Things I wish I knew before my first luxury cruise

The Suitcase Conundrum 

Packing for a traditional holiday is easy. You’re in one place the whole time, it’s usually sunny, and you’ve probably got a general theme (hiking, sunbathing, dining, etc.). This allows you to pack more of what you know you’ll need, and less of what you think you’ll need. 

On my first luxury cruise, I packed everything. I was told about windy days at sea, flash showers on shore excursions, and sunbathing on the deck. Most of the time, overpacking can be a huge mistake, but when you book a luxury cruise, you only need to move your baggage once. This is what’s so great about cruising. You get to visit all of the destinations, moving through climates and weather systems, with all of your luggage safely stowed inside your cabin. 

So if you’re thinking about packing that extra bikini or bringing a few choices for the inevitable formal night, then don’t feel guilty about cramming your suitcase until the zip almost breaks, because there’s more than enough room. 

Porters will assist with getting your luggage aboard. 

The Ship Isn’t Just a Hotel That Floats

I knew cruise ships were big, but I didn’t realise they were that big. Some of the biggest cruise ships can carry 5000+ passengers. There are entire towns with fewer people than this. I expected my first luxury cruise to be like a hotel at sea. I thought it’d provide somewhere to sleep, relax, and dine between exciting shore excursions and ports of call. 

It was so much more than that. 

Whether you’ve got 5,000 guests or 500, a cruise ship is like a self-contained community. Each sip has its quirks, rhythms, and inside jokes. Even if it’s your first luxury cruise, you’ll find yourself falling into a weird little routine: espresso at 8, Pilates by 9, trivia at 11, lounging by the infinity pool by noon. At first, it feels odd, almost scripted. But by day three, you're hooked. It’s as if you fall into the rhythm of your perfect day at leisure, then you rinse and repeat. 

Something else nobody warns you about before your first cruise is that the ship becomes a character in your trip. It’s one of the primary reasons why serial cruisers get so obsessed about ships. They get so attached that when their favourite ship gets decommissioned, it’s like a death in the family. 

This isn’t just down to the ship, though. The service on board is simply sublime. Nobody told me that you’ve got to be telepathic to work on a cruise ship, but it appears you do, especially aboard six-star lines like Regent Seven Seas or Silversea. They remember your name, your drink, your allergies. That level of service? It changes you. Seriously. Once you’ve had a taste, you’ll never look back. 

The Excursion Enigma

This is where your Cruise Connoisseur becomes the MVP. Look, you could book your excursions when you arrive on board, like I did on my first cruise (rookie move). 

You can see what’s left over once all the best experiences have been booked up. But what’s that point? Surely you’d prefer getting the best of everything, whenever you want. That’s why you’re booking your first luxury cruise to begin with. 

So, if you don’t want to miss out on private wine tasting in Santorini or a helicopter landing on Alaskan glaciers, let us know. We’ll ensure you get a place on the best excursions before they get booked up. 

And you should leave some ports of call free (some of my most treasured memories stemmed from getting lost in new places), but if there’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment you’ve been dreaming of? Book it early. Just do it.

If you’re not sure what to expect from excursions, don’t be afraid to ask, or check reviews on Cruise Critic or Reddit. There are massive communities of cruisers who love to share their experiences and provide honest accounts of the different excursions. 

Wi-Fi Isn’t a Given

This might be one of the biggest shocks to those new to cruising, but it’s just the way it is. Even on the most luxurious cruises, you might only get a basic Wi-Fi package as standard, so if you need to do some work, or upload photography or video while at sea, make this a consideration. 

Even on the best ships, Wi-Fi can get a little patchy when you’re out in the middle of the ocean. Honestly, I was pretty terrified about this when I first boarded. I’m a self-confessed social media addict, and I wanted to share every step of my first luxury cruise. However, even after just a few hours without my phone, I started to feel more relaxed. The phantom notifications became less frequent. Before long, I was leaving my phone in my cabin while I went to socialise at the bar or dine in the restaurant.

Without the pressure to check emails or doom-scroll through the news, I paid more attention. Cruises nudge you into digital detox mode, whether you like it or not. And that’s something I didn’t expect to love quite so much.

The Food Isn’t Just Fancy… It’s a Full-Time Hobby

If you’re a foodie, you’ll love your first luxury cruise. When sailing with top luxury ocean cruise lines like Seabourn or Explora, you can expect almost a dozen dining options, each one specialising in a different culinary region, inspired by Michelin-starred chefs and daring gastronomical choices. When I went on my first luxury cruise, we were offered caviar on demand and Veuve Clicquot as standard – no joke. 

Many luxury cruise lines also offer all restaurant menus available as room service, so you could be watching the sunset from the comfort of your bed whilst eating steak from a Michelin-inspired bistro. Sounds almost too good to be true, right?

One word of recommendation from me: try not to overdo it. I tried to pace myself, but somewhere around day four I realized I was planning my days around my meals. “Do I want the truffle risotto at lunch or wait for the wagyu tonight?” 

Pro tip? Book specialty dining early if your cruise line requires reservations. And don’t be afraid to ask for half portions. 

They’ll usually oblige, and you’ll feel better when it’s time to settle down and sleep. 

You Don’t Need to Do It All

One thing I wish I’d figured out sooner? You don’t have to say yes to everything.

There’s this unspoken pressure, especially on your first luxury cruise, to squeeze in everything. Morning yoga, afternoon tea, every lecture, cocktail masterclasses, every other excursion, etc, etc. 

But honestly? The beauty of luxury cruising is that you can slow down. Pick your moments. Linger over a cappuccino. Watch the horizon. Skip the schedule once in a while.

The magic doesn’t always happen during the headline events. It sneaks in during the quiet moments. A solo sunset. A conversation with a fellow guest that veers from travel tips to life stories over a shared bottle of wine.

You’ll Want to Cruise Again. Immediately.

Seriously. In fact, you’ll be surprised by how common it is to book again onboard. There’s a magic to cruising that you only experience whilst cruising. And it’s completely and utterly addictive. 

So yeah, I’ve already booked my next one. Different itinerary, same sense of excitement. And this time, I’ve packed that extra bikini. Booked ahead. And I’m going to relax so hard. 

You live and learn, right?