Before The Trip
1.  Pack light, and bring soft sided or collapsible luggage. There is very limited storage space in most cabins and you'll be sorry if you have to share floor space with your suitcases. Be sure to pack necessary toiletries. Items are available on board, but the selection is limited and the prices are high. Other necessities like film and batteries are similarly limited.

2.  If you have medications that need refrigeration, ask about the availability of a refrigerator in your room or bring a small cooler with you--there is plenty of ice on board.

3.  You'll likely read some very strict warnings about illegal drugs aboard ship. That said, people do it. You won't likely be searched getting on the ship (although luggage is x-rayed), but you can be put off the ship if you're caught using drugs. 

4. Your cabin is also subject to search by customs officials at any port. This has happened, and passengers have been fined. Finally, there is always a chance you will be searched by U.S. Customs disembarking a ship at a U.S. port. Don't even risk taking drugs back into the U.S. with you.

Boarding
Ships usually board between 12pm (Noon) and 4PM on the day of departure. Many passengers arrive early to take care of the details you'll read about below. If you don't want to wait in a long line to check in, we suggest that you arrive shortly after halfway through the boarding.

Pack anything vital (medicines, cameras, wallet) in your carry on luggage, as well as anything that might make your first few hours more comfortable, like shorts or a sweatshirt depending on the weather. Your tagged luggage may take an hour or so to be delivered to your cabin (longer if you don't tag it correctly).

Settling In
There are a few details you should take care of as soon as you get on board. Signing and Dining are the most important, beauty salon reservations are third. On most ships, you pay for all of your onboard purchases with a special charge card that needs to be activated by the presentation of a credit card (cash and travelers cheque's are accepted). As soon as this is done, you can get yourself a cocktail, then head to the dining room for your seating assignment. Beauty treatment appointments book up quickly, so if you want to schedule a massage, haircut, or manicure, do it now! You can always try to change it later.

Dining
Onboard dining continues to expand on most cruise ships, and you should be familiar with the various options. The primary dining rooms on most ships have "main" and "late" seating options where dinner is served in two settings. Most cruise ships have changed to where you can go to dinner anywhere from 5pm to 10pm. If you choose to do the traditional dining you will be assigned either main or late seating and will be assigned that for the duration of the sailing. Most entertainment is also done in two shifts, with an early and late performance to match your dining option. Late dining tends to be more popular; it gives you more time to get back to the ship after shore excursions and leaves less downtime between eating and late-night activities such as nightclub dancing. Main dining has its own advantages--like more time to enjoy cabaret acts and ship amenities between dinner and late-night parties, or the option to eat, see the show, and be back in your cabin by 10:30pm if you're an early-to-bed kind of guy or gal.

Service in the primary dining rooms is usually a (relatively) formal, sit-down affair with menus, waiters, wine stewards, etc. Unless your ship offers "restaurant seating" you'll be assigned to one table and waiter for the duration of your trip. Most tables hold eight people. Some seat more or less, but you'll probably end up at a table for eight. If there are people you want to eat with, go together to get your table assignment. Couples who choose tables for two usually have less fun, so if you're not with a group, take the chance. If you really don't like your assigned tablemates, speak to the maitre'd as soon as possible (it's rude to change during your first dinner, but arrange to switch before you leave the dining room). It is sometimes possible to switch your assignment on board and since more people opt for late seating, it's easier to switch to main.

Seating assignments (main or late) really affect dinner only since breakfast and lunch in the dining rooms are sparsely attended. Most ships also offer at least one alternate dining option such as a casual buffet that you can eat at almost any hour of the day.

In our experience, cruise food tends to vary with a couple of standout choices at each meal. If there's an appetizer, entree, or dessert you really like, don't be ashamed to ask for seconds. And if someone at your table is enjoying something you think you'd like better, go ahead and ask for a replacement. Your waiter will be happy to comply.

Attire
A number of theme events are often planned for the week, and you should get information in advance on what to expect. If you don't, be sure to ask. You can go all out on the theme-dressing routine, or completely ignore it. Go ahead and bring your leather and/or cowboy, motorcycle, drag or toga gear if you care to. But don't worry about it if that's too much effort. Remember, there's not a lot of closet space.

Dress is very casual on ship and at ports of call most of the time. On some cruises, you will be expected to dress up a little, like long pants and collared shirt for men and something equally neat for women. Only a few passengers dress up beyond that. Some cruises still offer formal nights, and only about half of the ship will really dress up. Bring a sweater or sweatshirt (it can get cool at night), a lightweight rain jacket, and plenty of shorts, swimsuits, t-shirts, and clean underwear! A back pack and/or fanny pack are useful for venturing off the ship.

Seasickness
The cruise industry would prefer you call it motion discomfort and while it feels similar to the queasy feeling some people get in a car or on a plane, no other motion discomfort is quite as, well, discomforting as seasickness. That's the bad news. The good news is that it's not something most people have to worry about, if you take the right precautions. Seasickness is caused when the fluid in your ear and your eyes send conflicting messages to your brain about which way is up. Modern ships have stabilizers, which help minimize the pitching and rolling that can cause the problem. Sometimes just getting out on deck and watching the horizon will stave off impending sickness. Sea-bands are elastic and plastic wrist bands use an acupressure point to prevent seasickness. You have to have them on before you start feeling ill for them to work. If you're prone to motion discomfort, you should consider medication as well. Over the counter medications Dramamine and Bonine both work reliably, although some Dramamine formulas cause drowsiness. The Scopolomine patch is back after a three year hiatus but is still an option best left for those who know they will get sick, or who know they can tolerate it. The Side effects can be significant and unpleasant.

Ports of Call
At each stop a cruise ship makes (ports of call), there are always a couple of options. Standard ship-offered shore excursions (pre-planned group tours that usually involve a bus, a guide, and a place for you to buy souvenirs) can be disappointing and expensive. This is particularly true in the Caribbean and Mexico. European excursions are more likely to be better options and special excursions arranged by the tour operator can offer a great window onto local life. Olivia in particular has done a great job of connecting the women on their cruises with the local women's community. Most ports are easy to negotiate on your own, and a little advanced preparation and research can greatly enhance your experience ashore if you're looking to get beyond the standard tourist fare.

Disembarking
The end of the cruise is a series of harsh realities, although there are a few ways to ease your transition. Your charge privileges generally end the night before your cruise does, so carry your wallet. A final accounting will be delivered to your room. This is when you find out how quickly those bar bills add up! If you are paying by credit card, your account will automatically be billed. Cash accounts must be settled aboard ship. Luggage to be carried off by the porters must be packed, PROPERLY TAGGED, and placed outside your cabin door generally by midnight. On large ships, when it's time to disembark, you will generally be assigned to a holding area on the ship based on your luggage tag color and will have to wait until your color is called to disembark. Count on sitting for an hour or longer. Some of the cruise lines have gone to hotel-style checkout which allows to you to disembark when you are with everyone needing to disembark by a certain time.