If you’ve never cruised before, it’s easy to make a few mistakes.
While most of these are hardly going to spoil your holiday, some could be critically important – and the others are nice to know so that you make the most of your holiday.
So, learn from those who’ve cruised before you! Here are the mistakes other first-time cruisers have made, and tips on how to avoid them yourself.
1. Not researching what’s included
Most cruises aren’t all-inclusive by default, but they tend to include quite a bit. It’s not just your accommodation, but also your food in a variety of venues, some snacks, and a selection of drinks (even if that’s only at breakfast).
Some people mistakenly think that the buffet is the only free food option, or they don’t know about the inclusive snack venues around the ship. They might assume that entertainment shows have a cost too.
Always check what’s covered by your fare, and make sure you make the most of everything that’s free!
Suggested read: Is Food Always Included on Cruises?
2. Failing to buy the right cruise insurance
Cruise insurance is super-important – if you don’t have the right cover, you could end up paying huge medical expenses when you’re abroad, potentially enough to bankrupt you – I’m not exaggerating. Or you might end up cancelling your cruise without being able to get money back.
Suggested read: 9 Horror Stories From Cruisers Who Had No Insurance
Choosing proper cruise insurance also means you can get extra cover for things like missed ports of call, or being confined to your cabin if you get sick (it can happen…).
So, while it’s important to buy your insurance policy on the same day you book, don’t just settle for any random travel cover.
Here are the things you need to know before you buy cruise insurance.
3. Travelling to the cruise ship on the day it departs
Cruise ships have a strict schedule that they need to stick to. This means that they have to leave port at a certain time on embarkation day. And if you haven’t yet made it to the ship, you’re going to miss the cruise – and because it’ll be considered your fault, you won’t get a refund.
Don’t rely on flights being on time on the day of your cruise. If you have far to travel, make sure you go the day before, and book a hotel near the port. The extra expense is worth it to guarantee your place on the ship.
4. Not taking advantage of food and drink luggage allowances
You might assume that cruise lines ban you from bringing any food or drink onboard, since they have it on the ship. That’s not true though. They’re quite happy for you to bring food onto the ship, as long as it’s pre-packaged and hasn’t been opened.
And you can usually bring at least one bottle of wine with you – each cruise line has different policies.
The snacks and drinks on the ship can be a lot more expensive on land, and you’ll really regret not bringing that tube of Pringles if you then see how much one costs in the shop onboard. So get to know your allowances, and take advantage of them.
5. Booking flights home too early
On the last day of your cruise, you’ll disembark the ship and then either drive home or head to the airport to hop on a flight. And if there’s a good flight deal in the late morning or early afternoon, it can be tempting to book that.
But that could be a huge mistake, as disembarkation can take time – you aren’t guaranteed to be off the ship in the early morning, and certain guests who’ve stayed in suites or have a lot of loyalty points will be offered priority.
If you miss your flight because you then couldn’t get a cab amongst the throng of debarking passengers, that’s on you. Leave plenty of time to get to the airport.
6. Assuming only the cruise line offers excursions
Cruise excursions are a great way to spend your time in port, but booking them through the cruise line can be expensive – they do like to charge a premium.
You can often get the same excursions for much less if you book through a third party, though just be aware that the cruise line will then wipe its hands of responsibility for you being back on the ship on time. If something happens on the excursion and you miss the sailing time, you’ll be left behind.
Suggested read: How I Find Affordable Shore Excursions
7. Stressing about the dress code
Yes, many cruise lines still have a dress code, and a lot of people won’t check it, which can lead to disappointment when they want to head to dinner that night and they realise their options are limited because they’re underdressed.
But the bigger mistake is turning formal night into a big drama, and worrying about whether your outfit is suitable. If you want to take part, just make an effort – it’s OK if you’re not quite following it to the letter of the law.
And if you don’t want to take part, there are plenty of places on the ship where you can still eat in your regular comfy clothes. Formal night should be fun – don’t worry yourself over it.
Suggested read: The Best Cruise Dresses for Formal Night
8. Forgetting about mobile data charges
The last thing you want to do is finish your cruise and then receive a phone bill for hundreds of £s or $s, all because you forgot to turn off your mobile data.
You might have a roaming deal in your contract, but that only covers you when you’re in certain countries. It doesn’t count at sea – but your phone will connect, and you will get some astronomical charges. The networks you connect to at sea really aren’t cheap.
As soon as you board your cruise, turn data off. You can pay for WiFi if you want to get online, or use free WiFi in ports, but never let yourself get trapped with a huge data bill.
9. Failing to understand tips/gratuities
Different cruise lines have different policies when it comes to tips and gratuities. Some charge a daily rate that is added to your account automatically, whereas others will include it in the fare.
Some even charge a daily gratuity rate but then leave tipping envelopes in your cabin, encouraging you to tip more (looking at you, Disney Cruise Line…).
Familiarise yourself with the tips you’re supposed to pay for your cruise line, so it doesn’t come as a shock when you get onboard.
Read more: Can You Refuse To Pay Gratuities On A Cruise?
10. Buying a drinks package without researching it
When you book your cruise, you may be offered an all-inclusive drinks package, and it might seem like a good idea – pay for the package upfront and you never have to worry about paying for drinks individually.
