Don Herman Article 11 of 13 in our Cruise Planning Guide — how to plan a cruise, one decision at a time.
You’ve planned, budgeted, booked, and packed. Now comes the day it all turns real: embarkation day. It’s the one day of the cruise with a real to-do list, and the good news is that the list is short. Show up on time with your documents, keep your essentials with you, sort out a couple of reservations, and complete the safety drill. Everything else is just getting swept up in the excitement.
We’ve boarded a lot of ships (eleven Princess sailings and counting), and our routine has gotten pretty smooth. Here’s how we do it, and how you can too.
Arrive On Time, With Your Documents
Two things get you through the terminal: your passport and a folder of paperwork. We keep everything from the cruise in one folder in our carry-on, so it’s never buried in a suitcase that’s already gone to the ship. Ours includes the receipt for payment, the itinerary, and confirmations for the excursions and spa treatments we prepaid. You may never be asked for most of it, but if something is ever questioned (a charge, a booking, a time), having it in hand turns a stressful conversation into a two-minute one. (If you haven’t yet handled the online check-in and document upload, see Article 10, the Pre-Cruise Checklist.)
Find your boarding time before you leave the hotel. Cruise lines stagger arrivals so the terminal doesn’t flood at once. On Princess, the app tells you your boarding time and your boarding group. Check it, and plan to arrive at the start of your window, not the end of it. Being a little early is the easiest way to keep the day relaxed.
Put your bag tags on right away. Your checked luggage needs its tags before a porter takes it, and the baggage handlers are efficient and know exactly what they’re doing, as long as each bag is tagged. We attach ours the moment we climb out of the cab, right at the curb. I carry a tiny paper stapler just for this job; it weighs next to nothing and keeps the tags firmly attached. (How you get your tags varies by line, so check your cruise line’s instructions ahead of time.)
Pack Your Carry-On Like Your Suitcase Won’t Show Up Until Dinner
Because it might not. Luggage often arrives at your cabin hours after you board. Anything you’ll need before then, or can’t afford to lose, belongs with you. Here’s what’s in our carry-on:
- Medications. Never in a checked bag. If a bag is delayed, you don’t want to be sorting out a prescription from a ship’s medical center.
- Valuables. Jewelry, electronics, and anything you’d hate to replace stays with you.
- Phone charger. Nothing’s worse than a dead phone on the day you need your boarding app.
- A book or e-book. More on that below: you’ll have some downtime.
- Your swimsuit, if you’re a pool person. We’re not big ship pool or hot tub people, so we skip this one, but if you are, tuck it in your carry-on. Your cabin probably won’t be ready when the pool is open, and you can change in a public restroom and head straight up on deck.
The theme is simple: pack for the hours between boarding and when your luggage arrives, and for anything you can’t replace.
Boarding: The Lines Look Long, But They Move
Yes, there are lines, but they look far worse than they are. In our experience they move quickly, and everyone from the terminal staff to the crew is genuinely friendly. There’s a real buzz of excitement in the air, and it’s contagious. Try to enjoy it rather than fight it.
At the end of the process you’ll receive whatever your ship uses to identify you and open your cabin door. On Princess ships, that’s a medallion. Other ships use a wristband or a card. Whichever one you get, that’s your key to the ship. Keep it safe and easy to reach.
Now Celebrate, Then Wait a Little
Once we’re checked in and have our medallions, we head straight to a lounge and celebrate with a cocktail. This is our tradition, and it’s a good one. A word of warning: on the first day, seats can be scarce, because everyone else had the same idea. We’ve always managed to find a spot, but be prepared to hover for a bit.
Here’s the part that catches first-timers off guard: your cabin won’t be ready yet. Rooms typically open around 1 or 2 pm, and you’ll often be aboard well before that. That’s normal, and it’s not a sign anything’s wrong. Plan for the wait and use it wisely:
- Take a tour. There are often guided tours of the ship’s different areas. The spa is especially keen on giving them (it’s a smart way for them to sell services), but the tours are interesting whether or not you buy anything.
- Explore on your own. Walking around a brand-new ship, getting your bearings, and figuring out where the good spots are is half the fun.
- Read your book. This is what the e-book is for.
