15 Most Searched Cruise Questions Answered

Your First Time Cruiser Guide

Are you dreaming of setting sail on your first cruise but feeling overwhelmed by all the things you don’t know? You're not alone!

Every day, thousands of people search questions like "Is water free on a cruise?" and "Do I need a passport for a cruise?"

I decided to dive into the most popular cruise questions people are Googling in 2025 —

And these answers will help you feel confident, save money, and avoid first-time cruise mistakes. Whether you're planning a Caribbean cruise or an Alaskan adventure, this is your go-to guide.

This post contains affiliate links. If a purchase is made, I could earn a small commission at no charge to you. See my disclaimer for more.

My first cruise was on the Carnival Valor, and just a few months later, I cruised again on the Carnival Glory.

Now, this isn't a huge deal breaker, but at the time, I had no idea cruise lines had classes of ships.

The Glory and the Valor are both in Carnival's conquest class of ships, so when I stepped foot on the Glory for my second cruise, I thought I would be getting a whole new experience.

However, what I didn't realize at the time is that cruise lines typically have the same layout, design, and decor on all of their ships in that class.

Which means, I felt like I was stepping foot on the same ship all over again with no new experience.

I say this because if you are like me and you love cruising, but you are looking for a different experience each time, don't make the same first-time cruise mistake as I did. Try a new class in that cruise line, or at the very least, a new itinerary to at least have something new and different to explore.

My First-Time Cruise Mistake

Top Googled Cruise Questions

1. Is Water Free on a Cruise?

Yes! Tap water, iced tea, basic coffee, and some juices are typically free in the buffet and dining rooms. But bottled water often costs extra unless you have a drink package.

Tip: Bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated without paying extra.

2. Can you bring alcohol on a cruise?

It depends on the cruise line. Most allow one bottle of wine per adult. Hard liquor or beer is usually confiscated.
Sneaking alcohol can lead to fines or having your beverages tossed.

Pro tip: Consider whether a drink package is worth it based on your habits.

Also, be sure to check your cruise line's prohibited or banned list before packing.

My Experience:
I was on an invited Elite Carnival cruise, and on these cruises, they give you your choice of liquor or wine in your room. Well, I wasn't just invited on one Elite Cruise, I was invited to two and did a back-to-back, then decided to fly from the port of Seattle straight to the port of Baltimore for another Carnival cruise (not an Elite Cruise). We also had free drinks while on our back-to-back, so for two weeks, we didn't touch the free liquor given to us.

That's four bottles of liquor I flew from Seattle to Baltimore because I'm not throwing this out and I'm getting on another Carnival cruise and thought well Carnival gave it to me, so it should be fine.

Wrong!! My luggage was delivered late to my room due to all of those bottles being confiscated. I asked what they did with them, and they said they threw them out. Do you think that's what they did?
Oh well, lesson learned. I lost my bottles, and I know for next time.

3. Do you need a passport to cruise?

For closed-loop cruises (leaving and returning to the same U.S. port), you can often cruise with just a birth certificate and government-issued ID.

However, a passport is highly recommended, especially for emergencies.

If you are cruising to the Caribbean, usually a birth certificate is okay to have, but always check with your cruise line's required documents for your upcoming cruise.

Tip: Keep your cruise documents organized in a travel document folder.

4. Do people get seasick on a cruise?

Yes, seasickness can occur for some people. However, the good news is that cruise ships have stabilizers to reduce motion. If you're prone to motion sickness, book a mid-ship, lower-deck cabin, or book a mega ship, as it's harder to feel the motion on these larger ships.

I am prone to motion sickness, and the worst motion sickness I ever had was on a smaller Royal Caribbean ship when we were navigating through a tropical storm.

For me I always bring Dramamine and motion sickness sea patches.

5. Is the food on the cruise all-inclusive?

Yes, there are all-inclusive options, such as the main dining rooms, buffets, and quick bites included in your fare. Specialty restaurants (steakhouses, sushi, etc.), candy stores, ice cream, and specialty coffees are all extra.

