Advice & Tips

You found a cruise fare that sounds almost unbelievable-- $200 per person for a 4 night cruise?! That’s about $50 per person, per night for lodging, transportation between ports, entertainment, and select food and beverages! 

From picking the right ship, researching each port of call, and making travel arrangements, there's so much to consider when it comes to planning a cruise.

Whether you're a first time cruiser or about to embark on your 10th sailing, there are some cruise tips and hacks to make sure you're getting the most out of your vacation. 

Below, we've compiled the 13 best tips that the most seasoned cruisers swear by. 

One of the best aspects of cruising is that they are, for the most part, a budget friendly vacation. 

The base fare of any cruise line you choose will include lodging, select food and beverages, transportation between ports, and entertainment. You could essentially pay just the base fare and still have a wonderful vacation. 

Forget about seasickness - these days, I am probably more likely to feel homesick when I cruise.

Ask anyone who cruises or travels a lot and you will probably hear the same response. There’s truly no place like home and being on the road (or sea) after a while can certainly make me miss the comforts of home.

While I absolutely love cruising and traveling, sometimes it’s hard for me to leave my pups and husband behind. I love our home and the life we have together, even when it means going on an amazing cruise - which I absolutely love too!

When you cruise, do you typically purchase travel insurance?

Travel insurance is one of those cruise topics that no one wants to think or talk about. It’s definitely not fun to imagine all the things that could go wrong on your highly-anticipated cruise. Vacation is meant to be relaxing and rejuvenating, after all!

Why should you book an inside room on a cruise ship? Is it a great money-saving idea, or a mistake waiting to happen?

Inside cabins on cruise ships are regularly the lowest priced way to book a cruise, and it is a popular choice for a few good reasons.

Before you decide which cabin to book, check out these reasons to book an inside cabin on your next cruise.

Few experiences can railroad your cruise like sea sickness; the last thing you want is to be sidelined by nausea or dizziness when you should be lounging by the pool or taking in a show. 

While there are plenty of remedies, over-the-counter medicine of Bonine and Dramamine are the two most popular.

They're relatively inexpensive, easy to take, work quickly, and are highly regarded among people that go on a lot of cruises.

Cruise ships are usually quite smooth, but rough ocean conditions can turn even the most seasoned cruiser a little green.

A cruise is a a great vacation, and you can make it even better with a few easy tried and true advice.

First time cruisers often want to know how to make sure their trip better. Understandably, planning can be a bit overwhelming.

Today’s cruise ships are like floating cities with tons of activities, venues, and non-stop activities, visiting incredible destinations throughout the world. 

Here are some of our favorite cruise hacks to help make planning a breeze, as well as help save you time and money!

You booked that cheap inside room, but you’d love to have a free or cheap cabin upgrade. Is it possible to get a cruise ship cabin upgrade for free? 

“Unfortunately there is no secret password or magic wand that will guarantee an upgraded stateroom without actually paying for one,” says Beci Mahnken, president and CEO of MEI-Travel, and a travel agent with the inside scoop. “Complimentary upgrades are not very common in the current cruise climate.”