The day of your cruise has finally arrived. Unlike boarding a plane, ships let you on hours before departure. Here are a dozen things you should do:

1. Arrive ASAP. You are paying for a vacation. It starts at embarkation. Get on as early as they will allow. Let’s assume that’s about noon. Why? You are paying for your time on the ship. Maximize it.
2. Dropoff your luggage. This is pretty obvious. You have tagged your bags. The staff taking it from you likely has a checklist. Have them confirm the cabin number. You might have gotten a last-minute upgrade! You want your luggage to arrive at the right cabin.
3. Collect and check your luggage. You are now onboard. Your bags should follow shortly. Check them for damage. These people are professionals, but you would want to report any damage or tears to the Purser’s office ASAP, not waiting until the last day. Your luggage should be fine.
4. Completely unpack. This cabin is your home for the next 7 to 14 days. This isn’t business travel. Don’t live out of your suitcase. Put everything in the drawers and closets. It will feel more like home. It will look neat.
5. Stow the luggage under the bed. There should be enough space to slide your empty suitcases out of sight. The alternative is stacking them in the closet, which eats up lots of space.
6. Checkout the safe. You won’t need your passport, wallet, car keys or house keys. Why carry them around, so they can get lost? Lock them away for the duration. Jewelry goes in too.
7. Have lunch. It’s likely the buffet restaurant is in operation during embarkation. You probably haven’t eaten since breakfast. Head up and get something to eat. It’s the first meal of your vacation.
8. Time of the lifeboat drill. The ship’s program will be abbreviated, because it’s the day of departure. It will indicate the time of the emergency drill. It will also tell you where you need to be. This will help time your current and Sailaway activities.
9. Meet your steward. There’s a team looking after you for the voyage. They will likely seek you out. Treat them as equals. Use their first name in conversation. You want to connect a name to a face, because they will be making up your cabin and helping you in other ways.
10. Visit the dining room. Your cabin should have a seat assignment card. Take it to the dining room, which will likely be empty. Find your table. Why? Because it’s easier now than at the first night’s dinner when hundreds of people will be hunting for their tables. Also, if there’s something wrong with it, the maître ‘d is probably at their station. They can help.
11. Explore the ship. It’s a multi-storied building that goes out to sea! If you have time on your hands, take a walk around, going top to bottom. You’ll find great deck spaces that aren’t immediately obvious. Lots of bars and lounges too.
12. Use your cellphone. Call your friends. Check e-mail. Text. Once the ship leaves port and sails into open waters, you will be using the ship’s WIFI, not the fast broadband service you know and love. Don’t expect to make phone calls. There are no cell towers at sea. When you get into a foreign port, you might get cell service back, but remember those words “roaming charges may apply.” You are relaxing. You can unplug, checking e-mail only occasionally.

Arriving at the last minute comes with its own share of risks. You don’t want them to sail without you. Arrive early. Reduce stress. Start enjoying yourself.