Embarkation day on a cruise ship is filled with endless amounts of excitement. From getting to explore the ship for the very first time, to grabbing a drink on the pool deck, to checking out all of the food options onboard–there’s a lot to see and do. For first-time cruisers, embarkation day can also be a bit overwhelming. Most of the time, staterooms aren’t immediately ready for guests to enjoy. Instead, they have to wait for an announcement to be made for when the rooms are indeed ready, and this usually happens about 2 hours after boarding.
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I’ve experienced over 200 embarkation days in my life–thanks to working as a crew member on multiple cruise lines. As an entertainer onboard, I was able to enjoy all of the same perks that the guests did, almost as if I was a guest myself. One thing that always stuck with me, however, was that embarkation day was always a bit intense.
There’s one place on the ship that I always personally avoided on embarkation day, and would often recommend that guests do the same. You may be surprised by this secret tip–but trust me, it’s going to make your embarkation day much more enjoyable.
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@no.ships.given
There is nothing more jammed-packed than a cruise ship buffet on boarding day! Try to skip it all together and find a secondary dining option. ?️ We usually like to hit up Sorrentos pizza on @royalcaribbean for a quick lunch on embarkation day. ? #noshipsgiven #cruise #cruising #cruisetok #cruiseship #cruises #cruisetip #tipoftheday #cruisecontent #alwaysbebooked #traveltok #travel #cruisevacation #embarkationday #cruisingtips #cruiseadvice #traveltips #cruiser #cruisingcontent #cruiseshiplife #sorrentospizza #cruisebuffet
♬ Beautiful - Soft boyIn a TikTok created by That Cruising Couple, an account of a couple who are constantly sailing on cruise ships, they share an important tip for embarkation day. In the video, they explain that the buffet on embarkation day is incredibly crowded. This is because everyone heads straight up to the buffet once they board the ship. After traveling, people are incredibly hungry, plus they’re excited to see what the food offerings are on the ship. Especially since staterooms aren’t usually ready right away, guests think they have nowhere else to go except the buffet.
As a crew member, I was often told by personnel onboard to avoid the ship’s buffet on embarkation day if possible. For the few times that I did brave the masses and go, I immediately regretted it. Many guests are carrying around their carry-on luggage or large backpacks, making the already crowded buffet area even more cramped. And since the guests don’t know their way around the ship and how things flow yet, traffic jams and human pile-ups are common to see.
For most cruisers, this experience is the complete opposite of what they’re hoping for for their cruise vacation. Nobody wants chaos and stress the second they board the ship, and that’s what you’re going to experience if you head up to the buffet with everyone else. So, do yourself a favor, and skip out on the buffet on that very first day.
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Where To Eat On Embarkation Day Instead
You’re most likely thinking, “I’m always starving on embarkation day, I need to eat!” And that is completely valid. What most people don’t realize is that most ships have many other options beyond the buffet to grab a bite to eat on embarkation day. For larger cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Princess or Carnival–you can easily check the company’s app on your phone. Each line has an easy-to-use application that will show you which dining venues are open and when.
Photo by Jeff Greenberg on Getty Images
I personally recommend heading to one of the main dining rooms on embarkation day. Many cruise lines have this option available for lunch, and it will create a much more calming atmosphere for your first moments onboard. Many guests don’t know about this option, so the dining room will be very quiet and not crowded. Plus, the food that you can choose from in the dining room will be top-tier–starting off your voyage with an impressive and delicious meal.
If you’re carrying around small pieces of luggage while you wait for your stateroom to be ready, you won’t have a problem with them in the dining room. Instead of fighting for a seat at the buffet, you’ll have your very own table to relax and keep your things in the dining room. Then, when the rooms are announced to be ready, you can leisurely finish your meal and head up when you’re ready.
Related: 7 Cruises Superfans Can’t Wait to Book in 2026 and Beyond, According to a Cruise Expert
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