First-Time Cruiser Guide: 20 Things I Wish I Knew

A cruise has its own logic that feels nothing like a hotel or a flight. Your bag vanishes for a few hours, your room isn't a cash-free hotel but a tap-to-pay account that quietly adds up, "all-inclusive" comes with creative exceptions, and small misunderstandings pile into a stressful first day. None of it is hard once you know how it works. These are the 20 things we genuinely wish someone had told us before our first Genting Dream sailing — specific, honest, and aimed squarely at first-timers cruising from Singapore.

If you're still choosing a sailing, skim our itinerary guide first so you know how many nights and ports you're dealing with — it changes a lot of the advice below.

Before you sail

1. Do your online check-in the moment it opens

This is the biggest time-saver of the whole trip and it's free. Complete web check-in in advance — it closes 48 hours before departure. Guests who skip it end up in the slow manual queue at the terminal. Boarding can already be busy; some first-timers report long waits on peak sailings, so do everything you can in advance. Full walk-through in our Marina Bay Cruise Centre guide.

2. Bring your passport — and a photocopy

Even though you start and end in Singapore, you need a passport valid at least 6 months. Pack a photocopy of the photo page (and a phone photo) as backup — it's a small thing that saves a big headache if anything goes wrong ashore.

3. Arrive within your assigned time window — earlier is better

Embarkation isn't a casual "turn up whenever" hotel check-in. Your ticket gives you a time slot that staggers the crowds. Aim for the earlier end: you'll clear check-in faster and have time for lunch at the buffet before the pools fill up.

4. Pack a carry-on with your first-day essentials

Here's the one nearly every first-timer learns the hard way: your checked luggage is delivered to your cabin later — sometimes a few hours after boarding. Keep swimwear, medication, sunscreen, a change of clothes, chargers and your documents in a small carry-on so you can start enjoying the ship immediately instead of waiting by the door for a suitcase.

5. Don't overpack — cabins are compact

Most first-timers bring roughly twice the clothing they use. Cabins are cosy and storage is limited (suitcases slide under the bed). Pack light: casual daywear, a couple of smart-casual dinner outfits, swimwear, and one nicer outfit. Our full packing list and dress-code guide cover exactly what to bring.

Money: the part that surprises everyone

6. The ship is cashless — everything goes on your cruise card

At check-in you'll register a card and receive a keycard that's your room key, your ID, and your onboard wallet. You tap it for everything and settle the total at the end. It's convenient, but it also makes spending invisible — which leads straight to the next point.

7. Gratuities are automatic and higher than you expect

A mandatory gratuity of around SGD 27 per person, per night (more for suites) is automatically added to your bill — it is not optional, and it applies to every guest except infants under two. For a family of four on a 3-night cruise that's over SGD 300 before you've bought a single thing. Budget for it from the start so it's not a shock at checkout.

8. "All-inclusive" isn't — know what costs extra

Your fare covers your cabin, the main dining venues (The Lido buffet and the Dream Dining Rooms), pools, waterslides, the gym, nightly theatre shows and many activities. It does not cover: gratuities, specialty restaurants, alcohol and soft drinks, Wi-Fi, the spa, shore excursions, the arcade, and some activities. These extras are where first-timers overspend.

9. Set a budget for onboard spending

Beyond the fare, plan for gratuities, any drinks or specialty dining, and shore excursions. Deciding your limits before you board — and checking your account balance mid-cruise at reception or on the app — stops the end-of-cruise bill from stinging.

10. Bring some local cash for port days

The ship is cashless, but ashore in Penang, Phuket or Melaka you'll want local cash (Ringgit or Baht) for markets, taxis and small vendors. The onboard exchange rate isn't the best, so change money before you sail if you can. A card with low foreign fees helps too.

Choosing your cabin & sailing

11. Cabin location matters more than you think

Where you sleep affects your whole trip. If you're prone to seasickness, book mid-ship on a lower-to-middle deck — it moves the least. Light sleepers should avoid cabins directly under the pool deck, above the nightclub, or next to lifts. Our cabin guide and deck plan show exactly where each category sits.

12. Consider the balcony upgrade for a first cruise

Picking the cheapest interior to save money is the classic first-timer regret — an interior cabin is dark and windowless. A balcony costs more but transforms the experience, and Balcony bookings often include perks like welcome drinks and dining credits. If it's your first cruise and budget allows, it's usually worth it.

13. Match the itinerary to what you want

A 2-night Cruise to Nowhere is the cheapest, easiest first taste — all ship, no ports. Want a destination? The 2-night Melaka or 3-night Penang & Port Klang add real port days. Longer Phuket and Bali sailings are more of a holiday but have more open-sea time.

Once you're on board

14. Explore the ship on day one — then don't try to do everything

The most common captain's-eye first-timer mistake is cramming every activity in and enjoying none. Walk the ship on embarkation day to get your bearings, then pick a few things you actually care about. A cruise is meant to be relaxing — leave space to do nothing.

15. Book specialty dining and shows early

The best specialty restaurants (like Umi Uma teppanyaki) and popular show times fill up fast — reserve on day one at the dining desk or on the app. Our restaurant guide covers every venue and what's worth booking.

16. Read the daily programme every night

Each evening a daily programme is left in your cabin (also on the ship's app) listing the next day's shows, activities, meal times and any dress theme. It's the single source of truth for what's happening — the first-timers who "miss everything" are the ones who never read it.

17. The onboard app is free on the ship's Wi-Fi network

You can connect to the ship's Wi-Fi network to use the Concierge app — programme, dining, bookings, deck maps — without buying an internet package. You only pay when you want real internet to the outside world. For staying connected at sea and in port, see our Wi-Fi & eSIM guide.

18. Small comforts: water, toiletries, layers

Cabins usually include basic toiletries and a couple of bottles of water; tap water in the cabin is drinkable, so bring a refillable bottle. Two things guests forget: a light jacket (indoor AC is cold, especially in the theatre) and their own preferred toiletries if they're particular. Don't pack a kettle, iron or power strip — they're prohibited.

Coming home

19. Settle your bill the night before disembarkation

Clear your onboard account the evening before you leave — either at reception or via the self-service quick-pay option — to avoid queues on the final morning. Check the charges while you're at it; it's the moment to query anything unexpected.

20. Know the disembarkation flow — and the SG Arrival Card

You'll get a disembarkation notice on the last night with your assigned time and place to leave. Pack the night before, keeping a carry-on for essentials, and remember every traveller must submit the SG Arrival Card online (via the ICA website) within three days before returning to Singapore. Do it on the ship the night before so you're not scrambling. Your passport is returned before you leave.

The mindset that makes a great first cruise

If we boil 20 tips down to one idea: prepare the logistics so you can relax into the experience. Do online check-in, pack a smart carry-on, budget for the extras, pick a cabin that suits you, and read the daily programme — then let the ship do the rest. Most first-timers step off already planning their second sailing.

When you're ready to choose your first Genting Dream cruise — and the right cabin and date for it — tell us your plans. We'll send honest advice and a live quote, usually within the hour. New to the ship itself? Our honest review and before-you-sail guide are the perfect next reads.