First Cruise!?

Question

I'm going on my first cruise for Spring Break! Just wondering if anyone has any helpful tips or tricks because i've never been cruising before. Any hints, or things I should know/ remember/ bring, anything would help.

(I'll be on the Grand Princess, if anyone has any tips specific to that ship.) Thanks much!

Answer 1

you will have the best time of your life
be prepard to......... go on another one =]

Answer 2

I've been on the Grand Princess before and it is fabulous! I'd recommend that you:
-pack a sweater ( the A/C is on 24/7)
-bring bottled water on excursions (the stops along the way) as the water in the islands is not always clean
-bring something for seasickness
-book a room on the lower levels. the rocking of the ship increases as you go up
-on all princess cruises the deliver a pamphlet to ur door that tells u all othe the activites that will occur that day...plan ahead because u don't want to miss anything
-enjoy and relax! The grand princess is a refined cruise ship with lots of fun activites to enjoy

Answer 3

First, congratulations! A cruise is probably the coolest vacation ever. A few tips:

1) Sit back, relax, and enjoy....you will be waited on hand and foot and will probably have better food than you've had in your life. (You want to try the lobster bisque.)

2) Grab some Dramamine before you leave. Even though the rocking of a cruise ship is subtle, it takes a bit of time to get used to it. I would suggest taking the Dramamine before you board and then again before you go to sleep that night. By your first morning, you should be used to it...you may be fine, but better safe than sorry.

3) Decide what the important stuff is that you want to do. For instance, if you really want to go to a particular show, make sure that you are there. You can always do the general stuff later. (As a quick side note, that happened to me - I'll know better next time).

4) Get to know random people and hang out with them - always fun times and you never know what might happen. You might meet your next best friend.

Have a great time. I'm jealous....

Answer 4

I just went on my first cruise last year for spring break and it was so much fun! You don't need to bring much stuff because you will be walking around the different places your ship goes to and, there is so much to do on the cruise ship. Remember your camera, though. There are so many things to take pictures of. At first you will probably feel the ship moving up and down but after a couple days you get used to it. I hope you have fun!! It's a great experience. =)

Answer 5

1. Make sure you don't drink the sodas/water in the rooms-- they are about $4 per bottle, and will rack up fast!
2. Make sure you get a prescription for the motion sickness patch. Even if you don't think you will need it, it's best to have it just in case. Gingerroot (an herb found at most drugstores) is also something good to take, as it also helps with nasea.
3. A good bag to bring ashore-- pack some crackers or water, that way if you go out on your own, or even on an excursion, you don't have to pay tourist prices for a small snack.
4. Have fun! Cruises are awesome and you will have a blast!

Answer 6

Hi! And congratulations! You're going to have a great time cruising, so follow these helpful hints.

(By the way, these are borrowed from another question that I answered, so it might be familiar in case you have seen it before)

Now I've worked on a cruise line before for 2 1/2 years. That's quite a bit of experience. So what I have to tell you may be a mouthful, but I just want to make your first time experience a comfortable, stress-free, and enjoyable one.

MAJOR TIP: BRING WARM CLOTHING. Strange, but true. The ship's A/C is on constantly, and if you plan on staying onboard for a good length of the cruise, especially if the weather is unfavorable, you'll get chilly. A light sweater/shawl for evening wear, or a casual sweat-top or long-sleeve tee should warm you up on such occassions.

ALL CRUISED UP AND NOTHING TO WEAR: Hey, this is a cruise! Bring clothes suitable for excursions (which could be hiking, biking, snorkeling, or sight seeing)--these clothes will vary depending on what you intend on doing when at a port-of-call. I suggest bringing clothes for physical activity, casual walking and dining. Of course you should bring swim wear! You may not go to the beach, or in the ship's pool, but there most likely is a hot tub or a spa. Most important: bring clothes for the Captain's dinner: semi-formal attire (shirt & tire/ black dress) for the fancy dining experience.

SAY CHEESE: If you have a photo or video camera, bring it. Especially a video camera. Digital cameras are great, but an old 35mm still does the trick. Bare this in mind: cruise lines have a photo crew that take snap shots of guests almost non-stop. Throughout the cruise and at the end, try checking out the ship's photo shop, if interested, to find any pictures of yourself. Grab a few, as they can get quite pricey...

