Cruising in Retirement: 15 Tips for a Better, Easier and More Enjoyable Cruise
There are certain things retirement finally gives you more of.
Time is one of them.
And few vacations take advantage of that freedom quite like a cruise.
You unpack once, wake up somewhere new, eat whenever you feel like it, see a show after dinner, and let somebody else worry about driving.
Not a bad arrangement.
Cruising can be especially appealing in retirement because you are no longer trying to squeeze an entire vacation between two weekends. You may be able to travel when prices are lower, take longer cruises, and avoid some of the busiest holiday periods.
But a little planning can make the difference between a good cruise and one you cannot stop talking about when you get home.
Here are some practical tips for making your next cruise easier, more comfortable, and a lot more fun.
1. Pick the Cruise for the Vacation You Actually Want
Not all cruises are alike.
Some ships are enormous floating resorts with water slides, casinos, theaters, dozens of restaurants, and thousands of passengers.
Others are smaller and quieter, with more emphasis on destinations, scenery, food, or relaxation.
Before worrying about which ship has the fanciest buffet, ask yourself a simpler question:
What kind of vacation do I want?
If you want peace and quiet, the ship with the biggest water park may not be your best choice.
If you love entertainment and want something happening every hour, a small quiet ship may feel a little too quiet.
Choose the experience first. Then choose the ship.
2. Retirement Gives You a Secret Cruising Advantage
If you are retired, you may have something many other travelers do not have:
Schedule flexibility.
You may not have to cruise during spring break, Christmas week, or the middle of summer.
That means you can look at dates when ships may be less crowded or fares may be more attractive.
Try comparing the same itinerary across several different weeks. Moving your vacation by just a week or two can sometimes make a noticeable difference in price.
And you don’t have to explain to your boss why you need another Monday off.
That may be one of retirement’s underrated benefits.
3. Consider Arriving a Day Early
If you have to fly to your cruise port, seriously consider arriving the day before the ship leaves.
Yes, it means paying for a hotel.
It also means a delayed flight does not turn the first day of your vacation into a race against a departing cruise ship.
Flights get delayed. Weather happens. Bags occasionally decide to take their own vacation.
Arriving early gives you some breathing room.
It can also turn embarkation morning into something much nicer: breakfast, coffee, and a short ride to the ship instead of staring nervously at an airport departure board.
4. Do Not Choose a Cabin Based Only on Price
Your cabin is more than the place where you sleep.
Location matters.
If you have trouble walking long distances, look at the ship’s deck plan before choosing your cabin. A room near an elevator can save a surprising amount of walking on a large ship.
If you are sensitive to noise, think twice about cabins directly below the pool deck, nightclub, theater, or other busy areas.
If motion bothers you, a cabin closer to the middle of the ship and on a lower deck may feel more comfortable than one high up at the very front or back.
And if you love sitting outside with morning coffee while the ship arrives somewhere new, a balcony may be money well spent.
5. Pack Important Medicine in Your Carry-On
Your swimsuit can survive being separated from you for a few hours.
Your medication may be another story.
Keep prescription medicines and other important medical items with you rather than putting them in checked luggage.
Bring enough for the trip, and consider a little extra in case your travel plans change unexpectedly.
It is also useful to keep a list of your medications, doses, allergies, and important medical information with you.
You may never need it.
That is exactly what you want.
6. Bring a Small Cruise-Day Bag
When you first board the ship, your checked luggage may not immediately arrive at your cabin.
Pack a small bag with the things you might want during those first few hours.
That could include medications, glasses, sunscreen, a phone charger, a swimsuit, a change of clothes, and anything else you would hate to be without.
Then you can start enjoying the ship instead of checking the hallway every ten minutes to see whether your suitcase has appeared.
7. Comfortable Shoes Beat Fashionable Shoes
Cruise ships are big.
Ports can be even bigger.
A day of sightseeing may involve cobblestones, stairs, docks, ramps, and considerably more walking than you expected.
Bring shoes you already know are comfortable.
A cruise is not the ideal time to discover that the beautiful new shoes you bought have declared war on your feet.
Good walking shoes may not be the most exciting thing in your suitcase, but by day four they might be your favorite.
8. Be Realistic About Shore Excursions
That seven-hour excursion may sound fantastic when you are sitting at home reading the description.
At 7:15 in the morning after staying up for the show the night before, it may feel slightly less fantastic.
Pay attention to how much walking, climbing, standing, and transportation an excursion requires.
Choose activities that fit your comfort level rather than trying to prove anything.
