This is a sponsored post for Shore Excursions Group.
I cruise very differently now that I’ve got more than 50 sailings under my belt, compared to my very first cruise (which was actually for my honeymoon!)
Part of that is down to just learning the ropes, as it were, but some of the changes are for other reasons – relaxing a little more or finding that my preferences for how I spend my time have changed a little.
And it’s only when I sat down to write this article that I realised how surprising some of these changes are, even for myself.
1. I Rarely Book Excursions Through The Cruise Line
When I first started cruising, booking excursions through the cruise line felt like the obvious thing to do. Everything appeared conveniently in one place, and I didn’t have to investigate what else might be available in each destination.
Then, I learned more about cruising – and I felt like you had to book excursions through the cruise line. Because I started thinking more about the risks of missing the ship, and I wasn’t a fan of that idea!
But these days, I nearly always compare those trips with independent alternatives from companies such as Shore Excursions Group. It offers excursions created specifically for cruise passengers, often with smaller groups and lower prices than comparable trips sold onboard. They’re rated excellent by past cruisers too, which always helps, and they offer a return-to-ship guarantee for added reassurance – not that you’ll need it.
Read more: Shore Excursions Group Review
That doesn’t mean I never choose the cruise line’s version. I’d consider it. But the difference is that I now compare my options instead of automatically booking whatever appears in the cruise planner. And usually the third-party option with Shore Excursions Group is better.
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2. I Check The Port, Not Just The Destination
Cruise itineraries sometimes take a rather generous approach to geography. A destination may have a famous city written beside it, but the ship could actually dock an hour or more away.
Before planning anything, I now check the precise port, the distance to the places I want to visit and the transport involved. Spending four hours travelling for three hours in a city can look far less appealing once you see the day written out properly.
I also consider whether the port itself deserves a look. Civitavecchia may not compete with Rome for historic landmarks, but in other destinations, ignoring the nearby town can mean missing an enjoyable and much less frantic day ashore.
I am lucky that, with over 50 cruises completed, I’ve seen a lot of ports. So if a ship does dock far away from a city and it’s somewhere I’ve been before, then I am much more likely to stay close to the ship or even remain onboard.
But even for the new places I’m visiting, I’ll definitely research too before making any decisions.
3. I Check What Is Above And Below My Cabin
I used to choose cabins mainly by category, price and their distance from the lifts. Now I examine the surrounding decks with the concentration of someone searching an important legal document for an unpleasant clause.
A cabin beneath the pool deck may come with an unexpected early-morning soundtrack of sunloungers being dragged into position. Cabins near theatres, restaurants, gyms and crew service areas can also be noisier than their innocent-looking positions on the deck plan suggest.
My preferred option is usually a cabin with other cabins above and below it, although location and price still matter. I can’t guarantee complete silence, but I can avoid paying hundreds of pounds to sleep beneath the ship’s furniture-removal championships.
4. I Avoid The Buffet On Embarkation Day
The buffet tends to be that spot where passengers head immediately after boarding, which means your first meal can involve circling tables while carrying a plate, a drink and several increasingly poor decisions from the dessert counter, prowling for an available seat.
The vast majority of ships I’ve sailed on have at least another couple of options for a lunch onboard. Depending on the ship, that might be a main dining room, pub, café or smaller casual restaurant where the atmosphere is calmer and I can begin the cruise without defending an empty chair.
Not every alternative will be included in the fare, so I check before boarding to make sure I know the best spots to hit without adding to my bill immediately. Even when the buffet is the only practical choice, waiting until the initial rush has eased can make a substantial difference.
5. I Don’t Try To Do Everything On The First Day
Embarkation day once felt like a race to locate every restaurant, inspect every pool and establish firm opinions about bars I had visited for approximately four minutes. It was exciting, but it was also unnecessarily exhausting.
I now deal with anything genuinely time-sensitive, such as restaurant reservations, kids’ club registration or booking an activity with limited availability. Once those jobs are sorted, I let myself settle in and explore the ship naturally during the cruise.
Or when I’m filming a ship tour at 5am for my YouTube channel…
On a week-long sailing, there is plenty of time to find the nightclub you probably will not visit and the sports court you will admire from a safe distance. I would rather enjoy my first afternoon than turn it into a self-imposed inspection tour.
6. I Unpack Properly, Even On A Short Cruise
Living from a suitcase sounds manageable until the cabin contains several people repeatedly lifting clothes, chargers and underwear out of it. Within a day, the room can resemble the backstage area of a particularly disorganised fashion show.
I unpack as soon as I reasonably can, give everything a place and slide the empty cases beneath the bed. Cruise cabins are cleverly designed, but they feel considerably smaller when luggage occupies the limited floor space.
Even on a short sailing, those few minutes make the cabin easier to live in and help me find things without conducting an excavation every morning. I may be on holiday, but I still prefer knowing where my clean socks have gone.
7. I Pack Smarter And Usually Much Lighter
My earlier cruise packing involved preparing for every possible weather condition, social occasion and unlikely clothing emergency. Much of it returned home untouched, having enjoyed a pleasant voyage inside the wardrobe.
I now check the ship’s dress code, themed evenings, toiletries, plug sockets, laundry facilities and planned activities before deciding what I genuinely need. I also choose clothes that work together rather than packing an outfit for every individual moment of the cruise.
