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Best Cruise Lines for the Money

With lodging, food and entertainment all included in one price, a vacation at sea is often a better value than a

With lodging, food and entertainment all included in one price, a vacation at sea is often a better value than a land-based getaway – if you choose wisely. To help you make the most of your travel budget, U.S. News ranked the following cruise lines based on a methodology that factors in itinerary affordability, amenities included in the base fare, health ratings and reputation among experts and travelers. Read on to learn more about this year's best cruise lines for the money, and be sure to check our latest cruise deals for an even more affordable vacation experience. 

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Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages may not seem like the most affordable offering at a glance, but it presents cruisers with supreme value. Base fares include all onboard dining, gratuities, Wi-Fi access, group fitness classes and more. Add those benefits to Virgin's ongoing sales, and you're looking at a top-notch experience for less. 

• 4.39 Overall Rating
• 3 Ships in Fleet

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises' vessels offer the endless amenities and buffets of its competitors' megaships but maintain the service standard of smaller lines. Rates on Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries run less than $200 per person, and all-inclusive add-on packages are available.

• 4.36 Overall Rating
• 13 Ships in Fleet

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises targets more adult travelers (especially on longer voyages) than family-oriented lines like Royal Caribbean International, but at similar prices. Along with lodging and select dining, fares cover activities like cooking demonstrations and educational lectures.

• 4.02 Overall Rating
• 15 Ships in Fleet

Royal Caribbean International

With more than 25 cruise ships, Royal Caribbean is one of the largest lines sailing the ocean today. Having the ability to accommodate thousands of guests per ship allows the company to keep rates low. In fact, travelers may find itineraries in popular destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Pacific Coast for around $250 per person.

• 4.17 Overall Rating
• 25 Ships in Fleet

Holland America Line

Cruisers will find this premium cruise line to be a pretty good bargain, with four-day Caribbean sailings often starting at less than $300 per person, and short voyages along the Pacific Coast coming in around $100 per person. But cutting costs doesn't mean skimping on service; Holland America ships offer individualized attention, free room service and all-inclusive package options.

• 4.14 Overall Rating
• 11 Ships in Fleet

MSC Cruises

MSC offers sailings from North American ports like Miami, New York City and Orlando, Florida, though the majority of its voyages depart from international locales. But even if you have to fly to a foreign port, you'll save money over a typical land vacation abroad. Mediterranean sailings can start at around $100 per person, and the line offers several deals and money-saving packages.

• 3.79 Overall Rating
• 22 Ships in Fleet

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival specializes in budget-friendly fun, offering frequent, significant discounts on already low prices. In fact, itineraries for around $200 per person are the norm. Access to most of the ships' activities won't cost a penny, but keep in mind that some extras (like specialty restaurants, beverages and certain attractions) aren't covered in fares.

• 3.90 Overall Rating

Norwegian Cruise Line

With its popular, frequently running Free at Sea program, Norwegian offers travelers discounts on Wi-Fi, excursions, alcohol, airfare and more on top of its already low prices. And, similar to luxury lines, Norwegian ditches steadfast rules like assigned dining times, but costs a fraction of the price.

• 3.97 Overall Rating
• 19 Ships in Fleet

Cunard Line

While you may not expect to find a more opulent line like Cunard on this list, the cruise provider has a surprising number of relatively reasonable fares for upcoming sailings. Travelers can fully enjoy the line's old-world elegance knowing that room service, onboard activities and most dining options are included in the base price.

• 4.07 Overall Rating

Costa Cruises

A member of the Carnival family, Costa Cruises is primarily based in Europe. The fleet offers lower rates than its competitors, particularly for its Mediterranean itineraries (think: fares starting at less than $100 per person). Although it offers family-friendly amenities, Costa's ships are also well-suited to adults, with various entertainment options like theater shows and casinos.

• 3.50 Overall Rating
• 8 Ships in Fleet

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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• Celebrity Cruises

Which Wifi to buy?

By footeam , November 16, 2023 in Celebrity Cruises

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First time on Celebrity (January 2 Beyond), and I want to upgrade my Wi-fi with the Black Friday special. I don't understand the pricing and hope someone can help/offer advice. Ideally, I would like to upgrade both of us. This is what I have as the pricing available:

Via the App:

Internet Upgrades (50% off) Upgrade to Premium Wi-fi - 1 Device $4.99 per night  (clickable)

Upgrade to Premium Wi-fi - 2 Devices $17.99 per night 

(clickable)

Always Upgrade Basic Wi-fi to Celebrity Pass Premium Wi-fi $14.99 Per Night

(not clickable)

Via the website:

Premium Wi-Fi

Full Sailing - 6 Days

$15.99 / per guest per day

$32.99 onboard

(50% OFF)BLACK FRIDAY SAVINGS

Can someone please explain the differences? Thank you.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

26 minutes ago, footeam said: First time on Celebrity (January 2 Beyond), and I want to upgrade my Wi-fi with the Black Friday special. I don't understand the pricing and hope someone can help/offer advice. Ideally, I would like to upgrade both of us. This is what I have as the pricing available:       Internet Upgrades (50% off) Upgrade to Premium Wi-fi - 1 Device $4.99 per night  (clickable      

I would purchase the above option.  You could do it one device at a time.  We upgraded just one of the Basic Plans to Premium and  that worked for us.  You could also upgrade the second device separately if you chose to do so.  As for the pricing difference, that is a quirk of Celebrity's marketing.  

Only you can determine which is best for you according to your Internet needs and your partners needs.   If you are only a casual user and not using data intensive sites like Cruise Critic, Google News etc.   the basic package will be fine.    If only one of you use higher amount of data and only use the phone for texting and emails upgrading only one would be fine and the other should be ok with the basic.   You can individually log on and off of a single Premium account but it is an inconvenience and could potentially knock you partner off the air if one want to sign on while the other is using the account. 

It really is a question of your personal usage and desire to share.

• 3 months later...

Smileyonthego

So glad I found this topic....just to confirm a WiFi question I had.  We currently have the basic WiFi package, but my daughter "needs" the premium package.  If we were to upgrade just her WiFi, I could use it on my phone once in a while as long as she is not using her phone?   Also, she could of course alternate between her ipad and phone?

Thanks so much!!

Yes.  Think of it as 1 log in that can be used on any device, just one device at a time.

So if you are on your tablet using the premium log-in and she logs in on her phone she can knock you off.

2 hours ago, Smileyonthego said: So glad I found this topic....just to confirm a WiFi question I had.  We currently have the basic WiFi package, but my daughter "needs" the premium package.  If we were to upgrade just her WiFi, I could use it on my phone once in a while as long as she is not using her phone?   Also, she could of course alternate between her ipad and phone? Thanks so much!!

It would be easy for her to switch between iPad and phone, because it is the same account.  The device will remember the log-in for the premium WiFi account.   But if you are also using that premium log in from time to time, you will have to forget WiFi, re-log in every time you switch accounts from your slow one to her fast one and back.

Thanks so much for the info, I think it makes sense....me and anything computer related don't get along well.

Think I'll save myself the trouble and stick to the basic WiFi, which is probably more than good enough for me

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How Much Does a Cruise Ship Cost? [SOLVED] Ranked by Ship & Line

By jeremy camosse apr 2021.

You may be surprised at the difference in ship cost between cruise lines! It may surprise you which line has the most expensive and cheapest cruise ships?

How much does a cruise ship cost? We love this question! Below, you'll find a deep dive into cruise ships by cost . From the most expensive cruise ship in the world, to the cheapest.

We've analyzed cruise lines to find how much a cruise ship costs based on multiple criteria.

Included, you'll find ship cost by brand and per cabin to account for difference in ship size. We also explore the difference in the cost to build a cruise ship over time

There's a clear trend in increasing ship cost by decade ! Additionally, we look at the total asset value by fleet and by holding company . It's truly amazing how the industry is so very consolidated!

Don't get us wrong. A ship's price tag is just one consideration.

There are plenty of factors that come into play when searching for the perfect cruise. How new is the vessel? How big is it? What class does it belong to? What features does it have? And, of course, how much does a cruise ship cost ? We cover all of these in other blog posts. For now, we'll explore ship cost in depth.

Cost by Cruise Line

How much does a cruise ship cost to build, by Line?

Above, you'll find a graph showing the average cruise ship cost by cruise line . The chart shown represents the actual cost to build a cruise ship for the specific brands shown.

Which company spends the most per vessel? That would be Royal Caribbean! On average, RCCL writes a check for $669 million for each new ship!

Size Matters

You may be a bit skewed from the info above. It looks like Royal Caribbean is clearly the most expensive. But, the above chart doesn't take into account size. Obviously a ship that can hold 5,000 passengers will be more expensive than a ship with 500. Royal Caribbean has the biggest ships. It's not overly surprising that they're also the most expensive!

This graph above gives us an idea of not just "cost," but also grandiosity. Royal's ships are the biggest and most costly .

To get a better idea of "value" as opposed to "price tag," you'll want to consider ship size . We're one step ahead! Check out the infographic below for average cost to build a cruise ship based on size. Specifically, we analyze cost verse number of staterooms.

Cruise Ship Cost by Cabin

How much does a cruise ship cost by stateroom?

This chart shows average cost by cruise cabin. That allows us to account for ship size and "normalize" the cost data. When buying an apartment building, you'd mostly like value it based on total number of units. Each apartment will command $X in rent. Similarly, each cruise cabin generates $Y in revenue.

It's no surprise that the smaller ships rise to the top. These brands are considered "premium lines." The drastic differences in price are obvious. Seabourn ships have cruise staterooms valued at more than 5x the cost of cabins on Pullmantur!

Why did we use cabins as a proxy for size?

Great question! There are a few metrics we could have picked. Passenger Capacity or Tonnage could have worked as well. Both have merits as well as deficiencies. We chose "cabins" due to its direct impact on revenues generated.

To get the most of this analysis, you'll want to compare ships with a similar quantity of cabins. Compare SAGA and Fred Olsen ships. The average roughly the same number of cabins per ship. SAGA spends over 2x the amount on a per cabin basis!

The data won't completely represent the full picture. Celebrity has massive ships carrying over 3k passengers and also the Xploration with a capacity of 16 cruisers! To avoid this issue you'll want to check out our complete list of ships by cost below.

Cost Increase Over Time

Below, find the increase in cruise ship cost over time

We also looked at how much does a cruise ship cost to build today vs. in the past ? We expected an increase and were not disappointed! The chart below shows the average price tag of ships throughout the decades.

The blue bars show actual dollars spent. The green line depicts "cost in today's dollars." These figures were derived using an average inflation rate of 3.22%.

It's clear that prices have grown significantly ! Both in terms of actual dollars and inflation-adjusted costs.

