10 super tips for easy cruisin’

Taking a holiday on a cruise ship for the first time?

1. Do tag your bags appropriately, most of the times the service guys do this now, but do re-check so that stewards can deliver and pick up luggage smoothly.

2. Pack essential items for the first few hours in a carry-on bag. This includes swimwear (for lounging by the pool), a camera, and any essential paperwork. Sometimes luggage may not be delivered immediately, thus having basic amenities available is critical to starting a vacation smoothly.

3. Your room will be ready with a newsletter/brochure of the itinerary for the day. This is almost like a guide- an extremely important tool that will help you pick the activities that interest you most. So, do go through carefully to plan your day accordingly.

4. Try to see everything across the days you spend aboard. Indulge in each activity and get a glimpse of all the shows. Don't fret if you can't see and do everything, these ships are planned to have mind-boggling varieties of activities and shows and are aimed at different age groups and interests. Pick the things that sound most fun to you and first do those. Try not to see every part of the ship on day one, as it will not only tire you out. You will be returning to the same venues again over the next few days so why make the process repetitive and boring for you? Also, do carry comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking around.

5. Even if you are usually not a morning person, do make it a point to wake up early morning around sunrise and take a walk on the top deck and absorb the inspiring 360 degree views from the cruise ship. We guarantee it's not something you see often. The sunsets are as stunning too!

6. Besides the buffets served that are usually part of your package, do try some of the specialty restaurants in the cruise ships for a break from the buffets. You will skip the crowd and manage to have a cosy meal.

7. Do take some time out to swim in the pools and Jacuzzis on the top deck. Swimming in a pool on a giant ship under open skies is not something you get to do every day. Try early morning swims and this will be a memory you will carry with your forever.

8. If you're travelling with young children, do carry a collapsible stroller for your young child. You will want to visit the entire length of the ship and this can get tiring for parents and young ones alike. With a stroller, you and your baby can roll on comfortably.

9. Don't worry too much about what to wear, once aboard, nobody cares, fact is you are on a vacation and everyone is dressed for comfort, just as on a land vacation. Just pack a set or two of semi-formal evening wear to don for gala dinners if those are planned. You'll be informed about these in advance.

10. You do not have to buy all the pictures the cruise's photographer takes of you and your family. They do take a lot of these and sell them at high touristy prices, some of which you may not even like. Buy the ones you really think are great (or have really cool themed frames that you may want to use with another picture inside!).