Start with our Cruising quiz: we'll test your knowledge about the basics of cruising and show you where to learn more about the questions you get wrong. Then learn how to cruise without a passport and how to avoid the 9 most common mistakes of first-timers. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and we'll get you up to speed with fun and exciting cruise content, plus featured reviews and tips on how to get the most out of our website.
Or, if you have a specific question you can't find the answer to, ask our community of seasoned cruisers in the forum. Don't skip ahead to picking a cruise just yet. Timing is everything when it comes to planning. If you book too early, you'll probably end up overpaying for your fare. Book too late, and your options will be severely limited. We'll also tell you what you can expect to spend and how to get the best deals possible.
The vast majority of cruisers make their choices in the following order: destination, line, ship, cabin. You should research each choice thoroughly before moving onto the next. For personalized recommendations, take our quizzes for the best lines and destinations according to your interests. Can't decide between a Caribbean cruise with Carnival or a Bahamas sailing with Disney?
See prices, interaries, and ratings for up to three cruises stacked side-by-side by clicking the "Compare" button when searching for a cruise. Start your final preparations by consulting our How to Prepare checklist. If you're the kind to forget things easily, we included a printable version in the article as well. Finally, read up on shore excursions they're not going to book themselves and learn what you should and shouldn't bring onboard.
Want to start making new friends while you're still on dry land? Princess Cruises FAQ. How to Get Free Stuff on a Cruise. Facebook Pinterest Twitter. Research Ports in Advance On a cruise, everything you'll need -- food, fun, cabins, ports -- is neatly arranged.
Featured Videos See all videos. Cruise Critic Cheers to 25 Years! Cruising Saudi Arabia aboard Scenic Eclipse. See all videos. Updated January 08, How was this article? Why didn't you like it? Too long Too short Boring Too few pictures Didn't answer my question.
Why did you choose this? Answered my question Didn't answer my question Not what I was looking for I already knew the information. Why did you like it? If not, you can send laundry out to be cleaned on board. The extra cost of doing a few loads of laundry on a ship is a small price to pay for the freedom of not having to lug a giant suitcase around as you travel to and from your ship.
Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry service. But many lines will allow this, usually with some limits. Among the lines that will allow you to be your own bartender is Disney Cruise Line. Adults can bring up to two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne or six beers onto Disney ships at the start of a cruise and during every port of call.
Note that these beverages must be packed in carry-on bags. At Royal Caribbean, the bring-your-own allowance is two bottles of wine or Champagne per cabin at boarding, plus up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks. Be sure to read the rules for your line before you bring any drinks on board. Related: Are drinks packages on cruise ships worth it? A line-by-line guide. I rarely use any of it. But I also never get hit with a crazy toiletries charge.
In addition to extra toiletries, cruising regulars often bring Clorox wipes or something similar to wipe down surfaces in their cabin upon arrival and to bring along on shore excursions. I am, of course, too cool to ever put a key card lanyard around my neck, which means I lose my card once or twice on every trip.
They always give me a new one at the front desk. Some cruisers also swear by bringing magnets to ships, to affix dinner invitations, excursion tickets and other important papers to their cabin walls.
Walls on ships often are made with metal even if they look like wood, thanks to faux wood veneers and will hold a magnet. Some cruisers even bring magnets with hooks so they can hang up clothes and other items on their walls. Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruises and itineraries. Everybody boarding heads straight up to it. To avoid the first-day buffet crowds, head to whatever secondary dining option is available.
Sometimes, a ship will open one of its table-served eateries for lunch on embarkation day. You just sort of show up. At the heart of most cruises are port calls that, in many cases, are very short — often just a few hours. Another great place to get ideas for what to do in ports and on ships — and what to bring on a cruise, for that matter — are the many private Facebook groups dedicated to particular lines.
Booking a shore excursion directly through your cruise line is easy. You just check a box on an online form before sailing or while on board, and — poof! In many cases, you can save a lot of money — and get a better touring experience — by booking shore excursions through independent tour operators in ports or a tour booking service such as Viator or ToursbyLocals. Often, independent tours will be much more intimate than the tours offered directly through cruise lines.
They might go to the same sites but in a small van instead of a big motorcoach. You might have just six or eight other people on a tour with you instead of nearly If your group is big enough, you might even be able to book a private tour with an independent tour operator. Plus, they often come with excellent service.
Nowadays wifi will be provided on most ships so you can complete basic tasks like emailing and even Skyping. Even still, it can be far more economical to find wifi hotspots. If you are prone to migraines, indigestion, heartburn or heaven forbid think you might be coming down with a cold prior to your trip, be sure to pack whatever vitamins or medications that will help cure what ails you.
At the very least stash some Emergen-C sachets in your bag to knock whatever it is out of your system or get some electrolytes in after a walking day. Elevators may often seem like a convenience but trust us, on a cruise ship you could lose hours of holiday enjoyment waiting for these suckers.
Not only are they crowded, but as a result, they are also slow. Do yourself a favour and get your steps in! Take the stairs! Many ships tend to leave from major touch point ports like Florida, France or Italy. With the most extravagant ship costing as much as 1 billion dollars to construct, most ships can sail 73, nautical miles in a year and with an average speed of about 23 mph or 20 nautical knots.
These ships are truly engineered works of art! While the Titanic was thought to be the largest, most opulent cruise ship for its time, today it would be about half the size of a modern cruise ship.
With half the ship remaining under the surface of the sea, this will normally be where the crew sleeps and where some kitchens are kept. An average cruise cabin manufacturer can produce 12, cabins per year and they are produced separately from the ship and then slotted in afterwards.
As an age-old tradition of travel, many celebrities have boasted of their love of sea travel including David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Sharon Stone and Meryl Streep. References: cruise1st. By Briana Biancolin Published Aug 15,
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