HOT! HOT! HOT! Get that sunscreen/sunblock on. It doesn't matter your complexion: I'm black and I still get burns on my neck and shoulders when exposed to the sun for a long time. Yep, me too! It's the depleted ozone layer, but that's another Yahoo! question to answer...know what is right for you to use, and use it regularly, especially for your son. Shades and caps/visors/sun hats are highly recommended. Go for lighter clothing--whites and earth-tones--when travelling and touring places when in the sun for long periods of time. Whether in the Meditteranean, Caribbean, or Pacific, if you're crusing where there is lots of sun, slip-slap-slop! Be protected!

MONEY TALKS: Bring it. Excursions, on-shore purchases, emergencies--money always is helpful. TIP YOUR HOUSEKEEPER WELL. They work really hard, and you don't see what they go through behind the scenes.

...by the way, I have not been on the Grand Princess, but my sister had a honeymoon with that cruiseline company. She really enjoyed herself, and said that there were so many things to do. You'll be overwhelmed with the many shows and events that occur, so don't feel bad that you won't get to experience everything.

Talk to crew members, like your servers, hospitality department, cruise staff, even housekeepers, about what shows and activities to check out. They're very helpful. Even if they don't know, and that could happen because they might be new (on the first week of being on the ship, I was asked practically everything, like I own the ship), still be nice!

Okay, that's about everything I could tell you off the top of my head. I'm pretty sure that there are online newsboards in which people write about their experiences on particular cruise lines... have fun! Bon Voyage!

Answer 7

if you drink alcohol, bring your own. it is very expensive on there. i had a suitcase devoted to drinks and it still cost a pretty penny buying theirs. when you port don't do the tours. you are better off on your own. buy the video as all the activities are taped and be sure to do the activities no matter how dumb they sound even the dance contests etc. they are hecka fun. do everything offered. avoid the rip off casino. buy the photos they take. do not miss the midnight buffet and bring a camera to it. what they do with the food is amazing. although there is a formal dinner you can still go informal but take the opportunity to dress formal. most of all leave your probs at home and have a great time.

Answer 8

Take enough money for all the extras and tips.
See princess web page for more info and booking of excursions
Plan your flights/driving with enoug spare time. Panic aint good isnt it?
Dont pack to much in your bags. Storage room is cramped.
Plan your day. If I dont remember wrong princess have a free seating (like ncl) in the reasturants meaning that there could be ques on prime times unleas you don book in advance.
Make yourself a budget if youre on low money. What to spend on pay for resturants? What to spend on spas and simular and so on? It will help you relax.

Have fun! Johan

Answer 9

ahhhhhhhh im so jealous
i went on my first cruise for xmas break and i had the time of my life
it was so much fun

you're gonna have a great time....remember to bring enough clothes, probably a swimsuit for every day/ every other day depending on how many places you're stopping and if you like to swim....ummm sunscreen! sunglasses! jacket/sweatshirt,,,gym clothes, CAMERA, slippers, sneakers, pj's course.....and thats all i can remember

just be ready to have an AMAZING time

Answer 10

Check out Cruise Critic. it is an awesome resource for cruising!!

Answer 11

I went on the Grand Princess when it was first launched. Its a grand ship and you will have fun. Here's some of what to expect:

Once you are on ship the staff caters to you, its whatever you want. There is something to do all day every day. When you arrive at the port to check in you (each passenger) will receive a key card which will serve as your room key, charge card for anything you buy on ship (i.e.,drinks, souvenir) and its also your pass to get on and off ship in each port. When you first board the ship the security personnel will have you insert your key card into a scanner and then will take a photo of you that is included in the magnetic strip on the card. Each time you get off ship you will need this key card and many times also a photo ID (passport or driver's license). This card allows them to keep an accurate track of all passengers entering and/or leaving the ship. Infants and small children may be required to wear an ID bracelet (like in the hospital) in lieu of carry a card.

