All Aboard! 5 Tips for First-Time Cruisers

“Get Out There” is a column for itchy footed humans written by long-time Paste contributor Blake Snow. Although different now, travel is better than ever. Today we examine the best cruising tips for first-timers.

Cruising is a big deal. Last year more than 30 million people boarded a cruise ship, making it one of the most popular ways to vacation in America.

That’s because cruising is the most convenient way to travel. You only unpack once (since your hotel travels with you). You get to eat as often and as much as you like for the same amount of money. There are a ton of free activities and shows all over the ship, which makes it easy for everyone to do whatever they want, while still vacationing together. And you’re not forced to make everyday transactional decisions like in real life, since everything is taken care of.

That’s why I enjoy cruising just as much as I do adventure or land travel. Contrary to what detractors often say, there is nothing inauthentic about sailing the ocean on a real ship, to real ports, with real people along the way. And there’s nothing wrong with only seeing the highlights in a half or full day at port. It’s way better than nothing.

That said, there are several things you need to understand to get the most of your first (or next) cruise. Here are five cruising tips to help you on your way.

1. Not all cruise lines are alike.

While the gist of cruising is the same, different cruise lines prioritize different things. “A lot of passengers still assume every ship is a booze cruise, highly structured, or overly formal,” says Michael Scheiner, chief marketing officer of Celebrity Cruises. “But every cruise line is different.” So selecting the cruise line that best suits your needs is the first thing you should do.

For example, if you want huge ships with lots to do, Royal Caribbean is the best and most popular cruise line in the world. If you want the best entertainment, Disney Cruises scores especially high. If you want the best food, Celebrity is hard to beat. If you want to save money, Carnival is known for lower fares. If you hate vacationing with kids, Virgin Voyages are adults-only. If you want to really immerse yourself in the culture and history of the ports you visit, Azamara has you covered. And so forth.

2. Book the best ship, not the best ports.

Many passengers book a cruise based on ports instead of the ship. This is a mistake. Since up to 75% of your time will be spent on the actual ship, you really want to make it a good one. More specifically, you want to book a new, recently renovated, or well-rated ship that cruisers already enjoy. You can do this with the help of Cruise Critic, which lets you read thousands of passenger reviews to help you make the most informed decision.

That said, you’ll need to decide which area you’ll be sailing in first. The Caribbean is the most popular by far, followed by Europe and Alaska. Cruises sail all over the world, but those are the big three and the typical starting point.

3. Don’t assume everything is included.

In most cases, cruises are all-you-can eat with free water, juices, and coffee. The vast majority of onboard activities are free too, including kids clubs. The spa, casino, and shopping cost extra, however. Some cruises have onboard “specialty” restaurants too that charge between $20-80 more per person per visit.

Overall, you’ll be expected to pay extra for both soft and hard drinks, premium spirits, wifi, shore excursions, and tips. But many cruise lines let you bundle or pre-pay for those in advance, so you know exactly what you’re paying going in.

Pro Tip: Book your shore excursions in advance to avoid sell outs and consider third-party excursions that are sometimes (but not always) cheaper than booking through the cruise. You can also save money on airfare by booking through the cruise.

4. Board early and disembark late.

Most cruises let you board as early as 11 a.m., regardless of what your scheduled boarding time might be. This lets you start your vacation early, since buffets, restaurants, and activities are already open. It also lets you beat many of the crowds that surprisingly board late.

On the back end, I also recommend deboarding as late as 9:30 a.m. to let the scrum clear out. As a bonus, use the free cruise app to check in online and save additional time while boarding, deboarding, and finding the latest information and activities and even customer service help.

5. Indulge yourself.

After cruising a dozen times, eating four soft-serve ice creams on an especially hot day in the Caribbean is one of my all-time favorite memories. It was awesome. So order as much food as you like. Order two entrees and two desserts if you like. Pig out. Drink up. A seven day cruise isn’t going to make or break your health. Giving in to temporary gluttony is a big part of the draw—a celebration of life itself. Enjoy it.

Pro Tip: Use the stairs to avoid lines and the wait for the elevator and burn off the excess calories you’re consuming.

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and frequent travel columnist. He lives in Provo, Utah with his adolescent family and two dogs.