First cruise? Nine things I tell every new cruiser

A first cruise can feel like a lot of decisions at once: which ship, which cabin, which dining option, whether to buy the drink package. Here is the short version of what I walk every new cruiser through.

Start with the itinerary, not the ship. If the ports excite you, you'll enjoy the trip even if the ship is ordinary. If the ship is the destination — water slides, shows, specialty restaurants — a shorter sailing to easy ports is usually the better value.

Book the cabin for the trip you're taking. On a scenic sailing like Alaska or the Norwegian fjords, a balcony genuinely changes the experience. On a warm-weather sailing where you'll be at the pool all day, an inside cabin is a smart way to save a few hundred dollars.

Choose dining early. Set dining gives you the same table and the same waitstaff all week, which families with kids tend to love. Flexible dining gives you freedom but sometimes a wait at 7pm.

Do the math on drink packages honestly. If you'll have three or four drinks a day including coffee and bottled water, it usually pays. If you'll have one glass of wine at dinner, it usually doesn't.

Book the excursions that sell out, skip the ones that don't. Small-group and private tours in popular ports go early. Beach days and shopping stops can wait until you're on board.

Leave a buffer before you sail. Flying in the morning of departure is the single riskiest thing you can do on a cruise. A pre-cruise hotel night costs less than missing the ship.

Pack a small carry-on for embarkation day. Your checked bags may not reach the cabin for hours, so keep swimsuits, medication, and chargers with you.

Finally: ask questions before you book, not after. That is exactly what an advisor is for, and it costs you nothing.