Nine things cruise newbies need to know before walking the gangplank

First-time cruisers have a lot to wrap their heads around. There are hundreds of cruise lines out there, and sifting through the options – like the themes (The Walking Dead or Oprah?) destinations (Caribbean, Alaska, Mediterranean, Asia?) and even ship sizes (travel on the largest cruise ship in the world!) – can be overwhelming.

But here’s a little secret: Even cruise experts rely on travel agents to find the right fit. Carolyn Spencer Brown, who has been writing about cruises for nearly two decades, first as a staff travel writer at The Washington Post and now as editor-at-large at CruiseCritic.com, an all-encompassing review site and online community, estimates that she’s been on more than 300 cruises and she still depends on her travel agent to help book the right one. “I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t, because it takes all the hassle out,” she says. And what are cruises about, if not avoiding hassle?

Whether you’re a newbie or an aficionado, Spencer Brown has some useful insights on choosing the right cruise and other issues to consider before you embark.

Determine your travel style and what you’re looking for before booking:

Spencer Brown says the key is to find a cruise that’s a good match for your vacation expectations. There are cruises for fitness fanatics, partiers, foodies, comic lovers, spring breakers, seniors and just about anything else you could imagine, so choose wisely. “If you want to be up late and party at night and you pick a cruise line where everyone’s in bed by 9:30, you’re not going to have a good time,” she says. “When you hear people are really unhappy on a ship, they picked the wrong cruise line.”

Don’t be fooled by cruise or cruiser stereotypes

Regardless of the perceptions of cruising, the trip is what you make of it. Spencer Brown ticks off the assumptions people make about cruises: The cabins are all tiny and balconies are prohibitively expensive; the food is mediocre and all-you-can-eat; all cruise ships are pretty much the same. Cruises have evolved over the years, and you can find gorgeous, spacious cabins (for an additional fee); balconies are less expensive than you might think; excellent cuisine and wine are now part of the cruising lifestyle; and there is incredible variety to cruises, with transoceanic options, river cruises, luxury lines, expedition cruises (to the Galapagos or the Arctic) and more.

Always arrive a day early

You don’t want to miss your cruise because of a travel snag, such as weather or a missed flight. Plan ahead so that you’re there well in advance of embarking. “If you can, book a hotel in a port city where you can watch your ship come in the next morning. That’s really fun,” Spencer Brown says. And just to be safe, she recommends buying insurance, to protect you if something does come up.