The guides
Each guide covers one part of planning. They work in any order, though first-timers may like to start with your first cruise, which walks through the whole trip from booking to the last morning.
Types of cruises
Big ships, small ships, rivers and expeditions. How the main styles differ in pace, people and places.
02Choosing a cabin
Inside, oceanview, balcony or suite, and why the deck and position matter as much as the type.
03Packing list
Documents, clothes for wind and dinner, a first-day carry-on bag and items ships often ban.
04Ports and shore excursions
Docked and tender ports, all-aboard times and how to plan a port day without missing the ship.
05Health and safety at sea
Safety drills, handwashing, seasickness, sun and the official sources to check before you go.
06Your first cruise
A timeline from booking to the last morning, with what happens on embarkation day.
07Cruise glossary
Aft, tender, muster, sea day and the other words you will hear on board.
Where you sleep on a ship
Most big ships stack their rooms in the same pattern. Rooms with balconies line the outer edge of the upper decks, rooms without windows fill the center, and the lowest guest rooms sit near the waterline. The diagram shows a slice across a typical large ship. The cabin guide explains what each type is like and why position matters.
A slice across a typical large ship, front view. Numbers match the cabin cards.
- Open deck Pools, loungers and the jogging track. Busy and sometimes noisy above the cabins below.
- Suite deck Larger rooms, often high up and near the middle, usually with a big balcony.
- Balcony decks Rooms on the outer edge with a private balcony and a door to the sea air.
- Public decks Dining rooms, theater, shops and the lobby. Cabins right above or below can hear them.
- Oceanview decks Lower outer rooms with a sealed window or porthole. Low and steady.
- Crew and machinery Below the waterline: crew areas, stores and engines. Not open to guests.
- Inside rooms The center of every cabin deck, between the corridors. No window at all.
Five questions to answer before you book
- What kind of days do you want? A ship full of shows and water slides feels very different from a small ship that spends long days in port. See types of cruises.
- How much time will you spend in the room? If you only sleep there, an inside room may be fine. If you want quiet mornings with a view, a window or balcony matters more.
- Are your documents in order? Check passport expiry dates and the entry rules for every country on the route. Requirements change, so read the official sources close to your trip.
- How do you handle motion? Most people feel little on a large ship, but a low room near the middle is the steadiest choice if you worry about it.
- What happens if plans change? Read the cancellation terms and think about travel insurance that covers medical care at sea and evacuation.
How this guide works
PC Cruises explains how cruising works in general. We do not name, rank or review cruise lines or ships, and we do not list prices, because fares and ship features change too often for a guide to keep up. For anything that affects your safety or your right to enter a country, we point you to official sources such as government travel advisories and public health agencies. Your cruise line's own documents are the final word on its rules.
Health and entry rules change. Before you travel, check our health and safety guide for links to official travel advice and health guidance.
Common questions
Does this site sell cruises?
No. PC Cruises is an independent guide. It has no booking service, no partner links and no ties to any cruise line or travel agency.
Why are no cruise lines or prices mentioned?
Fares change daily and ships change often, so any ranking or price would go stale fast. The guides explain how to compare options so you can judge current offers yourself.
Is a cruise a good first trip abroad?
It can be. You unpack once and see several places, but each port visit is short. Read the ports guide to see if that pace suits you.