Embarkation Day: 10 Easy Ways to Make The Most Out Of Your First Day on the Ship

Embarkation Day is my favorite day of the cruise! Why? Simply because it means the cruise I have been waiting for is finally here! Of course, I also love Day 2, Day 3… you get the picture 🙂 If you’re anything like me, you’ve been planning your trip for quite some time. Here are some tips to help your Embarkation Day go as perfectly as possible.

Table of Contents

Arriving on Embarkation Day

Arrive early- The earlier you arrive at check-in, the better. Many cruise lines, like Carnival, have you reserve your check-in time. My advice is to pick the earliest time possible! This makes checking in a breeze and gets us to the fun much, faster than those who are scheduled to check-in later.

Be Prepared– Make sure you have your boarding pass printed out beforehand. You should also make sure that you have already set up your expense account, filled out your health forms, and tagged your luggage with the appropriate luggage tags. Check out my list of 12 Things you Should Do Before a Cruise!

Once You’re On The Cruise Ship

Explore the Ship– Your cabin will most likely not be ready when you board the ship (unless you have premium perks). Many of the cabin passages are closed off to travelers so cabin stewards can prepare the rooms for your voyage. There is so much to discover on each ship and there is no better time than on embarkation day to do it…well… unless you’re a night owl and explore while everyone else is sleeping, of course. This is one of the best times to get pictures of the ship. It’s also a great time to figure out where your meeting places will be and scope out potential hangout spots!

Bring a Well-Stocked Carry-on– There is a pretty good chance that your luggage will not arrive until later in the day. Trust me, the last thing you want to do is watch everyone else swimming just because you don’t have access to your bathing suit yet!

Book Your Spa Appointments– Oftentimes, the spa will offer special deals on embarkation day. Take advantage of these deals by booking your appointments on day one.

Book Excursions– If you haven’t already booked your excursions, head down to the main lobby to check out what tours are available. Spots are limited on most tours and you don’t want to miss out! Need help selecting an excursion?

Meet Your Cabin Steward– Your cabin steward is the lovely person (or people) that will be taking care of your cabin each day. Trust me, you’re going to want to get to know them! Some cruise lines ask you to select whether you would like for your room to be tended to in the morning, or while you are at dinner- this is the time to do that! Your cabin steward can help you with things like replenishing your ice bucket, providing you with extra hangers, pushing your beds together, answering questions, etc. These are often some of the friendliest people you’ll meet on the ship!

Check Out the Daycare Options– If you’re traveling with children and will be taking advantage of the child care, I strongly suggest scoping it out on the first day. Get to know the folks who will be watching your little ones while you’re out enjoying some “you time”. If you did not pre-register, you’ll need to fill out the appropriate documents with them before you can take advantage of this service.

Let’s Get This Party Started!

Eat!– Let’s face it, most of us look forward to cruise food. I know I’m guilty as charged. Not sure where the food venues are? Follow the crowd to deck 9 to check out the Lido deck. Or…strike out your own path and discover many of the other eateries onboard!

Pro-Tip: Everyone and their mother (literally) will be at the buffet. Either find another restaurant or wait until a little later to avoid the rush.

Grab a Drink- Last but not least, grab a drink! You may even stumble on a sweet Happy Hour Deal! Relax and enjoy the special of the day! Your vacation has officially begun!