Some Tips For First Time Cruisers ...

[Barsnikel]

Here are some tips for “newbie” cruisers. These are offered in no particular order of importance. This information is primarily from cruising with Carnival, but in general is probably true for other cruise lines as well. Cruise lines change their policies over time, so I offer no guarantee as to this being the most current policies.

 

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Do not over pack. Most of the time you will be wearing shorts and flip flops. Take 2 bathing suits (they don't dry overnight). Don't stress about wardrobe - no one cares what you wear. Seriously.

 

Before you go, call your credit card company and let them know you will be traveling. If they suddenly see a charge from Mexico or some remote island, they are liable to think it is fraud and place a security hold on your card.

 

Regardless of the published boarding time, arrive early. In most cases they will begin check-in early, and most ports have comfortable waiting areas.

 

Once they begin actual boarding, the very first thing they will have everyone do is line up for a photo. If you don’t want pictures, bypass the line and head up the gangway

 

When you first step on board the ship, there will be someone standing there, welcoming you on board, and holding out a “drink-of-the-day”. Those drinks are NOT free.

 

As soon as you board the ship, immediately head up to the Lido deck where they will be serving a buffet lunch. The lines will queue quickly, so don’t go walking around the ship sightseeing. There will be plenty of time for that later.

 

In many cases, you will not be allowed into your cabin until later (on many ships, about 1 PM or so). Find a comfortable table on the Lido where you can have a leisure lunch and watch the ship channel or docks.

 

Once in your cabin, place your empty suitcases under bed

 

You don't have to buy every photo they take. On the other hand, if you want a family portrait, then Elegant Night (formal night) is a great time to do that. There will be multiple photographers available, each with a different backdrop. There are no “sitting fees”, so go to each station and let them take as many photos as they want. Later, you can decide how many to purchase, or not purchase any at all. And they do take some pretty good pictures.

 

If necessary, the ships have a self-serve laundry rooms, or you can have Carnival do your laundry (for a fee). Take one or two of those “one load” laundry soap tablets, or a small box of dry laundry detergent. Whatever you don’t use, just throw away.

 

Take some large trash bags to use for dirty clothes. And some small trash bags to use for wet clothes.

 

You don't need to pack beach towels - they are provided for free. Towels are also available at the pools

 

Take a bunch of $1 bills to use for tips - room service, baggage handlers, taxis, etc). Also take small bills rather than large bills. When you are shopping on the islands, if all you have are “twenties”, you’ll end up either paying a higher price OR when they give you change it will not be in US dollars. Have small bills ($1, $5, $10), negotiate the price, and pay the exact amount if possible.

 

Some excursions are limited-space activities and they do sell out, so if there's something you really have your heart set on doing, book it early.

 

You can order as much food as you want in the main dining room, and in whatever combination you want. If you want to order three appetizers and no main course, you can do that. If you want an extra lobster tail, you can order that. If you see more than one item you would like to try, order them both.

 

Room service is free, and it is available 24-hours a day. Great for a leisure breakfast on the balcony. Be sure to tip the person a dollar or two (not mandatory, but don’t be cheap…!!!! ). When you are finished, place the tray and dishes outside your cabin door.

 

Bring your passport. (not a birth certificate, not a copy of your passport, etc). Bring your PASSPORT !!!

 

Consider a waterproof case for your ID, S&S card, credit card, etc. while swimming or snorkeling in port.

 

There are advantages and disadvantages to booking your shore excursions through Carnival. If you book through Carnival, you will pay more… and in most cases, a lot more. However, when booking through Carnival you have a high degree of security – in the event of bad whether, cancellations, ship itinerary changes, etc…. Carnival will refund your money or take care of it. If you book an independent tour you will save money, but if the ship is delayed or bad weather comes along, you will likely lose a deposit.

 

The bathroom counters can be small. Consider bringing a clear, over-the-door shoe holder for everything.

 

To purchase a soda card, wait until the ship is in international waters to avoid paying tax.