Even with the current speed bump in the industry, we expect this to continue. Vessels are continuously adding capacity and extravagant (read "expensive") features. The average cost per cruise ship is quickly approaching one billion dollars !

Cruise Line Fleet Value

Total value of all ships by cruise line.

You may have counted almost 30 cruise brands included above. Don't be fooled . There aren't that many big cruise companies out there. The chart below is likely to surprise you. The list of cruise companies is much smaller. Two companies (Carnival & Royal Caribbean) own nearly 75% of the entire industry !

Many passengers have sailed Oceania or Cunard and had no clue they were owned by NCL or Carnival. It's always entertaining to hear a passenger make fun of "Carnival" as they proudly book their next Seabourn vacation. Carnival Corp. owns both brands!

These major cruise lines know what they're doing. They want to own every cruise passenger , whether they're cruise budget is $1,000 or $10,000!

Most Expensive Cruise Ships

Which Cruise Ships Cost the Most?

Of course we had to include a list of the most expensive cruise ships ever built . Here are the Top 25 biggest price tags ever commanded by cruise ships. The "billion+ dollar club" is a significant portion of the list.

We also include the owning cruise line. You'll find one cruise line in particular is writing the biggest checks!

ALLURE OF THE SEAS

#1 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Allure of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean spent $1.5 Billion for the ship in 2010.

That represents a cost of $2.13 Billion when adjusted for inflation!

The ship weighs in at 225k gross tons and is one of the largest in the fleet. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean $9,447 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the Allure of the Seas cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,745 staterooms. That equates to roughly $775k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

STAR OF THE SEAS

#2 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Star of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean had a $1.88 Billion price tag for the ship, which will be delivered in 2025.

The ship weighs in at 251k gross tons and is one of the largest in the fleet. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean $7,496 (per GT).

It's also interesting to look at the Star of the Seas cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,805 staterooms. That equates to roughly $670k per cabin !

OASIS OF THE SEAS

#3 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Oasis of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean spent $1.3 Billion for the ship in 2009.

That represents a cost of $1.8 Billion when adjusted for inflation!

The ship weighs in at 225k gross tons and is one of the largest in the fleet. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean $8,160 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the Oasis of the Seas cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,742 staterooms. That equates to roughly $670k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

HARMONY OF THE SEAS

#4 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Harmony of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean spent $1.35 Billion for the ship in 2016.

That represents a cost of $1.7 Billion when adjusted for inflation!

The ship weighs in at 228k gross tons and is one of the largest in the fleet. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean $7,615 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the Harmony of the Seas cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,747 staterooms. That equates to roughly $631k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

NORWEGIAN EPIC

#5 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Norwegian Epic cost to build?

Norwegian Cruise LIne spent $1.2 Billion for the ship in 2010.

The ship weighs in at 156k gross tons and is one of the largest in the fleet, although significantly smaller than the RC ships on this leaderboard. Per tonnage, the ship cost NCL $10,924 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the NCL Epic cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,114 staterooms. That equates to roughly $805k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

On a "per cabin" and "per tonnage" basis, the NCL Epic is the most expensive ship on this list!

SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS

#6 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Symphony of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean spent $1.35 Billion for the ship in 2018.

The ship weighs in at 228k gross tons and is one of the largest in the fleet. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean $7,350 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the Symphony of the Seas cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,759 staterooms. That equates to roughly $608k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

WONDER OF THE SEAS

#7 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Wonder of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean spent $1.35 Billion for the ship in 2022.

That represents a cost of $1.5 Billion when adjusted for inflation!

The ship weighs in at 237k gross tons and is one of the largest in the fleet. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean $6,408 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the Wonder of the Seas cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,867 staterooms. That equates to roughly $529k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

OVATION OF THE SEAS

#8 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Ovation of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean spent $1.1 Billion for the ship in 2016.

That represents a cost of $1.4 Billion when adjusted for inflation!

The ship weighs in at 169k gross tons. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean $8,377 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the Ovation of the Seas cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,091 staterooms. That equates to roughly $676k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

ICON OF THE SEAS

#9 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Icon of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean spent $1.3 Billion for the ship in 2023.

That represents a cost of $1.35 Billion when adjusted for inflation!

The ship weighs in at 251k gross tons. This is the largest cruise ship in the fleet. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean $5,396 (per GT) in today's dollars. That's least expensive per GT of any ship on the list.

It's also interesting to look at the Icon of the Seas cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,805 staterooms. That equates to roughly $482k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

UTOPIA OF THE SEAS

#10 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Utopia of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean spent $1.3 Billion for the ship in 2024.

The ship weighs in at 237k gross tons. This is one of the largest cruise ships in the fleet. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean $5,700 (per GT) .

It's also interesting to look at the Utopia of the Seas cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,824 staterooms. That equates to roughly $478k per cabin ! That's the cheapest per cabin cost of any ship on the list!

MSC WORLD EUROPA

#11 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the MSC World Europa cost to build?

MSC spent $1.15 Billion for the ship in 2022.

That represents a cost of $1.3 Billion when adjusted for inflation!

The ship weighs in at 206k gross tons and is one of the largest in MSC's fleet. Per tonnage, the ship cost the cruise line $6,286 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the World Europa's cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,626 staterooms. That equates to roughly $492k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

MSC SEASHORE

#12 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the MSC Seashore cost to build?

The ship weighs in at 169k gross tons. Per tonnage, the ship cost the cruise line $7,632 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the MSC Seashore's cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 2,270 staterooms. That equates to roughly $570k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation!

DISNEY FANTASY

#13 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Disney Fantasy cost to build?

Disney spent $950 Million for the ship in 2012.

The ship weighs in at 130k gross tons. Per tonnage, the ship cost Disney Cruise Line $9,912 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the Disney Fantasy's cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 1,250 staterooms. That equates to roughly $1 million per cabin , when adjusted for inflation. That's the most expensive cost per cabin of any ship on the list!

DISNEY DREAM

#14 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Disney Dream cost to build?

Disney spent $900 Million for the ship in 2011.

The ship weighs in at 130k gross tons. Per tonnage, the ship cost Disney Cruise Line $9,688 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the Disney Dream's cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 1,250 staterooms. That equates to roughly $1 million per cabin , when adjusted for inflation. Along with the Disney Fantasy, this represents the most expensive cost per cabin of any ship on the list!

FREEDOM OF THE SEAS

#15 Most Expensive Cruise Ship in the World

How much did the Freedom of the Seas cost to build?

Royal Caribbean spent $800 Million for the ship in 2011.

That represents a cost of $1.2 Billion when adjusted for inflation!

The ship weighs in at 154k gross tons. Per tonnage, the ship cost Royal Caribbean Cruise Line $8,079 (per GT) in today's dollars.

It's also interesting to look at the Freedom of the Seas' cost per cabin. The ship has a total of 1,817 staterooms. That equates to roughly $687k per cabin , when adjusted for inflation.

On average, a cruise ship costs $763 million, when adjusted for inflation. To get this approximated cost to build a cruise ship, we analyzed 243 active and ordered vessels. Each respective purchase price was adjusted for inflation prior to our average.

The Star of the Seas is the most expensive ship ever built in terms of "actual dollars." The price paid by Royal Caribbean was $1.88 Billion and the ship will be delivered in 2025. When comparing "today's dollars" the Allure of the Seas tops the list at an adjusted purchase price of $2.1 Billion.

Royal Caribbean clearly leads the cruise industry with the most expensive ships. Next in line is Disney followed by Costa than NCL. The entire ranking chart can be seen above.

Seadream Yachts has the least expensive cruise ships. Yet, the cruise line has a much smaller capacity and relatively high cost per stateroom. When accounting for size, the cheapest cruise ships are owned by Pullmantur.

In actual dollars, ships have increased based on the following costs per decade: 1970 - $43M; 1980 - $37M; 1990: $119M; 2000: $276M; 2010: $433M; 2020: $697M; 2020+ - $870M. Our graph also shows this increase in normalized dollars spent.

Carnival Corporation is by far the largest with 45% of the cruise industry in terms of ships owned. The company owns nine cruise brands and a combined 94 ships. The total asset value of these based on actual dollars spent is $74.2 billion. The chart above shows the owned brands and this line compared to others.

We hope that the above is extremely helpful in answering, how much does a cruise ship cost to build?

If you enjoyed learning about the most expensive cruise ships in the world, you'll love to explore the largest cruise vessels ever built. Please check out our post, Largest Cruise Ships in the World .

Please use the "Share" buttons below to share our cruise ship costs posts with your favorite cruising community!

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107 Best Cruise Tips, Tricks, Secrets, and Freebies

Whether it’s your first sailing or your 50th, there are always new cruise tips to learn for when you take your trip. That’s why we’ve rounded up a staggering 107 of the best cruise tips, secrets and freebies for you to enjoy .

Having sailed on countless cruises across every major cruise line, we have a unique experience when it comes to tips and tricks for sailing. (Seriously, we’ve been on a lot of cruises. For example, the picture above isn’t some stock photo. We took it of Norwegian Encore as we rode a tender boat to the cruise line’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay.)

This list varies from relatively small tips to make your cruise a little more comfortable all the way to big secrets that the cruise lines don’t like to talk about. And while experienced cruisers may know some of the things on this list, you can rest assured everyone reading will learn at least a few helpful hints.

To make things easy, we’ve broken our 107 tips down into separate sections, including tips for saving money, packing, staying healthy, and more.

Note:  This article contains links to Amazon that are affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra charge to you.

In This Article...

Our 10 Best Cruise Tips

If you want the best of the best, these tips are our favorites. But don’t miss out on the dozens more things to know that we have below.

1. Many hotels near the port will offer free (or discounted) cruise parking and/or shuttles to the ship 

Are you planning to drive in for your cruise and need a place to stay? Look for hotels that offer cruise parking . Hotels in port cities will do whatever they can to attract cruise passengers. That means they will let you park at their hotel during your cruise for free (or at a sharp discount). Many will also offer a shuttle ride to the cruise port as well.

There is no better way to save money on your cruise parking and getting to the port than with this tip. See our list of hotels in every port with cruise shuttles,  including Miami hotels with shuttles to the cruise port .

2. Older ships are way cheaper to cruise on

If you’re the sort of person who likes a deal, look at sailing on an older ship . Even if an older ship and a newer ship sail the same itinerary, the fares on the older ship will be dramatically lower. We use this tip to sail way more than we could on only new ships.

Of course, in exchange you won’t get the wild new things like waterslides and ten swimming pools. But if you’re the sort of person who simply wants to be out on the water, you can save hundreds of dollars by sailing on an older ship.

