After a decade working inside the cruise industry, I've watched thousands of guests board ships. Some of them were completely prepared — they knew exactly what to expect, had the right cabin, the right insurance, and a plan for every port. Others weren't. Here's everything I wish someone had told them before they stepped on board.
Choose Your Cabin Wisely
Cabin selection is one of the most consequential decisions you'll make, and most first-timers don't give it nearly enough thought. The options fall into four broad categories — interior (no window), ocean view (fixed window), balcony, and suite — but within each category, location on the ship matters just as much as the category itself.
If you're prone to seasickness, mid-ship on a lower deck is your best bet. The motion is significantly reduced there compared to the bow or stern. If you want a balcony but don't want to pay suite prices, look at shoulder cabins — those at the end of a balcony row often have larger outdoor space at no extra charge.
Understand What's Included — and What Isn't
One of the most common sources of onboard disappointment is the "bill shock" moment when guests check out and realise they've spent far more than they budgeted. Here's what's typically included in your fare:
- All meals in the main dining room and buffet
- Most onboard entertainment — shows, pools, gym, kids' clubs
- Basic cabin service and housekeeping
- Access to most ship facilities
And here's what typically costs extra — sometimes significantly so:
- Specialty restaurants (often R300–R800 per person)
- All alcoholic drinks, and often soft drinks and coffee
- Wi-Fi — and cruise ship Wi-Fi is expensive
- Shore excursions booked through the ship
- Spa treatments
- Daily gratuities / service charges (often added automatically)
- Photos taken by ship photographers
The best way to manage this is to set a daily "extras" budget before you board, and track it. Most modern ships have apps that let you monitor your onboard account in real time.
Get Your Documentation Right — Well in Advance
This is the area where I've seen the most avoidable disasters. A couple turned away at Cape Town harbour because one passport had less than six months validity. A family denied boarding in Barcelona because they didn't know they needed a Schengen visa. These situations are heartbreaking, and they are entirely preventable.
At minimum, you'll need a valid passport — typically with at least six months' validity beyond your return date, though some itineraries require more. Depending on your itinerary and South African passport, you may also need visas for specific ports of call. We check every single port for every single client before they travel.
Travel Insurance for a Cruise Is Not Optional
Standard travel insurance policies often exclude the specific risks of being at sea. Medical evacuations from a cruise ship can cost hundreds of thousands of rands — the helicopter alone can run to R200,000 before you've even reached a hospital. You need a policy that explicitly covers cruising, including:
- Medical evacuation from a ship at sea
- Cruise interruption and missed port compensation
- Itinerary change cover
- Medical treatment in a foreign country
We advise every single client on exactly what to look for in a cruise-specific policy, and we flag any standard policies that leave dangerous gaps.
Plan for Ports — Don't Just Wing It
Every port is an opportunity, but it can also be a trap. The ship's own excursion programme is convenient but often expensive and sometimes underwhelming. On the other hand, exploring independently without any research can mean wasted time, overpriced taxis, and — in some ports — genuine safety concerns.
The ports where independent exploration is easy and rewarding — cities like Dubrovnik, Kotor, Valletta — are very different from ports where you genuinely need a guided tour to get value out of your time ashore. We brief every client port-by-port before they travel.
If you're planning your first cruise and want to make sure you get it right — from cabin selection to the morning you step off the gangway — that's exactly what NS Travel is here for. Get in touch with us and we'll walk you through everything.