Eat Sleep Cruise
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17 First Cruise Mistakes Experienced Cruisers Regret the Most
We asked experienced cruisers about their biggest regrets, and they shared these essential cruise tips to help first-time cruisers avoid common cruise mistakes and stay one step ahead of everyone else onboard. 💲Save BIG with MEI-Travel cruise deals: https://bookmeicruise.com/?apid=escy 🌎Save Up to 40% On Shore Excursions: https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1603014 Up Next: 13 Things Smart Cruisers are Doing on Boarding Day 2026: https://youtu.be/wuwrsyTSmz4 After 100+ cruises across 15+ cruise lines, Heidi and I have made plenty of these mistakes ourselves. So in this video, we're breaking down the most common first cruise mistakes so you can skip the learning curve and just enjoy the vacation. Some of these cruise mistakes will cost you money. A few can cost you your entire trip. And one of the biggest regrets comes up before you even step on the ship. Subscribe to the Eat Sleep Cruise YouTube Channel if you love to travel and cruise the world! https://www.youtube.com/@Eatsleepcruise1 🛳️ FREE CRUISE PLANNING GUIDE: https://eatsleepcruise.com/cruise-planning-guide 🚢 FIRST CRUISE MISTAKES TO AVOID The ship's daily schedule is packed with activities, entertainment, dining, and port stops. You cannot do it all. So, you need to stay flexible. Booking dining, shows, and shore excursions in advance is smart. But building a schedule so rigid that a weather change or a long line ruins your day is a mistake. Flying in on embarkation day. Fly in the night before, book a hotel near the port, and wake up ready to cruise. A stress-free embarkation day sets the tone for the whole trip. Not having a passport. Closed-loop cruises technically allow a birth certificate and government-issued ID. But medical emergencies happen. Ports get missed. A passport gives you options when things go sideways. Better to have it and not need it. Not packing OTC seasickness meds. Even if you've never had issues on land, open water is different. Toss some Dramamine or Bonine in your bag just in case. Cruisers also swear by green apples and ginger as a natural remedy. Failing to put your phone in airplane mode. Cellular roaming charges at sea are no joke. We've heard stories of people coming home to hundreds of dollars in surprise charges. Turn it on the moment you board and only take it off when docked at a port with international coverage. Your checked bags won't reach your stateroom until late afternoon. Pack medications, documents, a swimsuit, and a change of clothes in a bag you keep with you. Anything you need in those first several hours should not be in your checked luggage. Take time to walk the ship before you fully settle in. Find the dining venues, locate the theater, discover the quiet deck spaces, and figure out which bar you want to visit first. On the last night, your bags get collected outside your cabin. Anything you need the next morning — medications, travel documents, next-day outfit — needs to stay with you. It sounds obvious until you're disembarking in your pajamas. Experienced Cruisers Share the Biggest Regrets 0:00 First Time Cruise Mistakes 0:20 Trying to do Everything 1:40 Not Realizing Cruising is Addictive 2:39 Cruise Planning Mistakes 5:23 Not Packing OTC Meds & Motion Sickness Remedies 6:05 Forgetting Airplane Mode 6:53 Skipping a Carry-On with Essentials 8:01 Not Walking the Ship on Day One 8:36 Not Downloading the Cruise Line App Before You Sail 9:31 Overpacking Your Suitcase 1:02 Buying Too Many “Must-Have” Cruise Gadgets 11:42 Missing a Sunrise at Sea 12:38 Skipping the Main Dining Room Completely 13:15 Not Having an Open Mind ---TRENDING VIDEOS FROM EAT SLEEP CRUISE------ We Tested the 10 Major Cruise Lines: https://youtu.be/n6ThEY2l2r0 Best Cruises for Couples: https://youtu.be/fenNj5GmLdM The Cruise Rip-offs https://youtu.be/cjbKOLTVStQ #BestCruiseLine #CruiseLineRankings #BestCruises2026 #CruiseShips #cruisetips #CruisePlanning #EatSleepCruise #BestCruiseShips #CruiseReview #CruiseLife #cruisetipsforfirsttimecruisers #cruisetipsandtricks Join us on Social Media as we “Sea the World, One Port at a Time.” Instagram: https://instagram.com/EatSleepCruise Facebook: https://facebook.com/EatSleepCruise Twitter: https://twitter.com/EatSleepCruise TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatsleepcruise Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/EatSleepCruise Question – What Do You Regret About Your First Cruise? Affiliate link: Some links above may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored. Some links may be affiliate links. 🌊 ABOUT EAT SLEEP CRUISE Heidi and I have been cruising together for nearly 20 years and have completed 100+ sailings across 15+ cruise lines. Our goal is simple: help you stay one step ahead of everyone else on board, that way you are able to see the world, one port at a time.