If you’ve watched my latest video, you already know the premise: after 20 years of travel planning and a lot of cruises — both mine and the ones I’ve helped plan for others — I’ve changed my mind on a surprising amount of “standard” cruise advice. Some of what gets repeated as common wisdom is actually a cruise mistake waiting to happen, depending on who you are and how you travel.
This post expands on that video. The video covers nine of these because of time, but there are a few more worth talking about here, especially for cruisers who’ve already got a few sailings under their belt. I’ve grouped everything below into two sections: advice for first-time cruisers, and advice for people who’ve already cruised before and are ready to think about it differently.
Key takeaways:
- The cheapest cruise isn’t always the best value — total cost and actual experience matter more than the sticker price.
- Leaving unplanned time in your itinerary prevents burnout and allows for spontaneous experiences.
- Balconies, the newest ships, and drink packages are worth it for some travelers and a waste of money for others — it depends on your itinerary and habits, not a blanket rule.
- If you’re new to a destination city, consider extending your pre-cruise stay beyond one day to actually see it.
- Booking through a travel advisor can unlock perks and pricing that aren’t available booking direct with the cruise line.
- Buy travel insurance through a third party, not the cruise line, so your coverage isn’t tied to the cruise line’s financial stability.
For First-Time Cruisers
Don’t automatically pick the cheapest cruise
If this is your first cruise, the lowest price tag is tempting — and it might even be part of why you chose cruising in the first place. But a cheaper price upfront doesn’t always mean a cheaper price overall, and it says nothing about the value you’ll actually receive.
Some of the least expensive cruises are short three- and four-day sailings to the Bahamas or Mexico, often built around a party atmosphere. For the right traveler, that’s a great fit. But if that’s not your style and you book it anyway just to save money, you may end up disappointed in a way that no amount of savings makes up for.
The better question isn’t “what’s the cheapest option,” it’s “what’s the total cost, and is the experience actually what I want?” Often, spending a little more opens up a much wider range of itineraries and ship styles that better match what you’re hoping to get out of the trip.
Stop planning every single second
I used to believe heavy pre-planning was the safest way to avoid missing out. Now I think the opposite is often true.
I still recommend booking the things that matter most to you in advance — but not every excursion, every meal, every hour. Leave breathing room. That space is what lets you say yes to spontaneous things: a dinner invitation from someone you met onboard, a local’s restaurant recommendation in port, or simply a slower morning when you need one.
Build in too little flexibility, and you risk a strange kind of vacation exhaustion — the “I need a vacation from my vacation” feeling. Breathing space is what prevents that.
Drink and dining packages aren’t a default yes
These packages get recommended as a blanket rule constantly, and that’s the problem — it really depends on your travel style.
Ask yourself honestly: how much will you actually drink? Will you use specialty dining? Do you need the Wi-Fi package? Once you have a realistic sense of your habits, compare the package price to what you’d spend buying things individually. For heavy drinkers or frequent specialty diners, packages are often worth it. For more moderate cruisers, paying as you go can save real money.
A balcony isn’t always worth the upgrade
I love balconies — I almost always book one for myself. But that doesn’t mean everyone should.
If your itinerary is port-heavy and you’ll barely be in your cabin, a balcony may not earn its extra cost. If you’re on a scenic itinerary like Alaska or Norway, or you know you’ll spend real time relaxing in your room, it’s often worth every penny. The right call depends entirely on your ship, your itinerary, and how you actually plan to spend your days.
Rethink the “arrive one day early” rule
This one isn’t wrong, exactly — it’s incomplete. If you’re flying in for embarkation, arriving at least a day early is still smart, especially as insurance against flight delays.
But consider whether you actually know the city you’re departing from. If it’s a new destination for you, one day often isn’t enough to see anything beyond your hotel and the port. Adding two or three extra days (if your budget and schedule allow) gives you real time to explore — particularly valuable since your actual port time during the cruise will be limited to just a few hours per stop.
The newest ship isn’t automatically the best choice
Newer ships are appealing for obvious reasons — they’re clean, modern, and full of new features. But newest doesn’t always mean best for your specific trip.
