~*Tips, Advice, & Suggestions for first time cruisers*~

[Jaymee287]

Next summer from June 6th - 13th, 2010 myself and 2 friends will be taking our >:)<FIRST>:)< Cruise!!! We are SOOOOO excited we are leaving the boyfriends of 15 years combined at home (7 yrs, 6yrs, and 2 yrs). They go on an annual trip to Oklahoma to ride their 4-wheelers at the sand dunes. IT'S OUR TURN NOW :D!

 

We are sailing on the Carvnival Legend June 6 - 13, 2010 to the Western Caribbean we are making stops at Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, and Isla Roatan. We are staying on the Riviera Deck, Category 4A.

 

We do our our Shore Excursions picked but this is just a rough draft, nothing is set in stone:

Grand Cayman- Stingray Sandbar/Snorkeling through Soto's

Cozumel- Royal Dolphin Swim/spending the day at Chankanaab Park

Belize- Cave Hiking Expedition through shoretrips.com

Isla Roatan- Private Island Tour through Victor Bodden

 

If you have any Tips, Advice, or Suggestions about ANYTHING please share. From packing to shopping, on the ship to the stateroom please don't be shy.

[Nunu]

Welcome. I probably wouldn't give out my room number on here, just as a word of advice.

[VABeach]

Ship Time and Local Time are not always the same! Always check to make sure your watch is set correctly when sailing across time zones and know what time to be back on board.

 

Each Ship and Captain have their own standards for setting the clocks on their ships. If you do excursions on your own, make sure you keep this in mind because you could end up being late.

 

Happy Cruising! :D

[NutsAboutGolf]

CRUISE TIPS! some will surprise you!

If your dining times are not what you expected, go immediately to the dining room upon boarding and they will straighten it out. If you delay or wait until after sailing, you'll probably be disappointed.

 

The menu is on your TV; you can just check and see if you like the selections ahead of time

 

 

Order a second entree or second anything in the dining room

 

In the dinning room, if there is anything you want, it doesn't hurt to ask.

If, by chance, you don't like anything they have on the menu, ask them to bring you a steak or a grilled chicken breast...

 

Any pasta dish on the main entree section of the menu is also available as an appetizer.

 

Room Service, which generally is not a full meal, rather a continental breakfast or a sandwich is free. (2-3 dollar tip is pretty standard)

 

Soda Drink Cards: $6 per day for adults, children are $4.50 per day times the number of days of the cruise plus 15% tip... This is a glass of coke, or about 2/3 can. A can of coke costs $2.00 for the whole can.

Alternatively consider getting one card and using it to "buy" sodas for your significant other (you must be discreet about this). As you move through the ship, order one soda at one bar and another soda at the next bar.

Wait until you leave port to buy tax free.

Ice tea is free in the dining room. Cappuccino is free in the dining room

 

Order your coffee and Danish the night before so when you wake up, you won't have to wait for that first cup of coffee.

 

Also about the Pizza.............If there is a special kind you like (different toppings than they show in the display case) if they can get them they will custom make you a pizza the way you want it, it takes about 8 minutes, but you do have to take the whole pizza...........

If you want orange juice any time remember the exact place you got it during breakfast time. All they do is remove the label “orange Juice”, making you think there is no OJ.

 

Bring a salt and pepper shaker and a bottle of ketchup up to your room for our mid-night snacks or whenever we brought our breakfast up. It is quite a convenience.

2

When the lights start to dim in the dining room this means Entertainment is coming. Make sure you have your camera ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tip for dessert lovers: In the dining room when they bring the dessert menus ask the waiter for the children’s dessert menu. Here you will find a plethora of desserts you've come to love...banana splits, hot fudge Sunday’s and all sorts of other things.

You can always get ice cream added to any dessert

Ask for a cheese plate from the desert menu & take it to your room for a wine & cheese party on the balcony

 

If you want good bananas at the end of the cruise you better pick some up at the beginning of the cruise and put them in your fridge, they cannot pick up fresh fruit so by the end of the week they start looking a little bad.

 

 

And don't forget ......don't ever forget about the 24 hour Soft Serve Ice Cream (Chocolate, Vanilla and Swirled) and the Frozen Yogurt (also Chocolate, Vanilla and Swirled). And check your daily “Capers” for the Sea Days that they have the Sundae toppings available.

Ice cream is free on board Take a large insulated mug, fill halfway with icecream, a bit of ice, 2 shots of coffee. Stir well, & voila.. Frapachino

 

If you want to order sandwiches to take off the ship in port, you don't have to order them the night before. Take Ziploc bags with you and order them in the morning. You are absolutely NOT allowed to take food off into port, but they only check your bags getting back on the ship.