- Go for a swim, if you brought your suit.
Confirm Your Reservations
Embarkation day is also a good time to confirm what you’ve booked. Our habit is to stop by the maître d’ at some point to confirm our main dining reservations. Beyond that, we don’t check on much else, and in all our sailings we’ve never had a problem.
That said, if you’ve paid for expensive spa treatments (spa days, packages, that sort of thing), it’s worth confirming those too. It’s a small step that protects a significant investment, and the visit doubles as a chance to see the spa in person, which can be a nice bonus. If you have kids, the same goes for the kids’ club: confirm your registration early.
When the Cabin Opens: Settle In
When your rooms open, go in and unpack a little. We use packing cubes, which we simply transfer straight into the drawers or closet. Unpacking takes minutes. I hang my shirts right away to let the wrinkles fall out. Then, maybe, we stretch out on the bed for a rest before dinner.
Check your excursion envelope. On Princess, your cruise excursion envelope should be waiting in your room. Take a moment to open it and compare it to your own calendar and confirmations, to make sure everything lines up. It’s much easier to fix a mismatch on day one than on the morning of a tour. (If you’re still building your plan, see Article 9, Build Your Shore Excursion Plan.)
Don’t Skip the Muster Drill
This is the one item on the list we’d never skip, and thankfully it’s easier than ever. On Princess, it’s an online video, and we watch it every single time.
Here’s why. We’ve watched too many YouTube videos of ships needing to be evacuated. (Viking Sky, in 2019, comes to mind.) In a real emergency, you don’t want to be figuring things out for the first time while panicking. Know where your exits are, which direction you’d need to go, and where you’re supposed to gather. A few minutes of attention on day one means calm, confident decisions if you ever need them.
It’s not a formality. It’s the most useful entertainment you’ll see all week. (Details differ by cruise line, so follow your own line’s instructions for when and how to complete it.)
Sail-Away, and the Princess Patter
The sail-away party will be announced in the ship’s app or the daily newsletter. Even if a party isn’t your thing, standing at the rail as the ship pulls away and the skyline slides by is one of the great moments of any cruise. It’s the point where the planning turns into the adventure.
Speaking of the newsletter: on Princess it’s called the Princess Patter, and I’m sure every line has something similar. Read it every day. It lists everything happening aboard: daytime quiz games and lectures, casino contests, silly games by the pool. At night the tone shifts to more grown-up fun: dancing, parties, and quiz shows that are a lot more elaborate than the little daytime games. And of course, there’s usually some kind of entertainment in the theater most nights.
Embarkation Day at a Glance
- Passport and your paperwork folder in your carry-on
- Medications, valuables, charger, and something to read — also with you
- Check your boarding time and group, and arrive at the start of it
- Tag your bags as soon as you leave the cab
- Celebrate with a cocktail; expect the cabin to open around 1 or 2 pm
- Confirm main dining (and any pricey spa treatments) with the maître d’ or spa
- Unpack, check your excursion envelope, and watch the safety video
- Read the daily newsletter and catch the sail-away
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I arrive at the cruise port? Check the cruise line’s app for your assigned boarding time and group, and aim to arrive at the beginning of that window. Lines stagger arrivals, so showing up much earlier than your window may not get you on sooner.
What should I pack in my carry-on for embarkation day? Your passport and cruise documents, medications, valuables, a phone charger, something to read, and a swimsuit if you plan to hit the pool. Your checked bags may not reach your cabin until later in the afternoon.
When can I get into my cruise cabin? Usually not until around 1 or 2 pm. Use the time to explore the ship, take a spa or ship tour, grab lunch, or relax in a lounge.
Do I have to attend the muster drill? Yes. It’s a safety requirement, and it’s the single most important thing to do on embarkation day. On Princess, it’s now an online video. Requirements vary by line, so follow your cruise line’s instructions.
Should I confirm my dining and spa reservations? It doesn’t hurt. We stop by the maître d’ to confirm main dining, and it’s especially worthwhile to check on spa treatments you’ve paid a lot for.
Next up in the guide: Article 12 — Onboard Tips, where we’ll cover how to make the most of your days at sea. Or head back to the full Cruise Planning Guide to pick up wherever you left off.