Each day of your cruise you will receive in your cabin a "newsletter" listing the time, place and particulars of everything happening for you on ship. There are generally activities like demonstrations of ice carvings, napkin folding and towel folding, and cooking demonstrations. Some ships may offer a galley (kitchen) tour or a tour of the bridge. There may be organized games and other activities around the pools. In the evenings there are generally shows, one show for those with an early dinner seating and another (same show) for those who eat late. There is always food available. Usually there is a place in ship where you can go get something. Or, you can always just pick up the phone in your cabin and order from the room service menu (food is free). If you want, you can order breakfast room service.

All ships have a casino with slots and table games. Ships have movie theaters, generally small but nice, and you can also see movies in your room. They have ATM’s and a purser’s desk where you can cash a check or exchange currency if you need to. There is a tour and activities desk so you can schedule land tours and activities.

Ships have free morning exercise programs, stretching and walking, etc, and on some you can pay for other things like Spinning. All cruise ships have gyms so you can go workout, usually any time from 6:00 AM to late at night. There is usually a walking/running track on one of the decks also. Some ships leave the gym open all night. They call the gyms Spa because they do promote getting pampered with things like wraps and massages with aroma therapy. They will also generally have a beauty salon to do hair and nails.

There are always pools. Some ships have more than one and the newer ships generally have an indoor pool as well as outdoor ones and all of these have hot tubs. There is generally a basketball court on the top deck, a place for scuffle board, and a mini-golf course. The newer Royal Caribbean ships have a rock climbing wall and the newest one has a pool for water surfing.

There are places on ships to play cards and board games, and the cards and games are provided. If you want to just sit and read, there’s a library where you can bring your books or select one from the shelf. Ships have internet cafes and some offer WIFI if you bring your prefer to use your computer in your cabin (some ships offer notebooks for rent). There are cocktail lounges that feature a variety of music. Some have a piano bar with jazz. There is usually a disco that starts after 10:00 PM each night and last until everyone leave. On certain days ships will have special activities like a chocolate lovers buffet, or a midnight deck party .

I suggest that you go to the web site for the cruise lines and look at the cabin prices, port stops, the features for the ships and select a cruise that will do what you want to do.

WILL YOU GET SEA SICK ??

Some people worry about getting sea sick, but the ships being used these days have automated stabilizers which minimize the rocking. The larger ships cut through the water so easy that you don’t even feel like you are moving. When there is bad weather the cruise lines will steer around and away from it, sometimes changing the order of port stops. Also, the ships generally move overnight and dock in the mornings so you don’t feel much movement. Consequently, your chances of getting sea sick are minimal. There is generally less motion than on an airplane. If you do get sick, all ships have a doctor and they will dispense sea sick medicines. If you are prone to motion sickness, just get pills or a patch from your own doctor before you go, or go to a boating store and get a sea sickness bracelet.

OTHER CRUISE TIPS

To save some money, consider driving to the port; Miami, Ft Lauderdale, N.O., Houston, LA, NJ. Most ports have plentiful and safe parking (I have driven many times to Miami and Ft Lauderdale) at both places that costs about $12 a day. Driving can save money over the cruise line "add-in" for airfare. We generally drive most of the way on one day from NC and stop about an hour or two from the port for the night. Then we continue the short trip the next day to the port. Most ships start boarding between noon and 1:00 PM. If you are a cruise club member you generally get to go on first, or early.

Join the cruise club so that the cruise line will send you their specials and so that you can get discounts on future cruises with them. The discount will typically be $50 to $100 per person. If you will be celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday during the cruise, be sure to tell them, they will do special stuff for that.

Most 7-day cruises have two formal nights when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken, and maybe meet the ship’s Captain. Cruise lines charge a lot for the photos they take so take your own photos around the ship when you get the chance, especially on the formal nights. Ask other passengers to take photos for you, they generally are very willing.

Review the listing of tours offered on your cruise and decide whether you want to pay for a tour or go on your own. On most Caribbean islands you can get a taxi or tour in port for much less than the cruise ship tours. HOWEVER, the one big advantage of going on ship sponsored tours is THE SHIP WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU if your ship sponsored tour is late getting back to the ship. If you will be in a port for 12 to 16 hours you are probably safe to go on your own for most anything. But if you are only there for six to eight hours you may want to stay close to the ship or go on the ship tours.