"I wish I knew before..."

[Ohana Travel]

of all the tips I read on this thread, the one that I will take with me everywhere is to take a picture of your personal information as the first pic on a new memory card. if you ever lose your camera, an honest person will know how to get ahold of you.

(note: put phone numbers, not addresses - just in case a dishonest person finds it)

[Iplowsnow]

Just wondering what are some ideas for a cruising ritual? This May will be our first cruise also. And I'm hoping not our last. We are on Celebrity Reflection.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

 

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[Smokeyham]

Just wondering what are some ideas for a cruising ritual?

 

This May will be our first cruise also. And I'm hoping not our last. We are on Celebrity Reflection. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Check out this thread - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1697772 - which has a fun list of the first things which people do when they get on board a ship. :)

[ExcitedMightPee]

These are the same elastic materials as a bungee, but its formed in a loop vs straight, and there's a little hook thingie on the loop. You can wrap the cord around something and hook it to itself easily. We have an assortment of them, from about an inch diameter to bracelet sized. Quite handy for everything from hotel rooms to camera baggs to .....

 

Good idea, I'll have to remeber to bring a few.

 

Jim

 

 

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Yes! That's exactly what I'm talking about. You explain it so much better!!

Thank you!

 

 

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[JosieCat-MN]

I have only ever taken 2 cruises, but here is what I learned on my first cruise. I brought a suitcase and a tote. I carried on the tote. It was heavy and I got tired of dragging it around. Second cruise, I checked my tote and carried on my beach bag, which only had the things I knew I would absolutely need before my luggage arrived.

[TravelKnitter]

I don't know if it works, but I laughed out loud at the commercial they posted on YouTube.

[1Amberella]

We are going on our 1st cruise ever to celebrate our 9 year anniversary. We just had our 1st baby last year, and mommy and daddy are getting some much needed alone time. We are trying to make this as low budget as possible, but still want it to be special. Thanks for all the tips!

[2specialkidsforme]

Here are the things I wish I would have known:

 

1. Find out what ports you are tendering to and if need be make sure you get your tender ticket ahead of time and right when they distribute them or you can wait a long time (happened to me on the NCL Gem for Great Stirrup Cay)

 

2. Check out the daily activity sheets you get the night before in your cabin and highlight the activities that interest you - it will make it easier to decide what to do the next day.

 

3. Purchase a future cruise certificate award if you love the cruise and see yourself cruising again in the next few years. Definitely worth it!

 

4. Make sure to notify your bank (ATM card) and your credit card companies you will be traveling and to where on what dates.

 

5. ENJOY!!!!

[Marlebd]

Good job! thanks

[Texas_cherbear]

How does getting tender tickets work and do you need them to get back on the boat?

If you have prepaid excursions, do you need to pick up a physical ticket for those also ahead of time on the boat? Thanks

[traceyleigh15]

We dock at 8 and our excursion starts at 9...booked through the ship. Would we get off on time?

 

 

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[PatchesJ72]

We dock at 8 and our excursion starts at 9...booked through the ship. Would we get off on time?

 

You booked the excursion through the cruise line so no worries.

[Seawoff]

Didn't read all the posts but here's my tip.

 

At midnight or so on the last night, your fairy tale holiday hits reality. You must pack up all your stuff and get your bags out into the corridor before you go to bed.

 

You must also decide what to put in your daypack/carry on to get you through the entire journey home. It has to accommodate the nightwear you sleep in on the last night, and the toiletries and meds you need until you arrive home. If you depart the ship early in the morning and have to kill time before a flight home, your bag must also hold everything you'll need during the day (like sunscreen, sun hat, etc.) And if you're like us and will fly home to ice and snow, you'd better give a thought before midnight on that last night about what you'll be wearing when you step off your plane and into the howling north wind.

 

 

 

Sorry, bummer, I know. But you're going to be homeless from the time you step off that ship till the time you open your front door at home. All you're going to have is what you're carrying with you. Best to figure that out before you hit the margaritas and martinis on your last evening.

