A cruise ship worker has shared a crucial mistake passengers make on embarkation day that has the potential to ruin the entire holiday.
Alley Kerr, from California, U.S., has worked as an entertainer on cruises for several years, including the likes of Royal Caribbean International.
She has since transitioned to travel content creating after moving to Japan, where she captures her adventures as a passenger on solo cruises, along with sharing insider tips in videos uploaded to her YouTube channel, @wanderlustalley.
In a recent clip, she warned passengers of the hidden traps laying in wait that could hinder their whole experience.
According to the seasoned cruise worker, embarkation day, also known as boarding day, can feel chaotic as long lines of guests queue to get on board.
Some passengers worry about securing popular activities, restaurants and add-ons – which often leads to panic buying and everything becoming sold out.
As reported by Ladbible, Alley said: ‘On embarkation day, it is absolutely insane. If you can avoid waiting for embarkation day and get it done in advance, your life is going to be so much easier.’
She noted that she often witnessed first time cruisers’ disappointment after they realised there were no experiences left to book.
According to the seasoned cruise worker, Alley Kerr, from California, U.S., embarkation day, also known as boarding day, can feel chaotic as long lines of guests queue to get on board
Some passengers worry about securing popular activities, restaurants and add-ons – which often leads to panic buying and everything becoming sold out
Alley added: ‘People who have never cruised before often get on the ship and then suddenly at the end of the day, they’re like, “Oh, everything’s sold out.” There’s limited availability for a lot of things.’
Luckily, cruise passengers can often find cheaper and more varied shore excursions by booking independently through local tour operators at each destination, rather than relying solely on the cruise line’s excursions.
Independent excursions can also provide a more authentic and immersive experience with local tour operators and businesses.
While cruise line excursions offer convenience and peace of mind – especially for first-time cruisers – they often come at a premium price, leaving passengers out of pocket not long after leaving the dock.
