Tips for 1st Time Cruisers (document attached)

[JenMarie33]

Hi everyone!

 

My husband and I have booked my in-laws on a retirement celebration cruise. They have never really traveled, so I made them a tips sheet to help them prepare and thought others might benefit from it as well. While most of the posts are general, some of them are Carnival specific and other ones are geared directly to them. Hope you all have enjoyable cruises!

 

Jen Marie

CRUISE INFO.docx

[Fitmomd]

This is great, thanks for sharing!

[EatPrayCruise]

Thank you for taking the time to type these up and sharing your tips!

[cb at sea]

That's very nice of you....but I hope you haven't dulled the excitement of discovery for them! That DOES happen when you give folks too much info that they would have found out on their own.

Oh, well....too late now!

[JenMarie33]

That's very nice of you....but I hope you haven't dulled the excitement of discovery for them! That DOES happen when you give folks too much info that they would have found out on their own.

Oh, well....too late now!

 

In general, I would normally agree with your statement about giving them too much info if it were someone else. However, they are not very adventurous and don't explore or do much on their own. We were afraid if we didn't give them a ton of info, they would end up sitting in their room most of the trip because they weren't sure what to do.

[Cincylady77]

I think this is very nice of you to give them all this information. I would recommend you inform them of the "other" restaurants and the small price for them.

Hopefully they will meet others that become good friends and they will also share time and information with them! Let us know how they enjoy their first cruise!

Edited March 3, 2015 by Cincylady77

[thinfool]

Nice list.

 

It has been awhile since we were on Carnival, but I think Guest Services will send your in-laws on to the Excursion Desk.

[Desert Rosie]

Thanks for posting! We are taking our 1st cruise from Vancouver, BC to SE Alaska your suggestions will be quite helpful so we know what to expect. :)

[Saffir]

These are great! Thanks for taking the time to write this up. I'm one of those people who likes knowing as much as possible before big events, so I really enjoyed the tips. Thanks again!

[JenMarie33]

Nice list.

 

It has been awhile since we were on Carnival, but I think Guest Services will send your in-laws on to the Excursion Desk.

 

Thank you, Thinfool! You are right. It was late when I was typing it up. I will let them know!

[seanugget]

This is really great and so thoughtful of you to do for your in-laws. I hope I don't seem like I'm picking your list apart. I'm not. I thought of a few things I would recommend/clarify for them:

 

-Embarkation: I strongly urge them to do online check-in where they can print out their boarding passes and luggage tags. Maybe they are already doing this and it's just not on the list. ;)

-Sail & Sign Card: They should know they will need to keep it with them at all times. Especially when they get off the ship. They can get the card punched and have a lanyard put on it at the casino on the first day so they can wear it (if they want to of course). Also, many ships now have S & S kiosks typically near the Fun Shops where people can check balances, add money and change credit cards. It beats the lines at Guest Services. But some people prefer to go to guest services, I get that. :) The online check-in I mentioned also allows them to add a credit card or choose cash payment option. It saves time imho.

 

-Shore Excursions & Ports: This is done at the Shore Excursion Deck usually on the same deck as Guest Services. They can also pre-book excursions online or by phone. It will beat those lines. Also, if they do venture out to the ports (I hope they do), they will have to bring their S&S card and it doesn't hurt to bring photo ID such as Passport. Please remind them of Ship Time vs Port Time if applicable.

 

Just some thoughts I had. I think it's so nice of you to do this. I hope they have a wonderful trip!

[TigerMom1987]

I am finding everything here extremely. My husband and I will be traveling with our 3 teenagers........we will be so busy repeating things to them it's good to read this info and have a heads up.

 

 

Thank you!

[JenMarie33]

This is really great and so thoughtful of you to do for your in-laws. I hope I don't seem like I'm picking your list apart. I'm not. I thought of a few things I would recommend/clarify for them:

 

-Embarkation: I strongly urge them to do online check-in where they can print out their boarding passes and luggage tags. Maybe they are already doing this and it's just not on the list. ;)

-Sail & Sign Card: They should know they will need to keep it with them at all times. Especially when they get off the ship. They can get the card punched and have a lanyard put on it at the casino on the first day so they can wear it (if they want to of course). Also, many ships now have S & S kiosks typically near the Fun Shops where people can check balances, add money and change credit cards. It beats the lines at Guest Services. But some people prefer to go to guest services, I get that. :) The online check-in I mentioned also allows them to add a credit card or choose cash payment option. It saves time imho.

 

-Shore Excursions & Ports: This is done at the Shore Excursion Deck usually on the same deck as Guest Services. They can also pre-book excursions online or by phone. It will beat those lines. Also, if they do venture out to the ports (I hope they do), they will have to bring their S&S card and it doesn't hurt to bring photo ID such as Passport. Please remind them of Ship Time vs Port Time if applicable.

 

Just some thoughts I had. I think it's so nice of you to do this. I hope they have a wonderful trip!

 

Thank you, Seanugget! Some of it I was already taking care of for them, but some of it I hadn't thought to share. Trying to make it as easy as possible on them since they have no idea about any of it.

[TrulyCmst]

Thanks! Excellent tips!

[CarenBear]

The Carnival Magic does not have the little toiletries samples like the other Carnival ships that we have been on. Not a biggie just an FYI.

[greekgodess]

Thanks for sharing, some great suggestions!

[mhiggins500]

Fantastic! thanks

[MNCruizer1]

Bookmarked this...Thank you so much .

[A2Mich]

Not bad - only thing that I thought was a little "tacky" was the comment about being in a country known for crime. That probably won't give anyone else a warm, fuzzy feeling...They really just need to know to be aware of their surroundings and not try to panic them.

 

I too, once took my in-laws on a cruise (they had never been before, and never will again) and wish I hadn't (of course this varies person-to-person). My in laws are major homebodies, very rarely travel, and you can tell what day of the week it is by what they're making for dinner - they are that predictable. Their idea of an vacation out of the country is a short drive into Canada (they live in Michigan, so Ontario is an easy drive). That said, that's fine - that's the way they grew up and the way they are. I've always been more adventurous and willing to try new and different things, but it made things very difficult because my wife and I have no problem going somewhere new or trying something new for dinner, etc., but her parents would have no part of it. They reluctantly got off of the ship in Panama and Costa Rica, but dinner was always the standby steak or grilled chicken breast. My FIL put ketchup on a filet mignon one night - thought I was gonna die (i'm a bit of a foodie and don't think you should put any sauces on a steak - if you need A1 Steak Sauce, it wasn't cooked properly. But that's just me - I didn't have to eat it).

 

Just don't get your hopes up that they will like everything you do. WHich is one of the great things about cruising - there is a variety of options on most things to try to appeal to as many people as possible.

[CRUISEWITHH]

It is important to inform first time cruisers that the porters who take your bags at the pier do not work for the cruiseline. They should be tipped $2-$5 per bag. And when you disembark, the porters again will assist you with your bags and again, need to be tipped for their service.