Insider Tips for Booking a Cruise: What We’ve Learned From 5+ Years at Sea
If you’re looking for tips for booking a cruise, you’ve come to the right place. We spent 5 ½ years working on cruise ships, sailed with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, and were even part of the startup team for Virgin Voyages. On top of that, we’ve cruised as guests through the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Canada, and Central America, so we’ve experienced cruising from pretty much every angle.
One thing we’ve learned is that booking a cruise isn’t just about finding the cheapest sailing or picking the itinerary with the most ports. The cruise line, ship, cabin, itinerary, season, and even who you’re traveling with can completely change your experience.
So we’re breaking down everything we think you should consider before booking a cruise, including how to choose the right cruise line, what to look for in a ship, how to compare prices, and some of the mistakes we’ve seen people make over and over again.
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Tips for Booking a Cruise: Why Extra Thought Needs to Be Put in
Before diving into all of our trips for booking a cruise, let’s see if a cruise is right for you, and why it’s takes much more thought than mindlessly choosing a trip.
🤔 Is a Cruise Worth Booking?
We have a love-hate relationship with cruises, and we believe that they are sometimes an excellent choice, and other times your money can be put better towards another type of trip.
We love being able to wake up somewhere new without packing and unpacking every day, and cruises are a great choice for big groups, varied travel styles, and for those that have limited vacation time.
If you hate being on a schedule, only want to spend several days in one destination, or don’t enjoy being around a lot of other people, a cruise might not be your ideal vacation.
But if you love seeing multiple places, having tons of entertainment and dining options, and waking up somewhere new without changing hotels every night, cruising can be an incredible way to travel.
😅 Why is Booking a Cruise Not So Simple?
Booking a cruise may seem simple, but there’s actually a lot more that goes into it than you may think!
Between hidden fees, add-ons, and different rules, each cruise can actually look very different. Knowing what to look out for can actually be the biggest difference from someone swearing off cruise ships or them being their favorite way to travel.
With certain tips for booking a cruise, you can actually save a ton of money and enjoy your vacation a lot more.
⭐️ What to Consider When Booking a Cruise
When booking a cruise, here are some of the most important things to consider:
🚢 Cruise line
🛳️ Ship size and age
🗺️ Destination and itinerary
📅 Season
🛏️ Cabin type and location
💰 Total price
🍹 What’s included
🏝️ Excursions and port time
✈️ How you’ll get to the port
Tips for Booking Your Cruise
Booking a cruise can feel overwhelming because there are so many ships, cruise lines, itineraries, cabins, and add-ons to choose from. After working onboard for years, we’ve learned that the “best cruise” really depends on what you’re looking for.
🛳️ Choose the Cruise Line Carefully
One of the biggest mistakes first-time cruisers make is choosing a cruise based entirely on the itinerary.Yes, where you’re going matters, but the cruise ship itself is going to be a huge part of your vacation.
Every cruise line has a different vibe. Some are more family-oriented, some focus heavily on entertainment, some are more upscale, and others have a more diverse and wild atmosphere.
We’ve worked for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Virgin Voyages, and each one was great in its own way. However, depending on the group traveling we’d give different recommendations for the cruise line to go with.
When choosing a cruise line, think about:
👨👩👧 Who you’re traveling with
🎉 What kind of atmosphere you want
🍽️ How important dining is to you
🎭 What type of entertainment you enjoy
🏊♀️ What you want to do onboard
💰 Your overall budget
🛳️ How much time you’ll actually spend on the ship
🗺️ Look at the Itinerary, not just the ports
🚢 Compare Ships
This is something we think first-time cruisers often overlook.
You might love a cruise line but end up booking a ship that isn’t really your style. That’s why we recommend looking at the specific ship you’re considering instead of stopping your research at the cruise line.
Each company has different classes, and those classes often determine the size, amenities, and activities that you’ll find onboard. Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class for example, is entirely different than their Quantum Class.
You should look at things like:
🛳️ How big is the ship?
👵🏻 How old is it?
🍴 What restaurants are onboard?
🎭 What entertainment is available?
🧗🏻♀️ Does it have the activities you care about?
👙 Does it have pools or outdoor spaces you actually want to use?
🎉What is the general atmosphere?
You’re going to spend a LOT of time on that ship, so make sure you actually like it.
🆕 Don’t Automatically Choose the Newest Ship
New ships are exciting, but newer doesn’t automatically mean better.
