How to Plan a Cruise
Author’s Note: I’ve been writing about cruises for newspapers, magazines, and websites for 25 years now and have been lucky enough to experience more than 200 ships and all seven continents over this time. I like to think that I have planning down to a fine art after trying everything from ocean cruises to river voyages and expeditions, traveling solo, with my kids, and with my partner.
Planning a cruise is almost as fun as going on the actual trip. This is your chance to fulfil some of the items on your bucket list, after all.
In the months leading up to your vacation, you get to research all the different destinations you’d like to visit, look at different stateroom options, and even start booking the onshore excursions you’ll experience.
Even if you’re a first-time cruiser and don’t know where to begin, planning a cruise is pretty easy. Discover how to plan a cruise with this step-by-step guide.
Why Cruise?
If you’ve never been on a cruise before, the whole idea may have a certain mystique. You may have questions, too. Is cruising for me? Will I feel confined? Will I like my fellow passengers? Will I be bored?
These are common concerns for first-time cruisers. But the truth is, cruising is an adventure. You wake up in a new destination every day. It’s effortless; you only unpack once, and there’s no complex travel planning involved.
You don’t waste any time getting from one place to another; there’s no waiting in airports or train stations.
Not only is your ship your stylish home, but it’s packed with things to do, whether you want to watch Broadway-standard shows, lounge by the pool, or work out in the gym.
As for the other people, you can be as sociable or as solitary as you wish. Some people choose cruising to make new friends, while others simply enjoy slow ocean travel and relaxing with a book.
It’s also worth noting that Celebrity’s cruises are welcoming and inclusive to people from all backgrounds. Cruising is the opposite of feeling confined; it’s the freedom to enjoy your vacation exactly as you wish.
Choose a Destination
The first thing you should do when figuring out how to plan a cruise is to choose the type of destination you’d like to visit.
Do you prefer lounging on the tropical beaches of the Caribbean or strolling through the cobblestoned towns of the Mediterranean? Are you looking for outdoor adventures in the rugged terrain of Alaska, or do you prefer navigating the bustling cities of Southeast Asia?
It is also important to know the best time to go on a cruise to your chosen destination so you can be prepared. Of course, a cruise wouldn’t operate in the depths of the low season—the wettest months of the Asian monsoon, for example, or Alaska in midwinter—but if you choose to cruise in the shoulder season, the period between high season and low season, it’s just as well to be prepared.
The great part about cruising is that there are destinations for every kind of vacation experience. Not only that, but you can visit multiple destinations all in one trip.
Pick Your Departure Port
Once you’ve chosen the region where you want to cruise, you’ll choose your departure port next. If you want to sail from a specific port—maybe one that is closer to home or easier to fly into—find out what itineraries are available for the destination you chose.
Some cruises sail round-trip from one port, like Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean and back. Others operate one way, like from Barcelona to Rome.
Author’s Note: Wherever I can, I arrive at the departure port a day or two before the cruise. This way, I can spend a day in Rome, Athens, or Miami, as an example, rather than just flying in and getting on the ship. It also means arriving at the port after a comfortable night and time to get into vacation mode. And there’s no stress about flight delays, either.
Select Your Itinerary
Once the destination and departure port are set, you can decide the length and style of the itinerary that’s best for you.
First, decide on the length of your trip. Celebrity Cruises offers a variety of itineraries, from three-day cruises to the Bahamas to transatlantic and transpacific crossings that can last up to 19 nights.
If it’s your first cruise, you could always start with a short itinerary to see how you enjoy life at sea. If you’re an experienced cruiser and you love long ocean passages, take a look at repositioning cruises, which give you multiple days at sea as the ship sails across the world’s great oceans.
If you’re traveling long-distance, it makes sense to opt for a longer cruise. A week in the Mediterranean is probably the minimum length to consider if you’re flying from North America. A 10- or 11-night cruise is even better if you have the time.
When it comes to choosing an itinerary, you’ll also want to figure out what is most important to you during your cruise. Are slower cruises with overnight stays in port appealing? Do you prefer a few days at sea? Or do you want to be in port every day? Are you looking to go on a round-trip journey?
Once you figure out the answers to these questions, you’ll be able to narrow down your options and choose the itinerary that works best for you.
Stay a Little Longer
Why end your vacation when the cruise is over? Celebrity offers a wide choice of City Stays, with all details like hotel bookings and transfers taken care of.
You could also add on a thrilling land adventure to the citadel of Machu Picchu to a Galapagos expedition.
Or consider our wide range of Alaska Cruisetours, taking you seamlessly to the vast expanse of Denali National Park or as far north as Fairbanks before or after your Alaska cruise.
