I cruise multiple times each year, and I constantly notice fellow passengers making the same mistakes over and over.
Cruises are designed to be one of the most stress-free vacations you can take. With minimal planning and logistics involved, you can focus on letting loose and having fun instead of sticking to a strict agenda.
For example, you won’t need to worry about sorting transportation between the various destinations you want to visit. Additionally, each port of call also includes a list of excursions for daily touring, meaning you won’t need to sort through tour operators if you don’t want to. Finally, meals, entertainment, and accommodations are conveniently located in one place to simplify your vacation even further.
However, cruising can be different than other ways of traveling. There are certainly more quirks than you might find with other vacations. First-timers and seasoned cruisers alike can make mistakes that end up putting a damper on their cruise experience. A little bit of preparation and awareness can go a long way to ensure a smooth cruise.
Last month, I set sail on a 4-night Wonder of the Seas with my best friend from Miami, Florida. This was her first sailing, while I’ve been on over 50 cruises and took charge of planning most of our vacation. Between her fresh perspective and my seasoned expertise, I noted how easy it was to make small mistakes that can make a big difference during your cruise.
Here are some of the most common mistakes that I saw cruisers make during my recent cruise, including things you can do to avoid these missteps.
1. Not downloading your boarding pass for embarkation day
You’ll be required to check-in for your cruise prior to embarkation day. Royal Caribbean requires that guests check-in online or in the app between 45 days and up to 48 hours before sailing. If you fail to do this, you will be required to complete the process at the terminal, which can be lengthy and delay the start of your vacation.
If you check in online, you will be able to download your SeaPass card directly to your phone. Think of this like a boarding pass for your flight, as it’s required to board the cruise ship. This allows the cruise terminal employees to easily scan your phone during the check-in process. You can also print your boarding pass, but this isn’t necessary.
However, I was surprised by how many cruisers at the terminal did not have their SeaPass cards downloaded to their phones or printed. In fact, there was an entirely separate check-in line for people who had not printed or downloaded their boarding pass.
Embarkation day is already hectic enough, so it’s important to have everything prepared for a smooth check-in. Without the proper documentation, this delays your boarding and, subsequently, your vacation!
2. Not knowing what’s included in your cruise fare
Wonder of the Seas is an Oasis class vessel, meaning it has world-class amenities and top-notch attractions. As one of the world’s biggest cruise ships, there’s no shortage of activities and thrills to keep you busy. While many of the attractions are already included in the cost of your cruise fare, there are always opportunities to spend extra.
Compared to other cruise lines, especially Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line, I find that Royal Caribbean has the most complimentary attractions. However, it’s still important to know what exactly is included in your cruise fare and what costs extra. When you’re already spending thousands of dollars on your vacation, you want to get the most value of your money.
For instance, I decided to try the Ultimate Abyss dry slide during our sea day. This is the tallest dry slide on a cruise ship at more than 150 feet above sea level. It’s certainly a wild ride — and even better, it’s included in the cost of your cruise! You can ride as many times as you want for free.
I couldn’t resist trying the slide for myself, and it was so fun. I screamed the entire way down! As I was walking across the Boardwalk, a woman approached me and said, “Excuse me, how much does it cost to ride the slide?”
I was shocked, and said in response, “Oh, it’s free! You should go try it for yourself.” The woman was surprised to learn the slide was included in the cost of her cruise. This interaction made me realize how important it is to know what’s included in your cruise fare.
If you’re interested in a certain activity or attraction, make sure to double check if there is any charge. In addition, some of Royal Caribbean’s attractions offer free "sample rides" during port days. For instance, you can ride the North Star on Quantum ships for a shorter “Basic Experience” for 15 minutes. If you choose the extended ride or want to ride during sea days, you’ll need to pay extra.
Additionally, my best friend didn’t realize that the ice cream machines were complimentary! As a first-time cruiser, she mentioned how it’s difficult to know what’s free versus what costs extra. In my experience, it’s best to check the cruise line’s app to see which attractions, amenities, and restaurants are already included in your cruise fare.
3. Forgetting to make reservations for the entertainment
One of the downsides of cruising aboard Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships is needing to book reservations for the nightly entertainment. With some of the best production shows at sea, you won’t want to miss the shows aboard the cruise line’s newest and biggest vessels.
Wonder of the Seas features both an AquaTheatre show and ice skating production - two of my favorites! In addition, the Royal Theatre is home to Effectors II: Crash and Burn, which is a Royal Caribbean original show with Broadway-style singing and dancing. You can find comedy shows and other productions aboard too.
However, reservations are required on Oasis class ships for most of these production shows. You can reserve your spot before embarkation either online in the Cruise Planner or in Royal Caribbean’s app. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the best luck being able to reserve shows beforehand, as the app always gives me an error message.
As such, I reserve shows on embarkation day immediately after boarding. The cruise ship will open more reservations once the sailing actually begins, and I’ve found this to be the best time to book the shows. Once I am connected to the ship’s internet, this is the first item on my to-do list.
I was able to secure our spots for all of the headliner shows with plenty of options available. However, one of the most common mistakes I see cruisers make is not reserving their entertainment. Instead, they often line up in the standby line for the show they wish to see. However, there is no guarantee that you will be able to see the show you want. This can make it difficult to plan your evenings aboard the ship compared to having a confirmed, reserved slot.
