3 things first-time cruisers need to know before stepping foot on the ship

When Anne Crowley took her first cruise in July, she did not realize there was a dress code. She and her husband, John, along with their three children, took a Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona, and only learned when they got on the ship that the Royal Caribbean International ship had different themes for attire some nights. 

"So, one night is really formal, one night you wear all white, one night was Hawaiian night," Crowley, 49, told USA TODAY.

While the preschool teacher, who is based in Duxbury, Massachusetts, said they "lucked out" by bringing clothes that could pass for each category, that was one of several things Crowley wish she knew before boarding a ship for the first time.

First-time cruisers may not be aware of those kinds of particulars, and taking your first voyage can present new considerations, from how to plan it to what to pack. This summer may be a particularly good time to try it: as travel costs have gone up amid inflation and high demand, cruises are a more affordable option.

More at

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2022/07/29/cruises-vacation-2022-tips/10119370002/