Cruises are unlike any land-based vacation you will ever take. These floating cities have everything you need and more all in one place, which is why they make such great family vacations; they offer a little something for everyone!
Plus, if the ship is not enough of a destination in and of itself, you will be transported to different destinations across the world, anywhere from the snow-capped glaciers in Alaska, to the sunny beaches of the Bahamas and Caribbean, and even the culturally rich cities situated along the Mediterranean.
The onboard experience is different from what you would find at a hotel, too. There are some things that it's acceptable to do on a ship that would feel out of place on a land-based vacation.
Hide rubber ducks
Hiding rubber ducks is a cruising tradition that many love to participate in! It would be more difficult to successfully pull this off on land-- If you were to hide ducks in a random hotel, there's no way of knowing whether or not you would have other guests who would be interested in keeping the game going.
The whole idea behind hiding rubber ducks is that it is like a passenger-led game of hide and seek. Guests will bring ducks on the ship with them, and they often have a small tag attached with their name and where they're from. Some hiders will even include a QR code or social media hashtag, so that you are able to snap a selfie with the duck to share on social media.
When a duck is found, the finder can elect to either re-hide it or keep it as a souvenir.
There are Facebook groups for this, too! The original -- Cruising Ducks -- has gained over 200,000 members since it was founded in 2018. Their goal is to see how far the ducks travel throughout their lifetime.
It is an inexpensive tradition, with 30 assorted ducks only costing $20 from Amazon.
Read more: 21 best cruise gifts for someone going on a cruise ship
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Book a vacation over one year in advance
Booking a cruise as early as possible is crucial if you want to secure the best price, book a rare cruise ship cabin, or sail on a new ship. New sailings usually open up close to two years in advance, meaning that you might have a long vacation countdown!
At the time of writing, Carnival Cruise Line has sailings available to book through April 2025. Similarly, if you are interested in taking a cruise onboard an MSC ship, you can browse through itineraries as far in advance as November 2025!
It is rare to book a land trip that far in advance, especially since most hotel chains only let you make a booking one year prior. Similarly, you might have a cruise booked and have to wait until closer to the sail date to secure airfare.
The best prices for any cruise tend to be found right after the cruise line releases new itineraries. You will also have more stateroom options than if you were to book a last minute cruise. In other words, the further in advance you book, the more flexibility you have have in regard to the exact ship and itinerary you want, as well as the stateroom!
This will also give you more time to research each port of call and determine how you want to spend your time ashore. Do you want to book a shore excursion through the cruise line, or is there a third party operator that offers something that is more tailored to your interests? If you want until the last minute, you may not have many options!
Read more: What to know before booking a cheap cruise
Stay in a room with no windows
If you asked me to book a hotel room with no window, I would probably laugh! On a cruise, though, it is more common than you might think. While there's no denying that balcony cabins are a popular choice, interior rooms are great for those on a budget or who will not be in their room much.
Personally, I do not mind saving a little extra money and booking an interior room. Since the ship is often a destination itself, there is more than enough to keep me busy throughout the day, and I do not want to waste time in the cabin.
Even if I want to relax, I'd rather head up to the lido deck and find a comfortable pool chair. I can sit in bed at home.
These rooms come with the same standard amenities as every other cabin onboard, including a bed, vanity area, ensuite bathroom, safe, and storage.
Read more: I always stay in an inside cabin on a cruise ship. Here's why I actually like these rooms
Eat dinner each night not worrying about racking up an expensive bill
Whenever I go on land-based vacations, I am always thinking about sticking to my budget. At the beginning of the trip, I don't think too much about it. By the end, though, I am wondering if I should splurge on another appetizer or not.
When I am on a cruise, this is something that never crosses my mind! I can freely order whatever I want during dinner, whether that's two desserts or lobster on formal night.
Unless I opt to splurge on a specialty meal, it is possible to board the cruise and never get another bill for food. And since final payment is due prior to embarkation, it really feels like out of sight, out of mind!
Speaking of dining, can you imagine not having to worry about making dinner reservations? I am going to Disney World later this year, and securing times for the two "special" meals that we wanted was stressful. Thankfully, I booked with a great travel agent who was able to take care of everything-- I cannot imagine doing that on my own!
With traditional dining on a cruise ship, you will have the same dining time each night of your cruise. Plus, you will have the same wait staff. This allows them to provide a more personalized service, as they will get to know your preferences early on.
Read more: Are cruises all inclusive?
Decorate my stateroom door
Like with the rubber ducks, another popular cruising tradition is decorating your stateroom door.
It is a fun way to add some personality to your cabin since all doors look the same. While walking the hallways, it is not uncommon to see decor commemorating a special occasion, such as a honeymoon or wedding anniversary, graduation, birthday, etc.
Even if you are not celebrating anything, you can participate, too! Maybe it is your very first cruise and you want everyone to know. If you bought a drink package, you might want to warn your neighbors with a fun magnet from Amazon.
Adding something unique will make your stateroom easier to locate, too. You can simply can look for your special door. Plus, if you decide to use a whiteboard, you can leave messages for friends, family, or other guests. It's a great way to communicate if not everyone in your party has a cell phone and/or internet access.
Read more: Cruise Door Decorations: How to make your cabin door stand out
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
