On-board Activities for First Timers

Getting hooked on cruising early.

Once you have gone through the check-in process and boarded your ship, plan on wandering the decks to find what there is and where it is located.  You should have gotten a basic deck plan during the check-in process, but if not find guest services. Guest services is usually located mid-ship somewhere central. That is most likely where you can find a deck plan and a listing of cruise on-board activities for your first day.  Also, most ships these days have some type of interactive ship menu boards that you can use to help you find your way around.

The day you board the ship is what the cruise lines call Day 1.  So if you are on a seven day cruise, then it is Day 1 of 7. So be prepared to dive right into your cruising experience.  Don’t wait to look around until after you can get into your cabin or your suitcases arrive and are unpacked. Begin your cruise by looking around and finding places on board you might want to spend more time in or things you want to investigate.

Many experienced cruisers take a small bag on board with them that has their swimsuit, book, change of clothes, or whatever else that might help them get into cruising mode on Day 1.  Sure you have to lug that bag around with you, but that is only until you can get into your cabin to leave it there. Of course, if you use one of the public restrooms or spa restrooms to change (yes, you can use many of the spa facilities on most ships even if you are not there for a treatment) into your swimsuit, then you can keep the bag with you on your pool lounge chair.  Or if your idea of fun is to have a welcome aboard drink, that bag can be near your bar chair.

There’s nothing like that first cup of coffee onboard.

For my first moments on board, I like to find a cozy bar or the highest bar with a view to have a welcome – I’m cruising – drink.  Then after that relaxing bit, I either go explore the ship or go to lunch. Keep in mind that most cruisers when they first come on the ship head straight for the buffet lunch spot so it’s usually pretty busy there.  It’s why I recommend exploring the ship first, having a first I’m on vacation on a ship drink, or taking a swim before eating. After you have done that, usually the cabins are open and people start leaving the buffet to go get into their cabins.  Keep in mind, the lunch buffet does not run out of food on the first day and your cabin will still be there when you are ready.                    

In your cabin, at check-in, or at guest services you will get a daily listing of shipboard activities, restaurants and bars open hours, evening shows, sail away time, and all kinds of other shopping or buy this or that offerings.  Take a moment to run through what the ship is offering and see if anything interests you.

If you are sailing with children, check out the youth program services and register your children there.  Some kids really like the youth places and programs and some don’t. If your child is registered, the child can use it if they want to or if you want them to try it.

Some activities that can be fun and are often offered the first day on board are: trivia contests (try it alone or see if you can do it with others to make a team); learn how to play casino games; watch a movie pool-side or in the ship’s theater; check out the shops on board as they usually are running specials and some free drinks; dancing by the pool or in one of the clubs; and piano bar or pub type entertainment.  Evening entertainment usually includes a Captains Welcome with free champagne, a game show or two, karaoke, first evening welcome show, and later in the evening an adult comedy show.

Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas offers a sushi class!

As the cruise progresses, you will get a daily listing of things to do or see each evening that will tell you what is up for the following day.  Take a highlighter with you on the cruise so you can mark the listing up by highlighting the things you might want to do. Remember, the ship offers a lot to do and tries to provide some types of activities for everyone every day.  You can’t do it all and shouldn’t try, but you should try at least one thing new to you every day. Make it an adventure; after all, if you try something and don’t find it fun - leave and go do something else.

Check out the ship’s gym.  Most ships have full service gyms with every type of machine you can think of available.  Some ships have them located in places with a great view (think treadmill or elliptical use while looking out at the waves); however, some ships don’t provide the view, just the gym.  The gym usually also has an exercise floor where some classes take place. Note, if you see an activity listed with a $ sign beside it, that means there is a charge for it. Try to avoid those and find something that you want to do, but does not cost money.  Many classes in the ship’s gym are free, but some like yoga or spin can have a cost.

