The one thing I wish I knew before my first cruise...

[blondietink]

We used the sail and sign card to open/close our safe in February. Has the procedure changed, or did we do it wrong? :confused: The directions on the safe said to used your sail and sign card.

[Room Service!]

They recommend that you use a card other than the s & s because if you someone were to get access to your card and also know which cabin you were in they would also have access to the safe.

I would NOT recommend leaving the card (whatever it may be) that you are using for the safe right in front of the safe when you are not in the cabin!!!

[Dutch Diver]

Bring an extension cord/power strip - but make sure it is in good condition or it'll be confiscated. (I always put mine in the original packaging so they think it's new. ;))

 

A 9" or 10" netbook will fit in the safe. A 14"-15" laptop computer will not.

 

Use the spa shower if multiple people need to shower at same time. (Also, they're bigger than the stateroom shower.)

 

The sauna/steam room is free.

 

Marking your luggage with a bright ribbon makes it easier to spot after debarkation.

 

Oops, that's five pieces of advice. :o Oh well, one for every cruise so far...

[shanley]

I didn't know the Bitter & Blanc was only served once during the cruise and missed it the first time around.

Same goes for the BBQ ribs that are served the first night only.

Don't miss either of these MDR offerings -- just about worth the price of the cruise alone!!!

 

I will need to remember about the ribs!

 

I love reading these threads, as there are always new tips to pick up.

[firefly333]

We used the sail and sign card to open/close our safe in February. Has the procedure changed, or did we do it wrong? :confused: The directions on the safe said to used your sail and sign card.

 

Thats always been the procedure .. read the instruction card in the safe.

 

I used mine .. and they had switched mine and my sisters name and got it all screwed up and cancelled my S&S card, then I had to prove I was me and had to get someone to break into my safe to show my credit card and ID again.. got lectured about how I should not have used my S&S card (not a word about how they screwed it up and they caused the problem if you ask me). took me 3 trips to the pursers desk and about 2 hours to fix what they screwed up.

 

pursers desk is obviously well trained to never take responsbility.

[Philly Steve]

On my first cruise, my Sign/Sail card was easily misplaced or demagnetized by my magnetic sunglasses if kept in the same pocket.

 

I now ask the purser's desk to punch a hole in the card and keep it on a lanyard. While I don't usually wear lanyards, the cord makes it easier to keep track of where the card is.

 

And, if you're getting a lanyard, why not make it a Cruise Critic lanyard? ;)

[cruzinblondie]

For opening the safe, we use a used WalMart card, or any gift card that is empty.

 

Take a thermal mug with a top - around 32 oz, and fill it with ice and water to carry around with me. You could use it for tea, lemonade, whatever.

 

Don't miss the omelette station! Yummy!

 

enjoy the cruise!!!!

[TakeMeAway1001]

Lots of great tips, even some that are new to me :) I thought of another thing and that was on our first cruise none of us knew about being able to order refills in the DOD/Funship cups, we also felt the need to collect the cups and we all had sleeves of them to bring home. Now we will get one when we first get on board, we bring it home and use it to hold our loose change to put towards our next cruise :) Not sure exactly how much the savings is but I am sure someone knows.

 

I also learned to bring a small bag that I made up that has some Neosporin packets/Cortisone Cream/antacids/Dramamine/Imodium things that we may need but I don't want to be forced to buy on the ship or have to go the infirmary to get. On our cruise with friends between everyone we used at least one of each item. We also bring a small thing of Aloe and keep it in the fridge, it stays cool, not cold and feels great after a long day in the sun.

[Wayfairers]

I wish someone had told me that parking at the cruise port is much more expensive than parking at an airport.

 

And, to bring a shawl or sweater even if I am going to be in the Caribbean - the ship can be cold.

 

I wish I had found cruise critic before my 3rd cruise. Makes planning so much easier!

[westview1]

Read the Fun Times to find something that interests you. We were on the Caribbean Princess and I found a series of lectures about great sea voyages. They were each about an hour in length and very interesting. I wish Carnival would do something like this.

 

But since this is a Carnival thread here is my advice. Try something new. Don't think you'll like the hairy chest competition? Try it anyway, you may find it fun or not. It's free and you can always move on if you don't like it. Explore the ship, go down that hallway you may find something interesting. The main thing is that you are on vacation! Do something you would not normally do, dance in the disco or join a sing along. Most of all RELAX! :)

[VickiD59]

• Definately bring a shrug or shawl for the evenings, especially if you've been in the sun all day; your skin is on fire from sunburn but you're also chilled from it (like a fever).
  
