What question did you wish you would have asked before the first cruise?

[wrxrob]

For instance, what do you know now that you wish you were aware of prior to taking your first cruise.

 

We are newbies, taking our first cruise in early 2011 to the Caribbean. I'm not so sure what to ask, but I know there are some tips/tricks and secrets that I'll wish I were aware of prior to boarding the ship. :)

[MissRissa]

Looking back on it, I wish I had known that you can order as much as you want in the dining room. Example, I now order two appetizers, as in 2 shrimp cocktails. One of the men at our table ordered two entrees every night, no additional charge.

It's fine to drink the tap water on the ship, it is highly filtered and tastes fine.

And I do wish I had realized ahead of time, the swimming pool is salt water:p

Have a wonderful first cruise:D

[mamasue]

Is room service free??

We looked at the room service menus and didn't realise we only had to tip the waiter.... missed out on some nice late-night balcony snacks!

 

Another food one....

On our first cruise, we didn't realise you could get lunch in the buffet.... and ate before we boarded the ship!!

It was only on our second cruise, when we were directed to the buffet as soon as we boarded that we realised!!:o

 

After the first cruise, we also discovered CC and rum runners!!!:)

[cb at sea]

I wish I'd known that the 1st drink they hand you when you board (on most lines) is NOT free! Had no idea, and I didn't even like the drink!

[Liz54]

• I wish I had known the difference between Anytime & Traditional dining...We had anytime and it was a mess.
  
• I wish I had known how much I love to have a balcony cabin
  
• I wish I had not just grabbed at the hotel and transfers in FT.L provided by Princess but made my own arrangements
  
• I wish I had know the pros and cons of cabin locations
  
• I wish I had known - or been confident enough to arrange -my own excurions
  
• I wish I had know that a decent travel agent could have told me att this....
  

• I wish I had known - and read Cruise Critic.
  

[jocap]

I wish we'd known that you didn't have to appear in the main dining room every night, especially after a snorkelling trip and a great rush for early sitting.

Jo.

[luddite]

Tell us your ship/cruise line.

We can offer more advice.

 

Pack less clothing.

[SMIRFFF]

What is Rum Runners?

[lady_cruiser]

What is Rum Runners?

 

Plastic flasks- Undetectable, reusable flasks for cruises, concerts and tailgating. The ultimate way to sneak alcohol on cruise ships.

 

http://www.rumrunnerflasks.com/

 

What is the naughty room? A special room on the cruise ship that stores all the luggage that has not been delivered to cruise cabins. If you are summoned to this room, you will be with everyone else whose luggage landed up here. Security will ask you to open your luggage so they can inspect it for any unauthorized alchohol that might be stowed-away in your luggage. :p

[wrxrob]

Tell us your ship/cruise line.

We can offer more advice.

 

Pack less clothing.

 

haven't picked a cruise yet, though currently we are leaning toward the Norwegian Epic

 

(second place is currently Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas)

[chipmaster]

What excusion options are available independent of the ship :D

 

Would have led to far better and cheaper experience on my first few cruises till I wised up.

 

For instance, what do you know now that you wish you were aware of prior to taking your first cruise.

 

We are newbies, taking our first cruise in early 2011 to the Caribbean. I'm not so sure what to ask, but I know there are some tips/tricks and secrets that I'll wish I were aware of prior to boarding the ship. :)

[grod19]

Looking back on it, I wish I had known that you can order as much as you want in the dining room. Example, I now order two appetizers, as in 2 shrimp cocktails. One of the men at our table ordered two entrees every night, no additional charge.

It's fine to drink the tap water on the ship, it is highly filtered and tastes fine.

And I do wish I had realized ahead of time, the swimming pool is salt water:p

Have a wonderful first cruise:D

 

Honestly I wish I knew absolutely nothing! My frist cruise I had no idea what to expect or do so I had a blast and went with the flow. Earlier this year I took my gf on her first cruise and since I am so experienced I feel like I ruined some of her "first cruise" enjoyment.

[mavis2222]

I wish I'd known that the 1st drink they hand you when you board (on most lines) is NOT free! Had no idea, and I didn't even like the drink!

Also they charge you sales tax on that drink as well..Wait till the ship goes over 12 miles out and you see the casino open, then you can buy drinks tax free.

[PennyAgain]

I wish for that first cruise I had realized how small the rooms were as we were beyond surprised that first time out.

 

Ditto about room service (with the exception of some companies now that charge for some room service items especially late at night).

 

Wish we had known how to change tables when we got stuck with people we hated.

[yayvacation!]

I wish I had found CC before the first cruise!

 

I wish I knew I could board the ship waayy before what the cruise docs told me! I will never miss an onboard lunch again!!!! :)

[Happy ks]

I wish I had known (not really a question) not to heed the advice of packing lists you find online. It was our first big family vacation and I had no idea what to pack, so I bought it all from advice on travel forums. I think I could have put down a deposit with what I would have saved on all that junk.

 

I also wish I had known that cruise ships are not fashion shows. I also bought the family practically a whole new wardrobe, only to find people dressed in any old thing, especially during the day.

[LindaKE]

I wish I had known to arrive early, way before the time indicated as sail away. We got there mid boarding and found ourselves in a long, long line moving very, very slowly. You don't have to be there before boarding starts, but don't wait too late either. And as mentioned, you can get lunch upon boarding. Don't eat just before you plan to board.

 

Ditto the fashion statement. After buying all new clothes, I was shocked at how ratty many of our fellow cruisers looked.

[BroncosFan2010]

I did not know you could order more than one appetizer, entree, or dessert in the MDR. I wish I had known that on my first cruise!!

[luddite]

Can't be specicific in re the Epic. Haven't been and don't plan to.

 

Here's the thing: prople say "oh, you've gotta do this and Oh you've just gotta do that!"

 

Truth? You don't gotta anything. Well, except the muster drill and debark the ship.

 

Order food that you've never had the option of trying. Order stuff that you've never had. Don't go to Mexico and order a plate of fajitas.

Don't go to Mexico and visit a hard Rock Cafe and drink a BudLight.

Well OK, never drink a BudLight anywhere, but that's beside the point.:)

 

Bring comfortable shoes.

[cruiserbryce]

unsure...but the general cruise advice I would have for first timers is take half as much clothing as you think youll need and twice as much money

[Neiner]

unsure...but the general cruise advice I would have for first timers is take half as much clothing as you think youll need and twice as much money

 

 

EXCELLENT Advice!

[luddite]

unsure...but the general cruise advice I would have for first timers is take half as much clothing as you think youll need and twice as much money

:) Excellent advice!!

[dustyroad]

i would have asked someone too lock my suicase before it was full of stuff i ddnt need too wear. i dont overpack now and am so glad i have cut my clothing in half.

[wrxrob]

unsure...but the general cruise advice I would have for first timers is take half as much clothing as you think youll need and twice as much money

 

I heard the exact same advice for going to Las Vegas (and it was true!)

[marshhawk]

I usually over plan for everything but had no clue as to what goes on during a cruise, so I wish that I had seen a Funtimes(Capers back then) the ship's daily events calender. I didn't realize there were so many choices of things to do, and missed out on a lot of fun stuff because I was bombarded with art gallery paperwork and spent way too much time in the art gallery, and not enough time playing trivia, or dancing, or relaxing.:o We did sit at dinner with experienced cruisers who told us about seconds being available, luckily they told us on lobster night! LOL:D