Your first cruise comes with a lot of questions. What should you pack? What happens on embarkation day? What’s actually included in your fare? Do you need a drink package? How do shore excursions work — and what happens if you’re late getting back to the ship?
Most of cruising becomes surprisingly simple once you know what to expect. This first-time cruise guide covers the things worth knowing before you sail, from check-in and packing to dining, gratuities, port days and those first few hours onboard.
📢 Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Viator and Amazon, plus links to my own Etsy shop. If you book or buy through our links, The Wandering Adventurer earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting independent travel content!
🚢 Want everything in one place? The First Time Cruiser Survival Guide covers everything on this page and more — 30 pages of printable & fillable cruise prep, including checklists, cabin tips, an embarkation day walkthrough, a budget tracker and a shore excursion planner. Get it on Etsy →
🚢 Before Your First Cruise
Before embarkation day:
- ✓ Check your passport and travel-document requirements
- ✓ Complete online check-in when it opens
- ✓ Download your cruise line’s app
- ✓ Review your ship’s prohibited-items policy
- ✓ Reserve any must-have excursions, dining or activities
- ✓ Check whether gratuities are included, prepaid or added onboard
- ✓ Consider travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and medical care at sea
- ✓ Arrange transportation to the cruise terminal
- ✓ Plan to arrive in the departure city early if you’re flying
- ✓ Pack medications and important documents in your carry-on
- ✓ Download anything you’ll want available offline before sailing
💡 First-Timer Tip: Don’t wait until the night before your cruise to check your travel documents. Requirements depend on your itinerary, citizenship and cruise line, and passengers without the required documents can be denied boarding.
🧳 Want your packing organized in one place? My printable, fillable Cruise Packing Checklist makes sure you never forget the essentials. Get it on Etsy →
👉 For the full packing breakdown, read What to Pack for a Cruise — The Complete Checklist.
🧳 What Happens on Embarkation Day?
Embarkation sounds more complicated than it actually is. You’ll arrive at the cruise terminal during the arrival window provided by your cruise line, drop larger luggage where directed, complete the terminal’s check-in and security process and then board the ship.
Your checked luggage may not arrive at your cabin immediately, so don’t put anything you’ll need during those first few hours into the bags you hand over.
Keep in Your Carry-On:
- Passport and travel documents
- Medication
- Wallet
- Phone and charger
- Sunscreen
- Swimsuit if you want to use the pool
- Valuables
- Anything else you absolutely need that afternoon
👉 A lightweight daypack works well as your embarkation carry-on →
Once onboard, grab some lunch, explore the ship, find your cabin when it’s available and complete the required safety briefing. For a step-by-step look at your first afternoon, see Cruise Embarkation Day: What to Do First When You Board.
💡 First-Timer Tip: Your first few hours onboard don’t need to be hectic. Once the essential safety requirements are finished, use the time to learn the ship’s layout before everyone settles into their cruise routines.
⚠️ Yes, You Have to Do the Muster Drill
Every passenger must complete the ship’s required safety briefing or muster process. Exactly how this works varies by cruise line and ship. Some allow portions of the briefing to be completed through an app or stateroom television before you check in at your assigned muster station.
Follow the instructions provided by your cruise line and get it done early. It isn’t optional — and once it’s finished, you can get on with enjoying the cruise.
💰 What’s Actually Included in Your Cruise Fare?
This is one of the biggest sources of confusion for first-time cruisers. Your exact inclusions depend on the cruise line and fare you’ve booked, but a standard cruise fare commonly includes:
- ✓ Your cabin
- ✓ Main dining room meals
- ✓ Buffet meals
- ✓ Some casual dining venues
- ✓ Most shows and entertainment
- ✓ Pools and hot tubs
- ✓ Many onboard activities
- ✓ Fitness center access on many ships
What Usually Costs Extra?
