Smooth Sailing: 6 essential tips every first-time cruiser should read

Hoping to feast on multi-course gourmet dinners with paired wines? Try Oceania or Regent Seven Seas. Dreaming of dressing up to the nines? Old-world Cunard is for elegant you. If wildlife spotting in remote regions is your jam, you'll be happiest aboard an expedition line such as HX, Coral Expeditions or Ponant. Keen to avoid seasickness? Skip the ocean itineraries and book a European or Asian river cruise for a (non-) swell time.

Shore excursions usually open up far in advance of your departure date. If you didn't get around to booking a tour that's taken your fancy, make a beeline for the excursion desk as soon as you board (chances are some excursions will be booked out but ask if you can wait-list). On-board specialty restaurants (that usually come with a surcharge) can also book out. Embarkation day is also the time to scour the dispatch sent to your stateroom for great spa and gym specials. Keep checking these daily dispatches during your cruise for other deals, which could include Wi-Fi packages, professional photography discounts and more.

No matter how big or small your cruise ship, a few precautions will keep you healthy during your holiday. To help stay gastro-free, keep those mitts off the handrails in corridors and stairwells. Remember to use hand sanitiser (available in dispensers throughout the ship) liberally and frequently. Wash your hands often. If it's an ocean cruise, pack seasickness medication or treatments just in case there's motion in that ocean. And finally, even though this advice might seem rather obvious, remember to be sun smart. Don't flop and fry yourself around the pool deck on day one, then spend the rest of your cruise regretting that rash move.

Read more on Explore:

We won't lie - shore excursions can be expensive. Do a little research to see where your ship is docking before shelling out for a tour. In San Diego, Vancouver, Auckland and Papeete, for instance, you can easily while away a few hours exploring the ship's immediate vicinity and save your tour dollars for another port of call.

Another hot tip: carry that daily dispatch ashore with you. The leaflet not only reminds you of the timing of the last tender (if the ship's moored offshore) or gangway closure, it also provides a port agent contact number if - shock, horror - you end up missing the boat.

You might think your cruise itinerary is set in stone but the reality is that a ship's route and ports of call can and do change for all kinds of reasons. Bad weather can prevent docking or mooring, so that you end up simply cruising past a destination. Industrial action in associated industries - such as tour guiding - might play a role. In remote regions, you might be diverted or even have your cruise cut short by an on-board medical emergency. Our advice is to be ready to roll with any changes to the schedule. And always, no matter what, remain courteous to crew and fellow passengers.

If you're cruising with your partner or family, you're no doubt familiar with each other's intimate habits. Setting sail with a friend? A little consideration goes a long way when it comes to sharing that cosy ship cabin. Pack ear plugs and an eye mask to help block out your friend's gentle snores and middle-of-the-night comings and goings. Perhaps bring headphones or ear buds (with downloaded entertainment) to help you drift off to sleep. To keep things even sweeter, consider bringing some air freshener for that tiny bathroom.