Embarkation Day Must Dos: First Day Cruise Tips for Families
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
After more than 25 cruises as a family, I’ve learned that those first few hours onboard can completely shape the tone of your vacation. The earlier you settle in, the smoother everything feels. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you can start relaxing immediately and enjoying the ship before the crowds arrive.
These are the first things we always do when we get on a cruise ship, and they’ve become our tried and true embarkation day strategy for cruising with kids.
1. Head Straight to the Buffet or the Waterslides
We always try to board as early as possible. The earlier you get on the ship, the calmer embarkation day feels. Plus, your vacation officially starts the second you step onboard.
Our first stop is usually the buffet.
Getting there early means shorter lines, easier seating, and a more relaxed start to the trip. It’s also a fun way to get your first impression of the food because every cruise line and every ship feels a little different.
But if your family is not hungry yet, skip lunch and go straight to the fun.
First Stop for us is Flow Rider on Royal Caribbean ships
This is one of the best cruise tips for families: pack your swimsuits in your carry on bag or wear them onboard. Head directly to the waterslides, FlowRider, rock climbing wall, splash pad, or pool deck before the crowds arrive. These attractions are often completely empty during the first hour or two of embarkation.
Once staterooms open around 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., many families head to their cabins, and the buffet becomes much easier to navigate for a late lunch.
2. Learn the Ship by Starting at the Top Deck
One of our favorite embarkation day traditions is taking a self guided walking tour of the ship. We always start at the top deck and work our way down.
This helps everyone get familiar with the layout, discover hidden spots, and avoid missing activities later in the cruise.
I’ll never forget when my parents went on a cruise and didn’t realize their ship had mini golf until the final day. They would have loved it all week if they had explored sooner.
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
Some of our favorite discoveries from embarkation day ship tours include:
On Carnival Radiance, we found an Italian restaurant serving made to order pasta at lunch. It also became a great backup breakfast seating area when the buffet was crowded.
On Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, the nightclub transforms into a quiet lounge during the day with beautiful pool deck views. It became one of my favorite relaxing spots on the ship.
On Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, we explored the aft of the ship to show the kids where the rock climbing wall was located. When we arrived, there was no line at all, which made it the perfect time for me to try it without an audience.
Exploring early makes the ship feel much more manageable, especially for kids.
3. Do Not Miss the Kids Club Orientation
If you’re cruising with kids, the kids club orientation is one of the most important things to do on embarkation day.
This is usually the only time during the cruise when parents can go inside the kids club, meet the staff, and tour the space together with their children.
Seeing the space ahead of time can make a huge difference for nervous kids. It gives them a chance to see the games, activities, and play areas before their first drop off.
Camp Discovery on Royal Princess
This is also the best time to ask questions, discuss any concerns, and understand how sign in and sign out procedures work before the club gets busy later in the cruise.
If your child is old enough to sign themselves in and out, orientation also helps them learn how to navigate to the club independently. On larger cruise ships, that extra confidence can really help.
If you want a closer look at kids clubs onboard, I’ve also shared detailed guides from our family’s experiences on Royal Caribbean, including Adventure Ocean on Navigator of the Seas and my honest review of when my son moved up to the teen club, The Living Room.
4. Complete the Muster Drill Early
One of the best cruise changes in recent years has been the updated muster drill process.
Instead of crowded emergency drills with the entire ship gathered together, most cruise lines now allow guests to check in at their assigned muster station individually.
We always complete ours during our embarkation day tour. It only takes a few minutes, and afterward it truly feels like vacation mode can begin.
Getting it done early also means you do not have to interrupt the fun later in the afternoon.
5. Double Check Your Dining Reservations
Dining Room on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
While exploring the ship, stop by the main dining room to confirm your dining assignment.
If you need to change your dining time, request a larger table, or ask about special accommodations, embarkation day is the best time to handle it before dinner service starts.
On our recent Princess cruise, they even had a separate dining room dedicated to helping guests with dining changes, which made the process incredibly easy.
If you’re planning to book specialty dining reservations, prioritize those early too because popular times fill quickly.
Sometimes the dining room is already open during embarkation, allowing you to preview your table location, which can be especially helpful for families traveling with kids.
6. Check the Cruise Activities Schedule
As the afternoon goes on, more attractions and activities start opening across the ship.
This is often the perfect window for waterslides, splash zones, sports courts, and rock climbing walls because many passengers are still unpacking or waiting for luggage.
Ziplining on Harmony of the Seas
That’s why we always pack swimsuits in our carry on bags. While other families are organizing their rooms, our kids are usually already racing down waterslides.
These first few hours are one of the best opportunities to enjoy the ship with minimal crowds.
Do Not Waste Those First Few Hours
I completely understand the temptation to grab a chair, sit down with a book, and recover from a long travel day. But embarkation day is actually one of the best times to explore the ship while everything still feels calm.
Sea Day on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas
Later in the cruise, especially on sea days, those same attractions may have long lines and packed pool decks. Embarkation day is your chance to enjoy them stress free.
Walking the ship early also gives kids a sense of independence and helps everyone feel more comfortable navigating the ship for the rest of the vacation.
Those small moments can make a huge difference in how relaxed and confident your family feels throughout the cruise.
What are your first must dos when you board a cruise ship? Let me know in the comments!
Ready for More Family Cruise Tips?
If you’re planning a family cruise, these posts can help you feel even more prepared: