9 Things You Should Know Before Booking Your Next Cruise

A favourable surrounding means a smooth cruise ship vacation, your choice of a cabin location will determine how peaceful your entire trip will be. And when choosing a cabin, try to make sure - it is on the residential decks. Avoid cabins closer to discos or under fitness room, usually book at the front of the ship and avoid lower decks.

The ship cuts across to cater for everyone's dietary needs, right from low-salt and even vegans, if you are watching your sodium levels, inform the cruise staff a night before, that way they can be able to prepare meals to your preferences.

Advanced bookings preferably 18 months earlier are best especially with those early bookings offers, this will also enable one to find a so perfect cabin location. Advanced bookings of like 30 days to departure also comes with their last time discounts but there is a price to pay as this might not give you a so-perfect cabin location.

Airlines are known to have delays, and road travel too has accidents, and you might risk missing your cruise, so if you are to avoid "the-last-rush", try arriving a day before your departure, with this you will be able to avoid much stress and enjoy a more relaxing start to your voyage.

Shore excursions are capacity limited, once the seats are sold out - it is gone, regardless of whether you booked your adventure through the cruise Ship Company or private company. Shore excursions can even get sold out before departure, the best thing to do is to book it online earlier, at home before you embark on your vacation.

Unless you really want your hair to turn into straw, you should carry your hair and skin products from home. Those who would not want to carry soaps, at least pack your shower gel in place.

Do not over pack, staterooms are usually small, do not carry huge luggage, mega bags and suitcases. The best thing to do is to pack light, lay out your clothes and pack them well.

Use hand sanitizers after washing hands and avoid getting in contact with the ship railings, you do not want to have stomach-aches amidst your vacation, maintaining proper hygiene is the best way to avoid illnesses.

If you like to save money, plan your vacation during what the industry calls the "shoulder season." Shoulder season is during spring and fall, towards the end of summer and the first week of December and sometimes after the New Year's Day also.