Pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee ☕ and let’s talk about the best present you can give yourself before your next cruise: Time.
Whether you are flying to Miami, San Juan, Vancouver, or halfway around the world, arriving early is the smartest travel hack in the book—it's truly the gift of a relaxed vacation start. Even Mary and Joseph knew the stress of trying to find a room after a long journey—don't let that last-minute panic happen to you!
Here is the Golden Rule most seasoned cruisers and certified Master Cruise Counsellors like me swear by:
| Destination Type | Recommended Buffer Time |
| North America & Caribbean cruises | 1 Night Early 🛏️ |
| Europe or Asia cruises | 2 Nights Early 🛏️🛏️ |
Why is arriving early the best gift you can give yourself? It buys you peace of mind by mitigating the most common travel day stressors:
🚫 Flight Delays Happen: Santa’s sleigh might be on time, but airlines aren’t always! Ships operate on a strict schedule and they won’t wait for you. By arriving a day or two ahead, you eliminate the risk of missing your once-in-a-lifetime vacation due to an unexpected delay or cancellation.
🧳 Lost Luggage Buffer: If your luggage decides to take its own detour, a buffer day gives you time to track down lost bags or, if necessary, buy essentials before you board. You won’t be scrambling on the pier.
😴 Beat the Jet Lag: Starting a cruise exhausted is no fun. Especially for those overseas trips, an extra night allows you to fully reset your internal clock. Wake up refreshed and ready for adventure! I learned this well earning my Master of Adventure degree from Royal Caribbean (RC) International University!
🍳 Real Breakfast, Relaxed Morning: Enjoy a relaxed, hot breakfast 🧇🥓 at your leisure instead of rushing through airport security lines and sad, pre-packaged snacks. Your vacation truly begins before you even step on the ship.
🚀 Start Early & Stress-Free: Arriving a night early turns embarkation day from a stressful race against the clock to an easy, leisurely stroll onto the ship. No one wants to be the person on the pier watching their ship sail away!
Ready to give yourself the gift of travel this season? Let us handle the details.
As your ALGPro and Expedia trained advisor, and a PhD from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) University and Cruiseologist, I can seamlessly bundle your flights and pre-cruise hotel stays into your vacation package, often securing better rates than booking solo. We'll make sure your transition from land to sea is as smooth as Santa’s landing.
We are ready to book your next adventure!
Frank Bellino, PhD
I Got a Guy Travel
igotaguytravel@gmail.com
210-219-3663
Follow us for more travel content.