Unexpected cruise tip from someone who’s done over 100 of them
Every week, nine.com.au Travel shares a top travel tip from our readers or something our writers find. Have something to share? Email us at travel@nine.com.au for a chance to be featured in an upcoming story.
When it comes to cruising, everyone has their own preferences and rituals once they’re aboard. Once you figure out what you love, it’s easy to slip into the rhythm of life on the seas.
On a cruise, you can find the rhythm that works best for you. iStock
No one knows this more than Ashley Kosciolek, who recently took her 100th cruise.
The US-based writer shared some of her biggest tips for cruisers in a recent story for Yahoo Travel, and while some of them are pretty standard – don’t skip gratuities, try a solo cruise – there was one tip that stood out.
According to Ashley, next time your cruise docks in a port, stay on board.
“Many new cruisers think they have to disembark when the ship docks in each port,” she explained.
Ashley said cruisers tend to have a self-imposed pressure to get off the ship and cram in as much as possible on port days.
But she said that if you stay on board, you’ll find something just as magical: “lots of peace and quiet.”
Of course, if it’s your first time in a city and there are things you want to see, don’t miss out. But if you’ve visited there before, or there’s nothing pressing on your itinerary, why bother?
Port days are overrated. Celebrity Cruises
“Personally, I stay on board often in ports I’ve already visited multiple times,” Ashley wrote.
“Pool deck loungers are easier to come by, lines are shorter for just about everything and if you’re someone who enjoys photography, port days are the best time to snag photos with fewer people in the public areas.”
Nine Travel writer Sarah agreed that port days spent on board can be the perfect way to break up a trip.
“A visit to the spa is an especially relaxing experience on port days, when there are often discounts on the hefty fees,” Sarah shared previously.
“And with Mediterranean destinations such as Santorini, Rome, and Cinque Terre more packed than ever – and not just due to cruisers – getting off might not always deliver the experience you hoped,” she added.
Another plus is that you don’t get off, you probably won’t spend any money either.
Avoid the crowds and stay on board. Getty
If you’re travelling with a partner or in a group, you don’t have to both do the same thing, Ashley advised.
“Split up so everyone can do something they enjoy, then come back together for lunch, dinner or a group activity everyone is excited about,” she said.
“You’ll be surprised how the time apart can make you all the more eager to meet back up.”
