The cruise industry is booming.   It’s continued to grow over the years, and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.   Over 31 million people cruised in 2023 with 35 million projected to sail in 2024!   Fleets are also expanding like crazy with new ships coming out every year.   With all the new and veteran cruisers setting sail, I thought it would be the perfect time to go over some first time cruise tips to help make your next voyage a success.

I’ve put together a range of quick tips from things to do before you sail to things not to do while your enjoying the ship and amenities.  Let us know if you have any other tips to share!

Cruising Do’s & Don’ts – First Time Cruise Tips

General –

:: Do pre-book your shows and speciality dining reservations.

:: Do complete your luggage tags and pre-cruise documents before getting to the port.

:: Don’t go on a European cruise line and expect American type cuisine and shows. And vice versa. Foods & activities are generally tailored to the region of travel.

:: Do choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship if you tend to get seasick.  For more ideas on cabins, I’ve previously shared “how to pick the perfect cruise staterooms for your family”.

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Picking which cruiseline to sail with and which itinerary suites your needs is hard enough without the added stress of having to pick the best stateroom category.  This decision can make even veteran cruisers sweat. My husband and I argue about this every time we cruise! Factors such as budget, size and location can help aid in this tough decision. To help new cruisers pick the best category, we’ve put together a list of pros and cons for each, as well as a comparison of sizes of NCL’s inside and balcony rooms. Hopefully these cruise vacations tips will help you pick the best stateroom category.

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Are you considering taking a cruise for your next family vacation? Great idea! Cruises offer some amazing value and choice for family vacations.

Although, deciding to take a cruise is only the tip of the iceberg. With so many options, you will want to make sure you pick the perfect cruise for you and your family. So getting everyone involved in the planning process is key. But, where do you begin?

Hopefully, our six simple steps on how to pick the perfect cruise ship for your next family vacation will help.

1. Decide on a Location

Most likely you are thinking of cruising to a tropical destination like the Bahamas or the Caribbean. While about a third of all cruise travel does occur in this region, cruise ships sail to destinations all over the globe, including Europe, Asia, and Australia. So, don’t limit your options just yet.

If you already know WHEN you want to cruise (e.g., in the summer), you can use that information to narrow down your destination as some areas of the world only offer cruises during specific months of the year. If you can travel any time of the year, you will have more flexibility on location.

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I have a friend planning her first cruise.  She was shocked to learn about all the “extras” she’d have to consider. She thought cruising was like an all-inclusive resort – just on the water. But that’s not really the case, with the exception of river cruises and luxury cruise lines.

The first thing to note is that it is possible to take a cruise and not spend a penny more than your cruise fare, taxes and gratuities. However, there are a lot of additional expenses you need to know about that can add up quickly. The good news is that you can purchase some of these add-ons in advance, as a package, to help alleviate the shock of a high shipboard account balance at the end of your cruise.

Cruise fares may seem quite high, but they do include almost everything you need for an awesome vacation. Your accommodations, transportation, food and entertainment are provided at one cost. When you breakdown everything that’s included, a cruise can be a budget friendly way to travel.

The cruise fare includes:

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