Very first cruise ever!

[Dan1113]

My partner and I will be taking our first ever cruise next April. We're from Scotland and will be going to Puerto Rico to do a one week Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean.

 

My partner's family goes on cruises several times a year so we figured itw as about time we give it a shot, too!

 

The 'my booking' page is quite overwhelming I have to say, loads of stuff there to do and prebook etc!

 

I was just hoping to get some general tips and thoughts for a first time cruiser. Anything you wish somebody would have told you or explained before your first cruise etc!

 

Thanks :)

[nokesville]

Start looking for part time employeement now!!!:):):) We went on our first cruise after 25years of my husband saying lets go. I wanted no parts of cruising and after the first day I was hooked. Now I cant wait to get back on the ship. 2 down and many more to come!!!!!

[sailawayjack]

:cool:

My partner and I will be taking our first ever cruise next April. We're from Scotland and will be going to Puerto Rico to do a one week Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean.

 

My partner's family goes on cruises several times a year so we figured itw as about time we give it a shot, too!

 

The 'my booking' page is quite overwhelming I have to say, loads of stuff there to do and prebook etc!

 

I was just hoping to get some general tips and thoughts for a first time cruiser. Anything you wish somebody would have told you or explained before your first cruise etc!

 

Thanks :)

 

:cool:You will probably get many tips from this post. Everyone of us has been where you are. First thing--get to San Juan at least one day before your cruise. Try www.hotelmilanopr.com. Small inexpensive hotel in the heart of old San Juan. Rooftop bar and close to everything. You can take a ferry for something like $.50 across bay, take a cab, and vist Bacardi Rum Factory for a tour and tasting. Whole trip will cost $10.00 or less. If you want to spend more on hotel, try El San Juan Hotel and Casino. Right on beach. Nice restaurants. Be at pier at 11:00 am. No later. Your cruise starts the minute you get on ship. Go to Windjammer restaurant, eat lunch, and explore ship until your room is ready about 2:00. If drinkers, check out bars, and tip well the first time. Bartender will remember and treat you well afterward. I know that may be tough for you Scotsmen. LOL. At dinner, you can order whatever you want. Two of everything if you wish. Don't be bashful, and don't be afraid to try something new. In cabin, first day tell cabin attendant that you will like ice twice daily. Keep that bucket full. On shore--I like to hire van and tell them to take me around island and show me the sights. I may never be back (but I think I've been back to all of them LOL). Negotiate price up front.:cool:JACK I$ $AILING AGAIN

[cruiseguy1016]

Congratulations on booking your first cruise. I promise it won't be your last. You're sailing out of San Juan. Will you be on Adventure or Brilliance? If you let us know what ship you'll be on, it'll be easier for us to make recommendations. I can recommend a few things that will apply regardless of which ship you will be on.

First, fly into San Juan at least one day early. There is so much to see and do there. Old San Juan is full of culture and history. Next, your boarding documents will tell you to arrive at the pier at 2:00 or 3:00. Don't listen. Get there around 11:00 and you will be on the ship by 12:00. Departure day is the first day of your cruise. Get on the ship and enjoy it! Last, expect and plan for delays at the airport on debarkation day. There will be two ships unloading approximately 3,000 passengers each and they all need to be at the airport to fly home. The San Juan airport is notorious for being slow. Unless you get to the airport early (before 9:00), there will be lines to wait in. If you expect and plan for the delays, you will not get as frustrated.

[bouhunter]

If possible I would get to San Juan TWO days early so you have a day to enjoy Old San Juan (or stay a day after the cruise).:D Vist one of the two forts there, and one of the many great restaurants. We always get to the pier around 11:00 and as noted above you should be on the ship around noon unless they're having delays for some reason. Rooms open up around 1:00, until then you have to keep your carry-one luggage with you on the ship.

 

If you want to try the speciality restaurants (which I highly recommend) you can book them online about 90 days before the cruise.

 

Spend some time on the port sections here for each of the islands you're going to visit, you will learn a lot about what there is to do at each port.

[molly361]

Congrats and welcome to Cruise Critic!!!!!

[Dan1113]

Thanks to everyone so far!

 

It will be the Adventure ship. :)

 

With regards to booking the specialties restaurants over the buffet ones...is food at those still included in the price I have paid, or is it just the main buffet restaurant that is included?

 

Thanks for all the tips so far, keep them coming :D

[cruiseguy1016]

Thanks to everyone so far!

 

It will be the Adventure ship. :)

 

With regards to booking the specialties restaurants over the buffet ones...is food at those still included in the price I have paid, or is it just the main buffet restaurant that is included?

 

Thanks for all the tips so far, keep them coming :D

 

There are three types of restaurants available. The Windjammer is a buffet style and there is no additional charge to eat there. There is the Main Dining Room which is a sit down restaurant where you order from the menu and the food is served to you at your table. There are other specialty restaurants which are also sit down but there is an additional fee, $20 - $30, to eat there.

