But experienced cruisers know that a smooth sailing does not happen entirely by accident.
With restaurants, shows, pools, excursions and activities competing for passengers' attention, it is surprisingly easy to overlook some simple steps that can save money, reduce stress and make the trip more enjoyable.
Whether you are preparing for your first cruise or have sailed so many times that your collection of ship key cards has become a souvenir in its own right, travel and cruise experts recommend several habits that can improve the experience.
Keep watching the price after booking
Booking a cruise does not necessarily mean you should stop checking the fare.
Eric King, founder of CruiseCaptain, a cruise fare-tracking website, said many travelers are unaware that prices can fall after they have made a reservation.
“Most people don’t realize the fare can keep dropping after you’ve booked,” King says.
Depending on the cruise line, fare type and timing, passengers may be able to request a fare adjustment or another accommodation before their final payment is due.
King said he has personally benefited from monitoring prices, saving about $2,000 on an upcoming Disney cruise with his family.
Policies differ between cruise lines, so a lower advertised price does not automatically mean that a booked passenger will receive the difference. Still, King recommends checking fares every week or two or asking a travel adviser to monitor them.
Reserve the experiences you really want
Waiting until you board to make all your plans can leave you disappointed, particularly if there is a restaurant, excursion or spa treatment you have been looking forward to.
Cruise experts recommend downloading the cruise line's app before departure and finding out when reservations open for popular activities.
Some cruise shows now require reservations, according to Steve Griswold, owner of Pixie Vacations. Specialty dining, shore excursions, spa treatments and other activities may also have limited availability.
Travel adviser Brian Rooney, founder of GetCruiseInfo.com, takes a similar approach.
“If there’s a specialty restaurant I really want to try, or a spa treatment my wife and I have talked about, I book it as soon as I can,” he says.
He has seen the most desirable times disappear quickly on busy sailings.
The lesson is simple: identify your priorities before boarding and reserve them as early as possible.
Spend 20 minutes learning the ship
Modern cruise ships can be enormous, and getting familiar with the layout soon after boarding can prevent a great deal of unnecessary wandering.
Rooney makes exploring the ship one of his first activities.
“The first thing I do is walk around and get my bearings,” Rooney says.
He looks for the theater, restaurants, pool, gym and other places he expects to visit during the trip.
“Twenty minutes spent doing that saves me from looking at a deck map every time I want to go somewhere.”
The early exploration can also reveal facilities and quieter areas that passengers might otherwise overlook amid the excitement of embarkation day.
Don't automatically head for the buffet
The buffet may appear to be the obvious choice when you first board, but it can also be among the busiest places on the ship.
Griswold recommends asking a crew member or travel adviser whether other restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day. A sit-down restaurant may offer a more relaxed beginning to the trip.
Passengers should also avoid treating the buffet as their only dining option throughout the cruise. Ships often have a mixture of included restaurants and specialty venues that can offer a change of pace.
“You will be at the buffet often when you are looking for a quick meal,” Griswold says.
For that reason, he prefers to explore other options when he first arrives.
Check the schedule, but leave room for spontaneity
A cruise ship's daily programme can reveal an astonishing number of activities, from shows and tastings to trivia competitions and deck parties.
“It’s where all the good stuff hides: the shows, tastings, trivia, deck parties, the works,” King says.
Depending on the cruise line, the schedule will usually be available through the ship's app or a daily onboard programme.
But there is a danger in trying to attend everything.
First-time cruisers can feel pressure to squeeze as many activities as possible into every day, but experts say that can turn a relaxing holiday into a timetable of appointments.
King recommends leaving room for unplanned moments.
“Grab a good chair, slow down, and leave yourself room to just wander into things or enjoy the sea air,” he says.
The schedule should help passengers identify what they do not want to miss—not dictate every minute of their holiday.
Know the all-aboard time
When exploring a port, there is one deadline passengers should never treat casually: the time by which they must be back on the ship.
Jason R. Margulies, a maritime attorney and partner at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., warns travelers not to confuse the ship's scheduled departure time with the earlier all-aboard deadline.
Passengers should also establish whether the sailing is operating on ship time or local time. Assuming the two are identical can create serious problems.
Margulies recommends setting an alarm well before the required return time. He also advises passengers to carry the port agent's telephone number and the ship's contact information when going ashore.
Before leaving the vessel, travelers should check the cruise line's app or daily programme—or ask a crew member—to confirm precisely when they must return.
Read the fine print on excursions
A shore excursion can look perfect in a photograph, but the details matter.
Margulies recommends carefully reviewing the description and restrictions before booking.
“Make sure that you check the description of the shore excursion and any restrictions provided,” Margulies says.
Excursions generally provide information about the activity and its difficulty level. Travelers should consider whether the physical demands, climate and pace are appropriate for them.
That becomes especially important for families traveling with children, older relatives or groups whose physical abilities differ.
Passengers arranging their own excursions should also allow plenty of time to return to the ship. Cruise-line excursions and independent operators may have different policies when delays occur, making it important to understand the arrangements before booking.
Get outside and enjoy the sea
Cruise ships offer so many indoor distractions that passengers can spend much of their holiday without fully appreciating their surroundings.
Shannon Kendro, an Adventure Life trip planner who specialises in river cruises, recommends making time to go outside—even when the weather is less than perfect.
“Get outside on deck, even in weather you wouldn’t choose,” Kendro says.
Some of her most memorable cruise experiences have involved simply watching the scenery, including castles along the Danube at dawn and the St. Lawrence River frozen over in January.
Shannon Jones, founder of family travel brand KeeKee’s Big Adventures, suggests another outdoor activity: heading to an upper deck after dark.
Away from the light pollution of major cities, the open sea can provide excellent conditions for stargazing. Depending on the location and weather, passengers may see constellations, shooting stars and even the Milky Way.
Rooney has his own preferred ritual: finding a comfortable place with a drink and watching the ship leave port.
Ultimately, the appeal of a cruise is not limited to its restaurants, entertainment and excursions. Sometimes the most memorable part of the journey is simply stepping outside, watching the horizon and appreciating the fact that you are at sea.