Avoid These Cruise Mistakes

By: Omar Kaywan
Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Goose Insurance

About 35.7 million passengers are expected to cruise in 2024, up millions from 2023. But whether you’re a first-time cruiser, or this isn’t your first rodeo, it’s important to not make a few simple cruise mistakes that could cost you a fortune or even ruin your trip. Here are a few cruise mistakes you need avoid this year, and a few tips on how to make your cruise travels go more smoothly:

Mistakes to Avoid:

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Flying in the day of your cruise

While you may not want to have to pay for a hotel room or air b n b for the night, you’re better off being safe, rather than sorry. If the past few years of travel (and even this current year) have taught us anything, it’s that weather is unpredictable, and your flight could be cancelled or delayed in an instant. If your flight is delayed even just an hour, the cruise ship isn’t going to wait for you, they’ll be sailing off without you. Giving yourself an extra day ensures you, and your luggage will arrive on time.

Waiting until the last minute for packages

It can be true that the price of specific cruise packages and add-ons can get cheaper closer to the embarkation day, but you also run the risk of missing out on spa treatments, dining reservations, drink packages, shore tours and more because you waited too long. If you find one of these add-ons or packages essential to your trip and you having a blast, book it sooner rather than later. If you can do without, you can give yourself some time to see if the price goes down.

Travel tips:

Get back to the port with time to spare

Instead of planning your time off the ship with minimal time to spare to make it back before it sets sail again, give yourself an extra 30 minutes – 1 hour. In case anything happens along the way (or you get distracted) you have extra time. This is not only important for you, so you don’t miss getting on board, but it’s also being courteous to your fellow passengers. 

Get travel medical insurance

Although there is a doctor and nurses on board, your medical insurance won’t be covering you. If you want to avoid your budget cruise trip from turning into a $100,000 medical bill, getting travel medical insurance is your best friend. Travel medical insurance is difference from the travel insurance you buy to protect your trip, but is completely necessary. Your health insurance doesn’t cover you when you travel out of the city, state or country. Travel medical insurance can be sure you’re covered whether you come down with an illness and need medication, or if you get a broken bone. 

Don’t overpack

While you might think you want to bring a new bathing suit for every single day, a few different outfits for morning, afternoon, and night, that’s not the case. The less you pack for your cruise, the better. Bring just 2-3 pairs of comfortable shoes maximum that can be worn with all of your outfits, and only bring what’s truly necessary. Once you have the basics packed, bring only one extra shirt and pair of pants/shorts in case you need a change of clothes. You’ll be thanking yourself in the end that you didn’t pack your entire wardrobe. When it comes to medications, however, bring a few more doses than you’d need for the length of your trip, this way if something happens and you’re delayed getting home, you are prepared.

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