In this episode of the First Time Cruiser Academy, we walk through the things we believe every cruiser should take care of before embarkation day.

Some of these may sound simple, but forgetting even one of them can create unnecessary stress — and in a few cases, could create a much bigger problem.

Here are the 10 must-do items we recommend checking off before your cruise.

1. Make Sure Your Travel Documents Are Ready

Before anything else, make sure you understand exactly what identification and travel documents are required for your particular cruise.

That may include a passport, government-issued identification, visas or other documentation depending on your citizenship, itinerary and ports of call.

One of the worst times to discover a problem with your documents is when you are standing at the cruise terminal.

Check the requirements well in advance and make sure your documents will still be valid when you sail.

Our Advice

Do not assume the requirements are the same for every cruise.

Always verify the current requirements for your specific cruise line and itinerary before departure.

2. Download Your Cruise Line’s App

Most major cruise lines now use their mobile apps for a significant part of the cruise experience.

Depending on the cruise line, the app may be used for things such as:

• Online check-in

• Boarding information

• Dining reservations

• Excursion information

• Daily schedules

• Entertainment reservations

• Onboard account information

• Messaging

• Muster or safety information

We recommend downloading the app before you leave home and signing into your account while you still have reliable internet access.

It is much easier to troubleshoot a password or login issue from home than from a hotel or cruise terminal.

3. Complete Online Check-In

Do not leave your cruise check-in until the last minute.

Cruise lines generally allow passengers to complete much of the embarkation process online before sailing.

That may include entering:

• Passport or identification information

• Emergency contacts

• Payment information

• Arrival details

• Security photos

• Health or travel information

• Preferred embarkation time

Completing check-in early can also give you a better chance of getting the arrival time you want.

Once online check-in opens for your sailing, we recommend taking care of it.

4. Save a Backup of Your Boarding Pass

We love having everything on our phones.

But we also believe in having a backup.

Once your boarding documents are available, save them somewhere you can access easily.

You can:

• Keep them in the cruise line app

• Save a screenshot to your phone

• Store a copy in your phone’s files

• Print a paper copy

You may never need the backup.

But if your phone loses service, your app logs out or your battery dies at the wrong moment, you’ll be very glad you have one.

5. Print and Attach Your Luggage Tags

Cruise luggage tags tell the porters and ship crew where your checked bags need to go.

Most cruise lines allow you to download your luggage tags after completing online check-in.

Print them before leaving home.

We usually recommend waiting to attach paper cruise luggage tags until you are close to the port, especially if you are flying.

Airline baggage handling can damage paper cruise tags before you ever reach the ship.

Many experienced cruisers also use reusable plastic cruise luggage tag holders.

Whatever method you choose, make sure your luggage is clearly identified before handing it to the cruise porters.

6. Pack an Embarkation-Day Carry-On Bag

This is one of the most important tips for first-time cruisers.

When you arrive at the terminal, most of your larger luggage will be handed over to porters.

You may not see those bags again until later that afternoon or evening.

That means anything you absolutely need during the first several hours should stay with you.

What We Put in Our Cruise Carry-On

Your embarkation-day bag may include:

• Passports and travel documents

• Boarding passes

• Prescription medications

• Wallet and credit cards

• Phone and chargers

• Sunglasses

• Sunscreen

• Swimsuit

• Essential toiletries

• Anything valuable

• Any item you cannot afford to have delayed

Never put passports, medications or other essential items in the luggage you hand to the porters.

7. Prepare Your Medications and Special-Needs Requests

If you take prescription medication, make this part of your cruise planning well before departure.

Bring enough medication for the entire trip, and we prefer having some extra in case travel is unexpectedly delayed.

Keep important medications in your carry-on rather than checked luggage.

Whenever possible, keep prescription medication properly labeled.

If you need medical equipment, dietary accommodations, accessibility assistance or other special arrangements, contact the cruise line before sailing.

