26/08/2025
First time cruisers always make these mistakes - don't get caught out -
A cruise ship worker has revealed the mistakes that new cruisers 'always make' their first time aboard a ship.
Lucy Southerton, 29, from Birmingham, has worked on cruise ships for over a decade and regularly shares advice on how passengers and fellow crew members can get the most out of their experience.
1. Flying to your cruise ship the same day that you are joining it -
One of the biggest mistakes people can make cruising for the first time is actually getting there, Lucy argued. 'If your flight is cancelled or delayed, that cruise ship is leaving with or without you!' the cruise ship worker said. 'This is not an all inclusive hotel where you can rock up late...if your flight is cancelled or delayed, that cruise ship is leaving with or without you!
2. Not budgeting for extras -
A little known fact among first timers is that not everything is included in the price of a cruise. Indeed, when you embark onto the ship, you might be offered a wifi package, a drinks package - and then will have to pay extra for excursions, specialty restaurants and any gratuities at the end too. So to avoid being caught off guard, Lucy warned newbies to factor in these extras when planning their first cruise. 'i.e. wifi package, gratuities, drinks packages, excursions, speciality restaurant, etc.
3. Overpacking -
It's the most common mistake, but one we all fall prey to. Lucy advised those flying to join their cruises to remember to factor in room for purchases made both on board and during visits off port to excursions. She said: 'If you've got 23kg of allowed weight in your suitcase, maybe fly out with 22kg for holiday purchases. 'There are shops on board the cruise ship that you're going to want to spend money at.'
4. Not putting your phone on flight mode -
Another crucial mistake that Lucy revealed cost her £500 on a cruise she went on around Australia is not putting your phone on flight mode. The cruise ship worker reminded first timers to avoid costly phone bills when they return from holiday by turning their phones to flight mode as soon as they step foot on board. She added that another lesser known hack was to switch off automatic time updates and change your phone's settings to manual time updates instead. This will make sure that while you're going through different locations on holiday, your time will stay the same as the ship's time - and you won't miss any shows or be late to dinner!
5. Not being careful when picking a cabin -
One thing people find hard when booking a cruise, especially for the first time, is choosing a cabin wisely. Lucy said: 'If this is a new cruise for you, you want to make sure that you pick a cabin in the middle of the ship surrounded by other cabins. 'Trust me you do not want to have the gym above you, because at 6am you're going to hear the thud of people on the running machines, or if you go to bed early and you're near the nightclub, you're not going to be happy!' Lucy added that if passengers are offered a cabin upgrade when they embark, they should always check the deck plans before agreeing. 'While the cabin itself might be better, and have a balcony, for example, actually if you've been strategic in picking the location in the middle of the ship, if this cabin is available then it's probably the worst of that tier of cabin.'