 

DO NOT try to take food off at the end of the week though. You will get caught there.

At breakfast there is an omelet station, they will fry your eggs to order, all you have to do is ask.

 

 

You can bring a tray with food & drink from the buffet to your room

For all the deck drinkers - Order all your drinks from the same bar server during the week. By mid-week they usually slip you a free one now and again. At minimum, you can make sure there's a little kick in your mix drinks.

 

 

Carnival now charges for the cakes it brings to your table for your birthday etc

At the Captains cocktail party, they used to give away free drinks, they no longer do, just $1 off coupons.

There are now free drinks at the farewell party on the last night. Very good odds if your table tips in cash, you’ll get sick of seeing the waiter/waitress. lol

3

The Art auction also serves free drinks, may only be champagne.

 

 

Bring a thermos style hot/cold mug with a lid and fill with coffee, ice tea, lemonade or self made ice coffee from the lido deck dispensers and ice machines.

 

 

If you have the souvenir glass you can order any frozen drink as a refill not just the drink of the day. They do charge you the price of the other frozen drink you ordered but you get it in the bigger glass. When you place your order say "refill’, it is only $4.95 compared to the original $6.95. If you order the drink of the day in the small glass, I believe you also pay $4.95, but it doesn't hold as much as the hurricane cup." Many people on the first day do not realize that the "Souvenir Glasses" are for keeps.

If you order a bottle of wine at dinner and don't finish it, they will cork it and bring it back for you the next night. This is for people who don't normally finish an entire bottle at dinner but don't want to pay the higher price of ordering by the glass.

 

 

Forget Rum and Cokes. Long Island Ice tea is best Value, best Drink with all the Booze they pour into the Glass...Very Good Too!!!!!

 

Take a flask so you can “spike” your lemonade.

The water aboard cruise ships goes through extensive processing to assure its purity and taste, and is as clean as any bottled water you can buy. If you do buy a bottle of water, refill it from the faucet in your stateroom and keep it in the fridge or fill at dispensers in cafeteria but don’t touch the dispenser with the bottle

 

 

Order drink coupons throughout the year then the sail & sign bill isn’t so big

For Drink Coupons Go to Bon Voyage dept on Carnival website... you can "order" them and they will be in your room. Also on some cruises you can buy a drink of the day card for $23 (plus tip) that gets you 5 DOD's - and they can be any DOD that has been done (maybe even before). First one is in hurricane cup... rest same amount just in regular cup.

 

With the regular drink coupon the tip is included... 4 coupons for $21.25 so a $5.25 drink is actually $6.04 if you put on your card... and it cost $5.25 with the coupon... plus many of the bartenders give you want you want with the coupon.

Frozen drinks run $5.25 to $7.75 Beer $4.75 mixed drinks $5.25 (Spring 2009)

 

4

Buckets of Beer (4) were $18 before gratuity. $20.70 total. Many aren’t twist off, . Ask them to only open one and leave the rest capped. Bring along a travel can opener if you ordered them this way & take the extras back to the room for later. Otherwise they opened every one before they bring them.

 

Did you know you can call Carnival's Bon voyage department and pre-order alcohol to be delivered to your cabin? You can order bottles of hard liquor so that you can make your own drinks. You can't order online.. It is a little pricey at $40 a litre but cheaper than buying by the drink. Call to order 1-800-522-7648 Monday to Friday 9:00 am –5:30 pm Eastern Time up to one week before departure

 

 

Make sure that your bank and credit card Company are aware that you will be out of the country. They will note it on your account so that you won't be flagged for fraudulent activity.

 

 

Do not use a debit card for your sail and sign account - credit cards offer lots more protection, and the hold on funds they place on your debit card account can be a problem for some people. Use cash or a credit card.

 

 

When standing in a long line to embark, pay the porter to take your bags and that will allow you to "cut" in line- don't forget to tip $5.00 a bag plus tip

 

 

For first timers, if you have early embarkation to the ship (before the cabins are ready), proceed directly to the lido deck for a buffet lunch. This is also the time the bar staff will try to get you started on your bar bill with their drink specials (often called a "bon voyage"). However, there are free alternatives, like coffee, tea and lemonade.

 

Odd # cabins are on the right Even on the Left The higher the number the closer to the back of the ship.

 

5

On some of the Carnival ships, you can get a deck of cards w/Carnival logo, at the Pursers Desk

The Purser's Office will carry stamps of the different countries that you are going to. You can buy stamps ahead of time so you don't have to find a post office in each port. It makes it much easier to send postcards home from the different ports.