Sometimes I enjoy challenging myself to take the smallest sensible amount of luggage. Travelling lightly makes flights, trains, transfers and embarkation easier, although I stop well before reaching the stage where I am washing the same T-shirt in the bathroom sink every night.
8. I Don’t Assume A Drinks Package Is Good Value
Drinks packages can be wonderfully convenient, but convenience and value are not always the same thing. The right choice depends on the cruise line, itinerary, package rules and what I am genuinely likely to drink.
I consider how many port days the sailing includes, whether speciality coffees and bottled water are covered, and whether gratuities are added to the advertised price. I also check spending limits and whether every adult sharing the cabin must purchase the same package.
Sometimes the calculations make a package an easy yes, particularly when it is included within a wider offer. On other cruises, buying drinks individually costs much less and removes the strange temptation to consume another cocktail simply because a spreadsheet says I should.
I think its probably about 50% of the time that I get a package. But my calculator makes it an easier decision…
9. I Leave Empty Time In My Port Days
I used to think making the most of a destination meant filling every available minute. That can produce an impressive itinerary, but it can also turn a port day into a military operation involving timed toilet breaks.
Now I deliberately leave some space around my plans. That might mean having lunch without checking the time every three minutes, exploring an interesting side street or sitting somewhere pleasant instead of immediately rushing towards the next attraction.
I still book full-day excursions when a destination deserves one, but not every port needs to be conquered. Some of my favourite days ashore have included relatively simple tours on paper, largely because I had enough time to notice where I actually was.
10. I Make Exercise Part Of My Cruise Routine
I have always enjoyed going to the gym at home, but on my earliest cruises I treated the holiday as a complete break from that routine. Exercise could wait until I returned, along with emails, laundry and all my other less entertaining responsibilities.
These days, I often use the onboard gym or spend time jogging around the outdoor track. I’m not trying to compensate for dinner or earn permission to order dessert; I simply feel better when exercise remains part of my week.
I’m completely aware this won’t appeal to everyone, and nobody needs to visit the gym merely because the ship has one. However, if fitness is something you genuinely enjoy at home, maintaining that routine onboard can improve the holiday rather than interrupt it.
11. I Don’t Expect Every Cruise To Be Perfect
Cruises involve ships, weather, thousands of people and ports operating to their own schedules, so occasionally something will go wrong. A destination may be cancelled, a show might disappoint or the meal you were anticipating may be surprisingly forgettable.
Earlier in my cruising life, I was more likely to dwell on those frustrations because every part of the holiday felt important. After more than 50 cruises, I find it easier to change plans, choose something else and avoid giving one annoyance control over the rest of the day.
That doesn’t mean ignoring serious problems or pretending everything is wonderful when it isn’t. It just means recognising the difference between an issue that needs resolving and a minor disappointment that deserves five minutes of grumbling before I move on.
What About All The Little Cruise Hacks?
Alongside these bigger changes, I have picked up dozens of smaller cruise tips over the years. Some have become permanent habits, while others are things I follow occasionally or abandon the moment they become more effort than they are worth.
You’ll sometimes find me using magnetic hooks, packing a small laundry bag or taking along some other items you might be surprised by. At other times, I forget half my own advice and spend ten minutes trying to remember where I put my cruise card.
I’ve collected those practical ideas in my separate guide to cruise hacks, which covers plenty of simple ways to save space, stay organised and avoid common onboard annoyances. You certainly don’t need to use every hack, but a few may suit the way you travel.
Read more: 31 Cruise Secrets and Hacks I Learned From Taking 50+ Cruises
Final Word
Cruising more often has not turned me into someone who follows a rigid set of rules. If anything, experience has made me more comfortable choosing what works for that particular ship, itinerary and travelling companion instead of trying to cruise the “correct” way.
I research ports more carefully, compare excursion options, pack less and leave more room for plans to change. I also know that the best choice on one cruise may make absolutely no sense on the next, which is part of what keeps cruising interesting.
The biggest difference after more than 50 cruises is not knowing every trick or avoiding every mistake. It is understanding which details genuinely matter to me, while being much less bothered by the ones that do not.
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Hi Jenni,
As usual, all of your suggestions are spot on, but after over 135 cruises may I add a few suggestions.
Before booking a cruise, do some research as to exactly what is, and is not included, and decide what you will really want. In addition to alcohol, what beverages do you or your kids drink, do you need or want wi-fi, how much are specialty restaurants, special deserts, supplies for classes when offered, and anything else that may have a charge. As Jenni has said in the past, it is the final total cost that counts. Also, what is the size of your room. A lower priced cruise line may actually charge more for a larger room which is the same size as a smaller room on a more expensive line. A “more expensive” cruise may actually be cheaper in the end.
Do some reading and research well before the cruise. Suggestions and descriptions by the onboard travel desk, or even Shore Excursions, are designed to sell the tour. Look for actual traveller comments and evaluations which are available on many different sites.
Unless you are a super-efficient packer and only have a carry-on, have a change of clothes and a swimsuit in a carry on. Luggage does get delayed or even lost, even if you dropped it of at the ship.
If you have not prebooked tours or reservations, and want them, do this a s soon as you board.
Be sure to read the newsletter or schedule which will be distributed to your room the night before every port or sea day. You are not bound to participate in anything, but on more than one occasion I have heard someone moan “I didn’t know that was happening”.
Finally, check Jenni’s pre-cruise and packing lists to eliminate last minute surprises.