E-Tickets; the whats, whys and wherefores.....

Cruise E-tickets. Always a controversial subject and one of the most common complaints for modern cruisers, but why do they annoy so many people? After all airlines have been using e-tickets for years.
I think the problem stems from the perception ,(quite rightly), that many people have about cruising.
Cruising is stylish, sophisticated, elegant and luxurious so turning up at the port with a piece of paper you've printed out yourself just doesn't sit right with some people. Especially as it was only a few years ago when all the cruise lines where sending out ticket 'packs' to people that included luggage labels, excursion information and their tickets. Indeed some cruise lines even went so far as to send this information in a nice leather wallet that people could bring with them. But no more I'm afraid.

Timeline of a cruise; Booking to Packing

A lot of people get nervous about booking their first cruise, (or even there 50th), they're never sure what to do when; when they can expect flight tickets; their cruise tickets; how they get their luggage labels etc.
I thought some people might find it useful if I put together a time line of how the perfect cruise, (barring any problems), should proceed just so you know what you have to do/what you should expect and when.

Happy cruising