Going away on a cruise sounds like a dream come true, but if you make this one mistake, it could ruin everything.

There are a lot of rules travelers need to follow on cruise ships, and there are things that others would prefer you don’t do.

Like this lady who detailed guest habits that gross her out, or this Royal Caribbean fan and cruise extraordinaire, Matt Hochberg, who is part of the Royal Caribbean’s Pinnacle Club.

He has a lot to say about what it’s like being on a cruise ship, and even set up the Royal Caribbean Blog and YouTube channel to share his experiences and tips with others.

But what about the mistakes people are making?

Well, you’ll find out in a second.

There’s just nothing worse than sailing aboard on your planned cruise and then making this mistake that makes it all go to s***.

Thankfully, Alley Kerr, a dancer and singer who has worked on over 100 cruise ships, has one thing you can avoid doing to prevent your journey from getting ruined.

She revealed that the first day is always chaotic onboard, but if you do it right, you’re going to have a lot more fun.

“That’s the day that everybody is trying to book their shore excursions, trying to get their internet sorted, trying to book restaurants and any extra add-ons,” she told the Independent.

While everyone else is running around, unsure of what’s going on or trying to make sure they’re getting themselves organized, you could be the 1 per cent that isn’t losing their mind.

You could be that cool, calm and collected person who has already planned your excursions well in advance.

“…if you can avoid waiting for embarkation day and get it done in advance, your life is going to be so much easier,” she said.

If you’re not planning, you’re setting yourself up for the unknown to pop out and unravel everything.

You also need to make sure you know what’s on, when it’s on and when you’re doing it so that you’re not competing with hordes of people or leaving it until it’s too late.

“People who have never cruised before often get on the ship and then suddenly at the end of the day, they’re like, ‘Oh, everything’s sold out,’” she told the publication.

“I feel that this is one of the worst things that could happen, because you’ve missed out. There’s limited availability for a lot of things,” she added.

Many cruise rookies often make the mistake of waiting to board the ship before planning out the rest of their vacation.

This tip is so on the money that even Cruise Critic has advised that you should plan so far ahead that you’re arriving ‘a day or two before your cruise’.

It explains, as quoted by the Express, that this ‘not only enhances the overall experience with a mini-land vacation, but it also eliminates the stressful race against time – and the risk of missing the ship’.

The advice continues: “Long flight times, customs, visas and potential baggage delays are just a few reasons to add an extra travel day when flying overseas for a cruise. More flights and security checks create more opportunities for things to go wrong. Plus, if you’re already traveling across the globe, why not take the opportunity to explore the local culture before your cruise begins?

“Even a morning flight can leave you waiting in long lines at the cruise terminal, putting you far behind others who arrived earlier.

“Getting to the ship early – something that’s harder to guarantee with a flight – lets you make the most of your first day onboard. You’ll have time to explore the ship, drop off your bags, relax by the pool, grab a bite to eat and fully settle into vacation mode.”

Are you ready for your next cruise?