Free Post Cards are here also

In the casino, they'll give you a lanyard, as well as punch a hole in your S&S card.

 

 

If you need aspirin, seasick pills, or a variety of general medications, check the "0" deck where the waiting room is for the doctor. There were free samples for the taking in individual packets... also a weigh scale in case you need to weigh a suitcase (or yourself!).

 

Don't be afraid to ask for extra pillows

 

Ask for Preference Toilet Paper

2nd night of a cruise is the Captains Welcome & Formal Night

3rd Night is Past Guest Night

 

 

Also, check out the INTERNET CAFE for a drawing for free internet minutes (day one only)... check the CAPERS waiting in your cabin.

 

 

One of the first things I do is ask my room steward for the use of a bath robe during the cruise. These are usually standard in suites, but if you write your steward a note while you are out to dinner the first night (I always include a cash tip as well) there will be one (or two if requested) waiting for you no problem. This saves so much room in my luggage and is useful for the pool and also spa visits. Enjoy!

 

 

 

6

Bring lots of $1 and $5 bills for tipping cab drivers, porters, and to have the exact change when bartering at the straw markets and stores in port. Contrary to popular belief Crew members DO NOT LIKE $2 BILLS! They don’t work in their vending machines.

To get cash without any fees, register your Sign and sail card in any slot machine. To do so takes about a minute as you enter your birthdate and create a pin. Then you load money from your sign and sail account to your slot machine account. If you do not want to play slots, select the cash out option and proceed to the casino cashier, who give you cash in any domination including quarters.

 

Quarters are required for Laundry, last reported price was $3 wash and another $3 to dry.

 

The Mini Bars All Full... Most have a lock, let the steward know if it’s locked and you want it unlocked or vice versa, let the steward know. They Will also Empty it For You allowing you to have a mini fridge, however most report it only to be a cooler which will not keep things cool vs cold.

 

Send yourself a Bon Voyage gift of champagne and snacks. Carnival does a FANTASTIC job of having it set up in your cabin all ready for you when you board the ship.

 

 

Do walk the entire ship on your first day. It will help you learn where everything is, and will help you discover spots that others never find.

 

 

You can also ask your Room Steward for the book that is in your cabin (a carnival book that tells about the ship), just ask and they may give it to you.

 

 

If your stateroom is cold, call your steward and ask for 2 extra blankets

 

 

Learn and use the crew member's names, and smile. They're doing the same for you most of the time, and a little kindness can go MILES. You'll be surprised at the service you can get. "Please" and "thank you" can work miracles.

 

 

Pack a change of clothes & swimsuit in your carry on baggage. Sometimes it may take some time to get your baggage.

 

When they push the two twin beds together to make a king they just overlap the twin sheets. They will put king size sheets on if you ask.

 

 

Make photo copies of your passport (inside page with your photo/ID#/date of issue/exp), credit cards, and air tickets - if they're not e-tickets - and put them in the safe, another set of copies keep in your luggage under the bed ,also carry one of the sets with you-not in your luggage in case it goes missing on your flight.

 

 

I find the easiest place to store larger suitcases after they've been emptied is under the bed.... good place to stash stuff you've bought and then lock the luggage... and it's out of sight and you're not stuck tripping over it.

7

On the Conquest class ships (not sure about other classes) the couch has drawers built in underneath

 

Casino tips

1) if you play blackjack, one secret to keep in mind is the Fun21 table - there are NO QUEENS in the decks

2) Slots are really tight.

3) Best odds are on the 3 card poker.

 

 

Every room should have a hair dryer

The safes operate with a magnetic strip. You can use anything with a magnetic strip, (room key, credit card, store discount cards, etc.) A good choice is the blank gift cards you find in stores. There is no value to them until you purchase it and have it activated,

Money clips...that have MAGNETS holding everything together......Never and I mean never put your S & S card in the same pocket of your money clip!!!!! As the magnets will demagnetize your card and you won't be able to get into your room or even buy a drink.....At the Pursers desk they can fix this...

Cell phones will demagnetize.

 

Most cell phones have alarm clocks built in so you don’t need to pack a real alarm clock.

Call your carrier and activate international roaming, usually about $1 a minute.

 

If you plan on using your cell in ports, 1) Remember to set it to ships time!

2) Don’t forget your watch also

Your cell phone is your friend. Take it and you can use it when you are in sight of land.

My tip: use your telephone for leaving each other messages

 

Don’t sit in the balcony when attending shore/shopping talks, they give stuff away and it rarely makes it past first 15 rows of main area.

8

If the Air Conditioning is not working too well in your cabin - at night - when the cabin steward cannot come in - you can remove the vent cover with two "slides" on each side, and open up the A/C valve all the way, so you get better Air Flow in your room. It also helps to pack a small Fan.

