Advice & Tips

When booking a cruise vacation, you will need to decide which type of stateroom to stay in. Most of the time, this is driven by your cruise budget and travel-style.

If you want to stay in a higher-end stateroom, like a suite, then your budget will obviously need to align with a higher price point. Luxurious staterooms can come with lucrative benefits like concierge service, deluxe drink packages and massive accommodations. This can surely be worth it if you’re looking to have an upscale, more exclusive cruising experience.

If you are used to cruising from North America, you should not expect the same experience when taking a cruise to Europe.

For starters, your itinerary is most likely going to be port intensive, meaning that you will be spending less time onboard the ship and more time exploring culturally rich destinations. 

Up until this cruise, I had only taken Caribbean and Bahamas cruises-- 10 of them to be exact! I was excited to board my first-ever Mediterranean cruise onboard MSC Seashore from Genoa.

The worst part about any vacation is when is it over and realizing that reality is right around the corner. It is hard not to get a little upset when you think about returning to work or school, cooking your own meals, and having to clean your home. 

Unfortunately, your cruise will come to an end, but you will return home with precious memories to share with others. You may even be planning another cruise before your current one ends! Before you can get home, though, you have to disembark the ship one final time. 

Planning a cruise to Alaska differs from the tropical Caribbean, and those cruising here do not expect to spend leisurely days by the pool and soaking up the sun on the beach. 

When sailing to Alaska, you will encounter snow-capped mountains, abundant wildlife, beautiful glaciers, and once-in-a-lifetime shore excursions!

Prior to your cruise vacation, it is important to read about different tips and tricks that will help you have a better experience. Some, however, sound better in theory than when you actually implement them. 

I have taken ten cruises and have four more planned between now and November, so while I am no pro, I have learned some things that help me maximize my time onboard, as well as save time and money! 

Once you have decided what cruise line, ship, and itinerary best meets your travel needs, you can book your cruise and officially start the countdown! After that, you will need to start thinking about other logistics. 

Do you, for instance, plan on flying or driving to the port? Have you thought about what cruise add-ons you might be interested in? Do you know who will be able to bring in your mail while you're gone? 

When you take a cruise vacation, you will be subject to pay gratuities, or crew member tips, that are rarely included in the base fare. 

They are divided amongst the crew members that help make your vacation memorable, including cabin attendants, dining and culinary services staff, the guest services team, and others who work behind-the-scenes. Without the hard work of the crew members, there is no way that your cruise would be possible. 

Once you have successfully made it through the check-in process and have boarded the ship, you will probably want to make your way to your cabin to get settled. Unless you have a later check-in time, you will have to wait, as cabins do not open up to guests until sometime in the afternoon. 

Go ahead and grab some lunch and start to familiarize yourself with the ship! If you have children who want to participate in the youth programming, this is also a great time to get them registered. 

When planning your cruise vacation, the itinerary is one of the most important considerations. And while the destinations themselves are important, so is the number of sea days that you will have-- you want to be able to enjoy everything that the ship has to offer!

Sea days are great for relaxation, staying busy, or a combination of the two! Unlike port days, you will not have any scheduled tours that will keep you preoccupied for a chunk of the day. Instead, you can plan the day around your interests and preferences. Maybe that means not having a plan at all!