i'm going on a cruise for the first time and i was wondering if anyone had any tips?

Question

or f.y.i's on things to take, etc.?

Answer 1

I have been on more than 15 cruises with RC, NCL, Princess and Celebrity.

- If you can, plan to fly to the departure port a day early so that you do not have to worry about missed flights, lost/late arriving luggage, and missed connections. If you are changing time zones it will give your body time to adjust and you time to rest from the long trip. Remember that weather and time of year can cause flight delays.

-If your cruise includes many connections, i.e., flying, train and bus, buy travel insurance and get it from an independent supplier, not the cruise line.

-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.

- 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. Don't feel obligated to buy all of the photos that the ship takes. Many ships will video your cruise and sell you a copy at the end. So if you think you may want a video, get into as any of the shots that you can that the camera person is taking.

-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.

- Take a 6-pack of water and/or soft drinks in your carry on for your cabin. Do NOT try to take alcoholic on board, especially in your carry on; they will confiscate it.

- take a thermal cup or mug with a lid for cold drinks when you are around the pool, most plastic glasses on cruise ships are small.

-always take soft sided luggage as it stores better under the beds.

- Take a small carry-on bag for the last night of the cruise. On the last evening you will be required to put your luggage outside your cabin by about 2:00 AM so that they can start taking it down to the lower deck for offloading the next morning. So you will need a small bag for your toiletries and and your clothes that you sleep in.

- There is generally a room service menu that you can order from 24/7 and that food is free but you should tip the delivery person a couple dollars.

- The hidden costs on a cruise are your tab after the cruise for drinks (alcoholic and sodas), tours, and gratuities. Many ships now add the recommended gratuity to your on board tab. The gratuity is about $10 to $12 per day per person. You can give more if you want. Tours can add hundreds to your final bill, depending upon how many stop the ship makes and what you want to do. So study the tours carefully; some places you may want to just go on your own. and be aware that the drinks can add up.

- One way to save money on drinks is to order them in a plain glass rather than the souvenir ones; they cost about $1.00 to $1.50 more in the souvenir glass.

- The dress on ship is casual all day until 6:00PM. So take swim wear, shorts, sandals, beach shoes, your snorkel equipment if you have it, sun glasses and sun screen, lotions, a cap or big hat for the sun, a book if you are a reader, your music player, sneakers and clothes to workout in if you like to use the gym, your camera, and other personal toiletries.

- After 6:00 PM they request that you wear "sports casual" attire. That's attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, shirt with a collar, slacks, skirt, blouse, etc. You can still wear shorts and swim wear in the pools and spas but not in public areas like dining rooms and restaurants, show rooms, bars, casino, etc.

- 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. The formal nights are REQUESTED not required attire. But most people DO dress up in a tux for men and a long dress (any color) for women. Some men just wear a suit and tie and some women wear a nice dress but not a gown. You will not be denied access to the dining room or anything else if you choose not to dress up. (we usually take off the formal stuff after dinner and pictures anyway).

- Most cabins have a hair dryer so no need to take one.

-Take an extension cord if you think you will need to recharge your phone, camera, and/or music player. There will be plugs but the extension will make it easier.

- Most cruise lines don't allow irons and do not have irons and boards for load. So if you have clothes that require ironing, and you do have a travel iron, do your ironing as soon as you unpack and the cool the iron and put it away.

- take a few Zip Lock bags; they will come in handy.

Answer 2

Hi hun!! I just got back from my first cruise and I have to say it was the best vacation ever!! Sooo here is what I would recommend for you to bring with you. Definitely an alarm clock or something that tells you the time!! Does rooms are so DARK!! You can go in there at 3:00 in the afternoon and turn off the lights and it will feel like it's 3:00 in the morning!! My husband and I would go to our rooms to take a little power nap and never realized what time it was when we got up! One day we almost missed dinner!!! Another thing I would recommend is for you to take sea sick pills with you. Being that you never been on a cruise you don't know if you will get sea sick. Don't forget to bring you shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste,lotions and sun block. Trust me you don't want to buy those in the ship unless you want to pay DOUBLE!!! I was also glad I had 2 bathing suits just so while 1 was drying I always had my other one to take with me on excursions. I would also bring an extra bag to put your dirty laundry. I think that's about it! I hope you have a great time!!!

