Smooth Sailing: 5 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Cruise

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Smooth Sailing: 5 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Cruise
The Nautica cruise ship carry tourists arrives at Benoa Harbor in Denpasar on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Dec. 31, 2023. Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP via Getty Images
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Every cruise is a small miracle. You check in, find your state room, unpack, and that’s it. Every day you open your curtains, and a whole new destination awaits you outside.

But even an amazing voyage can be even better. I’ve taken dozens of cruises and have learned that even the best ships and itineraries can still be a bit better. That is, if you—excuse the pun—know how to navigate along the way. Here are my five tips for getting the very most out of your cruise, whether you’re sailing around the world or just enjoying a little weekend voyage to the Bahamas.

Be Realistic About Seasickness

You never forget your first bout with seasickness. I’ve crossed some of the world’s most treacherous stretches of sea, including the infamous Drake Passage. This pinch-point between the southern tip of South America and the outstretched arm of the Antarctic Peninsula regularly showcases some of the wildest wind and waves on Earth.
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson
Author
Toronto-based writer Tim Johnson is always traveling in search of the next great story. Having visited 140 countries across all seven continents, he’s tracked lions on foot in Botswana, dug for dinosaur bones in Mongolia, and walked among a half-million penguins on South Georgia Island. He contributes to some of North America’s largest publications, including CNN Travel, Bloomberg, and The Globe and Mail.