Taking a 5 night western caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean later this year (winter actually). This is my first cruise, and with it being a honeymoon, I want everything (that I can control) to go as planned. Anything that I need to know?
Going on a cruise
- Thread starter surreal1221
- Start date
Spike
Diamond Member
- Aug 27, 2001
- 6,770
- 1
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My wife and I went on a 12-day cruise of the med for our honeymoon and it was probably one of the best choices I have ever made.
Some advice: If you want to drink be prepared to pay for it, the bars are numerous but charge alot for any booze. If you like wine and this ship is anything like the princess cruise we went on then you can bring wine aboard (either from shore excursions or at the beginning) and have room service bring you glasses and even open the bottle for you. That way you get wine for shore price and not ship price. I don't know if this works for hard A but I doubt it.
Pace yourself with your food. You have all the time in the world and food is available 24 hours a day so you don't need to stuff yourself all at once. You can do the reccomended 6 smaller meals a day without any preperation on your part!
If you are doing alot of shore excursions and it happens to be hot (not sure how the temps will be down there at that time you are going) make sure to bring a few refillable water bottles. Usually the water in your room is not filtered and they charge $2 or more for a bottle so ship water is expensive. The trick is to have the bartender refill your bottle from their cold, filtered water instead of paying for more.
Thats all I have, be sure to enjoy!
-spike
Some advice: If you want to drink be prepared to pay for it, the bars are numerous but charge alot for any booze. If you like wine and this ship is anything like the princess cruise we went on then you can bring wine aboard (either from shore excursions or at the beginning) and have room service bring you glasses and even open the bottle for you. That way you get wine for shore price and not ship price. I don't know if this works for hard A but I doubt it.
Pace yourself with your food. You have all the time in the world and food is available 24 hours a day so you don't need to stuff yourself all at once. You can do the reccomended 6 smaller meals a day without any preperation on your part!
If you are doing alot of shore excursions and it happens to be hot (not sure how the temps will be down there at that time you are going) make sure to bring a few refillable water bottles. Usually the water in your room is not filtered and they charge $2 or more for a bottle so ship water is expensive. The trick is to have the bartender refill your bottle from their cold, filtered water instead of paying for more.
Thats all I have, be sure to enjoy!
-spike
Couple of things come to mind...
1. Try to schedule your arrival to the ship early so you can board without having to stand in a massive line. Most people for the 7 day I went on showed up later in the departure line.
2. Plan on not seeing your luggage for awhile when you arrive. We, the ex & I, arrived dressed as if we walked off the airplane. While waiting for the ship to leave, I wanted to change but all our clothes were packed away. We did have access to our room, but that was it. I don't think the luggage showed up until late that evening. My advice, pack your toiletries and a change of clothes into a backpack or a small carry on. I'm unsure of the rules, but since your luggage must go through customs -- no exceptions, you are allowed to carry on something.
3. Plan on spending more money than you already have. Everything on the ship, except for food, will cost you extra.
4. Don't pack your schedule full of excursions. Plan on taking some time to relax. Unless you like to be constantly on the run, planning for alot of excursions will have you worn out. Space them out and try to relax a little.
5. Get a room on or one floor away from the main dinning hall. You can be cheap and stay on the bottom, but you'll regret it unless you like stairs. The reason why is you should plan on being in the dining hall 3 times a day for food. Now you'll eat at other places from time to time, but the bulk of your eating is done there. If you've been in the pool all day, you'll have to go all the way to your room (down stairs), change, then go back up stairs. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but the place will be packed and time will be wasted getting from place to place. Forget about the elevator unless you really need it. They will always be full during peak movement times.
6. Decorate your luggage. When you leave the ship all the luggage will be dropped into one large room. Everyone has black luggage that looks like yours. If your plane leaves early, you'll have to look through rows upon rows of luggage to find yours. I have green luggage that I tied ribbons to. I saw it walking off the ship and was able to grab it within minutes. Most people spent a long time looking for it. Picture a warehouse full of luggage and then you'll undertand why this is important.
1. Try to schedule your arrival to the ship early so you can board without having to stand in a massive line. Most people for the 7 day I went on showed up later in the departure line.
