Maximize Your Cruise by Joining Online Communities

Community is about doing something together.

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Nearly every traveler I have ever met is a researcher. We research where to go, how to get there, where to stay, and what to see and do, among so many other facets of our travel. If that sounds familiar, I have great source of research and information sharing for you to consider as you start to plan a cruise.

Consider finding and joining the Facebook Group for your cruise. 

Why?  Well, no matter how you feel about Facebook or how often you spend time on the site, it does offer communities of like-minded people on any type of topic, including cruising.  And whether you are a veteran cruiser or about to take your first ever cruise, the Facebook group for your trip can be a great source of information.  

A couple years ago, I discovered a Facebook group for a cruise my husband and I had planned to take to Bermuda from New York. At the time, I simply joined the group to see what information the group was sharing but as it turned out, the group shared vital information that made boarding our ship and our time in Bermuda much easier.

During the COVID pandemic the cruise lines were sadly forced to stop cruising but as they slowly started to return to service, we decided that it was time to get back on a cruise ship and take our fourth trip to Bermuda. However, as the cruise industry started to resume operations, some ports of call like Bermuda added new entry requirements for cruise ship passengers. While this was not our first post-pandemic cruise, we had not experienced additional entry requirements for a previous cruise, so this was a bit of surprise as we started to check off everything we needed for our cruise. We first discovered this unexpected new feature as I followed along on Facebook, reading the details of the process from fellow passengers. We had paperwork to complete, fees to pay, and paperwork to have secured and in place prior to boarding our ship and getting off in Bermuda. This was a new twist for those of us who had cruised to Bermuda many times and the cruise line only provided minimal information about these requirements. But thanks to our Facebook group, we were able to find all the answers we needed so that we met all the requirements for our cruise. I was hooked have returned to Facebook to seek out the group for subsequent cruises and I highly recommend it to any fellow cruiser.

As we prepare for big cruise this spring, I have once again found the Facebook group for our individual cruise and I watch it regularly. The group discusses a wide range of topics such as excursion options, hotel options in our final port, questions about flights, plans for meeting up in our embarkation port prior to the cruise, arranging pub crawls and game days during the cruise, and welcomes new members. It’s been a great way to get excited about our trip, watch the count down together, and to connect with our fellow travelers. The best part is the sharing of information of all kinds, helping those that need help planning, and sharing ideas with everyone.

As you plan your next cruise, simply log onto Facebook and type in the name of your cruise line and the dates of your cruise into the search bar.  For example, we will be on the NCL Getaway so I searched by the name of our ship and the specific dates of our trip.  If someone has established a group, all you have to do is join and engage.  If there isn’t a group, consider starting one.

I hope this helps you to connect with your fellow travelers and that it enhances your planning.

Enjoy your cruise!