4. Your cruise line is not responsible, but can help.

Cruise lines typically include information on necessary travel documents when you book a cruise, so be sure to read everything carefully. And while most lines won't arrange visas directly, they will point you in the right direction by recommending a third-party visa service that can get you all the right paperwork and expedite the process.

That said, it's up to you to make sure everything is in order before you travel. If you show up at the port without the right documents, your cruise line will not offer a refund or cover travel arrangements to get you back home.

One additional word of advice: You will need lots of room in it for your visa, especially if you are in a location that allows you to purchase one when you arrive. It is recommended that you have six to eight blank pages in your passport, and (in some countries) you can be turned away at the port and required to stay on the ship — or worse, unable to leave the airport — if you don't have the correct amount of space.