The REAL stuff that they don't tell you:

[eelyak]

I'm looking to be a first timer cruiser the first of December with my husband, but I have some questions and need answers!

 

More than likely we'll be cruising either Royal Caribbean or Carnival.

 

Food/Dining/Drinks:

• Is the food all you can eat at the buffets?
  
• Is 24 hour room service (food delivered) available to everyone?
  
• What does "most/some beverages" really mean? Does that include Dr. Peppers? Or is that limited to water/tea/coffee only?
  

Activities:

• Are the activities free on board? Most of them anyway? Give some examples of some activities that are free. Give some examples that aren't free.
  
• Is the pool/hot tub and shops closed when we are at port?
  

Transportation:

• If you drive to Galveston, TX is their a parking lot/garage at the port? How much is parking? If not, where the heck do you park your car?
  
• If you fly to depart from Galveston, do you fly into Houston? How do you get from Houston to Galveston? Taxi? Shuttle? Rental Car?
  

Anything else you wish you'd know before going that you were unaware of?

[Amink]

 

Food/Dining/Drinks:

Is the food all you can eat at the buffets?

yes

Is 24 hour room service (food delivered) available to everyone?

yes - should tip

What does "most/some beverages" really mean? Does that include Dr. Peppers? Or is that limited to water/tea/coffee only?

water, lemonade and iced tea are free regular coffee and hot tea are also free. sodas, alcoholic beverages, specialty drinks are not free.

 

Activities:

 

Are the activities free on board? Most of them anyway? Give some examples of some activities that are free. Give some examples that aren't free.

yes-as far as I know all of them - bingo and the like are not free

Is the pool/hot tub and shops closed when we are at port?

hot tubs and pools are open when in port - casino and shops are closed

[Amink]

grumble double post

[johnql]

Are the activities free on board? Most of them anyway? Give some examples of some activities that are free. Give some examples that aren't free.

Most of the activities are free (e.g., shows, lounge music, gym, pool, hot tubs, ping pong, trivia contests, karaoke, interactive audience games, game room, dancing, cooking demonstrations, ice carving demonstrations, golf putting contests, scavenger hunt, galley tour, movies).

 

Art auctions are free to attend but will cost you if you buy something. The casino will probably cost you unless you're lucky. Bingo costs. Spa treatments (e.g., facials, massages) cost. Video arcade costs.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

On Royal Caribbean not all gym activities are free. Spinning, cardio kick, yoga, etc. carry a ten dollar charge. I consider these extra fees outrageous as my local World's gym does not charge extra for such activities, so I don't attend.

There is also a special computerized golf activity that charges, though the putt putt golf course, table tennis, billiards, shufflebaord, basketball, and I think the ice skating are free...not sure. Maybe there is a rental fee for ice skates. I do not recall if the rock climbing wall was free as I never drumed up the courage to try it. (Wish I did have the courage.)

 

Mariner has Johnny Rockets diner which charges a small extra fee to eat there. I think it was $5.00 a person. The Portofino restaurant and the Chops Grill restaurant have a $20.00 per person fee for meals. All other meals and restaurants carry no extra fee. Oh, wait. On Jewel and Brilliance, the Lattetudes coffee shop did charge for coffee drinks, but their pastries are free and BETTER than the pastries in the Windjammer.

 

There is a fee for Internet access. You pay a fee to rent certain recent release movies in your room, but the ship's movie theater is free. Certain ballroom dancing classes are free, as are some cooking demos, towel and napkin folding demos and veggie carving demos.

 

You can spend quite a bit extra on a ship if you don't pay attention each day. A new cruise ship expose book ("Devils on the Deep Blue Sea")that was just released this week, says cruiselines figure that each guest will spend at least two hundred dollars a day above and beyond the actual cost of the cruise itself. My husband and I never come close to that amount, but I can see how easy it could be.

 

When in port, the ship's shops and casino are closed. Many other activities continue, such as movies, the gym stays open, the basketball court is accessible, the restaurants are fully operational, etc.

[takeavacation]

Some of the Carnival ships do have the Supper Club - and that is about $25 per person. If you don't want to pay for any food - just eat in the dining room, buffet or other options that are included - the food is pretty yummy! I especially love the grill by the pool - and the ice-cream!

[cruise.freak]

For parking in Galveston EZ Cruise (website) for cheaper rates. We used them this year and saved us almost half and just as secure the the Carnival parking lots.

 

Bingo is 10.00 for single card and 20.00 for a triple card but sometimes they play the games half off.

[DEL67]

Most of your questions have been answered, but here are a few additional thoughts.

 

 

Is the food all you can eat at the buffets? Actually it is all you can eat in the dining room too. You can always ask for seconds. Carnival also offers 24 hour pizza and Caesar Salad.

