The most beautiful ports and the must-do trip are all mentioned.

For many vacationers, taking a cruise is a skill that must be honed over many years of intensive sailing. Finding the cruise lines that best fit your travel preferences, packing smartly, and the finest areas to hang out on board are just a few of the insights that have been refined through many journeys.

Less experienced cruisers shouldn't feel left out, though. We asked Regent's Seven Seas Splendor general manager Franck Galzy, a cruise specialist, for his top cruise advice to assist customers plan for their first or subsequent vacation.

Galzy has more than 20 years of experience working on cruise ships. As the head sommelier, I started working for Regent Seven Seas Cruises 22 years ago, recalls Galzy. I climbed the ladder of [the ship's] hotel management over the past 20 years, moving up from Head Sommelier to Controller, Provision Master, Maître D, Food and Beverage Manager, and General Manager.

In addition to managing "several unique activities on the most magnificent trips, including our World Cruises," Galzy has served as a major planner for hundreds of passengers and crew over the past 12 years.

Here are five suggestions from Galzy to remember before boarding a cruise ship. Check out Condé Nast Traveler's comprehensive guide to planning your first cruise for more tips on setting sail.

What was the most enjoyable place you ever traveled to as a crew member?

Asia has been my favorite place to travel while working, said Galzy. “You are spoiled for choice in Asia, from the friendliness of people who have a true joy for life and the mouth-watering culinary specialties to the vast assortment of the hectic metropolis with towering skyscrapers and quiet laid-back islands.”

Cruises to Asia are now starting up again after being put on hold following the outbreak of Covid for a considerable amount of time. A few of the more notable itineraries for 2023 include excursions that focus on the region's largest cities, including Taipei, Hanoi, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Singapore, as well as serene cruises that visit temples and serene beaches in Thailand and Indonesia.

Galzy claims he enjoyed his stay in Asia so much that he moved to Bali and has been there for the past six years.

Cruise advice, from a crew member who's spent 20 years at sea https://t.co/n740f1S95z pic.twitter.com/FhItAFEGx8

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What is the most beautiful port you have ever entered by boat?

According to Galzy, the port of Bordeaux in France is one of "the most gorgeous, lovely places I have had the pleasure of sailing into." Cruisers will want to make sure they're on deck to take in the view when docking at the city, which is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its Gothic and Romanesque structures perched right on the water's edge, as well as the region's numerous chateaux and vineyards.

Where on the ship are the views the best?

First-time cruisers might be tempted to climb to the top deck in search of the ship's greatest sights. Galzy contends that it is the contrary. "The best views are from the middle of the ship," he says. You can see the water from lower, more central decks, and you have a higher chance of observing marine life like jumping dolphins, which sailors take to be a good omen. The Seven Seas Splendor, which is Galzy's ship, has a wide atrium, a cocktail club, the restaurant Pacific Rim, which is a favorite of passengers, and an infinity pool off the aft deck with unobstructed views of the ship's wake, the ocean, and the sun setting.

What is your best advice for packing for lengthy maritime voyages?

The enjoyment of a cruise may depend on your packing choices. According to Galzy, travelers should concentrate on folding their clothing to prevent wrinkles and carry “a good book to read poolside or before night.”

Since irons are not permitted in cabins, packing for a cruise must take care to prevent wrinkles (and the cost of laundering and pressing clothes can be exorbitant). Cruisers who want to avoid looking rumpled know to unpack as soon as they enter the ship and to bring wrinkle-release spray. Additionally, some regular travelers carry over-the-door organizers to make the most of their closet and storage space. A reusable water bottle, a raincoat, and a travel plug adaptor are other must-haves for a cruise.

In addition, many cruise ships feature lending libraries where passengers may obtain different reading material, from thrillers to historical biographies and travel books about forthcoming destinations. So don't worry if you forget your book or don't have a place in your bag for a bulky tome.

Which cruise excursion must be taken by every cruiser at least once?

Even though some seasoned cruisers forego shore excursions in favor of using ship amenities like the spa or pools when there are fewer people around, some trips, in Galzy's opinion, are essential. One that each traveler ought to choose? Al-Khazneh sometimes referred to as the Treasury building, is a Jordanian city called Petra and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. "I suggest riding up to the temple in the "Indiana Jones" fashion!"