First Cruise Checklist for Canadians
A first cruise rarely goes wrong on board. When it does go wrong, it is usually in the months before: an expired passport, insurance bought too late, or a flight booked for the morning of sailing. Work through this list in the order the decisions arrive.
Your timeline at a glance
| When | Main jobs |
|---|---|
| 6 months or more out | Passports, book cruise, buy insurance |
| 3 months out | Flights, hotel, excursions, final payment |
| 1 month out | Restaurants, shows, money, medication |
| 2 weeks out | Online check-in, phone plan, packing |
| 2 days out | Carry-on, documents, travel to the port |
Six months or more before
Documents
- Check every traveller's passport expiry today. Aim for six months of validity past your return date, which some Caribbean ports expect.
- Renewal queues grow in spring, before summer travel, so allow several weeks.
- Children need their own passports. A parent sailing alone with a child should carry a signed consent letter. The passports, NEXUS and ID guide covers what counts.
Booking and insurance
- Book early for the best cabin choice, especially for March break or July and August, when Canadian families crowd the same sailings.
- Ask whether the deposit is refundable and note the final payment date.
- Buy travel insurance at deposit. Your provincial health plan covers very little outside Canada and nothing useful at sea. See travel insurance for Canadian cruisers.
Three months before
- Book flights that land the day before sailing. A Toronto or Montreal flight to Florida, or an Edmonton or Winnipeg flight to Vancouver, can be delayed by weather in any season.
- Book a hotel near the port for the night before.
- Make the final payment, usually 60 to 90 days before sailing.
- Book the two or three excursions you care most about. Whale watching, the White Pass railway and glacier flights sell out first.
One month before
- Reserve specialty restaurants and shows if your line opens bookings before sailing.
- Ask your pharmacist about a vacation supply of prescriptions. Keep medication in original packaging.
- Get some small US bills for porters and tips ashore.
- Check your credit card's foreign-transaction fee, since the onboard account bills in US dollars.
Two weeks before
- Complete online check-in: passport details, photo, payment card and arrival time. You will get your boarding pass and check-in window.
- Download the line's app and log in.
- Decide on a phone plan, or plan to use airplane mode at sea, as in cruise wifi and roaming for Canadians.
- Start packing from a list, such as the printable cruise packing list.
The last 48 hours
Your carry-on is the bag that saves trips. Checked luggage can take until evening to reach your cabin. Pack these in the bag you hold:
- Passports and boarding passes
- All medication
- Phone, charger and battery pack
- Valuables and the credit card linked to your account
- A swimsuit, a layer and a change of clothes
Check the weather at your departure airport, reconfirm your flight, and print a backup of your boarding pass. If you are sailing from Vancouver, the Canada Place boarding walkthrough shows what happens at the terminal.
Have a question about this? A licensed cruise expert can answer it for free — no booking required, no pressure.
Ask a cruise expert →The setup underneath it all
Most of this list gets easier when the booking itself is set up well: a refundable fare, flights with a buffer, insurance that matches the trip and any perks attached. For the money side, read first cruise mistakes that cost money before you pay the deposit.
Want this priced up for your dates? Speak to a licensed cruise expert — same price as booking direct, plus perks like onboard credit and prepaid gratuities the websites don't show. No fee, no obligation, and you can book online if you'd rather.
Get a quote or book online →Frequently asked questions
When should Canadians buy travel insurance for a cruise?
At or soon after you pay your deposit. Cancellation cover only protects you from the day the policy starts, and some Canadian policies give fuller cover, such as for pre-existing conditions, only if you buy within a few days of your first payment.
What documents do Canadians need for a cruise?
A valid Canadian passport for any sailing that visits or flies through another country, including Alaska and the Caribbean, plus the boarding pass from online check-in. Exotic itineraries may need visas, and a parent travelling alone with a child should carry a consent letter.
How much US cash should I bring on a cruise?
Onboard spending goes on your cruise account, so you mainly need small US bills for porters, taxis and tips ashore. Around US$100–200 per couple in fives and ones covers most week-long sailings.
More questions you might have
- MSC Cruises Kids Club Ages and Hours: What Parents Need to KnowMSC's youth program by age band — where under-3s fit, when teens split off, typical hours, and the paid evening option that buys parents a night out.
- Cruise Insurance in Canada: What It Covers, Costs and What to CheckWhy provincial health plans won't cover you at sea, what a cruise policy must include, card coverage gaps, typical costs — and the five clauses to check before buying.
- Do Cruise Ships Change Time Zones? Ship's Time and Jet Lag ExplainedWhy ships sometimes don't change clocks, the 'ship's time' rule that strands people in port, and how to beat jet lag on a fly-cruise.
- Cruise Wifi and Phone Roaming for CanadiansThe maritime roaming trap that bills by the megabyte, what ship wifi really costs and delivers, and the airplane-mode routine that saves hundreds.
- Cruising With Adult Children: Planning a Multi-Generation Trip Without KidsWhen "the family trip" means grown children and their own partners — cabin logistics, dining independence.
- Vancouver Cruise Ship Parking: Costs and Cheaper AlternativesTerminal rates, the off-site lots that halve the bill, and the hotel trick that makes parking nearly free for a week.
Booking essentials: Is It Cheaper to Book a Cruise Through a Travel Agent · What Are Expedia Extras on a Cruise Booking · Onboard Credit Explained and How to Get More · Cruise Line Policies Compared: 8 Lines Side by Side (2026)