or under sun decks, restaurants, or any other public venue.
Find Premium Parking
There is no car storage available on a cruise ship. Unfortunately, this means you have to leave your car somewhere while you enjoy your cruise adventure. Being that it’s such a popular place from which to embark on a cruise, parking at the Miami port can be a complicated and nerve-wracking process. The popularity of the area may leave you to wonder whether your car will remain safe or if it will be broken into while you’re at sea. You’ll want to find a secure parking area to keep your most expensive possession safe for the days you’re gone. The best parking services have complimentary shuttles to take you to your ship so you don’t have to worry about how to get from point A to point B. They’ll also help you unload and load your luggage when you arrive at your liner. Most importantly, find a parking area that has competitive Port of the Everglades parking rates so that you’re spending your money on your vacation instead of your car.
Book Meals and Excursions Ahead of Time
Cruise ships are known for their amazing gourmet meals, and you won’t want to miss out on a single morsel! Reserve your seats for meals at the time you’d like to eat each day, so that you and your family are eating at the ideal time of day. This will prevent you from getting to the dining room when all the seats are taken, and having to eat standing at the buffet!
It’s also a good idea to reserve your excursion times so that you don’t have to stand in long lines waiting. It wouldn’t hurt to additionally plan backup excursions in case one or two of them get canceled and refunded, leaving you with nothing to do for that time.
Pack Ahead
You never know what you could end up wishing that you’d brought from home on a cruise, so it’s never a bad plan to “overpack”. For example, it can be quite a great idea to bring a multi-plug extension cord, as most cabins may only have one outlet, and most people have multiple rechargeable items that need an outlet overnight. It’s also wise to bring extra storage options—magnetic hooks can stick most anywhere and keep your purse out of the floor space of a tight cabin.