We’ve worked on both new and established ships, and there are advantages to both. Older ships tend to have better itineraries with a more relaxed atmosphere onboard. Newer ships on the other hand are much more focused on passengers enjoying onboard, and are usually ideal for big groups and families with small children.
Instead of choosing based solely on the year the ship was built, look at what the ship actually offers, and which class it’s in.
For example, Utopia of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s newest ship of the Oasis Class. It’ll have more bells and whistles, but it’ll also be one of the priciest cruises. Allure of the Seas is an older ship, but the same class. That means it’ll have many of the same features, but with a better price tag attached to it.
🛏️ Pick Your Cabin Carefully
Your cabin location can make a surprisingly big difference, particularly if you’re sensitive to the motion of the ocean.
If you’re prone to seasickness, we recommend looking for a cabin toward the middle of the ship and on a lower deck, where you’re likely to feel less movement.
You should also look at what’s directly above and below your cabin. A cabin underneath a nightclub, pool deck, theater, or busy restaurant could be much noisier than you expect.
And while balcony cabins are amazing on certain itineraries, you don’t necessarily need one for every cruise. Think about where you’re going and how much time you’re actually going to spend in your cabin.
💡 Check your balcony before booking! Some have obstructed views, and others are balconies towards the interior of the ship rather than a sea view.
🌎 Consider the Destination and Itinerary
One of the first things to think about when booking a cruise is where you actually want to go. We’ve cruised throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Canada, and Central America, and each itinerary has given us a completely different experience.
We personally love using cruises to visit places we’ve never been before because you can get a taste of several destinations without constantly packing and unpacking or changing hotels. It’s one of the things we enjoy most about cruising.
Think about what kind of trip you’re looking for:
🏝️ A relaxing beach vacation
🏛️ A sightseeing-heavy itinerary
🏔️ Dramatic nature and scenery
🌊 Lots of sea days
🗺️ A new port almost every day
Just remember that you’re usually only spending a limited amount of time in each destination. If there’s somewhere you’re particularly excited about, check how long the ship is actually going to be there before booking.
📍 Look at the Ports
Don’t just look at the name of the itinerary and assume you know what you’ll be doing. Look at each individual port and see where the ship docks and how much time you actually have there.
Some cruises give you an entire day in a destination, while others may only give you a few hours. Depending on the port, you may also have quite a bit of travel time between the ship and the places you actually want to visit.
This is especially important if you’re booking a cruise because of one particular destination. If you’re really excited to see somewhere, make sure the itinerary gives you enough time to actually enjoy it.
📅 Think About the Season
The time of year you choose to cruise can make a huge difference, both in terms of weather and the overall vibe onboard.
We’ve cruised in a variety of seasons and destinations, and it’s worth thinking about what you actually want from the trip. A Caribbean cruise can be a great way to escape the cold during winter, while a Canadian cruise in the fall gives you the chance to see gorgeous foliage.
The season can also influence the type of crowd you’ll find onboard. Alaska and Canada cruises tend to attract older crowds, while shorter Caribbean cruises can be much more party-oriented.
Some of our favorite seasonal combinations include:
🏝️ Caribbean in winter: Warm weather and a break from the cold.
🍁 Canada in autumn: Gorgeous fall foliage and cooler temperatures.
🧊 Alaska in summer: Cooler weather, dramatic scenery, and Arctic adventures.
☀️ Caribbean in summer: Hot weather, beaches, and a more energetic atmosphere.
When you’re looking at tips for booking a cruise, don’t just consider where you want to go. Think about when you want to go there, too.
⏳ Choose the Length of the Cruise
It might seem crazy, but there is a big difference between the crowd and atmosphere of a weekend Caribbean cruise vs a 10-day Caribbean cruise.
If you love to party, then a weekend cruise attracts that type of crowd. But if you’re looking for more adventure or relaxation, then a longer cruise will be the ideal choice.
💰 Look at the Total Cost
This is where things can get a little tricky. That advertised cruise fare isn’t necessarily what you’re going to spend on the vacation. Depending on your cruise line, you may have additional costs for a variety of things onboard.