 

On some ships, the balcony door frame has a button on the inside of the door frame. When you leave your balcony door open, the air conditioner in your room will not work while the door is open. Simply put a small refrigerator magnet over the button and your air will continue to run while the door is open.

If you have a balcony cabin bring a Bungee cord to hold the door open.

 

 

 

If the port is not a tender port and you are there for most of the day you can come back on board, freshen up, drop off packages, grab a bite to eat (it's already paid for) and go back out.

 

Always take along a white hand towel when we get off. It comes in handy for wiping off your hands after suntan lotion, sand, or wet it down to cool off

 

Bring an extension cord AND a 3 plug adaptor...there is never an electrical out let where you need it. Also, buy an 'over the door shoe organizer(avail. at Wal-mart for about $7) and hang it over the inside of the bathroom door....it's a great place to put all of your toiletries that would otherwise clutter up the minimal bathroom counter space. Good for holding many other things as well! A lot of ships now have lots of shelves in the bathroom, but do research.

 

If you are traveling to the port from an airport, take the Super shuttle instead of the ship transport. It’s cheaper, less crowded, and departs more quickly. If you have three or more people, it might be cheaper to take a taxicab.

 

 

Buy a beach towel at the first port for cheap. Good souvenir and a lot less expensive than the Carnival ones at $22 There are two beach sized towels for you to enjoy at the pool or on an excursion provided on board.

Never pack all of one person’s clothes in the same bag. Separate everything equally amongst the bags even if it makes unpack a bear.

 

 

Bungee cords also make nice clotheslines.

 

 

If you don't have clothes on every hanger, be sure you have at least something hung on every other hanger in the closet. That way, they are cushioned, and you won't be kept awake with the noise.

9

Clothespins are very useful! Use them to clip curtains closed (on balconies or room dividers). Or, use them to hang bathing suits or clothing to the clothing line in the bathroom or chairs on the balcony, you can also use them to weight down the bottom of the shower curtain.

Bring a flashlight with you for late-night bathroom trips.

 

Happy hour (half off) in the afternoon when in port

Deck chairs unoccupied for ½ -1 hour ask attendant to reassign

 

Make sure, at the very least, that you purchase the embarkation photo. That is the ONE photo that is sure to have a date on it, and makes a good way to remember all the countless cruises you've been on.

 

 

Do NOT buy the cruise video. If you do insist on buying the video, wait until later in the week, when they give you $5 off and 12 free wallet photos. The video would cost $25 with 12 free wallets, making the video really only cost $10 (4 wallets for $5). If you’re in a suite with a VCR you can make your own! (Bring your own blank VCR tape)

Wait until the last day to purchase your pictures, that way you can choose the best. If you pull them each day, they should hold them for you (at least they will on RCCL) that way you don't have to search through everything for the same pics day after day either! And sometimes they will have discounts for purchasing multiple pics! Have heard of 2 for 1 sale

 

10

When the ships are in port, look for LOTS of specials to keep you on board!

 

 

Silver Jewelry & Hot Saltwater don’t mix well

 

 

Bring Ziploc’s to put your swimsuits in for traveling home. Then you don't have to worry about them drying out before you leave!

 

Be VERY CAREFUL of cotton or cotton-blend swimsuits in the Jacuzzis - these are SALT WATER, and hot salt water will BLEACH your suit - trust me on this one.

The hot tubs are all salt water, except for the one in the gym.

Bring at least 2 bathing suits so you never have to put on a wet one.

 

When having any service in the spa - tell them up front you already use and have MOST of the Elemis products, and order off the web. They won't try to SELL you to death.

 

SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN!

 

 

HAT! HAT! HAT!

 

Things take FOREVER to dry in the bathroom, so if you have a balcony take along a short piece of clothesline and some clothespins and rig up a line on the balcony. Hang things out there and they will dry MUCH quicker. You

 

Here’s a twist on clothes line we used karabiners to secure the lines and then strung our clothes through the lines, like through the sleeve or pant leg. You’ll never lose any clothes due to wind.

 

Post-its are good, but you can leave notes on the door on a white-board; small ones are inexpensive and come with magnets on the back and a wipe-off pen

 

 

Decorate your door and or balcony. Helps you find your cabin from the inside & see it from shore.

 

11

On the formal nights - have your picture taken at each of the settings but only buy the good ones. After your cruise contact Carnival directly and they will send you a photo release so you can duplicate them.

 

 

Ladies, make sure you don't forget your nylons, for they do not sell these on the ship. I hope this will be of some help.

