Planning

Unlike a traditional hotel, you cannot just arrive at your cruise ship's terminal and expect to board whenever is convenient for you. 

Although hotels do have check-in times, they'll often allow you to store your luggage while you explore the area and wait for your room to be thoroughly cleaned. 

With cruise ships, however, if you arrive too early, you'll be stuck sitting in the terminal until it is your allotted boarding time. 

Is a balcony the right choice for you on your next cruise?

While not as expensive as suites, balcony staterooms are more expensive than interior and ocean view rooms. You might be wondering if they are worth the splurge or not. 

In the end, it depends on your vacation budget, needs, and preferences. Some may be able to justify booking a balcony cabin, while others would prefer stretching their vacation budget as far as possible by booking an interior stateroom. 

Sometimes, you may be presented with the opportunity to upgrade your cruise ship cabin. At first thought, why wouldn't you want to move from an interior room to an ocean view or from a balcony to a suite?

While some cruise lines will simply email you an offer, others -- such as Royal Caribbean -- allow you to place a bid for a nicer cabin. Usually, you will pay less for the nicer stateroom than you would if you were to book it outright. 

Whether you are planning a multigenerational family reunion with something for everyone or are hoping for a more upscale experience that strays away from the mega thrills found onboard some of the mainstream cruise lines, cruising is a popular vacation choice because there's truly the perfect cruise line and ship for every type of traveler. 

Packing for your first-ever cruise can be overwhelming! You want to make sure that you have everything that you will need without going overboard. 

Stateroom storage space is pretty limited, especially if you have three or four people sharing one cabin. If everyone packs too much, it is easy to run out of space and to create a cluttered "home away from home." On the other hand, you don't want to encounter a situation where you forgot a must-have item. 

These days, it seems like there's the perfect themed cruise for every traveler. Do you love Broadway and want to sail amongst Tony Award winners? Perhaps you are interested in Comic Con and want to cosplay at sea. 

While on most cruises, clothing is required, there are some sailings that encourage passengers to be comfortable in their own skin and show off their birthday suit. 

Have you ever wanted to take a clothing-optional cruise? If so, you might want to consider a nude cruise!

Congratulations on deciding to book your first-ever cruise! Like with any vacation, you will want to do enough research before placing a deposit. With over seven different mainstream cruise lines and 100 ships sailing worldwide, choosing your first cruise can seem overwhelming. 

When planning the perfect vacation, one of the most important aspects is your "home away from home." In the case of a cruise ship, this means your cabin. 

Choosing the perfect cabin requires a little bit more research than selecting a hotel room, especially when you know most hotel chains will assign your room upon check-in. Cruises are different in that you have the ability to select your exact room when you make your initial booking. 

When most people think of cruising, they think of a family vacation where they can create memories and spend time with loved ones. 

Cruises, however, make for a great solo trip, too! With so many scheduled activities, it is easy to show up and strike up a conversation with fellow passengers. Plus, you get to explore new places around the world, so you know you will always have something to talk about with others.