 

Bring a battery alarm clock and a low wattage night light.

 

Bring an extension cord. As long as it is in “new” condition, it is allowed. Also bring a 3-way plug or small power strip. You will likely only have one 110V AC outlet available to you, and it will not be where you want it. The extension cord is allowed. The power strip is “iffy” depending upon who sees it.

 

Buy some bright colored duct tape. You can get it at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Place a long strip of tape on all 6 sides of every piece of luggage (top. bottom, left, right, front and back) - including your carry-on luggage. No matter how the luggage is stacked, you will easily be able to identify yours. Also, when they bring the luggage up to the cabin, they can easily see which pieces go to the same cabin.

 

Take a strip of the colored duct tape, and put it on your outside cabin door. You (and your kids) will know which cabin is yours.

 

Turn off your cell phone when you board the ship, and do not turn it back on until you get off the ship. You need to understand that once the ship pulls away from land, Carnival turns on their own cellular system. It is not owned by AT&T, nor Sprint, nor Verizon. It is owned by Carnival. It matters not what type of calling plan you have, how many minuets you get each month, if you have international roaming, nor anything else. None of that matters. You will be using Carnival's cellular system - owned by Carnival - and the contract you have with your regular carrier is moot. Carnival will charge you - and charge you a lot - for each and every minute used, for every byte of data used, and for every text message sent. You will be seriously shocked at the bill you receive

 

All “for pay drinks” (bar drinks and sodas) have an automatic 15% gratuity already added into the price of the drink. When they have you sign for the drink, there is a line for “tip”. If you add anything there (which I don’t), it will be in addition to the 15% tip already included in the price of the drink.

 

Take a nice big travel coffee mug, preferable one with a lid. You can fill it up on the Lido deck, and enjoy a morning walk around the ship. We also take a different travel mug for ice water and ice tea. Great for sitting out by the pool.

 

Bring a highlighter so you can highlight the schedule for things you don't want to miss. You will not be able to see everything and do everything. Pace yourself.

 

Get your documents in order before you leave home. All cruise lines offer online registration these days. USE IT! Print two copies of your completed documents. Keep one copy on you for check in, and place the other in your luggage as backup.

 

Make photocopies of your passport, medicine prescriptions, return airline tickets, and emergency contacts to put in your luggage. You may also want to keep the international toll-free umber of your credit card company in case you lose your credit cards.

 

Print your luggage tags from home. Print at least 3 paper tags for every piece of luggage, including your carry on. Take a piece of heavy duty packing tape and laminate both sides of each tag. With a hole punch or scissors, punch a hole in the top, and use cable ties (or similar wire, such as trash bag ties) and attach one tag to the top handle of each piece of luggage, and a second tag to the side handle of each. Place the third tag inside the luggage itself. The lamination makes the paper tags very strong and also water proof (in case it rains). NOTE : if flying, wait until you are at the dock to do this.

 

All cabins now have safes. Some have a key pad where you enter a pin, and some use the magnetic strip such as off a credit card. For the magnetic strip, it is best to avoid using a current credit card or drivers license. There have been cases where the data on the card gets corrupted. Instead, use an old gift card or something similar. If you recently stayed at a hotel, they usually provide two key-cards for each room. Try those, and then you have one card and your mate has another.

 

Carnival allows you to bring (as carry-on only) one 750ml bottle of wine PER PERSON (not per cabin, per person). They also allow you to bring your own bottled water and sodas. Carry-on only… NOT in your checked luggage. You can also bring a small cooler.

 

If you bring your own wine, don’t forget a cork screw. Most liquor stores sell an inexpensive travel cork screw. Your cabin steward will provide an ice bucket for the wine.

 

If you have a CPAP machine, take it as carry-on. Carnival sees these every day, and they know what it is. In your CPAP travel case, pack an extension cord (with the machine). In most cases, your cabin will NOT have an AC outlet next to the bed.. The extension cord must be in “like new” condition

 

Many cabins have mini-refrigerators. These are there in an attempt to sell you liquor. However, if you ask your cabin steward, he will empty the fridge so you can use it for other items.