[Just The 3 Of Us]

Congratulations!!! We were on the Adventure this past March - you are going to love the ship and the itinerary is awesome. Answer to your question regarding dining. You will have the Main Diningroom that is free as well as the Windjammer (buffet). If I recall Portofinos has a fee and Johnnie Rockets also requires a very small fee for burgers and the like with some dancing waiters - fun. ENJOY!!!

[deanna41]

The buffet, and main dining room are included in your price. Specialities, will have a cover charge, which will include your tip and you will need to make a reservation for them. Enjoy your 1st of many cruises.

[39august]

Since this is your first cruise, I wouldn't recomment paying to dine in a specialty restaurant. Just select either early or late dining time and eat your dinners in the main dining room. As someone posted, you can order as much as you like when dining there. Or you can select My Time Dining which is simply open seating at a specified area of the main dining room. All the food in the dining room, buffet and at the Cafe Promenade is at no extra charge. You will have plently of choices without paying extra. Room service is also at no charge except from midnight to 5 AM when there is a $3.95 charge per order, not per item. On the first day you will see waiters circulating with trays of drinks. These are NOT free. Many first time cruisers take a drink thinking they are complimentary and then are surprised that they are charged! Absolutely get to San Juan at least one day prior to embarkation day. Have fun!

[39august]

Since this is your first cruise, I wouldn't recomment paying to dine in a specialty restaurant. Just select either early or late dining time and eat your dinners in the main dining room. As someone posted, you can order as much as you like when dining there. Or you can select My Time Dining which is simply open seating at a specified area of the main dining room. All the food in the dining room, buffet and at the Cafe Promenade is at no extra charge. You will have plently of choices without paying extra. Room service is also at no charge except from midnight to 5 AM when there is a $3.95 charge per order, not per item. On the first day you will see waiters circulating with trays of drinks. These are NOT free. Many first time cruisers take a drink thinking they are complimentary and then are surprised that they are charged! Absolutely get to San Juan at least one day prior to embarkation day. Have fun!

[UCF_Knight]

Congratulations!!! We were on the Adventure this past March - you are going to love the ship and the itinerary is awesome. Answer to your question regarding dining. You will have the Main Diningroom that is free as well as the Windjammer (buffet). If I recall Portofinos has a fee and Johnnie Rockets also requires a very small fee for burgers and the like with some dancing waiters - fun. ENJOY!!!

 

In addition, there is a free quick-dining option called the Cafe Promenade. There you can get pizza, sandwiches, pastries, and cookies.

[MORcrzr]

Great advice so far from the best.

 

We also love San Juan and have tried to spend that extra day or two if possible (pre or post cruise). Great place to walk around. We have even gone to a public beach and had a blast with the "locals."

 

The greatest thing about cruising is the fact that you are sooooo relaxed. By the 2nd day (phone locked in safe :) ) you won't believe the feeling! By the 4th or 5th day you will only know what day it is by the rugs in the elevator that have the day of the week printed on them.

 

This is a great place to plan your excursions and to get ready to go. Don't overplan your ship activities, though. You will get a "Cruise Compass" to see what is going on each day and it is fun to go over that the night before and see what you want to do.

 

PS-- Gotta ask-- Favorite scotch? :D

[relaxatsea]

Welcome to Cruise Critic and the Happy World of Cruising!

 

The Main Dining Room and the buffet are included in the price of your cruise along with many other snack-type places.

 

Most specialty restaurants have an additional fee.

 

 

Enjoy your cruise!!

[bbbearden]

Congrats on the booking, you will have a great time. I believe the Southern Carib. has the best itineraries.

I completely agree with the other posters, you need to arrive in San Juan at a minimum of one day before your cruise. You are flying a great distance so you do not want to chance missing the ship.

San Juan is a great city and really fun to explore. We enjoyed seeing El Moro (the old fort) at the harbor entrance. There are great hotels, beaches, casinos, and dining.

What category room are you in on the ship and which itinerary are you on. This will help us give you tips on what to expect on the ship as well as the ports you are visiting.

[Dan1113]

Thanks again! And don't drink scotch. Haha :p

 

The thing that confused me about the dining was that there were two available times but both just said waiting list only. So when I login, I see this under dining preference:

 

Dinner Seating: My Time Dining , No Waiting Lists

So is how this works that you just book a day or two in advance for a time, or just show up and wait to be seated at one of the two free restaurants?

 

 

This is the itinerary

San Juan, Puerto Rico

St. Croix, Us Virgin Islands

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

St. John's, Antigua

Castries, St Lucia

Bridgetown, Barbados

Cruising

San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

Ocean view room

[Dan1113]

With regards to the room, it is an ocean view room...we are thinking of maybe upgrading to a balcony but not sure if it is worth the extra £200 per person!

