My First Cruise

[AudiSean]

We also rented the clam shell and I agree NOT worth it at all.

 

We plan on bringing a few towels, some sunscreen and some sunglasses!

[daveintoledo]

we are on the same cruise.........bad news..... drink package is NOT available during the month of march ..... not available during spring break.....so plan on extra money for bar bill/////

[AudiSean]

we are on the same cruise.........bad news..... drink package is NOT available during the month of march ..... not available during spring break.....so plan on extra money for bar bill/////

 

Damn, time to re budget. I wonder if the buy one bucket of beers get one free is going on? I guess it is bottle service an beer buckets :(

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[daveintoledo]

we too are hoping to find the buy a bucket get one...... i have read here sometimes offered, sometimes not.... see you on the sky.....

[AudiSean]

we too are hoping to find the buy a bucket get one...... i have read here sometimes offered, sometimes not.... see you on the sky.....

 

How do I take your countdown?

[daveintoledo]

go to user cp

[kcdancerkc]

We loved the advice we got here - when time for sail away -- we went to the outrigger lounge up front - went out the side door

 

and had unobstructed view of sailing away!

 

 

The clamshells are worth it IF you get the ones by the Cabanas - there is only a handful -- not bunches crammed together

 

We did do the Sea Lions at Blue Lagoon - fun and hilarious at Nassau

 

Oh and read the "freestyle paper" in your room everyday - will tell you what activities / drink specials etc. are

 

Lastly, room service menu is FREE till Midnight - then it's $4 -- we always tip good for that - we order all kinds of munchies!

[AudiSean]

We loved the advice we got here - when time for sail away -- we went to the outrigger lounge up front - went out the side door

 

and had unobstructed view of sailing away!

 

 

The clamshells are worth it IF you get the ones by the Cabanas - there is only a handful -- not bunches crammed together

 

We did do the Sea Lions at Blue Lagoon - fun and hilarious at Nassau

 

Oh and read the "freestyle paper" in your room everyday - will tell you what activities / drink specials etc. are

 

Lastly, room service menu is FREE till Midnight - then it's $4 -- we always tip good for that - we order all kinds of munchies!

 

Great advice! What time do they serve drinks till on board?

[WaldosPepper]

Great advice! What time do they serve drinks till on board?

 

Until everybody stops drinking.

 

Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen a "time" when service stopped. In the casino there are pretty much gamblers 24 hours per day when at sea, and the bar is always open. So, if people are buying, they're selling. ;)

[AudiSean]

Until everybody stops drinking.

 

Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen a "time" when service stopped. In the casino there are pretty much gamblers 24 hours per day when at sea, and the bar is always open. So, if people are buying, they're selling. ;)

 

That's the answer that I was looking for!

 

 

I know these questions can be found by searching around. But with the title that I used, I think that this will be a good informational thread to new users.

 

Are there any "rules" to cruising? Like things that beginners do that makes more experienced cruisers a little annoyed?

[WaldosPepper]

That's the answer that I was looking for!

 

 

I know these questions can be found by searching around. But with the title that I used, I think that this will be a good informational thread to new users.

 

Are there any "rules" to cruising? Like things that beginners do that makes more experienced cruisers a little annoyed?

 

I kinda figured you'd be happy with that answer. :D

 

I think you may very well be the most-prepared new cruiser ever. I'm pretty amazed at how much research you've already done, and can tell you for sure that your advance work is going to make your voyage SOOO much better! Good for you!

 

I can't really think of anything that new cruisers do in particular that might annoy seasoned cruisers, but I'm pretty sure some others will think of some things and post them.

[AudiSean]

I kinda figured you'd be happy with that answer. :D

 

I think you may very well be the most-prepared new cruiser ever. I'm pretty amazed at how much research you've already done, and can tell you for sure that your advance work is going to make your voyage SOOO much better! Good for you!

 

I can't really think of anything that new cruisers do in particular that might annoy seasoned cruisers, but I'm pretty sure some others will think of some things and post them.

 

I spend A LOT of time on Audi Forums, there is a forum for EVERYTHING these days, no matter how bizarre it is..

 

I am NOT one of those people that plans down to the T, I just like to have a lot of good information to make better choices and not miss out on cool things. That way we don't look back on the last day and say "oh ****, we could have done that":cool:

[dwjoe]

Are there any "rules" to cruising? Like things that beginners do that makes more experienced cruisers a little annoyed?

Welcome to CC.

 

One suggestion I'd give you is Don't Be a Chair Hog.

 

A chair hog is someone who gets up in the early morning hours, lays claim to a couple of pool chairs with a towel, book, or other personal items and then doesn't come back to them for hours, denying the use of those chairs to others. Most cruise lines have rules against "reserving" of chairs this way, but enforcement is spotty.

 

You will find lots of CC threads about this topic. :)

[AudiSean]

Welcome to CC.

 

One suggestion I'd give you is Don't Be a Chair Hog.

 

A chair hog is someone who gets up in the early morning hours, lays claim to a couple of pool chairs with a towel, book, or other personal items and then doesn't come back to them for hours, denying the use of those chairs to others. Most cruise lines have rules against "reserving" of chairs this way, but enforcement is spotty.

