Cruise Tips

Included: Meals, entertainment, accommodations, activities.

Additional: Soft drinks and alcohol on most cruise lines, spa treatments, shore excursions, specialty dining, internet, gratuities on most cruise lines. Beverage packages are available.

Note: Inclusions vary from cruise line to cruise line. Be sure to check specifically what is included when making your booking.

Learn about the ports that you are going to visit. Check out the weather and what there is to do. Find out how far from the port a city center is. This will help you to determine if you might want to book a shore excursion and what type of an excursion you may want to book, or if you just want to explore a port on your own.

Shore excursions are an important part of every cruise. It's not necessary to book excursions in every port but it is important to do your research in advance. Find out what is offered in each port and decide what is important to you. If there is a limited time in a large city it is sometimes good to book a short city tour to give you a quick overview of the city that you are visiting. This allows you to get orientated and to maximize your time in that port. Also, if the distance between the port and the city is far, then booking either a transfer or a tour that drops you off in the city center is a good idea. If you are in port where there may be a language barrier pre-booking excursions can provide a certain comfort level. Lastly, if you are interested in an activity where space is limited (such as a helicopter tour in Alaska) it is a good idea to book that tour in advance to avoid disappointment if that excursion is no longer available when you arrive.

Shore excursions can be booked in advance either through the cruise lines or through companies that specialize in shore excursions. If you wait to book on the ship don't wait until just before the scheduled port arrival time or you will be disappointed. Shore excursions do sell out.

Group Shore Excursion: You can book an excursion as part of a group by booking with the cruise line or with an independent shore excursion company. When you book as part of a group the costs are lower and you travel with many of your fellow cruisers. Transportation is usually via motorcoach.

Private Shore Excursions: Private excursions are exactly that. You will be met by the guide and driver at the port and you can see exactly what you want to see. You can customize your tour exactly to your liking. While private tours might be slightly more expensive you really have the ability to see what you want to see and maximize your time in port without having to wait for everyone else in a larger group tour. If you are traveling with four or more people the benefits can easily justify the cost difference. Private excursions should be booked in advance.

Independent Travel: In smaller ports it's quite possible to get off of the ship and explore on your own. You can create your own experiences, sample different cuisines and see different sights. Sometimes taking a quick taxi ride into town is all it takes. Be sure to know the price of the ride up front or make sure that the taxi is on a meter.

In addition to being able to book a cruise and view our hot deals you can also save your specific upcoming cruise to the app (whether you booked it with Cruise.com or not). Once saved you will then have access to the cruise countdown, departure port information, itinerary details, detailed ship information, a cruise checklist, a packing list — all at the click of a button from your phone!

Flight delays are possible. Arriving early reduces stress and protects against unforeseen issues. It's best to arrive the day before if you are flying in. This way you can explore the port city and have a built in buffer in case of delays. If you cannot come a day early plan to arrive between noon and 1PM for most ships. Most ships pull out of port between 4PM and 6PM but don't schedule a flight that arrives just an hour before. If you miss the ship it is your responsibility, both physically and financially, to get yourself to the next port if you booked non-cruise line air.

Every cruise line publishes an activity sheet which is delivered daily to your cabin. Here you will find listed all of the things that you can do on board the ship that day, dining times, special events and activities, contact numbers and more.