The mistake is that a drinks package isn’t right for everyone. If you don’t drink much, you could be massively overpaying.
My drinks package calculator will help you understand that, for some people, you could save a lot just by paying for drinks as you go.
11. Overpacking
One of the most common tips I see for new cruisers is to pack for your cruise, and then remove half, and then potentially even remove half again!
New cruisers love to overpack, stuffing their suitcase with every possible outfit they might need. But instead, you’ll find it much easier to just pack the essentials along with a few versatile outfits.
Remember that cruise ships have laundry facilities in case you need them.
Suggested read: 16 Things Pro Cruisers Pack That You Won’t Have Thought Of
12. Overpacking carry-on bags
Another mistake is overpacking your carry-on bag, loading it up with all kinds of electronics and other heavy items that you ‘might’ need for the flight and the first couple of hours of your cruise.
The thing is, you might end up having to carry that bag around for a long time, especially if there are long lines for boarding the ship and then a few hours to kill until your cabin is ready. Try to only pack the essentials in your carry-on so you don’t have a huge weight on your shoulders, literally.
However…
13. Packing swimwear in suitcases
It’s a great idea to pack your bathing costumes in your carry-on, instead of making the mistake of putting them in your suitcases.
Again, you might have a few hours to wait once you’re on the ship until your cabin’s ready and your suitcases are delivered. If you pack your swimming gear, you can get changed and start enjoying the pool as soon as you’re onboard.
14. Packing towels
One last point on packing – you don’t need to pack towels. That’s a lot of bulk and weight that’s completely unnecessary. The cruise ship will have plenty of towels for you, including beach towels.
15. Not checking cabin location
On every cruise ship, there are good cabin locations and bad cabin locations. They aren’t all the same, because it’ll depend on what kind of cruise passenger you are. For example, cabins adjacent to the kids’ clubs are great for families, and terrible for solo travellers!
Many first-time cruisers assume all cabins are equal, but with a little bit of research when choosing your cabin, you can find the best ones for you.
Suggested read: How To Upgrade Your Cruise Cabin After Purchase
16. Making assumptions about cabin types
Balcony cabins cost more than inside cabins, and so they’re always better – right?
That’s the kind of assumption that first-time cruisers often make in error. In reality, the different cabin types fit different needs too. Yes, inside cabins are best if you’re on a budget, but that doesn’t make them the worst – some people love them because of how well you’ll sleep in the dark.
Some people think balconies are overpriced and unnecessary, others will refuse to do anything else after trying one.
The tip here is to actually read reviews of the different cabin types before making any snap judgements when you book.
Suggested read: Why I (Almost) Always Choose an Inside Cabin for a Family Cruise
17. Not researching the cruise line
I’ve had some really funny conversations with people before when they’ve told me they’re going on their first-ever cruise, I’ve asked them which cruise line, and they reply “Oh, I can’t remember”.
Some first-time cruisers pay no attention to the cruise line even though they all offer very different experiences. Imagine not remembering if you’ve booked on a Carnival or a Celebrity ship!
Take your time to understand the vibe on each cruise line, and even each individual ship, before booking.
Suggested read: The 14 Worst Cruise Lines (According to Reviews)
18. Not washing their hands
Hygiene is really important on a cruise ship, because sickness bugs can get passed around very easily. And yet, first-time cruisers often don’t realise how important it is to wash your hands regularly.
To be fair, a lot of experienced cruisers still don’t seem to have got the message…
The fact that cruise lines now have to employ crew members to stand outside the buffet restaurants and sing catchy songs about washing your hands to convince you is a damning indictment of what some cruise guests are like.
Here’s my tip – wash your hands.
19. Not hydrating properly
Cruises are extremely relaxing, especially when you’re lounging on the pool deck under the beating sun. However, don’t get so comfortable that you forget to properly hydrate. You can easily make yourself ill by not drinking enough water on a ship.
The same could also be said of sunscreen – you’re very exposed on a pool deck so you need to be properly protected.
20. Avoiding the main dining room for breakfast and lunch
Many cruise passengers assume that the buffet is the main place to go for breakfast and lunch, and that the main dining room is really for dinner only.
But that’s a mistake, as it’s absolutely worth trying the dining room for a nice sit-down breakfast or some different lunch options.
You might try it once and decide you prefer the ease of the buffet or the other casual venues, and that’s fine. But don’t dismiss the dining room without giving it a go.
21. Booking based on price without checking the weather
It’s understandable that you’d want to save money when booking your first cruise, but if you find an amazing deal, ask why the price might be so low.
It’s often because it’s out of season, and the weather could have a serious impact on your itinerary. Some cruises lose multiple ports when storms are bad, because the ship is just unable to dock.
Do your research on different times of year for the region you want to cruise to, and make sure you aren’t taken in by a deal without digging a little deeper.
Suggested read: The 11 Worst Ports of Call For Cruise Ship Tourists
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Final Word
How many of these mistakes did you make on your first cruise?
How many do you still see people making, even if they seem to have cruised many times before?
Share any tips or mistakes of your own in the comments too, if you think I’ve missed any!
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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.
