I've cruised so many times on Royal Caribbean that I've noticed what others that go even more often than me do, and I copied their best habits.
The saying "stand on the shoulders of giants" applies to travel, because you can learn a lot from others without enduring the harsh lessons learned along the way.
Going on a cruise has its own nuances that even seasoned travelers on land may not be prepared for. This is because cruise ships operate differently, and there are things that happen on a cruise that you would never encounter on land.
While there is a learning curve to a cruise, it's a pretty small one. No one should be intimidated by trying a cruise, but understand somethings are going to be different than flying on an airplane or staying at a resort.
To help you get situated faster, here are the things I started doing because I saw people that cruise all the time were doing it.
They will talk to the crew members
Probably the first thing you'll notice about people that cruise a lot is how much they value and interact with crew members.
When I stay at a hotel or resort, I rarely learn anyone's name there. But on cruise ships, it's completely different.
Crew members have a much bigger impact on how someone enjoys their cruise, and there are all star crew members you'll not only want to know, but seek out on future sailings.
Talking to crew members and striking up a conversation is a great way to pass the time and get to know people better. People just tend to be more social on cruise ships compared to on land.
Plus, getting to know crew members gives you insight into what's happening onboard, opportunities available, and advice too. Since crew members live onboard, they see it all, so they are great resources.
Plus, I've found talking with crew members is quite enjoyable because many of them are so friendly and personable. They're not robots, and striking up friendships with them has been a wonderful value add for every cruise.
They always check-in for a cruise immediately
When I fly, I check-in for my flight the day before. But on a cruise, that's a mistake.
Royal Caribbean opens up the option to check-in for a cruise at 45 days before the sailing begins, and cruisers will wait until midnight to do just that.
They do this because they want to get the earliest check-in time at the cruise terminal so that they can get onboard as soon as possible.
I know lots of people that will wait until midnight of the time zone the ship is sailing from to get the earliest time slot.
Plus, getting it out of the way means one less thing to do later and faster embarkation.
They will take maximize the loyalty program benefits
Royal Caribbean's loyalty program offers some terrific benefits, especially at the higher tiers.
I learned from my first sailings to maximize those freebies and discounts to help save money. They look at it almost like a bingo game, where their goal is to use up as many of the perks as possible.
What they're doing makes sense: Royal Caribbean is offering significant savings if you're willing to remember to use them. Drink vouchers, free photos, and discounts on internet are the top ones, but there's plenty more.
When I come onboard, I know exactly which perks I'll be taking advantage of immediately, and which ones I'll keep in mind if I decide to pursue it.
Those that haven't cruised as much might regret later on having spent more than they had to, when there was a coupon available to them.
People that love to cruise book sailings as soon as they come out
There is no such thing as "too early" to book a cruise for the folks that go all the time.
I used to think booking a cruise more than 6 months in advance was "early", but they will actually book them two years in advance and as soon as Royal Caribbean opens them up.
The reason this is a great strategy is because it gives them the first shot at any cabin type they have, including the coveted suites. There aren't many suites on any ship, so you have to book early to get one.
Moreover, booking that early often gets the best price. Because cruise vacations are so popular, prices tend to only go up. I've consistently saved money by booking a cruise 1-2 years early using this strategy.
There is a downside, and that's if you want to change your mind. New ships get released, friends invite you to their cruise, or a better deal emerges.
It's not a perfect system, but it does work for times of the year I know my family will want to cruise (i.e. Thanksgiving or Spring Break).
They will take advantage of less people onboard while in port
When I ask Pinnacle Club members what their port plans are, usually the answer is something like "we're staying on the ship".
I used to think they were being sticks in the mud, but it turns out they were onto something. Staying on the ship while it's in port allows you to enjoy more of what the ship has to offer without crowds or lines.
When you book one of Royal Caribbean's newest ships, like Legend of the Seas, you probably did so for the ship and not necessarily the destinations it visits.
New cruisers might be surprised how much is open while a ship is in port, including the slides, pools, restaurants and activities around the ship.
I still wouldn't go to the extreme of never leaving the ship, but picking one port day to stay onboard and do more on the ship is a really solid cruise tip.
A good travel agent is a common denominator among all the top cruisers
I take my travel agent for granted, but newbies often balk when they hear people still use travel agents.
In the cruising world, a good travel agent is the best decision you can make and it's why all the top cruisers I speak with always use one too.
Travel agents should cost you nothing extra to use, and they're like a concierge service to assist with everything.
What I've discovered is a good travel agent is so useful when a new ship opens up for bookings, or when there's a change in deployments. My travel agent takes care of everything and I don't have to bother.
More often than not, I'll ask my travel agent to book a cruise and be pleasantly surprised when they find a special group discount rate.
It's not a coincidence that people that cruise a lot all use travel agents.
At Top Tier events, the people with the most cruises always love cruising outside the Caribbean
After you reach Platinum status, Royal Caribbean will invite you to a Top Tier event on cruises longer than 4 nights. It's here where I noticed a trend among the top cruisers: they always highlight places outside of the Caribbean.
Nearly everyone gets started with a 7-night Caribbean cruise, but I've discovered how much more of the world there is to see by ship.
I've cruised to Alaska and Europe, and these places opened my eyes to so much more of what you can do.
When you ask someone that cruises a lot their favorite places, ports in the Caribbean probably aren't at the top of the list. It's a good reminder to branch out and try more sailings.
I started tipping in cash when I order any drink
Every drink ordered has an automatic gratuity that Royal Caribbean includes, but I've discovered tipping an extra dollar makes a big difference.
I'll walk around with extra dollar bills and tip a bartender or waiter $1 when I order a drink because it serves two purposes.
First, I absolutely get better service because they notice me. This is important when the bar is busy and I'm trying to get a refill.
Second, this goes back to my earlier lesson about getting to know crew members. Not only will they notice you, but they'll start talking to you. It's a nice ancillary reason because it demonstrates care on both sides.
There is such a thing as too much cruising
Some of my readers may be surprised to learn I don't want to live on a cruise ship. It's why I purposefully don't cruise every week.
My friends that cruise even more than I do recognize it's good to take a break from cruises because it allows the yearning to cruise again start to grow.
I prefer to cruise ideally every 4-6 weeks so that I have enough time at home to start missing being on a cruise.
Disembarking the ship as early as possible is something I see them do every cruise
The last morning of the cruise is bittersweet, and it seems people that cruise a lot rip that band-aid off and go home as early as they can.
The truth is that there isn't much happening on the ship that final morning. Other than breakfast and coffee, it's basically a place to hang out for a bit before you have to leave. So they get it over with and walk off the ship as soon as possible.
I've found this makes a lot of sense. You have to be out of your stateroom by 8am anyway, so I'd rather be on my way home to beat the traffic.
Plus, it's usually less crowded getting off the ship early in the morning.
Travel insurance is a must-buy for them
I started buying travel insurance for every cruise I take because I learned all the top cruisers do the same.
Travel insurance covers so many unforeseen situations that I cannot fathom cruising without it today. Sure, it costs extra to buy, but if you ever need it, it's a major difference maker.
Like all insurance, it seems like a waste until you need it. I've seen and read so many stories of people who would have been out thousands of dollars without travel insurance, so I started buying it.
If I had to pick one habit to adopt from people that cruise a lot, buying travel insurance is probably the one to go with. You never know how useful it could be!