If an activity, other than in the gym or spa, has a charge to attend, that will be noted in the day’s listing ($).  Of course, drinks will cost you as will specialty dining, your shore excursions, special cooking classes, or spa treatments.  Otherwise, you should assume an activity is free. Another thing that is free on board is finding great places to walk or sit and view the sea.  At least one upper deck will have a walking track (you may have to dodge around those getting sun on the loungers if you try the track later in the day) and some lower deck will have an enclosed (over your head) deck with open sides where you can feel you close to the sea, but out of the sun.  Also, there are usually ping pong tables somewhere, shuffleboard areas (don’t laugh, it can actually be fun in the evening, especially after a drink or two), a basketball court, miniature golf course, and some ships even have a rock climbing wall, a grotto to explore, or an ice skating ring.

Most ships will have at least one pool, but most often there will be two or more along with a children’s water play area.  Try each one out and see which one you like the most. Use it and enjoy it. There is usually at least one pool open late or all night along with a hot tub to enjoy at all hours.

Cruising can make anyone into a foodie.

Remember, it’s your cruise.  You can be as active as you want to be – or not, so do it your way.  Just remember you don’t have to do something all the time. There are so many activities to choose from on board, it can be tempting to do too much.  Try to stop and smell the sea from time to time.

Thoughts on Shore Excursions For First Time Cruisers

Shore Excursions – Or Leaving Your Ship And Exploring Ashore

Use your cruise to explore new interests or places.

Cruises these days go so many places around the world.  So use your cruise as one way to see different places and help you decide which ones you would like to go back to and spend more time visiting there.  If you visit one island in the Caribbean or in Hawaii that seems like a place to linger, then you can plan to make a longer land based vacation there later.  If you visit a place that doesn’t appeal to you, cross that one off your vacations wanted list and move on.

You can also use your cruise to investigate an interest or sport you already have or think you’d find interesting.  For example, like to golf? Cruises give you a chance to golf at varied types of courses almost anywhere (you can rent clubs and shoes at most courses or you can take your own onboard).  If you like to cook, cruising can give you a chance to try different cuisines and cooking classes around the world (Jamaica, think jerk chicken or in Spain, making and sampling many kinds of tapas).  Also, don’t forget cruises often offer varied types of cooking classes, including making sushi, right onboard the ship.

Sometimes an organized shore excursion is the only way to see a sight within the set number of hours your ship is in port. Sometimes an organized shore excursion is necessary to visit a place or have a particular experience because it is not available unless booked that way.  That can be the case in exotic far-away places and even in America or Canada. Be sure to factor that into your considerations when thinking about what to do and see on shore.

Check out shore excursions from private vendors at your cruise’s port stops in addition to the cruise line’s offerings.

Considerations to think about the regarding the cruise line’s own shore excursions.  When it comes to going ashore to sightsee, eat, drink, or play most cruise lines arrange for a variety of shore excursion offerings you can take.  While still at home, you can usually view these offerings online and purchase your tickets online. That means you know what you will do at any given stop before you leave home.  If you can, that is probably the best way to book a ship’s shore excursion as you know you are on it before you leave home. The shore excursions offered by the cruise lines are offered based on what they know most people want to do at a particular destination.  Such shore excursions are usually well organized and vetted for guest safety.

If you are interested in going ashore somewhere where you don’t feel comfortable going alone or somewhere you don’t speak the language, then it can be a good idea to book your shore excursion through the ship.  Remember you can book it online in advance or once on board through the shore excursion desk. For example, if you are on a cruise to Mexico and getting to your selected Mayan ruin destination will take more than an hour going just one way, then consider booking that excursion through the cruise line.  If something happens to delay your excursion from getting back to the ship before sail away time, the ship will wait for you to return. If you booked that excursion through a non-ship vendor, you might get back to find you missed your ship. That can and does happen. The ship cannot wait past a certain time, and if you are not onboard by then you have missed it.  I once got back from a shore excursion late enough to be past the all onboard time, but thankfully not past the deadline must sail away time. Remember you don’t want to be one of those pier runners trying frantically to get down the pier before the ship leaves.

