7 Harsh Truths I Wish I Knew Before My First Cruise

This is a sponsored article for Holland America.

I’ve been on enough cruises now to know that things don’t always go to plan. I’ve had some fantastic holidays at sea, but I’ve also learned that there are plenty of things you can get wrong, particularly when you’re booking your first cruise.

The problem is that it’s not always obvious what you need to think about until you’ve actually been on a ship. And by then, if you’ve chosen the wrong cabin or booked a cruise that doesn’t suit you, there’s not much you can do about it.

I certainly look at cruising differently now compared to when I first started, and there are a few things I wish I’d understood sooner. Some of these might sound a bit harsh, but they’re worth knowing before you book.

1. The Cheapest Cruise Could End Up Costing You a Fortune

Cruises can look ridiculously cheap when you see them advertised. A week away for a few hundred pounds (sometimes less!), with your accommodation, meals and entertainment included, sounds like a fantastic deal.

And sometimes it is. But it’s worth checking exactly what you’re getting for your money, because the extras can mount up quite quickly.

Drinks packages, WiFi, speciality dining, shore excursions and gratuities can all add to the cost, depending on which cruise line you choose. If you’re flying to meet the ship, you might also need to budget for transfers and possibly an overnight hotel stay.

You could find that a cruise with a higher initial price actually works out cheaper once you’ve added everything you want.

This is one of the reasons I’m a fan of comparing packages rather than just looking at the basic fare. When I sailed with Holland America, one of the options was the Have It All package, which includes drinks, Wi-Fi, speciality dining, shore excursion credit and prepaid Crew Appreciation.

It’s not necessarily worth paying extra for everything if you’re not going to use it, but I think it’s always worth doing the sums. I’d much rather know roughly what my holiday is going to cost before I go than come home to a nasty surprise.

Read more: Holland America Have It All Package: Is It Worth It?

2. You Could Book an Amazing Ship and Absolutely Hate It

I think this is one of the biggest things that first-time cruisers underestimate. Just because a ship looks amazing doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be right for you.

Cruise lines offer completely different experiences, and even ships within the same fleet can vary quite a bit.

Some ships have huge waterparks, dozens of bars and restaurants, and enough activities to keep you busy from morning until night. Others are much more relaxed, with fewer passengers, a focus on the destinations and plenty of quieter spaces where you can enjoy the sea views.

You might love the idea of a massive ship with everything imaginable on board, but find the crowds exhausting once you’re there. Equally, you might book a smaller ship expecting a peaceful holiday, then spend the week wishing there was more happening.

It’s worth looking beyond the photos and finding out what a typical day on board is actually like.

I had a really good example of this when I sailed on Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam. I loved how spacious the ship felt, and there was plenty to do without everything feeling busy or crowded. The live music was a particular highlight, with everything from duelling pianos to rock and R&B, but the atmosphere was still quite relaxed.

It suited me brilliantly, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the same ship to someone whose idea of a perfect cruise involves huge waterslides and thrill rides. That’s why it’s so important to find out what a ship is actually like, rather than just choosing one that looks impressive in the photos.

The right ship for somebody else isn’t necessarily the right one for you, however many five-star reviews it has.

3. You Might Barely See the Places You’ve Paid to Visit

One of the main reasons people book cruises is the opportunity to visit several destinations in one holiday. It sounds brilliant, particularly when you see an itinerary with five or six different ports.

But take a closer look at the timings, because you might not have nearly as long in those places as you expect.

A ship might arrive at 8am and leave at 3pm, which doesn’t give you a full seven hours of sightseeing once you’ve allowed time to get off and back on board. And that’s assuming you’re actually docking somewhere convenient.

Some cruise ports are a fair distance from the destinations they’re named after. If you’re visiting Rome from Civitavecchia, for example, you’re looking at quite a journey before you’ve even reached the city.

There’s also the risk of missing the ship if you get back late, which is something you really don’t want to experience on your first cruise.

I always recommend checking the port times before booking, especially if there’s somewhere on the itinerary you’re particularly excited about. Look into where the ship docks, how easy it is to get around and whether you’ll realistically have time to see what you want.

Some itineraries have longer stays or even overnight visits, which can be a much better option if exploring ashore is your priority.

And if you’ve always dreamed of spending several days discovering Rome, you might be better off booking a city break rather than trying to squeeze it into one cruise port call.

4. Trying to Do Everything Could Ruin Your Holiday

There’s an enormous amount to do on some cruise ships, and I know how tempting it can be to try to fit everything in.

You’ve got activities throughout the day, different restaurants to try, evening entertainment and, of course, all the places you’re visiting. On a port-intensive itinerary, you could easily spend every day out exploring and every evening rushing around the ship.

