Booked Your Cruise? Here Are the Top 10 Things to Do Next (Besides Happy Dancing)

So you’ve booked your cruise, yay, you seafaring superstar, you! Your floating vacation dreams are officially on the calendar, and now you’re ready to slip into vacation mode and countdown the days until you’re sipping something tropical with a paper umbrella in it.

But hold the piña colada for just a sec; because before you set sail, there are a few (fun and important!) things you’ll want to take care of to keep your cruise as stress-free and fabulous as possible.

1. Mark Those Golden Dates

Before you even close the booking confirmation tab, mark two dates on your calendar:

• Final Payment Date

• Online Check-In Date

Miss your final payment deadline, and poof, your dreamy balcony cabin disappears, and your deposit might go with it. Check-in date? That’s your golden ticket to choosing your preferred boarding time, and trust me, the early birds get the buffet (and the pool chairs).

2. Download Your Cruise Line’s App

Yes, there’s an app for that. And yes, you want it. From tracking your onboard spending (hello, spa splurge) to checking the daily schedule, ship time, and dining reservations, this app is your digital cruise BFF. Download it before you board. Wi-Fi at sea is not your friend, and you don’t want to be “that passenger” frantically trying to download it mid-ocean.

3. Print Your Boarding Pass & Luggage Tags

Sure, we love a paperless world, but cruise terminals are chaotic. Print your boarding pass (QR code and all) just in case Wi-Fi fails you at embarkation. And those luggage tags? Print them, laminate them (or invest in those reusable tag holders-I can show you some great ones on Amazon), and attach them like your luggage’s life depends on it; because it kinda does.

4. Start Your Packing List (Like, Now)

Cruise packing = normal packing with a few spicy twists. Think magnetic hooks (yes, the walls are metal), non-surge power strips (because one outlet per room is a crime), and theme night outfits if your ship is serving up some dress-up fun.

5. Book Your Pre-Cruise Plans

Flying in the day of your cruise? Please don’t. Flight delays happen, and cruise ships don’t wait for lost luggage or layovers. Fly in a day early, treat yourself to a pre-cruise margarita, and roll up to the port stress-free and sun-ready.

6. Plan Your Shore Excursions

Whether you’re ziplining through jungles, snorkeling coral gardens, or sipping rum with a view, shore excursions sell out fast. Book your must-dos early so you're not stuck with the dreaded “meh” leftovers. And hey, I can help you pick the perfect ones. Because I know a sloth-hugging experience when I see one.

7. Check Travel Docs (Don’t Be That Person)

Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your cruise. If you’re cruising without one (some itineraries allow this), double-check your ID requirements.
Cruisers miss sailings all the time because of expired passports or missing documents. Don’t be that travel horror story.

8. Set Up Travel-Friendly Payments

Cruise ships and ports love credit cards, but not all cards are cruise-friendly. Use one with no foreign transaction fees, and alert your bank you’ll be living your best life at sea.
Bring some small bills for tipping and quick port buys. And leave that debit card at home. We don’t need that kind of financial anxiety on vacation.

9. Lock In Dining & Entertainment (for the Fancy Folk)

Some cruise lines let you reserve specialty dining, shows, and spa appointments in advance, and if that’s your thing, get in early. Because nothing says “vacation heartbreak” like craving hibachi only to find it’s been booked since 2003.

10. Get Excited! Like, Really Excited.

You’ve done the grown-up stuff. Now it’s time to start counting down, planning outfits, stalking cruise TikToks, and imagining yourself wind-blown and worry-free. Want help choosing excursions, creating an onboard game plan, or building your dream cruise from scratch? That’s what I do. JoGo Travels is your cruise-obsessed travel bestie, and I’m here to make sure your sailing is smooth from booking to beach day.

So there you have it, 10 things to do after you book your cruise, all wrapped in sunshine and sarcasm. Let’s get you sea-ready and sparkle-packed