Semih
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-09-15
We’ve accompanied hundreds of first-time cruisers and kept seeing the same ten mistakes. The good news: every single one is avoidable – and none of them has to happen to you. Here’s the list, honestly and without any finger-wagging.
Mistakes 1–3: Before the trip
First: arriving on departure day. One delayed train or flight, and the ship leaves without you – travel the day before; the hotel costs less than your nerves. Second: booking the inside cabin under the pool disco because it was 20 francs cheaper. Read the deck plan! Third: ignoring the total budget – service charges and drinks need to be part of the calculation from the start.
Mistakes 4–6: While packing
Fourth: forgetting gala night – on traditional cruise lines, a smart outfit belongs in your luggage (with AIDA, «well-groomed» is enough). Fifth: putting everything in the large suitcase that only turns up outside your cabin in the evening – swimwear and sun cream belong in your hand luggage; the pool is waiting from minute one. Sixth: keeping medication and your passport in the suitcase instead of on your person.
Mistakes 7–8: On board
Seventh: activating the onboard Wi-Fi without thinking – 15 to 30 francs per day is normal, packages booked in advance are significantly cheaper, and honestly: holiday photos can just as well be sent in the evening using port Wi-Fi. Eighth: the buffet every evening – the main restaurants are included, better, and quieter. The buffet is for lunch.
Mistakes 9–10: Ashore
Ninth: booking an expensive cruise-line excursion in every port – sometimes the old town is within walking distance and a stroll is simply nicer (more on that in the shore excursion guide). Tenth, the classic: ignoring ship time. The ship runs on onboard time, not local time – that difference has ended holidays before.
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