When you arrive at the ship, porters will greet you and take your luggage. Your bags will be delivered to your room later in the day, which is a great convenience as you won't have to carry your bags through the entire check-in process. However, this could also mean you won't have access to your luggage for many hours on your first day on board. 

Pack your carry-on bag with all the essentials you might need for the first few hours of your cruise to avoid any inconvenience. This includes medication, a phone charger, a bathing suit, a hat, sunscreen, and other items that will allow you to head straight to the pool deck and start having fun.

When packing for a cruise, it's recommended to follow this strategy: pile up all the clothes you think you'll need during the voyage, and then remove half of them. You won't need as much as you think. Trust us.

Most cruises these days are casual, so you only need a few outfits to rotate throughout the trip. If your clothes get dirty, don't worry. Many ships have laundry facilities on cabin decks where you can wash your clothes every few days. If not, you can send your laundry out to be cleaned on board, and it will usually be returned within a day or two.

The additional cost of doing a few loads of laundry on the ship is a small price to pay for the convenience of not having to carry a huge suitcase around as you travel to and from the ship. Besides, you'll want to leave room in your suitcase for all the little treasures you're likely to come across during your trip.

Bring your own drinks on a cruise ship to save money. Many lines allow this with some limits. 

Disney Cruise Line allows two bottles of unopened wine or champagne or six beers per adult carried in a carry-on bag. 

Royal Caribbean allows two bottles of wine or champagne per cabin and a dozen non-alcoholic drinks. 

Be aware of corkage fees and read the rules of your specific line before bringing your own drinks.

Yes, you'll be able to find sunscreen, aspirin, and Band-Aids on a cruise ship. But it'll cost you. Cruise lines know you're a captive audience and price their shipboard stores accordingly.

I have a small "go bag" of over-the-counter medicines that I throw into my suitcase for every cruise that contains everything from cold medicine to seasickness pills. I rarely use any of it. But I also never get hit with a crazy toiletries charge.

While we're on the topic of sundries, don't forget extra batteries for your camera if you are bringing one.