Don Herman A comprehensive cruise planning guide to help you truly enjoy your cruise.
I remember planning my first cruise. Or rather, I remember trying to plan my first cruise. I had no idea what I was doing. I looked at the promo material, thought everything looked great, signed up online and waited for it all to happen.
Then reality showed up. I’d missed the deadlines for securing excursions and booking specialty dinners. And the cabin I’d been assigned was right under the Lido deck pool area, so the joggers and chair movers woke me up at 7:30 every single morning. I made a lot of mistakes because I didn’t know any better.
And yet, Alaska was magical: glaciers, totem poles, coffee on a balcony surrounded by floating ice. It just could have gone a lot more smoothly.
That’s why we wrote this guide. If you’re wondering how to plan a cruise without repeating my mistakes, you’re in the right place. Over more than two dozen ocean and river cruises together, Dwaine and I have learned what really matters. This cruise planning guide breaks it all into 13 steps, in the order we’d tackle them. Follow along from start to finish, or jump to the step where you’re stuck.
The goal is simple: walk into that first conversation with a travel agent informed, not flustered.
Your 13-Step Roadmap
Missed excursion deadlines? That’s Step 9. The noisy cabin? Step 5. Everything else I got wrong is in here somewhere, too.
1. Cruise Budget Planning: What a Cruise Really Costs
Start with the dream, then put real numbers to it. See what a cruise costs beyond the fare, so nothing surprises you later.
2. Choose Your Cruise Type
Ocean or river? Mega-ship or small ship? Find the style that fits how you like to travel.
3. Cruise Planning Guide – Cruise Itinerary Planning Tips
Where to go, when to go, and how ports, sea days and seasons shape the trip.
4. The Best Way to Book a Cruise: Travel Advisor, Online Agency or Direct?
Travel agent, cruise line direct or online? Compare your options, and learn how fare tiers work so you know what you’re paying for.
5. The Best Way to Book a Cruise: Timing, Cabins, and Insurance Tips
Inside, oceanview, balcony or suite, plus where on the ship you’ll want to be (and which decks to avoid).
6. Cruise Travel Insurance Guide: Lock In and Protect Your Booking
Deposits, payment deadlines and travel insurance, so a change of plans doesn’t cost you the trip.
7. Cruise Pre and Post Cruise Stay Planning: Airfare, Transfers, and Extra Days Done Right
Getting to the ship, and whether to add a night or two on either end.
8. Are Cruise Drink and Wifi Packages Worth It? A Line-by-Line Breakdown
Drinks, Wi-Fi and other extras. Which are worth paying for, and which aren’t?
9. How to Book Cruise Shore Excursions (and Actually Enjoy Your Time in Port)
Ship excursions or independent tours? How to book, and how to keep your days in port relaxed.
10. Complete Pre-Cruise Requirements: Your Checklist Before You Sail
Documents, check-in and the final to-do list before you leave home.
11. Cruise Disembarkation Tips: How to Get Off the Ship Smoothly and Head Home Happy
What to expect from the pier to your first evening onboard.
12. First-Time Cruise Tips: How to Make the Most of Your Days Onboard
First-time cruiser advice for getting the most out of your days at sea.
13. Cruise Disembarkation Tips: How to Get Off the Ship Smoothly and Head Home Happy
Getting off the ship smoothly and wrapping up the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should you plan a cruise?
Earlier than you think. Popular sailings, especially Alaska and river cruises, often sell the best cabins and dates months ahead, and early booking gives you more choice on ship, cabin and excursions. Also watch the deadlines after you book, like final payment and excursion or dining reservations. I missed a few on my first cruise. See Step 3. Cruise Planning Guide – Cruise Itinerary Planning Tips and Step 4. The Best Way to Book a Cruise: Travel Advisor, Online Agency or Direct?
How much should you budget for a cruise?
The fare is only the starting point. Budget for taxes and port fees, gratuities, shore excursions, drink and Wi-Fi packages, airfare, travel insurance, and any hotel nights before or after the cruise. Add those up before you commit so nothing surprises you onboard. Our budgeting guide walks through each category in Step 1. Cruise Budget Planning: What a Cruise Really Costs
Is it better to book through a travel agent or the cruise line?
Both work, and the right choice depends on how much guidance you want. A travel agent can answer questions, compare fare types and help sort out cabins, while booking direct gives you full control. Either way, know what you want before you call. We compare the options in Step 4. The Best Way to Book a Cruise: Travel Advisor, Online Agency or Direct? Personally, we use an online travel agent – one with a name and a direct line we can call. It’s so helpful to have someone who can answer questions and maybe get you out of a jam!
What should first-time cruisers know before booking?
Know your priorities before you book: the cruise style, the itinerary, and the cabin. Check where the cabin sits on the ship (noise from above or below matters more than you’d expect), and understand what your fare includes before paying for upgrades. Start with Step 2. Choose Your Cruise Type and Step 5. The Best Way to Book a Cruise: Timing, Cabins, and Insurance Tips
Do you need travel insurance for a cruise?
It’s worth serious consideration. A cruise is a big, mostly prepaid commitment, and plans can change for reasons you can’t control. Policies differ in what they cover, so read the details before you buy. We cover the basics in Step 6. Cruise Travel Insurance Guide: Lock In and Protect Your Booking
Who’s Behind This Guide
We’re Don and Dwaine, retired travelers who have been together almost 30 years, and we’ve been comparing cruise notes for most of them. Our cruises include the Caribbean, Alaska, the Panama Canal, the British Isles, a Norway northern lights sailing, the Nile, and the Rhine, Danube and Elbe rivers. We don’t rewrite press releases. Everything in this guide comes from trips we’ve actually taken, mistakes included.
Ready to Get Started?
Not sure where to begin? Start with Step 1: Cruise Budget Planning: What a Cruise Really Costs.
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