From passport requirements to packing and dining tips, this collection helps first-time cruisers plan with confidence. Follow Cruise Habits on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates.
It might be easy to imagine yourself having a great vacation, but we never know what life has in store for us. So, when your plans don’t work out, can you get a refund on your cruise? Cruise line booking policies can be complicated to understand, but we’ll see if we can help clear things up so you understand if cruise bookings are refundable...
Hundreds of Caribbean cruises set sail every year during hurricane season, but understanding whether or not this is a good idea, how travel insurance can help in the event of a hurricane, and what the risks really are is something that can be confusing - especially to those new to cruising or not used to dealing with tropical weather systems. In this video we explain hurricane season, dispel some misconceptions, and...
Surprises on vacation can be fun, but seeing what your cruise ship looks like as it sails away without you onboard isn't something any of us want to experience. While we've got a lot of practice cruising, there's still a little part of us that worries about missing the ship in port, but if you do these five things you can almost certainly make it back onboard with just enough time to shower before realizing that you forgot about your dinner reservations.
Packing for any cruise is a balance. You don’t want to miss anything that will make your trip better, but you also don’t want to carry things with you that you don’t need - especially if you’re flying to your cruise. As a frequent cruiser, some of the things I see folks pack on cruise ships shock me. Whether missteps of first time cruisers, differences in priorities, or edge cases, we’re going to share 8 things that most of you don’t need to pack on your next cruise.
While many people associate cruises with formal dining and being forced to eat with strangers, this certainly isn't a requirement. Who you dine with, and where, are really up to you. Making requests to dine the way you want is easy...
When you pack for any trip, it’s important to keep in mind the things that are absolute musts, and at the top of that list should be any prescription medications that you need. Cruising, however, usually involves leaving the country, and countries may have differing rules about prescription medications, especially, though not exclusively, controlled substances. How you should pack your medications, what you should consider before you travel, and medical decisions you make abroad are all important parts of your trip-planning...
A cruise ship stateroom, for some, may just be a place to sleep, but you want it to be comfortable and have everything you need. What many cruisers don’t realize is that there are many things you can get in your stateroom to make your stay better, and they won’t cost you a dime...
Picking the right cabin on a cruise can be confusing. There are multiple types and many categories - but the differences aren't always clear. In this video we share some tips and tricks so you can pick the right stateroom for your next cruise...
Whether you spent a lot of time researching your first cruise before booking, or figured it out as you went along, planning can be important for any trip. So, after your first cruise, or even your 40th cruise, it’s good to take a look back and ask yourself and your traveling companions about your most recent cruise experiences so that you can make your next trip even better. Cruising isn’t one thing, so finding the right cruise experience for you is important...
Most cruise lines permit guests to bring a bottle or two of wine on board to enjoy during their cruise. While these policies vary among cruise lines, guests may be charged what is known as a corkage fee. What that fee is for, and when it’s assessed, however, are often misunderstood...
Almost anyone who has cruised before will tout the value of cruising when compared to land vacations. Most cruises include your meals, entertainment, transportation (to various ports of call), and your accommodations. Nevertheless, cruises are a big expense, so it's important to know about any expenses that aren't immediately apparent. While the industry tends to stay pretty transparent about the costs guests may incur, if you're looking at your first cruise, there may be some expenses which, while we'd not call them "hidden," may not be clear when shopping around.
No matter the cruise line or itinerary, cruising offers a wide variety of things you can do while on vacation. There are however some things you cannot do on a cruise. While some of the things on our list are rules related to safety or laws, other are a matter of practicality. We'll go over eight things you can't do on a cruise, and include some exceptions...
There can be an overwhelming number of things to do on cruises. From stage shows included with your fare, to pricey spa treatments, you’ll find plenty of options listed in the daily program found in your room (and increasingly, in an app). There are some things however, that you don’t want to miss, even though you won’t find them mentioned on the schedule...
When someone says "formal night" everyone just knows you're talking about a cruise. Whether you look forward to donning a three piece suit, or you try as best as you can to avoid wearing shoes, you'll want to plan for whatever the more "dressed up" evenings are on your next cruise. There is no maritime law for formal night schedules - those things are usually reserved for safety concerns and how to handle emotionally distraught cruise blogger that's been on stuck on shore for months. Let's look at a few ways you can...
Whether you’ve cruised before or seen and heard about cruising through ads and friends, there is a good chance you’ve only really been exposed to one type of cruising: contemporary lines. These lines include Royal Caribbean International, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC, and others. They can all be great options, provide excellent entertainment, and value. There are however many other types of cruise lines out there, including premium lines – and they don’t necessarily come at a higher cost.
Sometimes your cruise ship may be too large to dock at certain destinations. When this happens, you'll likely board a tender, which is a smaller boat, and take that to shore. In this video we go over everything you need to know about tendering...
Sometimes we cruise for the destinations, like the beautiful sights in Alaska or the clear waters of the Caribbean - other times we cruise for the onboard experiences available on mega-ships, or the unparalleled service offered on luxury lines. No matter why you're taking a particular cruise though, there may be ports of call that are less interesting to you than others, and if that happens, you have options. We'll address some common questions below, but make sure to check out some examples of cruise activity schedules at the bottom of this post.
Whether getting ready for your first cruise or at the top of a loyalty program, most agree that the first day of your cruise is the most exciting. To make sure that excitement turns into a great cruise follow along with our list of 12 things you should do on embarkation day...
Whether cruising the Caribbean, Alaska, or Europe, make sure you consider these five things before picking a shore excursion...