Advice & Tips

Planning a cruise can feel overwhelming. What's the best cruise line? What's the difference between an interior and an ocean-view stateroom? Should I book early or wait for last-minute deals? 

Today's cruise ships are like floating cities with non-stop entertainment, restaurants, and activities all available under one roof. 

I started cruising with my family when I was just 3 years old on the Big Red Boat by Premier Cruise Lines. Each year, my family would embark on a cruise together, typically over school holidays like spring break or Christmas. Years of cruising with my family slowly turned into a passionate love of international travel. Now, I’ve sailed on 53 cruises across six continents and visited more than 60 countries.

Regardless of whether you're exploring a new city in Europe, whale watching in Alaska, or sunbathing in the Bahamas, you need to keep your cruise card, phone, and cash secure when you are off your cruise ship. 

No matter how many cruises you’ve been on, there’s always a chance something could go drastically wrong.

With over 30 sailings under my belt, I'd consider myself a veteran cruiser. Even still, I made a rookie mistake on my recent Royal Caribbean cruise that could have cost me my dream vacation altogether.

As a year-round cruiser, I'm no stranger to summer heat. When prepping for a voyage in June, July, or August, I take precautions to ensure I don't overheat while on my long-awaited vacation, regardless of whether it's to the Bahamas, Caribbean, or Mediterranean. 

It is official! You have just booked your cruise vacation and now you are considering add-ons like excursions, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and more! One of the most popular add-ons is alcoholic beverage packages, but you may not like the cost, as packages can range from $50 to over $100 per person, per day.

This price may seem intimidating. As such, it's common for cruisers to want to sneak alcohol on a cruise. More passengers are inclined to get crafty in their methods of sneaking alcohol onboard the ship, rather than paying for pricey packages.

One of the biggest reasons I prefer cruising over a land-based vacation is the unmatched convenience. Cruising makes it easy to see multiple countries, cities, and regions with ease. You can see so much in a shorter amount of time without needing to repack your suitcase or figure out logistics. 

In this way, I am always looking for unique itineraries to visit new destinations. For years, the idea of staying on the ship while in port never even crossed my mind. Why wouldn’t I want to make the most of my time exploring new places?

If you’re preparing for an upcoming cruise, you might be looking to stock up on some essentials before setting sail. I am always searching for budget-friendly ways to fill up my suitcase.

One of my favorite pre-cruise tasks is heading to the store to look for items that I want to take on my cruise. Shopping is much more fun than packing clothes, in my opinion! After hitting up the dollar store this fall, I couldn’t believe how many must-have cruise items I found.

In addition to the base fare, cruisers must budget extra for gratuities, or tips for crew members. 

Gratuities are divided to help cover the cost of everyone who works to make your vacation special, including cabin stewards, dining and culinary services staff, the guest services team, and others who work behind the scenes and contribute to the overall cruise experience.

Many first-time cruisers are confused about how tipping works onboard cruise ships and may find themselves asking questions like, "who do you need to tip onboard?" and "do you have to tip on a cruise?"