All that being said, you still can have a great shore excursion booking through an independent vendor or by going out on your own to explore.  An independent vendor can offer a shore excursion with fewer people on it usually at a lower price than the cruise line’s shore excursions. Also, an independent vendor often can tailor your shore excursion to what you want to see or alter the tour stops to make sure guests have the time to see what interests them the most.

Most independent excursion vendors are keenly aware of when your ship leaves port.  They work hard to be sure you get to sightsee what is promised and get you back in time.  You can probably safely use an independent tour vendor for excursions that are about sightseeing around a town, for a food or drinks tour, or for activities such as diving or snorkeling.  If you are in Caribbean and want to go snorkeling, then you should consider an independent vendor. Depending on the port, there should be many companies to choose from. Check them out online before you book.  For example, Aristocat Charters in the British Virgin Islands is one vendor that offers several great snorkeling and beach visits to choose among. Try to get reviews and feedback from people who have toured with an independent vendor.  There are many sources for looking them up, but you can try such sites like the Cruise Critic message boards, Facebook, Trip Advisor, Expedia, and other travel websites.

Think about your time – it’s valuable. Think carefully about how long you want to be on a shore excursion before you book it.

Shore excursions, whether through the ship or an independent vendor, are offered in different time lengths.  How long you will want to be on a trip depends on where you want to go, what you want to see, and how long you can tolerate the traveling required.  When you want to go somewhere that is further away from the port remember to consider the travel time necessary to get there and back along with what kind of travel it will take to get there.  Consider whether you really want to book any shore excursion that lasts longer than three to four hours. If the excursion turns out not to be what you thought it was or you get sick, most people can get through that amount of time before they return to the ship.  If you book a shore excursion for six to eight hours or more, than you are likely stuck with it until it is over.

Make your own shore excursion. Exploring on your own can be fun, rewarding, and cost less than an organized shore excursion.

Since you are going on a cruise you know when you book what ports your ship will stop in (weather and sea conditions can alter stops, but that is rare) .  You can just get off the ship, pick a taxi vendor, and wing it by going where he or she suggests or takes you to. You can just get off the ship, make your way into town, and explore it on foot.  That way you can stop at what catches your eye or what you think will be an interesting place to investigate. However, if you can bring yourself to plan ahead some you are more likely to have rewarding and interesting experience.  First, make sure you know what could be a dangerous part of the town or country. Looking that up online should give you an idea of where not to go. You can generally find such information on travel websites, the U.S. Department of State website, or in crime reports or warnings posted by localities and local law enforcement.  Once you are armed with such information, then you can start looking at what kind of places you do want to see. Check local travel, welcome, or business websites to see what are local highlights. Once you know what is there to explore, think about what you really would like to see or do. Note a place’s open hours, admission charges, and locations.  Your time in a port is limited, so use it wisely.

Get yourself an old fashioned map of your port and look at it so you can plot out the best routes between various places.  Note any hills, rivers, or other impediments between two places so you can plan how to cross or conquer that hill. Once you know that kind of information you know what you can expect to see and about how long it will take you to get there, experience it, and move on.  Use your phone’s map to help you only if you have it set for overseas travel without excessive use charges or have pre-arranged the charges for outside the U.S. use before you left the U.S. Otherwise, the cost of using your Google Maps or other mapping service can result in huge charges.

Once you are on your way, remember you are exploring.  Enjoy yourself, stop and smell the roses or take in the view.  Sample at the chocolate factory, check out that bakery, or hike up that hill to see what is on the other side.  If you come across something that interests you and that you did not plan to do, enjoy it and adapt your plan as needed.  Remember, the only thing you have to do is get back to the ship by the all onboard time!

Dining For First Time Cruisers

Main Dining Room

Use the main dining room to save money and eat well. You don’t have to pay for the specialty dining restaurants to eat well.

