Don’t fly out on the day your cruise leaves (too risky). But you can fly home on the day you debark, just get a later flight time in the afternoon. 

Cruisesonly.com is the absolute best place for cruise shopping. I’ve tried them all, Cruises Only is the best. 

Take some Dramamine with you, and make sure to get the non-drowsy version.

The dining room is an awesome cruise experience. Make sure you choose the dining time that will work best for the activities your group wants to do. If you want more information about Dining Room times, see this post.

Interior cabins save you a lot of money, and I’ve found that it doesn’t change much. If you can find an oceanview cabin for only a bit more money, then I’d definitely do it, but don’t pay a lot more for oceanview. There are amazing views usually on the 3rd deck that you can watch the ocean, then you don’t have to pay for an oceanview cabin.

Look for cruises that are in the $60/night (including taxes ans fees) range. That and less are good deals, but if you need a specific time or destination you may have to just go with what you can get. 

Make sure to check in early! If you secure yourself an early boarding time, you get free extra hours on the ship, and all it takes is checking in online a few days before you board.

Norwegian and Royal Carribean are higher end, family fun, activity cruise lines. Carnival is cheaper, but still similar to NCL and RCL and is starting to compete in regard to activities and amenities on the ship. Princess, Celebrity, Holland America are more retirement cruises. They don’t have as many “fun” activities. MSC is a European cruise line that recently started sailing from the U.S. I really liked it. Some people say it isn’t “American” enough yet. I actually really liked it. It was a mix between old and young.

Prices change every few days, so check prices often. Cruises are the cheapest within a month of sailing, but that can be risky to wait if you need specific departure dates or ports.

Orlando (Port Canaveral) is usually the cheapest cruise port to fly into.

Don’t try to get out of the safety drill before the ship leaves port. They will hunt you down. Just go to your Muster Station and get it over with. It’s easier for everyone.  

Take a multi outlet plug. Cabins often only have 1 plug and that gets annoying when charging multiple devices and styling hair. 

Take strong magnetic hooks. Cabins are small and more storage is always helpful. There is lots of metal in the cabins, so magnetic hooks are a lifesaver. 

If you’re from Utah and have a couple extra days, it can save you a few hundred dollars to drive to Las Vegas or Dever and fly from there instead of Salt Lake.

Bringing little ones? Read our tips for cruising with kids and toddlers for family packing ideas and lessons from our trip.