Planning

Outside of the Caribbean and Alaska, the Mediterranean is one of the most popular cruise destinations, as you get to experience diverse cultures, try delicious food, and visit historic places!

While some European cruise lines sail the region year-round, most North American lines deploy their ships for a short season, usually spring through fall. You will not, for instance, find a Carnival ship in the Mediterranean in February. 

Florida has five cruise ports that see millions of passengers each year, all of which are within four hours of Orlando, where you can find eight major theme parks.

Looking to book a cheap cruise but do not know where to start?

Thanks to the internet, there are seemingly endless resources to help you plan a cruise vacation. There are ship tours on YouTube, Reddit forums, shore excursion reviews, Facebook groups, and more. These, however, do not really help when it comes to the initial booking process. 

When you are booking a cruise, you will notice that you oftentimes have the option to prepay your gratuities prior to the vacation itself. 

Gratuities are essentially just tips for the cruise staff. The total sum of all the passengers' gratuities are pooled together and divided amongst the ship's crew members, including stateroom attendants, dining and culinary services staff, the guests services team, and others who work behind-the-scenes to make your vacation memorable.  

There is no greater time to start planning your 2024 Alaska cruise vacation than right now! Whether you want a family-friendly Disney Cruise, more upscale experience on a Celebrity Cruises' Edge Class ship, or land based addition with a cruise line sponsored cruisetour, there's no shortage of ships and itineraries to choose from.

When you go on a cruise line's website to begin planning your vacation, you may notice that you have a wide range of dates to choose from. You can search from cruises departing the same month or over a year in advance. 

Most cruise lines release new sailings a couple of times per year. Royal Caribbean, for instance, opens up new books in the spring and fall. 

From picking the right cruise line and ship to booking shore excursions and other cruise add-ons, there is a lot that goes into planning your first cruise. 

While taking to friends and family that have sailed before can be helpful, the internet is also full of veteran cruises who are eager to share their best tips that they have learned over the years. 

Whenever first-time cruisers disembark the ship, they often express what they wish they had done differently to make their vacation a little bit smoother. 

St. Maarten, an island split between The Netherlands and France, is a popular cruise port on Eastern Caribbean itineraries. At 37 square miles, it is the smallest island in the world that is divided between two nations. The division dates back to March 23, 1648 with the Treaty of Concordia. 

Do you love 70s or 80s music, or maybe you are a huge Star Trek fan? A themed cruise might just be the ticket for you.

There is an incredible selection of themed cruises that let you enjoy your favorite hobby, sport, passion, or music for the ultimate cruise vacation. 

With famous bands, celebrities, and theme-related activities, it can be a wonderful way to combine a cruise vacation with something you love.  

Where to start? We look at some of the best options offered and everything you need to know to plan a fantastic themed cruise.