20 Top Tips For First Time Cruise Holidays
From choosing the right cruise ship to what to do on board, my top tips for first time cruise holidays will ensure you have plain sailing.
There are over 300 cruise ships cruising our oceans right now, so deciding where or what cruise ship to book for a first time cruise holiday is not easy!
I have seen many cruise ships over the years and I can honestly say there is a cruise for everyone. For some, an intimate river cruise is their idea of the perfect cruise, but I’m pretty sure if you asked a teenager, they would say they want to cruise on the biggest ship in the world.
Hopefully my first time cruise tips below will help you plan and book your first cruise holiday, and that it will start you on a cruise journey for many years to come.
Cruise Ship Tips – Things to know before you book:
1. Imagine cruise ships are like holiday resorts
If you are planning a first time cruise it might help if you think of cruise ships like holiday resorts – some are quiet and relaxing, others are lively with non-stop activities. Ask yourself which do you prefer?
If travelling with children you may want a cruise ship geared towards families, if its an adult-only break, you may wish to run a mile from one of these – especially during school holidays! Do you like dining out in different restaurants when you go on holiday, or do you like all-inclusive resorts? If it is the former then make sure you choose a cruise ship with plenty of dining options.
Read: How to choose the right cruise
2. Start small
You may have heard cruise ships being described as floating hotels, but in some cases they are more like floating towns. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas can accommodate a staggering 7,600 passengers plus crew, which is almost 10,000 people on board. If it is your first time to cruise, you may find some of the new large ships overwhelming, and the newer ships are usually the most expensive too.
The chances are once you cruise, you will cruise again – 82% of people do, so there is no need to start your cruise journey on the biggest or most expensive cruise liner. Cruise ships than can accommodate less than 5,000 passengers should offer plenty of amenities for your first cruise vacation
.
Read: A first-time cruisers review of Norwegian Escape
3. Choose the cruise ship and itinerary over the cruise company
One of the biggest mistakes I see first time cruisers make is booking a cruise because they heard the cruise line is good. While this may be true sometimes, it should not be your main reason for choosing a cruise.
While service and standard of food should be similar across a cruise line’s fleet, some of the newer ships bear no resemblance to the older ones. It is important you check the facilities on board, the choice of dining and entertainment options, and if there is an indoor pool or Spa – this can be vital depending on the itinerary.
Likewise, just because you heard cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise line have plenty of nightlife, a Norwegian Fjords cruise in September would have a completely different atmosphere to a Med cruise in July.
Top Tip: Check when a ship has been refurbished. Many older ships have been refurbished or reimagined and can offer better value than newer ships in the fleet.
4. Choose an itinerary with many port stops
If you are new to cruise, you are probably debating whether you would like to spend many days at sea, especially if pool decks are crowded, which is common during sea days!
You may find that you love being at sea, but just in case you don’t, I recommend choosing a cruise with plenty of port stops for your first cruise. A seven-night Mediterranean cruise usually stops in a different port, six out of the seven days. This allows you to disembark as you please, or if you prefer to stay on board, the ship, and pool areas in particular will be less crowded.
5. Don’t choose a cruise based on one destination
With some cruise ports of call reaching unprecedented congestion levels, it is not uncommon for scheduled port stops to be changed during a cruise.
Princess Cruises notified its customers on Sun Princess in advance that it would not be making a stop in Santorini in 2024 due to congestion issues that would have a negative affect on the visitors’ experience. Port stops can also be changed at the last minute either due to congestion or bad weather.
On a separate note, I strongly believe that some of the busiest ports, such as Santorini, are best avoided on cruises especially during the peak summer months.
6. WHEN you cruise is extremely important
With the exception of the adult-only cruises such as Virgin Voyages, or five-star luxury cruise liners, most cruise company’s cater for families as well as couples. Family cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, MSC and NCL are usually packed with families during school holidays, especially in popular destinations like the Mediterranean and Caribbean, although Northern Europe itineraries tend to be more adult-focused.