Choose Your Stateroom
With the destination and itinerary chosen, now it’s time to make one more big decision: what kind of stateroom you’ll want to stay in. There’s options from inside and veranda staterooms, and even suites.
You will also choose between port vs starboard when booking your stateroom. This means some careful research; if your chosen cruise sails from north to south and your favorite time of the day is sunset, you might want to consider a stateroom on the starboard, or right-hand side, which will catch the setting sun.
If you prefer to have a little bit of natural sunlight in the morning, then an oceanview stateroom may be the way to go.
If you book a veranda stateroom, you’ll have your own private outdoor space to watch the ocean go by. You’ll often hear from seasoned cruisers that once you stay in a veranda, it’s hard not to cruise with your own private balcony again.
If you’re cruising as a family, consider interconnecting staterooms, which are indicated on the deck plan for each ship. Or book a veranda stateroom for the adults and an interior just across the corridor for the kids.
Edge Villa
For true indulgence, book The Retreat, the ultimate vacation experience, which offers cruisers stunning suite accommodations, private restaurants and lounge areas, and exclusive services and amenities like a butler.
You’ll be astonished at the beauty of some of these accommodations; a duplex Edge Villa on Edge-series ships, for example, has its own plunge pool.
Author’s Note: I’ve been lucky enough to experience The Retreat, and it really is next level. The menu in Luminae at The Retreat, exclusive to guests of The Retreat, is exceptional. I loved the idea of a private lounge, too. And The Retreat pools on Edge-series ships are gorgeous. What’s best about The Retreat is that you have the experience of something really exclusive, but all the buzz of the ship when you venture “out”, from multiple bars and dining venues to shows in the theater and exciting nightlife.
Book Your Flight
If you don’t live within driving distance of your departure port, you’ll need to book flights, too.
With Flights by Celebrity, you can book your cruise and airfare all in the same place. You’ll be sure to find a competitive price for your airfare thanks to Flights by Celebrity’s Lowest Airfare Guarantee.
You can also browse flights by any specific airline you prefer to fly on and accrue loyalty points on your preferred mileage rewards program.
Flights by Celebrity has a team of dedicated specialists available to get you to your cruise ship on time in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
Plan Your Shore Excursions
Now that all of your travel reservations have been handled, it’s time for the extra fun part: choosing your shore excursions.
From lazy days at beach resorts to adventurous hikes and active watersports, there’s no shortage of fun activities to sign up for during your cruise vacation.
Look up your cruise itinerary online and start researching all of the exciting shore excursions available at each port. You can look for specific family-friendly activities, cultural outings, sporty excursions, and all-encompassing destination tours.
Once you’ve picked the shore excursions you like, reserve your spot. Popular excursions, like whale-watching tours in Alaska and a tour of Pompeii, Italy, can fill up quickly and may be sold out by the time you board the ship.
Author’s Note: While it’s great to have your bucket list excursions planned and confirmed, don’t overdo it. Europe in particular is a destination where you can end up exhausted if you’re on tour all day, every day. Perhaps factor in some beach time, or see if there’s a port where simply wandering around and stopping for gelato is the best way to enjoy the destination. I’ve found that when cruising with kids, this is particularly important.
Book Specialty Restaurants
Aside from booking your shore excursions early, you can also reserve dinner at any of our specialty restaurants before your cruise. From fresh seafood at Raw on 5 to the awe-inspiring dining experience at Le Petit Chef, specialty restaurants can fill up quickly, so it’s best to reserve your spot early.
Plan these special occasions to fit in with your itinerary. If you’re out on a full-day tour in the heat, that evening may be one for a quiet meal in the informal Oceanview Café. But if you’ve been relaxing by the pool all day, you’ll most likely be ready for a special evening.
Author’s Note: I’ve tried Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud on both Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Beyond and was so impressed. For a special occasion, you won’t find anything like this at sea in terms of presentation, creativity, and flavor.
Choose Your Beverage Package
If you plan on enjoying a glass of wine with lunch and dinner or sunset cocktails while on board, it’s worth looking into beverage packages and deciding if one of them is right for you.
Our drink packages are unlimited, available at the main restaurant, specialty restaurants, casual dining restaurants, and all bars and lounges. By choosing a package, you’ll be able to forget about running up costs during your vacation, as everything will already be covered.
With the Classic Drinks Package, choose from a variety of spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass. With the Premium Beverage Package, you’ll have unlimited access to higher-end liquors and wine, plus a variety of craft beers.
For the non-drinkers, the Non-Alcoholic Drink Package offers unlimited bottled water, specialty coffees, coconut water, smoothies, and juices.
Finally, you could opt for the popular “All Included” offer, which gives you the Classic Drinks Package and Wi-Fi.
Now that you know how to plan a cruise, are you ready to make your dream vacation a reality? Browse cruises online and book your next adventure.
