Planning your first cruise can feel overwhelming. There are ships, cabins, drink packages, dining times, excursions, and a lot of cruise lingo that first-timers don’t always understand.
Recently, I had the opportunity to help my parents plan their very first cruise—we ended up choosing a 4-night sailing on Celebrity Cruises departing from Port Everglades with stops in Nassau and the private island Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Helping them plan their trip reminded me how different cruising can feel for first-timers—and how a little preparation can make the experience so much smoother.
Here’s how we approached planning their first cruise and the key decisions we had to make along the way.
Choosing the Right Cruise for First-Timers
When planning my parents’ first cruise, we wanted something that was:
- Short but not rushed I knew they were either going to love it or hate it and this was that middle ground
- Easy to get to, while my dad is a well seasoned traveler traveling all over the world for work, the importance to getting to and from the port with transportation options was the key for them
- Relaxing but with things to do, I had talked with them as we have traveled on several different lines I felt they should try Celebrity, Princess or Holland America. Celebrity was the only one that had shorter sailing options during the time frame they were looking to sail
A 4-night cruise was the perfect introduction. It’s long enough to experience cruise life without committing to a full week at sea. The four days offered a couple of port days as well as a sea day, so they would get a taste of what a longer cruise could look like.
We chose Celebrity Cruises because it tends to offer:
- A slightly more relaxed atmosphere then say Royal Carribean or Carnival
- Excellent dining options, one of the first things my dad told me about was the fruit options at the buffet.
- Modern ships
- Great service without feeling overly formal
For first-time cruisers who may not want the high-energy party atmosphere found on some ships, Celebrity can be a great fit.
Picking the Right Departure Port
The cruise departs from Port Everglades, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.
One advantage of sailing from Fort Lauderdale is convenience. The port is only about 10 minutes from the airport, making arrival day much easier compared with ports that require longer transfers.
For my parents’ first cruise, we also planned for them to arrive two day before to avoid flight delays causing any stress.
Choosing a Cabin
Cabin selection was one of the biggest questions my parents had. We have cruised in all three but I knew they would need at least an ocean view.
Should they book:
- Interior cabin
- Ocean view
- Balcony
For a short cruise, many first-timers choose an Ocean View cabin because it provides natural light without the higher price of a balcony.
However, if budget allows, a balcony cabin can make the cruise feel much more special—especially when sailing through the Caribbean.
For my parents, having their own outdoor space to enjoy morning coffee or sunset views was what they wanted. The only complaint they had was the week they traveled there was a cold snap and it was only in the 40’s leaving port. It did get a little warmer as they went further south but below average temperatures.
Planning the Ports
This cruise includes two stops, which makes it a very manageable itinerary for first-time cruisers.
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is one of the most common Caribbean cruise ports, but there’s actually a lot to do. You will hear a lot of people talk about how they never get off in Nassau, while I understand if you cruise frequently Nassau is one of the largest ports and can hold 7 cruise ships holding thousands of passengers per day. While I have visited Nassau a few times, I still find it fun to take a stroll around town.
Popular options include:
- Visiting the famous Atlantis Paradise Island
- Relaxing at nearby beaches
- Exploring the colorful downtown area
- Taking a food or cultural walking tour
Since this is their first cruise, we focused on something simple and relaxing—enjoying the island without over-packing the schedule.
Perfect Day at CocoCay
Even though it’s owned by Royal Caribbean International, ships from Celebrity Cruises also visit the island.
CocoCay is designed specifically for cruise passengers and includes:
- Beautiful beaches with chairs to use for no cost
- A massive freshwater pool with chairs to use for no cost
- Water slides and adventure areas, while the Thrills waterpark is an upcharge there are several splash pad and smaller kids play areas that are free to use
- Private cabanas if you want to splurge there are serval options
- Walking trails, there are over 130 different documented species of birds
- Multiple complimentary dining spots
For first-time cruisers, CocoCay is great because it’s easy and stress-free. You step off the ship and everything is already organized for cruise guests. Unfortunately, my parents didn’t get to see CocoCay because there was some damage from a storm and they were diverted to Freeport Bahama’s.