Depending on the cruise line and fare, you may pay extra for:
- Alcohol and many specialty drinks
- Specialty restaurants
- Shore excursions
- Wi-Fi
- Spa treatments
- Casino spending
- Shopping
- Professional photos
- Certain onboard activities
- Gratuities
💡 First-Timer Tip: Don’t assume you need to buy every upgrade. You can have a fantastic cruise without purchasing a drink package, specialty dining package, spa package, photo package and paid excursion in every port.
👉 Read: How to Save Money on a Cruise — 15 Tips That Actually Work
💳 How Do Cruise Gratuities Work?
Many cruise lines automatically add daily service gratuities unless they’re prepaid or included in your fare. Additional gratuities may also be added automatically to purchases such as drinks, specialty dining or spa treatments.
Policies and amounts vary by cruise line, so check your booking confirmation before sailing rather than assuming gratuities are included.
💡 First-Timer Tip: Include gratuities in your cruise budget from the beginning. They’re easy to overlook when you’re comparing advertised cruise fares.
📋 Not sure what your cruise will actually cost? My fillable Cruise Budget Tracker helps you organize your cruise fare, transportation, excursions and onboard spending before you sail. Get the Cruise Budget Tracker on Etsy →
🛏️ Which Cruise Cabin Should You Choose?
There are four main types of cruise accommodation:
Interior Cabin
Usually the least expensive option and doesn’t have an exterior window. A good choice if you expect to spend very little time in your room.
Oceanview Cabin
Adds a window or porthole so you get natural light and an outside view, but no private outdoor space.
Balcony Cabin
Includes your own private balcony. It costs more, but some cruisers consider the extra space and private outdoor area worth the upgrade.
Suite
More living space and, depending on the cruise line and suite category, potentially additional amenities or privileges.
💡 First-Timer Tip: Don’t automatically assume you need a balcony. Compare the total price difference for the entire cruise and think about how much time you’ll realistically spend in your cabin.
Want to make even a small cabin work better? A couple of cheap cabin favorites:
- 👉 Magnetic hooks for the metal cabin walls →
- 👉 Over-the-door organizer for toiletries and small items →
👉 Read: Cruise Cabin Hacks — Best Amazon Must-Haves to Maximize Your Stateroom
🍽️ How Does Dining Work on a Cruise?
Food is one of the easiest parts of cruising once you understand the basics.
Main Dining Room
Generally included in your fare. You’ll have table service and a menu that changes throughout the cruise.
Buffet
Also generally included and useful when you want something quicker or more casual.
Included Casual Dining
Many ships have additional cafés, pizza counters, snack venues or casual restaurants included in the fare. What’s available depends on your ship.
Specialty Dining
These restaurants normally cost extra and may offer steak, sushi, Italian food, seafood or other specialty menus. You don’t need specialty dining every night to eat well on a cruise — try what’s already included before spending extra. If you do want to splurge, see Cruise Specialty Dining: How It Works & When to Book.
👉 Read: What to Eat & Drink on a Cruise — The Complete Onboard Food Guide
🍹 Do You Need a Drink Package?
No. A drink package can be convenient, but it isn’t automatically a good deal.
Before buying one, look at the total daily cost, any gratuities added to the package and exactly which drinks are included. Then compare that with what you’d realistically order each day. If the numbers don’t work for your normal drinking habits, pay as you go.
💡 First-Timer Tip: Don’t start ordering extra drinks just because you bought a package and want to “get your money’s worth.”
🌊 How Do Shore Excursions Work?
When your ship reaches a port, you have three basic choices: book an organized excursion, explore independently or stay onboard.
Cruise-line excursions can be convenient, but they aren’t your only option. Compare them with reputable independent tours and look carefully at what’s included, the meeting location, cancellation terms and return time.
If you explore independently, you are responsible for getting back to the ship before all-aboard time. Never plan to arrive back at the last minute.
👉 Compare shore excursions on Viator →
For much more detail, read How to Plan Cruise Shore Excursions — Save Money & Make Every Port Count.