 

What does "most/some beverages" really mean? Does that include Dr. Peppers? Or is that limited to water/tea/coffee only? Carnival offers 24 hour coffee, tea, ice tea and lemonade. Royal Caribbean generally only offers coffee and tea outside of dining hours.

 

If you fly to depart from Galveston, do you fly into Houston? How do you get from Houston to Galveston? Taxi? Shuttle? Rental Car?

You fly into Bush International or Houston Hobby. From either airport you can buy transfers, take a shuttle or rent a car one way. Both Enterprise and Hertz have locations near the pier and offer shuttles to/from the pier.

[DannyMac]

For information on Galveston, log on to www.Galveston.com

 

Houston Bush is a good hour and half drive from Galveston depending on traffic. Houston Hobby is about 45 min. from Galveston. If you are planning on driving to Galveston, plan your drive through Houston to avoid the morning and afternoon rush hour. The afternoon traffic on I-45S is bad and the drive times to Galveston could get rather long.

[clackey]

Hola,

 

On our first two trips, we left our car in the cruise parking lot. Last year we stayed at the Holiday Inn on the Beach. Free shuttle service and free parking for a little over $100. That was in January and I am sure that their rates are higher during peak tourist season, but it was the best deal that we have found.

 

Drinks that were free on Carnival were leamonade, punch, water, coffee and maybe milk. You can purchase a soda card to cover your soft drinks. I think that it was $45.

[98Charlie]

You can spend quite a bit extra on a ship if you don't pay attention each day. A new cruise ship expose book ("Devils on the Deep Blue Sea")that was just released this week, says cruiselines figure that each guest will spend at least two hundred dollars a day above and beyond the actual cost of the cruise itself. My husband and I never come close to that amount, but I can see how easy it could be.

Yikes :eek: I know that some passengers really spend some bucks (bar bill, art auction, excursions, etc.). But, if that figure were true and you had 1,700 passengers on board, that would be $340,000 per day.

 

I would have to challenge that figure.

 

Charlie

[serene56]

wow 200 per person per day to spent on a ship. Whew- I'd be poor.

 

Last cruise we spent a total of under 300 for a 7 day cruise for 2 people. We carry on our own soda and water.

 

Photos will cost you money...with the formal pics costs 20.00 (wellw orth it and makes a nice sovernier)

 

room serivce is free- 24 hours a day-- (please tip a buck or two when service is rendered) soda cards are sold on each ship but soda cards can NOT be used for room service.

[alb38]

The rock climbing wall on RCCL is free.

[johnql]

I don't think $200 pp/pd is an unrealistic goal. Some people will exceed that and others won't, but I certainly think it's doable. I've seen people buy $12,000 pieces of art work and I've seen people drop $5,000 in two hours in the casino. "Whales" like these help to offset the cruisers who spent $50 a day.

 

I myself usually spend an extra $700-1000 for a weeklong cruise. Don't forget: this includes excursions and bar tabs, too.

[spaceguy]

I am glad some people are making up my shortfall!

 

I had one cruise where I had $0.00 on my statement. Tips were still given in cash. I had another cruise where I had charged $10.00 for a T-shirt and tips were in cash.

[clackey]

Hola my little cruisemates,

 

Miss Ginger and I , rarely spend over $300 on our sign and sail card. She may buy a few pictures, but we don't drink, don't gamble and we book our own tours with independent tour guides. I don't think we have ever spent over $1500 for both of us, including transportation to and from the port. I must confess, though, that I am tighter than a toad's butt in a hail storm.:D We go where we want, eat what we want and have a great time.

 

I can see where someone that drinks could rack up a huge bar tab when mixed drinks sell for $4 to $8 @ and beer goes for $4. I take my little soda card and drink until I pop for the grand total of $45.

[anjuli]

{What does "most/some beverages" really mean? Does that include Dr. Peppers? Or is that limited to water/tea/coffee only?}

 

I think only Coke products are sold on cruise ships. If you want Pepsi or Dr Pepper or something other than Coke products, you'll have to bring them onboard yourself.

 

That said, when we sailed on the Triumph two years ago, my husband found Dr Pepper in the Capitol Bar in the lobby. Only bar that had it on the ship...

[cruisinqt]

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WISH YOU'D KNOWN BEFORE GOING THAT YOU WERE UNAWARE OF? - EELYAK

 

 

Things I wish I'd known before my first cruise:

 

1. Those cabins are dark, bring a nightlight.

2. There's only one plug-in, bring a power strip, you'll need it!

3. Pack a collapsible cooler and a few drinks wrapped in bubble wrap. It comes in handy at beaches, on tours while in port, and saves on drink money.

