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What is the one valuable lesson you learned on your first cruise 🚢


Mommawo
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Our first cruise, 1988, there was no internet, no Cruise Critic. So we didn't know about the need for cash to pay gratuities... and we were strapped for cash that trip which made things even worse! We had 3 days in Orlando after the cruise where we ate a LOT at McDonalds, because that's all we could afford!

 

First cruise, we didn't know that you could pick as much food as you wanted in the MDR- 14 YO teenaged picky eater daughter finally got us clued in, when the waiter encouraged her to try everything, and promised to bring her the boring entrée she'd selected IMMEDIATELY if she didn't like it!

 

First cruise we found out not to take the non-drowsy Dramamine if you don't want to sleep the day away!

 

First cruise we found out after a full day cruising it's IMPOSSIBLE to wake up for the Midnight Buffet. 3 days in a row!

 

Other hints we've learned:

  • Don't take your cabin towels ashore- if you lose them you'll be charged. Instead, grab some from the spa area.
  • Eat just a little of whatever you feel like. If you don't want it, leave it, and don't even think of those starving children in Biafra! Guilt has no place on a cruiseship!
  • Pace yourself! As others have said, if you try to do it all you'll end up needing a vacation to recover from your vacation!
  • Don't overindulge, either at the buffet or bar! Nothing's more miserable than having an upset stomach and lying in your bunk trying not to throw up! Just pace yourself!

 

 

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On ‎12‎/‎8‎/‎2018 at 7:58 PM, dsotm73 said:

 

Umm, actually. . .

 

Carnival recommends that you put the trays in the hall when you're finished eating, to facilitate the take away.

 

John Heald has posted this numerous times on his social media page.

I'm sure he recommends putting your trays in the hall in front of your own door, not in front of someone else's door.   this is standard hotel procedure.  I put my own tray in front of my own door, not in front of someone else's door.  

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We learned on our first cruise to always book our own flights and fly the day before.  Our first cruise let Carnival book our airfare.  Flight out of Providence was at 6am.  Meant airport shuttle service was picking us up at 3am. An hour drive to TF Green and the need to be there at least 90 mins. prior to take off. We then got delayed in Charlotte.  Arrived in Miami at 2:30 pm. Were the last ones on the ship. On the plus side no waiting. However got to our cabin just in time for the lifeboat drill. Was after 5 when wee got back to our cabin after and had early dinning.  By the time dinner was over was almost 8pm. We had been up since 2 am.  18 hours non stop.The first day of the cruise, the only thing we did on board, was eat dinner and sleep.

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For me, Faster to the Fun is worth it.  You are one of the first on the ship. Can drop off your bags, do a little unpacking.  Then go get food.  Because everything is so crowded we bring our food back down to our room so we don't have to worry about dealing with the chaotic crowds.  Much nicer to be able to relax and non sit there for hours in massive crowds of people with luggage.

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8 hours ago, CdrescherRBL152 said:

We learned on our first cruise to always book our own flights and fly the day before.  Our first cruise let Carnival book our airfare.  Flight out of Providence was at 6am.  Meant airport shuttle service was picking us up at 3am. An hour drive to TF Green and the need to be there at least 90 mins. prior to take off. We then got delayed in Charlotte.  Arrived in Miami at 2:30 pm. Were the last ones on the ship. On the plus side no waiting. However got to our cabin just in time for the lifeboat drill. Was after 5 when wee got back to our cabin after and had early dinning.  By the time dinner was over was almost 8pm. We had been up since 2 am.  18 hours non stop.The first day of the cruise, the only thing we did on board, was eat dinner and sleep.

 

I agree. Not only this, but the night before becomes part of the vacation for us. Spending some time enjoying the city only adds to the variety of the vacation.

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I previously posted how valuable CC was in not making too many newbie mistakes . One topic was packing up the night before and leaving your luggage outside . This caused real conflict between DW and myself . On this one, I got my way . We self-embarked . I didn't think and don't think doing so is a big deal . 

In the cruises since we have occasionally not done this leaving our luggage outside the cabin to be picked up . Of the 4 times doing so, twice they misplaced a piece of our luggage . Very stressful ! DW and I continue to debate this . We are getting older but we are also packing lighter so it's a draw . 