3. Bring your own power adapter to give you more outlets

Phones, iPads, laptops, curling irons… the list of things you’ll bring that need plugging in seems to grow by the year. However, many cruise ship cabins have limited outlets. The good news is that newer ships are being built with more power plugs. Still, we suggest bringing an adapter or two to increase the number of plugs available.

We really like this one from Amazon , which offers three plugs and doesn’t take up much room. Also, make sure your plug doesn’t have a surge protector. They are not allowed onboard.

4. Your balcony isn’t as private as you think

Thinking of sunbathing “al fresco” on your balcony? Want to get a little frisky with your partner in the fresh air? Keep in mind that your balcony isn’t all that private. The dividers between balconies are low to allow wind to pass through. They also are several inches above the floor to allow water to flow during a rainstorm. That means anyone in the balcony next to you could easily see what’s going on without much effort.

5. Those “all you can drink” packages aren’t a good deal, unless…

“All you can drink” alcohol packages can really help you budget. For a set amount, you can drink as much as you want without worrying about the bill. But buyer beware, the cost of the packages usually means you have to order between 7-10 drinks per day before you save any money.

And since you have to buy the package for every day of your cruise, that means you have to drink that much every single day you are on your ship — even when you are in a port of call.

We find that many people will find that they are better off simply ordering drinks the old-fashioned way unless they get some sort of great deal on the package or have it included in their cruise. ( Read more about all you can drink packages here  or use our Drink Package Calculator to see if you’d save money .)

6. Turn your phone on airplane mode the second you board the ship

We’ve heard way too many horror stories of cruise passengers forgetting to turn off their phone’s data and then coming home to huge bills for international roaming .

That’s why when you board the ship, you should either turn your phone completely off or turn it on airplane mode to where it doesn’t use up data (but can still connect to wi-fi). It’s the simplest way to make sure there are no big surprises when you get your next phone bill.

7. If traveling fewer than three decks, take the stairs. It’s much faster

Who wants to take the stairs on vacation? That sounds like work! Well, the stairs can often be much faster. Realize that with thousands of people on a cruise ship, the elevators can get overwhelmed, making stops on every deck going both up and down. That means it can take a while for the elevator to reach your floor.

Instead, if you are only going up or down a few decks it’s definitely easier and faster to just hoof it with the stairs. Plus you get to work off a few of those extra “cruise calories” from eating so much.

8. Casino payouts aren’t that great

Expect to hit it big in the casino? It may take a little more luck than usual. Yes, there are stories of people hitting it big, but that can be tough. In our experience, cruise ships don’t offer great payouts. For example, low-limit blackjack tables will often pay 6-to-5, instead of the usual 3-to-2 you’ll find in many land-based casinos . Video poker payouts are also usually lower and craps tables normally have lower odds bets.

We have noticed that higher-limit games tend to have better payouts, as you might expect.

9. S how up later to boarding to get on the ship fast est

If you show up to board right when the boarding window opens, you can expect to do a lot of waiting. There is always a mad rush to board the ship right as it opens — even with assigned boarding times — which leads to long lines.

What most people don’t realize is that showing up later actually lets you board faster in many cases . We like to get to the port about an hour before the boarding window closes and find no lines. It usually only takes about 10-15 minutes to get checked-in and board, all without having to fight huge crowds.

10. Book extras like drink packages online ahead of time for huge discounts

Want to save a bundle? If you know that you’ll be booking something extra like an internet package or a drink package, then do it online ahead of time.

To entice passengers to book these deals early, the cruise lines offer special discounts. We’ve seen drink packages for buy one, get one 50% off. That’s a big savings over what you’ll spend if you wait to buy until you get on the ship.

Money-Saving Tips For Your Cruise

Want to have a great time without spending a fortune? Here are our best tips on saving money during (and before) your vacation.

11. Pay off your cruise as slow as possible

You’ll always put down a deposit when you first book your cruise, but some people opt to pay off the entire cruise at once. Sure, it’s a nice feeling knowing that your cruise is bought and paid for, but it also puts you at risk if there is a price drop.

You likely know that cruise lines adjust fares, similar to airlines. When you put down a deposit, you can call the cruise line if you see a price drop and ask them to honor the lower price. Not having paid for the entire trip already gives you some leverage as you can potentially cancel and re-book at the lower price.

If you’ve already paid for the entire trip, you lose some of that leverage. Don’t worry, though. Even if this happens, still give the cruise line a call and ask for the lower price. You might get money back for the difference as onboard credit.

12. Want to sail cheap? Cruise when the kids are in school

They should call it the “law of cheap cruising.” If you want to save a ton, be flexible with your dates and sail when school is in session. When school is in, families with kids — a huge demographic in cruising — can’t easily take their trips. That means the cruise lines are looking to fill rooms and will offer up cheaper fares to entice people to sail .

In fact, it’s not surprising to find fares that double during holiday breaks when families can take their trips.

13. Look for cheaper prices on the ship when in port

It’s not always the case, but sometimes you’ll run into discounts around the ship if you buy when the ship is in port. For instance, maybe it’s a spa session that has a slight discount if you book a service while the ship is docked. Or things like Royal Caribbean’s North Star observation pod are free when done while the ship is in port, but sees a charge if sailing.

With fewer people on the ship, prices can be cut to entice demand. 

14. Lunch prices at specialty restaurants are often cheaper than dinner

On your cruise, there are free restaurants that are included with your fare and specialty restaurants, which cost extra. These specialty restaurants offer meals not available in the included restaurants and provide a higher-end experience. In return, you usually pay a flat fee for whatever you order.

If you want to eat here and save money, see if they have discounted lunch rates. Some of the restaurants have fees that are substantially less at lunch time compared to dinner. You can get the same meal for much less.

15. Save money by looking for happy hour specials

Drinks on a cruise ship can get expensive. If you want to save some cash, then check the daily planner delivered to your room (or found on the cruise line app) for any happy hour specials or drink deals. For example, we’ve seen 50% off drinks at RedFrog Pub on Carnival at certain times during the day. There will often be some sort of discount somewhere on the ship each day. It’s just a matter of paying attention and taking advantage.

16. Consider those package deals to save money

Typically, cruise lines offer a low “headline” fare that is enticing. Anything extra on the ship — including drinks, wi-fi, gratuities, and more — costs extra. Now, the tide on this model is shifting though as more cruise lines offer all-inclusive deals.

With these deals, you pay a bit extra, but then you get more included in your fare (such as Princess Plus ). This can include Internet access, drink packages, your onboard daily gratuity, and other perks. What’s often the case is that the price for the upgrade is significantly less than what you’d pay for these items individually. If you plan to buy them anyway, a package is likely worth the money.

17. Independent parking lots offer cheaper cruise parking

Driving to the port? That means you have to find somewhere to park your car while you’re gone. The cruise ports all have on-site parking, usually located within steps of the cruise ship. While it’s extremely convenient, you’ll pay for that convenience. Official port parking lots are always the priciest. Instead, look for off-port parking that can be as much as 50% cheaper.

18. It’s so much cheaper to drink in port

Want to know the cheapest place to drink on a cruise? It’s in port!

If you want to get a good buzz going, check out the bars and restaurants in the area. Many of them not only have cheap drinks every day, but offer drink specials to entice cruisers to stop in. If you plan on drinking, get your fill in port and then walk back to the cruise ship that afternoon/evening. It’s a lot cheaper to pay $2-3 bucks for a beer in port compared to $7-9 on the ship. For more tips on drinking on a cruise, read this article .

19. Cruise line transfers from the airport are a terrible deal

When you fly in for your cruise, you have to also arrange for transportation from the airport to the cruise port. We usually recommend a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft. What we don’t recommend is taking the transfers offered by the cruise line.

Cruise line transfers seem like a great idea — after all, if you’re getting a ride from the cruise company to the port, you know you won’t miss your ship. However, the cruise transfers only run on the day of the cruise. That means if you fly in a day early for your trip, you are out of luck.

They are also expensive. For example, Carnival charges $23 per person one-way to get you from the Miami airport to the Port of Miami — a 10-mile ride. Compare that to a taxi or Uber, which will charge you about $25-30 each way for up to four passengers. Meanwhile, with a taxi or other transportation, you aren’t tied to the cruise shuttle’s schedule.

20. Cruise prices are the same on every website

Think you have to search site after site to get the best cruise deal? Think again. We’ve discovered that the cruise prices are actually the same across all websites .

That’s not to say that prices won’t change (they will), but when a price moves, you’ll see it reflected everywhere. Just pick your favorite spot to search and stop worrying if another website has it cheaper. (Hint: Costco usually has great incentives .)

Here’s a roundup of prices that we recently found:

21. Buy/Rebuy Packages on Royal Caribbean to Save

If you sail Royal Caribbean, then you’ll learn the cruise line has “dynamic pricing.” This is a fancy way of saying the prices of items on the ship like drink packages and wi-fi change depending on the cruise. Beyond that, the cruise line likes to offer sales here and there that move prices even more. So one day the drink package might be $80 per day and then a sale drops it to $75 per day.

If you want to make sure you get a deal, you can buy the package. Then, if the price drops, you can refund your purchase and then rebuy at the lower price. Then ensures you always get the best deal.

22. Be sure to check your onboard account regularly

When you sail, all your spending on the ship is done through your room keycard that acts like a credit card tied to your onboard account. At the end of the cruise, it’s automatically paid for with the payment method on file.

However, you should keep tabs on your account (you can do so via the cruise line’s app) to make sure that the charges are legit. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes errant charges will appear. If you find one, just let Guest Services know to get it removed.

23. Cheaper interior cabins mean more money for cruises

Many people claim they couldn’t sail in anything other than a balcony room. But interior cabins can get you on the ship for hundreds — or even thousands — less than paying for a balcony room. Considering that many people (especially on shorter cruises) are rarely in their cabin other than to sleep, it doesn’t make sense to pay a fortune for a room that you won’t use. Instead, you can sail a lot cheaper with an interior room… and potentially cruise a lot more!

24. Don’t waste money on lower-tier Internet

These days being connected is just a fact of life. Not surprisingly, many people opt to pay for the cruise line’s wi-fi service , even though it is pricey. If you do decide to purchase, then you’ll find that there are tiers of service. So you can pay less and get slower or limited service, or pay a little more to get higher speeds and full access to the web.

In this case, you shouldn’t waste your money on the cheapest service. Even at is best, the wi-fi on a cruise ship will be slower than you’re used to seeing at home. In our experience, the lower tiers can be almost unusable. This is one place where you don’t want to skimp if you’re buying.

25. Think twice before buying cruise insurance sold by the cruise line

While we think travel insurance is a good idea to give you peace of mind, think twice before buying the insurance that the cruise lines offer when you book your trip. Yes, it’s better than nothing, but third-party cruise insurance is often a much better deal.