Avoid making this mistake by prioritizing entertainment reservations whenever possible. This ensures you’ll get to see the top-notch shows onboard at a time that works for your schedule. If you aren't able to secure reservations prior to embarkation, make sure to reserve them as soon as you get onboard.
4. Only eating breakfast and lunch at the Windjammer buffet
Wonder of the Seas, along with all Oasis class ships, feature a wide variety of dining venues. With a selection of complimentary and specialty dining restaurants, you’ll probably run out of time to eat at all of the options!
On our cruise, I noticed many passengers making the mistake of only eating at the Windjammer buffet for breakfast and lunch. This makes sense, as the Windjammer is undeniably one of the most convenient places to eat with a self-serve buffet and endless options for cuisine.
However, this can often make the Windjammer difficult to navigate with big crowds and long lines. For this reason, I’d suggest cruisers try other options for breakfast and lunch, especially on Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships.
Instead of eating breakfast at the crowded Windjammer, we chose the quieter Park Cafe in Central Park, where you can grab breakfast sandwiches, build a bagel, or pick up grab-and-go snacks like fruit and yogurt. Johnny Rockets also serves breakfast at no additional cost on Oasis Class ships, while the Solarium Bistro is another hidden gem that often isn't busy.
Additionally, we preferred visiting El Loco Fresh for a late lunch instead of heading back to the Windjammer buffet. This is a quick-service eatery on the pool deck with Mexican food, including burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and nachos.
We never encountered crowds or lines at these restaurants, making the experience more enjoyable and relaxing compared to the bustling buffet. Don’t make the mistake of only visiting the Windjammer during your cruise, especially if you’re cruising aboard Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships.
5. Arriving late for all-aboard time
While docked in Nassau, Bahamas, I told my friend that people often cut it close for all-aboard time. These people are infamously known as “pier runners” who sprint down the pier to make the cut-off time. All-board time is no joke, as the cruise ship will not wait for late passengers. In this way, it’s best to leave plenty of time for unexpected delays or traffic when returning to your cruise ship.
My friend was excited to see if we had any pier runners during our cruise; and as expected, the ship started paging a group of passengers. It was 15 minutes after the all-aboard time, so we concluded these were missing guests.
Sure enough, people came running down the pier and boarded our ship around 30 minutes late. My friend couldn’t believe that guests would be so nonchalant about the all-aboard time. Not only is this inconsiderate, but it’s also quite risky.
If you are stranded and left behind in a port of call, you need to spend your own money to either reunite with the ship or return to the disembarkation port. If you left your passport on the ship and it departs without you, this could cause an even bigger issue.
If you plan to venture far from the cruise port, it’s best to book a shore excursion with the cruise line. This guarantees the cruise ship won’t depart without you or the cruise line will organize logistics to get you back onboard. Whatever you do, make sure not to arrive after the all-aboard time while docked in a port of call.
6. Only relaxing on the busy pool deck
The pool deck is one of the busiest and liveliest places on a cruise ship. From sunrise to sunset, you can often find passengers lounging in the deck chairs, hanging out in the pool, or soaking in the hot tub. It’s not uncommon to hear live music playing on the pool deck either, along with dance classes, poolside games, and belly flop competitions taking place.
However, the pool deck can be extremely busy during sea days, as many cruisers want to join in the fun! But if you’re wanting to relax in a quieter location, consider looking for other places to lounge.
During our cruise on Wonder of the Seas, my friend and I often retreated to the aft of Deck 5, which I would consider a hidden gem on Oasis Class ships. These massive vessels feature dedicated walking paths around the promenade deck, and at the very back of the ship, you’ll find some chairs perfect for unwinding.
This became our go-to spot during our cruise. It was a quiet place with hardly any other people and offered uninterrupted views of the ship’s wake. We ended up spending time here almost every day, retreating in the afternoons to read or relax in the shade while enjoying the ocean breeze.
In the evenings, this also became our favorite spot to watch the sunset. With comfortable chairs always available and a calming atmosphere, this was one of the most underrated areas onboard! I encourage all cruisers to look for these hidden spots, as it can make your sailing feel even more special.
7. Booking the wrong flights
I was shocked at how many people seemed to book flights that made their travel more stressful. Like always, I joined our sailing’s Facebook page with other cruisers.
One of the biggest mistakes that I see cruisers make is booking flights the same day as embarkation. Not to mention, our cruise in late August is considered peak hurricane season. This means Florida can experience sudden, unexpected rain showers throughout the day, leading to flight delays or cancellations.
A few people posted on Facebook that they were flying into Miami the morning of our cruise, and they were concerned about potential weather delays.
This is one of the most important rules for cruising: you should always arrive at least the night before your cruise departure. If your flight has issues, you risk missing your entire cruise vacation!
In addition, some people were worried about the ship’s return time in Miami for their flights home. This is another important consideration, as you don’t want to book your flight too early after the ship returns. Disembarkation can take a while, along with customs and immigration. If you encounter traffic on the way to the airport, this can delay you further.
Avoid the mistake of booking flights at inconvenient times that only add stress to your vacation. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your embarkation port, and make sure your return flight isn’t scheduled too early on disembarkation day.
