~first time cruisers~ help!?!?!

[Jaymee287]

First of all my friends and I are taking our first cruise next summer June 6- June 13 2010 :D we are so excited (and first trip without parents and the boyfriends) so it's going to be a total girls week!!! Our ages will be 22, 21, and 21 we know we'll have a good time!!!

We are taking the Western Caribbean Cruise leaving from Tampa Florida.

Day at Sea

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Cozumel, Mexico

Belize, Brazil

Isla Roatan, Hoduras

Day at Sea

Tampa

We have no idea what to expect. Like is it easier to buy sunscreen, shampoo, Off that kind of stuff on the ship or hassle with it at the airport? What do we pack in general? Some people have said take a surge protector....3 girls 1 room 1 outlet do any of you recommend a surge protctor? Will credit and debit cards work with a little cash or is cash better to take? All countries take American money or will it have to be exchanged? We all have verizon service, does it work over seas is there a special rate for traveling is texting the same?? Did any of you use the cruise shuttle t and from the airport?

:eek:our brains are working overtime:eek: we are researching to try and get a hold of any and all information we can get our hands on.......we want this to be the BEST trip ever.......so PLEASE ANY and ALL information you can give to help us out will be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

These are the shore excursions we have planned if anyone has taken them please tell me how they were!

 

~~Cayman Islands~~

DOLPHIN ENCOUNTER & TURTLE FARM

SHIPWRECK & REEF SNORKELING

 

~~Cozumel~~

SEGWAY ADVENTURE & SNORKEL

DELUXE SAIL, SNORKEL & BEACH PARTY

 

~~Belize~~

ALTUN HA MAYAN SITE & RIVER WALLACE

GOFF'S CAYE SNORKELING (possibly we are undecided)

~~Isla Roatan~~

SNUBA

PIRATES, BIRDS, & MONKEYS OF THE CARIBBEAN

 

 

[CraftyDD]

You are in a good spot for asking your questions. First of all I would recommend bringing what you need - maybe instead of all of you bringing everything you can consolidate and each bring a few items for all to use. You will have to check your luggage but it can be pretty costly buying it on the ship and they may not have the brand you want. Definitely bring an power strip. Most cabins only have 1 or 2 outlets and that is never enough. You will not need cash on the ship except fo the casino and most ports take credit so you should not need much cash.

As far as cell phones - you will be international - so you may want to check with your carrier.

This site has all the information you will need - just search. Go to the roll call section and see if your cruise is listed and read what others may be doing. It is also a good way to meet people on the same cruise. Also check out the ports and get opinions.

Least of all don't stress. You will defiinitely have a good time.

[cb at sea]

Definitely bring the products you like---anything you buy on the ship will cost a bundle!

 

A credit card is the best way to secure you shipboard account, but you can use cash, if you'd rather.

 

Do bring enough cash for little purchases on the islands--all take American $$--and don't use a $100 bill for a $3 purchase, or you will get local currency as change!! You don't want that! For larger purchases, use a credit card--it has built in protection should something go wrong with the object you bought!

 

Are you planning on doing 2 excursions per stop???? You 'll need a vacation from the cruise!

 

Have fun!

[Jaymee287]

So far those are the excursions we have chosen it can change it just depends. Also what about the airport how do you get more than 3 ounces worth of shampoo body wash conditioner.....that kind of stuff how do you pack it? Buy a little 3 oz travel size container and pack it that way? Or is it one of those things that youjust have to check with the air line. We have NO CLUE

[swtheart107]

For the airport as long as you are checking your luggage you can bring full size shampoo & conditioner, sunscreen, etc..

If you are only taking carry ons onto the plane then yes you would have to follow the 3oz rule.

[trish1c]

For 3 women in 1 room. I'd bring a surge protector for all the cell phone chargers, hair appliances etc. There are few outlets.

Make sure you can book a cabin. I read something on these boards a while back about having to have at least 1 person over 24 in the cabin.

You can check larger liquids. the 3 oz rule is for carry on items you have access to in flight.

All of the ports take cash but everybody is connected electronically. They will all take your cc too. We usually tie our on board account to a cc & pay it off at home. You will each want your cc tied to your on ss card otherwise you will hassle with getting repaid later. Bring small bills for tipping.