The insurance offered by the cruise lines typically has lower limits and is priced higher from what we’ve found. It also often doesn’t offer as much protection as insurance offered by a third party. Be sure to check what is covered by any policy before buying.

26. American dollars are widely accepted in cruise ports

Don’t worry if you don’t have pesos, or any other local currency. In Caribbean cruise ports American dollars are widely accepted (and often preferred). That’s a huge help for cruise passengers who don’t have to worry about having different currencies as they go from port to port. Credit cards are also accepted in many places, but we suggest cash for most transactions.

27. Mention a special occasion to (maybe) get free stuff

Birthday? Anniversary? Honeymoon? Be sure to mention to any cruise line employee why you are there if it’s a special occasion. There’s no guarantee, but it’s not unheard of to be surprised by a bottle of champagne and some strawberries in your cabin for free. The cruise lines know that a little perk like this doesn’t cost a lot but can make your loyal for life.

28. Credit cards are accepted in ports, but call your company first

Yes, credit cards are accepted, especially in the more touristy areas of port cities. It’s still preferable to pay for most things in cash for security purposes.

That said, if you do decide to use your card, be sure call your credit card company first. It may alert their system to fraud to see a card used in three different ports in three days, leading them to put a freeze on your account if they don’t know what’s going on.

29. Beaches are free ways to enjoy the day

If you don’t want to spend money on shore excursions, that’s understandable. A free way to enjoy the port cities and save some money is to simply head to the beach.

Every Caribbean port will have some exclusive beach clubs with hammocks and drink service, but they usually charge an entry fee. Instead, do some research (or ask a taxi) on where the free beaches are. You might have to deal with more people, but nothing beats having a day on a world-class beach without having to spend a dime.

30. Avoid ATM fees at the casino with this trick

ATM fees to get cash out can be expensive on the cruise ship . If you want to gamble but don’t have the cash on hand, you can use a little trick to avoid paying exorbitant ATM fees. Cruise lines will let you charge your onboard account to get money for chips or slot machines. Just be careful as it’s an easy way to spend a little too much!

31. Public transportation gets you to the port for cheap

It’s not available in every port, but if you are sailing out of a major city (specifically Miami or Seattle), then you can get to the port for less money by using public transportation. In fact, it can cost as little as $3 per person!

In Miami you can take the Orange Line train from the airport over to the Coral Way Trolley, which drops at the port ( directions here ). In Seattle, the Link Light Rail lets out just blocks from Pier 66 ( directions here ). If you don’t want to pay for an expensive taxi or Uber, keep this in mind. 

Packing Tips For Your Cruise

Not sure what you need to pack? These tips and secrets will have you packing like a pro in no time.

32. You can pack way more than you can on a plane

Are you the sort of person that packs for a month when you’re only going for a week? Good news is the cruise lines don’t have near as stringent baggage policies as the airlines . There are no baggage fees, or real restrictions on how much you can bring (within reason). You also don’t have to worry about the 3-ounce liquid rule. It makes it much easier to pack and much less stressful.

That said, we’d suggest still packing light. Remember, the more you pack, the more you have to carry with you, and the more space it takes up in your cabin.

33. Leave the hair dryer at home

Hair dryers are standard equipment in all cabins, just like in a hotel room. That means you can leave yours at home and save some space in your bags. The only time you’ll need to bring your own is if you have a special type of hair dryer that you just have to use. The in-cabin hair dryer is one of those small hotel-style ones that isn’t terribly powerful, but is plenty for a week at sea.

34. Pack a nightlight for the cabin

Staying in an interior room? That means you have no windows… and no natural light. Once you shut the door and turn out the lights, it’s pitch black. Bring along a nightlight to plug in to provide some light for the room.

Your shins will appreciate the extra light when you have to stumble into an unfamiliar bathroom in the middle of the night.

35. Dry bags are always a good idea if you plan to hit the beach

While you can use Ziploc bags, we like the idea of having a watertight pouch or bag when you head to the beach. They are the perfect size for a phone, cash, and keycards. Best of all, they can snap onto your waistband so that you can carry your things with you in the water while taking a dip — and not leave them vulnerable on the beach.

36. Pack a handful of Ziploc bags. They have a million uses

Ziploc bags have to be the most useful item you can pack . Want to keep things dry while at the pool? Put it in a Ziploc. Want to keep dirty clothes separate from clean ones? Put them in a Ziploc. Have a bunch of small items that you’re packing and would like to keep together? Or maybe you want to snag a snack for later from the buffet? Put it all in a Ziploc.

Always pack a few baggies with you on your trip, and you’ll be sure to find a use for them.

37. Remember to pack a fan for the room

One thing you might not think to bring is a small portable fan for your cabin room. There isn’t much airflow in the cabins, so if you are the type that always need a breeze to be comfy, then you’ll hate sitting still in the room. As well, we like the white noise that a fan provides to drown out sounds like people talking in the hall while we are trying to sleep.

38. Make a copy of your passport to carry instead of the real thing

The best place to keep your passport is in your in-room safe. If you want some ID while your are in your port city, make a copy of your ID page of the passport and carry it with you, along with a driver’s license. This will make due until you can get back to the cabin. In fact, it’s not required that you carry your passport with you into port (though some sort of official photo ID is usually needed to get back on the ship).

Another smart idea is to take a scan of your passport and email it to yourself. This way no matter where you go, you will have a digital copy that you can access from anywhere with Internet.

39. Always pack cool weather gear, too

Swimsuit? Check. Suntan lotion? Check. A jacket? What?!

Yes, even if you are headed to the tropics you should always pack a few items of warm clothing. Once the sun goes down in the evening, it can get chilly on a fast-moving cruise ship with the wind whipping around. Having something with long sleeves and a hood can be a lifesaver.

40. Towel clips are worth their weight in gold

Before a cruise, we never would have thought twice about towel clips. You never really think about how breezy it gets on the ship. With the ship in motion, there is a constant wind on the decks. That makes trying to keep your towel from whipping around an exercise in frustration. You can lay trying to relax, but the corners of your towel will be constantly flapping.

Luckily, for just a few bucks you can get some clips that will keep your towel on your lounger.

Food & Drink Tips For Your Cruise

Eating and drinking on a cruise are a big deal. Want to get your fill? Check out the tips below.

41. Alcohol can be brought on board, but with strict limitations

The vast majority of cruise lines don’t let you bring on beer or hard liquor and there is no way around it. Nearly all of them, however, will let you bring on bottles of champagne or wine. Check with your cruise line, but the rule is usually either one bottle per cabin or one bottle per adult passenger .

One or two bottles of wine likely won’t last your entire cruise, but considering the price of drinks onboard, anything you can bring saves you a lot of cash.

42. You can bring on non-alcoholic drinks (some lines)

Want to save $30-$40? Many cruise lines — including Carnival and Royal Caribbean — allow you to bring on non-alcoholic beverages . The rule is usually 12 drinks per person. So if you can’t live without your Diet Coke or want to have some Gatorade for the kids, bring it with you.

The only thing to know is that Carnival requires you to bring cans or cartons. No bottles are allowed.

Considering that a non-alcoholic drink can cost $3-4 bucks each on a cruise ship (plus gratuity!) you can save a big chunk of change by bringing your own.

43. You can order a second (or third or fourth) entrée

Can’t choose between the chicken or the fish? Don’t stress out. Order both. Or order two plates on lobster night. Most people don’t realize it, but you can order as much as you want in the main dining room (or other restaurants).

Cruise lines know that people are on vacation to let loose and enjoy themselves. They understand that people love to eat on their trip, so they are usually happy to accommodate your request. (Note: Carnival has implemented a nominal $5 fee for a third entrée . Other lines may have small charges.)

44. Make any reservations early for the best times

If dining at a specialty restaurant or hitting the spa, you might need a reservation. If so, don’t wait until you are on the ship to make reservations at restaurants or the spa. The best times will fill up quickly, leaving you with fewer options. Every cruise line will allow you to make reservations online (or by phone) weeks or months in advance of your cruise.

As soon as you know that you will want to dine at a restaurant or get a spa treatment, make your reservations!

45. Too late to get a reservation on the ship? Head to that restaurant anyway

Didn’t realize you needed a reservation or the spot you wanted was already filled? Don’t worry… you might still be able to get in.

You can head down to the restaurant and see if there is any room available. Sometimes people make reservations and then forget about them, freeing up space. Your chances are best if you go early or late — instead of during peak hours.

There’s no guarantee you’ll get a space, but it does happen.

46. Hungry? Get a whole pizza for free

Nearly every ship you sail on will have a place to get free pizza by the slice. But what if you’re really hungry? You can often order up a whole pie, free of charge. This way you get exactly what you want instead of having to eat a slice of whatever is available. It may take a few minutes to get your pie made, so be a little patient.

47. Breakfast and lunch are also served in the main dining room

Everyone knows about dinner in the main dining room… but they usually eat the buffet for lunch and breakfast. If you want something higher quality, head to the main dining room instead of the buffet. They serve both meals, but with much smaller crowds. Best of all, the food is usually better as well, since it’s made fresh.

48. Don’t think the “drink of the day” is a deal

Each day the bar will have a different drink of the day special. But just because they highlight it doesn’t mean it’s a deal. Often the cruise lines just call it the “drink of the day” to draw attention to an option to get you to buy it, but don’t cut the price. Other times it might just be $1-$2 off the regular price.

49. Have dietary restrictions? Cruise lines can cover you

Vegetarian? Gluten-free? Food allergies? No matter your dietary restrictions, the cruise lines can accommodate. Don’t wait until you are on the ship to tell the cruise line about your diet restrictions. Call as soon as you book and speak to a customer service agent. They can update you on food options and also make a note on your account to notify the crew.

Your waiter will also ask first thing when you eat in the dining room.

50. You can always order your favorite dish, even if it’s not on the menu.

Wasn’t the chicken cordon bleu fantastic last night? Wish you could get it tonight? You usually can. Even if you don’t see an entrée on the menu in the dining room, don’t think you can’t get it. Simply ask your waiter if it’s available. The worst they can say is no.

51. Free room service is becoming a thing of the past

Want a hamburger at 3 a.m.? It used to be free on a cruise ship, but the lines have moved toward a charge for room service. While many lines have some things for free like continental breakfast, they often now charge per item or a flat fee (order all you want for one price). Even though room service isn’t always free, still don’t forget to tip $3-5 to the waiter who brings your food.

52. Even if you don’t show up at your time for dinner, you will still be seated

Having a set time to eat in the main dining room can be a pain. Say you want to go to an early show but it conflicts with your set dinner time. Or what if you lay down for a nap and don’t wake up until your dinner time has passed? The good news is that it’s no big deal.

