Sometimes the smallest of actions can make a huge impact on your cruise. This definitely rang true on my most recent Royal Caribbean cruise to Europe.
I just got back from a dreamy cruise to Greece and Croatia, and there were four quick things I did before leaving home that made a positive impact on my vacation.
Most of these things only took a few minutes to complete, such as downloading a useful app to my phone or packing an anti-theft bag to use in port.
Despite their simplicity, the impact that these actions made on my cruise were enormous. I was able to relax and unwind during my vacation knowing I did just a few things correctly beforehand.
These are the four small things I’m glad I did before my Royal Caribbean European cruise.
I packed an anti-theft travel bag
One item I’ll never forget to pack on a European cruise is an anti-theft travel bag.
While on a trip to Italy in 2018, I naively left my iPhone sticking out of my coat pocket on Milan’s busy subway. Unsurprisingly, the phone was snatched out of my pocket within seconds, and the thief was nowhere to be found.
I wasn’t even angry when I realized my iPhone was missing—it was a stupid mistake on my part. Since then, however, I’ve taken precautions on every trip to ensure a similar incident never occurs again.
Related: How to keep your belongings safe in port
Pickpocketing can happen anywhere in the world, but some of the most popular European cruise ports are hotspots for pickpockets. Crowded tourist attractions like Rome’s Trevi Fountain and Barcelona’s Las Ramblas street are some of the most likely places to fall victim to this petty crime.
It’s easy to become distracted in bustling tourist areas, especially if you’re taking photos and putting your attention toward the sights rather than your pockets.
Because of this, I always wear this anti-theft backpack when exploring busy areas.
The backpack’s main zipper goes against my back, minimizing the risk of it being opened without my knowledge.
No anti-theft travel items are foolproof, but my backpack greatly reduces the risk of being pickpocketed, allowing me to better enjoy my port days without worrying about my belongings.
I downloaded useful travel apps to use in port
It’s important to download the Royal Caribbean app before cruising to Europe, but there are a handful of other apps you’ll want to download, too.
Before leaving for my cruise, I made sure to download a selection of travel apps on my phone to make my time in Europe much easier.
An absolute must-have is Google Translate. Even though you’ll usually find English menus in tourist areas, this isn’t always a guarantee. Plus, you’ll often find more authentic food at restaurants without an English menu.
During my port days in Greece, I used Google Translate to learn basic phrases when speaking to locals. Later, while eating lunch in Croatia, I used Google Translate’s picture tool to translate a menu into English.
I also utilized the GetYourGuide app on my cruise, which I used to book tours in my ports of call.
The app has dozens of tour options available for every port, and prices are much lower than those offered directly through the cruise line.
Lastly, if you’re planning to take any trains in Europe, I also recommend downloading the Trainline app.
Many cruise passengers travel by train before or after their European cruise. The easiest way to plan and book train travel is through Trainline, which offers train and bus tickets from over 200 providers in 40 countries.
By using Trainline, there’s no need to download individual apps for each train company, and it stores your digital tickets in the app for easy access.
I’ve used Trainline to book trains in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and The Netherlands, and the process has always been seamless.
I also planned extra days in my embarkation port before the cruise began
Jetlag is no joke—especially when flying to Europe.
If there’s one cruise tip I’ll share again and again, it’s to always arrive in your embarkation city at least one day in advance of your cruise. When cruising to Europe, arriving early protects you from travel delays and provides plenty of time to adjust to the local time zone.
Related: The worst part of flying to Europe could easily ruin half your cruise
One thing I made sure to do before my cruise was to fly to Europe not just one or two, but three days before embarkation day.
My cruise was set to depart from Italy on Saturday afternoon, so I flew from the US to Europe on Wednesday evening. I landed in Milan on Thursday morning, giving me two days of buffer time before the start of my cruise.
These extra days made a huge difference in my vacation. Not only did arriving early help me recover from jetlag, but it provided wiggle room in case I encountered travel delays.
As it turned out, my connecting flight to Italy was delayed. I sprinted through the airport in Zurich to make the connection just in time, but I could have easily missed the flight. Had this happened on embarkation morning, I would have risked missing my cruise altogether!
Plus, arriving early allowed me to explore my embarkation city before the cruise. I set sail from Ravenna, a small city in Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. Although Ravenna is not as popular as cities like Florence and Venice, it’s one of my favorite destinations in the entire country.
The city is known for its 5th-century mosaics, which cover the walls and ceilings of Ravenna’s grandiose churches. Aside from art, Ravenna’s historic center is effortlessly charming. It features dozens of outdoor restaurants, wine bars, and shopping streets, but with a fraction of the tourists found in Italy’s bigger cities.
Regardless of whether your European cruise departs from Ravenna, Barcelona, Southampton, or another port, I always advise arriving early. Not only is it a smart move from a logistical standpoint, but it gives you extra free time to discover your embarkation city, too.
Lastly, I made sure I’d have international phone service
Before my European cruise, I double checked that I would not have any issues accessing the internet while in port. Having access to cellular coverage makes getting around foreign countries significantly easier.
International data policies vary from one cellular provider to another, though.
My T-Mobile Magenta Plan, for example, gives me access to high-speed data in over 215 countries and destinations free of charge. When I land in Europe, I simply turn off airplane mode and my phone will automatically connect to a local network.
AT&T, on the other hand, offers an International Day Pass for $12 per day.
Related: 11 things Americans should know before they travel to Europe for a cruise
Some travelers prefer using an eSim when visiting Europe. These are local sim cards you download directly to your phone. eSims allow you to connect directly to local networks, resulting in faster speeds compared to roaming on an international network.
Having cellular coverage in port is almost essential these days. You can use your phone to check directions, search for reviews at restaurants, and access digital entry tickets for attractions.
No matter which route you choose for international data, it’s a good idea to figure out all of the details before heading across the pond.
