I've been on over 55 cruises. Here are 7 of the biggest mistakes I see cruisers make.

• Check what’s included in your cruise fare so you don’t miss out on great excursions and perks.

Booking flights too close to embarkation or disembarkation

Bringing prohibited items on board

In a scene that felt straight out of a movie, the two late passengers appeared on the pier moments after we pulled away.

To avoid being left behind, I recommend returning to the port about an hour before the all-aboard time. This leaves a buffer for traffic or unexpected delays — and you can still explore the port area or terminal before boarding.

I also save the port agent’s contact information provided by the cruise line in case of an emergency.

Not having a disembarkation plan

It’s easy to overlook disembarkation when putting together a cruise, but not having a plan can turn your final morning into a headache.

When I disembarked from a Mediterranean cruise in Ravenna, Italy, some passengers waited in the heat for more than two hours because there were very few taxis available.

Thankfully, I had researched the port and arranged our transportation in advance for the two-hour drive to Venice.

Before your cruise, research what to expect at the disembarkation port and arrange transportation in advance.

I prefer booking disembarkation tours with airport drop-offs through the cruise line, as they’re convenient and don’t add stress to the end of my vacation.