Cruise travel is a popular form of vacation travel among older people. Each year, more than 70% of the cruises are enjoyed by people over 55 years of age. Here are some practical tips that can help seniors get the most out of their cruise trip.
Start with a short cruise
If you’re new to cruise travel, “test the waters” by choosing a short 3- to 4-day cruise to see if you like the experience or not. Be flexible with your travel dates to receive a good discount.
Investigate beforehand
Look at various shore excursions to see which ones are interesting and book them in advance so you don’t miss out.
Look for Senior Discounts
Almost all cruise ships offer various types of discounts to cruise travelers. For example, there are often special drink packages. It may be a good idea to buy a soda pack if you are traveling with grandchildren.
Choose a smaller boat
Although small ships offer fewer dining and entertainment options, they are less crowded and many offer excursions that focus on the history and culture of a region. A small ship often visits more remote ports that large ships normally cannot.
Purchase insurance
Most cruise lines will not allow you to cancel close to your departure date. If you are booking a long cruise that costs thousands of dollars, it is a good idea to purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
Use a packing checklist
A packing checklist will ensure that you bring everything you need. You can simply Google online to find many cruise packing checklists.
Please arrive at the port of departure one day in advance.
Plan your trip well to avoid booking a flight that arrives on the same date your ship departs. You will have problems if the flight is delayed for any reason. So plan to arrive a day early to avoid any unexpected rush and delay.
Be attentive to the use of your phone
Put your phone in airplane mode to avoid unnecessary roaming fees. Using the ship’s marine satellite service can be very expensive and you will get some surprise bills, so limit yourself unless you can use terrestrial cellular signals.
Avoid overprogramming
Limit your activities and excursions on board. Don’t burn out planning too many activities and shore excursions, premium dining experiences, etc. Cruises are supposed to be relaxing and fun, so be selective when scheduling your days.