While this can happen on any cruise for a multitude of reasons weather conditions play a huge role in port changes. Ports are more often to change last minute if there is risky weather, most cruise lines will try to give you information as quickly as they can but sometimes you have to be patient. They will work to get any excursions refunded and port fees and taxes as well, most cruise lines will add these back to your on board account. Cruise lines will also work quickly to try to offer new excursions if there is a different port added so that you have options for your day.
The First-Timer Questions We Had to Answer
Helping my parents plan the trip reminded me of all the questions new cruisers have.
Some of the biggest ones included:
Do we need a drink package?
For a short cruise, it may not always be worth the cost unless you plan to drink several beverages per day. Always do the math as we weather it makes sense, for you. Sometimes a Soda package is a better deal and you can just buy the occasional acholic drink. Cruise lines offer several drink packages be sure to explore them and see what the right fit for you is going to be. They can be quite pricy so when budgeting factor in these cost.
Do we need WIFI?
This for most people is a must but sometimes it is nice to unplug. While in recent years the WIFI on ships has gotten much better still know there can be times when it is not the best, or places on the ship where it doesn’t work the best. If you are having issues most cruise ships have a customer service location to help with WIFI needs. Sometimes getting connected is harder than it should be.
Do we need specialty dining?
Celebrity’s main dining room and buffet are excellent, so specialty restaurants are optional. I think this can be said on all cruise lines but that is just my opinion. If you are new to cruising I encourage you to explore the restaurants that are included. When you cruise again you can always explore more.
What should we pack?
Cruise packing for a lot of first time cruiser is overwhelming and they tend to overpack. I will give you a few tips I gave my mom while helping her pack! When I cruise I find my self changing outfits several times throughout the day so I tend to re-wear clothing multiple times.
- Casual daytime clothes, always pack a light cardigan or jacket and a pair of pants.
- Swimwear one or two bathing suits is enough and don’t forget a cover up!
- One or two nicer outfits for evening dinners, you can always re-wear a dress. No one will care. For men bring one pair of dress pants and a couple shirts. For the ladies if you want to bring lots of dresses plan to wear them again on port days or throughout the cruise.
- Comfortable walking shoes for ports, please DO NOT bring new shoes. Shoes are where people tend to overpack, my rule is I try to stick to three. Tennis shoe, dress shoe and a flip flop or sandal.
- Medications, simple over the counter medicine here are a few that I always bring: Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, allergy medication, Tums or something for upset stomach, Anti- Diarrhea, Anti-nausea Dramamine, Anti ich cream, Laxative, Mucinex, Dayquil, Benadryl, Sudafed and Band-Aids.
Do we need excursions?
Not always. Some ports, like CocoCay, are easy to enjoy without booking anything extra. I always recommend doing some research of the ports before you go. Don’t feel pressured to need to book an excursion, especially with the cruise line. While most Caribbean ports are very close to main cities and generally have activities nearby. Where if you are looking to go to Alaska or the Mediterranean you may need to do a lot more research. Some will opt for a cruise line excursion for one simple fact, if that excursion is running late the ship will wait. If you go explore on your own or book thru other companies the ship will not wait. I will say most third party excursion companies do have policies around getting your back to the sip on time.
Why a Short Cruise Is Perfect for First-Timers
A 4 or 5-night cruise is a great introduction to cruising because it allows you to experience:
- Multiple destinations
- Life onboard a cruise ship
- Different dining options
- Entertainment and activities
For my parents, it was the perfect way to see if cruising is something they’ll want to do again in the future. Turns out I was right, they loved it! If you have never tried cruising, I cannot recommend enough to try a shorter cruise to see if it is for you.
Final Thoughts
Helping my parents plan their first cruise reminded me how exciting—and sometimes confusing—cruise travel can be for beginners. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information out there, I encourage you to find a travel agent that can help. We have resources to help answer questions and get answers. According to CLIA 12% of cruise passengers in 2024 we new cruisers, that is out of 34.6 million total passengers! So you are not alone in being a first time cruiser and you will most likely be part of the 82% of the travelers that say they intend on cruising again in the future!
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