Expenses on a cruise can add up quickly, from when and how you book to the moment you step foot onboard and start swiping that key card. (Hint: The more poolside pina coladas you order, the easier it is to lose count.)

Some people refer to cruises as an all-inclusive vacation, and that’s not entirely true. Your cruise fare includes lodging, food, transportation, and entertainment, but you’ll find extra-fee exceptions in many of those categories. What’s included in your cruise fare can be confusing to first-timers, especially since the rules are not the same on every cruise line.

You can read the fine print of your cruise contract, but to make it easier, we’ve listed out by category what generally is and isn’t included in your cruise fare.

Picture this: You’re having such a good time at Senor Frog’s with your new friends and that third margarita that you lose track of time. Or maybe your tour bus gets stuck in traffic on the way back to the ship, which is something totally out of your control!

You're probably wondering whether a cruise ship will wait for you or not. Missing your cruise ship and getting stranded in a foreign port is one of the top concerns of first-time cruisers, and while the chances of the ship leaving you behind are low, it does happen.

Although it will likely be a long time before cruising returns to normal, several sailings have resumed for American passengers; now, more than ever, they are left wondering whether it's necessary to purchase cruise travel insurance.

What is travel insurance?

Sometimes, you are not in need of a large family vacation. The thought of trying to coordinate dinner plans or shore excursions might sound too stressful!

There's nothing wrong with wanting to get away by yourself for a little while with no schedule to follow and no mother-in-laws to please!

With that, though, you don't want to take a solo cruise that ends up being stressful, so you want to be prepared for your upcoming cruise by yourself. 

You have booked your voyage, and you are super excited. You have started making a packing list, and you have given a ton of thought to what you will do onboard and in port. But have you thought about the in-between?

If you are new to cruising, we will tell you all you need to know about the logistics of boarding your ship and heading ashore. Boarding a cruise ship is not like checking into a hotel! There are a few more steps that you should be aware of before you get to the terminal, so you are not hit with any major surprises. 

Cruise planning and research are head-spinning if you haven't done them before. From narrowing down a cruise line and ship to choosing a destination and booking shore excursions, it is important to know how to get started.

You've decided on a cruise for your next vacation, and you've narrowed down the destination, sailing date, ship and cabin type. What now? We'll lead you through the best way to book a cruise.

Cruise staterooms, also called cabins, come in a variety of options. Deciding between them can be confusing, so we've come up with a list of things to do to narrow down your search.

Your cabin will be your home away from home for the duration of your sailing. It's where you'll shower, sleep and relax between rounds of trivia, poolside lounge sessions and nightly dance parties, so you'll want to be sure it suits your needs.