Cruising: Get on board with top tips from veteran cruise passengers

About to set sail? Jane Jurgens surveyed a couple of cruise ship pros for their expert advice on making the most of life at sea.

Ship life

There is so much to do on board that it's hard to fit in actually leaving the ship when it arrives in port. The daily newsletters are a must-read — you'll find information on events, tips and specials at the bars, spa and boutiques. There will always be something going on, so if you'd rather not spend the whole cruise lying on a sunlounger, you can easily fill your days with a variety of activities.

Experienced cruiser Gayle Stanners has a plethora of tricks and tips gleaned from her cruise holidays. To make sure she's organised on board, she always takes a pen and highlighters to keep track of her daily choices.

If there is a special occasion while you're on board, such as Easter or Halloween, it will generally be marked by the crew in some way — perhaps by themed dinners or a party at the nightclub.

Dining options abound. Photo / Getty Images

Make the most of the free shows; even if you leave halfway through to head to the bar for a nightcap, they're definitely worth a look. And, if you're lucky enough to be invited to the captain's cocktail party, you must go — you'll get free drinks and delicious canapes, and the chance to rub shoulders with the most important person on the ship and other esteemed guests.

Making a meal of it

Another cruiser, Elizabeth Sampson, says there is an art form to dining times and styles and it may take you a couple of days to find your groove — even from cruise to cruise.

There are generally two dinner sittings in the main dining room each night and one can be very late, which may not suit you. Seating is generally allocated, so you may be stuck at a table of people with whom you don't have much in common and that can be awkward. It's usually possible to move these times around.

If you prefer to eat when you're hungry, the buffet is for you — but you'll need to pick your times here too to avoid the very busy periods, especially if there are lots of children on board. Go early or late. And remember you can take your food back to your room to enjoy in peace on your balcony.

The main dining room, however, is a great option for breakfast and lunch, Stanners says — they often have express meals or their own buffet, and are much quicker and more civilised than the standard buffet option.

Laundry-savvy

Stanners advises packing a few pegs for your laundry and even taking a bit of light rope for a makeshift clothesline on your balcony or in your bathroom. This is great for emergency hand washing and drying your swimsuit. If your clothing or pool towel is not affixed to something by the pool or on your balcony, you risk it being lost overboard. With towels this can result in charges.

Drinks list

Drink packages can be overpriced, Stanners says, but you can occasionally score a free package — don't be afraid to ask about what's on offer. Her other tips include making the most of happy hour, remembering that you can take your drinks from the buffet out to the pool area or back to your room, and filling up drink bottles with water at the buffet station before heading ashore.

If you're a tea drinker, take a packet of tea bags on board with you — she says they often run out of bags at the buffet on the European lines, and are not replenished regularly.

Photo / Getty Images

Plugging in . . .

Don't forget to pack some adapters — find out beforehand what the cruise line uses on its ships — and you might want to take your own hairdryer because the onboard ones are often rubbish, Sampson cautions.

Unplugging . . .

Wi-Fi is run off a satellite and is expensive and slow on board. If you really have to get online, use the internet while in port. If you're worried about missing the news (there's no normal cable TV either), there is generally some sort of modified daily newspaper service you can have delivered to your stateroom.

Swim with caution

The last cruise Sampson did around the Mediterranean happened to fall during the school holidays, so there were almost as many children on board as there were adults. Which is fine unless you're not travelling with children. A bombing competition or a lot of squealing and splashing is not ideal for everyone. If you're kid-free, think about swimming during peak meal times or as early as possible in the morning and as late as possible at night. Sampson discovered the TV in her room had a channel beaming a rotation of views from the main public areas so she could keep an eye on the pool from her bed and avoid the busiest times.

Enjoy the stage shows. Photo / The Royal Caribbean International

Land ahoy!

Research and book the shore excursions you definitely want to do ahead of time so you don't miss out. If you're unsure and want to wait until you're on board, make sure you attend the Excursion Introductory Seminar to learn more and for the chance to win spot prizes.

Ship excursions are easy and safe but can be expensive, Stanners warns. "But if you want to cover a lot of sights they can be your best bet unless you want to book tours privately."

If you're doing your own thing, which is easy to do at ports that are right on the doorstep of the destination, such as Sydney or even Auckland, print or download city walking maps.

Sometimes you can get free excursion packages when you're booking your cruise — it's always worth asking — and occasionally excursions are added during the cruise, so keep an eye out for these.