First of all I don't need to say that it is convenient to travel the day before and spend the night in the city of departure of our cruise. If you have to catch a plane it is also advisable to fly the day before in the morning, because if there are problems with your flight, you will be able to find an alternative to reach destination. The ship will not wait for us or compensate for the lost days if we reach the pier after the ships departure. Traveling the same day is an unnecessary risk.Embarking procedures usually begin three hours prior to sailing time. However, most shipping companies begin embarkation after emptying the ship of the previous passengers and before scheduled time. I recommend to be at the pier before these three hours, and if we embark, you will have earned more time to enjoy our cruise.
Celebrity Solstice Deck Plans
Once aboard, you will be tempted to investigate the ship, lay in the sun or "assault" the buffet. My recommendations for those first steps on board are:
• WEB CHECK-IN. There are shipping companies that allow it. This will speed the process of check in (only need to present your passport and credit card to charge the expenses on board) and you'll get your key quickly.
• CABIN. Check out if everything works properly. Keep in mind that this will be your hotel room the next days, so it is convenient to check all now that you have not unpacked.
• RESTAURANT. Perhaps the main restaurant is open the day of embarking. This is a good time to search your table to see how many occupants, location ... If you are travelling with friends check out that all are assigned the same table. If there's anything that could be improved find the Maître and ask him to change tables. Please note that shipping companies fill up tables without any pattern, so is easy to find yourself on a table for 10 people where you are the only Spanish/English/French... The staff is used to reallocate passengers, so don't care of complaining. They expect you to do so. If you find out that you've been asigned on a table for two, even misplaced, do not open your mouth! Tables of two are rare, so you've been lucky.
• EXCURSIONS. If you have embarked on a foreign port it is a good idea to go to shore excursions and check out the excursions available in your language. If the cruise stops the next day at a port of call choose the excursions for the next two days now. Cruise companies often organize a reunion to explain the excursions in your language the first day. I would not spend much time deciding if you need to do the excursions in spanish, french, german... The companies have a minimum and maximum quota for excursions in other languages.
• HELPFUL HINT: Please note that mobile phones work on board, but with satellite conection (prices are very, very expensive). It is best to leave the mobile phone disconected. So you can't count on the mobile phone to find your travel companions while at sea. A very useful and cheap solution is a Walkie Talkie, it works. You'll have freedom of movement and you can locate each other whenever you want.
• RESTAURANT. Perhaps the main restaurant is open the day of embarking. This is a good time to search your table to see how many occupants, location ... If you are travelling with friends check out that all are assigned the same table. If there's anything that could be improved find the Maître and ask him to change tables. Please note that shipping companies fill up tables without any pattern, so is easy to find yourself on a table for 10 people where you are the only Spanish/English/French... The staff is used to reallocate passengers, so don't care of complaining. They expect you to do so. If you find out that you've been asigned on a table for two, even misplaced, do not open your mouth! Tables of two are rare, so you've been lucky.
• EXCURSIONS. If you have embarked on a foreign port it is a good idea to go to shore excursions and check out the excursions available in your language. If the cruise stops the next day at a port of call choose the excursions for the next two days now. Cruise companies often organize a reunion to explain the excursions in your language the first day. I would not spend much time deciding if you need to do the excursions in spanish, french, german... The companies have a minimum and maximum quota for excursions in other languages.
• HELPFUL HINT: Please note that mobile phones work on board, but with satellite conection (prices are very, very expensive). It is best to leave the mobile phone disconected. So you can't count on the mobile phone to find your travel companions while at sea. A very useful and cheap solution is a Walkie Talkie, it works. You'll have freedom of movement and you can locate each other whenever you want.
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