15 Cruise Advice SECRETS Only Experienced Cruisers Know

Cruise lines won't be telling you the things that many experienced cruisers know. However, this is the cruise advice you'll want to know before boarding your first cruise!

These cruise tips will help you to avoid mistakes, save money & have a better cruise! If you're a first time cruiser, this is cruise information you must know. Whether you cruise with Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Disney, Princess or any other cruise line, you'll be glad you knew these cruise travel tips before sailing!
RESOURCES I RECOMMEND

🛳 THE ULTIMATE CRUISE PLANNER 🛳

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CRUISE ESSENTIALS

Luggage tag holders:

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Please note that I am unable to give personal cruise and travel advice. If you leave a comment I try my best to answer.

ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!

Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.

Some B-Roll used in this video: Courtesy of RCCL
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Music Credit: Surf Time by Lux-InspiraMusicMusic

[tatlowtimes]

I usually don’t get off the ship. The balcony is a must for me. 😊😊. Just love to watch the world go by.

[Sull-Haven]

We always used to book balconies. After about 8-10 cruises we realised how little we actually sat out there. All our cruises since then, have been inside cabins. We do not miss the balcony and we sleep like babies in the dark inside cabins. This saves money and allows us to cruise more often.

[HollyNorris-rj]

In March our embarkation time was 1:30. Our hotel only offered transportation at 1030-1100. This was in Orlando, so we arrived in Port Canaveral around 1130. I approached one of the RC employees to ask if there was a shady spot to sit to wait on our assigned time. She smiled and said, "Come on in!" We were on board 15 mins later! ❤

[jeanetteandrews]

A tip I learned from my last cruise is to consider booking specialty dining for embarkation day. We did this because it was a special day for us and found the restaurant much less than full. As a result we enjoyed special attention from the staff and a quiet relaxed environment.

[rzaw]

Along with the cold medicine, don't for get the Anti Diarrheal medicine as well. Eating different different food can really be a jolt to your system. I too enjoyed the balcony having my coffee on my Alaskan cruise.

[richardgotshall]

Always travel with a passport! If you have to fly home in an emergency, you can’t fly on a birth certificate alone. So a passport will allow you to fly.

[jimdale]

We may not spend time on the balcony but we almost always love the open door and sound of the ocean especially at night

[debratrani]

You definitely need a balcony for an Alaska cruise. I just went there in May and one day I felt sick and was able to view the glaciers from my bed because we had a balcony cabin.

[joshvanklomp]

My wife and I are planning our first cruise for next summer. We decided a balcony is best because we deal with some social anxieties. We want our room to be a safe space for us and don’t want to feel claustrophobic.

[Eirammmm]

I’m 29 and going on my first cruise. Your videos have helped me plan a lot. Thank you

[j-pinball]

You should’ve made it 16 things, add travel insurance to the list. We don’t consider it an option but a necessity. It covers so many things that are out of your control but most importantly it has medical coverage. By and large your health insurance or Medicare or Medicaid doesn’t cover you outside the US. What are you going to do if something arises, you are responsible for the bill. Nice to have the coverage. Again, if can afford to cruise you can afford travel insurance.

[pietersleijpen]

In regards to AC, we were ready to "disembark" on our first cruise due to the AC so to speak, but it had nothing to do with not knowing how the AC worked. It simply did NOT work at all. Mind you, we first thought it had to do with needing time to cool the cabin, so we went out for dinner, ready to call afterward if it was still an issue. By the time we returned, guest services had already called us and told us they solved the issue. Apparently our cabin attendents had noted the problem as well and called guest services to deal with it. My tip, talk with your cabin attendent and check whether it is broken or you are doing something wrong ;)

[feelosophy]

The luggage tags holders are so convenient, you can have them all set and ready to go inside your carry-on. I say attach them once you get checked into your hotel. Nothing worse than getting lucky enough to run into an available luggage handler and realize you haven't attached your tags! 😬

[travelingwithmikeandpam]

We always have a balcony. I always find time to relax, read, write about the daily activities, or just to hear the ship cut through the water. Everything that you suggest are spot on!

[nateCA]

Love the "LET'S GET STARTED" with the swing of your arm/elbow ☺

[seekinghappy]

First time cruiser. I sailed with Disney this month and they definitely did stick to the boarding times. they checked every step of the way.

[jimwisnieski]

I always book a balcony cabin no matter what the weather is going to be because I always stand outside with the appropriate weather gear. I also always fly in a day early to reduce the stress of the airlines having problems. I also use a passport no matter where I go. This way I have no problems. Great video as always. ❤😊

[kengodbold]

Our main reason to cruise is the ship movements, especially at night. The heavier the movement the more we like it because it is so nice to sleep with and the dining areas are not as crowded.

[NinjaPuppy.]

As an avid cruiser, I agree with every one of these tips. You always have great information.

[jeffreywagner]

When I was younger and had less money, always booked an inside. I have claustrophobia and on my first cruise decades ago I slept on deck with my life jacket and glasses on! Don’t think they would let you do that nowadays. Now that I’m older and saved money - always do a balcony: claustrophobia, need fresh air, loved watching what is going on outside, like watching the port pilots coming on/off the ship, looking for whales, having breakfast or a glass of wine before dinner, reading on the balcony while my spouse sleeps, catching those amazing sunrises 🌅 without having to get dressed and go to some other deck…🤗☀️🚢 That being said, I typically book 2-2.5 years in ADVANCE, and many times my balcony ends up to be less money than the inside. 😊