Cruising 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Planning Your First Cruise

Introduction

Cruising can be an exciting and relaxing way to explore new destinations and unwind from everyday life. However, planning your first cruise can seem overwhelming for beginners. This guide aims to provide you with all the essential information you need to plan the perfect cruise getaway.

Why Choose a Cruise?

• Explore multiple destinations in one trip-

Cruising is a great way to tour a particular part of the world without the hassle of planning several legs on your vacation. Not only that, you’ll travel in style and comfort on the way. You can see just about any part of the world you like and experience the ship on the same trip. You can choose a cruise with just a few stops or one with many ports of call.

• All-inclusive amenities and entertainment- 

On most cruises, when you pay the basic fare the entertainment, meals, cabin, and all of the service that comes with that are included. You don’t have to spend another dime if that’s your choice. The shows and live music are normally free of extra charge and very high caliber on most ships. There will be plenty of food options and several venues to dine in. Then there are the swimming pools, gyms, and some ships even have ziplines and surfing simulators. Most if not all of these types of entertainment are free to enjoy.

• Relaxing onboard experience-

If your aim is to get away from it all and relax, that’s easy to do as well. Soak up some sun by one of the pools or find a quiet corner to read a book. Sit and watch the sea go by with your coffee. You can even hang out in one of the bars if that’s your thing. We find that other than breakfast on the balcony, there’s rarely any time spent in our cabin but you can even do that if that’s your thing. The point is, it’s easy to disconnect and take it easy if that’s what you want.

• Variety of activities for all ages-

  We briefly touched on this above, but it deserves more discussion. Most cruise ships have activities for people of all ages. Many even have kid’s clubs that cater to children and allow adults to relax and enjoy themselves. Some ships have water slides and other attractions for the young and those that feel young. There are usually sports areas for basketball, ping pong, or even pickleball if you want. Adult night clubs and teen clubs keep the party going at night. You will find game shows, bingo, and trivia games on the schedule. If you want to stay busy, there’s always something going on for cruisers of any age.

Choosing the Right Cruise

• Research different cruise lines and ships- 

After all that I’ve said above, there is a word of caution. The fact is that there are different types of cruise lines and they will appeal to different types of people. Do your homework when planning your first cruise and you’ll find that some lines cater to families and some to an older crowd. There are even adult only ships out there. Some lines cater to a more festive passenger and some to a more sedate group. If you use the web, you can find plenty of advice but take reviews with a grain of salt.

• Consider the length of the cruise-

Not too much to say here; the longer the cruise the higher the cost. For me the sweet spot is 7-8 nights since it’s hard to get longer than that off work all at once. For some, a shorter cruise might be better for the first time out, just to see if the cruise bug bites. You can find itineraries from 3 days on up to months at a time so just pick what feels right to you.

• Decide on a budget- 

This might be the single biggest factor in choosing your cruise, or if you are going to cruise at all. Plan a budget like you would for any vacation and see where you stand. Cruising costs vary widely depending on the line you choose and the length of the cruise. You can actually do a mock booking on the cruise line’s website and see what the approximate cost will be. This will give you an idea, but remember that prices are usually dynamic, driven up or down by demand and other factors. A key thing to remember is to book as far in advance as you can and pay the cruise fare in installments. This will help spread the cost and keep you from having to pay the whole price all at once. It will also allow you to adjust your fare if the price goes down before the final payment is due.

• Choose a destination that suits your interests- 

  This may seem like a no-brainer. Why would you plan a cruise to a place you are not interested in right? But still, when you have the whole globe to choose from it might be hard to pick one area for your cruise. For example, if you want warm sunny beaches then the Caribbean seems like a logical choice. I’m a history buff so Europe interests me and so on. Point is, if you’re not interested in your destination(s) your vacation might be a flop.

Booking Your Cruise

• Booking through a travel agent vs. booking online- 

I’ve done it both ways but here I’m going to recommend a travel agent. What I have learned is that a good TA can save you money, time, and offer perks that might not be available to you on your own. And the best part is there is usually no extra cost to you for their services. And wouldn’t it be helpful to have someone booking the trip that knows the ropes already?

• Understanding cabin categories and pricing-

Ok, follow me here; on each ship there are several categories of staterooms and the price for each is different. Sometimes there are a bunch of different cabin type but I’ll break it down to the four main categories. Inside cabins are just that, inside with no windows or balconies. They are the least expensive cabins on the ship and can be quite a bargain. Then there are ocean view cabins that have a window that lets in light and gives you a view of, you guessed it, the ocean. These cost more than inside cabins but less than the types we’ll talk about next. There are balcony cabins, which is our sweet spot. You get a balcony to enjoy and the price is fairly reasonable. After these there are suites, and they range from just a bit bigger than a normal balcony room to multi-level units with multiple bedrooms. As you can guess these get pricey.

• Considering add-ons like drink packages and excursions-

This is an area that can be confusing. Every line is a little different but basically the extras you might pay for up front include alcoholic drink packages, Wi-Fi, excursions, pre-paid gratuities, and specialty dining. None of these are mandatory but they can save you a little money if you buy before sailing. When I cruise, I usually multiply the base fare by two to get an idea what it might cost in total. I know people that cruise less expensively than I do and tons that spend more. Choose wisely.

• Securing travel insurance-

Word to the wise; don’t travel without it! Good travel insurance can cover the cost of almost any issue you have from lost luggage to emergency medevac to a US hospital. I can’t say enough how bad it would be to be stuck in a foreign country without enough cash or credit on hand to pay your doctor bill in case of an accident. Make sure to budget for this when you plan your cruise.

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