Cruise guides
Gratuities, cancellation policy, cabins, drink packages, your first cruise, seasickness and more — what's worth knowing before you book.
Cruise gratuities — how much, to whom, and how to change themAlmost every cruise line charges an automatic 'daily gratuity' per guest, children included, added to your onboard account each day. It is not opt-in by default — you have to remove it manually if you want to. Amounts are current for 2026 and are revised once a year.Cruise cancellation policies — by cruise lineThe cancellation policy is set by the cruise line, not the booking agent, and is almost always based on 'days before sailing'. The closer to departure, the larger the penalty, up to total loss. The deposit usually becomes non-refundable from a certain point. Amounts vary; check the exact terms of your booking.Cruise drink packages — when they pay off and when they don'tThe drinks package is the biggest controllable expense on a cruise. It sounds expensive but sometimes saves money and sometimes doesn't — it depends on how much you actually drink, not how much you picture drinking on day one.Cruise cabins — inside, oceanview, balcony or suiteThe price gap between an inside cabin and a suite can be triple on the same sailing. The question isn't 'which is best' but 'how much time will you spend in the cabin' — and that depends on the itinerary.What's included in a cruise fare — and what isn'tThe price you see for a cruise covers the basics: the cabin, most meals, most entertainment, and the transport between ports. But the final bill is almost always 30–60% higher than the advertised fare, because of a set of extras worth knowing about in advance.From the airport to the cruise port — how to get there in each cityThe common mistake: assuming the cruise port is next to the airport. It almost never is. In several cities the distance is an hour or more, and the line sells an organised transfer that costs double a taxi. Here's how it works at the common departure ports.Your first cruise — what nobody tells you in advanceA first cruise is an unusually easy holiday — you unpack once, the food and entertainment are all around you, and each morning is a new city. But a few things surprise first-timers specifically, and they're worth knowing before you board.Shore excursions — through the line, an independent operator, or on your ownAt every port you choose: the cruise line's organised tour (most expensive, safest), an independent operator booked online (cheaper, usually fine), or planning it yourself (cheapest, most flexible). The price gap can be triple for the same tour.Seasickness on a cruise — which cabin, which route, and what helpsModern cruise ships are large and stable, and most people feel no motion at all. But if you're prone to it, the choice of cabin and itinerary matters far more than any pill.Cruising solo — the single supplement, studio cabins, and which lines suit itA cruise is one of the easiest ways to travel alone — there's company at meals and on tours, without the awkwardness of a table for one or an empty hotel room. The one problem is the price: most lines charge a 'single supplement'.
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Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.