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Welcome guest writer Sarah Cinq-Mars! Sarah's a 5th-grade teacher based in North Carolina. When she isn't teaching or being taught the latest slang by her students, she's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, playing with her 12-year-old dog, or checking out the area's newest restaurants.

Since my first cruise in October 2023, I have sailed on five different cruise lines. 

Planning a cruise vacation is a long and thorough process, and it's easy to make mistakes that make you look like a rookie. 

I've been cruising since I was five years old. Two decades later, they remain my preferred way to travel. However, I've made a few silly mistakes that have impacted my cruise experience. 

Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of tips you need to know about to plan the best cruise. If you are trying to avoid looking like a first-time cruiser, don't make these 5 mistakes. 

As someone who cruises frequently, I can't always find a travel companion to accompany me on my adventures, so I've begun to embrace the freedom of solo cruising as a way to see the world. 

My solo travels have taken me everywhere from the Bahamas for short getaways to port-intensive European itineraries where I've explored renounced places like Rome, Italy; Valencia, Spain; and Aix-en-Provence, France. 

Today's mega cruise ships are engineering marvels. Onboard these floating cities, you can find anything from go-kart tracks to roller coasters, sky diving simulators, water parks, ropes courses, and more. 

On average, building a cruise ship takes 12 to 18 months, from the time the keel is laid to when the ship is launched. This, however, does not include the time it took to design the ship. That process could easily add another 2 or 3 years to the timeline, especially if it is a brand-new ship class. 

Before arriving at the cruise terminal, make sure you have a separate carry-on bag for essentials. 

The porter will assist you with your larger pieces of luggage, and you won't see them again until you are onboard. Likely, your suitcase won't be delivered until a few hours after you embark. 

As such, you don't want any important travel documentation, medicine, or valuable items stashed away in your luggage. It's common sense not to pack your cell phone or passport, but what about luggage tags?

Here are 27 items you should always pack in your carry-on bag!

Cruise ships are floating resorts packed with everything from multiple restaurants and bars to theaters, rock climbing walls, mini-golf courses, go-kart tracks, and surf simulators. Recently, however, cruise lines have been upping their waterslide game. 

In the past few years, popular mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian have introduced mind-blowing waterslides, transforming the top decks into aquatic playgrounds. 

Cruising is a unique and exciting way to travel because you can explore different places while enjoying the comforts of a floating resort. After spending the day ashore in places like St. Maarten, Skagway, and Mykonos, you return to the ship for a multi-course dinner in the dining room and lively entertainment. 

However, even the most seasoned travelers can make silly mistakes. One crew member, Lucy, took to YouTube to share common first-time mistakes she's witnessed passengers make. 

Cruise ships are a foodie's heaven. There's something for every craving, whether it's late-night pizza, a juicy steak, seafood, or salad for those looking for a lighter option. Plus, it's possible to not spend an extra dime on food—so long as you stick to the complimentary restaurants. 

That said, cruise lines aren't typically known for their high-quality food. While that's not to say you won't have delicious meals, not everything offered will be the same quality you would expect in fine-dining restaurants. 

While vacation is a time to kick back and relax, there are certain items you should leave at home. For example, many mainstream cruise lines have banned multi-outlet power strips and steamers due to safety concerns.