 

Also for the formal nights, the gents can rent a tux and keep it for the entire week for whatever occasion. It costs somewhere around 85.00, which is not bad, although that’s without shoes.

 

 

There are showers in the Spa, these aren't the normal cabin showers, they are like the 'rain' showers that you find in some higher end hotels it’s a great place for a guy to go shower while the wife is using the cabin bathroom for a formal night or something

 

There are steam rooms and saunas in the SPA that people may not realize are free to use, they are separated so men and women can't go together. Dream and splendor are currently not free.

 

Pack a 9x12" manila envelope with a piece of cardboard in it to keep our photos from getting crushed on the way home.

Another good idea is to take some souvenirs from your country or city to give to your waiters, room steward, etc.

 

Take large (1 or 2 gallon) zip lock bags to put things like the Capers and other memorabilia

 

Take a journal with you and remember to write each day's events. They are so much fun to re-read years after the cruise.

 

 

After taking hundreds of pictures, hard to remember the details about each picture. Take a small spiral note pad. At the end of each day, go through all the pictures on your digital camera that & write the picture number and a comment

Take a car ashtray the kind with a lid preferably new (no smell)

 

DO NOT forget to bring LOTS of Underwater disposable cameras or if not on a budget a waterproof digital camera or watertight camera case!!!

 

DO NOT forget water shoes!!!

Pack your clothes with dry cleaning plastic bags in between. helps prevent wrinkles

 

 

12

Laundry special day. Usually it's the second to the last night. They wash and fold for a FULL bag for only $15

 

The "gold by the inch" and "silver by the inch" are all plated, not solid.

 

Crossword puzzles and trivia sheets Sudoku puzzles are found in the library. If you don't see any, go during library hours and ask the attendant for one. I would go early in the cruise because they sometimes run out.

 

WalMart hardware supplies and they have this nifty little motion detector light...it comes with the 3AA batteries it needs, and it has a LED light...as soon as it detects motion, it comes on and stays on for 20 seconds after the motion stops...PERFECT for cruising. I was so impressed! It is by Meridan and called "LED Motion Sensor Light". States it uses up to 95% less battery power, turns on automaticlly when motion detected only in the dark, and detects motion within 15 feet. 30,000+ hours of bulb life. Not bad for less than $6.00!!!

Book Shore excursion on your own in MOST cases- you will save money and got to see & do more. Check these boards for suggestions- they were all pretty accurate. Ask lots of questions. Cruise booked excursions do offer peace of mind that should you be late the ship will wait.

 

If you own at least 100 shares of CCL stock, you are entitled to shipboard credit depending on the line and the length of your cruise. For a 7 day cruise, it amounts to $100. The credit can't be used for gaming chips, and must be asked for in advance.

 

If you ask your room attendant, he/she will see to it that you get a sharps container, almost immediately from the infirmary...(you don't have to go there yourself!!) thus, not having to put them into the trash, causing a possible problem for them. They do not charge for this.

 

 

For first time cruisers, here's the best tip ever, there will be some things that don't meet your expectations, and some things that surpass them. Someone will get a better deal than you did, someone will not follow the guidelines, somebody will cut in front of you, and someone will let their kid(s) be unruly. DON”T expect everything to be perfect, it won’t be! If you have a concern write the “Hotel Manager” a letter and forget about it (his or her name will be posted in the lobby by the purser’s desk).

13

Don't over plan your day. It's very easy to plan something for every minute you're awake. But you won't make it to everything, and the sun will sap your energy. Plan the things you REALLY want to do, and keep others in mind. If you have been looking forward to the galley tour for the whole trip, you don't want to be too tired to enjoy it.

For port days in those with a tropical itinerary, odds are you’re going to do something in the heat and you’re going to sweat. Guys, wear swim trunks, a polyester shirt and a hat. Ladies, wear swimwear and a polyester casual short one piece dress. Poly almost doesn’t get wet and will dry where as cotton keeps you wet and uncomfortable. You will never regret bring a backpack vs carrying a beach bag. Keep an eye out for each other, many complex pickpockets teams out there.

 

If you are traveling to Mexico remember one very important thing. In Mexico they sell tons of sling shots made out of wood.. If you have children (especially boys) they will want one. Do NOT buy one. The crew will confiscate it the second you try to board the ship as they are considered weapons. The crew will NOT hold them for you and they will NOT be returned.

 

I have been told that if your kids play ball, it's best to bring your own, as sometimes the older kids will monopolize the ball given by the Purser's desk

 

If you are going to Jamaica, something they don't tell you is that US citizens can bring back an extra bottle of alcohol duty free, if it is both made and sold in Jamaica.