💡 First-Timer Tip: You don’t need a paid excursion at every port. Some destinations are easy to explore independently, while others make much more sense with organized transportation or a tour.
🗺️ Keep Your Port Days Organized
Port days can feel rushed when you’re trying to remember arrival time, excursion details, transportation, reservations and when you need to be back onboard.
📋 My printable Cruise Port Day Planner gives you one place to keep your day’s plan, spending, transportation and all-aboard time organized. See it on Etsy →
You can also research individual destinations before you sail. Start with my full Cruise Port Guides, including Caribbean and Mediterranean ports.
🧳 What Should You Pack for Your First Cruise?
Don’t pack your entire house. Cruise cabins have limited storage, so focus on items you’ll actually use. A few particularly useful cruise items:
- 👉 Portable power bank →
- 👉 Packing cubes →
- 👉 Travel toiletry bag →
- 👉 Reusable water bottle →
- 👉 Lanyard for your cruise card →
- 👉 Reef-safe sunscreen →
- 👉 Small day bag for port →
- 👉 Waterproof phone pouch for beach and water excursions →
- Comfortable walking shoes
- An outfit for any formal or smart-casual nights — check your cruise line’s dress code
🛍️ Shop all my cruise favorites on my Amazon storefront →
For the complete list, read What to Pack for a Cruise — Complete Checklist for Every Destination or my Ultimate Cruise Packing List.
🚫 Check the Prohibited-Items List Before Packing
Cruise ships have safety restrictions that aren’t necessarily the same as a hotel. Depending on the cruise line, items such as irons, steamers, heating appliances, certain electrical devices and anything involving an open flame may be restricted or prohibited.
Always check your cruise line’s current prohibited-items list before packing. Rules aren’t identical across every cruise line, so don’t rely on an old social-media packing list. For the most common mistakes, see What NOT to Pack for a Cruise: Banned Items & Rookie Mistakes to Avoid.
🤢 What About Seasickness?
Not everyone gets seasick. How much motion you feel depends on factors including weather, sea conditions, ship and itinerary — and people respond very differently to movement.
If you’re worried about motion sickness, plan before the cruise rather than waiting until you’re already uncomfortable onboard. Research your options and speak with a pharmacist or healthcare professional if you’re unsure which motion-sickness product is appropriate for you. And pack anything you expect to need rather than assuming you’ll buy it onboard.
👉 See motion-sickness wristbands on Amazon →
✈️ Flying to Your Cruise? Think About the Night Before
If you’re flying to your departure city, consider arriving before embarkation day rather than relying on a flight scheduled shortly before the ship leaves. Flight delays and cancellations happen, and a cruise ship doesn’t wait because your flight arrived late.
Remember to include the cost of the hotel, airport transportation, port transfer and any parking when comparing the true cost of different cruises.
- 🏨 Sailing from Miami? See my Miami hotel guide →
- 🏨 Sailing from Port Canaveral? See my Orlando hotel guide →
- 🏨 Sailing from Barcelona? See my Barcelona hotel guide →
- 🏨 Sailing from Civitavecchia/Rome? See my Rome lodging guide →
Each guide includes hotel options for different budgets and booking links.
📱 Download Your Cruise Line’s App
Do this before you leave home. Depending on the cruise line, the app may be used for:
- Online check-in
- Daily schedules
- Restaurant information
- Reservations
- Deck maps
- Your onboard account
- Safety information
- Port information
- Messaging or other onboard features
Download it while you still have reliable internet and learn the basics before embarkation day.
📶 Be Careful With Your Phone at Sea
Cellular service at sea doesn’t work the same way as using your normal mobile network at home. Before sailing, check your carrier’s international and cruise-ship policies. Don’t let your phone accidentally connect to a maritime cellular network without understanding the potential charges.
Download maps, entertainment, travel documents and anything else you’ll need offline before leaving home. A portable power bank is also useful for long port days when you’re using your phone for maps, tickets and photos.
