I wish I had known.....

[Rache.]

What do you wish you had realized or thought of before your very first cruise?

 

I don't know how to do the little time graphics, but DH and I go on our virgin voyage on HAL to Alaska in nine days and about 16 hours!:):)

[musicmansmom]

well, for me it was the statement that ''you will not need half the clothes you will take with you''. it is really true. pack the bag, take half the clothes out and you will still probably not need all that you take. i lugged around what i thought was just the right amount of clothes and never wore them all.

 

and i would have taken more money for unique gifts and souveniers.

 

have a great time

[Happy ks]

I wish I had known to book my own air and bypass the ships transfers, avoiding many headaches, long waits and terrible flight schedules. Plus, go a day early and stay over an extra day or two.

[musicmansmom]

I wish I had known to book my own air and bypass the ships transfers, avoiding many headaches, long waits and terrible flight schedules. Plus, go a day early and stay over an extra day or two.

 

ditto on this. i would never fly in the day of the cruise and use the ships prices for the air. wow, do they overcharge you and you dont have the choice of choosing your own times and layovers. GREAT TIP.

[kidz_rn]

If you're taking a new digital camera, (or ANY new camera for that matter) practice with it and learn all the bells & whistles BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!

 

Take a 6-foot power strip if you plan on needing to plug in more than one thing at a time. [only one outlet per stateroom.]

 

A small roll of duct or color tape can be very useful for a variety of needs!

[jerzygrl]

What do you wish you had realized or thought of before your very first cruise?

 

I don't know how to do the little time graphics, but DH and I go on our virgin voyage on HAL to Alaska in nine days and about 16 hours!:):)

 

Joanna,

 

I got mine from ticker factory.com. I don't know about the clocks.

 

[gg3]

What do you wish you had realized or thought of before your very first cruise?

 

I don't know how to do the little time graphics, but DH and I go on our virgin voyage on HAL to Alaska in nine days and about 16 hours!:):)

 

Great question !! After 2 trips to Alaska I have learned:

1. Book your own air fare.

2. Take a taxi from airport to hotel to port. Sometimes you wait forever on the cruise line shuttle to fill up or just to arrive.

3. Book your own hotel room and don't waste your money on fancy hotels pre cruise pkgs. Twice now we have paid big bucks for a fancy hotel through our cruise line pkg. and realized many got the same hotels via Priceline at a fraction of the price.

4. I will not take any more cruises on the huge ships, simply because in Alaska they are hindered by their size, you have more people to get off and on ship, eat, and to get sick.

5. I will not sail out of Seattle again (although it is a lovely city to visit) because I want the true Inside Passage route on the East side of Vancouver Island - not the West Coast - pacific side. Too much sea time.

6. I will book whale trips only with Capt. Larry because he is the master in the Juneau area.

7. If I ever use my crappy, expensive zoom lens again, I will know what I am doing and not waste precious shots that are too grey because I did not set the F stop correctly.

8. I will study books, these boards, and other web sites to find out my best chances of seeing wildlife: time of year, areas, tour operators, etc.

9. I would waste very little precious time in the restaurants, casino, movies, etc. but instead I would be outside scanning the water and banks for wildlife.

Joanna - get ready for the trip of a lifetime. Alaska is just so awesome, I had to remind myself to shut my mouth sometimes - I was so overwhelmed with its size, its beauty, its serenity, the quiet. Our first trip was in 2003 out of Vancouver on HAL Zaandam. A fabulous experience. gg

[runnerandme]

Wow, what great tips. I was considering Seattle now will look into Vancouver. Thanks, Connie

[gg3]

Wow, what great tips. I was considering Seattle now will look into Vancouver. Thanks, Connie

 

Connie - our first trip was out of Vancouver and we sailed out of Seattle this time just to see the town. It was my fault that I "assumed" the Inside Passage Route was the same - Wrong !!! What was I thinking ??? A lot of folks do go out of Seattle because the flights there are cheaper, but we use miles so does not matter. But it the flight savings are substantial, you can fly into Seattle and shuttle, rent a car, etc. to Vancouver. Look back on Seattle port site or Alaska site and you will read a lot of info on this. gg

[bplazo]

I wish I would have known about "cruise critic". On our first cruise, I knew nothing. I didnt bring the right clothes, didnt know anything about excursions, what to pack, etc.

