10 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Cruise
(Avoid These Rookie Mistakes!)
5/26/20265 min read
Booking your first cruise is incredibly exciting. You’re picturing endless ocean views, waking up in a new country every morning, and hitting the soft-serve ice cream machine at 2:00 AM.
But let’s be real: cruise ships are basically floating cities with their own secret rules, spoken and unspoken. If you show up unprepared, you can easily waste hundreds of dollars or end up stressed out on day one.
To make sure your vacation is smooth sailing, here are 10 things I wish I knew before stepping onto my first cruise ship. Learn from my rookie mistakes!
1. The "Airplane Mode" Trap Can Cost You Hundreds
The moment that ship pulls away from the pier, your regular phone plan ceases to exist. If you leave your cellular data on, your phone may connect to the ship’s maritime network.
The Mistake: Checking Instagram out at sea without a plan.
The Consequence: A $500 roaming bill waiting for you at home.
The Fix: Put your phone on Airplane Mode the second you step onto the ship and leave it there for the entire vacation. If you want internet, buy the ship's Wi-Fi package ahead of time or research e-sim alternatives.
2. Pack an "Embarkation Day" Carry-On
When you arrive at the port, the porters will take your large luggage to load it onto the ship. You won't see those bags again until late afternoon or even evening, and you won't actually have access to your cabin until usually around 1pm or maybe even later.
If you don't pack a day bag, you’ll be stuck walking around in your heavy travel clothes for hours with no access to medications, swim stuff, or kids' toys you might find you really need.
Pack this in your backpack: Swimwear, sunscreen, essential medications, your passport/boarding documents, and a change of clothes. That way, you can hit the pool or the bar immediately while everyone else is waiting for their bags!
3. The Main Dining Room is Included (Don't Just Eat at the Buffet)
A lot of first-timers spend their entire week eating at the crowded buffet because they think the gorgeous, multi-course sit-down dining room costs extra.
It doesn't. The Main Dining Room (MDR) is completely included in your cruise fare. And I mean completely. You can order three appetizers, two entrees, and three desserts if you want to. If you've ever wanted to try escargot or order scallops without worrying about cost or whether you'll like it, this is your time.
4. Cruise Cabin Walls are Magnetic
Cruise ship cabins are notoriously compact, and counter space is hard to come by. But here is a genius design secret: the walls and doors are made of metal.
Buy a cheap pack of heavy-duty magnetic hooks on Amazon before you go. You can stick them to the walls to hang up your wet swimsuits, hats, lanyards, and daily cruise itineraries. It keeps the clutter off the desk and saves your sanity. Or bring magnetic toys for the kids and keep them entertained while preventing yourself from standing on a lego in the night.
5. Gratuities Aren't Included in the Base Price
Unless you booked an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive cruise line, daily tips (gratuities) are usually added to your onboard account automatically. This usually runs about $16 to $20 per person, per day, depending on your cabin category. This is a standard part of cruising - technically optional, but crew and staff rely on this as part of their income and they will be added daily to your account.
Don't let this shock you when you get your final bill on the last night. Budget for it ahead of time, or pre-pay them before you board so your vacation total is truly zeroed out.
6. You Don't Have to Book Ship Excursions
The cruise line will heavily market their own shore excursions. While they are convenient and guarantee the ship won't leave you behind, they are also incredibly expensive and often crowded.
For most ports, you can easily walk off the ship and take a local taxi to a nearby beach, book a highly rated independent tour online for half the price, or just explore the port town on foot.
7. Surge Protectors are Banned (But You Need Outlets)
Cruise cabins are notorious for having only one or two electrical outlets. Naturally, you'll want to bring a power strip, right? Hang on.
Standard power strips with surge protectors are a fire hazard on ships and will be confiscated by security during luggage screening. Instead, buy a cruise-approved, non-surge power strip or a multi-USB charging block.
8. Do the Math on the Drink Package
The unlimited alcohol packages sound amazing, but they are expensive. They often cost $60 to $100+ per day, per person. Furthermore, most cruise lines force all adults (or at least the first two passengers) in the cabin to buy it if one person does.
Before pulling out your credit card, do the math:
Average cruise cocktail: $12–$15
Average beer: $7–$9
Will you actually drink 6 to 8 alcoholic drinks every single day to break even, especially on days when you are off the ship exploring ports? If not, pay as you go.
One caveat - if you're visiting your cruise line's private island, drink packages usually work there too, giving them a boost in usefulness.
For most people it doesn't add up, but you may want to consider one of the non-alcoholic drink package options. Sometimes they're also available for great discounts pre-cruise, and you can get it for a steal. If this is something you're interested in, your Travel Agent can keep an eye out for sales for you.
9. Prevent Seasickness Before You Feel It
Modern cruise ships have massive stabilizers, so most of the time, you barely feel the ship moving. However, if you hit a rough patch of weather, seasickness can ruin your trip fast.
Don't wait until you are already dizzy to take medicine - by then, it’s much harder to reverse. If you are prone to motion sickness, start taking Bonine or Dramamine, or put on your Scopolamine patch, the night before you board. You should also bring along Gravol or other medication you can take if you need it in the moment.
If you're trying to avoid drugs, ginger candy or chews are a great natural way to fight nausea.
10. Download the Cruise Line App Before You Arrive
The days of paper maps and schedules are mostly gone. Today, everything from your daily activities schedule and dinner menus to your onboard expense account is managed through the cruise line’s mobile app.
Download the app while you are still at home on your own high-speed Wi-Fi. The port Wi-Fi is notoriously slow, and trying to download a massive app while standing in a crowded boarding line is a headache you don't need.
Final Thoughts
Cruising is one of the most relaxing, fun ways to see the world, but a little bit of preparation goes a long way. Bypass these rookie mistakes, and you'll look like a seasoned pro before the ship even blows its horn!
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