My first cruise taught me more in seven days than a decade of hotel stays. Most of it was about what not to do.
Start with the cabin. A midship cabin on a lower deck moves the least, and if you are unsure how your body handles the sea, that alone decides whether you enjoy the week. Balconies are lovely, but a quieter cabin beats a pretty one every single time.
Then the excursions. The ship sells convenience at a premium. Half the ports have a beach, a market or a historic quarter within a short, inexpensive ride of the pier, and going independently gives you hours back. Book through the ship only when the stop is remote or the timing is tight.
Board early. The first afternoon is the only time the whole ship is empty — the pools, the deck, the good chairs, the quiet corners. Most people arrive late and spend the first day in a crowd that could have been avoided.
And the fare itself: cruise pricing swings enormously by channel. The identical cabin, identical sailing, identical dinner seating goes out at several prices at once. Compare member pricing before you commit, always.