I spent over two months on a cruise ship in 2025, and unfortunately I made my share of mistakes along the way.
After counting up all of my Royal Caribbean cruises (and one Silversea cruise), I spent 73 nights cruising. It's incredible and I'm quite fortunate to be able to sail that much. I try not to take it for granted, and I love being able to see the world in this manner.
However, I had a few missteps across my journeys. Luckily, there weren't any truly terrible mistakes. I avoided the major pitfalls of cruising, and in retrospect, the mistakes I made were ways I can improve how I cruise in the future.
Here are the six things I did wrong on cruises this year, and how I'll hopefully avoid them all next year.
I once forgot to pack pack pants
I was about halfway to the airport when I realized I didn't pack pants for my first sailing on Star of the Seas.
I packed plenty of shorts, but I completely forgot to pack jeans or slacks to wear in the evening. This was a problem that could have easily been avoided with a packing list.
We have a comprehensive cruise packing list so no one has to forget to pack pants, but I neglected to check it all over before I left.
Luckily, I was flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico, so I was able to make a pit stop at Walmart and pick up a few pairs. But going clothes shopping at Walmart is not how I wanted to start my trip.
It's always a good idea to review a packing list so you're certain before you leave that you have everything.
Balancing shore excursions and relaxation
If you're like me, then you get so excited for a cruise that you want to pick out amazing shore excursions in every port of call. The downside is you can easily over do it all with what seems like fun plans.
I found on my spring break cruise on Icon of the Seas after a couple of beach days in a row, my family had "hit the wall" with so much happening.
It's easy to over plan and then feel exhausted. But it's also a fine line with how much is too much.
The lesson learned here it's a good idea to leave plans in a port or two more ambiguous. That way, you have the option to not do a tour and wing it with lunch or some shopping. And if you're in the mood for another beach, then hop in a taxi.
Neglecting to check airfare prices with the cruise line first
Early in the year I went to book my summer European cruise airfare and almost overpaid for it.
I thought booking the flight directly with the airline would be a good idea, but later I discovered that it was cheaper to book the same flights through Royal Caribbean.
Thanks to the Air2Sea program, there are subsidies for select Alaska and European flights.
Luckily, I had booked refundable flights so I cancelled it and then rebooked with Air2Sea to take advantage of the lower prices.
If you have a cruise booked in 2026 to Alaska or Europe, there's already a similar discount on flights that you should consider before booking any flight.
Limiting myself to the buffet when I cruise solo
Sometimes I go on cruises by myself because it doesn't work out for my family to join me for them. When I cruise solo, I avoided sit down restaurants like the Main Dining Room, and that was a mistake.
I gave eating in the Main Dining Room alone a try and I liked it so much more than I expected.
Thanks to how expediate the service is, I was able to enjoy my favorite MDR dishes without feeling awkward being there alone.
Moreover, I never once felt like I was out of place because I was eating alone. The staff was very attentive too.
While I might not want to eat with strangers in the Main Dining Room, having a table for just myself was the perfect way to enjoy dinner beyond every night at the buffet.
Waiting for a Black Friday sale
This year's Black Friday sales saved me money on my Royal Beach Club reservations, but overall it felt like the discounts weren't as good in the past.
The lesson is never wait for one sale to bank on the best discounts.
It felt like the Black Friday discounts on pre-cruise purchases were better in 2023 and 2024 than this year, primarily because there were deeper discounts offered on drink packages and Perfect Day at CocoCay add-ons.
I probably found better sales during random promotions over the summer than on Black Friday. That's fine, because I routinely check the Cruise Planner to see if there are new offers.
But I bet there are some people that do not look for new discounts as often as I do, and no single Royal Caribbean sale is ever "the best" time to book for lower prices.
Not gambling enough to maintain my casino offers
As I've explored Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program, it's become clear you have to maintain a certain level of gambling in order to keep those discounted/free casino offers rolling in.
At one point in the year, my offers dried up and I wasn't getting anything while friends had new offers.
It seems you can't go on a cruise and skip gambling to maintain your status. It's vague how those offers get sent out in the first place, but most cruisers agree you need to gamble at least 200 points per cruise to show them that you're active.
To get 200 points, you'd need to wager $1,000 over the course of your sailing.
Of course, you won't lose every single bet you make and you might actually win money from time to time. So realistically, I found I could get to 200 points with about $400 or $500. Less, if I actually hit a decent payout.
My plan in the coming year is to gamble less onboard, but dropping a hundred bucks here or there over the course of a week is a way to have a little fun between other activities. And if it gets me additional offers for cruises, then that's a win.
