First Time Cruise Advice from Real Cruisers (What They Wish They Knew)

There’s no shortage of first time cruise advice out there — packing lists, port guides, budgeting tips. But there’s a big difference between generic travel advice and real world tips from someone who’s actually stood on that gangway for the first time with an overstuffed suitcase and not a clue what to really expect.

So we went straight to the source. We asked our Facebook community one simple question: What’s the best piece of cruise advice you wish someone had told you before your first cruise? Some of the responses were practical, while others tapped into the mindset of what it means to be a first-time cruiser.

So, whether you’re sailing for the first time next month or still in the dreaming stage, this collection of first time cruise tips from real cruisers will help you start your cruise life off on the right foot.

Cruising is addictive — and that’s your first warning.

Nearly everyone who weighs in on first time cruise advice eventually says some version of the same thing: after your first cruise, you’ll be hooked. The running joke in the cruise community is that the best cure for post-cruise blues is booking another cruise.

Cruising seems to have a way of converting people, even those who may have thought cruising wasn’t for them. The combination of waking up in a new destination each day, having everything taken care of for you, and being surrounded by the ocean has an effect that’s hard to describe until you’ve experienced it for yourself.

But before you head off on your first voyage, you’ll want to take note of all the rest of this valuable cruise advice.

Before You Even Leave Home

Some cruise mistakes that can derail a vacation often happen before you even step foot on the ship.

Fly in a day before embarkation.

This was one of the most repeated pieces of advice we received, and it’s one we echo wholeheartedly. Flights get delayed or canceled and connections get missed. The ship will not wait for you. Flying in the day before takes all that stress off the table and lets you start your vacation relaxed rather than frantic. Book a hotel near the port, grab a nice dinner, and wake up ready to cruise. A stress-free embarkation day sets the tone for the whole voyage.

Bring your passport even if it’s not required.

Closed-loop cruises departing and returning to the same U.S. port technically allow you to travel with just a birth certificate and government-issued ID. This means that you can technically cruise from Florida to the Bahamas and Caribbean without a passport. But life happens. Medical emergencies, missed ports, unexpected situations — having a passport gives you options. It’s one of those things where it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Read the cruise contract before you sail.

It’s not the most exciting pre-trip task, but it’s one of the most important. Understanding the cancellation policy and refund terms, what the cruise line is and isn’t responsible for, and your rights as a passenger is always better to know before something goes wrong than after. It will also explain what happens if the cruise line changes your itinerary and what’s covered and what’s not. A few minutes of reading now can save a lot of frustration later.

Pack OTC medications even if you’ve never had issues.

While cruise ship captains do their very best to avoid rough seas, sometimes a little rocking is unavoidable. And even if you’ve never gotten motion sick before, being out on open water can affect everyone differently. So, toss some Dramamine, Bonine, or Sea-Bands in your bag just in case. You wouldn’t want seasickness to ruin your first cruise. Cruisers also swear by eating green apples and ginger as a natural remedy.

Skip the travel irons and steamers.

While you might think it’s a good idea to pack a travel iron or steamer to keep your evening attire wrinkle-free, most cruise lines prohibit them for fire safety reasons. If you do pack one, it will get confiscated and your luggage will be delayed getting to your room. If you’re that worried about looking your best, most ships offer laundry and pressing services or you can try wrinkle release sprays.

You don’t need all the Amazon gimmicks.

Scroll through any cruise Facebook group or YouTube channel and you’ll find endless lists of “must-have cruise gadgets.” Magnetic hooks, over-the-door organizers, lanyards, towel clips, night lights, and the list goes on. Some are genuinely useful; many are not. Keep it simple for your first cruise and you’ll quickly learn what you actually want for the next sailing. Personally, we always pack magnetic hooks and an over-the-door organizer to keep our cabin organized. But even those items that are essential for some might end up being a waste of space for you.

You’re still going to overpack — and that’s okay.

Almost every experienced cruiser admits their first cruise bag was way too heavy and filled with items they never used. Here’s the secret: no one notices if you wear the same outfit twice. The ship is full of strangers, the vibe is relaxed, and your fellow passengers are far too busy enjoying vacation to catalog your wardrobe. Pack less than you think you need, and you’ll be glad you did. The key to success is packing items that are multi-purpose and can be mixed and matched easily.

Embarkation Day Essentials

Cruise boarding day is exciting and a little chaotic for everyone, but especially for those stepping into unfamiliar territory. A few habits can make it go much more smoothly.

Pack a well-stocked carry-on.

Your checked luggage (the ones left with the porters at the cruise terminal) won’t arrive in your stateroom until later in the afternoon — sometimes not until after the muster drill or even dinner. That’s why you should always pack a carry-on bag that contains important documents, medications, your swimsuit if you want to hit the pool right away, chargers, and anything else you might need in those first several hours. It’s a good idea to have a change of clothes and a few toiletries too, just in case you want to freshen up before your suitcases arrive.

Walk the ship on day one.

