I went on 50 cruises by the time I turned 30. I still think about 5 mistakes I made that future cruisers can easily avoid.

If you’re looking to save money, you might be tempted to let the cruise line choose your cabin for you.

I’ve done this dozens of times because it’s cheaper than picking a room, but it’s a gamble that hasn’t always paid off.

Unfortunately, it’s led to my staying in some of the worst cruise rooms, which were located under a pool deck, above a nightclub, next to an elevator, and near the crew servicing area.

Unless you’ve got a high tolerance for noise and disruptions late into the night, I recommend skipping this option. Instead, spend a little extra money to pick a stateroom in a quiet, convenient location.

Budget cruisers often choose sailings during cheaper off-peak times, and many of these itineraries include trips to or through places experiencing hurricane season or more undesirable weather.

I recently sailed on three cruises during the off-peak season that were disrupted by storms. I was disappointed our itinerary changed and heartbroken to miss highly anticipated ports in Europe and Africa.

It was also a headache to adjust my travel plans this fall when a hurricane in the Gulf cut our cruise short. Next time, I’d think twice before sailing during the area’s hurricane season.

If your schedule and budget allow, I suggest you avoid booking cruises during a hurricane or shoulder season. If you do so anyway, research the risks and prepare yourself for possible weather disruptions.

I’ve learned the hard way that it’s best to book cruise excursions as early as possible.

Last summer, my husband and I cruised through the majestic Norwegian Fjords. While planning our vacation, I was shocked to see many excursions were sold out months before departure.

Waiting too long to book meant we missed out on some special experiences, including a ride on the raved-about Loen Skylift in Olden, Norway.

Since many cruise lines offer flexible cancellation policies, booking early can involve little risk. Since then, I’ve made it a priority to book excursions as soon as they become available.

Consider this the golden rule of cruising: If you need to fly to your embarkation port, always arrive at least the day before your cruise departs. This buffer allows for possible travel delays or flight cancellations.

I’ve heard many horror stories of travelers missing their cruises entirely due to this planning oversight.

When my husband and I were newlyweds on a tight budget, we booked a red-eye flight in the winter from Minnesota to San Juan for a cruise. If all went as planned, our direct flight would arrive the morning of our cruise’s departure.

I panicked for weeks before our flight, obsessively checking the weather and worrying about snow-related delays. The stress alone of potentially missing our cruise was not worth the savings.

After this, I never considered flying on the same day as my cruise’s departure.

After cruising extensively, I’ve learned it’s important to set the right expectations before embarkation. A little bit of research about your cruise ship, itinerary, and cruise line goes a long way.

For example, last year, I cruised to Africa for the first time. Some parts of the trip left me feeling flustered because I hadn’t realized how its ports would differ from ones at other popular cruise destinations.

For example, I found myself frustrated in Mauritius when sweating profusely during embarkation in a stifling-hot tent. I’m used to air-conditioned check-ins, and I could’ve prepared myself if I’d only researched the boarding location.

My outfit also got covered in black dust when we docked at a coal terminal in Richards Bay. Later, I was shocked that we travelers had to lug our suitcases through gravel parking lots at the Cape Town port.

In all three cases, I could’ve set realistic expectations and prepared better if I had just done some research.