FREE CRUISE GUIDES • NO COST • JUST USEFUL INFORMATION
Free Cruise E-Books & Planning Guides
Planning a cruise should be exciting — not an endless hunt for answers scattered across dozens of websites.
That’s why America’s Best Cruises created a free library of cruise-planning guides covering everything from group cruising and packing to Alaska, the Panama Canal, embarkation, budgeting, health and choosing a cruise line.
Pick the subject you need. Download the guide. Keep it for later. Share it with the people traveling with you.
- 10 free cruise-planning resources
- Practical information you can save and share
- Destination, planning, budgeting and group-cruise guides
A REAL PERSON BEHIND THE RESOURCES
Meet Captain Chuck.
Chuck Lund is the founder of America’s Best Cruises and has spent more than 35 years taking care of people and bringing groups together.
He understands that the best group trips aren’t really about ships, cabins or itineraries. They’re about the people you share them with, the memories you bring home and those wonderful moments when everyone realizes, “We’re really doing this together.”
That’s why Chuck approaches every group cruise personally. He helps take the uncertainty out of planning, keeps everyone informed and handles the countless details that can turn an exciting idea into a stressful job for the group organizer.
His goal is simple: make the planning easier, make the experience more personal and give everyone something wonderful to look forward to.
“I treat every guest like family because that’s what these trips are all about.”
LEARN BEFORE YOU BOOK
A Little Knowledge Can Make the Entire Cruise Easier
Cruises are easy vacations once you are aboard, but there can be a surprising number of decisions beforehand.
Which cruise line fits you? What should you pack? What expenses should you expect? How does group cruising work? What happens on embarkation day?
These guides were created to help answer those questions in a format you can read at your own pace.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE HELP WITH?
Browse the Library by Topic
Jump directly to the kind of information you need right now.
THE COMPLETE FREE LIBRARY
Choose a Guide and Start Reading
Every resource below is currently available from the America’s Best Cruises library.
The Great Alaskan Cruise Adventure
A detailed guide to preparing for an Alaska cruise, including planning, packing, onboard life, shore experiences and practical travel considerations.
Pet Care, Peace of Mind
A practical resource for thinking through your pet's care before you leave for vacation so you can travel with fewer worries back home.
Stress-Free Embarkation
Get ready for cruise day with practical ideas for preparing documents, arriving organized and making the transition from terminal to vacation feel easier.
Navigating the Hidden Costs of Cruising
Look beyond the headline cruise fare and learn why travelers should consider gratuities, extras, optional purchases and other potential vacation expenses.
Health and Safety on Group Cruises
A general planning resource for thinking about health, safety and preparation while traveling as part of a cruise group.
Unlocking the Canal
Explore one of cruising's most fascinating destination experiences and learn more about what makes a Panama Canal voyage so distinctive.
Ultimate Guide to Group Cruises
Start with the fundamentals of traveling together at sea and learn how thoughtful planning can make a group vacation easier for organizers and travelers alike.
Cruise Line Showdown
A comprehensive comparison guide designed to help travelers understand how cruise lines can differ in atmosphere, activities, dining, destinations and group experiences.
Budget for Your Dream Cruise
Think through the financial side of cruising before departure and create a more realistic vacation budget around the experience you want.
Ultimate Cruise Packing Guide
Organize what you bring aboard with a practical guide designed to help travelers remember cruise essentials without packing the entire house.
Cruise-line policies, programs, ship features, pricing and destination information can change. Use these guides as planning resources and verify important current details before booking or traveling.
STARTING OR JOINING A GROUP?
Begin With the Group-Cruise Guides
Group cruising introduces questions that do not always matter when one couple books a vacation.
How many cabins make a group? Who handles payments? Do guests need the same cabin type? Does everyone have to eat together? What does the organizer actually have to do?
The Ultimate Guide to Group Cruises provides a longer-form introduction while our Group Cruise Questions & Answers library lets you jump directly to individual questions.
PACK • BUDGET • ARRIVE PREPARED
Practical Cruise Planning Guides
These are the books to reach for when the cruise is no longer just an idea and you need to start preparing.
Stress-Free Embarkation
Prepare for the transition from home to terminal to ship.
Download → 02Hidden Costs of Cruising
Look beyond the initial advertised fare.
Download → 03Budget for Your Dream Cruise
Build a vacation budget before you sail.
Download → 04Ultimate Cruise Packing Guide
Remember the useful things without overpacking.
Download →KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Free Destination E-Books
Sometimes the best part of preparing for a cruise is learning about where you are going.
The Great Alaskan Cruise Adventure
Planning, packing, onboard life, ports and Alaska cruise experiences.
Unlocking the Canal
Discover more about one of cruising's most fascinating transit experiences.
