5 Things Smart Cruisers Always Do – And One They Argue About

5 Things Smart Cruisers ALWAYS Do (and 1 They Argue About)

I’m writing this from my cabin aboard Explora Journeys Explora II, where I’ve once again been chatting with seasoned cruisers about how they make every voyage flawless. After more than 120 ocean cruises myself, I wasn’t surprised to hear the same golden rules come up over and over again.

Every smart cruiser I meet agrees on five essential habits—but there’s also one hot debate that splits them right down the middle.

1. Book at the Right Time

Veteran cruisers know the two best booking windows:

Itinerary launch – Prices are lowest and perks highest when a line first releases a new schedule. I’ve saved thousands doing this. For example: 30 % off this very Explora Journeys sailing. A free three-night safari on my upcoming Regent Seven Seas Navigator West Africa cruise. Holland America’s 31-night South America voyage with the “Have-It-All” package included—a $2,000 value.
Flash sales – Time-limited deals when cruise lines need to fill cabins or hit quarterly targets. I subscribe to every line’s newsletter and social feeds to pounce quickly. That’s how I snagged a Celebrity Silhouette Canada–Greenland–Iceland cruise at 70 % off the second guest, and a Crystal Serenity Transatlantic with a free suite upgrade.

2. Choose Your Cabin—Don’t Let the Line Pick

A “guaranteed fare” sounds tempting, but you’re left with whatever cabins are left after everyone else selects the best spots. Smart cruisers:

Pick cabins surrounded by other cabins (quiet above, below and to both sides).
Avoid high-traffic zones near lifts, theatres or kids’ clubs.
Skip interconnecting doors that can transmit noise.

A bad cabin can ruin a great itinerary, so always study the deck plan first.

3. Compare Port-to-Port Cost, Not Just the Fare

Headline fares mislead. On many mainstream lines, on-board spending can run 50–100 % of the ticket price.

Example: my Explora fare looked high at $350/£260 per person per night, but it included unlimited drinks, specialty coffees, Starlink Wi-Fi and gratuities. Stripping those out, the real like-for-like cost was closer to $220—similar to a premium line balcony once you add drinks, Wi-Fi and tips there.

Always calculate what you’ll actually spend from embarkation to disembarkation.

4. Lock Everything In Before Boarding

Smart cruisers pre-book as soon as online check-in opens:

Terminal arrival times
Specialty dining or main-dining reservations
Shore excursions (popular ones sell out fast—think Falklands penguin tours)
Spa treatments
Drinks or Wi-Fi packages (often discounted in advance)

Leave it to embarkation day and you’ll be stuck with leftovers.

5. Reduce Risk

Arrive a day early to avoid missed-ship nightmares.
Buy comprehensive travel insurance—for medical issues, cancellation and emergency evacuation.
Check government travel advisories before deciding whether to self-explore or book a line excursion, especially when key sights are far from port.

The Great Debate: Travel Agent or Book Direct?

Here’s where smart cruisers disagree.

Some book direct, confident they can handle everything themselves.

Others—including me—swear by a good travel agent for complex itineraries with flights, hotels and transfers. Agents can rebook flights during strikes, secure perks like onboard credit, and even negotiate fare drops. Cruise lines never undercut agent pricing, so you rarely pay more.