How to book a cruise for the first time

Direct or through a travel advisor?

The cruise line pays travel advisors a commission, so booking through one usually costs you nothing extra. The fare is the same in most cases. What changes is who helps you: with an advisor, you get someone who knows the ships and can steer you away from a poor cabin, and someone to call if a flight is canceled or a port changes.

Booking direct is simple too: every major line has a booking website and a phone line. If you already know exactly which ship and cabin you want, direct works well.

Deposits: what you pay up front

Most bookings start with a deposit. How much, and whether it is refundable, depends on the line and the fare you choose. Here is what each line states:

Final payment: when the balance is due

The rest of the fare is due by a final payment date, usually months before sailing. Miss it and the booking can be canceled. Book inside that window and you pay in full straight away.

Cancellation: read it before you pay

Cancellation charges grow as the sailing gets closer, and after final payment they can reach the full fare. This is the part of the booking terms first-timers skip and later wish they hadn't.

This is also where travel insurance earns its cost: it can refund a cruise you have to cancel for a covered reason after the cancellation charges have started.

What to book at the same time

• Travel insurance, ideally when you pay the deposit, so pre-existing-condition cover applies.
• Flights, arriving the day before sailing.
• A hotel near the port for that night.
• Parking at the port, if you're driving; it can sell out on busy weekends.

Dining, drinks packages and excursions can usually wait until the line's pre-cruise planner opens, but don't leave them to the last week. See before you sail.

If the price drops after you book

Several lines will adjust your fare or give you something back if the price drops before your final payment. The rules differ a lot: