10 CRUISE MISTAKES First Time Cruisers MUST Avoid! *big, small & lesser known*

I purchased the cruise planner, love it, its my first cruise , and im a planner so it works for me

Make sure you pay gratuities before your cruise, because they will take it out before the cruise is over. This happened to me and my husband on our first cruise, because we didn't know so now when we book a cruise that's one of the things we add plus the plan protection. I still don't know what the plan protection is for but we add that as well.

Hi Ilana, love your clips and thank you for informations. I am 76 years young, been cruised 3 times and have never taken excursions. Each excursion was too long hours such as starting 8 am to 6 pm. I am end up with hanging around the ship. The next cruise to Hawaii will be in this November. Please advise, thank you!

Hi have just discovered your channel and I love it!! Great tips and advice….. our very first cruise we spent the whole 10 days using the buffet as we didn’t know the MDR was part of the cost , but have since learned better!! Thanks for all the great info and happy cruising x

Going on my first cruise in February 2024, all booked with Norwegian Encore to the Caribbean out of Miami. I'm going by myself, which I don't mind at all. Was thinking about going right before Covid, so playing it cautiously. I'm a RN, so seen a lot during the pandemic. My husband never wanted to cruise, so we did Casino trips with friends. Unfortunately, I lost him February od 2021, so I try to do something nice for myself every year. I did book the solo cabin, but decided to upgrade to a balcony room for my first cruise. Love your videos, downloaded your planner sheets, so hope to be all prepared. I live in Michigan, so would like to drive to the port in New Jersey or New York my next cruise. Have a great day.

I always attend the port shopping talk it's very informative and they also help you find the vest deals

Decorating your door of your cabin . How to enjoy your cruise when you don’t have any spending cash.and can’t afford to go on the excursions.

My husband and I first cruise will be in Oct. We're in our 60's
What would you recommend for excursions?
Explain the credit card/debit card VS cash when asked?

I am new to cruising and I waited a long long time thinking that I would be bored by being at sea quite a lot. I'm choosing cruises that don't have lengthy sea days, the itinerary is the thing for me. Going to places I've never been is exciting. I've been on 4 cruises so far and 3 out of 4 I've gotten a balcony. For the cruises I've taken I think I've gotten good value for the extra cost. I'm getting better at not over packing! On my first cruise I did go to the "shop talk" portion and it had value for me that time. I did buy some jewelry on my first cruise and I did enjoy bargaining and got a good deal. I have gotten choosy about shopping at various ports so I'm not taking time now for those informational meetings. Being in port and taking excursions has been a big reason for cruising for me; I get value out of seeing other parts of the world. I have both done excursions on every port, and I've been selective on other cruises. I think the itinerary makes a difference for how active I am on shore. I'm looking forward to my next cruise in August from Barcelona to Rome!.

I would be interested in hearing about door decorations. We are going on a Princess cruise out of SF to Alaska in August celebrating our 50th anniversary …interested if they allow it and if so, I might want to do one…maybe subtle, clever snd humorous….that’s us😊

First time cruiser... can you just go to the beach at a Port or do you have to book an excursion that includes it?

The worst mistake I have made was to wear new shoes on the plane which wore horrible blisters on my feet. I was crippled for the rest of our time and miserable. Be sure to have comfortable shoes and several pair so you can change.

I am going on my first cruise this July! I am extremely excited

I would love a video on door decor!

I'm going on my first cruise in December. I plan on 1 excursion at each port. Hope I get to really enjoy myself.

I would love some more info on the cruise cabin door decor! So cool! ✨

I second the number one regret of waiting so long to cruise. I could not get my husband to agree to a cruise until we had our son, and then he was willing to take a Disney cruise. Within 2 1/2 minutes of being on the ship he was excited and said he wanted to go again. We have done two Disney cruises one pre-Covid one post and I am scheduled for another one with my mom and sister on Carnival in January. It really is the best kind of vacation all in one!

Tmw is my first one I’m going on can’t wait I’m a lil nervous but excited

Cruising for the first time this summer!! Your channel is amazing!!!

Love the mention of those simple things you forget at home...one cruise (to COZUMEL!) I forgot deodorant! I had to use my travel companions until we got to port....then I had to pick it up from one of those little port shops for like double the price (* and not my choice brand/scent). Don't forget those sometimes forgetful essentials! ☀️🏖👙

The one mistake I made was not bringing diet coke on my Carnival cruise! They partner with Pepsi (which isn't my favorite) so I learned the hard way! I will bring my own diet coke on my next Carnival cruise!

Thank You soooo much! Planning 1st cruise!

Going on my first cruise to Bermuda in 5 weeks 😎😆. So this video has definitely helped. Thank you!