4. You don't need to pack snacks to bring along on shore excursions. We snag cookies, muffins, and mini-cereal boxes from the buffet to take along.

5. The cruise lines provide beach towels so there's no need to pack any.

6. Cruise lines like Carnival and Princess have numerous laundromats. You can pack less clothes and wash mid-week. This is really handy on long cruises.;)

7. Put swimsuits in your carry on so you can go swimming right away if you want to because it sometimes takes a while for the lugggage to arrive.

 

I'm from Texas and have sailed out of Galveston numerous times. E-Z cruise parking was $35 for the whole week of parking when we were there last time. That's half of what the port charges you at their parking lot which is $70 for a week. Or you can to to Galveston.com and look to see which hotels offer free shuttle service to the pier. I have heard that the port is pretty upset at E-Z cruise parking undercutting their prices so they've started charging E-Z cruise every time one of their shuttles goes to the pier to drop people off. So E-Z cruise parking said on their website that they will soon implement a plan to give passengers that are willing to walk the 2 blocks from their parking lot to the pier a discount. This is an excellent idea since it gives the customer a chance to save a little extra money and they cut down on extra trips to the pier saving them money too.;)

[DougYWG]

The previous poster had some great ideas. I would add - take an insulated mug for coffee at breakfast. The mugs in the buffet are small and cool down quickly. Not my idea - I got it on the boards but we did it and it works. You would be amazed at how many fellow passengers look at you and say out loud, gee, that's a good idea.

 

All the cruise ships are very good at turning you upside down and emptying your pockets. Don't worry, it's all optional. On our first cruise, my wife and I ran up a tab of $1000 (plus tips in cash) but we have been more careful since. You won't resent the tips when you see how the crew looks after you. Tip well.

[Bucky3]

We drove to Galveston and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express where we left our car for the 7-day Rhapsody of the Seas Christmas cruise. Worked out great. Don't remember the cost but it was very reasonable, not much more than parking alone at the pier, and we always like to get to the port the day before sailing. Enjoy! Oh, there are no clocks in the rooms, so you may want to remember to take one!

[Bucky3]

We drove to Galveston and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express where we left our car for the 7-day Rhapsody of the Seas Christmas cruise. Worked out great. Don't remember the cost but it was very reasonable, not much more than parking alone at the pier, and we always like to get to the port the day before sailing. Enjoy! Oh, there are no clocks in the rooms, so you may want to remember to take one!

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Yikes :eek: I know that some passengers really spend some bucks (bar bill, art auction, excursions, etc.). But, if that figure were true and you had 1,700 passengers on board, that would be $340,000 per day.

 

I would have to challenge that figure.

 

Charlie

 

If you consider passengers who do shore excursions at every port, play the casino games daily, buy wine and alcoholic drinks, buy soft drinks, drink coffee at the special coffee shop, purchase art, buy many souveniers and other items in the ship's gift shops, buy jewelry, pay for special gym classes, do the computer golf thing, purchase spa treatments, patronize alternative restaurants, and what not, it might be possible that at least many passengers are reaching that amount on some or most days. Also, that amount might be more typical on some ships and not others.

 

Some would have to drop a lot at the casino, though, to make up for the fact that my hubby and I don't do many of those things, so they would have to spend prodigiously to make up for our spendthrift ways.

[98Charlie]

I don't think $200 pp/pd is an unrealistic goal. Some people will exceed that and others won't, but I certainly think it's doable. I've seen people buy $12,000 pieces of art work and I've seen people drop $5,000 in two hours in the casino. "Whales" like these help to offset the cruisers who spent $50 a day.

 

I myself usually spend an extra $700-1000 for a weeklong cruise. Don't forget: this includes excursions and bar tabs, too.

I've got to get out more often :eek:

 

I would like to publicly thank the "Whales" that help keep the price of this minnow's cruises down. :D

 

Charlie

[ondeckatsea]

Wow!!!They must think we are a couple of cheapskates! We've taken 17 cruises and never come close to that. I think you'd have to do an awful lot of drinking to run up a tab like that. Those people must be staggering around the casinos and filling up those slot machines. The pictures you buy aren't that great (at least mine aren't,) the excursions you book yourself are a whole lot better, I just can't see it. That would pay for a whole 'nother cruise. It's a wonder they let us aboard!

[vmom]

Another idea...we had the room steward empty out the frig as soon as we arrived. On the RCCL ships the frigs are stocked with sodas and waters but all at a charge. I didn't want my 3 kids drinking it all up, so the steward just removed it.

 

Also the ship sells bottled water on days at port for people to buy and take with them. This is not free.

 

I put a few bottles in our luggage for the first port stop and after that usually bought some at port much cheaper.

 

If you really like Dr. Pepper, bring some with and stick in your frig after the steward has emptied it out.