Six tips for your first cruise

I've been on three cruises, and my mum and dad are just about to embark on their second. It's such a fun way to travel and you get to see so much of the world too. It can be a bit daunting, though, so I roped my parents in and together we've put together a list of tips for your first cruise...

pin for later!

My best cruise tips

One of my biggest tips is that you don't have to leave the ship at every port, and you certainly don't have to go on an excursion every time you disembark. You've paid all this money to be on a ship that likely has all these incredible amenities, so make use of them! If your cruise visits somewhere you're not particularly interested in or that you've been before, stay on board and enjoy the peace and quiet. Relax in the hot tub, go to the gym, sunbathe on deck and eat your weight in pizza and chips from the lunch time buffet.

one of the professional photos taken on my first cruise

Another cruise tip is to check out what discounts are available on board. You can often get cheaper spa treatments on embarkation day, and if your ship has a photography service you can buy packages to get the most amount of prints for your money!

My third tip is if you have kids with you, make use of the kid's club. Honestly, I absolutely loved going to it on my first cruise - I was 8 and cruising with Thomson (now Marella). The kid's club was so much fun, and I didn't feel like I was missing out for a second while my aunty and uncle were getting some time to themselves. We played so many games, did arts & crafts and the staff were just lovely.

one of my kid's club certificates

My parents' best cruise tips

Don't be afraid to share a table at dinner. In case you don't know, if the restaurant is pretty full then you can either wait until a table that's just the right size for your party OR you can split a table with another group. You can meet some amazing people this way. Speaking of food, if there's a really fancy restaurant you may need to book in advance so definitely look into that.

Another tip is that you don't have to book an excursion every day. Look into whether it'll be more cost effective to just do it alone go at your own pace - cruising can be exhausting when you're up at the crack of dawn and herded onto a coach to visit something in particular. It's definitely worth pre-planning to make sure you get the best of both worlds.

my mum and dad on their first cruise

Last but not least, join some forums before you go. That way you get to know the ins and outs of the ship you'll be going on as well as the itinerary you're taking - all from people who've done it before! Want to know where serves the best cup of coffee on board? Someone will be able to tell you. Need to know which pool area is the best for sunbathing? Ask away...

So there you have it - six quick tips for your first cruise! If you've been on a cruise before and have any different tips, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

For the 5 best Med cruise destinations, CLICK HERE