Beginner's Guide to Cruising: Must-Know Tips From Past Guests

I know that cruising can be a little intimidating for first-time cruisers.

While cruises share a lot of similarities with other types of holiday, there are a lot of differences too, including a few quirks. So it’s normal to be nervous before your first one.

I can offer my own advice, but i know I’m not the only expert, so I asked my Facebook fans for their own tips for first time cruisers, and this is what they came up with:

1. Ask Questions

A smiling waiter in a vest and tie taking an order from guests at a well-appointed dining table, with a focus on customer interaction in a sophisticated restaurant setting. A smiling waiter in a vest and tie taking an order from guests at a well-appointed dining table, with a focus on customer interaction in a sophisticated restaurant setting. A smiling waiter in a vest and tie taking an order from guests at a well-appointed dining table, with a focus on customer interaction in a sophisticated restaurant setting.

Cruise ships are staffed by a fantastic crew, who are on hand to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible for you.

But they can only help if they know that you need something, so make sure to ask – whether it’s a question, or a request, anything. You aren’t being a burden unless you demand all their time, and they want to help, so don’t be shy – ask!

2. Be Open-Minded

A woman in denim shorts and a tank top is standing on a cruise ship balcony, leaning on the railing as she looks out at the vast ocean through a large, circular window. Two empty chairs are placed beside her, framing the serene view of the open sea under a clear sky.

I tell you what – some people love a good moan about cruises online!

One of the most popular comments that came up was to make sure you stay open minded about your cruise, and not to get bogged down by any negative comments you see on Facebook groups or forums.

Everyone has their own unique cruise experience, and even if you see a lot of people complaining about your chosen ship or itinerary, there’ll be even more people who love it, but they just aren’t as vocal online.

That open mind will make sure you look forward to your cruise and, once onboard, enjoy it fully.

3. Go with the Flow

Two large cruise ships docked side by side at a port, with people walking along the pier under a bright, sunny sky.

It’s good to try to be flexible when you’re on a cruise holiday, and not overthink all the little details.

Itineraries can change, activities can be shuffled around or oversubscribed. There are a lot of moving parts – so try not to obsess over every minor thing. If you can adopt an easygoing attitude, you won’t be disappointed if plans do change.

That being said, it’s a good idea to prepare a little bit – like buying cruise insurance with missed port cover, so you can get a bit of money back if your itinerary is forced to change.

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4. Relax and Don’t Overdo It

A family enjoying room service on a P&O cruise ship. The father is giving a thumbs up while holding a tray with pizza and fries, the mother is smiling at the camera, and their young daughter is sitting between them with a bowl of fries. They are seated on a bed, looking relaxed and happy.

It’s easy to get carried away trying to do everything, especially on some modern cruise ships that are like floating cities. It’s impossible to fit everything in!

Remember to relax and take some time off to avoid returning home exhausted. Yes, have a lot of fun, but if you aren’t careful you’ll need a holiday to recover from your cruise.

5. Manage Your Finances

When you cruise, you’ll register your bank card or credit card to your cruise account, and then any purchases you make onboard will accrue on that, to be paid off on the last day.

Which means it’s easy to get a little carried away and accidentally overspend. Nobody wants their first cruise to end on a sour note with a huge bill.

Keep tabs on your spending, especially if you plan on visiting the casino onboard. If you plan on drinking a lot, consider a drinks package instead as it might save you money, plus you can pay for it in advance, which will help you to budget.

6. Pack Wisely

An open suitcase packed for a cruise trip shows neatly organized clothing, a passport, a water bottle, a watch, and a laptop. Surrounding the suitcase are various shoes, a sun hat, and other travel essentials, all laid out on the floor in preparation for the journey.

There are a few key tips when it comes to packing your clothes for your cruise, including making sure you’ve got some loose-fitting items – you will be offered a lot of food and you want to make sure you can really enjoy it!

Comfortable shoes are more important than fancy high heels for formal night, especially if you’re planning on taking a lot of excursions.

But the biggest tip is to finish packaging and then remove anywhere between 30-50% of what you’ve packed as you won’t wear it all – good advice! Obviously, you don’t want to be underprepared, but don’t pack so much that it’s an uncomfortable suitcase to lug around.

Some items that you might often take on a holiday will be useless on a cruise ship. So make sure you don’t pack any of these things that you definitely won’t need on a cruise.

