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Your cruise checklist
A few checks now. A smoother trip later.
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CopiedCopy the selected text manually.Terminal name and addressBefore bookingConfirm everyone can travel and understand what you are buying.0 / 10
- Your cruise line’s document guide and government entry/transit guidance.
- Compare each passport’s expiry date with the cruise end date, not today. Six months beyond the end of the cruise is a common requirement; confirm the exact rule with your cruise line and the authorities for every destination and flight connection. Check required blank pages, visas or electronic authorizations, and time for renewals before paying.
- You have checked expiry dates against the required validity period and know that each traveler can obtain the necessary documents in time.
- Your cruise line’s rules for this itinerary and each traveler.
- Check infant minimum ages, rules for minors and adults sharing cabins, and any applicable pregnancy or medical-clearance limits. Ask the cruise line to resolve uncertainty before paying; rules differ by sailing.
- Every traveler meets the applicable rules, including any required consent or clearance.
- The cruise line’s accessibility team and your transport providers.
- Explain mobility equipment, assistance, or dietary needs before buying. Ask about cabin availability, equipment limits, tender boats (small boats used to reach shore), and what assistance is actually provided.
- The essential arrangements are feasible for your trip, or you have chosen an alternative.
- The itinerary and written quote from each booking provider.
- Compare the ship, departure date, nights, port names, and start/end cities. A nearby port or different departure date changes the trip.
- Every offer you are comparing refers to the sailing you intend to take.
- The cabin category description and the ship’s deck plan.
- Look at what is above and below the cabin, bed arrangements, and view restrictions. For a guarantee fare, confirm which choices remain with the cruise line.
- You understand the cabin category and any location or view trade-offs.
- The final quote or checkout breakdown, before payment.
- Compare the entire party’s total in the same currency. Separate included charges from later charges, then add flights, accommodation, and transfers.
- You have a comparable total budget rather than just the advertised per-person fare.
- Your fare’s inclusions and the terms of each promotional benefit.
- Check which guests are covered, usage limits, service charges, and restrictions on credits. Compare against what you would otherwise buy.
- You know what is included, what costs extra, and which benefits you will use.
- The provider’s booking terms and your written quote.
- Record payment deadlines, refundable versus non-refundable amounts, cancellation charges, and who handles changes. Review any protection policy’s scope and purchase deadlines.
- You have saved the terms and know the cost of changing or cancelling your booking.
- Your cruise line’s requirements, official destination guidance, and the insurer’s policy wording.
- Check required coverage or proof, plus cancellation, medical care, evacuation, exclusions, and time-sensitive benefits. Ask the insurer about your itinerary and circumstances. Decide what coverage to arrange and record purchase deadlines.
- You understand any requirements, have chosen your coverage plan, and have recorded the deadlines to arrange it.
- The sailing’s port information and your flight or ground-transport options.
- Estimate both journeys, not just the outbound trip. Compare transfer time, any overnight stay, and a backup for delays before choosing a sailing.
- The cruise fits a realistic travel plan and budget at both ends.
Before departureGet your booking, documents, transport, and bags ready before leaving home.0 / 13
Soon after booking · note deadlines now
- Your booking confirmation, invoice, and payment receipts.
- Check names against travel documents, verify the sailing and cabin, and record the balance deadline. Contact the seller promptly about errors.
- The booking details are correct, the confirmation is saved, and the payment deadline is recorded.
- The App Store or Google Play links on your cruise line’s official website.
- Download while you have reliable internet. Create or sign in to your account and link the reservation using the booking number and guest details. Check that the right sailing appears and allow useful travel notifications. If your ship has no supported app or your phone cannot run it, confirm the website or terminal alternative.
- The app opens your booking, or you have confirmed a workable alternative for check-in and boarding.
Get your cruise line’s app
- Royal Caribbean
App details
Royal Caribbean International
Check in, choose an arrival time, and plan activities. On board, connect to the ship’s guest Wi-Fi; app access does not require an internet package.
Official app guide ↗ - Carnival
App details
Carnival HUB
Plan dining and complete online check-in before sailing. Daily schedules, ship maps, and onboard account features become available on the ship.
Official app guide ↗ - Norwegian Cruise Line
App details
Norwegian Cruise Line
Install Norwegian Cruise Line, which replaces the retired Cruise Norwegian app. Use it for check-in, reservations, and your daily schedule; connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi on board.
Official app guide ↗ - Princess Cruises
App details
Princess Cruises
Use Princess Cruises for OceanReady check-in, dining reservations, and onboard services. A web version is available if your device is not compatible.
Official app guide ↗ - Celebrity Cruises
App details
Celebrity Cruises
Check in and plan dining and excursions before sailing. Features vary by ship; on board, connect to guest Wi-Fi to use the app.
Official app guide ↗ - MSC Cruises
App details
MSC for Me
Complete mobile check-in and access your boarding pass before sailing. Connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi for onboard schedules, chat, and spending details.
Official app guide ↗ - Holland America Line
App details
Holland America Line Navigator
Sign in before embarkation to prepare your cruise. On board, use Navigator for daily activities, dining, chat, and your account statement.
Official app guide ↗
- Your invoice, booking account, and payment receipt.
- Set a reminder now, then return to this check when you pay. Verify the remaining fare balance is zero or the provider confirms it is paid. A reminder or scheduled payment alone is not completion.
- The provider confirms the cruise fare is paid in full.
- Your cruise line’s document guide, official entry/transit guidance for your route, and any insurance policy.
