Book your shore excursions in advance. Do it either online before you leave home, or early the first day you're on board.You don't want to miss out on something you've always wanted to do because you waited too late.

Have a carry-on for all your important information (ID, Passport, money), a change of clothes and a bathing suit to take on the ship. You don't want to have to wait for your steward to bring your luggage to start having fun.

Spend some time as soon as you get on the ship learning the layout of the ship. Carry around a map, and find the places of most interest to you such as the spa, the gym, the restaurants, or the entertainment venues.

If you know you may experience motion sickness, talk to your doctor before-hand about the best kind of motion sickness medication for you.

Book your flight to the port city so that you arrive the day before the cruise leaves. Missing the cruse because your flight was delayed is never any fun.

For those who need to take prescription medication, be sure to pack enough for the entire voyage.

Don't ever skip Muster (the evacuation drill). This information will save your life in the event of an emergency.

Walkie-talkies are a great way for families and friends to keep up with each other on-board. Don't forget to bring extra batteries or the charger with you.

When packing for your voyage, find out in advance what kind of dress code your cruise has. Some cruises have formal dining-halls that require tuxedos and evening gowns. Others don't, and khakis and a polo shirt or a sun-dress are fine.

Even if you're going to a warm destination, consider packing a light jacket or sweatshirt. You may find you need it while on board due to the ship's air conditioning.

When packing for your trip, if you are bringing electronics such as a hair dryer, cell phone or anything else that requires electricity keep in mind two things. There may only be one outlet in your cabin, so bring a power strip to plug in multiple things. Second, you should contact your cruse line to see if you will need to bring an adaptor to be able to plug your items in.

Read up on your cruse lines website to determine if you are going to need cash for gratuities (tips) or not. Some cruse lines include gratuities in the cost of the room and in your bar tab, some expect you to provide tips that are not included, and others yet say that tipping is not necessary.