Three and four-night cruises from Florida are very popular with families and party-goers, especially during spring break or summer holidays, and are best avoided unless you want a lively atmosphere on board.
Cruise Cabin Tips:
7. To book or not to book a balcony cabin
Having a balcony cabin can be a great experience, especially on your first time cruise. However, if you’re on a budget and have port stops most days, it’s something you can probably skip.
However, if you are travelling on a cruise where there are many days at sea, I suggest you pay the extra for a balcony cabin. Pool areas can be crowded and you will be glad to have a balcony to catch the ocean views in peace.
Top Tip: Check to see if room service is included in your package. We were able to have breakfast delivered to our room on Sky Princess without any service charges. It might be worth paying for a balcony for this alone!
Read: My review of Sky Princess
8. Interconnecting cabins can be cheaper for large families
Despite the large increase in family cruise holidays, family cabins are usually in short supply – especially those for larger families. If you have teenagers or three or more children, I have found many times that interconnecting cabins are cheaper than one large cabin, and offer much more space too.
We had a wonderful experience on Sun Princess where we had a shared balcony but two separate rooms – it was the ideal situation for us with teenagers.
Read: My review of Sun Princess
9. Mid Ship is best
Unless you are unlucky with rough seas you are unlikely to feel much movement at sea. That said, if you are concerned about seasickness and have not cruised before, then I suggest looking at the deck plans and booking a cabin in the middle of the ship – it is best to avoid cabins at the very front or back. Similarly, cabins on the higher decks should feel more movement than cabins on lower decks.
Midship is also the most central so it is more convenient for reaching all parts of the ship. However, make sure you check the exact location of your cabin – you may not want to be near a nightclub or late bar!
10. Ask for upgrades
Don’t always assume that balcony cabins are going to be too expensive. Most of the newer ships have more balcony cabins than without. The difference in cost from a standard inside cabin to a balcony cabin may be a lot less than you think!
Many cruise lines have a two-tiered cabin structure with names such as Spa, Concierge or Aqua Class cabins offering additional benefits such as Spa or lounge access and a separate private dining room – it is worth checking the cost for these too and the extra benefits included.
11. Book with a cruise agent
Now that you have an idea of the type of cruise you want, the best option is to talk to a travel agent so that they can recommend the perfect cruise for you, and check cruise fares and availability. Using an agent also gives you peace of mind that every aspect of your cruise will be organised for you.
It is possible to book cruises online, but with the possibility of flight delays and cruise itinerary changes, I recommend booking your flights and cruise together. I often find that you get the cheapest and best deals with alcoholic drinks, dining and WiFi packages often included.
Top Tip: In order to get the best advice, its a good idea to book with a travel agency that has a dedicated cruise department or has staff that have cruised on many different cruise lines.
Cruise Tips – Things to do before you go
12. Pre book a drinks package
Sundowners on a cruise ship hit different! Unless you drink very little, I highly recommend booking a drinks package in advance.
You will be surprised at how easy cocktails go down by the pool, not to mention prinks, wine with dinner, and some post dinner drinks watching one the shows. There are so many staff on board too – the staff to guest ratio is usually much higher on cruise ships compared to hotels, so you will not be left waiting for a top up.
Having a drinks package pre booked will not only save you money, but it will provide a more enjoyable cruise experience, without worrying what your bill will be at the end of the trip…
13. Plan your port days and pre book shore excursions
There will probably be one or two places in particular that you want to see, and if so, make sure you pre book excursions accordingly. One of the best excursions we pre-booked was to Kennedy Space Centre from Independence of the Seas – we booked it on our disembarkation day and we were transferred straight to the airport afterwards!
You may find cheaper excursions if you book them privately rather than through the cruise company, however, if travelling a long distance from the ship you should know that the ship will not wait for you if you have booked an excursion privately, so plan to be back on board in plenty of time.
It is not necessary to pre book excursions in all ports. In some destinations such as Barcelona, Nice, Genoa etc you can simply walk off the ship and explore the cities at your leisure.