7. Follow Cruise Experts

Cruise Mummy in a green patterned dress is seated on a cruise ship's deck, smiling at the camera while holding a tropical drink. The sun is setting in the background, casting a warm glow over the ocean and the ship's pool area, where other passengers are relaxing. The scene captures a moment of leisure and enjoyment during a sunset at sea.

Without making this seem like an ego-trip, it was lovely that a few of my Facebook fans said that following experts like me could be helpful.

Lots of cruise experts create articles and YouTube videos covering every aspect of cruising – with our help, you’ll be able to find your perfect ship and make sure you’re fully prepared to cruise.

Suggested read: 100 Most Popular Cruise Blogs

8. Be Punctual

Cruise ship passengers are disembarking at a port in Sydney, with the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge visible in the background. The scene is bustling with people walking along the waterfront promenade, lined with palm trees and flags. The large cruise ship, adorned with a Union Jack design on its bow, is docked, creating a vibrant and picturesque setting.

If you’re someone who tends to be late for things, maybe look at ways of managing that habit before your cruise.

Because on a ship that might be hosting thousands of guests, they aren’t going to wait around for one or two people who are delayed getting onboard. On embarkation day, or any day in port, if you miss the all aboard time then the ship will sail off without you.

If that means missing your cruise, you’ll be out of pocket – and your insurance will only cover you if it wasn’t your fault. If the ship leaves you stranded in port, then you’re responsible for either flying to the next port to meet it, or flying home and paying for your luggage to be shipped to you.

Just make sure you’re on time.

9. Bring Essentials

A person is seen packing a suitcase, securing the contents with a strap. The suitcase contains neatly folded clothing, including a turquoise patterned garment. Next to the suitcase on the bed, various travel essentials are laid out, including medication, toiletries, a book, a phone charger, and other small items. The image conveys preparation and organization for a cruise or trip.

There are several must-have items that can really make the difference on your cruise. The main ones that keep being suggested are a power strip, a travel alarm clock, and sea sickness medicine.

Power strips are useful because a lot of ships (older ones especially) don’t have many outlets, so you may need one just to be able to plug everything in. Weirdly, it’s the safer surge-protected strips that cruise ships don’t like, so avoid those.

Travel alarm clocks are useful because you might not be able to plug your phone in next to your bed, and it’s handy to see what time it is without having to get up, especially in an Inside cabin where there’s no natural light to give you a hint. Plus you might need to set an alarm for excursions.

And yes, some people do get sea sick on a cruise. If you think you will, or you’ve no idea, pack medication just to be safe.

10. Do Your Homework

Two women are sitting together at a wooden table, both focused on a laptop screen as they collaborate on research or work. One woman is wearing a black hat and a gray sweater, while the other is dressed in a light blue shirt. A smartphone and two coffee cups are also on the table, suggesting a casual and productive environment. The image captures a moment of teamwork and shared focus.

You absolutely can walk into a travel agency and tell them that you want to book a cruise, and then leave everything in their hands if you want your holiday booking to be easy.

But it still makes sense to do your own homework, because cruise ships are not all alike, and you need to make sure you find the perfect one for you.

Research the kind of atmosphere on the ship you’re looking at – is it favoured by an older crowd? Is it family-friendly? Or is it more of a party ship?

Check your dining options, the excursions you could book on your itinerary – look up everything, and this will help you find the perfect cruise. The wrong cruise could put you off cruising for life, so it’s important to at least know what you’re signing up for when you book on a certain ship.

11. Fly in Early

A white shuttle bus is parked at an airport terminal with a plane taking off in the background. The scene is set on a cloudy day, emphasizing the busy travel environment.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when planning a cruise is to travel to the ship on embarkation day. To reiterate, if you’re late, the ship will leave without you and you will be out of pocket.

This is especially true if you’re flying to the ship. You should always aim to fly the day before, and book a cheap hotel near the port. That way, if something goes wrong with the flight, you’ve got wiggle room to hopefully still make it in time.

It’s also just less stressful. Going through a flight and then check-in on your ship on one day is intense – spreading it over two days, at a more relaxed pace, is often preferred.

12. Book Entertainment Early

A shore excursion manager is discussing shore excursions with a couple at a travel desk, with brochures and promotional materials displayed. The setting appears to be an upscale, elegant lobby, emphasizing personalized service and luxury travel planning.

A lot of the best entertainment options and excursions on a cruise will sell out fast, so it’s important to book early.

Many cruise lines will let you start booking things in advance of your cruise, but it varies by cruise line on how early you can – so make sure you check that when doing your homework.

