A cruise industry insider's tips to get the most out of a cruise
One of the most popular cruise directors of the past decade, Matt Mitcham, is offering his insights to cruise fans in a series of pieces for The Points Guy. Presented in a question-and-answer-type format, the pieces originally appeared in The Points Guy’s cruise newsletter (sign up here). Mitcham retired from Carnival Cruise Line in August.
Today's question for Matt: Give us a few more top tips for cruisers.
In addition to the two tips that I discussed in my last column, I have three more:
Get your kids into the kids club
Cruising is such a brilliant way to explore the world as a family. You’re transported from destination to destination, and the best part is, you only have to unpack once. There are endless options to keep your children entertained, with complimentary kids clubs that are organized by age group. I highly recommend that you get them involved in the kids club from day one.
Your kids will enjoy everything from scavenger hunts to themed dance parties, and let's face it, the more fun your kids have, the more fun you can have. Trust me when I say I’ve seen two types of parents onboard ships: parents who successfully persuaded their child to go to kids club, and parents that did not. Guess which one looked like they were having more fun?
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
Knowing that your child is being entertained and kept safe allows you to kick back and sip on a martini or three. Most cruise lines also offer a babysitting service till the early hours of the morning. Just don’t forget to collect your child at the end of the night! That’s how I ended up working onboard ships -- my mother left me there when I was five.
Download the cruise line app
Downloading your cruise line's app prior to your cruise certainly makes your cruising experience a little easier. The app will help you with everything from booking your shore excursions to scheduling your daily activities. And if you’re brave enough, you can even view your onboard spending.*
*This feature may cause headaches and nausea.
The days of walking around the ship trying to speak to your wife via walkie talkie, only to realize you’ve jumped onto someone else's radio channel, and it's not your wife you're meeting in the hot tub, are long gone … unfortunately. Most of the apps have a chat feature, which means you can stay connected to your loved ones throughout the cruise. This also means you don’t have to see your children until debarkation morning. I’m playing -- you should check in with your kids at least twice a cruise.
Some of the more modern apps even deliver food to your GPS location on the ship. You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your chair to eat. What will they think of next?
Don't rush the embarkation and debarkation
If you're driving to your home port, then great, you’re all set. But if you're flying to port, I’d recommend flying in the day before. This way, you don’t need to worry about flight delays or missing luggage etc. Plus, this also means you get an extra day of vacation.
Embarkation is normally very straightforward. Everyone is happy, as their vacation is about to begin. Debarkation, however, can be a little more stressful for some. I’ve seen all sorts of issues on debark morning, from children being dragged off by their parents with one flip-flop on, to men in their wife’s nightgown. Rule #1: Leave something out to wear that morning. (On cruise ships, passengers leave their luggage outside their door the evening before disembarkation and the crew delivers it to shore upon arrival.)
Related: The counterpoint -- How to disembark from your cruise ship before everyone else
If you're not in a rush, my best advice is to take your time. The later you leave the ship, the easier it will be. So go and have some breakfast and enjoy your last morning onboard. Plus, this is a great opportunity to fill your Tupperware with next week’s lunches. Seriously, it always amazes me that on Day 1 of the cruise, there are 75,000 boxes of cereal on board, and at the end of the cruise, there isn’t a box of cereal to be found, yet you haven’t seen a single person eating a bowl of cereal the entire cruise. I've always wondered how that happens.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
Mitcham has served as cruise director on several Carnival ships including Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze. Known for his six-pack abs, shirtless selfies and effervescent personality, he was recently profiled in People magazine as the “hunky cruise director.” He was named the cruise world’s best cruise director in 2019 by the cruise industry’s leading magazine, Porthole. You can find him on Instagram at @mattcruisedirector.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.