You’ve not lived until you’ve been on a cruise. If you think an all-inclusive resort vacation is good, wait until you’re on a floating hotel, cruising through the Mediterranean or Caribbean, making the most of an all-inclusive drinks package that gives you unlimited piña coladas as you make your way to the first port.
The vibes are immaculate. And we know that so many people get excited from the minute they’ve paid for the trip, tracking their cruise ship to see where it is now, but the real fun is planning what to do before and after the cruise.
Without hesitation, we recommend extending your vacation slightly so that you have a day or two before and after your embarkation date. Read on to find out why and how you can make a plan.
The Benefits of Arriving at the Cruise Port a Day or Two Before
Arriving at your departure city a day before the ship leaves eliminates the stress of missed flights and unpredictable travel delays. When looking for the ideal home base near the cruise terminal, checking a holistic search platform like cozycozy allows you to effortlessly compare local hotels, vacation rentals, and apartments side-by-side to secure the absolute best rate before you set sail.
Nobody likes to rush around, even a type B person who leaves everything until the last minute. You get the luxury of relaxing, exploring the port, going for a beautiful dinner, and waking up refreshed and ready for the day of the cruise.
The Perfect Pre- and Post-Cruise Land Extension
Ideally, you want to arrive two days before your cruise. The first day is a travel day, so that doesn’t count, and the second day is for taking it slow and getting yourself hyped up for the cruise.
If your embarkation port is somewhere like Miami, you’re not far from areas like Domino Park, the Bay of Pigs Monument, and Little Havana. Little Havana is such an incredible place to be the night before your cruise. Sala’o Cuban Restaurant & Bar in the Little Havana area is divine; the cocktails there will definitely get you in the mood for your cruise.
Miami Port is one of the biggest cruise ports in the US, but whichever port you’re departing from, use Cozycozy to find a place to stay, and then Google ‘things to do near X port’ and ‘best places to eat and drink near X port.’
You should return to the same cruise port, and we recommend staying an extra night just to relax and decompress. You don’t need to do anything special, but it just means you don’t have to rush and travel home on the same day.
The Top Mistakes People Make on Cruises
Have you seen the videos that people take when they’re already on the ship, standing on the deck waving goodbye to the port, and people are sprinting towards the boat, desperately shouting for the boat to wait, as if it will redock, open the doors, and let them on? It feels almost evil to watch those videos, but don’t say you don’t crack a smile when you do. You can literally find endless complications of ‘cruise runners’ on YouTube.
That’s mistake number one, and don’t let it be you. That’s why arriving a day or two before is an excellent idea. You don’t end up on TikTok for the world to see your trauma of missing the embarkation times.
The other top mistakes people make on cruises are:
- Trying to save money by not booking a drinks package, then spending hundreds on drinks.
- Not knowing what’s included in the cruise package.
- Flying on the same day as departure and missing the cruise.
- Overpacking for tiny cabins.
- Forgetting travel insurance.
- Not researching the ship before travel.
Don’t make cruise rookie errors and do your research before you go.
Ah, how jealous we are of anyone going on a cruise. You can live out your Jack and Rose Titanic moments, take in the incredible atmosphere of a cruise ship, and see some incredible destinations. Tracking your cruise is fun, but extending your trip is even better. Once you start cruising, you never go back.
