After cruising for over 20 years and more than 50 cruises, there are some things I simply don’t do anymore. Stopping them has saved me money, saved me time, and honestly given me a better cruise.
We are all different, so you might not agree with every one of these. Even so, I have a feeling plenty of experienced cruisers will nod along to a few, and first-time cruisers might find some food for thought.
The last one on my list has dramatically improved our cruises, so stick around until the end. Let’s get started.
Saving Money on the Extras
1. I Stopped Buying Souvenirs
I do still buy the odd souvenir, but nowhere near as many as I used to. I cruise a lot, and these days our friends and family cruise a lot too, so not everybody needs something from the ship.
When I’m going somewhere new, I still like to bring a little something home. A bar of lemon soap or some olive oil from Italy works for everyone, but the t-shirts are a thing of the past.
Since I stopped, I probably save over $100 on every cruise. If you like the sound of that, our list of cruise money hacks has plenty more ways to avoid overspending without feeling deprived.
2. I Stopped Buying the Drink Package on Every Cruise
Personally, I’m a fan of a drink package. I love the convenience and the freedom to order something different, plus a glass of wine with dinner and the occasional mimosa at breakfast.
Depending on the cruise, though, it doesn’t always pay off. On a very port-intensive itinerary we just aren’t getting our money’s worth, and I don’t want to drink more than I normally would to try to recoup the cost.
The exception is when the package comes as part of a bundle, which is almost always worth it to me. Either way, it’s smart to do the cruise math first, and these reasons not to buy the drink package are a good place to start.
If you do decide to buy one, have a look at these common drink package mistakes first. I’d love to hear whether you get one and if you think it’s worth it.
3. I Stopped Shopping at Cruise Line Recommended Stores
It’s not that I never go to them, but I no longer follow the cruise line’s shopping advice. On our first couple of cruises we went to the port shopping talks, chatted with the shopping advisors, and came away with a card for a recommended store.
I do think those stores are good overall because they have a solid reputation. The catch is that the cruise line, or whoever hands out the card, gets a bit of a kickback, so you aren’t always getting the best price or an unbiased opinion.
I’ve also stopped doing the scavenger hunts for trinkets and charms. They can be a lot of fun, but I’ve been cruising for so many years that it’s just something we no longer do.
If you’d rather shop onboard, these duty-free shopping deals are worth knowing about.
4. I Stopped Going to Art Auctions
We have never actually bought anything from one. We used to go because they sometimes gave out free champagne or sparkling wine, and because it was interesting to look at the art.
When it came to buying, though, I always found it confusing. I live in Canada, and nobody could ever tell me how much the duties would be.
If you’re curious about how they work, the truth about cruise ship art auctions covers what to know before you raise your paddle.
Do you enjoy the art auctions, and do you find them worth it? Let me know in the comments.
Making the Most of Your Time
5. I Stopped Eating at the Buffet for Breakfast
We definitely did this on earlier cruises. We wanted to eat as quickly as possible and get out to the pool deck for some sun.
These days we do things at a more relaxed pace, and we really enjoy breakfast in the main dining room or one of the other included restaurants. It doesn’t take as long as we first thought, because most cruises offer a bit of an express breakfast.
The menu is better, the food is fresher, and it’s really nice to be served. If we have an early morning excursion, we order room service breakfast, eat something lighter, and come back to the ship for more later.
For more ideas, take a look at these cruise breakfast secrets and our main dining room tips.
6. I Stopped Getting Off in Every Single Port
I know this one is a little controversial, because one of the reasons to go on a cruise is to travel. I still think that’s a great reason, but we usually pick one port where we stay onboard and enjoy the ship and everything it has to offer.
Sometimes we do an activity for half the day and then come back on, so we can enjoy the ship while most people are off. The exception is when we’re visiting somewhere new, because then I do like to get off.
If you’re looking for ideas for a quiet ship, our list of things to do on a cruise has plenty to choose from.
7. I Stopped Trying to Do Every Activity
When we first started cruising, we had serious FOMO. We highlighted the whole daily planner, and our day started at 7:00 a.m. and ended well after midnight.
Now that we cruise a lot more, we appreciate a bit of downtime. Our ways to relax on a cruise can help you plan some of your own.
My son’s girlfriend joined us for her first cruise a little less than a year ago. She was looking at the planner all the time and asking if we could go to this and that, and my son ended up going to things he would normally skip, including trivia.
He said it was a lot of fun. It was a good reminder that even experienced cruisers can learn something from seeing a cruise through a first-timer’s eyes.
8. I Stopped Getting Off at the Earliest Disembarkation Time
I still swear by getting onto the ship as early as possible, so I’m team early embarkation. I’m also team late disembarkation whenever I can be.
If we have a very early flight, of course we get off as soon as we can. Otherwise, what is there to gain by leaving an hour before everybody else?
If we’re staying in port an extra day or have an afternoon flight, we usually stay onboard until about 9:30, when they start asking guests to leave. Then we have a leisurely breakfast in the main dining room when it’s available.
This surprises a lot of people, including experienced cruisers, because you can often stay onboard later than the time on your luggage tag. Your bags will still be there when you get off, and most cruise lines have a sit-down breakfast on the last morning.
It’s worth checking your own cruise line’s rules first, and our disembarkation tips cover the rest.
9. I Stopped Booking Every Shore Excursion With the Cruise Line
I’m actually kind of lying about this one, because I do still book with the cruise line sometimes. I’m a nervous traveller and I like to make sure things are done the right way, so for years I only booked through the ship.
About three years ago we started using Shore Excursions Group, and I find them really, really good. They offer good prices and a great selection of excursions with smaller groups, which I personally like.
Not sure which way to go? Our guide to shore excursions versus exploring on your own will help you decide.
Cabins, Packing and Mindset
10. I Stopped Wearing a Different Outfit Every Night
I still pack very intentionally and choose my cruise outfits ahead of time. I would not call myself a light packer, because I like to have options.
It’s not unusual for me these days to re-wear something I wore earlier in the cruise, or pair it with a different sweater. If you want to pack smarter, these cruise packing tips will help.
11. I Stopped Booking Interior Cabins
This one is a big change from the way we used to cruise, and I can tell you exactly when it happened. The last time we stayed in an interior cabin was a 10-day cruise in January 2020, and you probably remember what happened next.
After that we started booking balcony cabins, thinking it might be nice to have that outdoor space just in case. Most of the time now we book a balcony or above, and we’ve had an ocean view cabin a couple of times too, which I still like.
They say once you have a balcony it’s very hard to go back. We’re out and about less than we used to be, and I’ve realized I really enjoy getting away from the noise on the rest of the ship.
I still don’t think there’s anything wrong with an interior cabin, and who knows, I might try one again. If you’re deciding, our comparison of an inside cabin versus a balcony cabin breaks down the pros and cons.
12. I Stopped Comparing
This is a big one. We used to compare cruise lines and ships constantly, from which line had the better shampoo and conditioner to who did towel animals and which cruise director was more out and about.
Spending the first few days comparing really affected how much we enjoyed the cruise. Now we treat each cruise as its own travel experience, a bit like you wouldn’t compare one country to another.
It has freed us up, and we feel a bit like chameleons who can go from one cruise to another and still enjoy ourselves 100%. We still notice the differences and sometimes prefer one over another, but we won’t let it affect our vacation.
If you’re still weighing up which line suits you, this look at premium versus contemporary cruise lines is a good place to start.
Final Thoughts
I’d love to hear from you. If you’re a first-time cruiser, let us know in the comments, and if you’re an experienced cruiser, tell us what you no longer do on a cruise!
Happy cruising!
Ilana