When booking a cruise, your budget is mainly impacted by the type of stateroom you choose to stay in. While inside cabins are the cheapest, these staterooms only have the necessities of a bed, bathroom, vanity, closet and couch/chair (if you're lucky!). 

On the other hand, you can splurge on balconies or suites if you’re looking to have a private veranda or more spacious stateroom. 

When looking to plan a cruise vacation, you are probably hoping to find a great deal on the initial cruise fare, as paying more than necessary may limit your onboard spending and restrict which cruise add-ons you can splurge on. Thankfully, with a little bit of research, you will find several tips that will aid in your efforts to find the best cruise deals available. 

This week I returned from my first solo cruise experience with Norwegian Cruise Line, aboard the Norwegian Encore. This was my second time sailing on one of Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Breakaway Plus Class ships, and I really enjoyed this quick 4-night sailing! 

Weeks before your cruise begins, you will have an important decision to make: when do you want to check-in for your cruise?

The online check-in process varies from cruise line to cruise line. Carnival's, for instance, opens up 14 days before your sail date, while Norwegian's opens 21 days prior and Royal Caribbean 45 days before.

During the process, each cruise line will ask you what time you would like to arrive at the port and begin the physical check-in process, which entails checking your travel documents and going through airport-like security. 

When you take a cruise vacation, you will be subject to pay gratuities, or crew member tips, that are rarely included in the base fare. 

They are divided amongst the crew members that help make your vacation memorable, including cabin attendants, dining and culinary services staff, the guest services team, and others who work behind-the-scenes. Without the hard work of the crew members, there is no way that your cruise would be possible. 

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (Ocean Cay) is MSC Cruises' private island in the Bahamas. Just 65 miles east of Miami, it is an idyllic secluded paradise and a frequent stop on many of the cruise line's Caribbean itineraries.