What to do before you sail

Documents first

Nothing else matters if someone can't board. For a US citizen on a cruise that starts and ends at the same US port (a closed-loop cruise), a birth certificate plus a government photo ID is often accepted. A passport is still the safest choice: if you miss the ship in a foreign port or need to fly home early, you'll need one. Non-US citizens should check visa requirements for every country on the route. The full answer is in documents and passports.

Travel insurance that actually covers a cruise

Look for three things: cancellation cover, medical cover that works outside the US and at sea, and emergency medical evacuation. Many US health plans don't pay for care on a ship or abroad. You can buy cover from the cruise line or from an independent insurer; compare what each actually covers rather than the price alone.

Online check-in and your arrival time

Every major line has online check-in. You add passport details, a photo, a payment card for your onboard account and, on most lines, choose a time to arrive at the terminal. Arrival times go on a first-come basis, so doing it the day it opens gets you the earliest slot. Here's what the lines say:

Pre-book the things that sell out

Specialty restaurants on the first and last nights, the most popular shore excursions, spa appointments on sea days and some shows can be full before you board. Most lines let you book them in their app or cruise planner once your final payment is made, and pre-cruise prices are often lower than on board.

Your phone plan

Call your carrier and ask what happens at sea. Many plans cover foreign ports, but at sea the phone can connect to the ship's own network, which is billed separately and expensively. The simplest rule: airplane mode from the moment the ship leaves the dock, and use the ship's WiFi if you need to be online. See phones and WiFi.

The two things I remind every first-time client of, every time: fly in the day before, and put your phone in airplane mode when the ship pulls away.