Tip: Be sure to budget for any specialty dining options you would like to do. The most popular night people choose specialty dining is formal night, which you typically get two on a 7-day cruise.

Need help planning your cruise? I created this 130-page interactive workbook to help you plan your cruise step-by-step. Plus, you will receive more than 50 checklists and templates to download and start planning.

6. Do you tip on a cruise?

Yes. Most cruise lines charge daily gratuities (usually $14–$20 per person/day). You can prepay these or have them added to your onboard account.

While this is a controversial topic, you can have gratuities removed from your cruise bill altogether.

Some people have gotten tired of the tipping culture, and that is even on a cruise ship. On some cruise lines, you will find envelopes asking for your tip or a bucket throughout the ship for you to drop your tips.

Although I don't recommend not tipping at all, if you choose the option to remove gratuities, then at least tip the people you come in contact with, such as your room steward or servers.

7. Are Alaska cruises worth it?

Absolutely. “Alaska cruises” are one of the most searched cruise destinations. You’ll see glaciers, whales, and stunning wilderness.

Popular port stops: Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.

An Alaska cruise has been by far my favorite cruise. I loved it and can't wait to go back.

If you are looking for ideas on planning your Alaska cruise, check out my other posts:

Alaska Cruise Guide: Best Alaska Cruise

What to Pack for Alaska

What to Wear on an Alaska Cruise

8. Do cruises have Wi-Fi?

Yes, but it’s often expensive and not very fast. Some lines now offer Starlink internet, which is faster; however, my experience has not been great, even with Starlink or Royal Caribbean's Voom Wi-Fi.

Money-saving tip: Download movies and playlists before you sail.

9. How Much Cash Should You Bring?

Cruise ships are cashless onboard. Cruise lines will give you a cruise card that will not only allow you entry into your cabin, but this also acts as your credit card onboard. Any charges made will go towards your balance owed.

but bring cash for tips, taxis, and port shopping.
Suggested: $100–$200 depending on how many ports you visit.

Tip: If you need cash but don't want to pay ATM fees, you can use your cruise card in the casino to charge to your account. Once the money pops up on the slot machine that you want to play, don't play it; instead, cash it out, and you will receive the cash, but the charge will go to your room with no fees.

10. Are cruises good for solo cruisers?

Yes! While I often cruise with my husband, I have cruised solo before and loved it!

Solo cruising is trending, and many cruise lines now offer studio cabins for solo guests. It’s a great way to travel safely and meet people.

11. Do cruises have activities for non-drinkers?

Absolutely! I promise that what you see on social media, not everyone is drinking or getting drunk on a cruise ship.

There are lots of activities you can indulge in, shows, trivia, a spa day, art auctions, yoga, and dance classes. You don't have to drink to have a good time.

12. When is the best time to book a cruise?

I always recommend looking for cruises during Black Friday or the Wave Season. This is typically when you are going to find some great deals on booking your cruise.

Plus, to save money, you can book your cruise during the shoulder season and avoid the peak season of the crowds and higher prices.

Check out my post on When to Book Your Cruise to help you plan the best cruise line and the right time to book for you.

13. What should you not do on a cruise?

• Don’t arrive late to port (the ship won’t wait)

• Don’t skip muster drill

• Don’t overpack — most cabins have limited space

• Don’t pack prohibited items

15. What are the best cruise destinations?

Here are some of my favorite and are highly searched as best cruises:

• Alaska (for adventure and wildlife)

• Caribbean (for warm weather and beach time)

• Hawaii (gaining popularity!)

• Antarctica (This one is on my list)

14. What's the best deck to stay on?

Mid-ship and lower decks = less motion
Upper decks = closer to the pool and buffet
A balcony cabin is worth the splurge on scenic itineraries like Alaska or Hawaii.

More posts to help you plan your cruise