[Bucky3]

Most ships do not have clocks in their standard cabins - not sure about suites - so we always bring a battery clock of some kind. That way when you wake up and think it's morning but it's really only 4am you'll know before you flip open the curtains and let the sunshine (?) in!

[jonikal]

Most ships do not have clocks in their standard cabins - not sure about suites - so we always bring a battery clock of some kind. That way when you wake up and think it's morning but it's really only 4am you'll know before you flip open the curtains and let the sunshine (?) in!

 

We take our electric LED display clock which shows time constantly and which we plug into our extension cord. No point in having to push a button to squint to see the time if you don't have to! I had looked for a battery one that stays visible permanently, but they don't seem to make 'em.

[jonikal]

ditto on this. i would never fly in the day of the cruise and use the ships prices for the air. wow, do they overcharge you and you dont have the choice of choosing your own times and layovers. GREAT TIP.

 

Completely agree. Just booked a New York Hotel through reading in this forum and booked a shuttle from JFK to the hotel at a fraction of what it would have cost to do it though the airline. Just like a lot of the cruise organized tours, you need to shop carefully. I would NEVER fly in on the same day as the cruise. We saw a horrible situation in Seattle a couple of weeks ago - a couple's flight was delayed out of Houston and they arrived at SeaTac 30 minutes before their ship was supposed to leave port. I doubt they made it.

[monicuba23]

I wish I had known about the use of bungee cords to keep the balcony door open. It's so pleasing to listen to the ocean at night!!!

 

Post-it Notes, as well -- to leave notes for the Cabin Steward.

[kenandlaura06]

Great question !! After 2 trips to Alaska I have learned:

1. Book your own air fare.

2. Take a taxi from airport to hotel to port. Sometimes you wait forever on the cruise line shuttle to fill up or just to arrive.

3. Book your own hotel room and don't waste your money on fancy hotels pre cruise pkgs. Twice now we have paid big bucks for a fancy hotel through our cruise line pkg. and realized many got the same hotels via Priceline at a fraction of the price.

4. I will not take any more cruises on the huge ships, simply because in Alaska they are hindered by their size, you have more people to get off and on ship, eat, and to get sick.

5. I will not sail out of Seattle again (although it is a lovely city to visit) because I want the true Inside Passage route on the East side of Vancouver Island - not the West Coast - pacific side. Too much sea time.

6. I will book whale trips only with Capt. Larry because he is the master in the Juneau area.

7. If I ever use my crappy, expensive zoom lens again, I will know what I am doing and not waste precious shots that are too grey because I did not set the F stop correctly.

8. I will study books, these boards, and other web sites to find out my best chances of seeing wildlife: time of year, areas, tour operators, etc.

9. I would waste very little precious time in the restaurants, casino, movies, etc. but instead I would be outside scanning the water and banks for wildlife.

 

Joanna - get ready for the trip of a lifetime. Alaska is just so awesome, I had to remind myself to shut my mouth sometimes - I was so overwhelmed with its size, its beauty, its serenity, the quiet. Our first trip was in 2003 out of Vancouver on HAL Zaandam. A fabulous experience. gg

 

 

 

Great tips! We hope to take an Alaska cruise in two years.

[chubby_faye]

Joanna11 - You are in for a great vacation! Alaska is my favorite cruise by far. If you are leaving out of Seattle, go to Pike Market and buy some flowers. They are so beautiful and you can bring them on the ship. I saw several people doing this and I thought it was a great idea.

