Congratulations on booking your very first cruise! Whether your sailing is two months from now or over a year away, we are sure that you are already beaming with excitement!

Now that the official countdown has begun, you are probably wondering what needs to be done before you leave for your trip. You do not want to get to the terminal unprepared! 

There are some universal things you should do to get ready for any cruise, no matter if you are escaping to the tropics or embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime Alaskan or Europe sailing.

Do you have an upcoming cruise and you’re looking to board your cruise ship as fast as possible? We can’t blame you - we always eagerly await starting our cruise vacations too!

There’s nothing worse than painstakingly waiting in a crowded cruise terminal. It can be frustrating to see everyone on the pool deck already having fun while you’re stuck in a barely-moving line, which is the opposite of fun.

Like with planning any vacation, you will benefit from learning a few things about cruises prior to booking one.

With over seven cruise lines and 100 ships sailing across the world, picking the right cruise as a first-time cruiser can seem overwhelming. 

You will first need to decide what cruise line is the right fit for you and your travel party. Once you at least narrow that down, you can start to look at what ports of call you would like to visit and on what ship. 

Dreaming of a cruise vacation but don’t have a passport or time to your current one renewed? There are a number of great cruise options to consider, which allow you to travel with other forms of identification. In other words, you do not always need a passport to go on a cruise and visit other destinations!

Heading off on an MSC cruise and wondering how you will find out about all the great things to do onboard  ? The Daily Program is the best tool to guide you through all the fun stuff to do on your cruise vacation. 

There are tons of details about every aspect of your cruise vacation - from the moment you board to when you leave, and everything in between. 

Thinking about taking a cruise but not sure if it is right for you?

Cruising comes in a variety of forms, some of which you may not have considered. Preconceived ideas about hoards of people and massive lives don't match up to the reality of cruising. There is a reason why millions of people cruise each year and why they keep coming back.  

Where to go, what cruise line, and the type of ship are all considerations in planning a great cruise vacation. 

My very first cruise was onboard the Disney Magic in 2005 when I was five-years-old. On the first night, my dad took me to a Cinderella meet and greet, and I made him return every night to see if she was there again (spoiler alert: she wasn't). 

It wasn't until 2014 that my family started to cruise more frequently. Growing up, my mother had some health issues that made most travel difficult. We loved cruising because she could rest during the day while my sister and I stayed active onboard. 

The last day of a cruise always seems to come so quickly. Many of us don't want to get off the ship but rather stow away for the next departure.

Good news though, with a little bit of planning, the whole process can be made a lot easier, letting you enjoy that last bit of your vacation without stress.

Avoid lines, get your accounts settled, and organize the important stuff, to make that last morning pain free.

Here are some of the best tips for a smooth end to your cruise vacation.