I take my kids and grandkids on vacation twice a year. The trips are well worth the $30,000 I spend.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Francine Bookbinder with her husband and family on a recent vacation.
Francine Bookbinder with her husband and family on a recent vacation.

Courtesy of Francine Bookbinder

I took my first cruise and made 10 mistakes that spoiled my voyage

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author wearing pants and a sweater on the top deck of a cruise ship
Business Insider's reporter took her first cruise on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I've worked on cruise ships for years. Here are 6 things passengers should pack and 5 they shouldn't.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
woman in a sunbonnet relaxes on the top deck of a cruise ship during her vacation at sea
I (not pictured) have gotten very good at packing for cruises after working on many of them.

Jeff R Clow/Getty Images

I've upgraded to concierge level on 4 Disney cruises. It's really only worth it for one perk.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Author Jill Robbins and her husband smiling at a beach in the bahamas
After many Disney cruises, there's just one concierge perk that really stands out to me.

Jill Robbins

I've been on over 25 cruises. There are 3 things I never bother packing.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author Jill Robbins smiling wiht family on cruise ship
After taking many cruises, I've streamlined my packing lists and strategies.

Jill Robbins

I took a 7-day cruise with carry-on luggage and a backpack. See everything on my packing list and how I organized it all.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of the author standing on the top deck of a cruise ship and clothes inside a cabin closet
Business Insider's reporter shares her packing list for a seven-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My family of 5 booked an interior cabin and an ocean-view room on a Carnival cruise. Here's how they compared.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
lisa galek on bed in carnival legend, storage space
I booked two rooms on the Carnival Legend for my family.

Lisa Galek

I met a man on the street, and our third date was a 12-day Mediterranean cruise. It was a surreal experience.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Man and woman smiling on cruise ship
I went on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise with a man I'd only been on two dates with. The risk paid off, and I'm so glad I trusted my instincts.

Jodie Hughes

My family of 5 went on our first cruise. We had fun, but there are 4 things I wish we'd known before getting on the ship.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Chris, his wife, and three sons smile in front of a cruise ship.
There are a few things I wish I had known before our first cruise.

Chris Thomas

We paid $9,000 for the cheapest room on an ultra-luxury Caribbean cruise. See inside our ship and 302-square-foot suite.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Author David Morris and his family smiling
When planning a multigenerational trip to the Caribbean during the busy holiday season, our family settled on an ultra-luxury cruise.

David Morris

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