 

I only discovered luggage direct on my last cruise.

 

I highly recommend it for all Holland America cruisers.

 

It costs $19 per person, you get your airline boarding pass, luggage tags, and you put your luggage in the hall and do not have to touch it again until you pick it up At the airport at the end of your trip home.

 

You also can walk off the ship early.

 

It is worth every penny. ;)

[Underwatr]

How does getting tender tickets work and do you need them to get back on the boat?

If you have prepaid excursions, do you need to pick up a physical ticket for those also ahead of time on the boat? Thanks

Excursions will have a meeting place, usually onboard unless the excursion departs after lunch. The excursion group gets priority tendering so no tickets required.

 

If you're not on an excursion you get a tickets and wait until your ticket group is called (suite passengers or elite past passengers may have priority). Usually no tickets are required about an hour or so after tender service begins but conditions at the dock can slow tender service.

 

Tickets aren't required to return to the ship. I've never really had to wait to board on that end but there may be a short wait to fill the tender before it leaves.

[firestopr]

88 pages of useful tips for this Newbie Cruiser. Thank You all so much for the great input that each of you have brought to the thread.

 

Now a Question.

 

I do not like the idea of having any sort of hold put on any of my cards, if it can be helped.(Very bad experience in the past with a hold gone wrong) can i prepay my Ship account (Cruising on RCCL). And if so is this done at the pursers on Board or would i do it before boarding?

[daveo11]

88 pages of useful tips for this Newbie Cruiser. Thank You all so much for the great input that each of you have brought to the thread.

 

Now a Question.

 

I do not like the idea of having any sort of hold put on any of my cards, if it can be helped.(Very bad experience in the past with a hold gone wrong) can i prepay my Ship account (Cruising on RCCL). And if so is this done at the pursers on Board or would i do it before boarding?

 

Hi from another newbie cruiser; less than a week to wait :D! With RCCL we have the option to use cash on our sea pass which, as I understand, is used for on-board transactions apart from in the casino. We have purchased $USD which we will put onto our sea pass when we board. There are also ATMs available on board where we can top up our $USD and sea pass if necessary.

 

You could investigate whether this type of option is available in your situation.

[Smokeyham]

I do not like the idea of having any sort of hold put on any of my cards, if it can be helped.(Very bad experience in the past with a hold gone wrong)

 

Can i prepay my Ship account (Cruising on RCCL). And if so is this done at the pursers on Board or would i do it before boarding?

 

Just a couple of thoughts. I have heard of people using cash to pay their accounts, but you might find this problematic since they normally want a credit card. If this is a concern, you might consider getting a credit card which you just use for the cruise, and/or get a pre-paid credit card.

 

With regards to using the ATMs on board; watch out for fees which the ship and your bank might charge for making transactions using the machine.

 

Here is a thread that discussing cruising without using a credit card. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1980448&highlight=no+credit+card

Edited March 27, 2014 by Smokeyham

[cherryharley]

After reading all, yes ALL, of these pages in prep for our first cruise, I can't say there was anything I wish I'd known before cruising. I picked out the best tips and made myself a one page tip sheet and it served me well.

 

These are my thoughts for first time cruisers.

 

1. No matter how scared or nervous you are, you will relax once you are onboard and have a wonderful time if you make up your mind to. Take it from someone who almost backed out of going from nerves, cruising isn't scary at all and you barely notice you are not on dry land.

 

2. Attitude is everything. I felt I met the most friendly people in the world on my cruise last month, but then I made a point to smile and strike up a conversation with everyone I came into contact with, from staff to strangers in the elevator or at the next table. Speaking of which, Carnival's custom of sitting a bunch of strangers together at a big table for dinner is great. It gives you a chance to get to know others and often get tips from veteran cruisers.

 

3. Take whatever you want. If you don't need it, so what? It's better than needing an item you don't have. One of our tablemates was desperate for sinus meds and we'd packed plenty enough to share.

