Cruising is one of the most convenient types of holidays, with everything you could possibly wish for at your fingertips; hence, plenty of passengers can find it hard to know where to start. With so much to choose from, plenty of passengers miss out on some of the ship’s best features, usually because they don’t seek them out on the quietest day onboard: embarkation day.

After spending significant time travelling to the ship that day, it’s common for passengers to have food on their mind and head straight over to the buffet in the first few hours of embarking on the ship. In turn, it’s usually incredibly crowded, whereas using this time wisely could open you up to more opportunities onboard. 

Going for a wander around the ship or taking the time to inspect a deck plan can help travellers take advantage of the hidden gems they may have otherwise missed. Meanwhile, it may take other passengers – too busy at the buffet – days to discover them.

In addition to avoiding the buffet for the first few hours after boarding the ship, so that you can explore, another tip is to pack wisely.

Typically, tourists will need to part from their suitcases before they board the ship, and this process can often take a few hours before your luggage arrives at your cabin.

With this in mind, any medicine or toiletries that are deemed essential should be kept in your carry-on bag. If you really want to outsmart other passengers, consider packing a swimsuit and a towel so you can hit the pool or hot tub while it’s still quiet. 

Additionally, it’s key that tourists pay attention to the stateroom attendant staff cleaning their cabin day in and day out while onboard. This opportunity to meet them can be taken during the first few hours of the cruise. 

Embarkation day is often the busiest day on a cruise, especially for staff, as each person working onboard has to give all areas and each cabin a deep clean before new guests arrive.

By saying hello to these people, you’ll help to keep a light and upbeat mood, and hopefully in return, they’ll do a great job at keeping your space clean for you. 

If there are any special requirements, passengers should also let their stateroom attendants know about them as early on in their stay as possible. For example, letting them know on the first day of any additional towels or pillows needed.