[uppitycats]

So far those are the excursions we have chosen it can change it just depends. Also what about the airport how do you get more than 3 ounces worth of shampoo body wash conditioner.....that kind of stuff how do you pack it? Buy a little 3 oz travel size container and pack it that way? Or is it one of those things that youjust have to check with the air line. We have NO CLUE

 

First you need to make a distinction between carry-on luggage and checked luggage.

 

Carry-on luggage is that backpack or case that has in it any essential things you may want on the plane. You probably don't need shampoo or body wash on the plane. So you don't need to bother to pack that in those 3 oz containers. You may want toothpaste or mouthwash...or not..depending on how long your flights are, and how concerned you are about that level of personal hygiene.

 

Usually in your carry-on you'll want perhaps a change of underwear (in case your flight is delayed, you end up in the airport overnight, clean undies just feel good! :) ), a toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste (you can get travel sized tubes for a buck or two); a swimsuit (so you can change into it when you get on the ship and head for the pool, waiting for your checked luggage to show up in your cabin), maybe a book, any medications you may need (and copies of prescriptions), your travel documents, your passport, -- basically whatever you feel you want to have access to, for your flight. You also need to pay attention to your make-up. Again, whatever liquids or gels that you take in your carry-on (or purse), including lipstick, eye shadow, moisturizer, etc., etc., etc., must be in those annoying 3 oz bottles,and only an amount of 3 oz bottles that will fit into one quart-sized zip bag, so really think hard about what you need for a few hours flight, and what you can do without.

 

Now for your checked luggage. In your checked luggage, that big suitcase in the belly of the plane, you can take anything. Well, anything within reason (like, no weapons! :) ) This means you can take your favorite shampoo, conditioner, body wash, make up, sunscreen, c., in any size containers you want. You might want to find out what is already available in your cabin: like a lot of hotels, they often have some of these things that are in ample supply in the cabin, but if you don't like their choices, or are set on your own, then all this can be packed into your checked luggage.

 

All of these kinds of toiletries are available..but very expensive, and in limited choices..on the ship. You probably only want to consider the ship store in an emergency, if you run out of something, or forget it completely.

[uppitycats]

You won't need a surge protector...but you will need a power cord -- the more outlets the better.

 

You might want to bring an alarm clock. It's nice to see what time it is in the middle of the night..and if you do want to get up early to head off on an excursion, while you can aks for a wake-up call, your own clock might be easier.

 

Someone already suggested that you try to get together and consolidate -- you may be able to get away with just one hair dryer, rather than multiple ones (and there is a hair dryer in the cabin.)

 

Cell phone (and computer) access is very expensive on the ship. Whether your cell phone will "work" in port depends on your carrier and service. You'll have to check with them.

 

The cruise shuttle from airport to cruise ship is usually more expensive than catching a cab -- but can be pretty convenient, and for inexperienced travellers, quite useful.

 

It sounds like you have booked a cabin already? There are age requirements on some cruise lines, so make sure that your booking will get the 3 of you on board and in the same cabin, for sure! :)

[Travelcat2]

Make sure you pack bug repellent for these beautiful tropical areas. It will definitely be needed.

[138east]

Lots of good suggestions. Do all three of you have the proper travel documents? If not, now is the time to start fussing with them. Also, depending on the timing of the excursions, you may not be able to do 2/day.

[Jaymee287]

THANK YOU ALL A TON!!!!! Yes we do have a cabin booked for the 3 of us! We are SO excited and finding it very difficult to wait until June lol!! For the travel documents whenever I booked it on the phone she told me that a state certified copy of our birth certificates will do just fine, since its a closed-loop cruise. Is there any way we can see the times of the excursions sooner. I was told 120 days before the sailing date. But then on top of the excursion page it says something about if you have made a full deposit? I'm a little confused on that one. Keep the good info coming we are very appreciative!

[uppitycats]

THANK YOU ALL A TON!!!!! Yes we do have a cabin booked for the 3 of us! We are SO excited and finding it very difficult to wait until June lol!! For the travel documents whenever I booked it on the phone she told me that a state certified copy of our birth certificates will do just fine, since its a closed-loop cruise. Is there any way we can see the times of the excursions sooner. I was told 120 days before the sailing date. But then on top of the excursion page it says something about if you have made a full deposit? I'm a little confused on that one. Keep the good info coming we are very appreciative!