 

All of theses tips are really good and exactly what I had in mind. On my first cruise, I thought I was suppose to change clothes for everything (I thought I was on Love Boat or something). Especially in Alaska, you will need to wear layers. Don't pack a lot of clothes. You can wear some clothes twice - I take a pair of black pants and 2 dress tops. It helps cut down on the luggage. Also spend any free time on deck looking for any wildlife. We were on Princess Sapphire and they had blankets on deck if you get cold. While in port, take excursions to get you out from the touristy area. The landscape is amazing. Another thing to bring is an extra bag to pack all of your purchases in. Amazing how it doesn't fit in your suitcase to go home!

[BMW325]

My first cruise was on Carnival last year and the one thing I wish I had known at the time was THIS WEBSITE. I am going again on Royal Caribbean on September 3, and have learned so much from these threads. I am so excited about putting to use the information I have gained from the great folks who have posted ideas, suggestions, and reviews.

Some things I will definately do are:

 

1. Give the room steward a 'pre-tip' on the first day. I understand you will get service equal to none for the entire cruise. Just be sure to follow up with the remainder of the tip (and then some) at the end.

2. After you get your first drink in the souvenir (sp?) glass, order the future ones in a regular glass and also find out what the drink specials are.

3. Bring post it notes to leave questions or needs for your room steward.

[cincicruisers]

Wish I had known the first cruise I went on to fly in the day before.

From the second cruise on when I go in a day early there is no stress factor. It is really worth the extra hotel expense to relax and not worry about missing the boat.

[jbmanuel]

All of theses tips are really good and exactly what I had in mind. On my first cruise, I thought I was suppose to change clothes for everything (I thought I was on Love Boat or something). oh man me and my husband had a great laugh at that ...I packed WAY too much ...I won't go into details , but 5 purses and 7 pairs of shoes , LOVEBOAT ROFLMAO:D

[jbmanuel]

Joanna11 - You are in for a great vacation! Alaska is my favorite cruise by far. If you are leaving out of Seattle, go to Pike Market and buy some flowers. They are so beautiful and you can bring them on the ship. I saw several people doing this and I thought it was a great idea.

 

All of theses tips are really good and exactly what I had in mind. On my first cruise, I thought I was suppose to change clothes for everything (I thought I was on Love Boat or something). Especially in Alaska, you will need to wear layers. Don't pack a lot of clothes. You can wear some clothes twice - I take a pair of black pants and 2 dress tops. It helps cut down on the luggage. Also spend any free time on deck looking for any wildlife. We were on Princess Sapphire and they had blankets on deck if you get cold. While in port, take excursions to get you out from the touristy area. The landscape is amazing. Another thing to bring is an extra bag to pack all of your purchases in. Amazing how it doesn't fit in your suitcase to go home!

 

oh man me and my husband had a great laugh at that ...I packed WAY too much ...I won't go into details , but 5 purses and 7 pairs of shoes , LOVEBOAT ROFLMAO:D

[Ellya]

I wished I would have brought more sweaters etc. for use in the dining rooms and theatres. I froze unless I wore the only suitable sweater I brought every day...how boring!

[trish1c]

I wish I had know about guarentee rooms so that I could have taken my chances with the upgrade fairy. :D

[cruisinpaige]

For my first cruise I was about 28. I thought it was going to be nerdy like Love boat-dorky Isaac, shuffleboard and geeky dancing in the disco. But I went becasue it was November and I figured at least it will be warm. WAS I EVER WRONG!! It was like being back at College all over again except no classes, the scenery was better, the food was better, the weather was warmer and there was a pool deck! WOW! I am about to embark on #20 and I wish I could LIVE on a cruise ship. I was hooked from day ONE.

 

"work is just something I do between cruises"

[Rache.]

Great iideas -- I took some notes. We lucked into sailing out of Vancouver rather than Seattle. We had no idea what we were doing until we found this site. Pretipping the steward sounds like a good idea.

[gg3]

Great iideas -- I took some notes. We lucked into sailing out of Vancouver rather than Seattle. We had no idea what we were doing until we found this site. Pretipping the steward sounds like a good idea.

 

Yea for you. You will love Vancouver and its Inside Passage route is just the Best. What ship and when do you go. gg