Question 1

What should I know before my first cruise?

Accepted Answer

The ship itself is the easy part — food, entertainment, and your cabin are all sorted. What actually determines whether a cruise is great or frustrating is how you approach port days. Do a bit of research on each stop before you sail, keep your days flexible, and don't try to do everything. That's genuinely all it takes.

Question 2

What is the best time to leave the ship at a port?

Accepted Answer

Not at the very start. When the gangway opens, most of the ship tries to get off at once — queues on the gangway, at the port gate, and at attractions. Let the first wave go, have a proper breakfast, and head ashore 45 minutes to an hour after opening. The queues are gone and the day starts better.

Question 3

Do I need to research every port in advance?

Accepted Answer

Not in great detail — but knowing the basics avoids a wasted day. Some ports are easy and walkable with no plan needed. Others are essentially just a dock and only make sense if you know what's nearby. Five minutes per port before you board is enough.

Question 4

What is My Time Dining and is it worth it?

Accepted Answer

My Time Dining lets you show up to the main restaurant when it suits you, rather than being assigned a fixed early or late sitting. In our experience, yes — the flexibility is genuinely useful. Port days overrun, you want a drink before dinner, or the timing just shifts. Request it before you book, not after — the good options fill up quickly.

Question 5

How much should I budget for drinks if I skip the package?

Accepted Answer

On a Mediterranean cruise, a bottle of wine at dinner and a couple of drinks at the bar typically runs £30–50 per day per couple. If you're consistently above that, a package might stack up. If not, paying as you go is usually cheaper.

Question 6

Is a balcony cabin worth the extra cost?

Accepted Answer

On scenic itineraries or cruises with multiple sea days — yes, genuinely. You'll use it for morning arrivals, sailaways, and quiet time at sea. On short, port-heavy itineraries where you're rarely in the cabin, it's harder to justify. The maths changes depending on how you cruise.

Question 7

Are inside cabins really that bad?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. If you're spending most of your time at ports, in restaurants, or around the ship, an inside cabin is perfectly comfortable. The main adjustment is the lack of natural light — some people barely notice, others find it harder. It's very personal.

Question 8

What is the difference between an oceanview and a balcony cabin?

Accepted Answer

An oceanview gives you a window — natural light and a sea view, but no outdoor space. A balcony gives you that plus a private outdoor area. The oceanview is a meaningful upgrade from inside, but you can't step outside. For many people, that's a dealbreaker; for others, the window alone is enough.

Question 9

What are virtual windows in inside cabins?

Accepted Answer

Some modern ships have started fitting inside cabins with virtual windows — large screens that display a live feed from an external camera on the ship. You can see the port, the sea, whatever is outside, in real time. It genuinely makes the room feel more open. To be clear though: it's still a screen, not natural light. Worth checking whether your specific ship has them before booking.

Question 10

Does cabin location on the ship matter?

Accepted Answer

Mid-ship cabins tend to feel less movement in rough seas — useful if you're prone to seasickness. Lower deck cabins are generally cheaper. Higher decks offer better views but can feel the ship move more. For most people, deck matters less than category.

Question 11

Should I book a specific cabin or let the cruise line assign one?

Accepted Answer

Booking a specific cabin guarantees your exact location. Guaranteed cabin bookings are usually cheaper but leave location to chance — you'll get the category you paid for, but not necessarily the specific cabin you'd want. If location matters to you, book specifically.

Question 12

Are cruise drinks packages worth it?

Accepted Answer

Only if you'll drink consistently throughout the day — not just at dinner. The break-even point is typically 4–6 drinks per person per day. If that sounds like you, a package makes sense. If not, pay as you go.

Question 13

How much do drinks cost on a cruise without a package?

Accepted Answer

Expect to pay £5–7 for a beer, £6–15 for a glass of wine, and £8–18 for a cocktail. Service charges of 15–18% are usually added on top. Soft drinks and speciality coffees typically run £2–4.

Question 14

When are cruise drinks packages best value?

Accepted Answer

On longer cruises with several sea days, where you're on the ship all day. Port-heavy itineraries where you're ashore most of the day significantly reduce the value of a package.

Question 15

Can only one person in a cabin buy a drinks package?

Accepted Answer

No — most cruise lines require all adults sharing a cabin to purchase the same package. If one person drinks and the other doesn't, this significantly changes the value calculation.

