'I'm a cruise expert - this common mistake on the first day could see you refused access'

A top travel personality has urged all tourists getting ready to board a to during the first day of their trip, that could ultimately see them refused on board.

No matter how well-travelled a tourist is, the first day of a holiday is always an exciting one, particularly with - with passengers getting to grips with what will be their home for the next week or two.

However, in , Ilana Schattauer from the channel urged all tourists to be prepared for checking in by downloading or even printing off their boarding passes.

She advised: "Now, I have to say, I've made this mistake before. I downloaded the app and, lo and behold, when I was in the cruise terminal, the wi-fi was glitchy and I couldn't open it up on my phone.

"Luckily, my son had screenshoted our boarding passes, so it made it much easier for us. But, the best thing you can do is print them so that you can reduce any potential hassle."

The process experienced before boarding a cruise ship is very similar to that of an airport, with passengers needing to check in at the port's terminal with their passport and boarding pass.

Whilst most cruise lines now give passengers their pass via an email or smartphone app, Ilana warned that some ports may have limited phone signal or slow wi-fi, preventing them from loading up their boarding pass.

As a result, it is a good idea for guests to print their vital documents and keep them safe in order to have easy and guaranteed access whilst waiting to board the cruise ship.

Later in the video, Ilana urged all cruise passengers to pack their bags carefully - never putting essential items, including their passport, in their main suitcase, which will be checked in by a member of staff.

She added: "Luggage mishaps, unfortunately, can result in major issues on embarkation day, and this includes packing your passport or required identification in your checked luggage. When you arrive at your cruise terminal, you're going to have porters who take your checked luggage, which will be delivered to your cabin.

"However, if you leave your passport or ID in your checked luggage, this can and usually does result in being denied boarding. So, pro tip, make sure that you do have your passport and any other required identification with you, in your handbag, or carry-on bag."

Finally, once on board the ship, Ilana recommended that passengers get the necessary tasks out of the way first, including the muster drill - which will help guests know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency on board.

She continued: "Now, I used to go and have a drink before we did our muster drill, but we've changed that over the last year, and now, the very first thing that we do is head over to our muster station and check in.

"You should also put your phone in aeroplane mode. Just like going on an aeroplane, you have to put your phone into the same mode when travelling on a cruise ship. It might surprise people because your phone will work when you're in the middle of the sea, but you're going to be using data and it's not usually going to be covered by your plan - your bill could be hundreds, if not thousands."