Many people will be looking to book a cruise holiday for this summer if they haven’t already. However, it’s important to do your research to know exactly what you’re booking. A travel expert has shared an important warning to tourists ahead of their cruises over the coming months. Gary Bembridge, who is the host of the Tips For Travellers YouTube page, said one simple mistake can badly affect people’s cruise holidays. The travel author and writer, who has over 470,000 subscribers on YouTube, offered the advice to passengers in a video.

He urged cruisers to choose their cabin themselves, rather than leave it up to their cruise line. Gary explained that staying in an unsuitable cabin can make your holiday a “misery”.

He explained: “Cruisers who’ve been on many cruises have often experienced how a poor cabin location or type can ruin or badly affect their vacation when they have left it up to the line. As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.

“So many people tell me a cabin is not that important. It’s just a place to get changed in and to sleep in.

“But, as smart cruisers agree, once you have a cabin that doesn’t suit you, it can make a misery of your cruise.”

He recommends against booking a guaranteed fare. These are fares where you book the cabin grade and the cruise line allocates you a cabin.

Gary added: “These cabins are left over after people booking a fare where they can choose their specific cabin have hoovered up the best cabins in that grade, including the best locations. This leaves the less desirable ones in that grade for the cruise line to allocate to you.”

He also gave advice on how to pick the best cabin. Gary said the location of your cruise cabin is crucial and it’s best to avoid busy areas of the ship.

“Smart cruisers also choose a cabin surrounded on all sides by other cabins. So, above, below, either side of me, and ideally opposite,” he explained. “We also check the deck plans on the website to make sure the cabin is away from high-traffic areas, and far from venues like kids’ clubs, nightclubs, live music venues, theatres and so on.”

Gary continued: “The deck plans also show a cabin without an interconnecting door to the one next door. This avoids potentially noisy neighbours watching TV, partying or arguing.”