How to Choose Your First Cruise: Ship, Route and What’s Included

A good first cruise starts with a few practical choices: how you want to spend your days, how much time you have, and what the whole trip will cost. Pick those before getting lost in a sale banner.

Start with the vacation, then choose the ship

Write down three things you want from the week. That might be beach days, late-night entertainment and activities for teenagers. It might be quiet mornings, good meals and time to explore a different city each day.

Use that list to narrow the ship finder. A ship with an impressive attraction list only helps if those are things your group wants to do. Check the actual ship rather than assuming every vessel in a cruise line offers the same experience.

If you are deciding between lines, start with our cruise-line pages and comparisons. Then return to the ships sailing the route and dates you can actually take.

Read the itinerary as a schedule

Two cruises visiting the same region can feel quite different. Look at arrival and departure times, the number of sea days, and how far the dock is from the place you want to visit.

A sea day gives you time to use the ship. A port-intensive itinerary suits people who want to spend more of their vacation ashore. Neither is automatically better for a first cruise.

Choose two or three itineraries, open their port guides, and ask:

• How many days would we genuinely want to get off the ship?
• Do the port hours leave time for our main activity?
• Will we need a transfer, tender or tour to reach it?
• Are we comfortable with the pace?

Tour duration is only part of the outing. Getting off the ship, reaching the meeting point and returning before all-aboard also take time. Use the sailing's actual deadlines when planning.

Compare the whole trip cost

Start with the cruise total for everyone traveling, using the same occupancy, dates and cabin type. Check whether taxes and mandatory charges are already included before adding them again.

Then set aside amounts for the things your group expects to buy: drinks, internet, specialty meals, excursions, gratuities and travel to the port. Add any hotel, parking and transfers you need.

For example, Royal Caribbean lists accommodation, complimentary dining and entertainment among its fare inclusions. That does not make every restaurant, activity or purchase free. Read the inclusions for the fare you are considering rather than treating a cruise as one universal all-inclusive product.

Our fare comparisons help you see what is included. Keep package extras separate so you can decide whether you would actually use them.

Choose the departure port as part of the vacation

A cruise you can reach conveniently may be more appealing than a lower fare that requires expensive flights and extra travel days.

Use departure ports to compare your options. Check airport-to-terminal travel, parking, hotel location and the boarding window. If you fly, consider arriving the day before to create a buffer; that is a planning choice, not a guarantee against disruption.

Make the return trip practical too. A ship's advertised arrival time is not the same as the time you will be standing outside the terminal with your luggage.

Historical exterior image: Paul Harrison, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Image adaptations retain the same license.

Match the cabin to how you will use it

Start with occupancy and sleeping arrangements. Then consider daylight, private outdoor space, location and cost.

An inside cabin can leave more of the budget for the rest of the trip. An oceanview adds natural light. A balcony gives you private outdoor space, but the category and view still matter.

Royal Caribbean's guarantee-cabin guidance says the line chooses the room and location, assigned rooms may have obstructed views, and travel companions may not be placed together. A guarantee is a poor fit if a specific room location is essential.

Check the exact cabin category and deck plan before committing.

Check documents before paying

Required documents depend on nationality, route, departure country and the people traveling. Children traveling without a parent or legal guardian may need additional paperwork.

Read the cruise line's current requirements and the destination rules for your own trip. Royal Caribbean recommends a valid passport and makes travelers responsible for having the documents required to board and enter each destination.

Your useful first shortlist

Aim for three real options rather than twenty imagined ones. For each, keep the ship, itinerary, departure port, cabin arrangement and full trip budget on one page.

Then choose the trade-off you are happiest with. That is a more useful decision than trying to identify one cruise that is best for everyone.

When you have an itinerary in mind, use its cruise-request option to ask for a quote for your dates and travelers. Your quote confirms the available cabin, fare and booking terms.

Frequently asked questions

Is a short cruise best for a first cruise?

It can be useful if your time or budget is limited. Compare travel costs and the actual schedule too: a few nights aboard may still require flights, a hotel and two travel days.

Should I choose the ship or the destination first?

Start with what matters most to your group. If there is a place you must visit, narrow the route first. If the ship's activities are the main attraction, compare ships and then their available itineraries.

Do I need a package?

Only if the included benefits make sense for your plans and the price difference. Compare the full fare and package terms rather than assuming a bundle saves every traveler money.

Sources and image credit

Policy sources checked October 14, 2026. Planning suggestions are our editorial guidance.

• Royal Caribbean: what the cruise fare includes
• Royal Caribbean: guarantee stateroom terms
• Royal Caribbean: travel documents
• Cover: Allure of the Seas in Nassau, ImagePerson, CC BY 4.0. Historical photograph from 2019; display may be cropped. The photograph illustrates a ship in port, not current onboard facilities.