 

Some hotels offer ‘pre-cruise specials” where they allow free parking during your cruise. Some also have free shuttles to the pier. Call the hotel directly and ask (call the hotel, not the corporate 800-number).

 

This is not the airlines. There are no limitations as to the number of carry on bags. There are limitations on size and content, but not quantity. Just remember – it’s called “carry on” because you have to carry it, and you are not going to be allowed into your room right away. Use good judgment.

 

Take a wrist watch – you know, one of those old fashion things nobody wears these days. There are very few clocks. The ship has some, but they are few and far between. You will seemingly never know what time it is. You also need a watch when you are off the ship. The local island may not be on the same time as “ship time”. Set your watch to “ship time” and leave it there. When they say the ship will leave the island at 3PM, that doesn’t always mean 3PM local time, and you may very well (literally) “miss the boat”. And don’t (DO NOT) use a cell phone as your watch. Buy a cheap $10 watch and put it on your wrist.

 

Take an ipod or MP3 player for sitting out by the pool. If you have an e-reader (such as a Nook or Kindle) be sure to take those as well.. And don’t forget the battery chargers.

 

Do not forget hats, sunglasses and sunscreen - especially for Caribbean cruises. And use the sunscreen. You are much further south, and you will burn before you know it.

 

Once you are settled in your cabin, take your car keys and put them inside your suitcase, preferably in a zipped side pocket where you can easily find them. You will not need them on the ship and you don’t want to lose them. You also no longer need your wallet or purse. Place those in the cabin safe (and don’t forget to retrieve them at the end of the cruise). The only thing you need on board is your Sign & Sail card. When you are shopping on an island, you’ll only need the S&S card, your passport, a credit card and some cash. For that, wear a “fanny pack”. The less you carry, the less that gets lost or stolen.

 

Do not expect to watch your favorite football team. You are in the middle of the ocean. There are no local TV stations. The ship will receive a few satellite channels, but in all likelihood it will not be the channel you want to watch. If your vacation is ruined because you can’t watch your favorite team, then you picked the wrong type of vacation.

 

The ship’s internet is very slow. Not just slow, but *REALLY* slow. And it is expensive. Not just expensive, but *REALLY* expensive. Don’t promise your friends that while cruising you will chat with them on Facebook. And don’t tell your boss you’ll check your office e-mail while you’re gone. And don’t tell the kids that you will purchase them Internet time while on the ship. You are on vacation. Leave all that at home.

[notentirelynormal]

Room service is free, and it is available 24-hours a day. Great for a leisure breakfast on the balcony. Be sure to tip the person a dollar or two (not mandatory, but don’t be cheap…!!!! ). When you are finished, place the tray and dishes outside your cabin door.

 

Wow, this must have taken you a ton of time to write. :D While I agree with some and disagree with some and think some is really good and some not so much I have to comment on this one item.

 

Please please do not leave your dirty dishes in the hallway. Call room service and they will come and pick up the used dishes - or leave it for the room steward and he will call them. Putting them in the hallway is not only a sight no one want to look at (do you really want to see someone else's half eaten meal)... it is a safety hazard. Imagine trying to get your wheel chair or stroller down the hall having to dodge dirty trays. The room steward carts can't get by either (they are not the ones that pick them up, room service is). Can you imagine in an emergency having the hallways clogged with people and dirty trays. Blocking the hallway is never a good idea.

[BaumD]

The Lido is very crowded on day one. After you finish eating, give up the table to someone else wanting to eat. Don't just take up at table space. There are plenty of other places to sit and relax other than the lido buffet.

[BananaAnna]

great basic list but i have to strongly recommend NOT putting a strip of duct tape on your cabin door unless you're prepared to pay for a damaged door.

door decorations are fine but don't use duct tape.