Before you fully settle into vacation mode, take some time to physically explore the ship. Find the dining venues and the theater, locate your muster station, discover the hidden deck spaces and which bar you want to visit first. If you have assigned dining, it’s also helpful to locate your table number. Ships are bigger than they look, and getting your bearings early saves a lot of confusion later. You can typically view deck plans in the cruise line’s app as well, which can help to orient yourself quickly.

Put your phone in airplane mode.

Turn on airplane mode on your phone the moment you board the ship. Cellular roaming charges at sea are no joke — we’ve heard stories of people coming home to hundreds of dollars in surprise charges. Even if you’ve purchased a WiFi package, you can still use it while your phone is in airplane mode. You can also still use the cruise line’s app. The only time you should take your phone off of airplane mode is while docked at a port of call if you have international coverage.

Managing Your Time and Expectations

First-time cruisers often put a lot of pressure on themselves to ensure everything goes perfectly. Several of our readers had advice that challenges that mindset.

Don’t try to do everything.

The ship’s daily schedule will be packed with activities, entertainment, dining options, and pool time between all the exciting ports of call you’ll be visiting. You cannot do it all, and trying to will leave you more exhausted than refreshed. This is a vacation. So, we suggest you make a list of your must-do activities and attractions early in the cruise and then also build in time to just sit and stare at the ocean. It sounds boring until you’re actually doing it.

Research and plan, but stay flexible.

There’s real value in knowing what you want to do and booking dining reservations, show times (if needed), and shore excursions in advance. Popular times and tours will often book up prior to your sailing. But you shouldn’t build a schedule so rigid that a change in weather or a longer than expected line at the waterslide ruins your day. Some of the best cruise moments are the unplanned ones. So, it’s important to do your research ahead of time but to also stay flexible.

Have no expectations — just enjoy the moment.

This one sounds almost too simple, but it’s true. You should go into your cruise vacation with an open mind rather than a checklist of things that need to happen for the trip to be “good”. Sometimes, scouring message boards and blogs can result in unrealistic expectations and disappointment. Yes, it’s important to be informed, but don’t let others tell you what your first cruise experience should look like.

Small mistakes make for the best memories.

Accidentally show up to the wrong venue for dinner? Forgot what deck your cabin is on or walk halfway down the hallway only to realize your cabin is in the other direction? Walk around in circles for a half hour trying to find the theater? Try to pay at the bar with your credit card? These things happen to almost everyone, and sometimes they turn into funny stories you tell for years. Don’t fret the small mistakes!

Ports and Excursions

One of the most common areas of overspending on a first cruise involves port days and shore excursions.

You don’t need an excursion in every port.

Many cruise ports are extremely walkable. You can step off the ship, explore the town, grab lunch at a local restaurant, browse a market, and be back before all-aboard without spending a dime on an organized excursion. Save your excursion budget for must-do tours like snorkeling, zip-lining, or cultural activities. You don’t need to book a tour in every stop. If you do venture off on your own, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get back. The ship will leave without you if you’re late.

You don’t have to book excursions through the cruise line.

Booking shore excursions with the cruise line has its advantages like the guarantee the ship will wait for you if the tour is late and the ability to use onboard credit for purchases. However, local tour providers and third-party companies, like Shore Excursions Group, often offer the same or better experiences at lower prices. They generally offer smaller group sizes and potentially more authentic experiences as well. Before booking just make sure to inquire about flexible cancellation policies and return-to-ship guarantees (Shore Excursion Group has both!).

Food, Dining, and the Little Things That Matter

Cruise dining is one of the highlights of the experience, but first-timers sometimes overthink it.

Don’t skip the Main Dining Room — but don’t stress about it either.

The MDR is a classic cruise experience and worth enjoying, but it’s totally fine to eat at the buffet or a casual venue on some nights. Maybe you had a long port day, you’re sunburned and tired, and you just want to grab a quick bite without getting dressed up. That’s completely valid. Most cruise ships have a variety of dining to fit your mood, so there’s no reason to feel forced into a dinner routine.

Get up early for a sunrise at sea at least once.

This is one of those first time cruise tips that sounds a bit cliché until you actually do it. The ship is quiet, the sky is extraordinary, and you have the deck almost entirely to yourself. Even better, you’re sipping a coffee on your balcony watching the sun climb out of the horizon while everyone else is still asleep. Sunsets get all the attention, but you won’t regret setting your alarm one morning to witness a sunrise at sea. In fact, it’s a cruise tradition for many.

Leave disembarkation essentials out of your checked luggage.

On the last night of your cruise, you’ll set your luggage outside your cabin door to be collected. It’ll be waiting for you in the terminal the next morning. That means anything you need before getting off the ship — medications, next-day outfit, toiletries, travel documents — needs to be in a bag you keep with you. It sounds obvious until you’re disembarking the ship in your pajamas.

Ready to Set Sail?

Take these first time cruise tips from real cruisers, pack a little lighter than you planned, fly in a day early, and welcome to cruise life — you’re going to love it.

Planning your first cruise? Our friends at MEI-Travel are expert cruise advisors who can help you find the right ship, itinerary, and cabin for your budget — at no extra cost to you.

Comments

What’s the biggest thing you wish you knew before your first cruise? What other first time cruise advice would you add to this list? Drop us an anchor below to share your real world cruise tips.