I have stayed in Inside cabins, Oceanview and Balcony.  Once you have stayed in a balcony room, you can never go back so I always recommend a balcony.  There is nothing better than sitting on your balcony at 3 in the morning looking at the black sky full of stars. The rooms are small so the balcony provides a little more space.  It’s also great when your travel partner brings you coffee to enjoy on the balcony in the morning. As for what deck to stay on, this is not important to me, I have stayed on all levels.  I prefer to be higher up but it comes at a cost. If choosing the top floor, check what is above you.  If it is a nightclub or restaurant, you may have some regrets.  Move down a floor for more peace. Again, I suggest reading reviews and recommendations on Cruise Critic. 

Extra Fees:
Watch out for unexpected extra fees.  Keep tabs on your ship balance as little expenses add up very quickly and can be quite a shock on disembarkation day. All those extra port tours you did, those few cocktails in the afternoon, the visit to the spa, all very enjoyable, all very expensive. Also don’t forget they will add your gratuities to your ship account. 

Choose options offered at booking wisely.  Many cruise lines offer different promotions.  Price each one out to see what makes sense.  Remember you will likely pay gratuities on any freebies so they are not exactly free but I still think if you like a couple of drinks at dinner, a free drinks package can go a long way to reducing those extra fees. 

Research your port destinations and see if there are options to the ships tours.  We often plan our own tours and have never had an issue missing a ship.  Most tour operators are reputable and the cruise ship industry is their livelihood, they will not let you miss your ship. Grand Cayman was probably the easiest.  There were taxi buses at the port and for $20, you got a fabulous tour of the island.  TripAdvisor is a great resource for searching for port tours. 

Do you need the additional “Beach Club” access or all you can use spa access?  These facilities are available on some ships and provide a limited number of wrist bands/access cards.  If your cruise has a lot of at-sea days, the “Beach Club” access is worth it to find a quiet place to sun yourself.  It still gets crowded but you can usually find a chair and you have access to your own private bar. The spa access is nice if you see bad weather in your future. It’s a great place to go and wait out a storm.  Know the price before you go and decide ahead of time so you are prepared for the cost.  If you can afford it, it’s a nice added luxury. 

Where to Eat:

On the large cruise ships, there are many choices.  If you are on a budget, the included meals are more than satisfactory.  Be sure to find all the included restaurants and try them all.  If you can afford to upgrade to the speciality restaurants, I highly recommend doing so.  The food and atmosphere are superior. If you love buffets, then go for it.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night, always something being served.  I personally hate buffets and avoid them as much as possible.  I love starting my morning in the restaurant enjoying a leisurely breakfast of poached eggs and kippers. 

What to Do:

You can decide to be active all day and night or just relax.  I tend to lean towards the relaxing side of things and leave my activity for the ports.  To me, the ship is a place of rest but many love to get involved. The Activities Manager plans many fun activities throughout the day along with whatever amenities are available. Pools, go-karts, climbing walls, mini-golf, ice rinks.  Today’s ships offer many choices. The evening entertainment is usually very good and varied. Check out as many venues as possible. Duelling pianos is always a big hit. The most important thing to do is to have fun and enjoy the experience.