A fragrant breeze wandered up and trailed along my curls as I was embracing the yellow hues going down into the sea once more, for the last time.

‘Stay’ a voice within echoed

The ship was pacing to cross the Indian boundaries and before I would open my eyes the next day, I will be in my country. I will be home.

Yet my heart sank at the thought that I would be dis-embarking this ship soon.

I couldn’t convince myself that this is the ‘one final day’ that I am standing on my favourite Deck 16, enjoying the flavours of theatre under the open sky.

This is the ‘one final moment’ where I could make a choice to live through those precious moments I built, yet again, which shall remain etched in my mind forever.

I moved myself through each corner of Majestic Princess, thinking that I wouldn’t get to see this again. At least not anytime soon!

I wouldn’t be catching anyone at the breakfast table and hear their cruising stories. I wouldn’t be greeting anyone randomly and expect the same back.

Neither I would look forward to fun activities the next day nor would I be hitting the floor with any and everyone.  I wouldn’t catch the dolphins dancing by my side either.

I was told that cruising is an unforgettable experience and after my 5 days sojourn on Majestic Princess, I would seriously urge you all- Go Cruise – at least once in your life

Cruising is definitely an unusual experience and you must take a cruise once to understand. Those tiny instances of generosity and kindness through which you get to live, shall remain imprinted into your mind forever.

I know what you would be thinking right now. I heard it from people that ‘Cruise is expensive. I need a lifetime savings’ or ‘Only rich people can afford it’

Seeing all the jazzy Bollywood and Hollywood movies, it is obvious that we think that cruise is only for rich people. But believe me it’s just a myth.  An international trip is far more costly than a cruise. You don’t believe me? I didn’t either…

Just like me, a lot of first-time cruisers often have many preconceptions about sailing and therefore I decided to make a ready guide (off-course with my limited knowledge 😉 ), to help you plan your cruise:

Pricing: The first thing which people asked me after I came back from Majestic Princess was how much does it cost me? Well, I was lucky that I didn’t have to shell out even a single penny but for those planning a cruise vacation; the price varies based on the brand, location, and the time of year.

Generally, a cruise price starts from $100 per person/day for base cabin category which includes cost of the cabin, ocean transportation, all meals and entertainment on board the ship. The items of personal interest/ nature like liquor, shopping etc are excluded from the pricing. Now, if you compare this cost to a room in a luxury hotel, the inclusions in a cruise far outshines the overall benefits and facilities provided

If you ask me personally I would also suggest you to go for an advice from a professional distributor of cruises. They are the best bet to advise you completely on the cruises. Like mine maiden cruise voyage aboard Majestic Princess was facilitated by Cruise Professionals.

Seasickness & other health problems: Seasickness varies person to person. After what I experienced, there is nothing you would feel when the weather is mild and the sea is steady. Most of us started feeling dizzy on the third day of our voyage when the sea became a bit rough. But then there is nothing you should worry about. The best remedy to avoid seasickness (applied personally) is to distract yourself and get involved in activities.

Don’t, I repeat, don’t lock yourself in the room. That’s a common mistake people make. Also EAT. No matter how are you feeling- just EAT.

Green Apples and ginger generally works well during sea or motion sickness. There are certain certified and tested medicines available on-board the store for sea sickness as well, incase the need arises. The medical centers are available too.

Crowded or Claustrophobic? Probably not, but it depends on the ship and it’s size/ capacity. We only get claustrophobic on the smallest of oceangoing vessels. Fortunately, ships come in many sizes. Some are as large as shopping malls and comfortably accommodate thousands of people — they’re so large, you might almost forget you’re out on open water.

Bored? You have ample entertainment on Board: You can never get bore in a cruise. Why ? Because there are ample fun activities planned to entertain the guests throughout the day.

We used to get an entire schedule on our mobile using the intranet during the night, to let us plan in advance on our day’s activity. You could go for Zumba classes or hit the gym directly in the morning. Or you can play games or attend mentalist classes in the princess theatre. If not this you can put your dance shoes on for cha-cha sessions in the atrium.

If you don’t want to do anything, then you can go adore the paintings in the gallery or simply take a book out and read in library. The night had another charm altogether. Even my 5 days on cruise was short to explore & experience the ship fully and that’s why I said its huge.

Also you don’t entirely continue to sail on a cruise. You also dock. There are marked ports for a ship where it stops for a limited time. You can get out and explore the city as well but make sure to return on the designated time. The ship moves on time

Babies on the cruise: Most cruise lines have a minimum age of 6 months as of the sail date. Consult the specific cruise to know the age requirements for babies, along with a detailed run-down of the amenities, the ship will provide for babies. Once again, it depends entirely on the brand you are choosing to sail. There are several kid-friendly cruise lines where babies sail free or for heavily discounted rates (taxes and fees will still apply). Majestic Princess has a special corner for kids on Deck 17 where they are kept involved throughout the day. So the parents can go and party hard 😉

Pay for stuff? All purchases on the ship are made using your cruise ID card, which is linked to your onboard account. At the start of the cruise, you’ll have the choice of depositing cash directly into your account or connecting it to a credit card. Tipping for the services gets credited into your account directly at the end of each day

Luggage onboard: Except for your carry-ons, your luggage is checked before boarding the ship. Make sure to pack all of your essentials (bathing suit, toothbrush, formal wear for dinner, etc.) Though the toiletries are provided on-board, make sure you carry them along, just incase you feel the need to use yours

 Will I get my passport stamped? If you’re flying into a foreign country for your cruise, your passport will get stamped when you go through customs in the airport. For example I boarded the cruise from Rashid Port, Dubai wherein I got through immigration at the airport and had to submit the passport for stamps, while boarding the cruise. The immigration while dis-embarking the ship will also be taken care by the cruise authority. Just make sure to keep an eye on the mailers you receive in your room.

Got your answers? Or you want to know anything else. Feel free to ping 🙂

P.S. I was on on-board Majestic Princess on an invitation from Cruise Professionals

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