I’m a former cruise director with over a decade of experience in the industry. Now, I live on cruise ships part-time with my husband.
Here are the biggest mistakes I see first-time passengers make over and over.
Not booking the right cruise line for your needs and wants
Like hotel chains, all cruise lines are different.
Each offers a unique experience, and many cater to different age groups, too. Figure out what is most important to you before booking.
Do you want the best, Broadway-level entertainment? A unique itinerary? Incredible food?
You might also opt for an adults-only cruise or a sailing designed for families if you’re bringing kids. Do your research.
Flying to the port city on the day your cruise is leaving
I’ve seen many people miss their cruise because they didn’t account for possible delays when heading to where their ship is taking off.
If you’re flying into your departure city, consider arriving there a day or two before your ship sets sail. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to board and not have to worry if your flight gets pushed back a few hours.
Failing to research the port or destinations before boarding the ship
Many people embark on a cruise without researching the history of the places they’re visiting and sailing through. I think that’s a huge mistake because a bit of research can make your trip richer.
There will likely be an onboard presentation or two about shore excursions or a guest speaker telling you about the area you’re about to visit, but that’s only a small piece of the puzzle.
When doing your own research before sailing, you may find ideas for things to do on shore, pick up a few fun facts, or learn about a few common mistakes tourists to the area make that you can avoid.
Skipping shore excursions
At many destinations, you can walk from the ship into the port and find things to do. But there are places — especially in Asia, Central America, and Europe — where the ship will dock in a cargo area or shipyard, and you can’t just walk into town.
In these cases, it helps to have booked an excursion or special tour. I recommend doing so through your cruise line because the ship will wait for you before leaving if your excursion or tour is running late.
I’ve seen a lot of disappointed guests who didn’t do their research and skipped excursions to save money. They spent most of the day trying to figure out how to get a taxi so they could actually explore the area they came to see.
Not buying the drink package even though you plan to regularly get alcoholic beverages
If you like your adult beverages and plan on ordering a few each day, buying a drink package is probably cost-effective. Every ship offers different packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The prices of drink packages are typically shocking, but you might feel worse if you skip the deal and see your alcohol bill at the end of the cruise.
Ultimately, take the time to perform a few calculations before deciding whether to take the plunge.
Taking the daily added gratuities off of your cruise price
Just like at restaurants in the US, tipping is part of cruising. Many cruises automatically add a daily gratuity fee to bookings, but I’ve seen some people remove it at the front desk.
Their reasoning is usually “I’ll tip who I want” or “I’ll tip my room steward in cash at the end of the cruise.”
But by doing this, you’re only tipping the guest-facing crew members you see. How about the other dozens of crew doing their job behind the scenes?
In the name of fairness, I strongly advise against doing this.
Booking the wrong cabin
The location of your cabin can impact your entire trip.
For example, if you get seasick, you might want to book a room in a certain part of the ship — ideally, far from the bow. Or, if you’re a light sleeper, it may be best to pick a cabin far from the elevators and main stairwells.
A travel agent can definitely help you select the right cabin for your needs, especially if you’re cruising for the first time. If you’re booking on your own, look up maps of your ship and do some googling.
Complaining about noise and movements the whole cruise
This is a floating hotel full of people. There will be noises and rocking.
You’d think people would understand this, but many complain about being unable to sleep because of the ship’s movement or a cracking sound in the wall. Expect both when cruising.
Not preparing to handle the changing weather
The captain’s job is to keep the guests and crew safe while sailing. Sometimes the captain needs to switch the itinerary to avoid sailing into storms, especially during hurricane season. Learn to accept it and make the most of it.
On a related note, the unpredictability of the weather is another reason I recommend people book their excursions through the cruise line. If we’re late arriving at a port or we skip it entirely, the cruise line can typically fully refund your booked land activities.
This story was originally published on February 5, 2023, and most recently updated on January 8, 2025.
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