These days many cruisers have stopped using the main dining room for dinner. They have been lured by the promise of better or different food at upscale charging dining places on the ship.  While the food in those places can sometimes be better, usually it is not that much better as to be worth an extra $30 to $50 dollars per person per meal.  

Note, though that some ships do not even offer a main dining room; these are usually on some of the newer ships.  Such ships often offer instead several smaller venues that people can try on different nights.  Since many people like to change it up on a cruise and they really don’t want to stop to change for dinner any more, cruise lines are offering more casual eateries.  Royal Caribbean even has a Johnny Rockets and a Sorrento’s pizzeria on many of their ships. But, if you like eating at a set time where you know where you will sit and be served by servers who know what you like, then nothing beats the main dining room.

There are usually two traditional seating times in a ship’s main dining room.  Often the early dining time is at 5:30 or 6:00, while the late dining time is at 8:00 or 8:30 PM.  Eating early or late is definitely a personal preference.  While you can change your usual time to eat because you are on a cruise, I think most people like to eat around the time they usually do.

Early dining time means, of course, that you eat earlier.  That’s especially good for those who like that, for older folks, and for younger children.  The downside to it means you might have to stop what you are doing mid to late afternoon, go get cleaned up (think leaving the pool, taking a shower, and getting nicely dressed) so you can be in the dining room by 5:30 or 6:00 PM.  The upside is you will finish your dinner usually by about 7:30 and are ready to do something different for the evening – to participate in activities, listen to the piano player in the bar, or go see some entertainment shows.

Late dining time means you can stretch your afternoon activities out and have a few drinks before dinner.  You can even have a late afternoon snack to tide you over until dinner time.  Eating at the late dining time means you probably will have the opportunity to see an entertainment show earlier in the evening before dinner, spend time at the pub, or finish watching the sports game all before you go to eat.  Late dining usually lasts about one and ½ to two hours for your meal. Afterwards, you can then pick your late night evening entertainment choices such as karaoke, comedians, or silly fun game shows.

Keep in mind, the main dining room is a great place to meet new people.  The dining room offers table tops of varied sizes.  To meet more people be sure to request a six, eight, or ten top table preferences when you book your cruise.

If you want to have a smaller table or a table for only two, you’ll have better luck achieving that by choosing a free style or my time dining experience in the main dining room.  Doing so means you still eat in the main dining room, but can do so at the time you choose, not the set two traditional dining times the cruise line offers.  This type of main dining room experience means you may not get the same servers each meal time, but you can choose a time you find comfortable for eating.  Most often you can reserve a time ahead, but it usually works fine to keep it flexible and walk up to the dining room when it is open and you want to eat.  You’ll be put on a list to get the first available table of the size and location you want just you would at a restaurant in your hometown.  Rest assured, the main dining food offered is the same, it just happens at the time you want, not at the pre-set dining two times.

The main dining room experience means you will have a server seat you, put your napkin on your lap, bring your drinks, have a menu of choices each evening, and someone will take your order.

Always remember when it comes to cruise dining - if you like it, you can order more.  If you want two appetizers, main courses, or deserts or all of those, order them!  Many people do and some eat two or three appetizers rather than eating the main course.  If you want ice cream and it is not on the menu, ask for it. You will likely receive it.  Try two different deserts.  If you don’t like something, ask for something else! Your server will take care of it. They want you to be happy and have something you like.

Main Dining Room on Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas

Pro Tip: Use the main dining room at lunch or for breakfast to avoid the crowds. Other dining options will see a surge of people during these times. 

Who doesn’t like be served your meal?  It’s easier than going to the buffet, but be aware there are fewer menu items to choose from.