2. Plan on not seeing your luggage for awhile when you arrive. We, the ex & I, arrived dressed as if we walked off the airplane. While waiting for the ship to leave, I wanted to change but all our clothes were packed away. We did have access to our room, but that was it. I don't think the luggage showed up until late that evening. My advice, pack your toiletries and a change of clothes into a backpack or a small carry on. I'm unsure of the rules, but since your luggage must go through customs -- no exceptions, you are allowed to carry on something.
3. Plan on spending more money than you already have. Everything on the ship, except for food, will cost you extra.
4. Don't pack your schedule full of excursions. Plan on taking some time to relax. Unless you like to be constantly on the run, planning for alot of excursions will have you worn out. Space them out and try to relax a little.
5. Get a room on or one floor away from the main dinning hall. You can be cheap and stay on the bottom, but you'll regret it unless you like stairs. The reason why is you should plan on being in the dining hall 3 times a day for food. Now you'll eat at other places from time to time, but the bulk of your eating is done there. If you've been in the pool all day, you'll have to go all the way to your room (down stairs), change, then go back up stairs. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but the place will be packed and time will be wasted getting from place to place. Forget about the elevator unless you really need it. They will always be full during peak movement times.
6. Decorate your luggage. When you leave the ship all the luggage will be dropped into one large room. Everyone has black luggage that looks like yours. If your plane leaves early, you'll have to look through rows upon rows of luggage to find yours. I have green luggage that I tied ribbons to. I saw it walking off the ship and was able to grab it within minutes. Most people spent a long time looking for it. Picture a warehouse full of luggage and then you'll undertand why this is important.
Spike
Diamond Member
- Aug 27, 2001
- 6,770
- 1
- 81
Forgot about some of those, great advice! My wife tied pink ribbons to our bags and at the time I laughed at her. Come departure day I thanked her profusly for that as it made things MUCH easier.
I had the same experience with the late luggage. Ours did not arrive till almost 8pm even though we had been in the room since 4. It scared us at first till we asked a few other people and found out it was normal.
-spike
EDIT** Because my wife and I booked early, we were given a chance for a free "upgrade". They bumped us up to the highest deck of cabins (1/4 of the deck was rooms, the rest was pools and food areas). At the time I remember thinking "big deal, it's still the same size of internal room" but man it was sooooo much better. I loved being on that deck, swiming and eating was much less of a hassel so we had more time for the real honeymoon fun
cKGunslinger
Lifer
- Nov 29, 1999
- 16,411
- 57
- 91
Dirtboy and Spike have most of your bases covered.
Bring cash! I didn't know I'd need $75 cash to park the damn car and had to track down an ATM, quick.
Bring cash! I didn't know I'd need $75 cash to park the damn car and had to track down an ATM, quick.
Also, stash a couple hundred in the ship safe when you first board. On the day of departure you're supposed to tip everyone that had anything to do with you. This includes your waiter, the guy that makes your bed, if you have wine with dinner the guy that brings it. Maybe a couple others. Busboy is optional, but on our cruise everyone gave him a tip too. Worst part about mine was I missed the day that they had steak or lobster dinner.
Spike
Diamond Member
- Aug 27, 2001
- 6,770
- 1
- 81
Originally posted by: bwnv
Also, stash a couple hundred in the ship safe when you first board. On the day of departure you're supposed to tip everyone that had anything to do with you. This includes your waiter, the guy that makes your bed, if you have wine with dinner the guy that brings it. Maybe a couple others. Busboy is optional, but on our cruise everyone gave him a tip too. Worst part about mine was I missed the day that they had steak or lobster dinner.
With Princess they automatically charge you $10 a day per person for tipping, that covers everybody on the ship except for the bartenders. For my wife and I that was $240 which was kinda alot but well worth it for not having to tip anyone. We have a little extra if we were very impressed though
-spike
Originally posted by: Spike
Originally posted by: bwnv
Also, stash a couple hundred in the ship safe when you first board. On the day of departure you're supposed to tip everyone that had anything to do with you. This includes your waiter, the guy that makes your bed, if you have wine with dinner the guy that brings it. Maybe a couple others. Busboy is optional, but on our cruise everyone gave him a tip too. Worst part about mine was I missed the day that they had steak or lobster dinner.
With Princess they automatically charge you $10 a day per person for tipping, that covers everybody on the ship except for the bartenders. For my wife and I that was $240 which was kinda alot but well worth it for not having to tip anyone. We have a little extra if we were very impressed though
-spike
Yeah Royal Carribean does the same thing, so I already have it covered in my fees.