Answer 3

First there are no luggage restricitons on cruise lines, so if you are not flying to the port then you can bring as much as you like. Bring a carry on with a change of clothes. It may take some time before you actually get your luggage as there are several thousand passengers boarding with you. This carry on can also double as a carry off for you need to put your luggage outside your room the night before so that the cruise line can get them through customs. You will then have something to put your cosmetics and previous nights clothes in. Once you board the ship and have visited your room take a walk around so you can familarize yourself with the vessel. Go up to the Lido deck. That is where the food is.(other than the formal dining rooms) You can grab a bite to eat and check out the pools and other outside activities. This is where most of the daytime events will take place. (Live bands, contests, pools, exhibitions, etc) After that go to the middle decks on the ship. On the main deck you will find the Pursers Office (like a hotel front desk) and the shore excursion sales desks. You will also find the main entrance to the lounge where the "Vegas" style shows are. On the next deck you generally will find the dining rooms and the ship stores. Its basically a small mall. On the next deck you will find the casino and the various nightclubs and bars. Take a look around and check out the venues that are of interest to you. You will also find a smattering of other bars and entertainment (Internet room for instance) throughout the ship. Explore, you'll be suprised what you find. Then be sure to read your ships newsletter. This will give you all the events that will occur on a given day. There will be more things than you can possibly do so choose what interests you the most. Be sure to go to the talks on shore excursions and shopping. They will give you some valuable information as to what is going on at various islands as well as free stuff and give aways. You will also run into the cruise director and his/her staff at various times. Don't hesitiate to talk with them and ask questions. It is their job to be sure you have an enjoyable cruise and want to return again...and they are usually very good at their jobs. (On the five cruises I have been on there was only one sub par cruise director, but it is probably somewhat unfair to him as the cruise director on the Carnival Conquest, the cruise I took just before, was fantastic. I would go on any ship where he is the cruise director) I hope this helps you out and just one more thing, remember you are on vacation and your cruise fare includes everything except alcohol, gambling, soda(?) and shore excursions so live it up. If you don't like what you ordered, get something else. I always order a second desert just in case and I always try something I might not otherwise eat because if I don't like it I can ask them to bring me something else. Room Service...you've already paid so have breakfast in bed. Now go out and have a great time, I always do.

Answer 4

The day you board you'll want to take some time familiarizing yourself with the ship and where different places are. Make sure that you take a carry on with things you might need access to like camera, medications, travel documents, etc. because your bags aren't delivered to your cabin right away.

Make sure you have shoes with good non slippery soles. I made that mistake. I took a pair of sandals that I thought were fine but when I was walking near the pool area I slid. Check your cruise lines website for their FAQs section. They have good information.

Enjoy your cruise!

Answer 5

Hi..... Oh my gosh.... I swore I would never go on a cruise! I get very sea sick, and I swore I would not go! However..... my Dad was turning 80 and.... well, there are three of us... grown women.!!! Sisers... his daughters 55, 53 and 50..... bless his heart, he invited us all to the Carribiean for 7 days at sea! It was an amazing week!

My best advise to you is this, in terms of packing.....Well, if this is a main-line type formal cruise: You will need more evening wear than you expect, and less day wear. Bring an evening gown or sun dress, 7 for the week, for each formal dinner/night. Dinners are EVERYTHING on a cruise.

Daytimes are: Pool (swim suit) and , BIG TIME, tours of the Ports of Call. For Ports of Call: bring a cotton knee length white skirt, KEEP COOL,,,, keep it simpel Sandles..... easy...

Lunches and Massages are ALL based on whether or not is is a Sailing Day or a Port of Call day..... Massages and facials are much more afforable on Port Days,.... know what I mean?????? Everyone else is touring on the islands, and the Spa is itching for business!

Cruises are "Pre-Paid" ..... but they KNOW how to make their money.... it is NOT on your pre-paid fees: It is on: Tours, Liquor and the Shops that they make their money, entirely..... just be aware... and Have FUN..... It is a blast!!!!! Know,,... and Enjoy!!!!!

Answer 6

unlike other travel were overpacking can lead to huge discomfort and lugging around alot of suitcases..on a cruise, you dont really have to worry about that!

bring as much clothes as u want, but keep in mind the amount of days you will be spending on the cruise itself. Bring at least 2 formal attire clothing articles, and at least 5 day to day outfits. Once agian, the date and destination was not specified so i can not be too specific.

bring a bathing suit
do not bring a robe
i would actually suggest bringing an extra collapsible luggage bag, or purchasing one in the boutique on the cruise. During your destinations you will be tempted to buy all sorts of souvineers and other things and you wont have to worry about were to put them all when you are on your way home!

To make things easier, i would purchase al your nessesaties on board the cruise ship! You can timagine how muh time you save!

At the shop you buy your tootbrush, floss, makeup remover, breathfreshner, ANYTHING you can think of, will probably be there!

hope this helps and i wish you good times on your cruise!!

Answer 7

KEEP YOUR PASSPORT ON YOU AT ALL TIMES UNTIL YOU GET ON SHIP! DO NOT STOW IT IN BAGS1

Answer 8

take dressy clothes for the dinners. captain's dinner is formal. then take comfortable clothes for the excursions. go see your Dr. get med's for sea sickness, and such. I have had migraines in the past...my Dr. gave me meds just in case, allergy meds, asprin/motrin. just talk to your Dr. find about shots, if you are going to another country. we were taking a cruise from Spain, France, and Italy. no shots required. talk to your travel agent, see what they recommend. Good luck to you and OMG have so much fun! we had a blast!

Answer 9

Take a power strip (extension cord). There is usually only one outlet in the room.

Answer 10

Don't get so drunk you fall overboard. The minute that happens you have entered the food chain. Also, find out where all the lifeboats are & get a life jacket.