[81Cruise31]

Thanks for this list. I have not been on a cruise yet and this sure helped. Like the drink they offer you when u first get onboard. I didnt know they charge u for that. Thanks for the heads up. :)

[CrabbyQ]

2 things I can add:

 

On RCI: if you have a CPAP, fill out special needs form online and they will provide an extension cord and a bottle of distilled water.

 

On Celebrity: the glass of champagne they hand you when you board the ship *is* free.

[Keith1010]

It's alway good to share suggestions and you have listed many good ones.

 

Keith

[janetz]

Most times a dining room will be open for lunch when boarding, they will not advertise this. Just ask which one, if there are two. Lido (buffet)is always packed and noisy. On some of the bigger ships, Oasis and Allure there are many other free options for lunch also. :)

Edited September 4, 2012 by janetz

[dorisis]

If you are new to cruising print that list and read it several times before you leave. For the most part, IT IS EXCELLENT ADVISE!!

 

~Doris~

[Isa65]

Thank you so much for this list. I have a group of first-time cruisers and was planning to make a suggestion 'n tips list. You saved me LOTS of time. Thanks again!

[walfgirl]

Thankyou - really appreciate this info

[johneeo]

Very good tips. Nicely done.

 

However, I will disagree with one.

 

Do NOT under any circumstances look for food when you get on.

 

Do NOT go to the buffet.

 

It is a feeding frenzy of people acting like they have not had a good meal in years.:eek::eek:

 

Eat a large breakfast, skip lunch, and while the starving masses are battling for honey stung chicken, begin exploring the ship and acclamating yourself. Stop at one of the many bars, grab a drink, and prepare for sail away.

[sparky-elpaso]

Thanks for this list. I have not been on a cruise yet and this sure helped. Like the drink they offer you when u first get onboard. I didnt know they charge u for that. Thanks for the heads up. :)

 

If they ask for your sea pass (or whatever it's called on different cruise lines) then you're being charged. Also, if anyone in your party doesn't drink (or is too young) you can almost always get "virgin" drinks with no booze in them. When we got the "drink of the day" on day one of our last cruise they had the pina coladas made up without the rum - and then added it (and they were very generous).

 

Also the drink of the day may come in a souvenir glass (which will cost you a little more). You can ask for one in a regular glass - although it's nice to take one special glass home with you. :)

[paul929207]

Thanks for this list. I have not been on a cruise yet and this sure helped. Like the drink they offer you when u first get onboard. I didnt know they charge u for that. Thanks for the heads up. :)

Not all lines offer a drink and then charge for it at the initial boarding. Never happened to us on Princess.

[Barsnikel]

great basic list but i have to strongly recommend NOT putting a strip of duct tape on your cabin door unless you're prepared to pay for a damaged door.

door decorations are fine but don't use duct tape.

We do that every cruise, and never had to pay for a door yet :)

[Barsnikel]

Wow, this must have taken you a ton of time to write. :D While I agree with some and disagree with some and think some is really good and some not so much I have to comment on this one item.

 

Please please do not leave your dirty dishes in the hallway. Call room service and they will come and pick up the used dishes - or leave it for the room steward and he will call them. Putting them in the hallway is not only a sight no one want to look at (do you really want to see someone else's half eaten meal)... it is a safety hazard. Imagine trying to get your wheel chair or stroller down the hall having to dodge dirty trays. The room steward carts can't get by either (they are not the ones that pick them up, room service is). Can you imagine in an emergency having the hallways clogged with people and dirty trays. Blocking the hallway is never a good idea.

Perhaps, but our cabin steward has told us to place it outside the door.

Edited September 4, 2012 by Barsnikel

[Barsnikel]

Very good tips. Nicely done.

 

However, I will disagree with one.

 

Do NOT under any circumstances look for food when you get on.

 

Do NOT go to the buffet.

 

It is a feeding frenzy of people acting like they have not had a good meal in years.:eek::eek:

 

Eat a large breakfast, skip lunch, and while the starving masses are battling for honey stung chicken, begin exploring the ship and acclamating yourself. Stop at one of the many bars, grab a drink, and prepare for sail away.

awwww... you'r taking the fun out of it :D

[kba1988]

here are some tips for “newbie” cruisers...