On many cruise lines during at sea days, the main dining room is open for breakfast and lunch.  The dining room may seat you at a table as you come in with others or they may seat your party at separate tables.  That depends on the cruise line or even the ship.  The dining room may also provide a separate area for repeat cruisers.  For breakfast and lunch the menu can vary, but often there will be both a menu of choices along with a short buffet line in the dining room. You can have what you want within their choices, but there still is no charge.  However, remember that eating in the dining room at breakfast or lunch does take more time than eating at that other main ship eatery, the casual buffet.  The plus to eating in the main dining room for breakfast and lunch is there is less noise or confusion and someone delivers what you order to your table.

ProTip: Drink water or coffee or tea. 

You’ll have enough food; you won’t miss the soft drink or alcohol.  Drinks usually included with the meal are water, coffee, tea, and milk.  If you want a soft drink, beer, wine, or mixed drink, that will have a cost.  

2.   Casual Buffet.

Pro Tip: Use the casual buffet on the ship. You can eat there from a large smorgasbord of choices at no additional cost.

The varieties of choices at the buffet are simply amazing – there is literally something for everyone.  When you go to the buffet the first time, be sure to walk through the whole place. Often there is more than one serving area and multiple seating areas. Many people never make it all the way to the back so there can be plentiful seating back there.  Some ships even have an open balcony eating area in the back or side of the buffet.  Check it out first and then select your food and seating.

For lunch, you will usually find kid and fan friendly food like hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings, tacos, panini, one to two soups of the day, several different types of breads, sandwich makings, and hot dishes like roast beef, stews, chicken, and varied cultural food specialties of the day.

For lunch, dinner, and at an afternoon snack time, take a look at the many desserts available at the buffet.  The variety offered usually runs from fresh fruit and cheeses to cookies, cakes, pies, etc.  Note, there are sugar free options available.  Day to day the ships change the desserts offered, so look them all over and make your choices.

If you need gluten free food, and don’t see any then ask.  Usually the cruise lines offer gluten free choices at each meal and they are glad to assist in making sure what you eat is gluten free.

Drinks such as tea, coffee, lemonade, flavored waters, and water are free.  Milk, both low-fat, whole, and chocolate are free.  Also, there is usually almond, soy, lactose free milk available too. However, just like in the dining room sodas, beer, wine, and mixed drinks have a cost.

For breakfast, there is any number of ways that eggs, bacon, and toasts are served.  You can get an omelet made to order.  Also available are: cereals, fresh fruits, grits, oatmeal, croissants, donuts, and more. If you don’t see what you want – and you will – ask a server to help you find what you are looking for.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to try the buffet for dinner.

The buffet at dinner is usually less crowded than earlier in the day.  The dinner buffet often offers its own variety of main dish choices, sometime also includes what is being served in the main dining room, and a server will still get you your drinks and help as needed during your meal.  Best of all, you can eat when you want during the dinner buffet hours and you can dress casually.

The biggest downside to the buffet at breakfast and lunch times is it can get crowded and noisy.  So many people all looking at food and crossing paths with each other can lead to confusion and congestion.  Just remember, there is plenty of food. They will not run out; you will get what you want so be sure to take it easy and enjoy the variety.

3.  Pizza, Pizza, Pizza.

Most ships have free pizza available somewhere on the ship at any hour.  Your job is to just to look for it and then enjoy it. Some cruise lines serve better pizza than others, but it is almost always free.  When you need something to cut the alcohol and satisfy your food craving at 3 AM, find the pizza!

4.   Snacks.

Pro Tip:  Many types of snacks are available onboard.  There will be places from a small café to a pub offering light meal items or snacks to satisfy your cravings. Check for places on your ship that are not the main dining rooms, buffets, or specialty dining places.

Ships often have snack places or smaller cafes somewhere on the ship. Some ships have more than one or two of these places. They will offer a more limited choice of food than the buffet, but what they do have is usually tasty. And it’s free!  These places may only be open at lunchtime or for afternoon snacks, but there is usually one such place that is open 24/7 or almost round the clock. Go get a wrap, a sandwich, a salad, a cookie, yogurt, or a smoothie.  You have worked up an appetite lying in the sun, so you need that cookie or two!