 

While it is true that NOW just a "state certified copy of your birth certificate" will "do just fine"...these rules change. Regularly. A passport will be good for 10 years. You've plenty of time to apply for one, and it'll get you opportunities to travel everywhere, not just "closed-loop cruises". (Yes, it'll cost you $$, and yes, if you should get married to one of those boyfriends in the next 10 years you'll have to do some name-changing things, but it's worth it in the end.)

 

120 days before the sailing date seems like plenty of time to decide what tours you might want to settle on. Heck, some folks don't think about tours until boarding the ship! Gives you more time to plan...and change your mind..before committing to anything! :)

[Travelcat2]

I agree 100% with uppitycats! Even if you could get on a cruise ship without a passport, it is also a new ruling that the name on your identification must match exactly. Many people do not have the EXACT same names on their DL and birth certificate.

 

Also, in case of emergency, you can not board a plane to get home. It is also possible that you can not disembark from the ship without a passport.

 

The new laws have not been communicated very well by our government. Many people (and countries) have interrupted it differently. Suggest that you play it safe and get a passport -- then, there will be no chance of a problem.

[MrsPete]

We have no idea what to expect. Like is it easier to buy sunscreen, shampoo, Off that kind of stuff on the ship or hassle with it at the airport? You should bring along all the sunscreen-bug spray-toiletries that you think you're going to need; IF you can buy them on the ship, you'll pay large prices and have limited choices. If you're going to check luggage, pack these liquids in a double-ziplock.

Someone else gave you a good run-down of the difference between checked/carry-on luggage; however, there's one other detail: Every bag you check on the plane will cost you $15 (or more, depending upon your airline -- you can verify details on your airline's website) each way -- so one checked bag's going to cost $30. If your bag's overweight, you'll be hit with another fee. You're allowed to carry on one roll-on suitcase (usually about 20-21") and one personal item (purse, backpack, or computer bag). Carry-ons are free, and they don't weigh them. I'm throwing this in because I know that when I was your age, money was always an issue!

If you want to use carry-on only, yet you also want to avoid the liquids-hassel, consolidate all your items with your friends and mail all these things to yourself at your night-before-the-cruise hotel. Mail them a good week in advance and call the hotel to verify that they've been received. You want the flat-rate postal mailer; a large box that'll hold everything liquid that three girls'll need for a week'll cost you $9. Works like a charm. If you have a little leftover sunscreen or shampoo at the end of the trip, just trash it. It's not worth the hassel of getting it back home.

What do we pack in general? For around-the-ship wear, pack shorts/casual tops, swimsuits/cover ups, cute sundresses for dinner/dancing, and something nice for formal night. Plan your outfits to match a couple pair of shoes; shoes are a big space-eater in your bags.

Other than your clothing, you really don't need much. Towels are provided. Food is provided. You might want a wristlet or a lanyard to carry your ship ID/room card.

Some people have said take a surge protector....3 girls 1 room 1 outlet do any of you recommend a surge protctor? The one outlet thing is way overblown; I've only sailed on the nicer, newer ships, and we've had four outlets in the cabin and more in the bathroom. The hairdryer is weird; it's kind of hard-wired into the ship, and it can't be carried around the cabin -- but it doesn't need an outlet. Check your specific ship before you haul something you don't need.

Will credit and debit cards work with a little cash or is cash better to take? Onboard they don't accept cash. When you board, you'll need to set up an onboard account with a credit card. Everything you buy onboard will go to this account, and you'll pay it all on the last day. You'll want some cash for your island stops.

All countries take American money or will it have to be exchanged? Everyone on the islands prefers American money. Prices in shops will be listed in American dollars, though they may give you change in their own currency.

Excursions -- how're you going to do all this? You're going to be exhausted and broke! Seriously, pick one thing per island. And just going to a beautiful beach is a good choice too. Look into private excursions; the ship excursions are really not as good -- they're expensive and over-crowded. You can verify the quality of private vendors here on this website, and you'll be able to do just what you want.

[MrsPete]

Is there any way we can see the times of the excursions sooner. I was told 120 days before the sailing date. But then on top of the excursion page it says something about if you have made a full deposit?

You're looking at the cruise ship's options for shore excursions, and they won't open them for a while yet. I don't know exactly when they'll do it.

 

Take a look at the section of this board called ports-of-call. You can check your specific island for information about the private vendors who operate various excursions. You can see their times/rates NOW. Their rates are much cheaper -- often half the price of the ship's options.

