1. State rooms can get very dark. Bring a nightlight, or buy some glow stick necklaces for your kids to bring along. They are easily bought at the dollar store. You can even throw them in the kids’ beds on the first night for fun, so they aren’t scared. They should also have their own mini flashlight to get to the bathroom if needed.
2. It usually takes a while for the crew to get everyone’s luggage delivered. So your bags may not arrive in your stateroom for hours after you arrive. If you want to start enjoying the ship immediately, pack what you need for the day—bathing suits, shorts, camera, and so on—in your carry-on.
3. Even if your cruise departs late in the afternoon, make sure you get into your port city the night before. You don’t want to literally miss the boat because your flight was delayed.
4. On a budget? Shore excursions can add up if you are a family of four or more. Remember, it’s often possible to explore a new town on your own without the guided tour. Also, buy the soda package, if you and your kids drink soda. It’s much cheaper.
5. Avoid getting seasick by spend as much time on deck as possible. Book your room in the middle of the ship and have a window so you can see the horizon. If you do get seasick, many people swear by Sea Band wristbands. These bracelets are available at most drugstores and come in adult and children sizes. Have room service deliver green apple and crackers. Green apple are known for helping with nausea. And, of course, there’s good old Dramamine. Some ships even dispense this freely.
6. Most rooms only have one outlet and it’s not always in a convenient place. Bring an extension cord with a multi plug end to recharge all your gadgets including cameras.
7. Bring more than one swimsuit (putting on a wet bathing suit is awful!) and have comfortable shoes. Heels and sandals are nice, but not for walking around all day.
8. Water. Drink more water than you do at home. Bring a reusable water bottle and fill it at the buffet (use a glass and pour into your bottle to keep it hygienic). The added activity and (on some cruises) outdoor heat will lead to dehydration more quickly. Also consider that a lot of the food you will be eating has high sodium levels … which is one reason a lot of cruisers complain about swollen ankles, etc. by day 3.
9. If you are prone to sea sickness, look to get a room in the middle of the boat, as it does not rock as much as either end. If financially possible get a room with a window, as being able to see the horizon will help keep your equilibrium balanced, helping you keep your sea sickness in check.
A few months ago, a friend told me about an awesome web site called Hazel Mail, which will convert your vacation photo into a postcard and send it anywhere in the world for $1.50. We went to Jamaica last month, and I asked Hazel to send postcards to all my friends and family. I’ve had an avalanche of great feedback about our very personalized postcards