7 surprising things I learned when booking a cruise for the first time

Joey HaddenMar 24, 2022, 22:12 IST

The author booked her first cruise recently with Royal Caribbean.Joey Hadden/Insider, Denis Thaust/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

I'm going on my first cruise in a few weeks on the world's largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas.
When booking the Royal Caribbean cruise, I learned surprising things, like when to schedule flights.

I recently booked a cruise for the first time on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas — the largest cruise ship in the world.

The author is preparing for her first cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.Gerard Bottino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images, Joey Hadden/Insider

Cruisers recommend booking your flight for the day before the ship leaves.

A plane arrives at a gate to prepare for the next departure.Joey Hadden/Insider

Similarly, when choosing my flight home, I learned that the scheduled port arrival time isn't exactly when I'll be off the ship.

Passengers disembark a cruise ship.Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

I thought cruises would be priced like hotels — per room. But when booking my Royal Caribbean cruise, I found that each person costs extra.

Tourists on the balcony of their cabin during a river cruise in 2007.JOKER/Alexander Stein/ullstein bild via Getty Images

While there are many included meals and activities on cruise ships, excursions and some restaurants and amenities cost extra.

Chefs sand servers at cruise ship Buffet.Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Some rooms on cruise ships don't have windows.

A Carnival Cruise interior room with no windows.Monica Humphries/Insider

You can add gratuity during the booking process.

A server works on a cruise ship.Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Once you're booked, you can reserve food on the ship and excursions at each port.

Coco Cay, the private island for the Royal Caribbean International cruise line, in the Bahamas.Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

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