Prefer to read? Here are all 25 mistakes, starting with #25 and counting down to the one mistake that can literally leave you standing on the pier watching your ship sail away.

25. Overpacking for Your Cruise

We’ll start with one we know very well: overpacking.

Years ago, we would bring a large suitcase, another medium suitcase and personal items. These days, we’ve learned that we simply don’t need nearly as much as we once thought.

Overpacking can create problems before your cruise even starts. You may pay more for checked luggage when flying, have more bags to manage getting to the cruise terminal and spend unnecessary time unpacking and repacking.

One of the nicest feelings at the end of a cruise is realizing you actually wore almost everything you packed.

Our advice

Pack realistically rather than for every imaginable situation.

Before adding another outfit, ask yourself whether you are genuinely likely to wear it.

Cruise cabins aren’t enormous, either. Fewer suitcases also means less clutter once you’re onboard.

24. Eating Every Meal at the Buffet

The cruise ship buffet is convenient, casual and usually offers plenty of choices.

But don’t make it your only dining destination.

We notice that many newer cruisers are hesitant to try the main dining room. Sometimes they aren’t sure what to wear or simply assume the buffet is the easiest option.

Give the main dining room a try.

It is generally part of your cruise fare, and it gives you a completely different dining experience from the buffet.

Also look around the ship for smaller included cafés and casual dining venues. Many cruise ships have lesser-known places to grab breakfast, lunch or snacks that can be much quieter than the buffet.

Cruise tip

When you board, find out which restaurants and cafés are included in your fare.

You may discover a favorite place that many passengers never find.

23. Not Exploring the Ship on Day One

Cruise ships can be enormous.

Even after almost 50 cruises, we have reached the last day of a sailing and discovered a lounge, activity area or quiet outdoor space we didn’t realize existed.

That’s why we recommend spending some time exploring the ship on embarkation day.

Walk the decks. Find the restaurants. Locate the theater, pool, fitness center and lounges. Look for quiet places where you may want to relax later.

Learning the layout early means you don’t spend the rest of your vacation trying to figure out where everything is.

What we do

Because we film complete cruise ship tours, we often walk the ship from top to bottom.

You don’t need to go quite that far—but an hour of exploring on the first day can pay off for the entire cruise.

22. Waiting to Complete Your Muster Requirement

One of the easiest embarkation-day mistakes is putting off your required safety or muster check-in.

Do it as soon as you reasonably can.

The process is much easier than it used to be on many cruise lines. Once you complete the required portion and check in at your muster station, you’re done.

Then you can start enjoying the ship instead of hearing repeated announcements reminding passengers who still haven’t completed the requirement.

Get it out of the way early.

21. Ignoring the Printed Daily Cruise Schedule

Cruise line apps have become extremely useful.

We use them.

But we still recommend looking at the printed daily schedule when one is available.

We’ve found that the printed version sometimes contains little details that aren’t as easy to find in the app.

Depending on the cruise line, you may find:

• Restaurant and café hours

• Entertainment schedules

• Activities

• Weather information

• Drink specials

• Venue opening times

• Smaller events you might otherwise miss

You don’t need to carry it everywhere.

Look through it in the morning, highlight the things you’re interested in and use it to help plan your day.

20. Trying to Do Everything

Modern cruise ships can have something happening almost every minute of the day.

Trivia. Live music. Shows. Games. Fitness classes. Pool activities. Demonstrations. Lectures. Parties.

You cannot do it all.

Trying to squeeze everything into your cruise can leave you feeling like you need another vacation when you get home.

Pick the activities that matter most to you.

And leave some unscheduled time to simply enjoy being on the ship.

Sometimes sitting on your balcony or finding a quiet deck chair with a view of the ocean ends up being one of the best parts of the cruise.

19. Saving Your Must-Do Activities Until the End of the Cruise

This is different from trying to do everything.

If there is something you really want to experience, don’t automatically save it for the final day.

We’ve learned this one firsthand.

Outdoor shows—such as the AquaTheater performances on some Royal Caribbean ships—can be canceled because of weather or sea conditions.

If you book the show early in the cruise and it gets canceled, you may have another opportunity.

