Cruising can be an incredible way to see the world while enjoying a lap of luxury for a week or two, but it often doesn't come cheap.
Research shows that more and more young people are enjoying holidays out at sea on the likes of Royal Caribbean, Virgin and Carnival Cruises, with 2.4 million British and Irish holidaymakers opting for cruises each year.
But as people's budgets get tighter and holidays inevitably become more expensive, you certainly don't want to fall down any of the traps that could potentially hinder your cruising experience.
And one cruise worker has dished the dirt on the one mistake cruise-goers tend to make that could ruin their trip.
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Alley Kerr, who worked on cruises for several years as a dancer and singer, has warned of the little mishap that could have the power to ruin your holiday, sharing a big tip on how to avoid it.
Alley, who now creates content as a travel influencer on her site Wanderlust Alley, says embarkment day - which is the day everyone descends onto the ship - can be a pretty chaotic experience.
"On embarkation day, it is absolutely insane. That's the day that everybody is trying to book their shore excursions, trying to get their internet sorted, trying to book restaurants and any extra add-ons," she told the Independent.
"So, if you can avoid waiting for embarkation day and get it done in advance, your life is going to be so much easier."
On many occasions, Alley witnessed first time cruisers making that exact mistake and missing out on the experiences they had planned to go on during their holiday.
She continued: "People who have never cruised before often get on the ship and then suddenly at the end of the day, they're like, 'Oh, everything's sold out.'
"I feel that this is one of the worst things that could happen, because you've missed out. There's limited availability for a lot of things."
It is important to note that most destinations will offer lots of their own excursions, often at cheaper prices, but you should research each of the locations you'll be visiting to make sure this is the case, if you don't want to pre-book with your cruise liner.
One benefit of booking with your cruise provider is that if you experience any delays, the excursion providers will wait for you, which isn't necessarily going to be the case with external providers.
Topics: Cruise Ship, Travel, Holiday
Emma Rosemurgey