Cruise ship tender boat carrying passengers ashore across Akaroa Harbour on a port day
Tender to shore, Akaroa Harbour. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Your first cruise, planned on a calendar.

Cabins, sea days, port days and packing for warm-weather trips, with every rule sent back to the official page.

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Five things every trip plan settles

Your first cruise

Cabin types, deck plans and what the fare does and does not include.

Packing

Lists for cruises and island resorts, sized for the luggage rules.

Port days

Shore time, tenders and how to be back before all-aboard.

When to go

Seasons, weather and school-holiday crowds, month by month.

Warm-weather outfits

What to wear on sea days, formal nights and island excursions.

Packed for the trip, on display

Fresh from the planning desk

    Browse every plan

    When the Caribbean is easiest to sail

    A general pattern, not a forecast. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.

    1. JanDry
    2. FebDry
    3. MarDry
    4. AprDry
    5. MayShoulder
    6. JunStorm season
    7. JulStorm season
    8. AugPeak storms
    9. SepPeak storms
    10. OctPeak storms
    11. NovStorm season
    12. DecDry

    Season dates: NOAA National Hurricane Center. Check your cruise line’s own page for itinerary changes.

    Guides are signed Marco Venn, a byline shared by the writers who put them together. Fares, sailing dates and entry requirements change, so each guide links to the cruise line’s page and the government’s rather than a number typed months ago. Drafts start with AI help and an editor rebuilds them into a plan. How the guides are made