Five Cruise Myths That Cost Travelers Real Money
May 20, 2026 · 5 min read · By the Merédian advisor team
Cruising has more folklore per passenger than any other kind of travel. Some of it is harmless. Some of it quietly costs travelers hundreds of dollars a sailing. Let's retire the expensive ones.
Myth 1: Booking direct with the cruise line is cheaper
Cruise lines charge identical base fares through every channel — but agencies layer on amenities the lines don't offer direct: shipboard credit, gratuities, dining packages. Booking direct means paying the same price for less.
Myth 2: Higher deck = better cabin
Midship, lower decks move least in swell. The most seasick-prone cabins on the ship are often the priciest ones high and forward. What you want is location relative to your habits — near the spa, far from the nightclub — and that's cabin-by-cabin knowledge.
Myths 3 through 5: excursions, insurance, and 'all-inclusive'
Ship excursions aren't always the safe choice, cruise-line insurance is usually the weakest coverage you can buy, and 'all-inclusive' luxury lines can genuinely cost less than mainstream lines plus à-la-carte extras — run the full math before assuming.
The common thread: every one of these is invisible on a booking website and obvious to an advisor who sails these ships. That's the entire case for using one.
