7 Little-Known Secrets to Getting the Most Out of Your Cruise Experience

There are some things that newer cruisers tend to not be familiar with, but that could greatly enhance their on-board experience. Here are seven things I always make sure to do when taking a cruise that you can use to make sure you have the best time possible.

1. Know what room locations to avoid

Years ago, I booked a balcony room on a cruise, and was excited that it was only one deck away from the casino and specialty restaurants. But it was also directly on top of the theater, which essentially turned into a nightclub after the last performance was over.

Cruise lines make deck plans available online (try a Google search for "'SHIP NAME' deck plans" if you can't find them). One tip is to choose a room with nothing but other cabins directly above or below it, and away from high-traffic public areas.

2. Familiarize yourself with the ship ahead of time

Speaking of deck plans, they can be a great tool to get to know the layout of your ship ahead of time. Another thing I always do before I cruise on a ship I've never been on is to watch a ship tour on YouTube. There are usually 10-15-minute walkthroughs that are easy to find, and these can be an excellent planning tool.

3. Maximize your space

If you've never cruised before, you might be surprised at how much smaller the typical cruise ship cabin is, compared with the average hotel room. To be fair, cruise lines do a great job of maximizing the storage area (tip: beds are usually designed to fit at least two full-size suitcases underneath). But anything you can bring to maximize your space can make a big difference, especially if you're traveling with kids, like I usually do.

Just to name a few things, we never leave for a cruise without a pop-up clothes hamper, over-the-door shoe rack, magnetic hooks to put on the walls, and a few other organizational items.

4. Fly the day before

This tip is more about avoiding potential disasters in your travel plans. One rookie mistake cruisers often make is to book flights for the day of the trip, only to encounter weather delays or find out that it takes longer to get from the airport to the cruise terminal than anticipated.

If it's possible, plan to fly to the cruise port the night before. It's worth paying for a night at a hotel to make sure you get there on time. And if you live close enough and are driving to the cruise port, be sure to add some wiggle room into your schedule in case you run into unexpected delays.

5. Book all you can ahead of time

There is likely to be some excellent free entertainment on your cruise -- but you might need to have a reservation to get a seat. Top specialty restaurants and shore excursions tend to fill up as well. By booking ahead of time, you can avoid disappointment and make sure you do all the things you want to do. Different cruise lines have different booking timetables (shows might open for booking 30 days before the sailing, for example).

It's also worth noting that booking shore excursions, specialty dining, and drink packages ahead of time can also be a good personal finance move. As an example, I'm booked on a Royal Caribbean cruise in a couple months and the drink package is 30% cheaper if I buy it ahead of time, as are many of the shore excursions.

6. Check in as soon as you can

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise lines have done a great job of minimizing wait times at the terminal by offering online check-in. You can upload your passport information, register for kids' activities, and more before you ever arrive. Cruise lines open online check-in well before the sailing, but the exact timetable depends on the particular company.

One other thing you can do in the online check-in process is reserve a boarding time. To reduce overcrowding, there are typically half-hour arrival windows, and as you might expect, the earliest ones fill up quickly. By checking in as soon as you can, you can get an early boarding time and enjoy a few extra hours on the ship.

7. Find out what you can bring

Many first-timers don't realize this, but there is usually some sort of beverage allowance. One unopened bottle of wine per adult is standard, and you may be able to bring some other beverages as well. You are also allowed to bring some snacks to keep in your room. I get it -- there's free food in many places on a cruise ship. But it can be a long walk to the nearest food, and sometimes your kids (or you) just want a little snack.

The bottom line is that by knowing these tips, you can maximize the value you're getting from your cruise, avoid any delays or mishaps, and be sure you don't miss out on things you'd like to see.