First-time cruise tips: the honest answers to the questions everyone asks

Are cruise drinks packages worth the money?

Only if you would genuinely drink enough. Take the package's daily price, divide it by the average price of the drinks you actually order, and that is how many you need every day, on every day of the cruise, to break even. Most lines require every adult in the cabin to buy it. Coffee lovers and cocktail drinkers often come out ahead; a glass of wine with dinner rarely does.

Is it important to buy travel insurance for a cruise?

Yes, and make sure it has specific cruise cover. Medical treatment on board is private and expensive, a medical evacuation at sea can cost tens of thousands of pounds, and your UK GHIC or EHIC does not generally cover treatment on the ship itself. Look for cover for missed departure, cabin confinement and missed ports. Buy it as soon as you book, so cancellation cover starts straight away.

Do you tip the porter at Southampton?

It is not compulsory, but a pound or two per bag is a kind gesture for the porters who take your cases at the terminal kerb and deliver them to your cabin. On board, most lines add a daily service charge automatically, which you can adjust at guest services.

How do you manage seasickness?

• Book a midship cabin on a lower deck, where the motion is gentlest.
• Get fresh air and look at the horizon.
• Try ginger, acupressure bands or over-the-counter travel sickness tablets; ask a pharmacist which suits you before you go.
• The ship's medical centre and guest services often have remedies if you are caught out.

Do you watch the safety video first and then go to the muster station?

On most lines today, yes. The old lifejacket drill on deck has largely been replaced by an "e-muster": you watch the safety briefing on your cabin TV or the cruise app, then visit your assigned assembly station to be checked in by crew before the ship sails. Your muster station is printed on your cruise card and the back of your cabin door.

Do you like sea days?

Sea days are when a cruise becomes a proper holiday: a late breakfast, a spa booking, a talk or a show and nowhere you have to be. First-timers sometimes worry they will be bored; most end up saying the sea days were their favourite part. Book spa treatments early, as sea days sell out first.

First time taking the train to your cruise port: what is it like?

From London Waterloo to Southampton Central is roughly 80 to 100 minutes. The cruise terminals are one to two miles from the station, so you will need a short taxi or bus ride with your cases, and the ramps, stairs and crowded carriages can be hard work with big luggage. Leave a generous buffer in case of delays or engineering works. If you are travelling as a couple or family with several suitcases, a door-to-terminal car often costs little more and removes every change of transport.

Should playing music without headphones be allowed?

No. Pool decks, balconies and lounges are shared spaces, and one phone speaker carries a long way across water. Most lines ask guests to use headphones, and crew will usually step in if asked.

Do cruises cater for pets and children?

Children, very well: kids' clubs by age group, family cabins and children's menus are standard on most big-ship lines, though most set a minimum age for infants, usually around six months. Pets, almost never. The best-known exception is Cunard's Queen Mary 2, which has kennels on transatlantic crossings, and places sell out far in advance. Registered assistance dogs are accepted on most lines with notice.

Would you take a 10-day cruise with no internet if it was cheaper?

For many of us the honest answer is "in a heartbeat". A digital detox is one of the unsung joys of sea days, and ship Wi-Fi packages can add a lot to the bill. Just set up an out-of-office, download maps, books and films before you board, and give family the ship's emergency contact details.

How much compensation is fair if your cruise is changed or the ship is swapped?

If you booked a package from the UK and the organiser makes a significant change before departure, such as a different ship or a very different itinerary, the Package Travel Regulations let you choose between accepting the change, a substitute holiday or a full refund. If things go substantially wrong after departure, the organiser must offer suitable alternatives and, where appropriate, compensation. Changes forced by weather or safety are usually exempt. Lines often offer onboard credit or a future cruise discount; whether that is fair depends on how much of what you paid for you actually lost. For your own situation, take advice from your travel agent, ABTA or a legal adviser.