10 Cruise Tips We’ve Stopped Recommending. Here's Why
Cruise advice that worked 10 years ago can now cost you money, time, and your spot in the embarkation line. Here are 10 cruise tips we’ve stopped following and what we do instead. 💲Save BIG with MEI-Travel cruise deals: https://bookmeicruise.com/?apid=escy 🌎Save Up to 40% On Shore Excursions: https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1603014 📖 Ultimate Cruise Planning Guide: https://eatsleepcruise.com/cruise-planning-guide/ UP NEXT - 15 Things We Stopped Doing on Cruises: https://youtu.be/GtkBjn5GvJA Loyalty programs, cruise fares, boarding times, dress codes, and packing rules have all changed since we started sailing. Whether you’re planning your first cruise or you’ve sailed dozens of times, these updated cruise tips will help you plan smarter, save money, and get more out of your next sailing on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, MSC, or Disney Cruise Line. 💳 BOOKING YOUR CRUISE Chasing loyalty status and grabbing the cheapest fare used to be smart moves. Today, loyalty perks have been devalued, and the lowest fares can come with non-refundable deposits and strict change rules. We share how we now compare fare types, weigh bundles like Free at Sea, Princess Plus, and Have It All, and choose the ship and itinerary that fit each trip instead of sticking with one cruise line. 📲 PLANNING BEFORE YOU SAIL Figuring everything out once you’re onboard doesn’t work anymore. Specialty dining, shore excursions, drink packages, WiFi, and shows can sell out, and pre-cruise pricing is often lower. Here’s how we use the cruise planner and app to lock in what matters before embarkation day. 🧳 WHAT TO PACK (AND WHAT TO LEAVE HOME) Paper planners, lanyards, printed documents, and power strips are mostly outdated, and some are now banned. Formal night has relaxed into Evening Chic and Dress to Impress on many lines, so we pack far less formalwear than we used to. Plus, why we stopped living out of our suitcases and how 20 minutes of unpacking makes a small cabin feel bigger. 🕘 EMBARKATION DAY Arriving at the cruise port as early as possible used to get you onboard first. With staggered port arrival times, it can leave you waiting outside. We explain the new strategy for getting one of the earliest boarding slots. 🏝️ SHORE EXCURSIONS AND PORT DAYS Booking every excursion through the cruise line and getting off in every port aren’t automatic for us anymore. We cover when independent tour operators make more sense, when the cruise line is still worth it, and why some of our favorite hours onboard happen while everyone else is ashore. 🛳️ LIFE ONBOARD With the biggest cruise ships topping 200,000 gross tons, trying to do everything is close to impossible. Here’s how we build a short must-do list so we don’t spend the last sea day scrambling. 🤝 THE ONE TIP WE’RE STICKING WITH After years of booking on our own, we now book every cruise with a travel advisor through our partner, MEI-Travel, for help with fares, price drops, itinerary changes, and perks you may not get booking direct. 🎯 WHO THIS VIDEO IS FOR ⚓ First-time cruisers who want to skip outdated advice ⚓ Experienced cruisers whose habits haven’t kept up with the changes ⚓ Anyone who wants a smoother embarkation day and a better week onboard 0:00 10 Cruise Tips We No Longer Recommend - What to Do Instead 0:30 Early Cruise Booking Mistakes 2:40 Old Cruise Packing Essentials 3:55 Day 1 Cruise Tips That No Longer Work 6:35 Cruise Line Tricks We Don't Fall For Anymore 10:10 Trying to Do Everything Onboard 11:05 Not Unpacking on Short Cruises 12:25 The Money Saving Hack That Took Years to Learn #CruiseTips #CruiseAdvice #CruiseHacks #CruiseLife #FirstTimeCruise #EatSleepCruise ----TRENDING VIDEOS FROM EAT SLEEP CRUISE------ 6 Cruise Lines EVERYONE is Switching to in 2026: https://youtu.be/M-4eM2avmPU 40 Cruise Hacks We Swear by After 100 Cruises: https://youtu.be/ivvzrns5QOI 5 Cruise Lines Everyone Is Switching To in 2025: Best Cruises for Couples: https://youtu.be/fenNj5GmLdM Join us on Social Media as we “Sea the World, One Port at a Time.” Instagram: https://instagram.com/EatSleepCruise Facebook: https://facebook.com/EatSleepCruise Twitter: https://twitter.com/EatSleepCruise TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatsleepcruise Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/EatSleepCruise 📌 ABOUT EAT SLEEP CRUISE We're Don and Heidi from Eat Sleep Cruise. After more than 100 cruises across dozens of cruise lines, we share honest cruise ship reviews, cruise tips, and planning advice to help you book the right cruise. 📢 DISCLOSURE This video is not sponsored, and all opinions are our own. Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Eat Sleep Cruise!