10 Tips for First-Time Cruisers

By Brooke Franco

Before you head out on your first cruise, check out these great tips! - *Photo by Canva*

There’s nothing more exciting than going on your first cruise! You will soon learn that the cruise experience is unlike any other vacation you will ever take.

To help guide you in the right direction, we pulled together our top ten tips for first-time cruisers. These tips range from your first steps of planning and booking the trip to what to consider when getting ready for the voyage to tricks that all seasoned sailors do when they board a cruise ship.

1. Do Research Before You Book

In cruising, planning ahead is key. By spending just a little extra time doing your homework, you will likely find your ideal ship, itinerary, and the best price on your preferred sailing.

The first thing to research is what kind of cruise line best suits your taste. Certain lines are better geared toward families, while others cater to couples and older adults. Cruise lines vary in levels of service and inclusions, so it's important to understand the options and inclusions in the upfront pricing versus what you pay extra for onboard. Our Cruise Lines advice page is a good place to get started to learn about the differences between mainstream, premium, and luxury lines.

After you’ve selected your cruise line, it's time to find the perfect ship. One of the first things you will want to look at is the size of the ship, meaning how many passengers it can hold. Some lines offer mega-ships with a capacity for 6,000+ passengers, others offer smaller ships for a boutique experience, and some offer everything in between. No option is considered better than the other; it all comes down to your preference and the type of cruise experience you want. Our Ship Pages are a great resource for your research on cruise ships. Here, you can read about facts for each ship, as well as read the actual reviews of other cruisers who have previously sailed on the vessel.

Another important part of cruise planning is finding the right price for the sailing. By spending just a little time exploring pricing and deal options, you can save hundreds or even thousands on your cruise fare. Cruiseline.com is a wonderful resource for cruise deals on sailings from all cruise lines. We track the prices for thousands of cruises and provide a one-stop destination for travelers to view deals in one location. Use this guide that features all the top ways how to save big when booking a cruise.

2. Don't Overpack

We know you want to pack that fourth and fifth pair of sandals, but do you REALLY need them?

First-time cruisers might not realize that space in a cabin is limited, so you will want to keep the amount of clothing and other items you bring to a minimum. Shopping and picking out a wardrobe for your first cruise is exciting, but making a list can help prevent over-packing. Ask yourself if all the items on your list are things you must have for a seven-night trip.

We recommend several items to first-time cruisers to make your experience more enjoyable. These are items that seasoned sailors say make great additions to their cabin as well as save them money in onboard purchases. Check out our recommendations at Top 12 Packing Must-Haves for First-Time Cruisers.

3. Check Out the Ship - Before You Get Onboard!

Spend a few minutes before your cruise and take a ‘virtual’ tour of your ship. You can review deck plans and familiarize yourself with what’s onboard and what you want to check out. Our Ship Pages have deck plans where you can see everything on the vessel and where things are located.

Another great way to get a ship preview before sailing is to read cruise reviews. These reviews are an awesome resource to hear directly from other sailors who have cruised on your ship. Learn tips on dining recommendations, get a preview of the onboard activities/entertainment, and get suggestions from fellow sailors that you may otherwise not have known. Have a specific question about the ship? Each ship page offers a Q&A section where you can ask as many questions as you like and get answers from a fellow community member.

4. Pre-Reserve Dining, Entertainment, and Activity Options

One of the biggest rookie cruiser mistakes is missing out on dining experiences and other activities that get pre-booked and sold out before stepping on board. There’s not much you can do when these options are full, so we recommend pre-planning your time onboard and making reservations for as many things as possible before you set sail. Typically, these bookings are made with the cruise line via their app or website as part of your pre-cruise check-in process.

If there’s something you know you want to do onboard that requires a reservation or a restaurant you want to try, book it ahead of time if the option is available!

5. Plan Your Port Days

Port day planning is something sometimes overlooked by first-time sailors. What you do during your port day is up to you, just as long as you get back onboard the ship before the posted departure time.

