I know you’re excited to get onboard but we do recommend that you aim to arrive at the cruise terminal around midday or just after. Most cruise lines don’t start their check-in process until early to mid-afternoon and you don’t want to be waiting around for too long, especially if you’re travelling with little ones.
If you’re sailing from the UK, your luggage will be taken from you as you arrive at the cruise terminal and it will be delivered to your cabin later in the day. If you’re on a fly cruise; you’ll collect your case at the arrivals hall as usual and then you’ll either travel to the port with your case before dropping it off as above, or it will travel to the ship separately; either way it will be delivered to your cabin later.
You’ll need your passport, ‘set-sail pass’ or similar, and a credit card to set up your onboard charge account. You may also need to complete a medical declaration form to state whether you have or have had in the few days prior any communicable illnesses including sickness, diarrhoea, etc.
Most cruise lines aim to have all their cabins ready by mid to late afternoon. If you embark earlier you’ll have access to all the public areas from bars to restaurants and, of course, the swimming pools. Please make sure you pack all your essentials in your hand luggage so you are ready to start your holiday as soon as you step aboard – from prescribed medication and sunscreen to swim-wear, etc.
Before your ship sets sail you are required by International Maritime Law to take part in the lifeboat/muster drill (mandatory safety exercise) under the guidance of the Captain and his crew. In your cabin you’ll find a life-jacket for each guest in the wardrobe and also your muster station indicated on the signage near or on your cabin door. When the signal sounds – usually seven blasts followed by one long blast on the ship’s horn – you have to collect your life-jacket and proceed to your muster station as soon as possible. The lifeboat/muster drill usually lasts about 30 minutes and includes emergency evacuation instructions and also a demonstration of how to put on your life-jacket.
Make sure you join your fellow passengers up on the top deck of the ship for the Sailaway Party – complete with music and dancing and maybe your first cocktail - as the Captain pulls up the anchor and guides the ship out of port as you set sail on your cruise adventure.
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