• Each time I go to the grocery or Walmart, I grab 1 or 2 things from the trial size section and store them away. I did this last time too, and after a years worth of shopping trips, when it came time to pack up our toiletry bags, everyone just grabbed from Mom's stock-pile. I try and get things you don't ordinarily see, like mini aloe and sunscreen, and standards like deodorants, bandaids, neosporin etc. I even had mini rolls of toilet paper.. hey, ya never know! :rolleyes:
  
• We also have one of those big water-cooler bottles that we use as a bank for quarters only. The first cruise it was our casino fund. This time it'll be our transport to and from the pier fund.
  

[trudle]

For those new to cruising----you can order coffee and rolls to your room in the morning while getting dressed. We use this service as a wake up call. In your cabin, on a hook, usually, is a little menu----fill it out and hang it on the outside of your door before 12 midnight and you will get what you ordered, at the time you ordered, in the morning. This is good for those that have to have their coffee first thing in the morning. don't forget to tip----room service is free :D We didn't know this till our 3rd or 4th cruise.

 

For those in an inside room, you can leave the TV on, to the ships web cam, and in the morning it will bring in light and you will see where the ship is headed.

 

Some people like to put decorations on the outside of their doors. We did this a few times with magnets but it seems some of the new ships, the doors do not hold the magnets, you have to use tape. A fun thing to do for Birthdays and Anniversary's or just to be able to find your room.

 

Happy Cruising

[CruisefromNY]

I always carry a flashlight. Small Mag is fine, bring extra batteries

 

I found motion detector night lights at a home improvement store. Great for cruising and you can set it for how long you want it to stay lit.

 

The omelette stations are not only for omelettes. They will make you regular fried eggs if you so desire:) Like mine well done with the yolks broken~

 

Definitely start your motion sickness medicine a couple of days before. Get a prescription for meclazine from your MD. Bonine is the name brand and a lot more $$.

 

do not stand and wait for the doors to the MDR room to open at 8PM, stroll down at 8 and walk right in.

 

We like to sit with others, so if you do too, ask to be seated at a larger table. First cruise we were with another honeymooning couple, we hardly spoke to each other. We all ended up sitting with another older couple at the table next to us and had a blast.

Vice versa, if you want to sit alone.

 

 

If you are a reader like me, bring extra/or download extra books as you will be surprised at how much you can actually get read while cruising especially on sea days. I had to go purchase books on our first cruise because I read the two I had brought.

 

Well more than one, but have a great time.

[CruiserVette]

.....don't start cruising in the first place.

 

If I knew how addicting it would be, I might never have started.

 

;)

 

wasiii

 

I agree, Bill! I didn't want to go on a cruise. What'll we do for a week on a ship? What a boring vacation this is going to be. Annette had to drag me on the ship kicking and screaming. At the end of the week...she had to drag me off the ship kicking and screaming. Now if we don't get at least two cruises a year, we go into withdrawal mode.

[lifeisgoodPat]

Woud someone please tell me what is Bitter and Blanc?

[Room Service!]

Haven't had it......yet! Apparently it's a cake/pudding/sauce concoction. I want it! :)

[Grits53]

:)

Woud someone please tell me what is Bitter and Blanc?

 

It's like a bread pudding with chocolate in the middle and drizzled with warm vanilla sauce. It's my favorite dessert!

[IndiansFan24]

The one thing that I wish I would have known was to take some dramamine (or bonine) a couple days BEFORE you set sail. I knew ahead of time that I get motion sickness but didn't know how I was going to be on the ship. The first night I was "OK". I felt the motion but it really didn't bother me too much. The next morning I woke up a little woozy but nothing too bad. So at breakfast (we ate in one of the dining rooms and were seated by the window in the back of the ship) all I was seeing out of the window were the waves. Nothing big, just little white caps but to me, you might as well of had a hurricane out there LOL I never made it through the meal. As soon as the plate of eggs were placed in front of me, I was done!!! Luckily, I didn't get sick but I didn't feel well AT ALL!!! I went back to my cabin, THEN took my dramamine and slept for a few hours. I just didn't know back then that if you have the motion sickness meds in you BEFORE you get sick, it works much better. So now, 2 days before I cruise, I start taking Bonine and continue taking one each morning of the cruise. I tend to still feel the motion of the ship, but I don't feel the nauseousness (sp).

 

 

Yep - I always take Dramomine or Bonine whether I think I will need it or not! I'm not about to take any chances.