Some requests are much easier to accommodate when the cruise line knows about them ahead of time.

8. Make Sure You Have Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is something many cruisers don’t think about until they need it.

A cruise vacation involves more than simply the price of the cruise.

You may have:

• Flights

• Hotels

• Excursions

• Transportation

• Prepaid cruise costs

• Medical risks while traveling

• Potential emergency evacuation costs

That is why we strongly recommend understanding what travel protection you already have and whether additional coverage makes sense for your trip.

Coverage can vary dramatically, so make sure you understand what is actually included rather than assuming you are protected.

Medical treatment outside your home country and emergency evacuation are two areas we think cruisers should pay particular attention to.

9. Arrive at Your Cruise Port at Least One Day Early

This is one of our strongest recommendations.

Do not plan to fly into your cruise port on embarkation morning if you can reasonably avoid it.

Air travel delays happen.

Flights get canceled.

Weather happens.

Mechanical problems happen.

And the cruise ship will not necessarily wait because your airline had a problem.

We generally prefer arriving in the port city at least one day before the cruise.

Yes, that usually means paying for a hotel.

But we think that extra night is inexpensive insurance compared with the possibility of missing your ship.

It also makes embarkation morning much more relaxing.

Instead of worrying about whether your plane will land on time, you can wake up knowing you are already where you need to be.

10. Check the Current Rules for Your Cruise

Cruise policies change.

That is why one of the final things we recommend doing before departure is checking your cruise line’s current rules and requirements.

Look for changes involving things such as:

• Identification requirements

• Embarkation procedures

• Prohibited items

• Alcohol policies

• Carry-on restrictions

• Health requirements

• Port requirements

• App or check-in procedures

Do this shortly before leaving rather than relying entirely on something you read months ago.

Your cruise line’s official website and your sailing documents should be your primary source for the most current requirements.

Embarkation-Day Carry-On Checklist

Here is a quick version of what we recommend keeping with you when you board:

• Passports and identification

• Boarding documents

• Prescription medications

• Wallet and credit cards

• Phone

• Charging cable or portable charger

• Sunglasses

• Sunscreen

• Swimsuit

• Essential toiletries

• Valuables

• Any medical necessities

• Anything you may need before your checked luggage arrives

Remember:

If you absolutely need it during the first day, don’t put it in the luggage you hand to the porters.

Final Check Before Leaving Home

Before you head to the airport or begin driving to the cruise port, take a few minutes for one last check.

Make sure you have:

• Required identification and travel documents

• Completed cruise check-in

• Boarding passes saved

• Cruise-line app installed and working

• Luggage tags printed

• Medications packed

• Travel insurance information available

• Hotel and transportation plans confirmed

• Current cruise-line requirements checked

• Embarkation-day carry-on packed separately

Taking five minutes to do this can save a lot of stress later.

Download the Free 10 Must-Do Pre-Cruise Checklist

We created a printable version of everything above so you don’t have to remember it all.

The checklist includes:

• All 10 must-do items before your cruise

• An embarkation-day carry-on checklist

• A final before-you-leave-home checklist

• A reminder to verify current cruise requirements

[DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRE-CRUISE CHECKLIST]

Print it, save it to your phone or send it to anyone traveling with you.

Is This Your First Cruise?

This article is part of our First Time Cruiser Academy, where we’re putting together the information we wish every new cruiser knew before taking that first vacation at sea.

Our goal isn’t to make cruising complicated.

It’s actually the opposite.

Once you understand the basics — choosing the right cruise line, knowing what needs to be done before sailing, packing correctly and understanding what happens on embarkation day — cruising becomes a much easier vacation.

And after roughly 50 cruises, we can tell you that a little preparation before the trip can make a tremendous difference once the vacation begins.

If you’re planning your first cruise, follow along with the rest of our First Time Cruiser Academy on Cruising with Crystal and Marshall.

And if you know someone taking their first cruise, send them this checklist. It may save them from learning one of these lessons the hard way.