5.   Ice Cream and Specialty Coffees.

Pro Tip: Find the soft serve free ice cream on the ship. It’s free.

The soft serve ice cream is often on the pool deck somewhere. Follow the kids and you’ll find it.  The ice cream is really a custard type, but it can satisfy that ice cream urge.  Avoid the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and the Starbucks type coffees – those have a cost and that will add up quickly.  

6.   Room Service.

Pro Tip: Know what your ship provides for free through room service and skip the rest.

Some cruise lines provide free room service, some charge for it. Some charge for certain things obtained through room service and not others.  Don’t forget, that even if the room service is free you still need to tip the delivery server.

7.   Alcohol.

Pro Tip: It Is Not Free. Stay away from alcohol if you are on a tight budget.

Charging for alcohol is how cruise lines make mucho money.  That being said, if you want a drink, you are on vacation.  Just remember to watch the cost as it adds up quickly.  To have an alcoholic drink, but at a lower cost: look for the drink of the day, don’t get the drink in the fancy glass you have to pay for, and check out that bucket of beer offered on the pool deck.  Some venues on the ship will offer happy hour specials or sports events specials so consider those as a way to imbibe.

     If you plan to drink a lot, then consider buying a drinks card or package if your cruise line offers one.  When considering a drinks package, check out what alcohol and brands are covered, the cost of it versus buying one to two drinks a day, and where on the ship you can use it.  If you plan to drink a lot on your cruise, it is usually cheaper to buy the drinks card or package, than to pay for single drinks.  If you don’t drink much, then be aware that purchasing a drink package means you probably would need to drink 5 to 6 mixed drinks every day just to break even on the cost. 

Selecting A Cruise For First Timers

Top Eight Things to Consider When Booking a Cruise

Sunset over the Caribbean

Cruising can be fun, but a cruise can have a costly learning curve.  Here are my eight things to consider when going on your first cruise.

1.   Location, location, location.  When booking a cruise keep in mind that old real estate truism.

Supply and demand rules cruising, just like any other trip.  Where you want to go and when influences cruise prices. When much of the US is shivering from winter cold, visions of a warm Caribbean sun and blue water tempt many to travel. So prices tend to go up then.  You’ll see a similar effect on the prices of cruises when schools let out for summer vacation and when most spring breaks occur.  Consider avoiding those times if possible.

You can save some money by traveling during the spring or fall months.  I recommend checking out the average temperature and rainfall where and when you are considering traveling.  Once you have picked a timeframe and location, then it’s time to move into checking out where the cruise lines are sending their ships at those times.  Look at the itineraries available and their prices.

For places like Alaska, you do need to keep in mind that if you want to have the best weather then the crowds and higher prices are unavoidable. It’s simply a matter of spending wisely to get the experience you want to have.

Tourists going ashore at Sint Maarten

2.   Know what you want to do.

Seriously consider what you want from your cruise. Are you someone who wants to spend time onboard relaxing, soaking up some sun, and enjoying the ship?  Are you someone who likes variety and wants to visit many places?

If you are a person who like to lounge around, needs to recuperate from working, enjoys sampling varied onboard activities (such as sushi classes, entertainment shows to belly flop contests, and play trivia), or lounging by the pool, then choose a cruise with more at sea days.

If you are easily bored, like to be on the move, like exploring new places, like a variety of activity choices, or shopping, then choose a cruise with many ports to visit.

3.    Find the company that fits you.

Once you know about where you want to go and when along with what you would most enjoy, consider what cruise line and which ship to choose.

I always recommend a first time cruiser stick with the larger lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, or Princess.  They know how to package an experience that meets the needs of most people across all ages.  They offer popular destinations and a good variety of cruise lengths consisting of both at sea and in port days.

These cruise lines also offer a good variety of ships to choose among.  They go to many different places with each offering a fun variety of onboard entertainment.  