Just head down to the dining room whenever you’re ready to eat, and they will find you a place to sit. It likely won’t be with your same waiter, but you’ll definitely get fed.

53. You can get free drinks in the casino, but you have to spend major money

We all know that if you are gambling in a Las Vegas casino, you can expect the drinks to flow no matter how much you spend. On a cruise ship, that’s not the case . If you’re a nickel and dime gambler, you’re going to have to pay for drinks in the casino. If you’re betting big, however, then you will likely earn enough credit to get some free drinks.

Be sure to use your card every time you play to get your spending tracked so that the cruise lines know how good of a customer you are.

54. Bring drink flavor pouches for free drinks

Sodas and other drinks aren’t free on a trip, but tea, lemonade and water are. A little trick is to bring a few packs of those drink flavors (available in every grocery store). Drop a pack into your water to instantly make your favorite beverage for free. It’s also a good way to get the kids to drink something other than soda while on their vacation.

Safety & Health Tips for Your Cruise

Cruising is relatively safe, but there are still some things you should know about staying healthy on your trip.

55. Chances are that you won’t need cruise insurance, but it does help

Odds are that you won’t need the travel insurance you buy, but when you do, it’s a lifesaver. Travel insurance can cover a ton of different things, including if you get hurt or sick on your trip. It’s also handy if you lose your luggage or miss the boat and have to make alternate arrangements to meet your ship elsewhere (or get back home).

56. Never wear those cheap $3 flip-flops around the pool

You know those cheap rubber flip-flops that you can get for just a few bucks? They serve their purpose, but don’t wear them around the pool! These sandals are notoriously slick on the bottom if they have any wear at all. All it takes is one wrong step on a slick ship deck to take a spill.

Instead, look for a pair of flip-flops that has decent tread so that you won’t slip even if you step right in a puddle.

57. Cruise port security is nothing like the airport

No, you don’t have to go through the same hassles that you see in airports to get on the ship. You don’t have to take off belts… or shoes… or carry only 3 ounces of liquids. You’ll just have your bags x-rayed and walk through a metal detector (no full body scanners!). Getting through security usually takes no more than a minute or two. 

58. Packing over-the-counter medications is smart

When you’re packing, it’s a great idea to bring an assortment of medicines for general issues. Ibuprofen for a headache, Imodium for your stomach, aloe for sunburn, etc. These items are available on the ship, but can be pricey. As well, it’s nice to simply have them on hand in the cabin instead of having to hunt them down when you need to take something.

59. Authorities check the passenger list for warrants… and arrest them on the way back

If you have an arrest warrant, think twice before getting on a cruise. Once you board, local authorities will often run the names of the passengers through a database to check for any outstanding warrants. The result? Assuming the warrants are for minor items, we’ve heard of them letting the passengers cruise before escorting them off the ship once it arrives back at port.

60. Cruise ships are a great place for spreading a virus (wash your hands)

You know why you always hear about norovirus on cruise ships? That’s because if you were going to create a conducive place to spread a virus, you would build a cruise ship. Having thousands of people in an enclosed area and the same dining facilities is ripe for spreading illness.

Cruise lines go to great lengths to sanitize and keep everyone healthy. Even so, definitely use hand sanitizer, which is available all over the ship. Proper hand washing is also important.

61. Always use your cabin safe. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing

Unfortunately, we live in a world where you have to be cautious with your valuables. Theft does happen, even occasionally on a cruise. Every cabin will come with an in-room safe, which you should use whenever you leave the room. It’s perfect for storing extra cash, electronics, passports and more.

It’s by no means perfect, but the safe helps protect you from any “crimes of convenience” where someone snags an item just because it’s left out in the open.

62. Be careful, the sun is way more powerful in the tropics

It’s easy to underestimate just how quickly you can burn from the Caribbean sun. Whereas it might take 20-30 minutes to start getting burned back home on a sunny day, the more direct rays closer to the equator can do the same damage in just half the time.

The bad thing is that if you get sunburned, it can put you out of commission for several days, putting a damper on your cruise. Instead, the best thing to do is prevent getting burned. Wear wide-brimmed hats and put on plenty of sunscreen.

63. Get seasick? Get a cabin in the middle of the boat, as low as possible

Everyone seems to have their own home remedy for curing seasickness. There is only one method we know of that makes actual scientific sense, however. If you are prone to seasickness, then you want to book a cabin as low in the ship and as close to the middle of the ship as possible.

Think of the ship as a teeter-totter. It’s the middle of it that would move the least as the ends rise and fall. There is less motion mid-ship, which could help you feel better when the seas are a little rough.

64. You can check your ship’s latest health inspection

Just like restaurants on land, cruise ships sailing from the United States undergo regular health inspections. This checks everything from food service to pool cleanliness and lots more. 

If you want to read the latest report for the ship you’re sailing, the CDC maintains a database of the latest scores . Also includes are full inspection reports, so you can see exactly what the ship needed to address.

65. Never climb or sit on the ship’s railing

Head to a deck that’s open to the water and you’ll notice there are railings everywhere. Of course, you’d expect there to be a railing to keep people from accidently falling overboard. However, some people like to treat these rails as fun spots to sit for a photo or kids like to climb on the railings.

It shouldn’t need to be said, but just to be clear — never climb or sit on the railing . It’s dangerous.

General Tips & Things to Know for Your Cruise

This section covers all sorts of aspects to cruising. From heading into port to what to do with your phone, we have important tips for you to know before you sail.

66. Download the cruise line’s app before you board

We’re usually not a fan of downloading a new app if we don’t have to. But cruise line apps are extremely helpful. These programs include daily schedules, messaging to others on the ship, ship maps, and even tracking of your onboard spending account — all from your phone.

We’d suggest everyone download the app before your cruise to use onboard. It’s much faster to download over home wi-fi instead of using your cellular network or the ship’s Internet.

Learn more about Carnival’s app , Royal Caribbean’s app , and Norwegian’s app .

67. You can debark when you want

Shhh… don’t tell anyone, but you can actually debark the cruise ship when you want when your trip ends.

The cruise lines will call passengers deck by deck, but the process can take hours. If you already have all your bags and want to leave, you can just head down whenever you like. The staff doesn’t check what deck your cabin is on, and they simply want passengers off the ship so that they can get ready for the next group.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that lines can be extremely long right at the beginning of debarkation. Sometimes it’s worth it just to relax for an hour and let the rush die down.

68. Interested in the spa? Take a free tour

The spa is a major point of emphasis on a cruise ship. You’ll see promotions and ads for services throughout your trip. If you’re interested in spending some time there but aren’t sure if you want to spend the money, then take a tour. Spas on the ship will be happy to show you around and let you get an idea of what you can expect should you decide to visit for a service.

69. Hooking up with the crew is off limits

When it comes to having a fling on the ship, your eyes might be tempted by the crew. They’re generally young, fit, international, and seem to be having a lot of fun. But if you want a hook-up, then keep looking elsewhere. Getting it on between passengers and crew is expressly prohibited. It can reportedly cost the crew member their job, no questions asked.

70. Look for a cabin on the upper decks of the ship

If you can, look for a cabin that sits on the upper decks of the ship. No, it’s not because higher decks offer great views (although that’s a great perk!). Instead, it has to do with getting around the ship.

Cruise ships are usually laid out with a center promenade area that includes indoor things like the casino, a center bar, restaurants, and shopping. On many ships this will be around decks 6-8. Then there is the pool deck area that’s located at the top of the ship. These two areas are where passengers spend the most time outside the cabin.

Having a cabin between the two spots means you are within just a few decks of either. That makes it much easier to get to where you want to go as opposed to waiting on an elevator because you are on a low deck.

71. Cameras are watching you constantly

We’ve gotten used to seeing security cameras everywhere in life, but ships take it to another level. There are security cameras watching every public area of the major cruise ships. Don’t think you’ll be able to sneak off and do something you shouldn’t be doing. In fact, these cameras are required by law as a way to improve safety onboard. 

72. It is possible your ship could pick up refugees

If you are sailing from ports on the East Coast to the Western Caribbean, there’s a possibility you could find yourself in the middle of a refugee crisis. The waters between Florida and Cuba are where Cubans trying to make their way to America will set sail, hoping to reach the mainland.

It’s not unheard of for cruise ships to run across these people, sailing in makeshift rafts. Rules of the sea call for the cruise ships to render aid, meaning they will stop and help, even if in the middle of a cruise.

73. Cabins at the ends of the ship should have less noise

Cruise cabins are fairly soundproof (though not perfect), but if there is noise in the hallway, it can come in through the door. Case in point is if it’s in the early morning hours and a group of people are coming back from the bar on the ship (we’ve personally had it happen!).

To find a quieter cabin spot, look toward the ends of the ship. Rooms at the ends of halls will have less foot traffic, meaning less noise from passersby.

74. Sound can travel between the cabins when you make whoopie

No, the walls of your cabin aren’t paper thin, but sounds can travel between rooms. Keep this in mind if you decide to engage in “activities” in your cabin. You have to remember that you are in a small, confined space with lots of people around. Not everyone wants to hear what you do in the privacy of your cabin (especially if it happens late at night).

Keeping things a little quiet can make sure that your fun doesn’t mess with anyone else’s vacation.

75. While there are lots of rules… you can usually get away with breaking them

There is a difference between rules and laws. Break a law and you’ll get busted. But break a rule, and you could just get a slap on the hand. For instance, if you don’t want to wear formal clothes on formal night, then don’t.

Cruise lines want everyone to have a good time. If you break a rule, they will usually just ask you to stop doing it. It’s rare they will kick you off the ship unless you are endangering other passengers or causing a disturbance.

76. A Post-It Note (or other decoration) helps in finding your room

If you’ve ever been on a cruise ship before, then you know that the cabin hallways can seem almost like an optical illusion. They can stretch forever in a repeating pattern of cabins, walls, and identical doors. While doors are numbered, it’s easy to pass by your room as everything blends together.

Many people go to the effort of decorating their doors to not only be festive, but also stand out and be easier to find. If you don’t want to go to that much effort, just bring a few Post-It Notes (they are great for leaving messages in the cabin anyway). Stick one brightly colored note on your door and you have an instant way to identify your cabin.

77. Creepy? Larger ships will have a morgue

It’s macabre, but if you’re on a larger ship, then it likely has a morgue on board. It’s actually a good idea if you think about it. Cruise ships are carrying thousands of people 365 days a year. It’s a law of averages that someone will eventually pass away while on the ship. With a morgue on board they can keep the body in good condition until reaching a port.