 

You do need to take care when using a private vendor. If people on this board have said good things about the company, it's a good clue that you'll enjoy it. People will warn you that if a private excursion is late, the ship could leave without you. So use common sense; don't plan an excursion that's going to finish up at 5:30 if you know the ship's going to sail at 6:00. Allow yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship, and know what transportation you'll be using. The people who get left behind aren't the ones who are on private excursions; they're the ones who get drunk or lose track of time shopping. People who run excursions are well aware of your time constraints; if they didn't get people back on time, they'd be out of business.

Also, in case of emergency, you can not board a plane to get home. It is also possible that you can not disembark from the ship without a passport.

Yes and no. In the unlikely event that you need to fly home mid-cruise, you would need a passport to board the plane. However, that possibility is so remote that I'm not sure I'd spend almost $100 on a passport JUST IN CASE that should happen. If you need it for other upcoming travel or for work, then that's a different story.

 

There's zero chance of you not being allowed to disembark. When you check in, the cruise ship personnel is VERY PICKY about your documentation. If you don't have the right items, the cruise ship won't allow you to board in the first place, but they will not put themselves into a situation in which they might have a passenger on their ship /in their terminal who isn't able to pass back through customs into the US. So without proper documentation, you might find yourself waving goodbye to the ship as it leaves you, but you will not be stuck on the ship after the cruise.

The new laws have not been communicated very well by our government.

Isn't that the truth!

[Jaymee287]

We are a nervous wreck about the excursions. If they are cheaper booking through a vendor thats AWESOME but we don't want to get left behind. Like you said it's common sense to keep track of time. Where can I get a list of the vendors for the excursions we are looking into. The thing that is most appealing about the ship is that the transportation and suchis taken care of. If we book through a private vendor will we have to find a cab or something then find our way to the place..... that's what concerns us

[MrsPete]

We are a nervous wreck about the excursions. If they are cheaper booking through a vendor thats AWESOME but we don't want to get left behind. Like you said it's common sense to keep track of time. Where can I get a list of the vendors for the excursions we are looking into. The thing that is most appealing about the ship is that the transportation and suchis taken care of. If we book through a private vendor will we have to find a cab or something then find our way to the place..... that's what concerns us

If you can operate a watch, you're really in no danger of being left behind. Your daily newspaper will tell you -- in big print at the top -- when the ship'll dock and when it'll sail from the day's island stop. When you leave, be sure to verify ship's time with the person who processes you off the ship. There's always a clock right there by the ramp.

 

Most private excursions have someone meet you at the pier, and your transportation is taken care of in the price of the excursion. A few will meet somewhere other than the pier, but you can check that before you sign up. They know that if they don't make it easy, they won't have business.

 

I don't think there's a list of private vendors anywhere, but you can find lots of great advice on this board in the port of call section.

 

Another newbie note, unrelated to anything we're discussing: Regardless of what type of excursion you take, be sure you're prepared to tip your guide.

[Jaymee287]

That's great that there is a daily paper because we are all VERY organized!!! So that's good to hear. I know some people are saying there is a time difference should we be concerned about that? I know when I traveled to Europe I had a watch with U.S time and one with th European time.

 

Happy to hear we can put our shampoo ect. in our big bags and then we will just have to check the airline website for weight and such?

 

Also the Cruise documents will be mailed to us do we just bring the entire envelope to be safe? I have also read something about going to the casino the first night to get some sort of lanyard and a card or to keep your card on?

 

Do we get to keep our card that we make purchases on since it will be linked to our CC?

 

On the Day at Sea I'm assuming we will have no issues of being bored?

 

Is the spa worth using or is it severly overpriced and just average? We were thinking maybe a mani or pedi?

[uppitycats]

I know some people are saying there is a time difference should we be concerned about that? I know when I traveled to Europe I had a watch with U.S time and one with th European time.

As you are getting off the ship in a port, you will need to go through screening (show your ship card to one of the crew) and there will be a clock there -- or ask -- what time you should be back on the ship, just to be sure. I don't know about time differences in this part of the world, but you DO need to make sure that whatever time the ship says that you need to be back..you need to be back!

 

Happy to hear we can put our shampoo ect. in our big bags and then we will just have to check the airline website for weight and such?