 

 

 

like!!! :-)

Edited September 4, 2012 by kba1988

[notentirelynormal]

Perhaps, but our cabin steward has told us to place it outside the door.

 

Well then I guess you need to decide for yourself whether your cabin steward told you correctly or not. Think about it. How wide is the hallway? How wide is the tray. How wide is a handicap scooter or a stroller? Add in other people walking. Now put a tray on both sides. The guy in the wheelchair will have to back up to the first outsection to cross to the other side of the ship just so he can get past your tray. You can choose to do what your cabin steward told you - or you can be considerate of other people. The choice is certainly yours to make.

Edited September 4, 2012 by notentirelynormal
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[janetz]

Very good tips. Nicely done.

 

However, I will disagree with one.

 

Do NOT under any circumstances look for food when you get on.

 

Do NOT go to the buffet.

 

It is a feeding frenzy of people acting like they have not had a good meal in years.:eek::eek:

 

Eat a large breakfast, skip lunch, and while the starving masses are battling for honey stung chicken, begin exploring the ship and acclamating yourself. Stop at one of the many bars, grab a drink, and prepare for sail away.

 

 

Not in the dining room. ;)

[hal lover]

The Lido is very crowded on day one. After you finish eating, give up the table to someone else wanting to eat. Don't just take up at table space. There are plenty of other places to sit and relax other than the lido buffet.

 

I hope that alot of people heed this message. Open up the tables for those who have not had the chance to eat yet.

[spokenthoughtz]

Thanks for the lists. It is very helpful. :) This will be a great experience for us newbies.

[FoghornLeghorn]

Thanks to Barsnikel for taking the time to post something that will be very helpful to newbies. Yes, there are many old posts, but this one is "fresh" :), well-written and easy to read.

 

I agree with the posters that said don't leave the trays in the hallways. Perhaps Carnival says it's okay...I don't know yet. Not going with Carnival until October. But, the other cruises I've been on, the cabin steward just takes it when he cleans the room, or does the turn down.

Can't imagine why the cruiseline would want the responsibility if someone would trip over a tray full of glasses and cut themselves, or break a bone, etc.

 

Don't care for the duct tape on the door...but, to each their own :)

 

Internet suggestion: type your email off line on a word document, notepad, etc. Then once you sign on, you can just copy and paste it into your emails.

 

When you take your own cup/container to the Lido to re-fill it, make sure you use the ships cup and THEN pour it into your personal container.

 

A small bag/tote. Some cruiselines give you a tote bag with their logo on your first day. These come in handy for loading it up for shore excursions, or just heading out of your cabin for the day. Kindle, book, sunglasses, lotion/sunscreen, daily schedule, pen, anything you might need during the day. Being on one end of the ship relaxing, or enjoying an activity and the realizing you needed something from your cabin...the bag comes in handy.

 

and

try something new! a new drink, a new dessert, a new entree....even a new activity! You're on vacation! and you've paid for it.

 

Enjoy your cruise. Pre-planning is great. But, let some things surprise you. You know... like NOT peeking into your Christmas presents and just being surprised Christmas morning :D

[ginmqi]

Awesome list! Very helpful for a first timer like me!

 

Also another quick question, any advice on which staterooms to book, if there are any tips and tricks? Left or right side of the ship? And does forward or aft area matter at all?

 

Thanks!

[Barsnikel]

Awesome list! Very helpful for a first timer like me!

 

Also another quick question, any advice on which staterooms to book, if there are any tips and tricks? Left or right side of the ship? And does forward or aft area matter at all?

 

Thanks!

I'm sure others will have their preferences, but we've stayed front and back, left and right, top and bottom. To us, it really doesn't matter.

 

The only thing I would be careful of is to ensure that your cabin isn't above or below a noisy area, such as the dinning rooms, Lido deck, or theaters. Even when those are closed, there are still chairs being moved around at 5AM for cleaning and other activities.