Cruising 101: A Beginner’s Guide from Someone Who’s Been There (and Back… a Lot)

Social Media Travel Adviser: I'm often tagged on social media by friends and family asking for travel advice. A while back, a friend said, “You know, you should really start posting your answers.” So here we are!

This particular Q&A came from my cousin when she moved to the Tampa area. Surrounded by cruise ports, she wondered where to begin. If you are new to cruising, this advice might be just what you need too.

‎Question: I'm looking for some travel advice and I couldn't think of a better person to ask😊... I am becoming more and more interested with going on a cruise now that I live closer to a few ports. I'm not picky about when or for how long, but I have no idea what to expect. Is there a cheaper season to take a cruise? A cheaper site to book through? What expenses do you have while on the cruise? I just couldn't do any more research until after you shared your wisdom

My Answer:

First off, I am more than a little jealous that you live so close to cruise ports. If I were in your shoes, we'd be on a ship so often, Amazon would have to deliver all my packages to the Lido Deck!

If you are dipping your toes into cruising, I recommend starting with a shorter and cheaper trip. Aim for 3 to 5 days. The Bahamas are often the most affordable, and Carnival tends to have the lowest prices. Full disclosure, Carnival is not our favorite, but it is perfect for a fun, lively, party-style vibe. We are more “floating retirement home” people. Give me a library, a balcony, and a quiet dinner, and I am happy. Seriously, though, if you think Carnival is your type of cruise line, you can get some really amazing deals. If you want something a bit more polished, Princess is lovely but pricier. Holland America is one of our absolute favorites. Their passengers tend to be more… um… “mature,” but that is totally our jam. We enjoy hanging out with seniors. They are polite, friendly, and always have a story. Bonus, when they all go to bed at 9 pm, you have the ship to yourself! Quiet evenings and plenty of deck space? Yes please! Royal Caribbean and MSC are solid middle-ground choices with nice ships, good food, and great prices, especially if you can be flexible with your dates. Where to Cruise First

• Cheapest and shortest: Bahamas

• Mid-priced favorites: Cozumel, Mexico (great snorkeling and fun day resorts)

• Unique and beautiful: MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay, which feels like a tropical national park

• Other good deals: Honduras, Jamaica, and Belize often have surprising bargains
  

When to Go (and When Not to Go)

If you do not have kids, here is your golden rule. Avoid school holidays unless you enjoy being in the middle of a floating Chuck E. Cheese. Summer, Christmas break, and spring break all mean crowded pools, long buffet lines, and prices that make you wonder if you accidentally booked a private yacht.

Our favorite times to sail are the “sweet spot” seasons, when the kids are in school, the prices are friendlier, and the ships feel a little more relaxed. Mid-January through early March is perfect for escaping winter without breaking the bank. Late September through November is also wonderful, when the summer rush has died down and you can enjoy warm weather without the crowds. Where to Book

I like to treat cruise shopping the way some people treat online shoe shopping. Open a few tabs, poke around, and see what is on sale. I usually start with cruise.com and cruises.com, then I hop over to the cruise line’s own site to see if they are running any sneaky flash sales. Royal Caribbean and MSC are especially guilty of dropping deals when you least expect it. A little browsing can save you hundreds, so it is worth the extra clicks.

What's Included vs. What's Extra

The good news is that cruising already covers most of your big expenses, so once you have paid for your cabin, you could technically get onboard and spend nothing else. Often, we don't. Jordan frequently teases that when we get those super amazing deals, they probably lose money on us. Ha ha!

Included in your fare: Your room, endless food from breakfast buffets to midnight snacks, basic drinks like coffee, tea, lemonade, and breakfast juice, and a full lineup of entertainment that can range from Broadway-style shows to trivia nights that get strangely competitive. Sometimes the best entertainment is simply watching the trivia participants argue about the answers, competing for a $10 logo tote. It's actually Jordan's favorite on-board activity.

Extra costs you will want to know about: Port fees are usually $80 to $300, depending on where you sail, daily tips for the crew are required. The tips are about $18 per person per day and typically need to be prepaid. If you watch for deals and specials, many cruise lines offer onboard credit, which can be used for tips, with a little left over for onboard spending. Factor in a little extra for anything beyond your basic drinks (water, tea, lemonade, coffee), such as sodas, cocktails, or that fancy caramel latte you suddenly need when you smell it wafting through the atrium. You can buy drinks individually or spring for a package if you plan to indulge. We prefer to buy individually because the math on the drink packages often comes out to 5-7 drinks a day just to break even! Specialty restaurants are also an upgrade. They are nice, but unless it is a special occasion, the added expense isn't necessary. The main dining room usually delivers a great meal. I will note that MSC packs their dining room, so if it's important to you to have a quiet dining experience, the specialty restaurants may be worth the upgrade on this line. Then there are the optional splurges such as spa treatments, arcade games, cooking classes, and wine tastings… basically anything that makes you go, “Ooh, that sounds fun,” before realizing it is not free.

Excursions: Ship vs. DIY

Booking excursions through the ship is easy, but your wallet might not love it. You are paying for the peace of mind that the ship will wait for you if something runs late, but you are also paying a hefty markup for it. We save anywhere from 20 to 75 percent by booking independently.

Before we sail, I like to explore the port online and create our own plan. I check TripAdvisor, Viator, and GetYourGuide to see what is out there, then either book directly through those platforms or find the company’s own website for an even better price. As more experienced travelers, we often skip booking altogether and just put together our own “excursion” for the day. If you are comfortable going on your own, it can be a huge cost savings and offers more flexibility (but with that comes A LOT more planning).

If you are just looking for a relaxing beach day, you do not need anything elaborate. Grab a taxi to a nearby public beach or get a day pass at a local resort and enjoy. Snorkeling is another favorite. It is easy, inexpensive, and absolutely gorgeous in Caribbean waters.

When it comes to snacks and drinks in port, skip the overpriced tourist stands. Head to a local grocery store or convenience store for much cheaper snacks and beverages. This one little trick has saved us a surprising amount over the years, and it is a fun way to peek at local life. For meals, we are comfortable eating local. We have traveler's bellies, though, and our tummies can handle it if we stumble onto a place that wouldn't necessarily receive an A+ rating from the health department in the US. If you're nervous about the food, eat where the tourists are. If the menu is in English and everyone there has sunglasses and backpacks, you're probably fine. The port shops always have restaurants. The food will be good, though a bit more Americanized, the menu will be in English, and they are almost always squeaky clean. You may pay a bit more, but you are also buying peace of mind. Bottom Line

Cruising can be as laid-back or as over-the-top as you make it. Start small, sail when the crowds are low, and do not be afraid to ditch the ship’s pre-packaged experiences for your own adventures. Whether you are dancing until midnight, sipping coffee on your balcony at sunrise, or hunting down the best tacos in Cozumel, there is a cruise out there with your name on it.