Photo Credit: Paul Gauguin Luxury Cruises

When traveling, I always make sure everything is organized before I leave.  If any problems or bumps in the road occur, I’ll be prepared as I’ve done my pre-travel homework. In general, I do a quick check of all the documents, emails, order confirmations, etc.  Since I travel internationally often, I can't depend on access to the Internet to grab these documents, that’s why I value printing them and then they are always with me in my carry-on bag.

Cruise Insurance Policy 
It’s good to have this with you in case you need to refer to it for coverage questions.  There are a lot of things that could happen along the way, you might be surprised to find out what’s covered!

Cruise & Airline Itinerary 
I print out copies of my itinerary to go inside all my luggage.  This way, if my bag gets lost or something happens to the tag – it can find its way back to me.  Additionally, as my travels often take me to various locations, especially while on a cruise, whoever has my luggage will know where I am at any given time so I can be reunited with my bags.

Correspondences with the Cruise lines
Print out all documents you’ve sent or related to the cruise.  If you’ve been given an onboard ship credit or made a reservation online for a specialty restaurant, print out the confirmations to have the proof with you. If there are any issues, it will make the process go smoother. 

Passport 
Don’t forget to have a copy of your passport.  My passport is scanned and emailed to myself along with a few people I trust in case I need their help in getting it when I’m abroad.

Currency
I always print out a little cheat sheet with the current exchange rates that I keep in my wallet.  When I was on a Baltic Cruise, every port had a different currency. When we got off the cruise ship each day, we were already prepared and could easily figure out how much items cost. I have found www.xe.com to be useful. 

Calling Card Access Codes 
If you’re like me, your cell phone doesn’t work internationally or is just too expensive.  I often buy a calling card before leaving on a cruise that I can use in every port.  After purchasing the card, I call the Customer Service number to get the local access numbers for each country that I’ll be visiting.  The access numbers are what you need to dial when calling from that country.  I tape the access codes to the card and also do a print out with all the information in case I misplace the card.

In addition to the items I listed above, I also print out local coupons, travel information for the different ports, and any travel guide information if I booked any private tours.  With all this preparation, it helps me relax knowing that I have all the important information at my fingertips.

FreshCruiser Tip:  Going on a cruise can involve a lot of time spent researching and prepping. Don’t ruin your trip by not having the crucial information with you. Take a few minutes to be properly prepared.