Question 16

Is it cheaper to buy a drinks package before the cruise?

Accepted Answer

Yes, almost always. Pre-cruise prices are typically 20–30% lower than onboard prices. If you've decided you want a package, book it before you sail.

Question 17

Is there a daily alcohol limit on cruise drinks packages?

Accepted Answer

Several cruise lines — including MSC, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival — enforce a cap of 15 alcoholic drinks per person per day, even on unlimited packages. The counter resets at midnight. P&O and Celebrity currently have no documented daily cap. Always check the specific terms for your package when booking.

Question 18

When are cruise excursions worth it?

Accepted Answer

When the port is limited or just a gateway to something better (like Katakolon to Olympia), when logistics are genuinely complicated, or when there's a specific experience you don't want to leave to chance.

Question 19

How much do cruise excursions cost?

Accepted Answer

Prices vary widely — from around £30 for a simple bus trip to £150+ for specialist tours. Ship-organised excursions are typically more expensive than booking independently, but come with the guarantee of getting back to the ship on time.

Question 20

Is it safe to book excursions independently?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes, for most mainstream ports. The main risk is timing — if you miss the ship, you're responsible for getting to the next port yourself. For ports with reliable transport and clear logistics, independent booking is often the better value option.

Question 21

What happens if an excursion makes you miss the ship?

Accepted Answer

If you're on a ship-organised excursion, the ship will wait. If you're independent, it won't. This is the key trade-off — ship excursions cost more but remove the timing risk entirely.

Question 22

Should I book excursions in advance or wait until I'm onboard?

Accepted Answer

Book in advance for popular excursions and bucket-list experiences — they sell out. For more flexible port days, waiting until you're onboard gives you the option to change plans based on weather or how you're feeling.

Question 23

What do people most commonly forget to pack for a cruise?

Accepted Answer

Sea sickness tablets, a multi-plug adaptor, and proper walking shoes are the three things people most consistently wish they'd brought. They take up almost no space and make a real difference.

Question 24

Do I need sea sickness tablets even if I've never been seasick?

Accepted Answer

Yes — bring them anyway. Most cruises are smooth, but the odd rough patch happens. If you don't have tablets when you need them, you'll be paying inflated ship prices or suffering through it. They take up almost no space.

Question 25

What type of plug adaptor do I need on a cruise ship?

Accepted Answer

Most modern ships have both UK and US sockets, but it's worth confirming for your specific ship. More importantly, cabins typically have only one or two sockets. A small multi-plug adaptor is one of the most useful things you can bring.

Question 26

What should I pack for a Northern European cruise in May?

Accepted Answer

A proper windproof layer (not just a hoodie), thin layers rather than a heavy coat, a compact travel umbrella, and waterproof or water-resistant shoes. May in the English Channel and Northern Europe is not Mediterranean May — temperatures range from 8°C to 18°C and wind chill at sea makes it feel colder.

Question 27

Do I need a smart outfit for a cruise?

Accepted Answer

Most cruise lines have at least one formal or smart-casual evening. It's not black tie unless you want it to be, but turning up to the main dining room in shorts and a t-shirt isn't ideal. One smart outfit covers you without taking up much space.

Question 28

What do you do on sea days on a cruise?

Accepted Answer

Sea days are when the ship itself becomes the destination. Pool deck, spa, shows, trivia, specialty dining, or simply sitting somewhere quiet with a book and a view. The key is not to feel like you need to fill every minute — sea days are best when you let them unfold.

Question 29

Are sea days boring?

Accepted Answer

Only if you approach them like a port day. Sea days have a different rhythm — slower, more relaxed. Modern cruise ships have enough going on that boredom is genuinely hard to achieve if you engage with what's available. The people who find them boring are usually the ones who haven't found their sea day rhythm yet.

Question 30

How do I avoid the crowds on a cruise ship?

Accepted Answer

Timing is everything. The buffet, pool, and main dining room all have predictable peak times. A small shift in your routine — eating slightly earlier or later, heading to the pool deck mid-morning rather than midday — avoids the worst of it. The ship is big enough that crowds are rarely unavoidable.

Question 31

Is gratuity included in the cruise price?

Accepted Answer

Usually not — most cruise lines add a daily service charge (typically £12–18 per person per day) that covers gratuities for cabin stewards, dining staff, and other crew. This is usually added to your onboard account automatically. Check your booking details before you sail so it's not a surprise.

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