 

4. You don't have to book an excursion to enjoy a port of call. Just get off the boat and look around on your own. You might find something that the herd misses. A lot of people stayed on the ship at Progreso Mexico but I walked around town, got some great local shots, and got an hour massage for $20.00!

 

5. Lastly, think about how you are getting your purchases home. That hammock was beautiful and cheap, but it didn't fit in my luggage! I'm glad I have it but it was a pain to have to carry it by hand as well as my two suitcases.

[chriss87]

Hi Guys,

 

I have found and used a new website which tracks the price of cruises free of charge:

 

CruisePriceTracker,com

 

Saved me a few hundred Dollars which I enjoyed spending onboard at the Crown Grill on my recent Caribbean cruise

 

Hope this helps both first time cruisers and the more travelled contributors alike!

 

:D

[trinaM]

I'm Loving reading and re reading this specific topic. Even though I have cruises under my belt, people always have great ideas in preparing for your cruise and things that make it work for them.. Thanks all for your imput.

[verofrisch]

Nekhabet,

 

Did you have a nice time on your cruise?

 

I had an awesome time. It was my first cruise and i sail on the Oasis of the Sea Royal Caribbean.

 

What surprised you the most?

 

Some people were loud and rude.... Regardless that they were a bother to their neighbors. The way some people wasted food by ordering just because they could but did not even eat half of it... The way some of the people treated the cruise employees who kept smiling regardless.... Guess we don't all have the same education and i should be more tolerant but i just can't.

Did you spend more or less than your budget?

 

How was formal night? It was a nice dinner.

 

It Was nice looking at some of the beautiful dresses.... But lots of people like me were simply dressed.

 

Do you want to go on another cruise?

 

Yes cruising Carnival Glory in August. Western Caribbean. So looking forward to it and to a smaller ship. I am cruise hooked now.

 

The reason for these questions is that I try to answer questions based on our (DW and I) 30 cruises. And it is always very helpful to hear from someone who has gone on their first cruise.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

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[Honolulu Blue]

Three things I learned from my first cruise:

 

1. If you have a ship-endorsed excursion, I suggest getting to the dock ½ hour before the meet-up time. Someone official will be waiting for your with a sign, and there will probably be others waiting in line ahead of you. Some of the excursions are very popular and getting there early can (a) keep you from getting lost in the crowd, (b) get you on a bus that leaves earlier, and/or © get a better seat on the bus.

 

2. For the best photo opportunities on the fly, get a window seat ON THE SAME SIDE that people drive on, or OPPOSITE the driver. St. Maarten/Martin and Puerto Rico drive on the right; St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts all drive on the left.

 

3. You don’t need to carry large amounts of small bills. There aren’t THAT many people to tip THAT often, unless you’re someone that tips everyone you meet. You can get whatever change you need from the casino or Guest Services. Don’t be a pig about it. The Carnival ship I was on (Valor) had a few kiosks where you could break bigger bills into smaller ones ($100s into $20s, $20s and $10s into $5s).

[Honolulu Blue]

Also:

 

4. If you only plan to play the slots in the casino on Carnival, there’s no need to bring any cash. Just use the Sail & Sign card. There’s no charge for bringing funds from your account to the machines. You can settle up on the last day if there’s anything left.

[ozpom51]

Definitely take the Kindle! Take a ziploc bag that it will fit into, as well. Then you can shove the Kindle in the bag and read it poolside or at the beach and never worry about it getting wet or getting sand in it. :)

 

I have the kindle app on my smartphone and wondered if the phone would work in the ziplock bag too....it does!!. Thanks so much for this tip. I'm the world's clumsiest so I'm sure my phone would end up wet somehow otherwise.

[Bra_BE2014]

What do you guys do when going on beach excursions? Do you take all your documents with you? How do you protect it from being stolen and/or wet while you take a swim? Thanks in advance!