Great videos!! Going on my first cruise in July. Is it worth to get the steak dinner experience for specialty dinning.

Yes! I would love to have a door decor video!! Going on a honeymoon cruise in alaska in May and need all the pointers I can get lol

I'm going on my first cruise next year with a group of family and friends. I appreciate your tips and enjoy your channel. You have a lot of good information and are very helpful. I am definitely taking these tips to heart and am excited to finally find out what this cruising life is all about!

Thanks so much for your videos. This will be my guy’s first cruise and it’s his birthday in June. I will check out the door decor. This is my second cruise but it’s been 6 years ago. We will definitely tour the ship. Looking forward to the Carnival Freedom!!😄

Worried about over planning Halifax

Nailed Galveston

Thanks Ilana! After 5 cancellations, we are finally leaving on our first cruise ever next week! I am so excited to finally get on board! 😄

I use to book everything myself, the cruise, airfare, hotel, and transfers. Now I use a travel agent and they can usually obtain a better deal plus with Covid the extra insurance is a must.

As far a the Port talks go, I think they're generally a waste of time, I'd have a list provided of the "preferred" shopping venues which could be distributed with the daily newsletter. This is important to me because shopping at the preferred venues means that you can notify the cruise line if you experience any significant issue(s) with your purchase. Believe it or not, (based on personal experience) the cruise line will intervene and help remedy the situation.

My mistake was not arrive early for embarkation for researching the ship. In July gonna be our third cruise, we will arrive at the port as soon as possible.

I love your videos. Taking my husband on his first cruise in June. I definitely want a video about the door decorations. Thanks for all the information.

All cruise shopping talks were a waste of time for me. I find this outrages, that after paying for the cruise, and paying for a bunch of extras on ship and gratuity at the end of the cruise, they are wasting my free time, or what's left of it, to sell more crap. That includes beauty talks at the health center, btw, Botox done on a cruise evaporates in the next hot port😅

This is our first cruise, sailing with Princess to Alaska. 50 year anniversary, 7 day ship, 7 days on land. I think it may be too much for a first cruise.🤔

I would love a video about decorating your door and cabin. We decorated for Christmas, and it was a game changer! It wasnthenmost magical cruise ever. Now, I want to decorate for each trip. I'd love ideas for decorating for all seasons.

Me and my friend are going on our first one in three weeks flying there and back I can't wait

I would love to see a door decorating video!

I would like a video on cruise door decorating. I was never one for decorating the door but now with a toddler i think it would be fun to put something unique to him so he can identify his door and fun to areive to

Not checking the daily event list or cruise compass; in the past, we have missed out on some fun activities because we failed to read the cruise compass in detail.

Good afternoon when you’re on a cruise now if you test positive for covid do they still confine you to your room for the length of the cruise

As for sunscreen please use it my sweet wife and 8 friends went on a 7 day cruise to Mexico the 4th day I forgot to put sunscreen on my legs and wound up with a second degree burn after only 2 hours in the sun, no fun with a burn so bad your legs swell more than twice there normal size and giant blisters all over them

Yes, a video on the door and/or cabin decorating. We're Disney Cruise Line (Platinum 10+ cruises) and love to decorate the door. I'm 30 days out from our next DCL Dream cruise and have started making more magnets. Just purchased a new Cricut machine because I wore the old one out.

Overpacking, on my first cruise I only ended up wearing half of what I packed.

I really enjoy your videos! Even though I am a seasoned international traveler, I always find something useful or am reminded of something I may have forgotten. I'm going on a musical cruise in November. I have been on 2 in the past, but it has been almost 10 years since the last one. I am looking forward to traveling solo and this being a total self treat! I am definitely taking your advice to enjoy the dining room! Luckily I am a very light drinker now; I made that mistake of over indulging and not drinking enough water. I will make sure to bring electrolytes with me this time (per your great advice)
I love your videos; you have a great presentation style and they're not "overdone". Thank you for all your great information and advice!

We didn't attend the port shopping talks, but on our first cruise it was to Alaska, my 2 teenage nieces where with us, and we got sucked into looking for the coins in port shops, WOW what a mistake, i felt we missed all of Junea hunting for these. Lesson learned, will not do that again!!

I have a problem that's ALL I want to do is Cruise but I have to Work and my biggest and always mistake I CAN'T STOP OVER PACKING!!!!😡

Early on, when we were cruise newbies, we did excursions at every port. We still do excursions but reserve one port day to stay on board. It's very peaceful and relaxing. If we want, we're able to take advantage of amenities that are usually crowded. My husband and I are in our 60's. On our last cruise we had a blast on the slides one day in port...no lines either!