Some of the best parts of the cruise experience come from trying once-in-lifetime activities or seeing world-renowned sites while in port. If you don’t do any planning, you could find yourself wasting time wandering aimlessly or not seeing all the destination has to experience.

Before you sail, search the destinations you are visiting and preview the highlights offered in each port. That way, you can plan your excursions around what you want to check out. Even if you want to do something as simple as sit on the beach and drink a margarita, you will want to do just a little bit of planning to know where to go and how to get there in relation to where the cruise port is located.

Our destinations and ports pages are a great place to start planning port days. These offer tips from other members who have visited the location on previous cruises and suggested excursions to check out from our verified partners.

All cruise lines offer port excursions, but a little research can save money by booking the same or similar excursion with a third-party provider. Just make sure they have a return-to-ship guarantee!

6. Make a Budget and Set Financial Expectations

Sometimes, new sailors do not realize that the cruise fare does not include all parts of the cruise experience. This may be true for several lines (especially with luxury/premium brands); however, you will find that most lines charge additional fees for things like beverages, wifi, some onboard experiences, spa services, and dining at certain eateries.

When you plan your first cruise, it's important to come up with a budget. Be sure to include not only the upfront cost of the cruise but also the extras so you aren’t surprised by a large bill at the end of the cruise. Some cruise lines, like Celebrity and Princess, offer packages at the time of booking, including specialty dining, gratuities, drinks packages, or other amenities. Additionally, some cruise lines may include these amenities as a booking incentive at certain times of the year. Be sure to compare cruise-only fares to more included fares versus purchasing items a la carte to determine the best value.

Tip: Work with a travel agent specializing in cruises to get all the best options and pricing.

7. Join a Roll Call

Cruiseline.com and the Shipmate app offer Roll Calls where you can meet fellow sailors who will be on your ship, even before you get on board. These Roll Calls are a great place to go if you have any questions or want to talk to other people who are as excited about the cruise as you are!

Find the Roll Call for your upcoming cruise here.

8. Explore the Ship First

This is a great tip for when you first get on board the ship. Walk around and explore, well, everything!

Some cruise ships are so large that you could spend your entire trip without visiting certain areas. We recommend taking a self-guided tour right when you board so you can see everything. You will have a better idea of where the amenities are that you want to check out and see what is at your disposal in the upcoming days of your vacation.

9. Check Out the Weather

Unfortunately, just because you are going on vacation doesn’t mean the weather will magically go away…

Even in the sunny Caribbean or the Mexican Riviera, rainstorms and even cooler days can happen. Checking out the weather before your departure is a great way to see if you need to pack an umbrella/poncho or an extra sweater. If bad weather is on the way during your cruise, it’s better to know ahead of time.

Tip: Unlike a land-based resort, cruise lines will move their ships to avoid bad weather like hurricanes. A last-minute change can affect the itinerary, but that is better than being in the path of a storm.

10. Bring a Carry On Bag for Embarkation Day

A surprise for many first-time cruisers is how their luggage arrives in their cabin. If you have larger suitcases and bags, they will be taken by official porters when you arrive at the terminal. The luggage will go through a security screening and then be loaded onto the ship, where cabin stewards will deliver it directly into your cabin. Checking luggage eliminates the hassle of lugging suitcases through the ship halls and elevators - not fun!

Note: It is customary to tip the porters anywhere from $1-3 per bag, so be sure to carry an assortment of smaller bills on embarkation day.

One of life's great mysteries is how long it takes for your checked bag to make its way to your stateroom. Suppose you need medications, sunscreen, things for the kids, or plan on taking a dip in the pool immediately as you arrive and want your swimsuit. In that case, we recommend you pack a small day bag you can carry directly onboard. You will have any needed items easily accessible and won’t have to wait for the checked luggage to be delivered.

In Closing

Bon voyage - we hope you have a fantastic cruise! When you get back, join the thousands of other community members at Cruiseline.com and Shipmate and come back to write a review about your cruise.