The problem is that you can end up needing another holiday to recover from your cruise.

I think there’s sometimes a feeling that you need to make the most of every penny you’ve spent, particularly if you’ve booked a more expensive holiday. But just because something is included doesn’t mean you have to do it.

If you’re tired after a long day in port, there’s nothing wrong with having a quiet evening instead of going to another show. And if you’d rather spend a sea day reading a book than joining in with activities, that’s perfectly fine too.

Personally, I think some of the nicest parts of a cruise are when you’re not doing very much at all. You can sit and watch the sea, enjoy a leisurely meal or find somewhere quiet for a drink. It’s your holiday, and there’s no prize for attending the most activities.

5. Your Cabin Could Make You Miserable

You don’t need to book an expensive suite to enjoy a cruise. I’ve stayed in all sorts of cabins, and I certainly wouldn’t rule out an inside cabin if the price was right.

But I would be quite careful about where that cabin was located.

When you’re new to cruising, it’s easy to assume that all cabins in the same category are pretty much identical. And in terms of size and facilities, they often are. The difference is what’s going on around them.

If you’re directly below the pool deck, you might hear furniture being moved around early in the morning. A cabin near a nightclub could be noisy late at night, while one close to a busy area might have people walking past at all hours.

Some locations can also be less comfortable if you suffer from seasickness. Cabins lower down and towards the middle of the ship generally experience less movement than those high up or towards either end.

Before you book, find the deck plans and check what’s above and below your cabin, not just what’s on the same deck.

You don’t necessarily need to pay more for a better location. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of choosing a different cabin within the same price category.

It’s a small bit of research that could make a huge difference to how well you sleep.

6. The Weather Doesn’t Care How Much You’ve Paid

You can spend months planning a cruise, choose what looks like the perfect itinerary and have everything booked well in advance. Unfortunately, none of that guarantees you’ll actually visit every destination.

Bad weather can cause ports to be missed, particularly those where ships need to use tenders to get passengers ashore. Strong winds can also make it unsafe for a ship to dock, and occasionally an itinerary needs to change quite significantly.

Sometimes you’ll get an extra sea day instead of the port you were looking forward to, and there’s not much you can do about it.

I can understand why people get upset when this happens, particularly if they’ve booked a cruise specifically to visit somewhere. But the captain has to make decisions based on safety, and that sometimes means disappointing passengers.

You also need to remember that even very large cruise ships can move around in rough seas. If you’re worried about seasickness, it’s worth looking into the route and time of year before you book.

There are no guarantees, of course. You could sail somewhere that’s usually lovely and calm and still have a few rough days.

My advice would be to avoid choosing a cruise solely because of one particular port, unless you’re comfortable with the possibility that you might not get there.

If there’s a destination you absolutely have to visit, a land-based holiday might be the better option.

7. Even the Best Crew Can’t Read Your Mind

Although, I have to admit, sometimes it feels like they can!

A really good crew can make a huge difference to your cruise. It’s lovely when your cabin steward remembers the little things you like, or when a waiter recognises you and remembers your usual drink.

I was really impressed by the crew when I sailed with Holland America. They were genuinely friendly and attentive, and I loved that they remembered me. It’s the sort of personal touch that makes you feel welcome rather than just another passenger among thousands.

But even the most helpful crew members can’t know there’s a problem unless you tell them.

If something isn’t right with your cabin, mention it rather than putting up with it all week. If you’re struggling to find something on the ship or you’re unsure how something works, ask somebody.

You don’t need to make a fuss, and obviously there’s no excuse for being rude to the crew. But there’s nothing wrong with politely asking for help or raising a genuine concern.

I’ve heard from plenty of cruisers who’ve come home frustrated about something that might have been resolved quite easily if they’d spoken up at the time.

And it’s worth being proactive about the good things too. If there’s a particular restaurant you want to try, see whether you need to book it. If you want to watch a popular show, find out whether reservations are required.

The crew can do an awful lot to make your holiday special, but you’re much more likely to have a great time if you play your part too.

A Little Research Goes a Long Way

I hope none of these points has put you off cruising, because it really can be a fantastic holiday. But there’s a difference between booking a cruise and booking the right cruise.

It pays to spend a bit of time looking at the ship, the itinerary, the cabin and everything that’s included in the price before you hand over your money.

I’ve sailed with lots of different cruise lines over the years, and one thing I’ve learned is that they all offer something different. I’ve really enjoyed my time with Holland America, particularly the food, live music and relaxed atmosphere, and it’s a cruise line I’d happily sail with again.

But what suits me might not suit you, so do your research before booking. Get those decisions right, and hopefully the biggest problem you’ll have is deciding which cruise to book next.

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