Shirene Thomas has been on 17 cruises in one year as she waits to board a residential cruise ship.
Shirene Thomas
Shirene Thomas has been on 17 cruises from October 2023 to September 2024.She plans to eventually move onto Villa Vie’s residential ship.She has 9 tips for first-time, solo, and budget cruisers, from buying WiFi to selecting ships.
According to the trade group Cruise Lines International Association, 10% of cruisers go on three to five vacations at sea a year.
Or, if you’re like Shirene Thomas, you go on 17 a year.
Thomas, a retired social worker and actor in her 50s, told Business Insider that she calls herself “homeless all over the world.” And for good reason — in late September 2023, Thomas “gave up everything” and uprooted her life in Wilmington, North Carolina, to move onto a residential cruise ship.
She had initially committed to Life at Sea Cruises’ three-year sailing, then scheduled to depart in November 2023. But when the company, unable to acquire a ship, dramatically canceled the voyage just two weeks before embarkation, Thomas decided to reserve a cabin on Villa Vie’s never-ending cruise.
Villa Vie Odyssey plans to circumnavigate the world every 3 ½ years, stopping at 147 countries and 425 ports in its first trip. The ship was initially set to sail in May, but certification and mechanical issues have since delayed its launch.
Shirene Thomas on Norwegian Dawn in mid-September.
Shirene Thomas
In the interim, Thomas has been scratching her around-the-world cruise itch with (you guessed it) more cruises.
So far, she’s been on 17 sailings — 11 with Norwegian Cruise Line and some back-to-back — since she left the US one year ago.
She now estimates she’s cruised 50 times in her life. And throughout her time at sea, she’s picked up plenty of tips and tricks to maximize her budget and happiness, although it doesn’t take much to fulfill the latter.
“My worst day on a cruise ship is better than my best day on land,” Thomas said. “I really like cruising.”
If you’re a first-time, budget, or solo cruiser, Thomas has nine suggestions for you, from sailing solo to finding the cheapest cruise.
1. Try different cruise lines before building loyalty with one.
Thomas said she’s a sapphire-level loyalty member with Norwegian.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
Different cruise lines target different demographics, from adult-only Virgin Voyages to Gen X-friendly Celebrity Cruises. Thomas suggests travelers wanting to achieve loyalty status should test two or three companies before settling on a favorite.
And if you’re a budget traveler, your pick doesn’t have to be whichever has the cheapest itineraries. If you stay loyal to one brand over an extended period, the extra perks could save you plenty of cash.
Thomas said she currently has Sapphire status — the third highest — with Norwegian Cruise Line. With this comes bonuses like free bags of laundry, behind-the-scenes tours, and specialty restaurant vouchers.
2. Go with Norwegian if you frequently cruise solo.
In 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line introduced solo interior, ocean view, and balcony cabins on top of its existing “studios” designed for single travelers.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Some cruise companies charge solo travelers a “single supplement” fee to compensate for lost revenue on dual occupancy cabins. To avoid this surcharge, book a cruise line that offers single-person staterooms — like Norwegian, which added about 1,000 additional solo cabins to its fleet in 2024.
Thomas calls Norwegian the most solo traveler-friendly cruise line. In her experience, the company also hosts daily meet-ups and events for cruisers who go alone.
3. Most port terminals have free WiFi.
Cruise terminals often have free WiFi, according to Thomas.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
Live-posting your cruise vacation on Instagram can be costly. WiFi on Norwegian ships starts at $30 a day, while connectivity for social media websites on Carnival ships begins at more than $15 a day.
Thomas often books Norwegian’s “Free at Sea” promotion, which includes five hours of complimentary WiFi on voyages of at least 12 nights. But as a self-described “frugal” person, she won’t purchase an internet package if she needs more time.
Instead, she’ll spend extra time at the cruise terminal, where there’s typically free WiFi.
4. Stay on board during port days.
Thomas suggests travelers stay onboard during port days.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
Like many avid cruisers, Thomas suggests staying onboard during port days, when most travelers are on excursions or exploring new destinations.
She finds these days to be the most relaxing. The entertainment, restaurants, and bars typically remain open, but the service is more attentive, and the ship is quieter.
5. Check the deck layout before booking your cabin.
An inside cabin on Carnival Firenze.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
Thomas typically opts for an inside “guaranteed” stateroom. It’s the cheapest option but leaves the cruise line responsible for the specific cabin assignment.
If you’d rather select your room, Thomas suggests checking the ship’s deck plans before making your pick.
Ideally, there would be guest accommodations directly above and below yours.
Cruise cabin walls can be thin. If you reserve a stateroom under a bar or nightclub, there’s a chance you’ll be able to hear the festivities well into the night.
Similarly, she suggests avoiding cabins near the elevator banks or next to the launderettes.
6. Join your sailing’s Facebook group.
Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas docked at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Pieter De Boer
Most cruises have Facebook groups corresponding to the ship and its sail dates. Thomas suggests joining yours ahead of the voyage.
In her experience, many group members will have already done the same itinerary or traveled on the same ship. “There’s a lot of information to be tapped out of that group,” she said.
7. Don’t fall for upcharges.
During the day, Carnival Firenze’s breakfast and chicken shack are complimentary. At night, the space becomes a seafood shack that sells $18 lobster rolls.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
A massage at the onboard spa may sound enticing, but there’s a good chance it’ll be more expensive than most on-land options.
With that, be wary of the upcharges if you’re on an ultra-tight budget.
Unfortunately, yes, that means the fancy steakhouse dinner may not be a financially reasonable splurge.
“People will say, ‘Oh, the food is so good, it’s only a $35 upcharge, and I would pay more for the service and food I get on land,'” Thomas said. “But they have to remember they also pay to eat in the main dining room already.”
Her one exception is the drinks package, many of which include desirable non-alcoholic options like specialty coffees and smoothies. “For me, it’s worth it to pay one price upfront for all your beverages than it is to pay each time,” she said.
8. Consider longer cruises for cheaper fares.
Carnival Valor’s 16-night cruise in April 2025 currently starts at $42 a day.
ATGImages/Shutterstock
Most of the longest and most affordable-per-day itineraries are transoceanic or repositioning cruises.
These itineraries may have many sea days, but fewer ports means fewer port fees — and “a lot of bang for your buck,” Thomas said.
According to data from cheap cruise aggregator Cruise Sheet, 15 of the 20 cheapest itineraries through September 2025 are transoceanic.
The least expensive per-day option, a 16-night Carnival sailing from New Orleans to Barcelona, starts at $42 a day.
9. Short cruises don’t always have the flashiest ships.
Royal Caribbean launched its sixth Oasis Class cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas, in July — just six months after Icon of the Seas’ inaugural sailing.
Royal Caribbean International
First-time cruisers often gravitate toward short sailings. While it’s a great way to test the waters, Thomas warns that ships operating quick cruises can be dated and lack the same exciting amenities as some of the industry’s newer, flashier vessels.
Carnival is currently selling 76 four-day-or-less itineraries. Only 15 of the ships on those trips are less than five years old.
Similarly, about half of Norwegian’s 27 short itineraries would be on its newer vessels.
One exception is Royal Caribbean’s latest vessel, Utopia of the Seas. The world’s second-largest cruise liner debuted in July at Florida’s Port Canaveral as the company’s first mega-ship to be immediately deployed on short three- and four-night sailings.
The strategy has paid off — “Utopia is crushing it,” Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group’s CEO, told investors shortly after the ship’s debut.
Are you a frequent cruiser, sailing on a residential cruise ship like Villa Vie, or have a tip? Contact the reporter at bchang@businessinsider.com or on X @brittanymchang.
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