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River Cruise: Six Things To Do On Embarkation Day

So, the big day has arrived. Apart from anything that might happen on the way to the cruise port, it’s usually smart to know what you should be doing when you arrive. This allows you to board the ship quickly and avoid any problems that may come up.

So, how do you turn a potentially hectic boarding day into one that’s full of fun? How do you avoid all the typical issues that many inexperienced travellers need to deal with, and get on with your Amazon cruise in a good mood? Join us as we take a look at six things you can do on embarkation day!

If you want lunch, plan on arriving at the port at least two hours before the buffet closes

Depending on how far you live from the port, it might take you a good while to get there from the time you leave home. If this is the case, there’s a pretty big chance that between travelling, boarding, and getting to your room, you’ll be pretty hungry.

If you want to avoid a pizza or a burger, and want something healthier instead, the buffet might be a good choice. If you’re there on time, you’ll be able to get some of the leftovers, and actually enjoy a decent meal.

When you’re leaving home, make sure you have a good amount of one- and five-dollar bills

If you’ve got quite a lot of luggage, you will need some help with getting it from your car, to the loading carts. There are porters that will be there for you, and tipping them well is actually a great thing to do.

Aside from the porter, it’s also a good idea to have tip money readily available for any of the other services that might be offered on the boat, such as the restaurants or the bars. You’ll want to look at them like they’re regular bars and restaurants, and tip accordingly.

Have your documents ready when you’re at the port

There’s nothing more irritating than waiting for the person in line in front of you to find their paperwork in their suitcase. You also don’t want someone else to wait for you either, so make sure you have your paperwork ready.

By paperwork, we mean the essentials, such as your passport, your cruise ship boarding pass, as well as a visa or any other necessary paperwork that boarding officials might require when you’re getting on the ship. This will save you a bit of time, and also save a bit of time for the other passengers behind you, and the boarding crew.

Unpack as soon as possible

Even though most of your luggage is going to be taken care of, you will very likely have a carry-on backpack, or suitcase, that you’ll have with you. It’s a smart idea not to waste time when unpacking, because you’ll have activities that you’ll want to attend to.

While you’re unpacking, you should put any important stuff, such as your passport, wallet with money and any credit cards and jewellery in the room’s safe. Most ships have a safe available in the room, so you can take advantage of it.

Take advantage of embarkation day specials

If you didn’t do this a few days before departure, you might want to take a look at any promotions that are available on embarkation day. These aren’t just marketing ploys – they actually do save you a bit of money. Whether they’re beverage/water packages or Wi-Fi package discounts, take a look at them before you get going.

Attend the sail-away party

If the weather allows it, you shouldn’t miss the embarkation day sail-away party. Even if you’re too tired for it, and only stay a few minutes, the party is actually an excellent way to start your vacation. It’s fun, it’s festive, and you will get to see who you’ll be spending your time on the cruise with.

Wrapping things up

At the end of the day, there are many things that you could be doing on embarkation day. Whether it’s checking if you packed everything, or making sure that your documents are all valid, the things we mentioned above are all things that you can do in order to make your river cruise more pleasurable.

Tipping the crew is always courteous, and getting to the buffet early enough will usually mean you can have lunch when you leave. Unpacking quickly lets you have enough time for activities on the ship, and you can use any special promotions to save a few bucks on the departure day. Oh, and last but not least, go to that party. You’ll have fun, we promise.

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