First time cruise tips

Booking concerns
One of the most confusing questions is: which cruise to choose? Some cruises cater to a more active crowd while others provide relaxation and first-rate nighttime entertainment. Before you sit down with a stack of brochures, consider the type of vacation you would like. Some questions to consider:

Do you prefer to relax with a book, or be on the go?
Do you like to dress up or do you prefer a casual style?
What cruising areas are you interested in, and at what time of year?
How long of a vacation would you like to take?

You may choose to work with a travel agent for your first cruise, particularly if you aren’t sure which cruise line you want to book with. If you have your heart set on a particular cruise, one strategy is to look for discounts online and then call the cruise line directly and ask for that price. They may be able to match it, and you will have the advantage of working with someone who knows the ship as well as the ports of call for the rest of the booking process.

One big question is whether to take an inside cabin or an outside cabin. Many people recommend that you pay for an outside cabin on your first cruise. But you may not spend much time there at all, so if your budget is strained by the price of a view, don’t worry about it. If you do book an outside cabin, ask specifically whether it is truly a good view – some of them mostly have views of lifeboats! Either way, prepare yourself for a tight fit. Cruise cabins are notoriously small.

For most cruises you will be asked whether you want an early or late seating for dinner. If you intend to spend as much time as possible in the various ports of call, you may want to opt for the late seating – it will give you extra time to get back and relax before dinner. On the other hand, if you don’t like to go to bed feeling full, or want to catch early shows, the early seating is the way to go.