If you miss out, don’t be afraid to go ask when you’re onboard – extra spaces are sometimes held back, or there might have been cancellations. If you really want to see a show and you haven’t booked, just turn up anyway, and they might let you in if there are spaces from no-shows.

While it is important to go with the flow, you should still try to book the things that you’re most interested in.

13. Download Deck Plans

A woman with wavy hair and glasses is working on a laptop at a wooden desk in a cozy, well-decorated room. The desk is adorned with several plants, a notebook, and a cup of coffee, creating a warm and inviting workspace. The wall beside her is decorated with framed artwork and a wooden map, contributing to the creative and personal atmosphere of the space.

All cruise lines publish deck plans for their ships – think of them as a map of each deck, showing you where each cabin is situated along with the elevators, the restaurants and more.

It’s a good idea to download the deck plans for your ship once you’ve booked, and start learning where things are. Some of the more modern cruise ships are massive, and you can get a little lost, even with all the signposting onboard.

The deck plans can help you to plan and familiarise yourself before you even set foot onboard, so it’s worth taking a look.

14. Join Online Communities

A woman wearing a patterned top and khaki shorts is standing on the deck of a Marella cruise ship, using her phone. She is smiling as she looks at the screen, with a scenic view of lush, green hills and a coastal town in the background. The calm waters and clear sky enhance the picturesque setting, capturing a moment of relaxation and connection during her cruise.

There are loads of online communities for cruising, where you can get to know other passengers, read their reviews, and ask any questions you might have.

Cruise forums are handy for this, but Facebook has tons of groups too. Sometimes they are for cruise lines or specific ships, but often people will set up a forum thread or Facebook group for a specific sailing too.

These can be useful if you’re looking to chat to others onboard – you can get to know them in advance and maybe even make plans to meet up for a drink.

Just be careful in these groups, because people tend to be more negative online. Don’t panic if you see a lot of bad reviews, as often those who’ve had a good time are too busy booking more cruises to leave their positive feedback.

15. Stay Safe and Be Prepared

A woman with pink-painted nails is holding a white smartphone with a blank screen, as she appears to be outdoors. The background is blurred, showing greenery and a natural setting, suggesting she might be enjoying some time outside while using her phone. The focus is on the phone and her hand, emphasizing the casual, everyday use of technology.

A little bit of common sense goes a long way on a cruise, both when you’re onboard and especially when you’re exploring a port of call.

Make sure you take simple precautions to stay safe. Always carry the phone number for the ship with you when you’re ashore, so you can contact the crew if you have a problem. You’ll find it on your daily program, so take that with you.

Don’t wander away from main tourist areas, and make sure your phone is always charged. Incidents of anything bad happening are extremely rare, but it’s better to be prepared just in case.

16. Bring a Good Book

A person is lounging on a deck chair by a pool, reading a book while on a cruise ship. The scene is relaxed, with the pool and another person swimming in the background, creating a serene atmosphere perfect for enjoying a quiet moment with a good book. A towel is draped over the back of the chair, adding to the leisurely vibe.

While cruises do have a lot of activities to offer, there will also be plenty of downtime – you can unwind by the pool, in your stateroom (or on your balcony, if you have one), or in a snug little corner of a bar or lounge.

So bring a good book, if you’re a reader. A lot of people suggest this, and it is lovely to just chill with a novel by your favourite author as the world slowly sails by.

Suggested read: The Best Books to Read on a Cruise

17. Start Saving for the Next Cruise

A person is seated at a desk, working on financial planning. They are writing in a notebook with a pen while using a calculator. The desk is scattered with coins, a pink piggy bank, dollar bills, and financial documents, all suggesting a focus on saving money and budgeting. The scene reflects a careful and organized approach to managing personal finances.

The first thing you’re going to want to do when you get home from your first cruise is book another – and if you’re starting from scratch with your budget, you might need to look at dates further out to give yourself time to save up, and you might be impatient!

If you can save for your second cruise before you sail on your first, you can feed your new addiction a lot sooner! And it’s not like you need to book, so if you decide cruises aren’t for you, you’ve just got a pot of money to put towards a different holiday instead.

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Final word

These are some great tips for first-time cruisers from my Facebook fans, but if you’ve got any that you want to add then please do!

Be sure to check out the mistakes that first-time cruisers make too, as if you can avoid those, you’re well on the way to enjoying an incredible cruise experience!

If you found this interesting, please share!

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Beginner’s Guide to Cruising: Must-Know Tips From Past Guests

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