| When the time has finally arrived to take off | | | | patient. If you want quicker service, it |
| for your cruise, this may be a bit of a | | | | never hurts to tip the porter well, a $5 |
| different experience from other types of | | | | minimum tip is recommended. |
| trips you would need. Here are some of the | | | | |
| things you can expect as you kick off the | | | | Once your luggage is gone, you have to head |
| enjoyment of your cruise package. | | | | into the terminal. This part of the process |
| | | | will remind you of being at the airport, |
| While you may be used to self catering, it's | | | | because you will have to go through all the |
| time to get used to pampering. That is what | | | | same security x-ray and metal detecting |
| is going to happen as you begin your cruise | | | | machines as you would at the airport, so once |
| voyage. As soon as you arrive at the cruise | | | | again, be patient. Just be responsible, and |
| terminal you will notice this. Instead of you | | | | respectable and this will go well. Make sure |
| being forced to drag your luggage all over | | | | you do not have any taboo items, such as |
| the place, it usually is taken from you by | | | | alcohol. Most cruise lines do not allow you |
| porters for the cruise line. You may have to | | | | to bring alcohol aboard with you. This rule |
| be a little patient so they can get to you, | | | | is not for a safety reason as much as it is |
| since a lot of passengers are usually | | | | likely so they can sell their alcohol, but |
| arriving for their holiday at the same time | | | | you have to follow their rules. |
| and the terminal can be a very busy place. | | | | |
| Just as you would at the airport, give | | | | Once you make it past security, you will be |
| yourself a lot of extra time to get to the | | | | given a number and letter and sent into the |
| cruise terminal and checked in. | | | | Embarkation Lounge until the ship is ready |
| | | | for you. This is a great opportunity to start |
| When the porters get to you, they are going | | | | to meet other people who are going to be on |
| to quickly whisk your luggage away and put it | | | | the cruise with you. Many of them have likely |
| on a luggage cart. While you may be a little | | | | sailed before and may be able to answer |
| worried it will not get on the ship, never | | | | questions regarding what to expect on your |
| fear. While airlines can lose luggage from | | | | cruising holiday. |
| time to time on flight transfers, the cruise | | | | |
| line is the one taking care of your bags from | | | | Once aboard, find your stateroom, get to know |
| start to finish, and the only place they are | | | | the ship, and if you're at a loss for where |
| going is onto your ship. They will magically | | | | you are or where you're going, you're likely |
| appear in your stateroom later in the day. It | | | | to find a staff member somewhere nearby to |
| will take a while for them to sort all the | | | | point you in the right direction. |
| luggage out once you get onboard, so be | | | | |