Put Some Zip In Your Cruise

Top 10 Ways to Put Some Zip in Your Cruise

Need to take the vacation fun up a notch for your fifth, 10th or 25th cruise? Want to make sure your first sailing is your best holiday ever? Hope to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or graduation in style? Don't leave the vacation fun to chance. Cruise ships are rife with opportunities for romantic moments, touching surprises and group bonding. Seek them out, and you'll inject your next holiday at sea with that extra zip and zing.

I will always have fond memories of a dinner at Prime C, the steakhouse alternative restaurant on Azamara Quest, when we dined with friends we'd made onboard on the last evening of the cruise. Or gazing up at the stars on a dark South Pacific night, trying to identify the Southern Cross from the deck of Star Flyer. Or the joy on my friend's face when she tried snuba for the first time on Grand Cayman Island, during a cruise on Celebrity Century, and absolutely fell in love with it.

While it's true that some of the best ways to upgrade a cruise vacation involve spending a bit of extra money, many options are free or relatively inexpensive. So, whether you're booked into the cheapest inside cabin on a discounted shoulder-season sailing or the top suite on a luxury line for a summer cruise, you can afford to transform a typical vacation into the event of the year. Here are our favorite tips for making your cruise extra-special.

Tip 1: Enjoy a Pre-Cruise Splurge

Why wait until you get onboard to start the celebrations? There are plenty of things you can do pre-cruise to make this vacation stand out from all others. Splurge on a new bathing suit, casual cruisewear or formal outfit to show off on the cruise so you've got something extra to look forward to. Or, upgrade your travel arrangements by flying first-class to your homeport, staying in a luxury hotel or spacious suite for a day or two before you board or hiring a limo to drive you to the port. These decadent moments will set the right mood for the rest of the holiday.

Tip 2: Upgrade Your Cabin

If you want to treat friends or loved ones right, don't confine them to a cramped, windowless inside cabin. Instead, go for broke with a balcony cabin or suite, though you will pay hundreds -- or even thousands -- of dollars more, depending on the ship, sailing and stateroom. Sticking to a budget? Try booking the lowest category of balcony cabin during a shoulder-season sailing, taking advantage of upgrade sales during Wave Season or snagging a guarantee cabin. It's definitely worth the money when you can spend sea days relaxing in peace on your private verandah, rather than fighting the hordes on the pool deck for a lounge chair. To make use of the space, indulge in a room service dinner, served in your suite's dining area, or throw a cocktail party in your spacious digs for your travel companions or newly made friends. Plus, the suite life may entitle you to V.I.P. treatment, such as priority tendering, access to concierge lounges or first pick of reservations for specialty dining and shows. Now that's how you travel in style.

Tip 3: Arrange an In-Cabin Surprise

You could spend sailaway out on deck with the crowds, or you could surprise your cabinmate(s) with a special delivery of Champagne or chocolate-covered strawberries to enjoy as the ship speeds out to sea. Also consider having flowers or a fruit basket waiting when you get back from a day onshore. Most cruise lines offer menus of sailaway gifts or items that can be delivered to your stateroom throughout the cruise. Beyond the typical snacks and flowers, we've seen some unusual Bon Voyage gifts -- including Norwegian Cruise Line's Nickelodeon-themed bedtime kit (including a pillowcase, bed throw, cup and toothbrush) that your cabin steward can set up on your child's cruise bunk, and Celebrity's delivery of gummy bears, jelly beans and Swedish fish for those with a sweet tooth. And definitely let the ship know that you'll be celebrating a birthday or anniversary onboard. You might find your door or cabin decorated with balloons.

Tip 4: Find Memorable In-Port Activities

Has your mom always wanted to eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Europe? Have your kids dreamed of swimming with dolphins? Is your husband itching to go fishing in Alaska? Make their dreams come true by doing some research on the ports of call and finding the perfect activities for your travel group. It could be as simple as locating a beautiful, secluded beach or dining on pizza in Italy, or as elaborate as flying to the Taj Mahal or going on safari in Africa. Just remember that while the cruise line offers some fabulous excursions, your dream day in port might be better arranged with a private tour guide or by making your own plans in advance.

