Cruise Planning Questions, Answered

No. Katie is paid a commission by the cruise line out of the fare you would pay anyway, so the price is the same as booking direct - and occasionally lower, when she has access to a group rate or an advisor-only promotion that is not advertised publicly.

Nothing for a standard cruise booking. There is no planning fee, no booking fee and no obligation to book after she sends you options. If a trip is complex enough to need a planning fee she will tell you before any work starts.

Royal Caribbean is her specialty - she holds the Royal Caribbean Masters certification and has sailed the fleet nine times. She also books Celebrity, Norwegian, Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Virgin Voyages, Disney and MSC, plus river cruises, luxury lines, all-inclusive resorts and custom land vacations.

For a closed-loop cruise - one that starts and ends at the same U.S. port - U.S. citizens can generally board with an original or certified birth certificate plus government photo ID. A passport book is required for one-way sailings, any cruise starting or ending outside the U.S., and any trip where you fly to or from the ship. A passport is strongly recommended regardless, because a birth certificate will not get you on a flight home if there is an emergency abroad.

Typically around 90 days before sailing for a standard cruise, and earlier - often 120 days - for longer voyages, holiday sailings and suites. The exact date is set by the cruise line and confirmed when you book. Missing it usually means automatic cancellation and loss of the deposit.

Before final payment, a lower advertised fare can often be applied to your existing booking, or taken as onboard credit. Katie monitors booked fares and requests the adjustment - you do not need to watch prices yourself.

Six to twelve months ahead suits most sailings and gives you the widest cabin choice. Book further out for Alaska, holiday weeks, school holidays, suites and Disney Cruise Line, which sells out earliest. Last-minute deals exist but the cabin selection is whatever is left.

Icon Class and Oasis Class are built around families - waterparks, dedicated kids' neighbourhoods and enough onboard activity that sea days never drag. Freedom and Voyager Class offer most of the same features on a smaller, cheaper and easier-to-navigate ship. The right answer depends on the ages of your children and your budget, which is the conversation Katie has with every family.

Usually, and it should be bought early rather than at final payment. Many policies only offer pre-existing medical condition waivers and 'cancel for any reason' upgrades if purchased within a short window of your initial deposit. Katie will also tell you when a trip genuinely does not need it.

Yes. Flights, pre- and post-cruise hotels, airport transfers, shore excursions, drink and wifi packages, and travel insurance can all be arranged alongside the cruise so the whole trip sits with one person.

Katie works with clients across the United States. Cruise planning is done by phone, email and text, so where you live makes no difference to the service - only to which departure ports are convenient for you.

Send a quote request with roughly when you would like to travel and who is coming. It takes about a minute, needs no payment details, and Katie replies within one business day with real options and real prices.