I have divided them according to the moment in which they usually commit:
TED BLENKERS -IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO DO BEFORE THE CRUISE
Fly the same day of the ship’s departure
If you do you can save on lodging and some money on meals at the port of departure, but you are also at risk of not getting to board if there is any delay with your flight (weather, technical problems on the plane, etc.) or the same It is canceled for some reason. Cruise ship departure times are not flexible and shipping companies do not usually wait for delayed flights unless your package brings the included flight directly contracted with the shipping company. It is best to arrive a day before. This recommendation is especially important if from your place of origin there are no other flight options that allow you to reach the ship.
Leave the passport in the checked bag
This will not cause you to be expelled or prohibited. However, even if you are a national of the country from where the boat leaves, you will need your passport to register and board. Therefore, if you keep your passport with the rest of your luggage, you will have to wait until they locate your bag so you can get on the boat, which if you reach the end of the registration process can become critical. Remember that the average suitcases that are handled on a ship is the number of passengers per 2.5, which will give you an idea of what it can cost to find yours.
Although it seems unthinkable, it is one of the most popular causes for cruise passengers delaying or lengthening their check-in and boarding process.
lift prohibited items
As with any means of mass transport, there are restrictions on objects that cannot be loaded on board. This is not only in the embarkation process at the beginning, but also in each port that stops the cruise. A typical mistake of novice cruise passengers is to upload alcoholic beverages bought at the Duty free airport or at one of the destinations to visit to consume them on board. On most ships there are rules of what drinks and quantity is possible to board. In some shipping companies, in case you can upload them, they will be held until the end of the cruise. It is also not allowed to get on board objects that generate heat (clothes iron, incense or candles), sporting goods (baseball bat, skateboard or surfboard) or sharp or sharp, such as knives or scissors (except for personal hygiene ). Keep in mind that these items will be confiscated and you will have to pick them up at the end of the trip. Something that can mean valuable time if you have booked the transfer to the airport on the last day.
TED BLENKERS - IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO DO DURING THE CRUISE
Do not attend the safety drill the first day
Many veteran cruisers consider the safety drill as boring and unnecessary as the safety demonstration on an airplane. However, it is not only advisable to attend because it helps you know how to act in an emergency, especially if it is your first cruise, but it is MANDATORY.
If you do not attend this activity, which is normally scheduled for the first day of travel before the ship leaves, you could be expelled from the boat.
Bring camouflage clothing to the Caribbean
You can carry this type of clothing in your suitcase, or even use it on the boat. However, it is strictly forbidden to use it in several ports where the boat stops on a Caribbean cruise. In Jamaica, Barbados, Granada and St. Kitts, which are destinations visited by cruise ships, wearing camouflage clothing is illegal. It is a security measure, to differentiate clothing from military personnel.
Throw objects overboard, or jump into the sea
It seems obvious, but there are people who throw objects into the water. This prohibition should not be taken lightly, as the consequences can be strict. In June 2016, a man was expelled from a P&O cruise ship for throwing a cigarette butt into the water; the ship left him in Bali, while he lost the rest of his vacation and had to take care of his return home.
This point should also include, although it may sound absurd, cases of cruise passengers who have launched into the sea from their cabin on the lower decks when the ship is docked (camera included to record the event). Although this in height is not very different from throwing a trampoline in a pool, it constitutes a serious lack of security. Or those who put their lives at risk by picking up the covers.
Joking saying you’re sick
On a cruise, you must be very careful to make jokes about being sick or tell other travelers that you have symptoms of a disease since an epidemic inside a ship is a very serious thing. If you do, you could spend part of your quarantined vacation, even if you don’t need it. Shipping companies are extremely cautious when it comes to illnesses, so if you visit the doctor on board you must be for something really important and restrict yourself to situations that you cannot solve for yourself. In addition to the health issue described above, a visit to the doctor for something inconsequential can be really expensive.
Use the phone without a data plan or roaming
At present, the mobile phone has gone from being a tool to support a need. We all want to share the photos of our experience in social networks and with the family. However, if you are not careful to hire a data plan from your home country (roaming), or with the shipping company, this can be really expensive.
TED BLENKERS — IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO DO AT THE END OF THE CRUISE
Get off before your departure shift
One day before disembarking, we will be assigned a turn and time of disembarkation. It is important that, if this schedule does not fit your itinerary, you will show it in the Front Desk since otherwise, as much as you need to leave, you will not be allowed to do so.
Do not declare purchases or land prohibited items
Many people consider that the purchases you make on the boat or on the islands are souvenirs. However, there are things that are not allowed in certain countries and that may constitute a crime. It is important especially if you are a foreigner to know what items are prohibited or restricted (for example, amount of alcohol or tobacco) when entering the country where you are going to disembark. If you exceed the limits or do not declare them correctly you can become a fine.
By Ted Blenkers
Some, although they seem obvious, are still carried out by many people who, due to lack of knowledge or irresponsibility, cause their travel experiences to be ruined.