If you wait until the final night, you may be out of luck.

The same principle applies to other activities.

Our rule

If something is a must-do, try to do it during the first half of your cruise.

18. Not Researching Your Cruise Ports Before You Sail

Don’t assume that your cruise ship will dock in the middle of the destination you see in the brochure.

Sometimes it does.

Sometimes the cruise port is miles away.

Research each port before your trip so you understand:

• Where the ship actually docks

• Transportation options

• What attractions are nearby

• Whether the port is walkable

• What excursions interest you

• How long it takes to reach the places you want to visit

Popular excursions can also sell out.

Waiting until the last minute may leave you with fewer choices or force you into a much more expensive option.

A little research before the cruise can save you a surprising amount of time once you arrive.

17. Assuming Cruise Line Excursions Are Your Only Option

We frequently book cruise line excursions, especially when the activity takes us a long distance from the ship.

There is one major advantage: when you’re on an official cruise line excursion, the cruise line is responsible for getting the excursion group back.

But cruise-sponsored excursions aren’t always your only choice.

Depending on the destination, you may be able to:

• Explore independently

• Book a local tour in advance

• Visit a beach club

• Hire transportation

• Take a walking tour

• Book directly with a reputable excursion provider

We’ve done all of these.

The right choice depends on the port, how far you’re traveling and your comfort level.

Don’t automatically assume the cruise line’s excursion list represents everything you can do.

16. Booking an Independent Excursion With No Safety Buffer

Independent excursions can be excellent.

But this is where you need to be smart.

If you’re not on a cruise line excursion, leave yourself a generous safety buffer before the ship’s all-aboard time.

Don’t schedule an excursion that theoretically gets you back to the port 15 minutes before you need to board.

Traffic happens.

Vehicles break down.

Tours run late.

Weather changes.

You’ve probably seen videos of passengers sprinting down the pier while everyone onboard watches.

Don’t become a pier runner.

We would rather arrive back early, grab something to drink and relax than spend the last hour of our port day worrying about whether we’re going to miss the ship.

15. Assuming Everything on a Cruise Is Included

Cruises include a tremendous amount.

Your fare generally covers things such as your cabin, many dining options, entertainment and a wide variety of onboard activities.

But not everything is included.

Depending on the cruise line and ship, you may pay extra for things like:

• Specialty restaurants

• Alcohol

• Some specialty coffees

• Certain activities

• Classes

• Spa treatments

• Casino play

• Shore excursions

• Internet access

Some ships also have attractions or experiences that carry an additional charge.

Before sailing, look at your cruise line’s list of what is and isn’t included.

Knowing this ahead of time prevents surprises on your onboard account.

14. Buying a Drink Package Without Doing the Math

A beverage package sounds wonderfully convenient.

Buy the package and stop thinking about the price of individual drinks.

But convenience doesn’t necessarily mean value.

Before purchasing one, estimate how many drinks you would realistically order each day and compare that with the package price.

Remember that your consumption may vary dramatically depending on the day.

On a sea day, you might spend most of your time onboard.

On a port day, you may be off the ship for eight hours.

Also consider what beverages are already included and what types of drinks you actually consume.

For some cruisers, a drink package is a great deal.

For others, paying as they go costs considerably less.

Bottom line

Don’t buy the package simply because it feels easier.

Do the math first.

13. Leaving Cellular Service On While You’re at Sea

This can become an expensive mistake very quickly.

Your phone behaves differently once your ship gets away from land.

If it continues searching for cellular service or connects to a maritime network, you may end up with charges you weren’t expecting.

Before leaving port, understand your phone carrier’s international and cruise coverage.

Many cruisers put their phone into airplane mode and then turn Wi-Fi back on so they can use the ship’s internet package without connecting to cellular service.

The important thing is not to wait until you get home and discover an unpleasant surprise on your phone bill.

12. Packing Items Your Cruise Line Prohibits

Packing too much is one mistake.

Packing the wrong things is another.

Cruise lines maintain lists of prohibited items, and you should check your particular cruise line before packing.

Common examples can include items such as irons, steamers, certain electrical devices, weapons and other items the cruise line considers a safety risk.

