Planning

Looking for the best cruise deal and aren't sure where to start? You've come to the right place! 

While your first instinct might be to try and book through the cruise line, other options exist. From third parties to travel agents, each has its own pros and cons. Who doesn't want to save money and potentially score free onboard credit to spend on the ship?

It's important to understand the terms and conditions, though, as some may have less flexible cancellation policies. 

Here are the best ways to book your next cruise. 

While one of the major appeals of booking a cruise vacation is the convenience, there's a lot of planning that goes into it before stepping foot onboard. 

From validating your passport to making travel arrangements, booking pre-cruise add-ons, and completing the online check-in, you're likely to have your cruise in the back of your mind for weeks leading up to the actual sail date. 

Rather than saving important tasks until the last minute, we've created the best pre-cruise planning checklist to ensure that you don't miss any steps! 

The Caribbean is one of the most popular year-round cruising destinations and for good reason! You're promised breathtaking beaches, delicious cuisine, and fun excursions no matter what region you sail to. 

Thankfully, Caribbean cruises are a wonderful vacation for the majority of the year. If, however, you're seeking ideal travel conditions, some times of the year should be avoided, as you do not want to be disappointed once your vacation has started. 

When you book your cruise, you'll often have the option to select the exact cabin you want to stay in. Before you can choose which deck you want to stay on, however, you need to choose the stateroom category. 

Interior staterooms tend to be the cheapest onboard, as they have no windows. Next are ocean view rooms. While you won't have a personal verandah, you will have natural light and be able to look at the passing scenery. 

If you are planning a cruise onboard one of the most modern and innovative cruise ships at sea, you might have the option of booking an infinite veranda. Before jumping onboard (literally), it is important to know that these are different than traditional balcony staterooms that you are probably used to. 

Whereas standard balconies have a door that opens up to a personal outdoor veranda, infinite verandas are designed to bring passengers closer to the ocean by essentially turning the entire stateroom into a balcony. 

Booking my first cruise opened my eyes to a few lessons I never would have known before trying Royal Caribbean, and I was surprised by just how much I learned about cruising before embarking on my trip!

I booked my first-ever cruise on Wonder of the Seas, which was the largest cruise ship in the world at the time. This record now belongs to Icon of the Seas. This massive ship measures 250,800 gross registered tons! 

Now is the perfect time to start planning your 2024 cruise vacation if you haven't done so already. 

Whether it's for your child's spring break in March, a family vacation in July, or a holiday sailing in December, booking a cruise at the beginning of the year gives you something to look forward to.

It's not too late to book your 2024 cruise vacation. Whether you're hoping for a quick getaway to The Bahamas or a dream cruise around Europe, the best time of the year to book a cruise is now while wave season is ongoing. 

Wave season is when the cruise industry tends to run their biggest sales and promotions of the year. While actual deals and conditions vary, wave season deals tend to include anything from additional onboard credit, free upgrades, discounted excursions, prepaid gratuities, etc. 

When planning for land-based vacations, you often do not have to think twice about bringing a steamer or whether there'll be an iron available to you or not. Cruises, however, are different. 

In addition to simply being more prepared with common household items that won't be readily available while you are on a ship, there's a list of items that cruise lines ban from their ships. Both steamers and irons are on many cruise line's lists of prohibited items due to the fire hazard that they pose.