When I booked a cruise in Europe, I deliberately planned to arrive a few days early so that I could have a more enjoyable cruise experience.
Cruise experts always recommend arriving at least a day before the cruise starts, but this tip is primarily to ensure you don't miss your cruise due to a travel delay. While this is wise advice, there's another really good reason to arrive early.
If your cruise is heading out of an area of significant cultural and historical significance (sorry, Port Canaveral), you'll probably want to explore the area on land as much as you want to make sure you don't miss the ship.
My 7-day France and Spain cruise on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas was scheduled to depart on a Sunday, but I flew on Thursday night so I could spend a few days in London before the cruise began.
My main reason for arriving two days early was the cruise, but the opportunity to see London was just as important. Looking back, I made a few mistakes along the way that I won't repeat on my next visit.
Don’t start with jet lag
Probably my biggest concern before my trip was that I would suffer from jet lag and that this would ruin my cruise.
No matter what strategy you use to combat jet lag, the more time you have to adjust to the local time, the better your chances are that jet lag won't disrupt your cruise travel plans.
Unfortunately, it was not possible for me to sleep on the plane on this trip. I read, listened to music and watched movies. I tried – and failed – to fall asleep.
Since I booked this cruise as my main reason for traveling, I was more interested in making the most of the cruise than my time in London. Although I would have been disappointed to miss the time in London, it was always a bonus to my trip overall.
Having not slept at all on the flight out, I stayed awake all day in England and didn't go to bed until after 36 hours of wakefulness. It wasn't easy, but I felt like I had avoided the worst of the jet lag and on the morning of my cruise I was ready to leave.
Even if you ignore all the advice about jet lag, taking a few days to sleep in and prepare will make your cruise better.
Mistake: By train from the airport
I did quite a bit of research on how to get around London before my trip, and many of the YouTube videos I watched advised me to take the train between London Heathrow Airport and the city.
I think this is a mistake, as it is inconvenient, difficult and a huge pain to get on the train with large (and heavy) luggage.
Not only do you have to pull your luggage over long distances, you also have to cross stairs and platforms, which is not easy with a lot of luggage.
The tip for saving money is spot on, but is aimed more at backpackers or travelers with hand luggage.
The only consolation was that I was traveling alone, because if I had tried to do this with my family, it would have resulted in many tears of disappointment.
If you have large luggage, I advise you to spend extra on an Uber, ride-hailing service or taxi.
Tourist traps and the real bargain
If you read enough articles and videos about what to do in London, you'll find a lot of assumptions about what's worth your time and what's not, and I inevitably found myself weighing up the pros and cons of each activity.
Part of my strategy for not falling asleep on my first day in London was to get out and explore. I knew I would just fall asleep in my Airbnb accommodation, so I deliberately went out and walked around.
The biggest problem, in my opinion, is choosing what you want to do and how to see the most of the sights without falling into tourist traps.
Of course, everyone wants to see Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the like. The problem is the incredible crowds that are there almost all day.
I found it best to take a leisurely stroll around the area so I could see them and take photos, but didn't necessarily have to do a guided tour. In my opinion, the most remarkable thing about them is that you can say you saw them and took a photo. What's more memorable is the hallways, portraits and artifacts inside.
This probably sounds like a cold approach, but I wanted to make the most of my time and see more.
I came across a great tip for an alternative to the hop-on hop-off buses. These bus tours cost around £40 per person, but you can hop on the number 11 bus instead for just £1.65 per person and the tour passes many of the main attractions in central London.
I also took the time to walk along the south bank of the Thames, where you can get great views of the main attractions.
You can take inexpensive boat tours or take a leisurely stroll. On the walk between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge you can see:
- LondonEye
- The Shard
- London Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges
- Southwark Cathedral
- London County Hall
- Shakespeare's Globe
- Royal Festival Hall
- Parliament building
- Westminster Abbey
- Tower of London
There is so much to see in the London area, so I found it beneficial to take in the sights as I passed by.
Mistake: Not prioritizing outdoor activities when the weather is nice
The cliche that it's always cloudy and rainy in England isn't far from the truth, so make the most of the nice weather when you can.
On my first day in London I had almost perfect weather. It was mostly sunny, the temperature was pleasant and there was a nice breeze. It was very pleasant to be outside and walk around.
Although I did a lot of walking along the Thames, I wish I had spent more time prioritizing outdoor activities I could do the next day.
The second day was mostly rainy, and no matter how motivated you are to see the sights outdoors, whether it's raining or the sun is shining, being outside in the rain is awful.
I recommend making a list of things you want to see and do, and doing lots of outdoor activities when the weather is nice, and saving museums and shows for rainy days if possible.
Mistake: Taking the stairs at Covent Garden station
196 steps or the elevator, and I thought taking the stairs up wouldn't be so bad.
What was I thinking, taking the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator?!
Despite the staircase error, Covent Garden is a fun place to visit. I loved the many different vendors selling all kinds of souvenirs.