10 most common mistakes cruisers make - and how you can avoid them

Nothing ruins a voyage more than missing it because of a flight delay or cancellation. On a recent Antarctica cruise, two couples were left behind in Argentina after their in-bound flight was significantly delayed. Ships cannot wait. It's always a good idea to arrive in the port destination a day or two early and book a hotel stay, especially when flying long distances. You can rest up, beat the jet lag and enjoy local attractions, all while ensuring a relaxed on-time embarkation.

Buffets can be an excellent dining choice for cruisers when they're seeking a quick meal before an evening show or a sampling of many dishes to please the palate. On some ships, including Celebrity's Edge series, the variety and quality is outstanding. But on the first day of the cruise, the lunchtime buffet is guaranteed to be an overcrowded zoo full of hungry travellers, many of them toting carry-on luggage as they wait for cabins to become available. Opt instead for the main dining room or poolside grill for your first onboard meal.

During the check-in and security process, you'll hand over luggage to porters so they can deliver it to your cabin. So far, so easy. However, it can take many hours for all passengers to receive their bags, especially on mega ships. Hours that you could enjoy swimming in the pool or relaxing in the wellness centre. Be smart and pack your carry-on bag with essentials that go beyond your passport, medications and device chargers. Throw in swim gear, sunscreen, a sun hat and something to read.

Savvy cruisers know there are some restaurants, onboard activities and shore excursions you should reserve well before you're on the ship. Tables at popular dining venues with limited capacity are snapped up as soon as reservations open, while spa appointments on the first and last sea days can be difficult to nab. On Alaskan cruises, scenic rail transfers between the ship and the airport are often fully booked weeks in advance. Don't miss out. Create an online account as soon as your cruise is booked, then fill your schedule with fun activities to look forward to.

Every cruise line has its own rules and regulations, including mandates on compulsory tipping (or not), cancellation policies and what can be brought onboard. It's important to know before you go. In August, a Texas woman says she was banned for life from Carnival cruises after security found CBD gummies in her luggage. She claims they had been advertised as a supplement, not a controlled substance. Responsibility for following the cruise rules sits with the passenger and acceptance of fine print is assumed when you pay the fare.

While we're talking about cancellation policies, please heed this advice: travel insurance is a must. Anything can happen between the time you book a cruise and the day of embarkation. Once you're onboard, you need cover in case of illness, accident, emergency or lost luggage. Katrina Van Der Merwe, Flight Centre's cruise specialist, says it's essential to protect your holiday investment. "Heaven forbid you break your toe a week before sailing, or a marriage, baby, death, graduation or other life event comes up," she says.

Technology has made travel easier in so many ways. Remember when we had to navigate unfamiliar cities with huge paper maps? Cruise lines have jumped on the tech trend of providing information to passengers via apps on their smartphones and tablets. Keep up to date with onboard activities, make restaurant reservations, track onboard spending and even communicate with other passengers through app-to-app texting. Cruise ship review site Cruise Critic rates Holland America Line's Navigator app as one of the best. It can be downloaded on board at no cost, without using internet minutes.

Recently, I made a rookie cruise error. I really should have known better after cruising dozens of times. On the last night of the voyage, I made my way to the ship's boutique to spend several hundred dollars in onboard credit on Chanel perfume and Larimar jewellery. Think again, big spender. As the ship was no longer in international waters, the duty-free stores had closed early and Lady Luck had departed the casino. There was nowhere to spend my non-refundable credit. Lesson learned.

On most cruise lines, it's a big no-no to bring alcohol on to the ship. That bottle of Bordeaux you pick up during a shore excursion is almost certainly going to be held by ship's security officers until disembarkation.

However, on Disney Cruise Line's round-trip cruises from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, guests 18 years of age and older may bring two bottles of unopened wine or six beers on board at the beginning of the voyage and at each port of call. The drinks must be packed in carry-on bags.

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They're known as pier runners - and for good reason. These are the passengers who return to the cruise ship late and have to make a full-throttle dash down the pier in an attempt not to be left behind in port. Fact is, every day, people fail to board ships on time and can face significant hassles in the process of being reunited with the vessel (and their belongings) at the next destination. Always aim to be back on board an hour before the official cut-off time and make sure you have the port agent information handy in case something goes wrong.