78. Only go early if you like standing in line

Are you the type or person that likes to get on and off the ship first? Then you better be prepared to stand in long lines. With thousands of people trying to do the same thing, there are massive traffic jams for people waiting to either embark or disembark.

Instead, take your time and spend a little longer enjoying a meal or relaxing on board. Once you are done, you can breeze through.

79. Secret clues for getting around the ship

Cabin hallways can go on forever, and with no windows, it can be hard to know if you’re going forward or aft. In that case, look for the clues. On NCL, the hallway carpet has little fish or arrows on it. These fish/arrows face forward.

On Royal Caribbean, the door markers will have a clue like a small arrow pointing forward (see above), or an image of the ship that faces to the front of the ship. If the ship is older, it might have a door marker in the shape of a wave. Here, the higher part of the wave points the way to the front of the ship.

80. Formal night doesn’t have to be stressful. Here’s what to wear

No occasion on the trip might cause as much stress as formal night if you’re not sure what to wear. Our advice? Don’t worry. Sure you can dress up in a tuxedo or an evening gown (and some do), but you won’t be out of place if you don’t get that fancy.

For guys, just a pair of pants and a button-up shirt is enough on the major cruise lines. For women, a nice blouse or any dress is fine. The biggest thing is to avoid shorts, swimsuits, and ballcaps. Anything else will be just fine for formal night… up to a full tux. ( Read more about formal night here .)

81. It’s a floating city… where you only see part of it

You might go back and forth on the cruise ship and think you’ve seen every nook and cranny by the time you leave. There are places, however, where you will never set foot.

Hidden away primarily on the lower decks are spots like the engine room, crew quarters, service areas, and more. There are some “backstage” tours that you can take, but they are highly limited in the number of passengers that can go.

82. Your itinerary isn’t set in stone

Your itinerary can change… right up until you dock in a port. The cruise lines have made adjustments to schedules based on everything from weather to health issues to protests. While it doesn’t happen often, changes are regular enough that you shouldn’t be surprised if one happens to your trip.

83. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to see the stars at sea

Being in the middle of the sea, hundreds of miles away from any city lights would seem to lend itself to seeing the stars like never before. The bad news is that isn’t the case.

While ships would be the perfect spot for stargazing, the lights on the deck are bright enough to create light pollution that drowns out many stars. You’ll see brighter ones, but if you were planning to spot the Milky Way out at sea, that probably won’t be the case. 

84. Put away anything you don’t want to the cabin steward to see

During your cruise you will have a cabin steward that tends to the cabin each day. They do things like clean the room, restock anything needed, and make the bed. But one tip is to ensure that if you leave the cabin you don’t have anything laying out that you wouldn’t want them to see.

So if you did something like sneak on alcohol or bring a special outfit to spice things up on vacation, be sure to put them away. Otherwise, there might be some awkwardness the next time you see the cabin steward.

85. Ships can sail at over 100% occupancy

When it comes to cruise ships, 100% occupancy isn’t the max people it can hold. In fact, most ships sail at greater than 100%. 

Cruise liners sail at 100% when there are two passengers for every cabin. So if there are 2,000 cabins on the ship and 4,000 passengers, then that’s considered 100% occupancy. But when there are three or more to a cabin, then that level rises. During normal times, it’s not unusual for cruise ships to sail closer to 105-110% occupancy.

86. The room thermostats may not control anything

Every cabin comes with a thermostat. In our experience, they are often just there for looks, most often on older ships. It would make sense that the thermostats wouldn’t work. Having 2,000 different cabins with different A/C temperatures would be a nightmare. Don’t be surprised if you crank down the air but don’t feel much relief. That’s why we suggest bringing a portable fan .

87. Don’t be shy about asking for anything to make yourself more comfy

The cruise lines want you to be comfy and enjoy your vacation. If there is anything that would make your trip more pleasant, don’t hesitate to ask. This goes for blankets, pillows, fresh towels, and anything else you can think of. Just like a five-star hotel, the cruise ship has all the amenities that you can think of just a request away.

88. What those strange symbols on the hull mean

When you are in port, you might notice strange symbols at the ship’s waterline that look like hieroglyphics. They are actually telling important information about the ship underwater. 

For instance, you might see a circle with an ‘X’ through it, normally in groups of three or four. These are where thrusters are installed on the ship to help it maneuver. 

You might also see a strange shape that almost looks like the outline of a key, with a larger square and then a rectangle jutting out (see the image above). This marker? It’s for the ship’s stabilizers. These stabilizers jut out under the waterline like fins and help to reduce the rocking of the ocean.

The symbols help other boats know what’s going on under the water so they don’t get too close.

89. Early debarkation doesn’t always save a lot of time (but it certainly can sometimes!)

Cruise lines offer early debarkation to passengers that want to carry all their bags with them. This seems like a great idea as it allows you to get off the ship first and get back home quickly after your cruise. The problem is that everyone else has the same idea.

Lines for early embarkation can stretch around the ship and take an hour or more to get through in the worst cases. Thankfully many cruise lines are getting better at the process, which is speeding things up somewhat. So sometimes it can be a long wait… other times you can breeze through. 

It can also be faster if you use a passport to sail instead of a birth certificate . Facial recognition at some ports matches with your passport can get you through quickly.

90. Take advantage of private islands as ‘free’ days

Are you headed on a cruise to a private destination? These areas all have a few things in common. For one, they have beautiful beaches where you can spend the day. For another, the cruise lines use them as an opportunity to generate more revenue with things like exclusive areas, cabanas, and more.

One tip is to use these private island days as free days. You could spend a fortune here if you wanted. Instead, they serve as a great way to enjoy the beach and water without spending a ton. You can save your money and instead use that for excursions in non-private ports where it’s not near as easy and cheap to spend the day unless you book a tour.

91. Wait until later in the cruise to do the newest attractions

Cruise ships continue to get grander with every new ship. That means crazier attractions like waterslides, go-karts, robot bartenders and whatever else the cruise lines can imagine.

If you want to experience these attractions, wait until later in your cruise. The first day or two will have everyone waiting in line to get in. Instead, if you just wait until the initial rush has died down, you can join the fun without having to wait in a line.

92. Always pack a wad of $1 bills for tipping

The cruise industry relies on your generosity to help pay their service employees. That’s why you shouldn’t skimp when it comes to tipping. From baggage handlers to room service waiters to casino waitresses, you’ll want to slip them each a few bucks whenever they give you good service.

We’d suggest bringing about $20 in ones and carrying a few with you anywhere you go. This way you always have a few singles with you to tip with instead of having an awkward “I’ll tip you later” conversation.

93. Topless sunbathing? It’s not a thing in the U.S. (except for one line)

Wondering about private areas of the ship where you could get some sun… without worrying about tan lines? That’s not really a thing these days on cruises from the United States.

There are no major cruise lines that allow topless sunbathing, except for one. The exception is Virgin Voyages , which is adults-only and offers a designated spot onboard that allows it.

94. The reality of cruise line “sales”

Go to any cruise line website (or sign up for their email list) and you’ll always see that there is a sale happening. Cruise line sales try to stress a limited-time offer — often including a countdown timer until it’s over.

The truth is that sales run constantly, and even if it ends, it’s often replaced with something that’s nearly identical. In other words, don’t buy the hype that you have to buy right now or miss out.

95. No marijuana isn’t legal, even on an Alaskan cruise

If you’re cruising to Alaska (where recreational marijuana is legal) from Seattle, Washington (where recreational marijuana is legal), then of course you can bring your pot on board with you, right?

To be on the safe side, the cruise lines follow federal law — which means that marijuana is illegal to bring on board . If you really need some of the green to relax on your cruise, you’ll have to wait until you arrive in port .

96. Bingo may seem silly, but can win you some serious cash

Bingo? Isn’t that for old people? On the cruise, you’ll see bingo contests being held all the time. And while it’s not as exciting as the pool’s belly-flop competition, it is a fun way to spend an hour or two. Best of all, it can help pay for your cruise.

Bingo cards are typically $5-10. Purchase your card and if you win, you can walk away with cash. It’s not unusual to see people pocket hundreds or even thousands of bucks playing the game on the ship.

97. Participate in on-board game shows to get free stuff

Your best way to get some free stuff on the cruise also involves a lot of fun. In the game shows (including the always popular “newlywed” game), some audience participation is required. Not everyone can join in, but if you get selected then you almost always get some sort of prize at the end.

It’s nothing big — maybe a t-shirt and a gift certificate to the gift shop — but it’s the best way to get something for free while on your cruise.

98. Find a spot above the gangway at the ship’s return time to have a laugh

You haven’t laughed until you’ve stood on the port side of the ship close to departure time in a port of call. Keep a close eye and you’ll almost always see a few people making a mad dash back to the ship. You’ve never seen people run as fast as when they think the ship is about to leave them. On a side note, always return to the ship well before the “all aboard” time.

99. If flying, always depart for your port city the day before

With more ports than ever operating around the United States, many people are able to drive to their cruise. Still, there are tons of folks who fly in to take their trip. If you are taking a flight, always aim to get there the day before.

It seems like every day there are horror stories of delayed flights. Weather can delay or ground a flight. Security lines can sometimes take hours and cause people to miss their planes. Mechanical breakdown is always a possibility. And now you never know when a computer malfunction is going to ground an entire fleet.

Flying in the day before allows you a little more of a cushion to get to your port city without having to stress that you might miss your flight… or even worse, your cruise.

100. Don’t expect much on TV (Netflix is great)

We love nothing more than relaxing and watching some TV after a long day in port. Unfortunately, cruise lines don’t offer much in the way of television stations. You won’t get the basic channels you’d expect. Instead, it’s a few news stations and maybe a couple of channels for movies and a couple for cartoons.

Netflix and other services are lifesavers. Download your favorite shows ahead of time (so that you can watch without internet access) and catch up on your programs.

101. Go to Guest Services late at night or early in the morning to avoid lines

What’s that huge line you see in the middle of the ship at the beginning and end of the cruise? It’s the line to talk to Guest Services. It’s always a hassle to have to deal with getting things straightened out with your onboard account, but it’s something you occasionally have to do.

Here’s a big timesaver. If you do have to talk to Guest Services, plan your visit either later in the evening or early in the morning. At these times the line is almost non-existent so you can talk to a rep immediately. (Guest Services are open 24 hours a day during the cruise.)

102. Be sure your clock is set with the ship’s time

Depending on where you sail, there could be changes in the ship’s time from the time at the port of call. Why does this matter? If you don’t return to the ship by the right time, you could get left.

To make things easy, just make sure your watch is set with the ship’s time as you get off in port. It will be made well-known as your debark, or you can just ask a crew member. That way you are matched up with the ship’s schedule and don’t risk missing the return time.