 

You will find lots of CC threads about this topic. :)

 

I will politely move any objects..

 

Edit: I just ran a quick search, can ou direct me to a good thread regarding this. There are about a million of them

 

Thank you

[cocheese]

If you have not already done so, I always go to youtube. It's great to get a layout of the ship, get a idea of how big(or small) your cabin will be. And it just get's me more excited about my upcoming cruise.

 

We did the Dolphin encounter in Freeport, and it was by far the best excursion yet! You get done relatively early and still have some beach or shopping time afterwards. For a first time in Nassau that is not beach related, Atlantis is definitely something to see once.

[jdvmd]

I find that saying "salamat" always brings a smile and I am asked when I visited the Phillpines.

The Sky is a great cruise! Have a wonderful time!

[dwjoe]

Edit: I just ran a quick search, can ou direct me to a good thread regarding this. There are about a million of them

The thread title search feature seems to be down right now, but briefly chair hogging boils down to this:

 

1) Reserving a chair while you're in the pool, or going to the restroom, or going to your room to get something is OK. 30-40 minutes is about the limit you should be reserving a chair. If you're going to be away for longer than that, leave the chair empty for others.

 

2) If you want a chair and they're all occupied by towels, it's a judgement call. I usually ask folks nearby if they've seen anyone in them lately, and if the answer is no, I take the chair with the understanding that if their owner shows up reasonably quickly they can have it back.

[AudiSean]

If you have not already done so, I always go to youtube. It's great to get a layout of the ship, get a idea of how big(or small) your cabin will be. And it just get's me more excited about my upcoming cruise.

 

We did the Dolphin encounter in Freeport, and it was by far the best excursion yet! You get done relatively early and still have some beach or shopping time afterwards. For a first time in Nassau that is not beach related, Atlantis is definitely something to see once.

 

Wow. I never thought to YouTube, I was just looking at still pictures. Silly me.

 

Thanks for the tip!

[AudiSean]

One last question about NCL. Can you bring water on board? I have read too many confusing posts. Some dating back to 2006 and 2008.

 

I have also found through search that there is a very good, actually better water filtration system on the ships than what is found in many water treatment plants! But, you can't believe everything that you read.

[DMH15]

You cruise your way. I cruise mine. I deal with contracts as part of the day job and read them rigidly. As I told someone else on here, I tend to plan for the worst case the rules and contract throws at me up front. Better to do so and be pleasantly surprised if it doesn't happen/not risk that one eager beaver who will enforce a seldom-enforced rule than NOT plan and find myself boxed in by my lack of pre-planning and inconvenienced. It's common for me to drive myself to distraction with minutia in the planning phase and have a GREAT time aboard and very unlikely that I will be disappointed by overlooking something and getting smacked with it later.

 

It's up to the gent who asked the question to decide for himself if he wants to chance it will never be charged, in today's climate of rising fuel prices, or not. Forewarned is forearmed, more or less, IMO.

 

DML

 

Gas prices here have dropped a lot. Let's hope it is a trend.

 

You are right it is a possibility, but hope we don't get it.

 

It is, however good to warn new cruisers about it. Thanks!

[AudiSean]

Gas prices here have dropped a lot. Let's hope it is a trend.

 

You are right it is a possibility, but hope we don't get it.

 

It is, however good to warn new cruisers about it. Thanks!

 

Counterintuitive- Gas prices go up we pay a gas fee. prices go down and we don't get anything back :(

[dwjoe]

One last question about NCL. Can you bring water on board? I have read too many confusing posts. Some dating back to 2006 and 2008.

Yes, no problem.

 

Some people report being able to even slap a luggage tag on a case of water and take that on board, but success can vary depending on the port of embarkation.

[AudiSean]

Yes, no problem.

 

Some people report being able to even slap a luggage tag on a case of water and take that on board, but success can vary depending on the port of embarkation.

 

Okay, that covers the Yes or No portion.

 

Do you put it in your carry on, or in your checked luggage? I have read from countless forums that putting a baggage tag on it won't get it to your room? I have also read that it will.

 

This forum is great, just a lot of old threads that come up in search first, but by the time the thread is done, it has to much debate, and you can never really tell what is what.

[dwjoe]

Do you put it in your carry on, or in your checked luggage? I have read from countless forums that putting a baggage tag on it won't get it to your room? I have also read that it will.

 

This forum is great, just a lot of old threads that come up in search first, but by the time the thread is done, it has to much debate, and you can never really tell what is what.

Answers to questions are sometimes YMMV. That means it worked for some people but not for others. My wife was researching the "case of water" topic and concluded it was a safer bet to put the case of water inside a duffel bag and check it. That's what we did last week when boarding the Gem from NYC, and we had no problems.

[AudiSean]

Answers to questions are sometimes YMMV. That means it worked for some people but not for others. My wife was researching the "case of water" topic and concluded it was a safer bet to put the case of water inside a duffel bag and check it. That's what we did last week when boarding the Gem from NYC, and we had no problems.

 

Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to this!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk