canuckcruiser00

1. Get to the port the day before, don't let a flight delay/flat tire ruin your vacation. Instead, extend your vaca an extra day. $150 spent on a room and dinner the night before is well well worth it to have a stress free start to your cruise.

 

2. Take a million pictures. Take so many you feel silly. You will be looking at them all the time until you have the chance to hit the sea again.

 

3. Don't fall into the old "if I need it I'll buy it onboard" trap. EVERYTHING is expensive on the boat. Underwater camera: $6 at walmart, $18 (no lie) on the ship.

 

4. If your cruise line allows any alcohol (carnival, 1 bottle of wine per adult), take advantage of this. If you are a heavy drinker you should either get ready to mortgage your house or sneak on the hooch. If you want to save $, bring the aformetioned wine, hit the past guest/captains receptions, and book shore excursions with free drinks! This should satisfy your binge drinking without tapping your 401(k).

 

5. I am going to sound like a snob. Get a balcony if you can afford it. It is soooo worth it. Having a private balcony overlooking 100 miles of ocean and some of the most beautiful ports in the world, being able to sit by yourself out there and eat breakfast, drink, it's worth it.

I love all of your tips - except the last one

(and that's because I can't afford it :p)

From where to where are you going exactly?

And do you really need a one way fare, or is it just that your start and end points are different (but you're starting from and going back home at the end?)