Yes, you will have to check your airline website, but generally there are size and weight restrictions, and they're pretty cranky about weight. We came back with a bunch of books which put our one bag 6 pounds over the 50 pound limit...and paid $95 for those books!!! (We were tired, cranky, didn't feel like moving out of line and re-packing everything, so just "bit the bullet" and paid!)

 

Also the Cruise documents will be mailed to us do we just bring the entire envelope to be safe? I have also read something about going to the casino the first night to get some sort of lanyard and a card or to keep your card on?

 

Will the documents be mailed to you, or can you download them from the internet? A lot of cruise lines and airlines are dealing entirely by e-mail and internet these days. The KEY pages are the receipts, anything that has your name on it, cabin numbers, confirmation numbers, reservation numbers, all of that...

and then there are pages and pages of "fine print", all the legal stuff, all the "here's what you need to know to cruise on our line" stuff...which you can choose to leave behind.

As for the lanyard: lots of people love the lanyards. Some casinos will have them, or you can sometimes buy they in the gift shop on board, or a couple of lines have even handed them out at the desk. They'll punch a hole in your room card -- the card that becomes your "credit card" on board --and then you can hang it on the lanyard, and put the lanyard around your neck. Or you can simply carry the key card in your pocket, wallet, wherever else you have valuables like that.

 

Do we get to keep our card that we make purchases on since it will be linked to our CC? I'm not exactly sure what you're asking here. Obvoiusly you'll use your card all throughout your cruise, while you're on board the ship...and then on the last day, as you're exiting the ship for the last time, they'll scan your card one more time -- and eliminate the credit card information (and make your card "void", so you can't turn around, come back on the ship and claim to be a passenger again! :) ) So yes, you get to keep the card -- but once you exit the ship on that last day, it is no longer tied to your credit card. And of course it won't work as a credit card anywhere off the ship (like in one of the ports)..only aboard ship.

 

There will be plenty of activities for you to do on sea days. In fact, there are plenty of activities for folks to do even when the ship is in port! (Yes, some of us do stay on board the ship while others are off exploring somewhere!) The daily newsletter (delivered to your cabin the night before) will have lots of things, active, and not so active, for you to participate in. Not to mention lying by the pool! :)

 

Is the spa worth using or is it severly overpriced and just average? We were thinking maybe a mani or pedi?

I can't speak definitively about the spa, as I never use it, except to say that folks will often complain that they've "bought" a service -- like the manicure -- and then get inundated by sales pitches (by the manicurist) for all the products she's using on their fingers..and they're often overpriced.

[simplelife]

Ladies, you are in for a GREAT time on your cruise and have come to the right place for all your cruise research and questions. The Cc boards are filled with advice from former cruisers who want you to love crusign as well. Beside this board, check the Carnival one as well as the ones for your specific ports. You might also like the Cruise Fashions and Beauty onr, it gives a lot of information about what and how to pack, what clothes to bring, etc.

 

I have found the storage and outlets in the cabins to be sufficient for two but (Usually you can plug in a couple of things at the desk/dresser and a couple of things in the bathroom) but since there will be three of you, you may find a surge protector to be handy (if you have a lot of plug in items) as well as one of those hanging organizers to keep your "stuff" handy and separate. Also, with three, bathroom space and time can be limited and lighting is not always the best. You can always go to the Spa to shower -the facilities are quite nice and they usually have nice make-up mirrors, etc. DO check out the Spa soon after you board to "scope out" the facilities,

 

Well I have lots of other advice, but won't burden you with it now. But keep those questions coming and we'll keep the answers coming.

[Harry and Lucille]

I really wish I could help you. I can't imagine three paranoid young women in the same stateroom getting ready for formal night. ;) Relax. These folks on cruise critic will help any way they can. It's not a competition or who is the boss. You have time to get it all together. It does seem overwhelming until you get there and find out how simple and easy they make it for you. Just take care of the basics first and branch out from there. Just absorb what you can when you can. The next cruise is the one where you have become an expert. You can be as laid back or as busy as you want to be, however, you will never be able to do everything all of the time. Just take it as it goes. Your real problem comes when it is over and you have to decide which one you will take next. And they say swine flu is contagious? You ain't seen nothing yet. Cruising rules. Go with the flow, ask the specific questions, get your preliminary ducks in a row so to speak and the rest will be history way too soon. Welcome aboard. Harry :cool: