Many people love cruising. For every person with a lot of experience onboard these massive cities on the sea, there’s someone who is brand new to the world of cruising.
Vacations onboard a cruise ship are a great opportunity to relax and get a little rest, but one mistake could undermine your plans for a relaxing vacation. Sure, you can plan what you should do when on your cruise, but most people don’t make a plan for what they should not do.
Here are some of the most important things not to do on a cruise that will help keep you safe – physically and legally!
Forgetting Your Research
Booking a cruise may seem easy online, but you should really make sure to do your research before booking. Not only do you have to look up destinations, ports, and prices, but also the best type of cabin for your party and where you want to be located on the ship.
Always make sure to do your personal research before booking a cruise. Reach out to friends and family who may have more experience than you when it comes to going to sea. They may be able to help recommend activities both on and off the cruise ship, too.
Not Planning Ahead
You’re probably familiar with the idea of arriving early for important things. When you go to the airport, you need to give yourself plenty of time to get through security and make it to your gate.
Well, going on a cruise and getting to the port is no different. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the dock, check your luggage, and find where to board before your ship is set to sail.
Drinking Too Much
While cruising may revolve around fun, and fun often translates to drinking, try not to go overboard – literally and figuratively. Drinking too much on a cruise can be a danger to your health and safety. It can lead to injuries like:
- Slip and falls
- Accidentally going overboard
- Sexual assault
- Drowning
Wandering Away From Port
Many people like to book excursions when going on a cruise to explore exotic ports. While this is great and encouraged by many cruise companies, most of the time these excursions are run by third-party companies. You will have to meet them at the port when the ship docks.
Never wander too far from the port, and make sure to keep an extra eye peeled in certain ports to keep yourself safe. This also goes back to doing your research – you should research each port to find out what the dangers may be and what to watch out for.
Crime can happen anywhere at any time, so be vigilant. Make sure to stick as close to the port as you can, and go only with companies with which you have prearranged plans for shore excursions.
Not Watching the Children
If you’re traveling with kids, make sure to keep a good eye on them. This is especially true around swimming pools. Every area of the ship presents risks, and you cannot count on those who work on the cruise ship to always be on the lookout for the little cruisers.
If you or someone you love has been injured on a cruise ship or during a shore excursion, make sure to reach out to an experienced attorney for help.
About the Author:
Andrew Winston is a partner at the personal injury law firm of Winston Law. For over 20 years, he has successfully represented countless people in all kinds of personal injury cases, with a particular focus on child injury, legal malpractice, and premises liability. He has been recognized for excellence in the representation of injured clients by admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and named one of America’s Top 100 High-Stakes Litigators. Mr. Winston is AV Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, enjoys a 10.0 rating by AVVO as a Top Personal Injury Attorney, has been selected as a Florida “SuperLawyer” from 2011-2021 – an honor reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in the state – was voted to Florida Trend’s ”Legal Elite,” recognized by Expertise as one of the 20 Best Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys, named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Miami area for 2015-2021, and one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida for 2015-2017 and 2019-2021.