 

 

Always bring extra clothes, undergarments and toiletries in your carry on bags (on your return trip home). If your flight gets overbooked they will usually offer you airline vouchers if you stay overnight and take a flight out the next morning.

 

 

Get your luggage outside the door early on the last night.

 

 

Everyone in your group should use the same color bright bandannas tied onto the luggage handles. When you debark and go into that large and I mean large warehouse area to get your luggage you will instantly know which pieces belong to you

 

Cruising… A Do Not Forget List

 

Cruise documents, Travel agents information, Passports, airline tickets, Certified Birth Certificates, picture ID’s, personal phone book and travel insurance paperwork ………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………

Prescription Medications, seven day pill organizer, allergy medication’s, children’s Tylenol, Aspirins, bonine or Ginger root to prevent sea sickness (acupuncture wrist bands don’t work), Imodium-AD, Ex-Lax, Tums/Rolaids, Mylanta or pepto, Vitamins, Geritol, Zicam, Neosporin, band-aids, alcohol wipes, SPF lip balm, sunscreen, sunburn lotion, travel size bottle of hand sanitizer body lotion, individual packets of "wet ones”, anticipatory feminine products, birth control, Extra pair prescription glasses, eyeglass repair kit (screws and screwdriver), travel sewing kit, nail file, Q-tips, RX for antibiotics from Doctor just in case…………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Lysol, travel-sized bottle of Fabreeze, Downy Wrinkle Tide to go stick, Release (may produce a sheen when pictures are taken), sanitizing wipes and for some tours a zip lock with a small roll of toilet paper. Lint roller, Room deodorizers, glasses cleaner, ear plugs, sleeping mask, tweezers, curling Iron, hair dryer and a bungee cord to hold open the patio door in your cabin. ………………………………………………………………………………………………

Cell phone, Calling card, Camera, camcorder, Extra camera battery, film, digital chips and/or tapes, battery charger, disposable underwater camera, small camera bag with a neck lanyard, a Laptop for downloading digital pictures (or you can use most MP3 players with a large hard drive), binoculars, flat low power usage plug in night lights, portable CD player (MP3/Ipod, etc.) with miniature speakers, headphones, since most cabins only have 1 outlet you’ll want a small extension cord and a multiple outlet strip, voltage converter (especially if you want to use an electric razor in the bathroom), Flashlight, LED clock, travel alarm (most cell phones make a great alarm), walkie-talkies, Binoculars, ………………………………………………………………………………………………

door post-its, and an door hanging shoe holder (lots of pouches and only $5 at Wal-Mart), Sunglasses, Snorkel gear, aqua sox, hat (to protect from the sun), Backpacks, fanny pack, wrist lanyards, hole punch to attach cards to the lanyards, hats and/or visor, ponchos, windbreaker, waterproof sports watch with an alarm, I will bring my own beach towel (don't want to lose the cruise ships onshore, too expensive), rollerblades, Ice skates, (for voyageur class ships), cooler for beach excursions, Velcro strips (to hold the curtains open), …………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

flavored creamers for your coffee, insulated thermal mug, flask, A highlighter pen to mark the daily newsletter comes in handy, Zip-loc bags of different sizes, Extra cable ties & clippers, 8 1/2"x 11" cardboard and a big manila envelope for on board picture purchases, Spanish/English dictionary (or whichever one suits your trip), Journal, Diary or a notebook, pens, pencils, Crayons, waterproof pouches, specifically a “water wallet”, box of small dog bones to take snorkeling, empty collapsible soft sided travel bag (for taking home souvenirs and other purchases) two sided tape to put the cruise pictures up on the mirrors, pre-printed labels for postcards, door decorations so the kids can find their way back to the cabin, collapsible and don’t forget word searches, crosswords and coloring books or reading book for the flight also travel munchies and drinks. A “pop-up” hamper (5 bucks at Ikea) And DUCT TAPE!!! (Multi-colored if you’d like so you like to mark your luggage for easy identification). Bring a shopping list of people you NEED to buy souvenirs for, Name tags for any pre-arranged ship board meetings, and buy some good luggage tags and locks (locks cannot be used at the airport but they can everywhere else, they can also be used in room on a suitcase to keep private stuff private from the crew and children). And the kitchens sink. ………………………………………………...

After you've packed everything, take a good look and remove 1/3 of your packed clothes. You can always use the ships' laundry room (if available about $4 a load). ………………

………………

Before you go don’t forget to……………………………………………………………….

