9 Cruise Mistakes I Don’t Make Anymore After 25+ Cruises

When I first started cruising, I thought choosing the cheapest fare and figuring everything else out along the way was a good strategy.

Then I nearly missed the ship, ended up in cabins that weren’t right for me, and got so seasick that I stopped cruising for a few years.

Now, after more than 25 cruises, I do things differently. Here are 9 cruise mistakes I don’t make anymore.

1. Not Researching Local Transportation

This mistake almost caused my family of four to almost miss the ship.

I used to assume that if we could take a taxi somewhere, we could easily find another one to bring us back.

But on a Princess British Isles cruise with a stop in Cork, we learned that wasn’t always the case.

To save money, we decided to visit Blarney Castle on our own instead of booking a cruise shore excursion.

The plan seemed simple. Take a taxi to the castle, explore, and catch another taxi back.

Getting there was easy. Getting back was the problem.

When we came out, there was no taxi stand and no taxis waiting outside. We didn’t realize we were in a small village with limited our transportation options.

Uber was available, so we tried requesting a ride. But our requests kept getting canceled. It seemed like the Uber drivers were also the local taxi drivers, so we were relying on the same small pool of cars.

We were about 45 minutes from the port, and I really thought we were going to miss the ship.

Eventually, an Uber came and took us back. But by then, saving money on the shore excursion didn’t feel worth all that stress.

If I go again, I’ll book a cruise shore excursion. Or I’ll arrange for a taxi driver to wait while we visit, agreeing on the price and waiting time beforehand.

Now, I always research the local transportation. Just because you can get somewhere easily doesn’t mean you can get back just as easily.

2. Letting the Cruise Line Choose My Cabin

When I was new to cruising, I always booked the cheapest cabin.

That usually meant an inside guarantee cabin, which is a cabin category where you let the cruise line choose your room.

At the time, I thought, all inside cabins were the same. And there was always the hope that we might get upgraded.

Instead, I kept getting cabins in bad locations.

Because I’m prone to seasickness, location matters. I don’t want to end up near the front of the ship where it’s rocky.

Now, I know better. I will never let the cruise line choose my cabin for me.

I want control over where it’s located.

For me, saving a little money isn’t worth spending the cruise in a location I’m unhappy with.

3. Choosing the Cheapest Cruise Without Thinking About Hurricane Season

I also used to choose cruises based on price without paying much attention to when we were sailing.

Some of those bargain fares were Norwegian cruises from New York to Canada during hurricane season.

I remember taking a cruise with my parents and my daughter, who was a toddler at the time.

My mom and I got so seasick that my dad had to take care of my daughter.

And his solution for dinner was ice cream.

My daughter probably thought she was having the best vacation ever. Meanwhile, I was so miserable that I couldn’t even take care of her.

That cruise traumatized me so much that I stopped cruising for a few years.

Now, I think carefully before booking during hurricane season, and I buy travel insurance with a cancel for any reason add-on for more flexibility if I’m uncomfortable with the forecast.

4. Not Allowing Enough Time for Port Traffic

I learned this lesson in Nassau, Bahamas.

We took a taxi to Atlantis on Paradise Island, but I hadn’t thought enough about traffic on the way back.

When we headed toward the cruise port, we got caught in bumper to bumper traffic at the bridge.

We weren’t moving, and I kept watching the time.

Once you’re stuck in that situation, there’s very little you can do. You can’t make the traffic move, and the ship isn’t going to adjust its schedule around your taxi.

I really thought we were going to miss the ship.

Now, when I explore independently, I leave plenty of time to get back.

I account for rush hour, the time it might take to find a taxi, and the walk through the port to the ship.

The driving time on a map is only part of the return trip.

I would much rather get back early and relax than spend those last minutes in port panicking.

5. Assuming an Unexpired Passport Is Good Enough

When I first started cruising, I thought that as long as my passport hadn’t expired, I was fine.

I didn’t realize that I’m required to have 6 months of passport validity remaining beyond my travel dates.

On a Royal Caribbean Mediterranean cruise, they called me in partway through the sailing because my passport was close to that six month cutoff.

We were already on the ship, and suddenly I was worried about whether I would have a problem continuing the trip.

Fortunately, I was able to finish the cruise. But I would never want to find myself in that situation again.

Now, I check everyone’s passport expiration date well before we travel, including the kids.

I also check the cruise line’s travel document requirements and the passport and visa requirements for the countries we’re visiting.

I don’t want to show up at the terminal and find out we can’t board the ship.

6. Waiting Until I’m on the Ship to Think About Shore Excursions

When my husband and I were younger and cruising on a budget, we rarely booked cruise shore excursions.

We thought they were too expensive, so we usually just got off the ship and walk around the port.

Sometimes, that worked out perfectly well.

But other times, we missed out on experiences because we hadn’t researched what there was to do or how to get there.

And when we did decide to splurge on a cruise shore excursion, we always assumed we could easily book it once we were on board.

Then we found out the ones we wanted were sold out.

Now, I research the ports before the cruise and decide which experiences matter most to us.

I still don’t book a shore excursion in every port. But if there’s something I really want to do, I book ahead instead of hoping there will be space later.

7. Packing First Day Essentials in Checked Luggage

When I first started cruising, I packed everything into our suitcases without thinking about what we would need on boarding day.

We would hand over the bags at the port, board the ship, and then wait for our luggage to arrive.

That was especially frustrating when we traveled with little kids.

Somehow, I kept putting their bathing suits in the checked luggage.

We would walk past the splash pad and see other kids playing, and I would think, why didn’t I keep their swimsuits with me?

The vacation had started, but we were waiting for a suitcase before they could join the fun.

Now, I pack a separate carry-on bag with anything we might need that afternoon.

That includes bathing suits, medication, valuables, travel documents, and other first day essentials.

I think about what we’ll want to do when we board, then pack accordingly.

It’s a simple change, but it makes the first afternoon much more enjoyable.

8. Not Making Dinner Reservations for a Large Family

On a Princess cruise, I remember getting stressed trying to find a dinner table for our whole family because we hadn’t made reservations.

We were traveling with grandparents and kids, so we needed a large table.

And with young children, we didn’t want to eat late.

I remember talking to the maître d’, trying to work out when we could all sit together.

Instead of looking forward to dinner, I was worrying about how we were going to get everyone seated.

Now, if reservations are available for our dining arrangement, I make them ahead of time.

That’s especially helpful when we’re traveling with family.

Two adults might be happy to wait or eat later. It’s harder when you have hungry kids.

Taking care of the reservation ahead of time gives me one less thing to figure out on vacation.

9. Choosing a Specialty Restaurant Without Checking the Main Dining Room Menu

Early in my cruising days, it never occurred to me to check the main dining room menu before deciding where to eat.

So there were several times when we went to a specialty restaurant or ate at the buffet and missed lobster night or another special dinner.

I would find out afterward and think, I would have really enjoyed that.

Now, before choosing a night for specialty dining, I check the main dining room menu.

I can usually find it in the cruise app. If it isn’t available yet, I ask the dining staff whether they can tell me when any special dinners are planned.

Then I schedule specialty dining for a night when the main dining room menu is less exciting to me.

It only takes a minute, and it saves me from discovering the next morning that I missed a dinner I would have loved.