- Verify the exact passport validity and blank-page rules for your nationality, cruise line, itinerary, and flight connections; six months after the cruise ends is common but not universal. Match booking names to documents. Obtain required visas, electronic authorizations, permits, and consent documents. Complete any required or chosen insurance purchase on time; save the policy, emergency contact, and required proof. Keep originals accessible and secure backup copies.
- Required documents and any insurance proof are obtained, correct, and ready to travel; any chosen policy is in place.
- Your cruise line’s accessibility or guest-services contact.
- Submit requests before the cruise line’s deadlines and obtain confirmation for your booking. Recheck equipment, transfers, dietary arrangements, and any required documents. Keep the confirmation and contact details with your travel papers.
- Needed arrangements are confirmed. If nobody needs additional support, choose Not applicable.
- Your flight, hotel, parking, and transfer confirmations.
- Recheck times and terminal addresses. Save driver or provider contact details and the plan for getting home after disembarkation.
- Both journeys are arranged and the confirmations are accessible.
When check-in opens
- Your cruise line’s official app or booking portal.
- Complete the required steps for each guest, including any requested document, photo, or onboard-account information. Select an arrival appointment if offered; use your sailing’s actual deadlines.
- All steps currently available are complete; any later or terminal steps and their deadlines are recorded.
- Your cruise line’s check-in and onboard-account instructions.
- Register an accepted payment method when available. Check whose purchases it covers, any spending controls, currency terms, and temporary holds. If setup is only available at the terminal, bring what the cruise line requires.
- Your payment method is ready and you know how to activate the account if setup must wait until boarding.
- The boarding-pass or travel-documents section of your cruise line’s app or booking portal, after the required check-in steps.
- Check each guest’s name, ship, and sailing date. Save the permitted digital version or print it as instructed. Follow the line’s directions if it is not available yet; do not assume a booking receipt is your boarding pass.
- You can present the correct boarding pass for each guest in the format your cruise line accepts.
- The luggage-tag section of your cruise line’s travel documents or Manage Booking page.
- Use the cruise line’s tags and check the sailing and cabin details shown. Print the required tags for bags you will hand over, then follow the folding and attachment instructions. If your cabin is unassigned or tags are unavailable, check the line’s process.
- The required tags are prepared and you know when and how to attach them to your bags.
Before leaving home
- Your cruise line’s current luggage and prohibited-items policy.
- Check drinks, electrical items, and equipment individually rather than relying on a generic packing list. Arrange advance approval where the policy requires it.
- Your bags follow the current rules and any required approvals are in place.
- The weather forecast, your planned activities, and the cruise line’s dress and luggage guidance.
- Pack layers for the route, comfortable shoes, and items for activities you actually plan. Bring sufficient regular medication and follow your clinician’s and destination’s instructions. Keep essential items in your carry-on.
- Your bags are packed for the trip and essential personal supplies are ready.
- The bag you will personally carry through the terminal and onto the ship.
- Separate original travel documents, boarding details, medication, valuables, and immediate essentials from bags you will check. Make sure you can manage the carry-on yourself.
- Your essential items are together in the bag that stays with you.
Optional plans, at your own pace
For port days, choose a ship excursion, an independent plan, staying aboard, or leaving the day open. Check return-to-ship times and cancellation terms before reserving. Dining reservations, Wi-Fi packages, and shopping are choices, not prerequisites for a good cruise.
Embarkation dayReach the right terminal, board, and settle in safely.0 / 7
- Your cruise line’s app, messages, and official travel-update page.
- Review the latest instructions before leaving for the terminal. Complete any remaining health declaration or check-in steps when your cruise line makes them available. Check for additional messages from your agent or transport provider.
- You have checked for changes and your port journey matches the latest instructions.
- The terminal address and arrival appointment in your cruise documents.
- Confirm the specific terminal, not just the port name. Follow your arrival window and boarding cutoff; they may be different from the ship’s departure time.
- You are at the correct terminal in time to complete boarding.
- Your carry-on, before handing any bags to port staff.
- Check that boarding passes and required original documents are within reach. Keep medication and valuables with you rather than in checked bags.
- Your essential items remain with you; any checked bags have the required tags.
- The designated luggage drop-off for your ship at the terminal.
- Keep original travel documents, boarding passes, medication, and valuables with you. Check that the tags show your sailing and cabin, then hand checked bags to the designated staff. Follow local instructions for missing tags.
- Checked bags have been handed over correctly and your carry-on stays with you.
- Your phone settings, mobile carrier’s cruise roaming rates, and the ship’s Wi-Fi instructions.
- Unless you intentionally use a confirmed cellular-at-sea plan, switch on airplane mode to avoid cellular connections; turn Wi-Fi back on if needed. Check Wi-Fi pricing before buying. Agree on a meeting point with companions if you stay offline.
- Your phone settings match your connection plan and you know how to reach your companions.
- The ship’s safety instructions, app, and your assigned muster station.
- Complete the required briefing and report to the assigned station as instructed by the crew. Do not assume watching an app video alone completes every step.
- You have completed the ship’s required process and know your assigned muster station.
- Your cabin information, ship map, daily schedule, and Guest Services desk.
- When the cabin is ready, check access and essential arrangements. Find meal times and the contact point for problems. Report missing bags or unfulfilled assistance to staff; finish any onboard-account setup still outstanding.
- You can access your cabin, know where to get help, and have raised any immediate problems.
Requirements vary by cruise line, itinerary, and traveler. Confirm yours with your cruise line and the relevant government authorities.