Leave a copy of your itinerary with cruise line phone number for family or friends in case there is an emergency, Stop the newspaper, Stop the mail, Get everything dry cleaned, Make sure prescriptions are filled, Get traveler's checks, Send out b-day/anniversary Cards, set up your out of office assistant on your outlook, Make sure you line up someone to feed the pets, turn the answering machine on and the volume down, If you're taking the kid's out of school, make sure to notify the school that the kids will be out, turn down the heat to lowest level for pipe safety or pet comfort, remove perishables from refrigerator, set the timed night light, get lots of $1’s and $5’s (contrary to popular belief $2 bills are virtually useless to crewmembers) for tipping, Make sure the coffee pot is turned off the garage door is closed, Call a cab, set the alarm’s on the car’s and the house, …………… …………………........................................... .................................................. ......................Make a notation of where you parked at the airport at home (if you did park there); bring a good attitude, manners and a huge appetite!

[sailandsnorkel]

From time to time there will be tips posted on the blog if you are looking for more information on cruising.

 

 

 

Check it out at http://traveltipsbydonna.blogspot.com

[conchead]

CRUISE TIPS! !

 

 

Come on now...Is that ALL you can come up with???:eek::eek::eek:

[ss12345]

Flask to spike your lemonade...

I read that you were only allowed to bring a bottle of wine and all else would be confiscated. Any help?

[conchead]

Flask to spike your lemonade...

I read that you were only allowed to bring a bottle of wine and all else would be confiscated. Any help?

 

Search the boards here for "bringing liquor on board" & "rum runners"

I am not going to tell you what you can do, just read for yourself.

But be aware of Carnivals Policy:

 

Can I bring liquor on board?A liquor and beverage consumption policy was created in order for Carnival to be able to control the liquor consumption of minors and the quantities consumed that lead to the disruptive behavior of others on board.

 

Liquor and Beverage Policy

 

Bringing Alcohol On Board - Embarkation

 

Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages onboard. However, guests 21 years of age and older only may bring one bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne, per person, on board only during embarkation at the beginning of the cruise. A $10 corkage fee per bottle will be charged should you wish to consume this wine in the main dining room; $14 corkage fee per bottle in the steakhouse. Guests may bring a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages. All prohibited alcohol, additional quantities of wine/champagne or excessive quantities of non-alcoholic beverages will be confiscated and discarded without compensation.

[cantwait2cruize]

Nutsaboutgolf gave you some real bad advice. DO NOT TAKE FOOD OFF THE SHIP!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek::eek::eek:. Unless you want to be fined.

[Ruggled]

Extensive list!

 

A quick one for you...might have been on that long list though. ;)

 

Pack a day bag, and pack your bathing suit..you can't get to your luggage when you get onboard, so either wearing your suit, or packing it means you get to go ahead and start enjoying the pool while those that didn't wish they had. :D

[mom2sage]

Bring at least one water bottle per person that can be refilled. The one in your room is expensive and you will need one when you are in port. Carry the Caper schedule with you during the day. Don't be afraid of using city buses-if you research ahead of time. they can be very cheap and take you right where you need to go.

[nybumpkin]

If you're staying on ship's time and change time zones during your cruise (I believe that will be the case with Legend), don't rely on your cell phone for the time. Your phone may pick up the local satellite and automatically change to the local time. It's a good way to miss the ship - or, in my son's case, miss dinner back aboard ship.:p

[Ruggled]

Get your picture taken..if there is a photographer somewhere looking bored, take full advantage. We have some priceless photos we bought because we were just having fun...some people complain about the photographers...we love them.

 

You don't have to buy them, and its always fun to check out the photos the next day from the night before!

[jamo951]

Nutsaboutgolf said: Send yourself a Bon Voyage gift of champagne and snacks. Carnival does a FANTASTIC job of having it set up in your cabin all ready for you when you board the ship.

 

It is nice to order from the Bon Voyage department, but if there is no hurry for the things you want, when you order it, you can choose when to deliver it. If you have it delivered for when you board, you will be charged tax, but if you have it ordered for 1st night, you will not be charged tax, since you will be out of port! You get it the same day, just a little later, and save a few bucks!

[5waldos]

Agree with a most above but a couple of things I would say NOT to do:

 

1) do not bring sandwiches or other food on shore- it is illegal because it can threaten the environment of the country you are visiting. I'd rather not be the cause of destroying the flora or fauna and potentially the economy of a country. Try the local food- isn't that part of the reason for travel?

2) do not bring the staff gifts from home- they live in tiny spaces and need the money- not a tee shirt from Someplace USA. If you must, bring a postcard of your city. And yes, if you give them something they will smile and appear to be very grateful and most likely dump it the minute you are gone. Give money. Most of these folks are working to support families back home- cannot do that with a baseball cap or tee shirt.