103. Always wait for people to exit the elevator

A quick way to be identified as a rookie cruiser is to stand right in the doorway of the elevator when it opens. Elevators are the main way of getting around the ship — they are always crowded. It’s polite to let the people on the elevator get off before before trying to enter.

Just stand to the side as the doors open. It will make thing go much smoother and other passengers will be grateful.

104. You can take everything out of the mini-bar to have an in-room fridge

Your ship cabin may come with a full-stocked mini-fridge. The items inside are counted after you leave, so if you want to use the fridge, you can just set everything out (or ask your room steward to empty it) and use it to keep your own drinks/food cool. Just be sure to put everything back or you’ll get charged for whatever is missing.

105. Cruise ships are surprisingly fast

Ok, no one would confuse travel by cruise ship with the speed of traveling by plane. But considering that a ship is roughly as long as the Empire State Building is tall and has about as many rooms as The Mirage in Las Vegas, the fact they can move at all is impressive.

Truth is, the cruising speed of many ships is around 25 miles per hour . That may not seem like much, but many neighborhoods have speed limits of 25 mph. Next time you see a car drive by your house, imagine that a cruise ship was gliding by instead to get an idea of the speed.

106. Always wear walking shoes when in port

It’s hot in the Caribbean, so who wants to wear shoes? Well, you’d be surprised at how tired your feet will get if you’re touring around in just a pair of flip-flops. Instead, bring a pair of your most comfy walking shoes, or a pair of water shoes that offer more support. Your feet will thank you for it at the end of the day.

107. Get your picture taken; it’s free and you pay only if you want it.

On the ship, they often have staff photographers roaming and taking photos of passengers to remember their trip. You have to buy the photos if you want to take them home, but not if you don’t want them.

In other words, you can get your photo taken by a professional photographer and only have to pay if you actually decide that you want the pic. If you decide you don’t like it, then there is nothing out of pocket.

Have a cruise tip that we left out? Have you used a tip above that worked like a charm? Let us know in the comments below.

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Always bring an empty bottle water with a holder. Fill it with water, ice tea or lemonade from the buffet.

Wherever did you get your information from regarding long term cruise parking at DoubleTree hotels in both San Pedro and Carson, CA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have no such long term rates, and to the contrary they are both very expensive.

Please remove this misleading information asap

Thank u for the reminder about my watch in airplane mode. I would of never thought of that, made a reminder for myself. Lots of great tips and tricks.. Thanks for the info.

Cruising NCL solo out of Galveston 1/5/24 – 1/12/24 I’ve purchased a small sun blocking umbrella. Plan to have it with me everywhere during daylight hours. Especially while out on deck. Can somewhat protect myself if stuck without shade. I also have a sun blocking hat with brim that will cover my neck.

You have given great advice about turning off phones as soon as you arrive on the ship to avoid roaming fees. Many people now have cell service connected to their watches as well, and might be easy to forget. Be sure to turn off cell service to phones, iPads, watches, etc.

GREAT tips!! My husband and I are going on our first cruise in 2025 for my 60th birthday and our 9th wedding anniversary. I am looking forward to this and many more hopefully to come.

I have a history of motion sickness, but I have cruised frequently and never gotten sick; the trick is to buy Ginger pills/capsules from a health food store and begin taking a couple of them, three times a day, for 2 days before the cruise begins, straight through the second day of cruising. It’s a cheap fix, and I’ve experienced no side affects from the Ginger. After all, it’s only a herb! (Ginger Ale is still an old treatment for nausea, right?)

90. Take a photo of your home and email address:

Ok, two issues with this tip, 1 – how will whoever finds your phone get pass the phone’s access code to actually go in to see your photos? 2 – even if they somehow did (or for whatever reason the phone had no access code), then what happens if in the very rare case the person who finds it is a criminal? They now know that this address is currently unoccupied and ripe for ‘business’. They can just call a buddy to go round there.

Best to hope someone was nice enough to have handed in your lost phone to guest services.

I have read a ton of really good ideas for cruising, but I have yet to see anything about whether to bring an umbrella

I’d say no. It’s bulky and often only needed for a few minutes where you can just go inside on the ship or duck under cover in port. Instead, a rain jacket is a good idea as it’s more versatile.

Holy Moly, yes take an umbrella. Our last cruise this past November 2022 rained EVERY day of the 14 days of this Caribbean cruise. The ONLY saving thing about this soggy cruise was a blessing that we stayed in the Haven and an umbrella was furnished in the room. I felt sorry for all the other passengers who bought ponchos or simply were soaked. Sometimes a problem for space but invest in a small compact umbrella -you will be happy you did!

I didn’t see a comment about doing laundry. It’s true that laundry soap is available in dispensers as well as dryer sheets, but if you bring your own it’s certainly cheaper and you can bring the brand you like. Also if you are planning to wash your own clothes, plan to use the laundry room when there is publicized social activity, and you won’t be standing in line to use the machines since many won’t want to miss the activity and the machines won’t be in use.

Just FYI most ports have shuttles from docks to airports and returns. I Uber to airport take shuttle to docks and reverse on return. No parking fees and I’ve found you can do the round trip Uber and all for around a hundred dollars (sometimes less than that). I’ve also found booking specialty activities much as mixology class are better to book as far in advance as possible…..they fill up fast. Also you didn’t mention about tipping for you cabin stewards, dinner waiters….etc. I always take cash for that. Happy Sailing….

Hello, I cruise all the time and can never get an answer as to why it’s hit or miss on the pool being warm or cold. I always complain if it’s cold and always get the same answer, ( corporate makes the decision. ) If a cruise ship wants people to enjoy themselves then why prevent them from having a great time swimming at the pool. I don’t even need to put my foot in the pool. If there are people in the pool then it’s warm… if it’s cold nobody is in it. Can anyone explain?

Not sure about the heating of pools… but if there are a bunch of people in the pool and it’s warm, then you may not want to think too much about where that warmth is coming from!

I find it handy to bring plastic foldable over the door hanger for bathroom which has many pockets. You can put all the bathroom essentials to avoid a clutter on bathroom counter. Another tip is bring towel clips for lounge chairs so the towels stay in place.

It’s interesting that cruise lines will give cheap fares to people during the off-seasons. My fiance and I want to go on a cruise but we don’t make a lot of money. I’ll have to tell her that if we go during November or something close to that.

Just remember, if you are cruising in the Caribbean, that’s still hurricane season.

I have a small round essential oil diffuser that I use with lavender oil in my stateroom…so relaxing as the boat rocks you to sleep each night!

A roll of Grab Wrap (like saran makes) is so nice to have to keep late night desserts fresh in the cabin fridge for morning.

They want to sell me packages? Going from Quebec to Boston on Norwegian. Any visit suggestions?

Thank Youall !

Always bring a list of what you need too.

Duct Tape has so many uses.. Highlighter to mark the Daily Programs too.

Now with those dang Electric Swithes when you leave your cabin.. Bring an Old Credit Card to insert and Duct tAPE THAT TOO..

We always bring water shoes when we cruise. Some excursions require them & they’re also a less slippery alternative to flip-flops on the pool deck.

Any rules about decorating your room door?

Not that we’ve seen. We would suggest using only non-marking items — so tape, not glue — to stick things to the door.

I have read elsewhere that tape is forbidden on the door. It makes a mess for the staff to clean up. I can understand that some tapes are non-marking, but you can get almost anything with magnets, or just glue magnets to almost anything.

If active military or a vet and have ID ask about discount. Our parking was free in Galveston for a 7 night cruise.

Should you book your next cruise when you are on board?

Our opinion is that it’s a decent idea, but it’s not like you’ll get amazing deals that aren’t anywhere else. They often give you onboard credit to book. Prices are around what you’ll find online.

Many cruise companies offer matching deposits on future cruises when booked on board. I believe Norwegian matches up to $250.

Yes you can get a good deal when you book whilst on board, we did, got $250 for the next cruise which we are going to use on our next cruise., used it for the deposit.

You really shouldn’t put any unofficial stamps in your passport. It even says in the fine print in the back that any unofficial markings inside could invalidate your passport. It most likely won’t ever happen unless you end up with an unforgiving immigration officer and then you’re stuck! I got off with a warning once and thankfully my passport has been renewed since then! Don’t risk it!

Thank you for the information as it is very helpful as well as those that offered others. We are going on our first cruise ever right after Thanksgiving. It is our 25th anniversary and we are looking forward to it.

Glad you found it useful. Congratulations on the anniversary! Twenty-five years is amazing

One of the worse things you can suggest and encourage is bringing fruit and food ashore. When you come into the USA, fruit and certain foods are NOT allowed to be brought into the country. Respect this when traveling to other countries. It’s the LAW there too!

Australia has very strict biosecurity regulations. No food of any type will be allowed in to the country. There will be a quarantine inspection at each port and sometimes even sniffer dogs will be present. This will happen at each port of call in Australia, even if the cruise visits only Australian ports.

The last time I cruised, our cruise critic group had a meet & greet, a gift exchange, a slot game and a special farewell luncheon. If someone from the group gets together with the hospitality people, they can arrange snacks, special meals and gifts for your groups. This was on the Celebrity and it was fantastic.

#95. EXTREAMLY BAD IDEA! A passport can be voided if random non official stamps are in it. Only official government immigration stamps are allowed

That’s “technically” true, however, we’ve never heard of it happening. We’ve also personally had these stamps in our passport and never had any questions about them.

if you are in the Port and you ask the Port Athorites where to get your passport stamped then it is not a “voidable” stamp. Because it is issued by that countries government. Those stamps would be part of the Visa Program if the passport was NOT from the US, I.E. if the Passport was Chinese the cruises might have needed a Visa in the first place and that stamp would end up being part of the Visa.

This were great tips!! I consider myself as an experienced cruiser and I learned a lot.

It’s good to know that breakfast and lunch are also served in the main dining room, rather than just the buffet. My wife and I are hoping that we can go on a sunset cruise tour for our anniversary. We’ll have to check out the main dining room for food, as well as seeing if there are any secret decks if we can make it on a cruise.

Yes I did this on my last cruise. I knew but never took advantage of it.

Great tips people! Going on our first cruise in December (Princess cruises. Miami to LA. Via Panama Canal) Any other advice/tips very welcome!

OOPS~ I guess I’d still be paying for gas… Still better than $20 / day to park on a 7 to 10 day cruise, or leaving my car in some dirt lot for even $8 /day.

Leaving your car at your home airport for a week or more can run up a pretty big bill. If you have the time, consider renting a car from the airport the day before your flight. When you return it to the airport just take the auto rental shuttle to the terminal. Do the opposite when you return home. We are Costco members and can rent a near new (more likely to make it to the airport or it will be replaced if it breaks down) for $25 to $30 per day.