Thanks for all the valuable information, greatly appreciated.
We are on deck 7, with a private balcony, etc etc, should be real nice.
the forums at cruise critic are kind of fun and very informative, when you're planning a cruise. information on alternatives to the cruiseline's shore excursions, just.. all kinds of stuff. you might enjoy looking around there a bit.
Kelemvor
Lifer
- May 23, 2002
- 16,928
- 8
- 81
Honestly there's not much to worry about for cruises since it's a floating hotel and they have everything for you.
I'd totally disagree about getting a room near the dining hall. Most people eat more on a cruise than they ever have and taking the stairs might help you keep some of the weight off.
If you are going to sign up for excursions, do it early as they tend to fill up fast. But don't go overboard. You will want to have time to just relax and do your own thing as well.
Most ships these days have special plans wher eyou can get unlimited soda for like $15 or something. If you like soda, definitely get one of those. And you can always share with your wife as well.
Read up on your destinations ahead of time so you know what you want to do when you get there. THe cruise lines normally have their special excursions pre-setup but you can always get a guide book (Foders are normally good) and just see the local sites.
And everything can be charged to your room so having moneyis really not needed except when you go off the ship. And most placed trake credit cards these days anyway so cash isn't really needed much.
I'd totally disagree about getting a room near the dining hall. Most people eat more on a cruise than they ever have and taking the stairs might help you keep some of the weight off.
If you are going to sign up for excursions, do it early as they tend to fill up fast. But don't go overboard. You will want to have time to just relax and do your own thing as well.
Most ships these days have special plans wher eyou can get unlimited soda for like $15 or something. If you like soda, definitely get one of those. And you can always share with your wife as well.
Read up on your destinations ahead of time so you know what you want to do when you get there. THe cruise lines normally have their special excursions pre-setup but you can always get a guide book (Foders are normally good) and just see the local sites.
And everything can be charged to your room so having moneyis really not needed except when you go off the ship. And most placed trake credit cards these days anyway so cash isn't really needed much.
Get a room with a window or balcony it is definately worth the extra money.
Practice saying "no" because you will have to say it several times while in Jamaica. They are always pestering you to get in a cab or give them more money for something.
Practice saying "no" because you will have to say it several times while in Jamaica. They are always pestering you to get in a cab or give them more money for something.
Kelemvor
Lifer
- May 23, 2002
- 16,928
- 8
- 81
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
We always get a room wway from the dining area so we have to walk. We also never take the elevators. We usually come away a couple pounds lighter. Walking up 70 flights a day will do that, though
Same here. And the fact that normally the elevators are packed, it's far faster to just take the stairs.
no the water in your cabin is very clean, filtered, actually most ships use desalinated filtered sea water. and get a prescription for the patches for seasickness.
SearchMaster
Diamond Member
- Jun 6, 2002
- 7,791
- 114
- 106
I'll echo what was said before...if you drink a lot, it adds up fast because everything is charged to your room key and you don't realize how much it is until you get the bill. My brother-in-law won about $800 in the casino on our 4 day cruise, but had to pay almost all of it back for his bar bill (covering 4 people). My wife and I aren't big drinkers, and we usually sneak some liquor on board and pour it into our cokes. Yeah, kinda chintzy, but at least the cruise is getting the $2 or whatever for the coke where they'd be getting nothing if I had to pay $7 for a drink.
Originally posted by: Spike
Originally posted by: bwnv
Also, stash a couple hundred in the ship safe when you first board. On the day of departure you're supposed to tip everyone that had anything to do with you. This includes your waiter, the guy that makes your bed, if you have wine with dinner the guy that brings it. Maybe a couple others. Busboy is optional, but on our cruise everyone gave him a tip too. Worst part about mine was I missed the day that they had steak or lobster dinner.
With Princess they automatically charge you $10 a day per person for tipping, that covers everybody on the ship except for the bartenders. For my wife and I that was $240 which was kinda alot but well worth it for not having to tip anyone. We have a little extra if we were very impressed though
-spike
On Royal Carribean you could charge the tip to your credit card at the end. I only tipped the people we used... I think we at outside of the dining room 3 times, which pissed off my waiter so much he called to find out what was wrong!
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