👉 See my travel power bank pick on Amazon →
🚢 First Cruise Mistakes to Avoid
- Flying in too close to embarkation — Give yourself enough time for travel delays.
- Putting important items in checked luggage — Keep documents, medication and valuables with you.
- Ignoring the cruise line app — It’s often where you’ll find schedules, reservations and important updates.
- Assuming everything onboard is included — Know what’s included before charging extras to your account.
- Overpacking — Cruise cabins have limited storage and you probably need less than you think.
- Booking an excursion in every port — Some destinations are easy to explore independently.
- Forgetting all-aboard time — Give yourself a comfortable buffer when returning from port.
- Trying to do everything — You don’t need to experience every restaurant, show, activity and venue on one sailing. For ways to make the most of your time onboard, see my 25 Cruise Ship Hacks.
📚 First-Timer’s Cruise Glossary
- All-aboard time — the time you must be back on the ship before it departs port.
- Embarkation / Disembarkation — getting on and off the ship at the start and end of the cruise.
- Muster drill — the mandatory safety briefing all passengers must complete.
- Sea pass / Cruise card — your card for your cabin, onboard ID and onboard purchases (some lines use a wearable or app instead).
- Port day — a day when the ship is docked or anchored at a destination.
- Sea day — a day spent entirely at sea with no port stop.
- Tender port — a port where the ship anchors offshore and passengers are ferried to land by small tender boats.
- OBC (Onboard Credit) — credit loaded onto your onboard account, often as part of a booking promotion.
- Repositioning cruise — a sailing that moves a ship between regions, such as the Caribbean to the Mediterranean.
❓ First-Time Cruise FAQ
What should I expect on my first cruise?
Expect embarkation and a required safety briefing on the first day, followed by a mix of onboard activities and port days throughout your sailing. One of cruising’s biggest advantages is that you unpack once and use the ship as your base while visiting multiple destinations.
What should I pack in my carry-on for embarkation day?
Keep your travel documents, medication, valuables, phone, charger and anything you’ll need during your first few hours onboard with you. If you want to use the pool before your checked luggage arrives, pack a swimsuit and sunscreen too.
What’s included in the price of a cruise?
Your cabin, many meals, entertainment and numerous onboard activities are commonly included, but exact inclusions vary by cruise line and fare. Drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, excursions, spa treatments and other extras may cost more.
Do I need a drink package on my first cruise?
No. A drink package is optional. Compare its total cost with what you’d realistically spend buying drinks individually and check exactly what’s included before purchasing one.
Do I need to book a shore excursion at every port?
No. You can book an organized excursion, explore independently or stay onboard. Research each destination before sailing so you can decide where paying for a tour actually adds value.
How early should I arrive for my cruise?
Follow the arrival and check-in instructions provided by your cruise line. If you’re flying to the departure city, build enough time into your travel plans to account for potential delays rather than relying on a tight same-day connection.
Will I get seasick on my first cruise?
Not necessarily. Motion varies with the ship, itinerary and sea conditions, and everyone has a different level of sensitivity. If you’re concerned, plan before your trip rather than waiting until you’re already uncomfortable onboard.
What’s the most important thing for a first-time cruiser to remember?
Don’t try to do everything. Learn the basic logistics before sailing, know what’s included in your fare, keep track of your spending and leave some unscheduled time to actually enjoy being on the ship.
Plan the Rest of Your First Cruise
Once you’ve got the basics covered, these guides will help with the rest of your planning.
Your first cruise doesn’t need to be complicated. Get the important logistics sorted before you sail, pack what you’ll actually use, know which extras cost money and leave yourself enough free time onboard to enjoy the reason you booked a cruise in the first place.
💬 Planning your first cruise or have questions? Drop them in the comments below — I love helping fellow adventurers plan their first sailing!
This post contains affiliate links to Viator and Amazon, plus links to my own Etsy shop. The Wandering Adventurer may earn a small commission if you book or buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
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