Cruising is one of the most exciting ways to travel. The ship itself is like a resort on the sea. Many of the cruise lines have outfitted their ocean liners to include amazing activities alongside the traditional swimming pool and Lido deck Jacuzzi. Newer ships have rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, miniature golf, and three story tube slides. There are also fantastic shows with relevant performers. You might recognize the name of the musical guest or the comedian who has two shows a week. There’s dancing, gambling, spa time, and games to play throughout the day and night. And then there’s the food.

Oh, you’ve heard about the food on a cruise before, haven’t you?

It’s like a non-stop smorgasbord of culinary delights. You can get something to eat any time of the day – seriously. Most cruise lines have two formal seatings in the dinning room. This requires you to dress up a little. They also have food in a sprawling buffet. There are specialty eateries as well serving pizza, food from the grill, or Asian cuisine. Sometime you’ll find a bakery, sometimes a candy shop. And, of course, there’s always room service. The amount of food available is mind blowing.

And that’s not even the half of it!

Don’t forget the destinations, the Captain’s dinner, the family portrait opportunities, the spa, the fitness center, the conversation with newfound friends… the list goes on and on!

Reading all of this can be a little overwhelming. And you haven’t even sent he ship yet! Once you do you will wonder where you should start. Indeed you may stand in the middle of the ornate lobby staring in wonder and disorientation. Don’t worry – it happens to the best of us. If you want to avoid that, read on. Here are 5 ways to get the most of your cruise:

1. Make a B-line to the Lido deck before you leave the port. This is one of those kick yourself moments – you get to your room and fool around unpacking instead of getting up top to see the boat pull away from the port. The luggage can wait – the fact is, you may not even see your luggage before the ship starts to move anyway. Most lines require you to attend a meeting about what to do in case you have to exit the ship unexpectedly at your muster station before leaving anyway. Since you are already out of the room don’t go back in. Instead, make way to the Lido deck. This will be where all your open air activities start. The buffet is usually up there as is the pool, Jacuzzis, mini golf, running track, etc. You’ll know you’re there because you’ll hear the music. Get up there and get yourself a drink and a good spot, which won’t be hard to do since every spot on the Lido deck is primo. While you might not have any confetti going a la The Love Boat, the vibe will be happening and you’ll find yourself laughing with people you’ve never met before and waving at the people left on land while you sip your tropical drink.
2. Walk the Boat.After you leave the port it’s tempting to stay on the Lido deck for the rest of the night and many people will. But those people will be wandering around looking for the comedy club later that night when you won’t. After you get going and your drink is low, take a walk around the ship to see where things are. Find the places you will want to go first and get the lay of the land. You will not be able to find everything – sometimes you will find yourself in a new spot on the boat that you hadn’t noticed before even on the third day! But getting an idea of where you want to go will help you feel more comfortable and will break that big beast down into something manageable.
3. Plan your Schedule. What? Planning on a vacation? Unfortunately, yes. But not much! It makes sense to look at the destinations the boat will visit and determine what excursions you want to enjoy if you haven’t done it already. Indeed, it is suggested that you perform this step at home, long before you ever get on the ship. That way you’ll know if there are any deals you can take advantage of. Use sites like Groupon and Living Social to compare the prices of tours and pick up your tickets early, if you can. If not, plan your trips and head to Guest Services to book your excursions before the crowd gets there.
4. Soda, alcohol, or tea? While this seems like a simple thing, it can be costly if you don’t thin about what you are doing. Review the packages and choose wisely. You don’t’ want to spend extra on something you are not going to get the benefit from.
5. Try everything!See a show; dance to the live salsa band; play one of the game shows in the auditorium with your fellow passengers; go to bingo night (the pots are huge!); eat dinner and then have a massive midnight snack; get dressed up for lobster night in the formal dining room; get a hot stone massage at the spa; pose for pictures; ponder the meaning of life as you look out at the vast sea. Do it all. A cruise is a treat to the senses – all of the senses. Let yourself experience it in its entirety. That is the meaning of vacationing in and of itself.

Ready to sail away? Royal Holiday can help – contact them today and make your vacation dreams come true.