Arrive the day before. It’s usually best to fly in the day prior to embarkation. Delays can and will happen—missed flights, tight connections, or traffic jams. Arrive early, relax, and take a little time to explore the city.
Plan your transfers ahead of time. Check with your hotel to see if they offer an airport shuttle, or ask what they recommend for getting to the cruise port. Some cruise lines also offer shuttle service from the airport to the port. If those aren’t options, download the Uber or Lyft app and pre-arrange your pickup. Remember: if your hotel doesn’t pick up at the airport, you’ll need to arrange transportation to the hotel, too.
Know your embarkation time. Cruise lines assign an arrival time for the port, so don’t show up too early. Otherwise, you’ll just be sitting in the waiting area until your time is called.
Pack a smart carry-on for embarkation day. Check your large luggage at the port, but keep a carry-on or backpack with what you’ll need right away: cruise documents (many are online now), your passport, necessary medications, and a bathing suit so you can enjoy the pool while others are boarding. You may not see your large bags for several hours.
Avoid the buffet rush. Everyone is usually hungry and heads straight to the buffet. Instead, try a café around the ship or the main dining room for a more relaxed meal.
Check on your cabin periodically. Once your room is ready, you can head down—there usually won’t be an announcement. Your cabin attendant will stop by around this time to make sure you’re settled in. If you don’t plan to purchase the minibar items in the fridge, ask the attendant to remove them so you have room for your favorites.
