I've spent 55 days at sea on five different cruise lines within the past year, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney.
My voyages took me everywhere from the Bahamas to Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Greek Isles. Sailing on various lines also meant the onboard experience varied.
Even as a frequent cruiser, I learned something from each trip. Here's some cruising advice I'm applying to my 2025 travels.
No longer going to assume last-minute deals are a thing of the past
I typically advise against last-minute cruises. Because of the demand for cruising, sailings are selling out further in advance, leaving cruise lines with little inventory in the weeks leading up to departure. Plus, I've found that last-minute airfare can negate the cost savings of a cheap cruise. Overall, I'd much rather have time to plan my cruise in advance than bank on a last-minute sailing.
However, after paying just $417 for a last-minute 4-night cruise aboard Allure of the Seas in November, I plan on keeping my eye out for deals, rather than assuming they're something from the past. The cheap cruise fare worked well because I used credit card points to help cover the otherwise expensive airfare. Had I paid for my flight out of pocket, they would have cost more than the cruise fare!
Of course, the key to great last-minute cruises is flexibility. If you have to move mountains at the last second to make it work, you likely won't have a stress-free experience, and that's what vacation is all about! While I won't swear off last-minute deals, I won't bank on finding one that works with my schedule. If it happens, that just means I get to spend more time on a cruise ship, which is better than being at home!
Book more specialty dining
Like with last-minute cruises, I wasn't completely sold on specialty restaurants. With so much food included in the cruise's cost, why spend even more money? However, I ate at more specialty restaurants than ever before in 2024, and have to admit I enjoyed how it added to my cruise experience.
From the first-ever restaurant inspired by Romero Britto aboard Sun Princess to Daniel Boulud's upscale restaurant on Celebrity Ascent, each experience was worth the cost and convinced me that there's a reason specialty restaurants come with an extra price tag. Not only was the food's quality better than the complimentary joints, but the atmosphere was intimate and felt more akin to land-based restaurants at home, rather than massive cruise ship dining rooms that can be noisy and overstimulating.
Now, dining in specialty restaurants is a must-do on each sailing. In fact, I booked my first-ever specialty dining package for my cruise aboard Icon of the Seas in April and am looking forward to unlimited sushi, premium cuts of steak, fresh pasta, and more.
Read more: I ate my way through a luxury cruise ship. These are the 6 dishes I'm still thinking about
Eating at the buffet on embarkation day
Though most frequent cruisers advise against eating in the buffet on embarkation day, I used to look forward to it. It's one of the first moments where you feel the excitement of the cruise unfold, especially if you're a foodie like me. While the food is rarely worth writing home about, it's fun to see the variety offered, from fresh salads to Indian dishes and more.
Now as someone who has taken over 20 cruises, the buffet's magic has worn off a bit. I still love to visit at least once on a cruise, but I'm less likely to venture to the buffet on embarkation day because it's so crowded.
For example, when I sailed aboard Disney Magic, I was surprised to see the line to enter Cabanas stretching out to the elevator lobby shortly after it opened. The chaotic buffet wasn't a great start to our 3-night cruise, and I wish we had decided to eat somewhere else like the Duck-In Diner or Daisy's De-Lites.
Read more: 10 things you should never do at a cruise ship buffet
Depending on the cruise line you're sailing with, you might be able to kickstart your vacation with a leisurely lunch in one of the specialty restaurants, which is what my dad and I did on our Alaska cruise! Instead of going to the Windjammer Marketplace on Quantum of the Seas, we pre-booked lunch at Jaime's Italian and enjoyed a peaceful three-course meal.
Avoid tourist trap restaurants
I've never been much of a fan of chain restaurants. However, when sailing on Carnival Elation, my partner—who is relatively new to cruising—wanted to try a popular restaurant in Nassau: Señor Frog's.
It's hard to miss the colorful and loud restaurant known for its lively atmosphere. Since we were on a spring break cruise to the Bahamas, it felt like the perfect spot to immerse ourselves spring break vibe.
The experience was exactly what you'd expect from a tourist hotspot with loud music and drunken patrons dancing around. Moreover, the food was just as bland (and expensive) as I anticipated. The meal cost over $80—a ripoff considering drinks were oversized and surgery, while the food was underwhelming.
Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina would have been better, and both had already been paid for in the cost of our cruise! I don't plan on returning to any tourist trap restaurants in 2025, even if the "vibe" is fun. I'd rather try something more local to appreciate the destination's culture.
Read more: What to do in Nassau, Bahamas cruise port
Sticking with the same cruise lines isn't worth the loyalty perks
My family primarily cruised with Royal Caribbean and Disney growing up. As such, I used to believe that, even as an adult funding my own vacations, sticking with the same cruise lines year after year would be the key to unlocking the best loyalty perks. After a few years of continuing to sail with Royal Caribbean, I realized loyalty benefits aren't worth limiting yourself to one or two cruise lines.
Each line, whether Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, MSC, or Celebrity, has its unique experience. Carnival, for example, is known for its "FUN" ships, while Celebrity offers a more upscale atmosphere focused on craft cocktails, fine dining, and worldly destinations.
I sailed with Celebrity, Carnival, Princess, Disney, and Royal Caribbean in 2024, and have voyages planned on three new-to-me lines in 2025. I'm looking forward to exploring what makes Norwegian, Margaritaville at Sea, and Virgin Voyages appealing, and who knows—I might fall in love with one of them!
In addition to the onboard experience, broadening your horizons to new cruise lines can also open up new itineraries and regions. For instance, though Carnival is one of the leading lines sailing to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, you'll find more itinerary variety with other lines when looking for European cruises.
Underestimating the heat
As a year-round cruiser, I'm no stranger to summer heat. I always take precautions to ensure I don't overheat when cruising during the summer. However, on my first-ever Greek Isles cruise, I learned just how intense the heat is when you aren't lounging on the beach all day.
The combination of soaring temperatures (which remained in the 90s during our trip in July), relentless sun, and the active schedule made for a much more challenging experience than expected. In places like Santorini and Mykonos, the midday heat was particularly fierce, making long walks through cobbled streets draining.
Looking back, the heat was the worst part of our trip. In the future, my partner and I agreed that Europe isn't somewhere we'd be willing to cruise in the summer again. Instead, we'd rather wait until the shoulder season when there are fewer crowds and the temperatures are more favorable.
Older ships are hit-or-miss
I cruised on three cruise ships built in the late 90s in 2024: Carnival Elation, Vision of the Seas, and Disney Magic. My experiences on the latter two were more positive compared to my 5-night cruise on Carnival Elation. While wear and tear on ships over 20 years old is inevitable, Vision of the Seas and Disney Magic seemed to have been better maintained.
While there's something to appreciate about older, smaller ships (i.e., the intimate atmosphere and nod to an older era of cruising), they're not my favorite. I much prefer the newer vessels with seemingly endless dining and entertainment options. After one day of lounging by the pool, I'm ready for something more engaging.
As a foodie, I find older ships lack the variety that makes cruising so unique. While all ships have a buffet and main dining room, I also enjoy trying specialty restaurants. I was especially disappointed with the variety of the food on Carnival Elation, which only had two specialty restaurants: a to-go sushi counter and Chef's Table.
While older ships are sometimes ideal for their price and itinerary, I'm going to approach them with caution moving forward.
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.