If you think you’d like a really big ship with plenty to do on board, Royal Caribbean offers the largest cruise ships afloat.  Their really big ships can carry as many as 6000 of your closest new best friends, but the ships are designed to spread out the crowds between activities, pools, and different eateries.

Carnival offers fun slides and play areas.  Norwegian says dress casual and enjoy multiple choices every day for dining.

For some of the best prices, consider the medium sized ships carrying around 3000 to 4000 passengers.  These size ships are a nice mix between size and amenities.  Big enough to offer lots of onboard activities and still small enough to fit into many different ports.

Some of the smaller ships, carrying 2500 guests or less, are known for their beautiful sea views, wonderful service, and the convenience they offer of sailing out of close to home ports such as Galveston, Texas or Baltimore, Maryland. Still remember that some smaller ships can be quite expensive since they carry fewer passengers.

Cruise ships docked at St. Kitts

4.   Select your itinerary and your ship.

Once you know what you would most like to do, then it’s time to consider an actual itinerary and your ship.  Knowing what you would most like to see or do helps you decide which line and ship to pick.

For Alaska, remember you will want to be able to see the outside easily and be outside often. You want a ship with lots of windows and ample deck spaces for everyone to use while viewing the scenery and wildlife. You want to go mid-June through the middle of August.

If you want to go swimming and sailing, then the Caribbean has many different beautiful beaches to choose from.  You can go most any month, but during the winter months it is usually expensive since everyone wants a winter break. Early fall is hurricane season, but that can mean price drops.  For time on a beach at a good price, consider a stop at a cruise line’s own private island.  Such a stop offers the beach experience with little to no extra cost as long as all you want is a beach and some sun.  Lunch on the island is usually included, but you can always return to your ship to eat.

If you want to explore North America, Europe, or elsewhere, cruises offer journeys where you can explore without having to pack, travel, and unpack at each stop.  Consider your cruise an opportunity to sample places.

5.   Booking Process Decisions.

To book a cruise you can book directly with the cruise line or you can go through a travel agent.  My recommendation is use a travel agent.  There are many that specialize in cruises.  Go with a local agency (get your friend’s recommendations and the agent’s credentials first) or go through an online travel agency.

There are many online travel agencies that specialize in cruising so check them out.  Most big warehouse stores offer travel services online.  Even if you don’t book through them, some online cruise travel agencies have good websites providing easy to view ship itineraries and pricing. These can often be easier to use when looking for what ship is going where and when, than the cruise companies’ own websites.

A balcony room on Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas

6.   Cabins Types.

One thing to consider before actually booking is what kind of cabin you want on your cruise.  The cabin you pick greatly impacts your cruise cost.

Four basic cabin types are: 1 - inside (no outside window or view); 2 - outside view (there’s a window, small to large depending on the ship and deck); 3 - balcony (from small with two chairs to larger) and a junior suite (just a larger floor or balcony space than a typical balcony cabin); and 4 - higher end suites (these cost the big bucks – only you can decide if you need the space, services, and perks a suite can provide).

All of these cabins come with their own positive and negative aspects.  Inside cabins are less expensive, but small. The balconies and suites have more room, but cost more.

So you’ll pay more for space and any view.  You’ll also often pay more for a higher deck and to be in the ship’s middle as well.  It all comes down to how much you want to pay versus your cabin’s location. 

Sunrise over the Caribbean

7.   Three C’s – Cabin Costs Considerations.

Picking the right cabin, its size, location, and cost, is a very personal matter.  If you want to go as cheaply as possible, then book an inside cabin on the lowest public cabin deck.  It will be small, not have any window (some Royal Caribbean inside cabins do offer a virtual outside view on a wall of the cabin), and very dark when the lights are turned off. 

Even the cheapest cabin puts you on the ship with full access to facilities and activities that everyone can enjoy.  It will have a room steward to clean it (not you - you’re on vacation remember), a private bathroom, a comfortable bed, TV, and many varied spaces to store your stuff.  You can travel on a ship quite comfortably in an inside cabin if you are not claustrophobic.