Tip 5: Turn Dinner Into an Event to Remember

A cruise ship offers many ways to elevate a simple meal into a memorable evening. Splurge on a night out in your cruise ship's upscale specialty restaurant -- such as Disney's adults-only Remy (at $75 a head) or Royal Caribbean's 150 Central Park ($40 without wine pairings, $55 or $75 with) -- and don't skimp on the wine. Or order course-by-course dining in your cabin or -- better yet -- out on your balcony. (Try Princess' Ultimate Balcony Dinner.) Want to be serenaded? At Carnival's Cucina, that can be arranged. Order a cake to celebrate a special event, or request ahead of time that the chef prepares your favorite dish or a special menu for your table. Most cruise lines are willing to accommodate special requests with advance notice, and we say it can't hurt to ask.

Tip 6: Dress Up on Formal Night

We know that many cruisers balk at the thought of donning a gown or tuxedo just to have dinner on a cruise -- not to mention schlepping all the extra luggage to the pier. But there's something about getting all dolled up that can turn an ordinary evening into a night on the town. Maybe your sweetie will surprise you by asking you to dance in one of the lounges -- like the exquisite ballrooms on Cunard's three ships -- or treating you to a cocktail at a top-of-ship bar where you'll be seeing stars. Or, perhaps the sight of your significant other in his or her snazzy duds will elicit new sparks of romance (and maybe lead to an early evening, nudge-nudge, wink-wink)? It's worth a try....

Tip 7: Treat Yourself (or Someone Else) to a Splurge

At least once, when you start thinking, "I'd really like to do that, but it's a little expensive," hush your inner accountant, and take the plunge. Perhaps you've always wanted to try a hot stone massage or order a really fancy bottle of wine. Note the bejeweled bracelet your wife is eyeing or the piece of local artwork your dad has gravitated toward, and purchase it when her/his back is turned. Or, pick up a surprise gift at Oasis of the Seas' Coach store or the posh shops on Cunard's Royal Arcades. You don't have to get carried away and completely override your vacation budget, but a splurge or two on a special item or event is bound to make a lasting impression.

Tip 8: Hit the Deck for a Special Moment

You're on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, so don't waste all your time indoors. This is your chance to watch the sun rise or set, splashing dramatic colors over the never-ending sky at sea. Or sneak up on deck after dinner to gaze at the stars; you'll be surprised how many you can see when you've cruised away from land. Cuddle up with your sweetie under a blanket to watch Movies Under the Stars on a Princess cruise, shimmy and conga during one of Disney's or Norwegian's famous deck parties, or sip a drink at a bar tucked away on a back deck. For all-day sun, splurge on a cabana on a ship like Celebrity Silhouette or Oceania's triplets for fresh air, privacy and an I'm-better-than-you vibe. If you come from an urban, land-locked location, you may not get the chance to bond with nature in quite this way during the rest of the year.

Read this: Get out of your cabin with our recommendations for best sun decks and best serenity decks.

Tip 9: Plan a Fun Photo

Photos create lasting memories of your vacations, and while candids can make wonderful shots, why leave it to chance? Some of the best cruise photos we've seen have involved families or travel groups planning their Kodak moments in advance. That could be as simple as getting the ship's photographer to snap your photo when you're all dolled up in your formal night attire; we were wowed on Carnival by a group who matched the husband's ties and vests to the colors of their wives' dresses. Print up group T-shirts or hats for the trip, and take a picture in your matching outfits. If you dig costumes, bring your own for Halloween or Santa's hats for holiday cruises. Some lines even have costume racks so you can dress up before your professional photo session; we dressed up in pink go-go boots and matching feather boas on Holland America's Westerdam. And, if you don't want to pay the high prices for professional pics, bring a tripod for your camera, and take your own group shots.

Tip 10: Try Something New

Some of the most memorable moments on cruises happen when you fight back your fears and try something new. Cruise lines offer many opportunities to expand your horizons. The dining room is the place to try new foods -- think caviar or lobster. (Don't worry: If you don't like them, the waiters will bring you another dish, and you won't be charged extra.) Maybe now's the time to try rock-climbing, surfing, zip-lining, fishing, kayaking or a number of other activities. Onboard, knowledgeable crewmembers can guide you to a new cocktail or wine you might enjoy, a spa treatment out of the norm (like a 24-karat gold facial, seaweed body wrap or a Thai poultice massage) or an activity you never knew you were good at (like line-dancing or making towel animals). Enrichment classes can introduce you to new hobbies -- try piano lessons on Crystal, cooking classes on Oceania's Marina or workshops on digital photo editing on Celebrity or Holland America. One moment of fearlessness might just lead to a lifelong passion -- or at least a good laugh that you'll remember long after your cruise ends.

By Erica Silverstein, Senior Editor