New ships tend to carry a higher price tag and a narrower set of itineraries, since cruise lines usually only launch one or two at a time. Meanwhile, older ships are continually refurbished and can offer excellent experiences — often with better destination options and a lower cost. When choosing your first cruise, start with the itinerary you actually want, then compare the ships serving that route, rather than chasing “newest” as the primary filter.
For Experienced Cruisers
Booking direct isn’t always the smartest move
If you’ve never used a travel advisor, you might not know that we often have access to special rates and perks that aren’t available booking directly with the cruise line — onboard credit, cabin upgrades, or other extras, depending on the relationship and volume an advisor has with that cruise line.
Beyond pricing, a good advisor brings in-depth knowledge of specific ships, itineraries, and upcoming changes that can be hard to piece together from a cruise line’s website alone. There are situations where booking direct makes sense — very simple, no-frills bookings, for instance — but it’s worth comparing before assuming direct is automatically the better deal.
If you’re planning a cruise and want a hand getting it right, this is exactly the kind of thing I help people with. There’s a link to work with me directly at the end of this post.
Bigger isn’t automatically better
The idea that a bigger ship means a better cruise doesn’t hold up once you actually compare travel styles. Mega-ships offer incredible amenities — water parks, rock climbing, the works — and that’s genuinely the right fit for some travelers, especially families.
But bigger ships also mean bigger crowds, longer lines, and a less intimate feel almost everywhere onboard. If you’re someone who wants a slower pace or a more premium, relaxed atmosphere, a smaller or mid-size ship may suit you far better, even with fewer headline activities. The right ship size comes down to what you actually want your days to feel like — not the size of the ship itself.
Buy travel insurance smarter, not just through the cruise line
I’m not telling anyone to skip travel insurance — it’s essential, especially for medical emergencies, which can be extraordinarily expensive if you need evacuation or care in a foreign country. What I’ve changed my mind on is where to buy it.
If you buy insurance through the cruise line and the cruise line later goes under, that insurance may be worthless. A third-party policy protects you independently of the cruise line’s financial health. When choosing a policy, make sure it covers any pre-existing conditions relevant to your group, consider adding “cancel for any reason” coverage if there’s a real chance you’ll need it, and double check coverage for any adventure activities you’re planning, since many standard policies exclude things like scuba diving or skydiving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth getting a balcony cabin on a cruise?
It depends on your itinerary and habits. A balcony is usually worth the extra cost on scenic cruises like Alaska or Norway, or if you plan to spend significant time relaxing in your cabin. On port-heavy itineraries where you’re rarely in your room, an interior or ocean-view cabin can be a smarter way to save money without losing much of the experience.
Should I book my cruise directly with the cruise line or use a travel advisor?
Booking through a travel advisor often gives you access to perks not available booking direct, such as onboard credit, cabin upgrades, or better pricing, depending on the advisor’s relationship with that cruise line. Booking direct can make sense for very simple, no-frills bookings, but it’s worth comparing both options before assuming direct is the better deal.
Is travel insurance through the cruise line a good idea?
Travel insurance is important for any cruise, but buying it through the cruise line carries a specific risk: if the cruise line goes out of business, that insurance may become worthless. A third-party policy protects you independently of the cruise line’s financial health, and lets you choose coverage tailored to your trip, including pre-existing conditions or adventure activities.
How early should I arrive before a cruise departs?
At minimum, arrive the day before your cruise departs to protect against flight delays. If you’re traveling to a city you’ve never visited before, consider arriving two or three days early so you have real time to explore, since your port time during the cruise itself will be limited to just a few hours per stop.
Is a bigger cruise ship always a better choice?
Not necessarily. Bigger ships offer more onboard activities and amenities, which works well for families or travelers who want everything available onboard. Smaller and mid-size ships tend to offer a quieter, more premium experience with smaller crowds, which may be a better fit if you prefer a relaxed pace.
Why No Two Cruisers Should Follow the Same Advice
None of this advice is universal, and that’s the point. Cruise advice that works perfectly for one traveler can be the wrong call for someone else — it depends on your style, your itinerary, your ship, and what you actually want your days to look like. Anyone who tells you there’s only one right way to cruise probably hasn’t cruised enough to know better.
If you want to watch the full video this post is based on, you can find it here: View Here
And if you’re in the planning stages of your next cruise and want help getting it right, I work with people as a travel advisor — you can reach out here: Work with Me