There is no prize for returning to the ship completely exhausted.
Sometimes a shorter tour followed by a leisurely lunch near the port makes for a much better day.
9. Leave Some Empty Space in Your Schedule
You do not need to do everything.
This may be one of the hardest lessons for first-time cruisers.
There will be shows, trivia, music, demonstrations, classes, restaurants, games, lectures, excursions, and activities happening all day.
You paid for the cruise, so naturally you may feel like you should experience all of it.
You shouldn’t.
One of the great pleasures of a cruise is sitting somewhere comfortable with a cup of coffee and watching the ocean go by.
That counts as an activity.
In retirement, you have earned the right to occasionally have absolutely nothing on the schedule.
10. Understand What Is Included Before You Sail
The advertised cruise fare is not always the final cost of the vacation.
Depending on the cruise line and package you choose, you may pay extra for things such as:
- Gratuities
- Specialty restaurants
- Internet access
- Drinks
- Shore excursions
- Spa treatments
- Transportation
- Some onboard activities
None of these are necessarily bad purchases.
The important thing is knowing about them before you go.
A $2,000 cruise that turns into a $4,000 vacation can be a nasty surprise if you were not expecting it.
Set a rough vacation budget before you leave, including what you expect to spend onboard and in port.
11. Do the Math Before Buying a Package
Cruise packages can be convenient, but convenience and value are not always the same thing.
Before buying an internet, dining, or beverage package, think about how much you will actually use it.
Do not buy something simply because the cruise line tells you how much you could save.
You only save money if you were going to spend that money in the first place.
If you drink very little, for example, an expensive beverage package may turn your vacation into a strange daily mission to “get your money’s worth.”
That is probably not the retirement challenge you were looking for.
12. Take the Stairs Sometimes — If You Comfortably Can
There is a remarkable amount of food on a cruise ship.
Breakfast.
Second breakfast.
Lunch.
Afternoon snack.
Dinner.
And somehow, pizza at 10:30 p.m. still sounds like a perfectly reasonable idea.
If you are able, taking the stairs occasionally or walking a few laps around the ship can be an easy way to keep moving.
You do not need to spend your vacation at the gym.
Just try not to let the only exercise you get be lifting a fork.
13. Wash Your Hands More Than You Think You Need To
Cruise ships bring a lot of people together in one place.
That means elevators, handrails, buffet areas, door handles, and other shared spaces get plenty of traffic.
Regular handwashing is a simple habit worth taking seriously while traveling.
And if you are feeling sick, do not try to power through it just because you are on vacation. Rest and contact the ship’s medical staff when appropriate.
Missing one dinner is better than spending the rest of the cruise feeling miserable.
14. Do Not Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance becomes worth thinking about when a vacation involves expensive nonrefundable costs, flights, medical concerns, or travel outside the country.
But policies can be very different.
Before buying one, read what it actually covers, what it excludes, and what limits apply.
Also check whether you already have some travel protections through a credit card or another policy.
The goal is not to buy insurance out of fear.
It is to understand what financial risks you would be comfortable handling yourself if something went wrong.
15. Put the Phone Down Once in a While
Take pictures.
Take lots of them.
Get the sunset. Get the ship. Get the ridiculous dessert. Get the picture of the two of you standing in front of somewhere you always wanted to visit.
Then put the phone away.
Watch the ship leave port without looking through a screen.
Sit on the balcony.
Listen to the ocean.
Talk to the person traveling with you.
Some memories do not need to be uploaded anywhere.
Bonus Tip: Try Something New
A cruise is a great place to do something slightly outside your normal routine.
Take the dance lesson.
Sing karaoke badly.
Try a food you have never eaten.
Go to trivia and confidently give an answer that turns out to be completely wrong.
Talk to the couple sitting next to you at breakfast.
Watch the sunrise at least once.
You do not have to turn into a different person just because you are on vacation.
But retirement is a pretty good time to occasionally surprise yourself.
The Best Cruise Is the One You Enjoy at Your Own Pace
One of the nicest things about cruising in retirement is that you do not have to treat the vacation like a race.
You have already spent enough years watching the clock.
Plan ahead where it matters. Choose a comfortable cabin. Bring the things you need. Understand the costs. Pick excursions that fit you. Take care of yourself.
Then leave a little room for the unexpected.
Maybe your favorite part of the cruise will be the destination you have dreamed about for years.
Or maybe it will be a quiet breakfast at sea, watching the water through the window while realizing you have absolutely nowhere you need to be.
That sounds a lot like retirement done right.