Policies vary, so don’t assume an item that was acceptable on one cruise line will automatically be permitted on another.

Check the official prohibited-items list before you leave home.

It’s much easier than having something confiscated at the terminal.

11. Waiting Until You’re Seasick to Think About Seasickness

Even if you’ve never been seasick before, it’s smart to have a plan.

Sea conditions change.

Some people who have sailed many times without a problem eventually encounter one sailing where the motion bothers them.

If you use an over-the-counter medication or another seasickness strategy, bring what you need rather than assuming the ship will have it available.

And if you already know you’re prone to motion sickness, prepare before the ship encounters rougher water rather than waiting until you’re miserable.

If you have medical questions or take other medications, talk with your healthcare provider before your cruise.

10. Putting Important Documents or Medication in Checked Luggage

Picture this.

You arrive at the cruise terminal.

A porter takes your suitcase.

Then you realize your passport is inside.

That’s a very bad start to a vacation.

Never put anything you absolutely need to board the ship into luggage you’re handing over at the terminal.

Keep these items with you:

• Passport or required identification

• Boarding documents

• Prescription medication

• Wallet

• Credit cards

• Cash

• Phone

• Anything else essential

Your checked luggage may not reach your cabin for several hours.

Keep critical items in your possession.

9. Not Packing an Embarkation-Day Carry-On

Your cabin may be ready before your luggage arrives.

That’s why we always pack a small embarkation-day bag.

Ours may include things like:

• Swimsuit

• Medication

• Passport and identification

• Cash

• Phone

• Headphones

• Tablet

• Sunglasses

• Reading glasses

• A change of clothing

Think about what you might want between boarding the ship and dinner.

Most of the time, checked luggage arrives without a problem.

But having a few essentials with you means your vacation can start immediately.

8. Choosing the Wrong Cruise Cabin

We have made this mistake more than once.

We’ve booked cabins above noisy lounges where music continued late into the night.

We’ve stayed underneath pool decks where crew members moved chairs while cleaning.

Cabin location matters.

Before booking, look at the deck plans and check what is directly:

• Above you

• Below you

• Beside you

Also think about your own priorities.

Some people want to be near elevators.

Others want to be far away from them.

Some want easy access to dining.

Others care more about the pool deck.

If you’re sensitive to noise, look for a cabin surrounded by other cabins rather than public venues.

Spend five minutes studying the deck plan before choosing your room.

You may spend seven nights being very glad you did.

7. Choosing the Wrong Cruise Ship

Choosing the right cruise line is important.

Choosing the right ship within that cruise line can be just as important.

Cruise lines advertise their newest attractions, restaurants and entertainment heavily.

But those features aren’t necessarily available on every ship in the fleet.

An older or smaller ship may offer a completely different experience from the newest ship sailing under the same cruise line.

Before booking, research the specific ship.

Look at:

• Size and passenger capacity

• Restaurants

• Entertainment

• Pools

• Activities

• Adults-only areas

• Cabin choices

• Recent renovations

• Overall atmosphere

Don’t book based solely on a commercial for the cruise line.

Make sure the actual ship you’re sailing has the things you’re expecting.

6. Booking a Cruise Because of One Port

Itineraries change.

Weather changes.

Mechanical issues occur.

Ports occasionally get canceled.

If your entire reason for booking a cruise is one specific destination, understand that there is always a possibility you won’t visit it.

Choose an itinerary where you’d be happy with the overall trip rather than relying on one single stop to make the vacation worthwhile.

We have experienced itinerary changes ourselves.

They’re disappointing, but they don’t have to ruin the cruise if you chose the trip for more than one destination.

5. Skipping Travel and Medical Insurance

This isn’t the most exciting part of planning a vacation.

But it’s one of the most important.

Travel problems can become very expensive very quickly—especially when you’re outside your home country or need medical care while traveling.

Before sailing, understand what coverage you already have and whether you need additional travel or medical insurance.

Don’t assume your regular health insurance, credit card or cruise fare automatically covers every possible situation.

Look specifically at the coverage that matters to you, such as:

• Trip cancellation or interruption

• Emergency medical treatment

• Medical evacuation

• Travel delays

• Lost or delayed baggage

Insurance isn’t about expecting something to go wrong.