Great Idea! We’re in FL and to drive and park at any other port besides Port Canaveral (we’re 20 minutes away from that, and can always find someone to drop us off) will cost at least another $160. Gas, parking fees, etc. We can rent a car here ($35) drive it to the port and turn it in. Do the same for the trip home. We’ve just saved $90 bucks, and don’t have to worry about leaving the car in some lot, or putting up to an extra 400 miles on it! (if we go to Miami round trip that is!)

Excellent post that was concise and highly informative. Just the recommendation to look for off port parking saved me over $100 dollars. The shuttle to the ship only took us 10 minutes and we were dropped off closer to the ship than the people that parked in the ship parking area.

Awesome article! I highly appreciate your effort!

Thank you for the great article, you did an incredible job 🙂

Great post! I will spread the word.

Bring a hole punch for your ship card to put on a lanyard–some ships have them in the casino-just ask them to punch a hole and give you the lanyard–makes it easy to carry card around neck.

#53 gives bad advice. It links to a power cable that is expressly forbidden as it has a built in surge protector.

Chris, great catch! We’ve updated the section to note that surge protectors are no longer allowed on ships.

They tell you to bring one without a power surge in it

That’s right!

These were all very helpful tips, many of which we have used on our past cruises. Another tip is: The walls in the cabins are metal, even if they don’t look like it. We take magnetic clips and hooks and use them to hold all the papers that are left in the cabin mailbox as well as to hang things that might need to dry. It helps keep the cabin organized.

Rose, great tip! Love it.

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Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. That's because some cruise lines tack daily service fees onto passenger bills — yet many travelers still hand out additional cash gratuities, either as a matter of course or for exemplary service.

The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. At some lines, these charges run as high as $25 per day. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. They are per person .

At some big lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , it's not uncommon for a family of four staying in a single cabin to see more than $70 a day in service fees added to their bills. On a typical seven-night cruise, that's around $500 in fees.

That's before you add in any additional tips you wish to give to your room service or favorite bartender or automatic gratuities tacked on to bar, restaurant and spa bills.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Still, not all lines have service fees that high. Some don't charge a service fee at all. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable.

Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. Read on to learn all about cruise ship tipping culture and how much you'll need to tip on your next cruise, based on which cruise line you're sailing.

Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture

Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Lines with such charges include both of the two giants of the cruise business, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line , as well as the next three biggest lines MSC Cruises , Norwegian and Princess Cruises .

That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares.

Lines that now cover gratuities in their fares include Azamara , Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Seabourn , SeaDream Yacht Club , Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages .

For lines that do have them, service and gratuity charges are touted as a convenient alternative to the practice of cash tipping on cruise ships — something that once was common.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew. They say the money is shared not just with front-of-house crew, such as room attendants and waitstaff, but also with behind-the-scenes workers. In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say.

Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. In this line of thinking, lines with these charges are essentially breaking out a good chunk of onboard labor costs as a separate line item on your bill.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

How service charges are levied

At most lines, you can pay your service charges before sailing (at the same time you pay your cruise fare). Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board.

The big advantage to paying cruise tips in advance is that you lock in the current rate. If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you won't pay more.

Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. It'll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise.

If you prefer to pay for tips once you're on board your cruise, you'll generally find that the gratuities automatically appear on your bill. You don't have to do anything.

That said, if you want to, you can often adjust the charges (either up or down) while you're on board by visiting the guest relations desk. If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. The guest relations staff will want to know if you've experienced particular service issues.

If you leave the service charge on your room bill, you are not expected to leave additional cruise tips for your room attendant or waiters. That's the whole point of the service charge.

Similarly, if you're on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. Additional cash gifts are not expected.

Still, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. Others tip their room service or waitstaff at their favorite bar, either early in the cruise in the hope of getting better service or at the end to thank them for enhancing the vacation experience. How much to tip extra on a cruise is entirely up to you because it is in no way required.

Related: 10 times you do not need to tip on a cruise

Included cruise tips as a booking perk

If you dislike tipping on cruise ships but can't afford to sail on an all-inclusive line, look for promotions when cruise lines with service charges throw in free gratuities as a booking incentive.

For instance, in recent years, Norwegian often ran Free at Sea promotions that included free crew tips in addition to free shipboard Wi-Fi and a free drinks package . The line hasn't been doing that as much lately, but these offers often come back at times when brands need to drum up more business.

Additionally, several major lines in the past couple of years have begun offering bundle pricing to customers who pay for cruise tips, Wi-Fi charges and an onboard drinks package all at once in advance of sailing, potentially at a discount.

Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. It gives passengers prepaid gratuities (Princess calls these "crew appreciation" fees), a single-device Wi-Fi plan and a basic beverage package for a single bundled price of $60 per person, per day.

Don't worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesn't mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. The lines that offer these deals say they'll pay a normal gratuity to the crew on your behalf.

Related: The best cruise booking perks — and which ones are actually free

Additional cruise ship tipping

Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. Many cruise lines will tack an automatic gratuity charge onto the bill for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa treatments.

The included tip amount varies by cruise line but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. Be warned that the receipt often includes a line for an additional gratuity, even when one is automatically added. This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one.

Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, most cruise lines will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price. If you get one of these packages for free as a booking perk, as with Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea promotion, you might still be required to pay the gratuities on the free perk.

For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its Free at Sea promotion. The cost of that package is typically $109 per person, per day. The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. That means two people sharing a room on a seven-night cruise would pay $308 in tips for an otherwise free drinks package — on top of their daily service charge fees.

Cruisers should also bring cash to tip the porters who bring their bags onto the ship (usually $2 per bag), as well as tour guides in port ($5 to $10 per person for half-day tours, $10 to $20 for full-day excursions and $2 for non-guide drivers). Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request.

How much should you tip on each cruise line?

If you're wondering how much you should tip on the specific cruise line you're considering or have already booked, we've compiled that information here. Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or "crew appreciation" charges at some lines). The rates listed are per person, per day. They were accurate as of the publishing of this story.

Remember that all additional tipping is at your discretion. Any amount is fine and will be appreciated by the hard-working crew.

Alaskan Dream Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : None.
• Details : Gratuities for the crew are not included in the fare and are at the discretion of travelers.
• Details : Gratuities for the crew are included in the fare. One area of exception: An 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Carnival Cruise Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $16 to $18 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $16. Those in suites pay $18. Children younger than 2 are exempt from the charges. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, the cover charges for the Chef's Table and Bonsai Teppanyaki restaurants and the a la carte fee at Bonsai Sushi, Emeril's Bistro, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse and Seafood Shack.

Related: Cruise giant Carnival joins Princess, Norwegian in sharply hiking service fees

Celebrity Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $18. Passengers in Concierge Class pay $18.50 and, for bookings made after Oct. 4, 2023, passengers in AquaClass cabins also pay $18.50 (for AquaClass bookings made before that date, there is no charge for gratuities). For bookings made after Oct. 4, 2023, passengers in The Retreat suites pay $23 (for The Retreat bookings made before that date, there is no charge for gratuities). Note that passengers who book a Celebrity cabin under the line's pricier All Included rate plan also do not pay gratuity charges. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added when a passenger orders a drink that's not included in the line's All-Included rate plan, as well as when purchasing a minibar item. An 18% gratuity will be added for spa and salon services.

Celestyal Cruises

• Details : Gratuities for crew and bar staff are included in the fare.

Costa Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $12.50 to $17.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers on ships operating on the U.S. dollar generally pay $12.50. Ships operating on the euro have an 11 euro charge ($11.60 at current exchange rates). On cruises departing from China, Japan and Singapore, the charges range from $13.50 to $17.50, depending on the cabin category. Passengers younger than 4 are exempt from the charges. Gratuities for children between 4 and 14 (up to 12 on cruises departing from Japan, China and Singapore) are half the adult rate. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is added to beverage purchases.

Cunard Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $14.50 to $16.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $14.50. Passengers in Grill Class suites pay $16.50. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is added to bar, wine and salon bills.

Disney Cruise Line

• Details : While Disney doesn't add an automatic gratuity charge, it suggests that passengers staying in most cabins pay $14.50 per day in total when tipping various dining staff and room attendants. The suggested amount for passengers staying in concierge cabins and suites is $15.50. Passengers can prepay the amount in advance or on board. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service bills, and an 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Holland America Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $17 to $19.00 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $17 for what the line now calls a "crew appreciation" charge. Passengers staying in suites pay $19.00. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and dining room wine purchases.

Related: Is this love? Holland America chooses Valentine's Day for service charge price hike

Lindblad Expeditions

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare for passengers on National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Orion. On other ships, gratuities are at the passenger's discretion.

MSC Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : about $13 (12 euros) to $16.
• Details : Gratuity charges are $16 on voyages from and to the U.S., with the exception of sailings with pricing in euros, which have a gratuity charge of 12 euros ($12.66 at current exchange rates). Gratuities for children between 2 and 11 are half the adult rate on most cruises. Gratuities are not charged for children younger than 2.

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Automatic service charge : $20 to $25 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $20. Those in suites or The Haven pay $25. Passengers younger than 3 are exempt from the charges. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added to bills at bars, extra-charge specialty restaurants and ship spas. Cruises to Hawaii will also pay a 4.275% prepaid service charge called a general excise tax.

Oceania Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 to $23 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers staying in most cabins pay $18. Passengers in top suites with butler service pay $23. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added to bills at bars, the extra-charge La Reserve restaurant and at ship spas.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare.
• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare. However, passengers can give more at their discretion; Ponant recommends $10 to $12 per passenger, per day.

Princess Cruises

• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $16 for what the line now calls a "crew appreciation" charge . Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, dining room wine purchases and Lotus Spa services.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal caribbean.

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 to $20.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers staying in most cabins, including junior suites, pay $18 per day. Passengers in higher-level suites pay $20.50. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, minibars, salons and spas.

Related: Royal Caribbean quietly raises automatic gratuity charges

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Seadream yacht club, silversea cruises.

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare, except for beauty salon and spa treatments.

Star Clippers

• Details : The line recommends that passengers pay 8 euros ($8.44 at current exchange rates) per day in gratuities, but the payment is at the passenger's discretion. There is a 15% gratuity added for bar purchases.

UnCruise Adventures

• Details : UnCruise recommends that passengers pay $35 per person, per day in gratuities, but the payment is at the passenger's discretion.
• Automatic gratuity charge : $17 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers pay $17 in gratuities for all cabin types. Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Virgin Voyages

Windstar cruises.

• Automatic gratuity charge : $16 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers pay a "hotel service charge" of $16 for all cabin types. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service bills. Alternately, Windstar cruisers can upgrade their bookings with an all-in package that includes unlimited beverages, Wi-Fi and the hotel service charge for $89 per person, per day.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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