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On 11/28/2018 at 8:30 AM, Mommawo said:

Just curious what you all learned in your first cruise 

Patience...you do NOT need to be first in line, first off the ship, first on the ship, first seated in the MDR.  There probably will be 3000 people that will want to do the same thing and they can be pushy.   

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On 12/10/2018 at 7:58 AM, pyropoodle said:

I'm sure he recommends putting your trays in the hall in front of your own door, not in front of someone else's door.   this is standard hotel procedure.  I put my own tray in front of my own door, not in front of someone else's door.  

 

Don't you trip over it when you walk into and out of your stateroom? I generally put mine off to the side.

 

Edited by dsotm73
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16 hours ago, HillBilly Bob said:

Patience...you do NOT need to be first in line, first off the ship, first on the ship, first seated in the MDR.  There probably will be 3000 people that will want to do the same thing and they can be pushy.   

 

Exactly, I found it is a lot less stressful to just chill out and wait for the "Me first!" crowd to, well, go first. Getting off at ports, especially tender ports, I've learned that unless you have an early excursion (which I'm not booking anymore unless it's really something I want to do) it's best to just take your time, sleep in a bit, go have some coffee, then head over to the MDR for a leisurely breakfast, then when all those people who rushed around, scarfed down their breakfast on a crowded Lido deck, only to be lined up are out of the way and you can just easily walk off or take an uncrowded tender over. Same applies for disembarkation day, we drive to the port and are in no rush to get anywhere, so it makes no sense to try and be among the first ones off.       

Edited by schazzy
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  • 1 month later...
On 11/28/2018 at 11:47 AM, queenpailhead said:

If you don't buy a drink package find the deals.  I found several on my first (and only so far) cruise, like $2 mimosas in the casino daily for an hour, etc. And read the cruise newsletters, you can find out stuff like the $2 mimosas. 😉

Is that the fintimes?

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On 12/8/2018 at 7:40 PM, simplelife said:

That there will be people who look better than you in a bathing suit and people who look worse - and no one really cares  ( or perhaps even notices) how  you look.

Well dang all this time in the gym for nothing? Lol ugh and all that kale I ate ?? 😆. Ah at least I’m healthy and more fit now I suppose 

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Mommawo:  if you are up too early (by Carnival's definition), you won't find much going on except for watching the sunrise in peace!  Breakfast starts at a minimum with coffee available, then later the most minimal of offerings (think continental breakfast). 

 

We sometimes wonder why Carnival doesn't cater more for Early Risers.

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1 minute ago, Out of Iowa said:

Mommawo:  if you are up too early (by Carnival's definition), you won't find much going on except for watching the sunrise in peace!  Breakfast starts at a minimum with coffee available, then later the most minimal of offerings (think continental breakfast). 

 

We sometimes wonder why Carnival doesn't cater more for Early Risers.

Gonna do our best to sleep in.  Fingers crossed there lol.  What time does breakfast start in MDR?

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Do not turn your booze in bought on shore. They lost three bottles. 

Yes they do check bags. You  send thru the scanner always. If you rally try you can slip them on. I turned it in and they delivered it to the wrong roo. Took about 6 months to get reimbursed

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On 12/12/2018 at 7:08 AM, schazzy said:

 

Exactly, I found it is a lot less stressful to just chill out and wait for the "Me first!" crowd to, well, go first. Getting off at ports, especially tender ports...

 Perhaps the best tip so far. We love Grand Cayman and while the "On Board" time is posted, as long as a tender line exists I'm setting in the shade off to the side with a cold drink. We've done this many times. Being platinum gets us one way priority tendering, but getting back aboard they don't give a fat rat in a beer can if I'm any base metal. 

 We do the same when in Key West and we dock at the NAS. You can't walk to the ship, it requires a tram ride. We just can't figure out why people line up in the sun and wait. You'll find my fat, aging bottom sitting across the street nursing a Dos XX and waiting for the line to go down. 
 

 The exception is debarkation. We self-assist, walk off with the diamond and platinum, I hustle to the shuttle bus, get my truck and am back at the terminal to retrieve my wife and luggage. We were on Harborside Drive at 8:31am on our return to Galveston earlier this month. 
 

.

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