As this is the end of my regular blog spot I thought I would use the theme to write about the end. This time though of a cruise – in fact the last night.

And what better please to begin my research then a Google for “Cruise” and “Last Night”….but as details of Tom Cruises’ sex life start to emerge, I realise that there has to be another way to begin.

Picture the closing hours of a great holiday afloat, new friends have been made, you feel healthy, happy and well travelled, but know that quite soon a more mundane lifestyle will be yours again. It is vital to make the very best of the last few hours, although I know I am always a little sad that the whole experience is coming to an end.

First it is really well worth going to the show; most cruise companies save the very best for the last night and make sure that it is suitable for the whole family. I missed it once and then heard everyone saying how great it had been.

There is no need to worry about forgoing a meal as there are always two performances to accommodate dining sittings. Then there is the banquet itself. Again an extra special effort is made, both with the food and often too with the unexpected entertainment on show. (All I’ll say here is that you may now see your waiter/waitress in a completely new light!)

Come armed with mobiles or even old-fashioned pen and paper to take down friends’ email address and phone numbers, and to write down yours. Bring your camera too. Just to be sure. After all it takes a minute to say hello and can take forever to say goodbye? I made some really good friends on one occasion and ended up in Dallas with the family a few months later.

The disembarkation procedures vary from ship to ship but a time will have been agreed for bags to be packed and left outside the cabin with their given coloured labels, and all hand luggage will need to have been sorted too. It is quite common for people to travel home in completely unsuitable clothes, as it can be difficult to think what the weather is likely to be for the journey. Take it from me, coming off a plane in shorts when there is a heavy fog in Heathrow does not amount to too many Brownie points!

Make sure that all passports have been picked up from the front desk, bills paid and mobiles charged up so you are not travelling without a means of communication or identification.

A Custom Declaration Form has to be filled in and given in on disembarkation.

Then there is the perennial question of tipping; who and what to give? Remember that it is not mandatory but put there to show that you are satisfied with good service. It can be a little embarrassing and many lines now include it in the final bill while with others it is not necessary to worry at all, as gratuities are reflected in the original price. Of course there is always some planning involved in physically having enough money on the last day to cover this cost. Although change can be given on board, queuing up to get some at the information desk may not be the best way to spend the precious last hours.

With all this sorted, it is off to find the nearest party, talk to friends, take a stroll round the ship, look at the wonderful views out to sea, have fun and decide if and when you are ever going to get any sleep!

Lucy Daltroff

Posted in Cruising