The cruise industry anticipates a robust 2024 travel season. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), an estimated 36 million passengers will set sail in 2024. That figure is up from 31.5 million in 2023, when demand surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Now that more families look to swap land-based travel for vacations at sea, travelers must pay attention to how different the booking process is for cruise ships.
Planning any vacation comes with several steps, like securing hotel reservations and booking flights. Seasoned travelers learn the ins and outs of these processes over time, making for a smoother booking process. However, even the most experienced travelers feel like a fish out of water — no pun intended — when it comes to cruising. It is a unique method of vacationing that requires its own set of know-how.
Experts agree several pitfalls exist when booking a cruise, from overspending to overscheduling. To ensure a successful first cruise, it helps to remain aware of these common mistakes. But even repeat passengers are likely to misstep if not careful.
Call the Experts When Booking
Cruiseline websites simplify booking sailing trips, but experts warn against making reservations alone. Calling in experts, like travel agents, alleviates deal-searching stress.
Freelance travel and food writer Alex Caspero, from Delish Knowledge points out, “They [travel agencies] often get access to special fares or packages with flights that aren’t readily available otherwise.”
While travel agents help first-time cruisers navigate overwhelming booking processes, veteran cruisers also benefit, travel journalist Megan duBois explains. “I always call the reservation center when booking a cruise, even for cruise lines I’ve sailed with dozens of times.”
She echoes Caspero’s tip, saying trained experts can scope out often-hidden deals. She adds, “Some discounts can also be stacked if you call. So spending 20 minutes on the phone with someone can be a huge benefit.”
In addition to saving on a cruise, booking with an agent or reservation call center helps travelers avoid decision-making mistakes; professionals know what rooms and itineraries best suit any travel party.
Sarah Gilliland, founder of On The Road with Sarah and Travel Editor for Wealth of Geeks, emphasizes how agents “have expertise and knowledge to make the best recommendations to meet your needs.”
Beware of Costly Upgrades
Frequent cruisers cite lower cruise-booking costs as a reason they prefer to travel on the high seas. The all-inclusive nature of cruises is enticing, but experts warn of overpriced add-ons.
duBois notes the biggest mistake travelers make when booking a cruise is “thinking they need all the extras, like a drink package and a dining package.” duBois says many cruise lines have policies where cruisers can pack a set amount of alcohol, typically wine and beer, onboard at no extra cost.
duBois recommends travelers skip meal packages or specialty dining options to cut costs and instead opt for one or two evenings at a premium restaurant. “This is often cheaper in the long run, and since many of the newer cruise ships have multiple included dining options, it’s unlikely that you will get bored eating in the same restaurant for meal after meal.”
Avoid add-ons and stick with standard meal and drink packages included in the base cost of the cruise to save money in the long run.
Cruisers spend extra money, often unnecessarily, on room upgrades. Ships frequently share similar standard room options — windowless interior rooms with no balcony, exterior rooms with a window, and balcony rooms with outdoor space.
Caspero warns tight-budget travelers to resist booking pricier rooms. Interior rooms are “often half the price of the more luxurious rooms. You likely won’t spend much time in your room anyway, and you can put that money towards excursions or your next cruise vacation!”
Avoid a Stressful Travel Day
Many cruisers must fly to their ship’s home port. Flights add another leg to journeys before the cruise begins, opening the door for more travel snafus. Flight delays and cancellations cause headaches during any vacation, but they can completely derail cruises.
Gilliland urges families to allot buffer time between flights and cruise departure. She stresses, “One of the biggest mistakes I see made over and over is not arriving at or close to the cruise port the day before your sailing. Too many travelers rely on airlines or other modes of transportation to arrive at the port just in time to board.”
Gilliland explains that, at worst, mismanaged time causes travelers to miss cruises entirely. “Cruises are too expensive to attempt to save money by not arriving at least 24 hours before you set sail.” Avoiding stress and possible cancellations is worth the extra cost of an added night at a hotel.
