With so many moving parts – from itineraries and cabin types to packing, dining and shore excursions – cruises can be confusing. Avid cruisers love sharing their knowledge with less seasoned passengers, but does that mean the advice is always good? Absolutely not. In fact, some of the worst cruise tips come from well-intentioned travelers who sail often.
After hundreds of voyages, we’re flagging the well-intentioned bits of advice that should be taken with a grain of salt. Read on to check out our list of the worst cruise tips we’ve ever heard.
It’s Best to Book a Cruise Yourself
Booking a cruise on your own can be easy, sure – but only if you know exactly what you’re looking for. We recommend booking with a travel advisor who can not only help you narrow down your preferences but also take care of the little details so you don’t have to. You won’t pay anything extra. Plus, advisors know the best promotions to net you all sorts of added bonuses, from fare savings to onboard credit. If something goes wrong during your sailing, you’ll also have a point person who can take care of handling the problem for you so you can get back to enjoying your vacation.
Book an Oceanview Cabin
A cabin with a window might seem like a nice compromise between an inside room with no natural light and balcony digs, which might feel like a splurge. But what most people don’t know about oceanview accommodations is that they’re usually the fewest in number, especially on newer ships. Since supply is low, they’re often more expensive than balcony cabins, which offer not only sea views but also fresh air and semi-private outdoor seating areas. If you’re looking to upgrade from an inside cabin, a balcony is almost always your best bet. That makes the oceanview tip some of the worst cruise advice.
Wait Until the Last Minute to Book
This used to be a universally good strategy for scoring ultra-low cruise fares. However, cruise demand is currently the highest it has ever been, and people are booking further in advance than ever. So this is one of the worst cruise tips because you’re likely to find higher prices the closer you are to a particular sailing date. Unless you live within driving distance of a Florida port where there’s enough inventory to handle that kind of 11th-hour spontaneity, stick to booking your voyage at least a few months in advance.
Buy an International Mobile Phone Plan
Be warned: International plans from popular mobile phone carriers like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile don’t work on cruise ships. They will only cover international data when you’re ashore in foreign ports. To use your cell phone at sea, keep it in airplane mode, and purchase a Wi-Fi package to use onboard. When you’re ashore, you can connect to Wi-Fi at the cruise terminal (if available) or at a cafe or restaurant. You’ll incur pricey roaming fees if you take your phone out of airplane mode onboard. That’s true even if you’ve purchased your carrier’s international plan.
Purchase Your Cruise Line’s Travel Protection
Among the worst cruise advice is this directive. Do we agree that travel insurance is a smart idea? Yes, we do. However, you should always buy it through a third party, rather than your cruise line. For starters, cruise line-backed “protection” isn’t the same as insurance; the former is often less comprehensive. Plus, buying coverage from the same cruise line against which you might have to file a claim is a bit of a conflict of interest. If something goes wrong, you could find yourself on a wild goose chase when trying to recoup your losses.
An Alcohol Package Will Save You Money
Although this could be true, it isn’t a given. Instead of accepting this as accurate, take some time to crunch the numbers. Although some lines now include basic drink packages in their standard fare pricing, others charge a per-day, per-person amount. That can end up costing you as much as another cruise fare. (This is especially true because you have to buy the packages for the duration of the sailing. Additionally, anyone 21 or older sharing the same cabin will also have to purchase one.) Figure out how many drinks you expect to have each day, and estimate how much it would cost you to pay a la carte. If that amount is less than the package, buying a package is bad cruise advice.
Pack a Power Strip
Some cruise cabins – especially those on older ships – can be short on outlets for charging devices. You’ll often hear that you can simply bring a power strip to solve the problem. However, you need to be careful that the one you pack doesn’t have a surge protector, or it will be confiscated when you board. You can alleviate the worry by instead adding a couple of European plug adapters to your must-pack list. They will allow you to utilize all of the charging ports in your room, rather than just the North American ones. Bonus: They take up less space in your luggage.
Fly in the Day of Your Cruise
Sure, you’ll save money by not having to pay for a hotel room if you fly in on embarkation day. But you also risk missing your ship if your flight is delayed, affecting your arrival at the terminal. If you don’t live within driving distance of your embarkation port, you should plan to fly in at least one day early, and stay nearby so you’re ready to set sail, stress free, the next day.
Head to the Terminal Early on Embarkation Day
We know you’re excited – and we don’t blame you – but you won’t be awarded a gold star for being first on the ship. Most cruise lines stagger embarkation times by requiring passengers to select a boarding window when they check in for their sailing. If this is the case for you, please adhere to your time. If you don’t have a boarding time (or priority boarding via a suite booking, loyalty status or special package), it often pays to arrive at the port on the later side. Generally, if you show up around 2 p.m., you can avoid lines at the terminal, as well as the lunch rush onboard.