3) do not over pack. we bring none of the extra "stuff" that many people feel is critical and did wonderfully. Less junk in the cabin, less to pack unpack and repack. In fact, we cruise for a week from a single roll-on bag each. We bring clothes, makeup, medication, credit cards, and money. The basic travel rule of half the luggage and twice the money works well for cruising too.

[oncruisecontrol]

Agree with a most above but a couple of things I would say NOT to do:

 

 

2) do not bring the staff gifts from home- they live in tiny spaces and need the money- not a tee shirt from Someplace USA. If you must, bring a postcard of your city. And yes, if you give them something they will smile and appear to be very grateful and most likely dump it the minute you are gone. Give money. Most of these folks are working to support families back home- cannot do that with a baseball cap or tee shirt.

 

 

Great advice. Can you imagine how many T-shirts and baseball caps stewards would accumulate if just 2 of their guests each cruise brought them a t-shirt?

[mirp]

Wow so many tips. I've cruised 5 times and most were new to me.

[tink77]

My only tip (and it may not be for you) but after our first cruise--we look back and think, next time we won't book an excursion in every port. We wish we'd have had a day to just get off the ship, shop-eat-drink and enjoy being in another country and getting the feel of it (even if it is the touristy feel). We feel like we didn't get a chance to really "see" anything of Grand Cayman or Cozumel! So next time--we know to leave at least one free day to just enjoy what's around!

[screwsmcernst]

Next summer from June 6th - 13th, 2010 myself and 2 friends will be taking our >:)<FIRST>:)< Cruise!!! We are SOOOOO excited we are leaving the boyfriends of 15 years combined at home (7 yrs, 6yrs, and 2 yrs). They go on an annual trip to Oklahoma to ride their 4-wheelers at the sand dunes. IT'S OUR TURN NOW :D!

 

We are sailing on the Carvnival Legend June 6 - 13, 2010 to the Western Caribbean we are making stops at Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, and Isla Roatan. We are staying on the Riviera Deck, Category 4A.

 

We do our our Shore Excursions picked but this is just a rough draft, nothing is set in stone:

Grand Cayman- Stingray Sandbar/Snorkeling through Soto's

Cozumel- Royal Dolphin Swim/spending the day at Chankanaab Park

Belize- Cave Hiking Expedition through shoretrips.com

Isla Roatan- Private Island Tour through Victor Bodden

 

If you have any Tips, Advice, or Suggestions about ANYTHING please share. From packing to shopping, on the ship to the stateroom please don't be shy.

 

We took that cruise in January. We had a great time. If you like to snorkel, then I would suggest snorkeling in Belize. The barrier reef was absolutely beautiful. It was the highlight of our cruise.

Have a great time.

[eedee]

I think NutsAboutGolf said it all

[GrandmaVegas]

NutsAboutGolf.....Thanks So Much For That List, Very Very Helpful!

 

As A Less Expensive Alternative To Bandanas Tied To Luggage To Indentify Your Groups Luggage Faster.................Goto Your Local Fabric Store ( Joann's Fabrics Is National) Buy A Large Piece Of Bright/Colorful Remnant Fabric In The Cheap Bin Then Cut It Up To Accommodate As Many Suitcases In Your Party

[norituck]

NutsAboutGolf,

Great tips. I may have to print this,

[michellejed]

Read read read all you can on these boards and other sites. Also read over your documents so there wont be any surprises.

 

Just go with an open mind, things do go wrong and can usually be fixed without a lot of drama.

 

Tip the port stewards well, you don't want your luggage to end up on the wrong ship or in the water.

 

Every ship has "secret" areas, enjoy exploring the ship.

 

They have drawings for just about every thing but you must be present to win, some will be at the same time.

 

Wait until the last minute to go to the muster drill, that way you wont be stuck in the back where it can become too warm.

 

If you have to tender at a port you may want to book a tour for late morning, some times it can take a while to get off the ship and to the tour if you do not book with the cruise ship(those tours get off first)

 

Get trip insurance!

 

Just relax and have a wonderful time, you can plan another cruise to do the stuff you missed on your first.

[NutsAboutGolf]

Tip the port stewards well, you don't want your luggage to end up on the wrong ship or in the water.

 

This is how FALSE info gets spread. If you don't tip, your luggage will arrive just fine...

[mcstix]

Thanks to NutsAboutGolf and others for the great tips. I worked for Carnival Cruise Lines for over five years in a lounge band, but have never cruised as a PASSENGER. I found many of the posted tips useful, and some I wouldn't have thought of as a passenger, even though I've cruised hundreds of times as an employee. I'll be going on the Dream in January I think. Thanks!