It’s about knowing what happens financially if it does.

4. Not Getting Your Cruise Documents and Passport Straight

Documentation mistakes can stop your vacation before it starts.

Requirements depend on your itinerary, departure port and personal circumstances.

Some cruises may allow certain passengers to sail with documents other than a passport book.

But we strongly prefer traveling with a passport.

Why?

Because unexpected situations happen.

If something goes wrong and you need to leave the cruise early or fly internationally, having appropriate passport documentation can make a difficult situation much easier to manage.

Also check your passport expiration date well before your cruise.

Don’t discover at the last minute that your documentation doesn’t meet the requirements for your trip.

3. Flying to Your Cruise on Embarkation Morning

We consider this one of the biggest avoidable cruise mistakes.

Flights get delayed.

Flights get canceled.

Thunderstorms happen.

Mechanical issues happen.

Connections get missed.

If you fly to your embarkation city the same morning your ship departs, one airline delay can put your entire vacation in jeopardy.

We recommend arriving at least the day before your cruise whenever practical.

Yes, that means paying for a hotel.

But compare the cost of one hotel night with the cost and stress of missing your entire cruise.

This is not where we would try to save a few dollars.

2. Losing Track of Ship Time

Your phone may show local time.

The port may operate on local time.

Your ship may operate on a different time.

That creates a potentially serious problem.

When you’re in port, always know what time your ship is using and what time you’re expected back onboard.

Don’t simply glance at your phone and assume it’s displaying the same time the ship is following.

Before walking away from the port, confirm:

What time is it according to the ship?

And:

What is today’s all-aboard time?

Those two pieces of information matter a lot more than what time the local restaurant says it is.

1. Cutting It Too Close to All-Aboard Time

This is our number-one cruise mistake because the consequence can be enormous.

Do not treat all-aboard time as the time you should start heading back toward the ship.

That’s the deadline.

Traffic can slow you down.

Transportation can fail.

You can get lost.

A tour can run long.

Leave yourself a comfortable buffer.

When we explore independently, we’d much rather be back near the ship early than spend our final hour in port checking the clock every 30 seconds.

And remember: the ship’s departure time and all-aboard time are not necessarily the same thing.

Passengers need to be onboard before the ship is scheduled to sail.

Missing the ship isn’t merely embarrassing.

You may suddenly be responsible for transportation, hotels and figuring out how—or whether—you can rejoin the cruise.

Don’t cut it close.

Which Cruise Mistakes Have You Made?

After almost 50 cruises, we can tell you this:

You don’t suddenly stop making mistakes because you’ve cruised a lot.

We’ve still discovered places on ships late in a sailing that we somehow missed. We’ve packed things we didn’t use. We’ve learned lessons about cabins, schedules, excursions and ports through experience.

That’s part of cruising.

The goal isn’t to plan every second perfectly.

It’s to avoid the mistakes that cost you unnecessary money, time or stress so you can spend more of your vacation actually enjoying yourself.

If you’re preparing for your first cruise, start with these three:

1. Arrive in your embarkation city the day before.

2. Keep your passport, medication and essentials with you.

3. Never cut it close getting back to the ship.

Those three alone can prevent some of the biggest cruise-day disasters.

And if you’ve been cruising for years?

We’d love to know how many of these you’ve made too.

Leave a comment below and tell us:

What’s the biggest cruise mistake you’ve ever made—or one mistake you think every new cruiser should know about?

More Cruise Tips From Crystal and Marshall

We’re Crystal and Marshall, and after almost 50 cruises, we created Cruising with Crystal and Marshall to help everyday travelers cruise smarter, travel better and enjoy more memorable vacations.

On our YouTube channel and here on the website, you’ll find:

• Complete cruise ship tours

• Honest cruise reviews

• Cruise packing tips

• First-time cruiser advice

• Cruise line comparisons

• Port and destination guides

• Practical lessons we’ve learned from our own cruises

If you’re planning another cruise, keep exploring the site—and don’t forget to subscribe to Cruising with Crystal and Marshall on YouTube so you don’t miss our newest ship tours, cruise tips and reviews.