Every cruise is a time to remember. Here are some tips from the experts to consider when you book your next cruise:

1. Get there the night before. This extends the fun and you won’t miss the ship departure. Experience the local destination and be fresh and ready to board your ship the next day.

2. Eat on your terms. Try the variety of specialty restaurants found on board ships for the relatively small extra charge to do so. You could even eat off the ship to experience something local if the ship is departing late.

3. Book a repositioning cruise. These are one-way cruises when ships move seasonally to different destinations. They can be great value, particularly if you enjoy lots of sea days, and you then just add airfares to and from the ports.

4. Enjoy the free activities. Movies – shown in cinemas during the day and often on giant poolside screens in the evening, live theatre shows, hosted games, libraries, gyms and sports courts are all free. The larger ships are competing with each other to add more free entertainment activities such as wave riders, rock climbing, dodgem cars and much more.

5. Take a break from the kids. On major cruise lines kids clubs are free for children aged three and above; qualified childcare staff organise games and activities while the grown-ups take a well-earned break. 

6. Find a quiet spot. There's often so much happening on board you can forget about those peaceful places where you can do absolutely nothing. There are few more relaxing experiences than watching a ship's wake churning into the distance, gazing at the horizon, watching the sunset and rise, and seeing stars in skies that are many miles from landfall. 

7. Book a balcony cabin. A balcony cabin does cost more than an inside or oceanview cabin, but for the extra few dollars a day a balcony cabin more than repays the cost in quality of cruise life – you have uncrowded sea and port views, fresh air whenever you want, and the luxury of privacy. 

Contact the award-winning team of Travel and Cruise Professionals at helloworld Browns Bay to book your next cruise experience.

helloworld Travel Browns Bay, 26 Clyde Road, Browns Bay 09 478 4416
www.helloworld.co.nz/browns bay