[sailawayjack]

With regards to the room, it is an ocean view room...we are thinking of maybe upgrading to a balcony but not sure if it is worth the extra £200 per person!

 

:cool:My first 6 or seven cruises were in inside cabins, some with 2 kids. Once you upgrade to a balcony, there is no going back. I'd stay where you are and see how you like to cruise. Use the extra 400 pounds for drinks and excursion and your extra day in San Juan. Later--WHEN you cruise again (and you will LOL), try a balcony:cool:JACK I$ $AILING AGAIN

[bbbearden]

The decision to upgrade to a balcony should be based upon your ability to afford it. If you can afford to do all the excursions you want, arrive a day early, and shop and drink all you want on the ship, and still do the upgrade, then by all means upgrade. Balconies are great and once you try them it is hard to book anything else.

 

I recommend you eat in the main dining room(MDR), but also try Chops and Portofino at least once each. I try to eat in the MDR on formal nights because these evenings normally have the best menu during the week. Eat in the for fee dining venues on causal night.

 

The windjamer is good for breakfast if you are in a hurry, however the MDR has a nice full service breakfast if you have time to sit down and enjoy the service.

 

You have a great itinerary and so I suggest you research the types of shore tours you like to do. Normally ship sponsored excustions are more expensive and you can find the same type of excursions on your own or dock side when you arrive for less money.

 

St. Lucia is stunning. Get away from the port and explore the island, and stop by a beach if you have time. This is an island where you will want to bring your camera.

[bouhunter]

If you can afford it I'd highly recommend the balcony room.

 

I disagree with a post above, whether it's your first cruise or 100th, at least one night at the Portofino specialty restaurant on Adventure is a nice break with much better food.

 

One suggestion on Barbados: Silvermoon catamaran excursion/snorkeling with sea turtles. AWESOME. If you google search you'll find their website. If interested, book early and get on their smaller 12 passenger boat. First class all the way:)

[Dan1113]

Sounds amazing! I can imagine it is going to take ages to go through all of the shore excursions on offer!

 

Sorry to bother but can anyone clarify how it works for the main dining room and the other free restaurant -- do you have to book, or do you just show up? Our booking page at the moment just says: My Time Dining , No Waiting Lists

 

Thanks again!

[MORcrzr]

Thanks again! And don't drink scotch. Haha :p

 

I hope you like RUM!

 

The MTD - My Time Dining - is where you make reservations ahead of time (or on the ship) and can pick different times to eat each night. The other 2 choices are a set time nightly with the same wait staff. You are going to get many opinions, but I would recommend calling RCI and getting on a waitlist for the scheduled dining. It is your first time and I think it is the best way to see what happens in the main dining room. It's fun to have the same servers each night. Remember to look at port times and use that to help make your decision on when to eat. If you don't think you will be back on the ship until 4:00 or 5:00, then a 5:30 dinner won't work - choose the later option. If you end up with MTD don't stress about it, just make your reservations. Hope that helps!:confused:

 

I would also say "stay put" or at least don't pay more for a balcony. Don't get me wrong, balconies are awesome, but it is your first cruise and if money is at all tight, use the 400 on other activities.

[Dan1113]

Ohhh. 2030 (830pm) is available!! So you would suggest I go for it? Will we miss any of the evening entertainment by dining at 830 (to say, 10ish), or will it all be after that (or during it in the same dining room)?

[alfaeric]

Thanks again! And don't drink scotch. Haha :p

 

The thing that confused me about the dining was that there were two available times but both just said waiting list only. So when I login, I see this under dining preference:

 

Dinner Seating: My Time Dining , No Waiting Lists

So is how this works that you just book a day or two in advance for a time, or just show up and wait to be seated at one of the two free restaurants?

 

 

This is the itinerary

San Juan, Puerto Rico

St. Croix, Us Virgin Islands

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

St. John's, Antigua

Castries, St Lucia

Bridgetown, Barbados

Cruising

San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

Ocean view room

 

That was our first itinerary back in 2001 on the Monarch. Since it was our first time, and we were not sure about the cruising thing, we planned excursions at every locaiton, except Antigua, where we got a taxi for the day. If you are not sure, there's no harm in doing that, but, as has been pointed out, it's a LOT of stuff to do, and some early mornings. So it's not a bad thing to do nothing, and just wander in some of the ports.

 

And with that much, if you are doing a lot to keep busy (not being sure and all), I also agree that you don't *need* a balcony. If you don't have much planned, being able to sit on the balcony for breakfast is pretty nice.

 

Just realize- this CAN be addictive. :D

 

(PS, our favorite all time excursion- 12 Metre Yacht in St. Maarten. Oh, so much fun)