Whether you are going on your first cruise or you are a seasoned sailor, there are certain cruise “rules” we all hear over and over again: arrive a day early, bring the right charger, pack essentials in your carry-on, and prepare for delays. But what I learned very quickly is that not all of those guidelines work the same way for international cruises. In the summer of 2025, I took my very first cruise to the Greek Isles, including an overnight stay in Istanbul, Türkiye. Not
