Cruising is a great way to spend a vacation. It combines food, entertainment, lodging, and transportation into a single, convenient package. All you have to do is reach the port, and the cruise line takes care of the rest. We’re not cruise experts yet, but we’ve learned a few tricks that might help you as you prepare for your first cruise.

• Cruises are what you make of them, so think about how you want to spend your time. Would you rather fit in as many shows, activities, and excursions as possible or relax by the pool for the entire trip? Are you looking for time alone with a friend or lover, or is your goal to party with lots of other people?
• Be careful when using your onboard ID card, which generally doubles as a room key and a billing tool. As with a regular credit card, it’s easy to spend a lot of money really quickly. Those $8 pina coladas and $50 excursions can add up really quickly. Shortly before the end of your cruise, you get a statement of all your onboard purchases. Some people’s statements require multiple pages. Some people call the cards “Drink and Sink Cards”, and with good reason.
• You cannot bring alcohol onboard without smuggling it. They search your bags at the start of your trip and seize any booze they find. When you return from a port during your trip, they seize any alcohol you purchase and return it to you on the final morning. I don’t know whether there’s a legal justification for this obnoxious practice, but it does ensures you will buy more $8 pina coladas from the onboard bar.
• Don’t be afraid to say NO to the paparazzi. Cruise lines make much of their money by selling extra products and services, including onboard photos. They deploy photographers to the dining room, ports, and some common areas and work hard to make you pose for pictures and buy them later at inflated prices. They print most or all of the pictures they take and end up throwing most of them away. Unless you want the photos, just politely but firmly decline when the photographers try to stop you.
• Prepare to tip like crazy. Except for restaurants, I rarely find myself in situations in which tipping is expected. Cruising, however, is full of tipping situations. Many cruise lines now encourage prepaid gratuities of $10-12 per person per day, which are split among your cabin steward and dining room staff. Oftentimes, they also add mandatory tips to drinks, spa services, and other service-oriented purchases onboard. When getting on the ship, you’re generally met by a porter who takes your bags onboard and expects a tip. When you visit a port, your drivers and tour guides expect tips as well. If you bring nothing but $20s in cash, your life will be difficult.
• Take advantage of the great food AND the fitness center. With a few exceptions, the food onboard is generally good and included in the price of the cruise. You want two appetizers and two desserts? No problem! The main dining room often serves gourmet-type foods that you might not see very often, such as lobster bisque or escargot. Be wild and enjoy! But don’t be a slug and gain five pounds on your trip, either. Most ships have fitness centers, jogging tracks, and classes to help you stay active and keep your metabolism up. Get to work! Exercising at sea is a blast, especially if you have a view of the ocean. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Do lots of walking at your ports of call.
• Bring comfortable shoes. Even if you want to be a slug, it’s hard to avoid a significant amount of walking. Most cruise ships are huge, some over 1000 feet long with 10-15 decks. The lounges, restaurants, shops, and cabins are spread throughout the ship. In port, even the bus tours might require some walking to and from the buses.
• Try things you don’t normally do. Climb the rock wall. Embarrass yourself singing karaoke. Try a yoga class. Get a massage. Read a book. Spend the day naked and order room service. Make love on your balcony. Bring a tux or formal dress and get your picture made on Formal Night. Try playing craps or poker. See a show. Take an afternoon nap. And don’t feel guilty about it!
• Relax and have fun! You’re not in the office anymore. You don’t have to write reports, return emails, or meet deadlines. Unplug and let yourself stop rushing. Don’t demand perfection from the staff. Don’t look at your watch so much, if you wear it at all. You’re on vacation. Even if you’re not taking a tropical cruise, switch over to “island time”.

I know some of you have cruised before. Any advice?