[Lacaena]

Lots of good advice in this thread! One thing I wish I had known more about on my first cruise was the muster drill. I knew what time it was and showed up on time / early, before they had made the announcement. I would not do that again. Bf and I ended up standing there waiting for the crowd and then all the stragglers for a very long time. The staff lines you up in the order you arrive so we ended up against the wall as the first row. Once other people start to show up there end up being many rows in front of you and the staff is trying to keep everyone behind the line so you end up mashed against the wall with someone's back in your face (if you're short like I am) because all the late comers end up in front of you and of course it's hot so if you're claustrophobic not a great place to be.

 

On this cruise we were traveling with friends who had cruised before and I saw them saunter in toward the tail end of the crowd just in time to wait a couple minutes for stragglers and do the actual drill, they got front row (which to me means fresh air) and they were out of there faster than we were! So while I would never skip muster I would definitely wait a couple of minutes next time so that I was with the crowd / toward the end of the crowd and not ahead of it.

 

But above all, like others have said, don't let the small things get to you! Just go with the flow :D

[Room Service!]

Lots of good advice in this thread! One thing I wish I had known more about on my first cruise was the muster drill. I knew what time it was and showed up on time / early, before they had made the announcement. I would not do that again. Bf and I ended up standing there waiting for the crowd and then all the stragglers for a very long time. The staff lines you up in the order you arrive so we ended up against the wall as the first row. Once other people start to show up there end up being many rows in front of you and the staff is trying to keep everyone behind the line so you end up mashed against the wall with someone's back in your face (if you're short like I am) because all the late comers end up in front of you and of course it's hot so if you're claustrophobic not a great place to be.

 

On this cruise we were traveling with friends who had cruised before and I saw them saunter in toward the tail end of the crowd just in time to wait a couple minutes for stragglers and do the actual drill, they got front row (which to me means fresh air) and they were out of there faster than we were! So while I would never skip muster I would definitely wait a couple of minutes next time so that I was with the crowd / toward the end of the crowd and not ahead of it.

 

But above all, like others have said, don't let the small things get to you! Just go with the flow :D

 

 

Now THAT is good advice! Thanks!

[Hellolost]

I have to agree with the take half the clothes that you think you need. I found that out the hard way. I didn't wear half of what I brought.

 

Try everything on BEFORE you get on the ship. Some things you are sure fit... don't.

[gmros]

Thank you for all the tips! Learning a lot from this thread.

 

:)

 

It's like a bread pudding with chocolate in the middle and drizzled with warm vanilla sauce. It's my favorite dessert!

 

Now that's something I'll make sure I don't forget! :D

[CRUISE4JANE]

The one thing that I wish I would have known was to take some dramamine (or bonine) a couple days BEFORE you set sail. I knew ahead of time that I get motion sickness but didn't know how I was going to be on the ship. The first night I was "OK". I felt the motion but it really didn't bother me too much. The next morning I woke up a little woozy but nothing too bad. So at breakfast (we ate in one of the dining rooms and were seated by the window in the back of the ship) all I was seeing out of the window were the waves. Nothing big, just little white caps but to me, you might as well of had a hurricane out there LOL I never made it through the meal. As soon as the plate of eggs were placed in front of me, I was done!!! Luckily, I didn't get sick but I didn't feel well AT ALL!!! I went back to my cabin, THEN took my dramamine and slept for a few hours. I just didn't know back then that if you have the motion sickness meds in you BEFORE you get sick, it works much better. So now, 2 days before I cruise, I start taking Bonine and continue taking one each morning of the cruise. I tend to still feel the motion of the ship, but I don't feel the nauseousness (sp).

 

I have only taken the non-drowsy dramamine on my first 2 cruises. I have taken it the morning before I cruise. But thanks to you,, I will take it 2 days before I cruise. I have never had a problem, however, my DIL had taken it from day 1 of the cruise and one morning missed it. Needless to say, she got sea sick just by missing it that one day, though it didn't last long.

I have

[firefly333]

I guess everyone is different. I thought I had the flu but I was seasick. As soon as I take one of those chewable Bonine's that last 24 hours, they go to work immediately. I can wait to take them until I am seasick.

 

Best thing to me. I would use up those draminine and throw them away in pill form. This is easier and they work as soon as you chew one up. They work really fast on me anyway.

 

I dont take anything most of the time. I dont see the point of taking pills into my body "just in case" when other things work immediately if the seas do get rough. Usually you only need them for 24 hours.

[ekatiel]

There is tea time every afternoon on sea days (at 3pm, I think). They have tea, desserts and little sandwiches. It is usually in the piano bar, but check your Funtimes to make sure. It is one of my favorite things to do on board. So relaxing!! --Katie