Over the past 10 years, I've spent 253 days at sea. First-time cruisers need to do these 6 things as soon as they board.

When it comes to cruising, safety is the most important thing. That's why I recommend finding the muster station — where passengers meet if there's a ship-wide emergency — as soon as possible.

Some ships may also have other requirements, such as watching a safety video after boarding. If that's the case, it's a good idea to review this information as soon as possible.

Plus, you'll want to find out where your life jackets are located — before you need them.

It can be tempting to run out and enjoy everything the ship has to offer, but I always unpack as soon as my luggage has arrived.

Unless I splurged on a larger room, it's likely the cabin won't be big enough to leave all my bags piled around.

Plus, I never want to have to come back tired to find my bed covered with stuff.

On typical cruises, each cabin gets a room steward or attendant who's assigned to keep the room clean, grab extra towels and toiletries, and arrange to have anything that's broken fixed.

When cruising, mine usually becomes my best friend. If they don't come to the room to introduce themselves, I like to keep an eye out for them in the hall.

Knowing my steward has come in handy in the past, especially after I've locked myself out of my room, and my kind attendant helped me get back in.

When I first started cruising, I figured out the ship's layout as I went along. However, this meant I missed out on some of the offerings and amenities on board.

For example, I was on my fourth sailing on the same cruise line before I learned that most of the ships had a sauna — something I definitely would've gotten use out of on my Alaskan cruise.

Now, my partner and I have a routine when we get on board: We walk the entire ship to make sure we know what's available. This also gives us the opportunity to pick out the best sections in the theater, choose the nicest bars, and locate the gym.

Plus, it makes it easier to find each other later when we're off doing our own thing. It's easy to get lost on a ship, so taking some time to get acquainted with the layout is important.

In my opinion, one of the best parts of a cruise is definitely the food. Most ships have several options, some of which are free and others that cost extra. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the best options to fit your preferences and dietary restrictions.

Plus, in my experience, the buffet tends to get crowded, so I like to look for alternative seating options by the pool or even on an upper deck ahead of time.

During your sailing, you'll likely receive announcements about onboard activities, special offers, and safety alerts.

Depending on the cruise line, this information may come in the form of a daily newsletter, loudspeaker announcements, a mobile app, or some combination of the three. Information about how to stay in the loop will likely be in your room when you arrive.

Schedules change, things happen, and you don't want to miss out on new opportunities, especially if the ship has to cancel a port.