If you do need that outside view, then consider booking an outside window (ocean view) cabin. Such cabins often have a small window, a larger (usually round) window, or even on some ships a floor to ceiling window. They cost more, but do offer a chance to see what is happening outside your cabin.

Ocean view window cabins are often on decks two or three, but can be higher depending on ship design.  Some of these cabins are located at the front of the ship below the bridge (ship steering area).  Be aware you may experience more ship motion there than in other ship locations.  If you do tend to motion sickness, it is best to go with a lower deck cabin in the middle of the ship since motion is usually felt less there.

Many people like to book a balcony cabin.  That’s why you see so many of the newer ships built with multiple decks of balconies.  A balcony cabin allows you to open a door and step out onto your own private outside space.

A balcony cabin can significantly add to your cruise cost so consider carefully if you think you will use it enough.  A balcony can be a great place to get away from the crowds and have that drink, snack, or read mid-afternoon in private.  Remember that if you travel at cooler times, you may not be able to get much use of the balcony.  That view may still be worth it to you, only you can decide that.  If you are traveling south along the coast from New York or Boston during late fall, winter, or early spring it will be a day or two before it is warm enough to really enjoy using the balcony.

A suite usually costs double to triple the cost of an outside or balcony room.  It also comes with more space, a bigger balcony and some perks like special pool or shows seating areas, a suite guest club lounge, and/or special restaurants just for suite guests.

If extra space is needed, then check out the price of a suite against the price of two or more cabins. Sometimes a junior suite or above size suite can be more affordable for a family instead of paying for more cabins.

Before leaving the topic of cabins, it is worth mentioning that some cruise lines are offering some interesting alternative options these days: solo cabins, some even with a small balcony, for solo travelers; and family cabins that have separate bunk bed areas for children.

If you are traveling as a solo, then check on the solo cabin offerings as they mean you won’t have to pay a single supplement price to occupy a double occupancy cabin (the price standard for cruise cabins).

If you are traveling with children, consider booking two adjacent cabins with a connecting door.  That gives a family two bathrooms and some privacy when the connecting doors are closed.  Connecting cabins may be found in inside, outside, and balcony cabins.  Some families even like to have an inside cabin for the kids across the hall from a balcony cabin as this still provides two bathrooms, some privacy, and a balcony to share at times.

A cruise ship departing Fort Lauderdale’s port

8.   Book That Cruise!

Now that you know where you want to go, when you want to go, what kind of cabin you want, and the amount of time you have to vacation, it is time to book that cruise.

Book through your travel agent as the agent can help you find the best deal for your needs.  The travel agent is likely to offer you an incentive as a “reward” for using the agent.  Often it is some OBC (onboard credit – money the travel agent provides so you can purchase things or services onboard). It is a nice perk and is another reason to use a travel agent to book.  If you get OBC, either from the cruise line and/or from your travel agent use it up before leaving the ship.  It’s not hard to do as there are so many ways to spend it once on board.  If the travel agent you use does not mention any type of perk or reward for booking through them, then ask about it.

Two other reasons for using a travel agent for cruise bookings: one, they know about cruise ships and itineraries and want to share that knowledge to your benefit; and two, they can help you when you need to change something or something goes wrong.

Usually my recommendation when traveling is to research it yourself and explore your own bookings, but cruising is different.  You have to book a cruise trip through either the cruise line direct or through a travel agent. The cruise line is interested in getting your booking, but not necessarily in what is best for you.  The travel agent wants to help you get the best cruise you can afford and want. They work for you to have the best cruise possible.

One last thing to consider about your cruise - trip insurance. How boring and not necessary you say?  What happens if you break your leg outside the US and have to get treatment? Often your medical insurance will not cover such expenses. That means if you break your leg or worse happens, any medical expenses must be paid in full on the spot. Trip insurance is cheap and can help cover such needs if an emergency happens.