Whether you’re cruising transatlantic to New York or meeting your ship in the Middle East, a pre of post-cruise stay is the perfect way to extend that holiday feeling for a little longer. While Bolsover Cruise Club’s expert Cruise Consultants can tell you all about where to stay, we thought we would take a closer look at how to make the most of it once you’re there.
Stay central
When you have a limited amount of time to explore a place, booking a central hotel can shave hours off your travelling time and ensure you get straight to the heart of the destination. It will cost a little more to stay centrally but the extra outlay is worth it when you consider the amount of time and money spent travelling from more remote locations on a destination’s outskirts.
Your Cruise Consultant can offer advice on hotels, with some cruise lines offering special rates for bookings made on pre or post-cruise stays.
Plan, plan and plan again
Whether you’re arriving just a day before you join the ship, or adding three or four days to your cruise holiday, planning ahead will make sure you get the most out of your time. Find out where you will meet the ship and how long it will take you to get there from your hotel; this way you know exactly how long to allow and can plan your check out from the hotel accordingly.
Use Google Maps and online travel guides to research the area around your hotel. Find out what is on your doorstep and decide which attractions you’re willing to travel a little further for. Look out for restaurants throughout your day and you’ll save precious time searching for a tempting one come dinner time.
Maximise that airfare
This is especially important if your cruise begins half way around the world. Flights to the likes of Australia, the Middle East and the USA are pretty expensive, so if your cruise kicks off in any of these destinations, make the most of it by making absolutely sure to include an extra few days in your destination.
Australia and the Far East call for lengthy flights, so make the most of yours by stringing out your pre or post-cruise stay. Opt to add 3 or 4 days pre-cruise to acclimatise and get over the jet lag, whilst also seeing more of the destination you’ve just spent so long getting too. If you would rather soothe away the jet lag on sea days, opt for a post-cruise stay before you begin the long journey back home.
Weigh up your options
If you have the option of either a pre or post-cruise stay, it’s important to think carefully about which best suits you.
If you’re overflowing with excitement at seeing the ship or have visited the embarkation port before, you’ll spend your pre-cruise stay watching the clock and waiting to board. A post-cruise stay is a great way to make that holiday feeling last a little longer and you’ll avoid that sinking feeling at disembarkation!
Just relax
While you’ll have plenty of time to relax once on board, it’s also important that you don’t tire yourself out with 3 or 4 days of manic exploring beforehand. Check into your hotel, freshen up and relax for a while before venturing out to explore at your leisure. Plan your days but don’t cram them with activities; the last thing you’ll want to do after a long haul flight is throw your luggage in the room and spend the next six hours negotiating foreign public transport or trekking to the region’s biggest tourist attraction. Give yourself plenty of time to relax and you’ll arrive on board feeling fresh and ready for the holiday ahead. Click here to take a look at our cruise and stay holidays.
