Going on a cruise? Here are a few survival tips:

• Ask for a cabin upgrade when you check in, or go to the purser's desk once you board. You may not get one (OK, you probably won't), but it never hurts to ask.

Andy Newman /AP (ENLARGE)

Advance planning may save you money and help you avoid crowded shuttles when cruising.

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• Don't go thirsty, and don't pay through the teeth for liquid refreshment. Take Solo cups or a large insulated mug on board so you can fill it with ice while you're lounging by the pool.

• You may be surprised to learn that some cruise lines allow you to bring alcohol on board. For the policies on a number of the major lines, check the planning section of Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseplanning; click on "Cruise Line Alcohol Policies").

• Though many of the in-port excursions on a cruise are premium priced, they're generally vetted by the lines. One way to save money, though, is to bypass the island-tour-with-lunch option and to jump in a taxi; in many spots, cabbies can show tourists exactly what they want and in a little more comfort than your typical elbow-to-elbow tour bus. Plus, you'll get a more interesting, intimate perspective.

• Though it may be heresy, save lots of money and don't even get off the ship. You'll have the place to yourself and, trust us, you'll cherish the peace. Some of our best visits to islands on a ship were those in which we sat on deck and watched our fellow cruisers squabble with vendors and trudge through crowded streets.