Cruises are great vacation value, but there are ways that people booking Cruises (even seasoned travelers) can diminish their overall experience. Likewise, even people new to Cruises can enhance the experience by following certain guidelines. Here are seven ways to get the most from sea travel.

First - Travel with a like-minded partner or friends. Most ships are like Noah's Ark: people get on in pairs or in groups. While cruise ships will gladly allow you to travel solo, it is not the best way to enjoy your holiday. Not only will you sometimes feel awkward during dining or ship activities, you also get slapped with a surcharge since all Cruises are based on double (or more) occupancy rates.

Second - Board your ocean liner as early as you can and take any tours of the vessel or facilities that are offered. Most Cruises allow you to come on board many hours before they set sail and during that time you may be offered free tours of the ship, the spa, and so on. Although they aren't going to be the highlight of your vacation, these tours help you get oriented and can give you a glimpse of facilities on-board that you may have not known about.

Third - Do everything. This may sound counterintuitive to most fanatics of Cruises, who seek unstructured time and the opportunity to just lounge around and do nothing. Actually, most cruise directors will tell you the best sea holidays are those in which you really attempt to try and do everything offered.

Fourth - Don't overeat. While some people do take Cruises to gorge themselves, this is usually a rookie mistake. It may sound counter-intuitive to avoid overindulging on Cruises, since most ships really emphasize the wonderful food they offer. But here's how to handle it.

Fifth - Drink water. That's good advice anywhere, but most of us forget about it on vacation, particularly on Cruises. Furthermore, if you drink alcohol or spend a lot of time in a hot climate, your need for water increases so you need even more water to avoid dehydration.

Sixth - Protect your skin. Even if you sail to Antarctica, you will still need sunscreen. The sun's intensity is amplified by the water's reflection, so ramp up your sunscreen protection. Put on sunscreen when you go to the pool or beach or even if you're just sitting on deck in the shade.

If you do get burned, use some of the after-burn products on the market. They should be available on board if you don't bring your own. Whatever you do, protect any burned skin from further sun exposure. If you get a burn on top of an existing sunburn, you can do serious damage to your skin and may even require medical intervention.

Seventh - Don't be cruise-stupid. That's a term I made up for a behavior I frequently observe on cruise ships. For some reason, cruising  makes some people act foolishly or recklessly and do things they would never normally do. Maybe it's the unreal experience of being on the water away from the usual stresses of daily life at home.