Taking a cruise is a thrilling, luxurious experience – especially if you’ve never cruised before. But one of the most important things that people overlook when going on a cruise is safety. With more than 10 million Americans cruising on a yearly basis, cruises are a safe and inexpensive vacation option for families and couples alike. Nonetheless, it’s important to pay attention to all of the safety guidelines and requirements set in place by the company you are cruising with.
Safety Briefing
At the very beginning of your cruise, most cruise lines will conduct a mandatory safety orientation. This normally occurs before a ship departs from the port. Even though you may view this orientation as an inconvenience because you want to kick back and have fun on vacation, it’s an important time to get acquainted with your ship. You will receive instructions for what to do in an emergency, so pay attention to stay safe at sea.
Your Health
Since you will be spending time in close quarters with quite a few strangers, your health may be a concern while cruising. Try to use the restroom in your room and avoid public restrooms when at all possible. If you suffer from seasickness or have never cruised before, you may want to bring seasickness patches on board with you just in case. There’s nothing that will ruin a cruise quicker than spending days in your room because the motion of the boat is making you sick!
Your Valuables
Most cruise lines feature at least one formal night when guests can come to dinner in their best attire. For this reason, you may want to bring your nicest jewelry with you to get decked out for this special occasion. However, leave your finer things at home and wear costume jewelry instead. While your room may have a safe in it, most crewmembers have access to the codes – meaning that your valuables aren’t as safe as you think.
Be Discreet with Your Money
In most cases, all food will be included in the total cost of your cruise. Still, you will need to have money to spend on alcohol, shopping, and gambling if there is an onboard casino. In most cases, it is best to charge all items to your room to pay at the end of your vacation. If you are carrying cash with you, be discreet and keep it safely in your wallet or purse to deter thieves.
Travel with Friends
Traveling alone on a cruise is a recipe for disaster. This not only applies to the total vacation but to any excursions that you may take off the boat. A cruise will normally dock at one or two ports, where you are given free rein to visit another international city. Since you are off the boat, you are no longer protected under the safe covering of your cruise ship. It’s important to travel in groups during cruise excursions and spend time in public areas with other travelers to stay safe.
Bethany Ramos is a full-time freelance writer that co-owns her own e-commerce website, The Coffee Bump. The Coffee Bump specializes in a wide variety of Bunn coffee makers and assorted coffee and espresso products.
