Pack Light for Your Cruise: The amount of luggage you carry to a cruise can be limited, especially if you have to fly to the ship’s port. Aside from airline luggage weight requirements, carrying heavy luggage around can be stressful. Fortunately, there are a many cruise tips for packing you can discover so you can pack light and still have everything you need. Plus, relax during the time you travel to and from your ship’s port.

Don't Wait until the Last Minute to Board: Cruise companies have their routines down pat... so checking in and getting to your room isn't as rough and tumble an experience as you might think. Even so, showing up for an earlier boarding gives you the opportunity not only to take your time, but also to check out the ship without having to fight hoards of people. This is especially handy if you're on a behemoth boat that has more amenities.

Don't Miss Exploring Ports on Your Own: Many times some of the most interesting adventures come when you venture out by yourself. Keep things fresh by alternating -- maybe do an excursion at one port, none at the next port, and a half-day event on the third so you can get the best of both worlds. Just make sure you're safe when you're out on your own by checking with the cruise desk and letting them know where you're going.

Relax! It's tempting to fill every minute of your days with activities, but few things feel as fabulous as finding a patch of deck somewhere... away from the melée of other vacationers and soaking up some sun. Bonus points if you fall asleep ... just don't forget your sunscreen!

Book a Repeat Trip: You WILL want to do another cruise so you can repeat all the things you loved doing on your first trip and try all the things you didn't get the chance to do on your second. A bonus? Sometimes if you book when you're on the trip or shortly thereafter, you can score some great deals for being a repeat customer with the same cruise lines! Cruise companies love repeat customers!

Check your health insurance: Determine your medical coverage is effective overseas as in the United States. If your insurance IS good, don’t forget to take your insurance card. If your insurance does not cover you overseas, check with your cruise line or on the internet to find an inexpensive medical policy. This is well worth every penny. To have to pay for medical attention overseas can be very, very expensive.

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