Cruise advice!?

Question

I have never been on a cruise and am planning one coming up in the next 3 months. I would like advice on what to bring for sunny, warm climate. Any other tips are welcome. I know prices change daily, but a three day cruise, say to Mexico would roughly cost how much - airfare and all?

Answer 1

You can figure that your cruise on most line will be about $125 to $150 per day, but the price will be listed for the total, not by days. So a 3 day cruise may be about $500 depending upon what cruise line you select and the type cabin you select. the cabin prices are done this way: cheapest for inside cabin, no window or porthole. Next is outside cabin where you will have a window or porthole. Both of these type cabins are usually on the lower decks of the ship. Next are the balcony cabins and most ships have plenty of these at a reasonable price. The highest prices are for suite and they will be expensive.

Here's what to expact on your cruise:

When you arrive at the port to check in you (each passenger) will have an on board charge account set up and receive a key card which will serve as your room key, charge card for anything you buy on ship (i.e.,drinks, souvenir, tours, photos, etc) 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.

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 will 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)

most ships have a casino with slots and table games and they have a small movie theaters, 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. 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. 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. 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 .

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. Your cruises will likely have a formal night 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.

Some other tips:


-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.

-- Its best to pack using soft-sided luggage because with space limited in your cabin it fits under the beds better if its not hard sided luggage. 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.

Answer 2

GetLate Dining if you can because it gives you time to get ready and it helps you stay awake for the late shows which are great. Excursions on the boat are over priced do your own but make sure you are back before the boat leaves or they will take off with out you. When we were in Aruba two couples got drunk and missed the boat so don't let that happen. Tip your room steward extra at the begining of the cruise and you will get extra good service.Most of all have fun and relax and have a great cruise. I am going on a cruise to Hawaii on Sept 20. I can't wait!!

Answer 3

3 or 4 day Mexican Baja (Carnival and Royal) runs $250 - $500 per person depending on the date. Expect to pay $10/person per day in gratuities (30-40 for the trip per person). Your on board account will vary by how much you if any you drink and if you go to the shops on board.

Airfare depends on where you are and what airlines. I suggest getting your own air and not booking thru the cruise line because its usually cheaper and you can dictate the schedule. Cruisline airfare can cut things close with getting to the ship. LAX is about 45 minutes from Long Beach, unless you can fly into Long Beach Airport which is only 15 minutes from the ships.

Depending on time of year the Mexican Baja which only goes to Ensenada will be only a tad bit warmer than the weather in Long Beach. So if going in the winter, a light jacket may be needed. It also gets cold at night on deck on the ship.

Answer 4

Consider a longer cruise. We went on a 4-day cruise a few years ago. You can't board until the afternoon on Day 1, and you have to get off pretty early in the morning on Day 4, so you really only have 2 full days on the ship. It kind of sucks.

Answer 5

Mexico is nice. Where are you flying from? You can leave out of Long Beach, CA or Glaveston, TX depending what part of Mexico you want to go to. Also out of Florida you can go to the Bahamas or Bermuda. Cruises at that length run anywhere between $400-$600 a person.

Answer 6

you need to do some research.. royal caribbean and carnival both offer cruises that leave from long beach/san pedro and san dieago to go to mexico. the short 3-5 day ones are typically around 250 dollars. you can go to cozumel from many ports in the gulf or florida. alabama,tx,new orleans, are gulf ports and tampa and miami will go either calica or cozumel. these range from 199-300. the longer the cruise the more it cost but it includes the port,your stay,and food
flights would depend on where you live and where you are going. i know we just paid 175 to go from pit to fort lauderdale for a cruise and have averaged around 200 for each flight on our cruises
the best clothing for cruises are sundresses and shorts for women and polos and shorts for men and for dinner wear comfy dress clothes such as slacks and dress shirts for men and pants and nice blouse for women, usually one formal night and u just need a cocktail dress or tie for men. bring one sweater in case its cold and bring sunscreen.
also on cruises it is sort of expected to tip but worth it usually 10 dollars a day.
also soda and alcohol are not included

Answer 7

Plan as early as you can to take advantage of discounts.
http://www.cruisediva.com/ This is the leading authority on cruising.

Answer 8

swimsuits, shorts ect, dressy clothes for dressing up at dinner. See cruiseclues.com
for more on packing.
3 day cruise to mexico roughly 250.00 to 500.00 depending on what dates.
try also cruisecritic.com.

Answer 9

i recently went on a cruise from miami. we went to mexico, grand cayman, jamaica, and haiti. It was the royal carribian freedom of the sea ship. it was the largest royal carribbean ship so far. so i would definatly recomend it. ps the food was great.

Answer 10

i've just been on a mexican cruise last week. on what ship are you going?