🚢 You Asked. We Answered. And Maybe Overshared.
Can you wait for a last-minute cruise deal and score it cheap? Do you really need a passport or can you wing it with a birth certificate and good vibes? What’s actually included in your cruise fare (besides 14 pizzas a day)? These are the real questions our friends keep asking us. So, we answered them all. With no fluff, just the kind of honesty you’d expect from people who once sunburned so badly they matched the buffet tomatoes. 🍅
👉 Watch the full video here:
📺 Top Cruise Questions—Finally Answered!
(Don’t forget to subscribe unless you hate fun and free cruise tips.)
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⛴️ Here’s What We Covered (With Sass and Strategy)
📉 Are Cruises Cheaper Last Minute?
Yes… but also no. Booking within 90 days can get you a deal, but you’ll likely end up with the leftover cabins near the engine room (yay, vibrations!). The real sweet spot? Booking early, during off-season (especially January through mid-April—not Spring Break unless you enjoy floating Chuck E. Cheese energy).
🛂 Do I Need a Passport?
Technically, no. But if something goes sideways in a foreign port and you don’t have a passport, congratulations—you now live there. Always bring your passport off the ship (unless it’s a private island) and keep a copy in your cabin safe. You’ll thank us later when you’re not learning how to say “emergency flight home” in Spanish.
💳 Can I Pay Over Time?
Absolutely! Most cruises let you book with a deposit (around $100 per person) and pay it off slowly—like a tropical layaway plan. Pro tip: Don’t pay it off too early. If the fare drops before your final payment, your travel agent can usually snag you the lower rate.
🤢 How Do I Avoid Seasickness?
If you’ve got a stomach that thinks waves = war, we’ve got fixes. Sea bands, Dramamine, ginger chews, and the magical Scopolamine patch from your doctor. Our niece swears by OTC patches too. Basically, don’t let seasickness sink your vacation.
🧑💻 Travel Agent or DIY?
Use. A. Travel. Agent. They’ll watch prices, grab perks, and handle headaches you didn’t know existed. Bonus tip: Don’t fully pay off your cruise early. If the price drops before final payment, agents can work magic. Once it’s paid off, you’re locked in tighter than your towel animal’s tiny sunglasses.
🧒 Best Cruises with the Fewest Kids?
Virgin Voyages = adults only (sorry, toddlers). Holland America = the “early bedtime” crowd. But if you want mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean without feeling like you’re in a floating daycare, cruise during school months. You’ll thank us when the hot tub isn’t filled with cannonball contests.
🏝️ How Can I Save on Shore Excursions?
DIY them! Rent a car, explore on your own, or use Shore Excursions Group —same guarantees as the cruise line but way cheaper. They’ll even get you back to the ship (or the next port) if something goes wrong. Win-win.
🍕 What’s Actually Included?
All the good stuff: your cabin, main dining, buffets, pizza, ice cream, shows, pools, and more. What’s not? Wi-Fi, drinks, specialty dining, spa, and that arcade your kids will drain your wallet in. Not a big drinker? Skip the drink package. You can buy drinks a la carte without needing to sell your car.
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🧳 Bonus Tips from Fellow Cruisers!
Huge shoutout to @lilkygirl0284 for the portable clothes dryer tip, and to @LidoHoppers for the vacuum seal bags game-changer. Keep the tips coming, folks—we love sharing them and might just feature yours next!
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🎒 Don’t Cruise Without This
Want our free cruise packing list that actually works? Get it here:
👉 Grab the Free Packing List
And check out our favorite cruise essentials (Mary’s magical bag is in there):
🛍️ Cruise Essentials We Actually Use
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🗣️ Got Cruise Questions?
Drop them in the comments of the video or below. We might just answer yours in the next one. (Unless it’s “Can I bring my pet parrot?” — that’s a no.)