Nicole Sunderland proclaimed on her TikTok channel that she’s been on “over 45 cruises” in her lifetime. With such extensive experience, there are a few things Nicole wouldn’t do – and novice cruisers might be wise to take on board her advice.

One of her top tips is never arrive to a port without a plan of action – “absolutely, no way”. Nicole said: “You will never catch me booking a cruise and then not already having the ports, and what I want to do in them, planned in advance before booking that cruise.

“I will go through and see what is available, and make a plan, because – guess what – tours and different things do sell out.”

By booking port activities in advance, you are more likely to see the attractions you want to see and will enjoy the port experience more fully.

“Second, is not exploring the ship before you get on board,” said Nicole, who emphasised that you will be spending a lot of time there.

You need to explore the ship before boarding so you can be aware if there’s an adult-only swimming pool, for example, or where the lively entertainment will be.

For families, this could be discovering water parks or different activities to keep the children occupied.

“You want to have a good grasp of what’s available on board, so you’re not going into it blindly,” Nicole added.

By knowing what is on board before the trip, you are also able to book for the things you want to enjoy, such as a luxury spa.

“And, lastly, it’s getting a room without a balcony,” Nicole stated. “I will fight this to the death.”

Nicole explained: “I do not like being trapped in a room that doesn’t have a balcony; I like being able to open the door and breathe; I like to see the port and see what’s outside.”

Top 3 things never to do on a cruise

• Just turning up to the ports with no plan
• Not exploring the ship until you’re on holiday
• Getting a room without a balcony

One fellow TikTok user commented on the video, stating: “I agree wholeheartedly with this!” Another added: “I’ve been on several [cruises and] I totally agree with you!”

One concerned commentator asked: “I’m scared if I go on an excursion I won’t get back in time.”

Nicole – putting people’s mind to rest – replied: “If you go on an excursion through the ship, they wait if there are delays.”