As soon as you board the ship your assigned key card or wristband becomes your digital wallet. Whether you’re paying for a drink or meal that isn’t included in your package, everything goes on your card or wristband and is charged back to the credit card on file at the end of your trip. So, save all the cash you’ve converted for when you’re on land and if you’re travelling internationally make sure that the credit card you have on file won’t incur any additional fees.

What’s included on your cruise depends on the company you’re sailing with and the ticket or package you’ve purchased. While most cruises will sell you on the fact they are all-inclusive, they usually offer premium options that are not. If you don’t want to incur any surprise fees on the ship do your research. For example, some cruise lines have varying drink packages. And while you may think your morning cappuccino is included it may not be and you’ll be charged for each one. Same goes for restaurants on board. Some may not be included in a standard ticket or package so if you do want to sample all the dining venues make sure you opt for the correct package.

Cruise ships are massive and until you’ve been on one it’s hard to comprehend just how big they are. You can easily get lost getting from one deck to another and there can be more than nine decks for larger ships. Familiarising yourself with what’s on which deck when you first board and there’s less people will make getting around much easier the first few days of your trip.

There is absolutely no wriggle room when it comes to boarding a ship. If you’re not boarded by the cut off time that boat is sailing off without you. Ships can only dock for a certain period of time before another ship is due. If you’re catching a flight to the first port of call make sure you leave more than a couple hours between when your flight lands and when you’re due to board in the case of a delayed or cancelled flight. Ideally, land the night before and book a stay in a hotel.

You won’t get to see everything in one day. So instead of setting yourself up for disappointment, have a plan. Select one or two sights you want to tick off before you arrive. If you plan on eating lunch onshore do a bit of research and have a shortlist of places nearby to the sights you would like to dine at so you don’t waste time trying to find somewhere to eat. There are also day excursions you can book through the cruise’s excursion desk. These may be a little pricier but will save you the hassle of planning your own itinerary for the day.

If you are paying for drinks or meals that are not included in your package, then double check the currency and what the conversion rate is. You may think you’re paying 12AUD for a cocktail, but the ship is using a different currency.

You may not like everything, and that’s ok. Most cruise ships have multiple dining venues and bars. You won’t know what you like best until you’ve tried them all. When you’ve found your favourites you can return.

There’s no one-cruise-fits-all. Some cruise ships are built with families in mind. Think multiple pools, colourful water slides and play areas. Others are strictly adults only that focus on nightlife or the opposite, health and wellness. Whatever you want to get out of your cruise make sure you choose one that is best suited to your expectations.

No matter the size of the ship you will have to wait in line at some point. Disembarking the ship in the morning often means you’ll have a short wait. Some ports are too small for a cruise ship to dock at, so they will anchor close to the port and tender boat passengers to the port. Tender boats are very frequent and the line moves quickly, but it’s still something to factor into your day if you planned on being somewhere at a specific time.