Before booking, think about:
💳 Gratuities 🥤 Drink packages 📶 Wi-Fi 🍽️ Specialty restaurants 🏝️ Excursions 📸 Photos 🛍️ Shopping 🎰 Casino spending 🚕 Transportation to and from the port
Virgin Voyages looks like they have much higher prices than other cruise lines. The reality? Their wifi, specialty restaurants, and gratuities are all included. Drinks are much more affordable than other cruise lines, so you actually might be saving money if those were things you’d consider getting a la carte with the “cheaper” cruise line.
🍹 Don’t Automatically Buy Every Package
Cruise lines are VERY good at selling packages.
Drink packages are a perfect example. If you know you’re going to drink enough to make one worthwhile, go for it. But if you’re only going to have a couple of drinks here and there, you may spend more on the package than you would have without it.
The same goes for Wi-Fi and specialty dining. Chances are you won’t need to stream, so don’t let those flashy upgrades convince you that you do.
Think about your vacation, not what the cruise line is trying to sell you.
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⚓️ Look at the Departure Port
Another thing we recommend considering is how you’re actually getting to the ship.
If you live close enough to drive, a cruise departing from a nearby port can make life MUCH easier. You don’t have to worry about flights, baggage restrictions, airport delays, or adding an extra hotel night.
If you’re flying, however, we strongly recommend arriving at least one day before your cruise. This is one of our biggest cruise tips, as we’ve seen a lot of people miss the ship this way!
✈️ Never Cut Your Flight Too Close
We have seen enough travel delays to know that this is not something worth gambling with. Your ship is not going to wait because your flight was delayed, and flying to the next port at the last minute definitely won’t be cheap.
Yes, paying for a hotel the night before adds another expense, but missing your cruise would be a LOT more expensive.
If you can, arrive early and enjoy the city you’re sailing from. It’s much better to start your cruise relaxed than sprinting from the airport to the port. When I took my Alaskan cruise from Seattle, I used it as an opportunity to tack on a couple of days in the city!
🪂 Don’t Forget to Look at Excursions
One of the biggest advantages of cruising is getting to experience multiple destinations on one trip. But if there’s an activity or attraction you’re really excited about, look into it before you book. Some excursions sell out, especially the more popular ones.
You also don’t necessarily have to book everything through the cruise line. There are independent excursions and ways to explore ports on your own, depending on the destination. The plus with booking through the cruise line is that the ship will always wait for you if you arrive later, but independent ones can be riskier, but also much more affordable.
Just make sure you understand the timing and how much time you actually have in port before making plans.
🚢 Tips for Booking a Cruise: Final Thoughts
After 5 ½ years of working on cruise ships and years of cruising as passengers, we’ve gathered so many tips for booking a cruise. We learned that the cheapest cruise isn’t necessarily the best deal, and the biggest ship isn’t necessarily the best ship.
The best things that you can do is to think ab out what you and your group want for your vacation.
As long as you go through this checklist, you’ll find booking a cruise much easier and a hell of a lot less stressful! And if you need help, we’re happy to help you book your trip.
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👀 What’s Next?
Now that you know all of our best tips for booking a cruise, it’s time to help you with some other planning and budget-travel tips.
Here are some other guides to help you plan your trip:
🛳️ How to pack for a cruise
✈️ 3 Easiest hacks for booking flights
📆 When to buy your flight
🤑 Flight hacking for beginners
📆 How to plan your 2026 travels
🤑 How to visit expensive destinations on a budget
🍃 30 Ways to become a more eco-friendly traveler
🛌 How to find unique stays
🗺 How to create an itinerary with Google Maps
📲 10 Travel apps that will save you time and money
🤖 How to plan an epic trip step-by-step (without Chat GPT)
🤠 How to find the best tour operators
🎉 How to find epic festivals around the world
🧘🏻♀️ How to find local events while traveling
📝 10 Travel essentials you didn’t know you needed
🧳 28 Life-changing packing tips
🎒 Top 6 backpacks for travelers
💻 Strategies for booking your trip
👩🏻💻 10 Tips for working remotely while traveling
🪂 How to find fun things to do while traveling
💕 The best ways to find travel alternatives
🕌 How to respect cultures while traveling
With all of our tips for booking a cruise, we’re confident you’re going to have an amazing vacation. Have questions still? Feel free to drop them in the comments below!
Looking for some other game-changing travel tips? We have plenty of other travel planning and packing guides for you to check out. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for our weekly article updates, and for exclusive discounts on our shop!
Need help booking your cruise? We can plan your perfect trip for you, or you can sign up for a one-on-one consultation where we spend time walking you through anything you need.
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