Top Tip: I advise staying on board on one of the port days, to enjoy a spa day while the cruise ship is quiet. You will also find special offers on Spa services during port days.
14. Check the cruise dress code
Cruise etiquette has changed a lot in the last 20 years. Formal nights are rare and most people dress much more casually now. That said, most ships do usually have one formal night.
While this does not mean to need to pack your ballgown and tuxedo, you might want to bear in mind that most guests will be more dressed up on those evenings. Themed nights are popular too, and can be anything from 80’s parties to White Nights, so its best to be prepared.
15. Pack right
If you are packing one or two fancy items for formal nights, you might want to bear in mind that there are no irons in cruise ship cabins. Some cruise ships have an ironing room, or it should be possible to pay for an item to be ironed, but it is not common place on all cruise ships – so it is best to check this in advance.
Cabins are usually small and don’t have a huge amount of wardrobe space, so try to pack light and avoid massive suit cases as they will be hard to store.
Check the voltage on board your cruise and bring the correct adapters. Just because you are travelling in Europe doesn’t mean the ship is from Europe. While most of the newer ships have a selection of plugs, European adapters won’t always work on American cruise lines.
Top Cruise Packing Tips: Pack a bathing suit, light clothes, sunscreen and any medication in your carry on bag on boarding day. Your luggage will be delivered to your room but you may have to wait a few hours to get it. It is best to have a small bag with a change of clothes, especially if arriving into a hot country.
Cruise Tips – When you are on board
16. Watch your mobile data
If, like me, you are going to be on your phone quite a lot, I suggest you purchase a WiFi package or get an Airalo eSim – this has the best data rates for overseas travel. It is like having a local SIM card for your device without having to have to switch out physical cards.
WiFi packages are sometimes included in the cost when you book a cruise holiday, but if not, compare the package rates versus the eSim cost.
If you don’t want to pre purchase a package or eSim, make sure you have your cell phone on airplane mode when at sea, even in Europe. Once you dock in a port you should be able to use the local roaming rates which will may be free ( if travelling within the EU ) or at least cheaper than the rates at sea.
17. Use the Main Dining room for a leisurely breakfast or lunch
No matter how many restaurants are on board a cruise ship, guests tend to go to the buffet every morning for breakfast and sometimes lunch too.
If you want a leisurely breakfast, with waiter service and no crowds, find out what complimentary dining options are open for breakfast and lunch. A quick stop at Guest Services will tell you or you may find it on the cruise companies app or daily planner that is left in your room.
Top Tip: Avoid the buffet on embarkation day – it will not give you the best first impression!
18. Pre book a Speciality Dining restaurant
Restaurants vary greatly from cruise ship to cruise ship. I’ve had some super meals in complimentary dining restaurants, and in many cases there is no need to avail of the speciality dining options. However, I always think it is nice to book at least one during your cruise.
You may find special offer packages on the cruise companies website or app before you embark, if not you can pre book these when you board.
The last night of a cruise will be the most popular so you will need to book speciality restaurants, and sometimes complimentary ones too, as far in advance as possible. Teppanyaki restaurants are small by nature and can also get booked out quickly – my advice is to book restaurants as early in advance as possible, you can always reschedule.
Top Tip: Be mindful of theatre times when booking restaurants.
19. Read your daily planner each morning
From wine tastings to dance classes, theatre shows to pub quizzes, there is always something to do on cruise ships. The best way to see what’s on quickly is to read your daily planner that is left in your cabin each day.
My advice – try something new that you wouldn’t do at home. In most cases they are free so you have nothing to loose!
20. Don’t miss the sail away party on the first day
Most cruise ships have a sail away party when they leave a port, but the best one is usually on the first day. Ask a staff member when you get on board what time you are due to leave, and make sure you are at the pool deck to get your cruise off to the right start.
I hope my ultimate guide and tips for first time cruise holidays will help you plan a cruise soon. While every effort was made to ensure accuracy, the information listed above is based on my own personal opinion and is subject to change.
Bon Voyage!