Sneak Alcohol Onboard by Disguising It
We know it’s tempting, but this is both risky and tacky. Sure, thrifty cruisers have dozens of ways to smuggle booze on ships in everything from fake sunscreen bottles to water bras. But it’s not worth the trip to the naughty room if you’re caught. Adding to your inevitable embarrassment if you’re found out is the fact that your pride will go down the drain along with your alcohol, which won’t be returned to you.
Grab a Quick Lunch at the Buffet After Embarkation
If you’ve paid attention to the tip above about boarding in the afternoon, this one might be OK. But, generally, avoid this cruise advice. The buffet is a place you should avoid at all costs for lunch on embarkation day. Because it’s the fastest and easiest way for passengers to grab a bite after the hustle and bustle of boarding, it’s likely to be packed. There will be plenty of food, of course, but you might find yourself waiting in long lines to fill your plate, and seating could be scarce. Opt instead for poolside eateries that tend to serve items like burgers and fries, or seek out the onboard pizza joint if there is one.
Leave Your Balcony Door Open for Fresh Air
Please, for the love of air-conditioning, don’t do this. We all enjoy a relaxing sea breeze and the sound of waves; what we don’t enjoy is waking up in the middle of the night sweating because someone in the cabin next door left their balcony door open. When balcony doors are open for extended periods of time, it can affect the HVAC systems in other cabins nearby. Plus, if you leave yours open and someone opens the main cabin door at the same time, it creates a wind tunnel that will send papers and personal belongings flying.
Don’t Worry; Your Room Steward Will Clean It Up
Cruise room stewards work hard to make sure your cabin is clean, comfortable and welcoming every day of your sailing. Whether they visit once or twice a day will depend on the line you choose. They take great care in fixing beds, cleaning bathrooms and refilling mini-fridges. They clear room service items (don’t leave your crusty tray in the hallway) and can bring extra hangers or towels. While their job is to keep your space tidy, it’s not an excuse for you to be a slob. A few articles of clothing here and there are fine, but leaving your cabin looking like it was hit by a natural disaster is disrespectful.
Book Shore Excursions Through Your Cruise Line
This should never be an all-or-nothing take. Sometimes it pays to book shore tours independently through a third-party. In addition to saving you some cash, it could also expand your options to more than just what the cruise line offers. However, be sure you’re choosing a provider with positive reviews and a track record of being on time. If you return to your ship late on an independent tour, you could be left behind. Also check on the tour operator’s refund policy. If something causes you to miss the port where you have the excursion planned, you’ll want your money back. Shore Excursions Group is a reputable company to consider when booking.
Always Leave the Ship in Port
This cruise tip is one of the worst. If it’s your first time visiting a particular region and you want to take it all in, you should disembark. However, if you’ve already been to a particular port several times or you’re more interested in quiet relaxation than sightseeing, staying onboard when everyone else is ashore is a great way to make it feel like you’ve got the whole ship to yourself. After all, this is your vacation. Take it slowly if you want to.
Refill Your Water Bottle in the Buffet
Hydration is key, especially in warm-weather cruise destinations like the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Because so many passengers carry reusable water bottles, lots of ships now have bottle refilling stations that allow you to top up. If your ship doesn’t have one, don’t fill your bottle directly from the standard water dispensers at the buffet. Instead, use a clean cup to get water from the dispenser, and transfer it to the bottle. That way, you can avoid contaminating the dispenser with germs from the bottle neck.
Wake Up Early to Snag a Deck Chair for the Day
Unless you plan to wake up, claim a lounger and sit in it or swim next to it all day, don’t be a chair hog. I’m looking at you, cruiser who plops down flip-flops, a towel and a book and then disappears for hours. If you’re not using it, kindly move your stuff off of it. It’s common courtesy.
Book Several Spa Treatments for Discounts
Many cruise ship spas will offer discounts to passengers who book several treatments at the same time. If you weren’t planning to have more than one treatment anyway, add this to the “worst cruise tips” list. You’ll be spending more than you intended just to save a few bucks. Instead, ask if there are discounts available on a single service if you grab a time slot on a port day when the spa is likely to be less busy.
Remove Gratuities to Save Money
Cruise ships charge a per-person, per-day gratuity or “crew appreciation” to every passenger’s onboard account. (Really it’s just a service charge, but we digress.) Technically you can ask guest services to remove it, but this is terrible cruise advice. You should budget for these costs when planning your voyage. They are not only paid to the hardworking crew like waiters and room stewards who make your vacation great on the front end, but they’re also divided among the people you never see who provide essential services by doing the laundry, washing dishes and preparing food. Removing them is rude; if you can’t afford the daily charges, you can’t afford to cruise.
Bottom Line
There’s lots of great cruise advice floating around out there – read your cruise contract thoroughly, wash your hands frequently, and don’t slam your cabin door – but there’s also lots of bad information. Pay attention to the worst cruise tips above so you know how to avoid the pitfalls they cause and potentially find better alternatives for your next sailing.
Comments
Do you agree with our list of the worst cruise tips? What other bad cruise advise have you gotten? Drop us an anchor below to share some tips that you think cruisers should follow instead.
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