VACATION PLANNING DOESN'T STOP AT THE SHIP
Don't Forget About Life Back Home
A relaxing vacation is much easier when you know the responsibilities you left behind have been thought through.
Pet Care, Peace of Mind focuses on preparing for the care of a pet while you are away.
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when choosing a cruise, but for a pet owner, it can be one of the most important parts of leaving home comfortably.
Download Pet Care, Peace of MindTHE SHIPS MAY ALL FLOAT — THE EXPERIENCES ARE NOT THE SAME
Which Cruise Line Is Right for You?
Cruise lines can differ substantially in atmosphere, entertainment, dining, onboard activities and the travelers they tend to attract.
Cruise Line Showdown was created to help explain those differences and give travelers a starting point for comparison.
Because cruise lines continually change ships, programs and benefits, treat the book as an introduction and confirm current details before making a final decision.
Download Cruise Line Showdown
PREPARED TRAVELERS CAN ENJOY THE VACATION MORE
Health and Safety on Group Cruises
Travel involves unfamiliar environments, changing schedules and plenty of activity.
This guide provides general considerations to help groups think about health, preparation and safety before and during a cruise.
Health needs are personal. Travelers with medical questions should rely on appropriate healthcare professionals and current cruise-line requirements for decisions specific to them.
Download Health & Safety GuideUSE THE GUIDE TO THINK ABOUT
E-BOOKS FOR THE BIG PICTURE • Q&A FOR THE QUICK ANSWER
Use Both Libraries Together
Sometimes you want to sit down with a complete guide. Other times you just want one question answered.
Free E-Book Library
Download a complete guide, read it when convenient and share it with your group.
Browse Free E-Books →Group Cruise Questions & Answers
Jump directly to specific questions about pricing, payments, cabins, planning, organizers and group benefits.
Explore Group Cruise Q&A →KEEP EXPLORING
More Free Cruise Planning Resources
Get direct answers about pricing, payments, cabins, organizers and more.
DESTINATIONS Explore Cruise Destinations →Browse ports and cruise regions around the world.
SAIL AWAY BLOG Read Cruise Planning Articles →More practical guidance, destination ideas and cruise information.
PERSONAL HELP Ask Captain Chuck →Have a question about your own group? Tell us what you're considering.
FREE CRUISE E-BOOK FAQ
Questions About the Library
These resources are designed to make cruise planning easier, not more complicated.
Are the America’s Best Cruises e-books free?
Yes. The cruise-planning e-books in this library are offered as free downloadable resources.
How many free cruise guides are available?
The current library contains ten downloadable cruise and travel-planning resources.
What topics do the free cruise e-books cover?
Topics include group cruising, cruise-line comparison, Alaska, the Panama Canal, embarkation, packing, budgeting, hidden cruise costs, health and safety and pet-care preparation.
Is there a free group cruise guide?
Yes. The Ultimate Guide to Group Cruises is available as a free PDF download. America’s Best Cruises also maintains a separate Group Cruise Questions & Answers library.
Is there a free Alaska cruise guide?
Yes. The Great Alaskan Cruise Adventure covers Alaska cruise planning, packing, onboard experiences and shore activities.
Is there a Panama Canal cruise guide?
Yes. Unlocking the Canal is available as a free download for travelers interested in Panama Canal cruising.
Is there a cruise packing guide?
Yes. The Ultimate Cruise Packing Guide is included in the free library.
Is there a guide to cruise costs?
Yes. Navigating the Hidden Costs of Cruising and Budget for Your Dream Cruise both focus on the financial side of cruise preparation.
Is there a cruise-line comparison guide?
Yes. Cruise Line Showdown compares several major cruise lines and discusses differences in onboard experiences and group-travel considerations.
Can I share these guides with friends or my group?
The library is designed to help cruise travelers plan and prepare. You can direct friends and group members to this free library so they can access the guides themselves.
Can information in a cruise e-book become outdated?
Yes. Cruise-line policies, promotions, ships, prices, programs and destination details can change. Verify important current information before making travel decisions.
Where can I find current group-cruise answers?
Visit the Group Cruise Questions & Answers library for focused answers about group pricing, payments, cabin minimums, organizer responsibilities, creator cruises, fundraising cruises and more.
Where can I research cruise destinations?
Visit the America’s Best Cruises Cruise Destinations hub to explore Alaska, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico, Panama Canal and other regions.
Can America’s Best Cruises help me choose a cruise?
Yes. America’s Best Cruises can help compare practical cruise options based on your group, dates, budget, destination interests and travel priorities.
READ • LEARN • DREAM • THEN LET’S FIND THE RIGHT CRUISE
Ready to Turn the Research Into a Real Vacation?
Tell us who may be traveling, where they would like to go, when they can travel and what matters most. We can help narrow the choices and explain what deserves a closer look.
