When I went on my first cruise in 2018, I knew nothing about planning my trip. I was taking a trip over New Year's Eve on Carnival Conquest to celebrate a family milestone.
My cousin organized the trip and I simply paid the bills that were put in front of me for a double-occupancy interior shared with my teenage son. I did pay for an internet connection and a drink package in advance, but I got on the ship without doing much in the way of research.
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That was a mistake as cruising isn't like any other sort of vacation. It comes with its own benefits and its own series of challenges.
Since that first taste of cruising, I have cruised pretty much monthly — mostly on Royal Caribbean (RCL) -) and its sister brand Celebrity, but also on MSC and Virgin Voyages, with a return to Carnival scheduled for next year. There are key differences between each cruise line, but the core experience, and the biggest things I wish I knew before that first sailing, are the same.
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1. Plan your cruise expenses before you book
Nearly every purchase you can make onboard a cruise ship costs less if you book it beforehand. The biggest expense is often an unlimited beverage package including alcoholic drinks. On Carinival Cruise Line (CCL) -) sailing, the drink package's per-day price is always lower when you buy it before your cruise.
Royal Caribbean, unlike Carnival which offers fixed prices for its drink packages, uses dynamic pricing. That means you have to pay attention to how the prices change as you can cancel and rebook the Deluxe Beverage Package up to two days before your sailing if the price drops. That price, however, is almost always lower if you book before sailing.
The same is true for premium dining, internet packages, excursions, and (usually) things like spa treatments. There might be sales or special offers onboard for the spa during sea days, but aside from that, it's always better to plan ahead and book before you sail.
2. Know what you need in a cabin
On my first cruise, I booked an interior in the middle of the ship on deck 8. At the time, I knew I probably did not need to pay extra for a balcony as I would not use it. Now, I know that I like to be on a high deck on the side of the ship where the adult pool is. That's usually where I spend the most time, so being close saves me time.
I book a high floor toward the front or back of the ship because I like more movement as it helps me sleep. Many people would opt for a room toward the middle of the ship on a lower deck because the ship's movement is felt less, which is good for people worried about motion sickness.
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The question of whether you need a balcony or an ocean view is personal. Some people feel claustrophobic in an interior room. I generally prefer the darkness offered by an interior room and rarely go out on a balcony when I have one.
3. Consider your cruise ships
Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have a very wide array of ships in their fleets. Carnival Conquest, for example, the first ship I ever sailed on, is smaller and would be fine for a short trip, but I would hesistate to book her for a longer cruise unless unless it was very port intensive.
Bigger ships generally offer more things to do and more dining choices. Newer ships and bigger ships generally come with higher prices and that's where it gets tricky.
Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis-class ship (and the largest ship in the world) generally costs twice as much as Oasis of the Seas (the first ship in that class) for similar itineraries. Yes, Wonder is nicer, more modern, and has a few firsts for the cruise line, but it's not really worth paying a large premium for over older ships in the same class.
Picking the right ship requires doing a little homework, or getting help from a travel agent who can match your wants and your budget to the right ship.
