Newbie***** Questions of basic stuff that I don’t know.. :)

[kpm]

Watch YouTube videos on the ship you will be on there are tons of videos on the ports of call that you'll be visiting

 

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[Bostwick girl]

Someone said to bring your own lanyard as they were expensive on the ship. Yes, they are, but you can go to the casino and they will give you one for free. Not fancy but it's ok. We are going on our second cruise on Miracle August 26. We love the ship and hope you will enjoy it.

[NWACruiser]

1. Don't try to do everything. It is a vacation, not a marathon.
   
2. If you have a question, and you see someone with a gold, platinum, or diamond Sign and Sail card, ask them. They probably have seen it all.
   
3. If you order something in the MDR and do not like it, then let your waiter know and order something else. If you see two entrees you want to try, order both.
   
4. Get to the shows earlier than the posted time. You can get a better seat.
   
5. Leave the laptop at home.
   
6. Be friendly to the crew. Smile and say "Hi". They work hard seven days a week to make your vacation better. They also have families. Take a few minutes to ask crew members who you deal with on a regular basis about their families. It goes over very well.
   
7. Plan on getting back to the ship in plenty of time. You don't want to be the person the ship (might) wait for to board before departure. The ship will wait for groups booked through the cruise line, if they are delayed. They may not wait for others.
   
8. No vacation is perfect. Some things may happen that can be inconvenient. Do not let it ruin your vacation. If you have a complaint, don't go to Guest Relations with a bad attitude. Be pleasant, and you will get better service.
   
9. Most people pack their luggage and leave it in the hallway the night before disembarkation per normal procedures. Unless you are self-carrying out your luggage during disembarkation, remember to keep something to wear unpacked. There are no shops open on the morning of disembarkation.
   

10. I left this off. Please listen to the instructions given in the muster drill. If there is an emergency, you will need to know what to do. If you do not care to listen, then keep your mouth closed during the instructions so others can listen. We were in Alaska a year ago. During the drill, this group of teens were yakking the entire time. One even boasted he could easily swim to shore. I was thinking he would be surprised at how cold the water really is.

[FLCruise7]

One tip I haven't seen is something we learned after several cruises. We put most stuff in our "checked" baggage, but always have a small carry-on with medication, camera, boarding passes etc. We also include anything we think we'll need before we get our luggage - this might be bathing suits, flipflops, sunscreen. If your kids are old enough to use the pool, they'll probably want to go in right after you board. It would be sad to have to tell them that they can't do this because you don't have their bathing suits!

 

We don't usually board the ship in shorts, but I pack them in our carry-on so we can be comfy after boarding.

[stellarose]

magnetic hooks.

 

lanyards

 

use the hub

[vanelli56]

Not sure if anyone has covered these... but a few tips I have picked up over my first 3 cruises are....

The Main dinning room is where its at! I usually check out the lido/buffet a few times... but mostly I plan my meals around the MDR.... they usually have sit down breakfast every day... sometimes lunches, and of course Dinner is a must.

Anything you see on the menu that you think you want... just order it. I typically order at least 2 apps, sometimes 2 mains, and 2 or 3 desserts... EACH NIGHT. On my last cruise, I kept joking with our waiter that on the last night I was ordering each dessert.... and on that faithful night, she took everyone order for dessert except mine... she literally brought me every dessert they had! LOL.

 

Another thing is to enjoy the ship 'off-hours'. I know you said you have children, but if at all possible try to take a stroll around the ship late at night.... There is just something neat about being out on the deck, after midnight, when most everyone is passed out from a food or alcohol coma from the day. You really get a chance to appreciate the ship, the night sky, and just be able to listen to the ocean and relax some.

 

Lastly, I like to go to my bank before I leave and order some $2.00 bills for tips. Just makes for a little more fun to tip with 2 dollar bills instead of 1's. Plus it saves some space. :-)

 

If all else... make sure to check out youtube as there are TONS of vids out there that cover this exact topic. Some vids are better then others, but still fun to watch the different tips and tricks.

 

Enjoy!

[KarimaJ]

After my first cruise I learned that I needed to bring more T-shirts. I usually find that they get sweaty on port days after walking around a lot. Then I may use another for around the pool after we get back. At night I try to bring a few nicer shirts for dinner. On the first cruise I ended up buying a couple cheap T-shirt’s. So on subsequent cruises I have packed at least a few extra.

 

 

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[rpyne]

Lastly, I like to go to my bank before I leave and order some $2.00 bills for tips. Just makes for a little more fun to tip with 2 dollar bills instead of 1's. Plus it saves some space. :-)

 

I am awaiting my first cruise in 76 days, but I have made this a habit whenever I travel. Not only does it make it a little more fun and save some space, but it tends to make people remember you.

Edited July 29, 2018 by rpyne
spelling

[Ehpride]

First, take a deep breath and relax. It's a vacation. You won't have to cook or clean for a week!

 

It sounds like most of your food questions have been answered, but it's safe to say that you won't go hungry.

 

One thing I would recommend bringing is a bigger glass with a lid. The cups on lido are small. Running to get a refill all the time can get annoying, especially if you're doing it for kids too.

 

Since you're coming in pre-cruise, try to pack everything that you'll need until you get into your cabin separately. That way you don't have to repack a bag because you had to look for a pair of pjs!

[RaiderDuck]

Always bring a wrist watch and set it to ship time when on excursions. I love watching the pier runners rushing to get back on ship. Never trust your phone. I cannot count how many times I have scene people left behind.

The best way to avoid this is to book excursions through the cruise line whenever possible. They're often more expensive but for us, the peace of mind is worth it.

[rmf11699]

Welcome HSNY!

 

Surprised no one suggested this (but I could've missed it). 1. Google search for Carnival Fun Times Download and you'll find examples of those publications and can get a better idea to some of those questions about times. 2. Look for a "LIVE" post from a Miracle passenger in CC and ask that specific question about how long certain meal foods are available. I bet they'll be more than happy to get an answer.

 

Enjoy the Miracle, I did!

[cruisin'4fun]

We found back when we were beginners at cruising that when you eat breakfast or brunch sit at tables with a large group of people that you don't know. You will learn awful lot about the things that you do not know. The places where they have been the cruise ships that they have been on and what excursions you don't want to miss. There are so many interesting people and stories. All first-hand information from experienced Cruisers. We have wound up finding new friendships in this way. Of course the best place to do this is in the MDR. You can always eat as a couple in the evening. This is also a good way 4 Families 2 meet who have children. We think it's always a little more fun when you are with people you know or have just met.

[cruisin'4fun]

I have one food tip. If you want bacon on your burrito from the blue iguana, just go over to Guys Burgers fixings bar where they have all the bacon you want. Actually you can add bacon to anything from the Lido Buffet also

[1GaPeach]

Cross pack: mix some if everyone’s clothing across luggage in such a way that each bag has a couple of complete outfits. I recently completed an 8 night cruise where my bag was misplaced the entire cruise. The odds of your bag going MIA is slim but better safe than sorry.

Carry meds and valuables in your carry on.

[Elaine5715]

I am awaiting my first cruise in 76 days, but I have made this a habit whenever I travel. Not only does it make it a little more fun and save some space, but it tends to make people remember you.

They do make you memorable but not in a good way on board. Non-US ports will not take $2 bills, crew without guest area privileges do not have the ability to change them in the casino or at Guest Services. Just bring $1 and give then 2.