Related Alaska Cruise posts:
- What are some helpful tips for going on a cruise?
my family is going a cruise [yay] and it’s our first time going on a cruise. so we have no idea what the hell we r doing…. so plz give me some helpful tips!!! and also my dad has motion sickness (especially on boats) so what should we do? PLZ ANSWER!! thnks! ... - How much should I expect to lay out in tips on a cruise?
I am going on my first cruise next month for 7 days (Carnival, Western Caribbean). Could you please give me an estimate of how much I should expect to lay out in tips? I am sharing my cabin with my cousin so I would be splitting the tips with her. Thanks! ... - cruise tips?
i’m going on a cruise this week (Royal Caribbean) and was wondering if this cruise line is good…(I already looked at cruisecritic.com) any tips you have while cruising/what to do… that’d be GREAT!! thanks. ... - Tips on going on a cruise with a 6 year old and an 18 month old?
Does anyone have any tips on cruises with kids? We are going on one this weekend to the carribbean and I’m nervous that there won’t be much to do with kids or that others on the cruise won’t like that we brought them. We are going with other families (24 of us total with 4 kids). Please advise! Well to answer most of you, ALL of our family is going on the cruise as a reunion. There will be no-one at home to watch the kids and why would I want to leave my baby for 10 days or even a 4 day cruise? This is a vacation for all of us. I did call the cruise line this am and they have some programs for the kids to get involved with. I was mostly hoping for tips on what others have done with kids on a cruise, not... - Your top tips for a cruise based holiday with 2 kids?
About to leave in a few days for 10 nights on P&O Princess Dawn. We are new to the cruise based holiday and wanted some top tips (beside Kwells!). Do we do the organised shore tours or do our own thing? Beach towels or are they provided. Laundry powder… Any advise would be welcome. Thanks Oops – meant Pacific Dawn – thanks for the pick up (it was late…!) ...
Posted in Information
5 Responses to “cruise tips for scared first time cruiser?”
ask your doctor for seasick patches, or bonine.
go to cruisecritic.com for info on your royal carribean ship and itinerary.Others have just gotten off the cruise you are about to go on.(they might have good tips for you)
You will have fun.
good luck and bring your patience with you.:)
(cc)
You are not likely to get seasick as you are going to the Caribbean at the end of the hurricane season (ends Oct 31) and the weather will likely be lovely your whole cruise. Maybe a few showers but that’s all. The RC ships do not rock like the ships did in the old days before they all had stabilizers to prevent rocking.
You will not have to be concerned about tipping as its all automatic. Each person is charged $10 a day that is divided among the wait staff and room steward that serve you. Then if/when you buy a drink (soft drink or alcoholic) they will automatically add 15 percent to your bill as a tip/gratuity. When your cruise is over you pay your bill and it will include all of the tips added.
Your question is kinda late for a cruise leaving tomorrow to give you tips that you can do; you are probably already packed. But here goes.
lways pack your passport and cruise documents in your carry on bag ONLY.
The dress on ship is casual all day until 6:00PM, so take:
-swim wear (at least 2),
-shorts, tank tops and “T’s”
-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,
-good walking shoes,
-your camera, and
-other personal toiletries including tooth paste, mouth wash or lotions.
Your cabin will have towels and soap provided, including pool and beach towels, and a hair dryer. It will also have a generic hair shampoo so you do not need to bring that unless you like a specific brand.
After 6:00 PM they request that you wear “sports or resort casual” attire. That’s attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, (like a bank employee), 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. Don’t over pack , take clothes that you can mix and match tops and bottoms and plan to wear each piece twice. If you are going to the Caribbean you will likely be in shorts and/or swim wear most of every day so evening clothes don’t usually get much wear.
Your cruise will have a formal night or two 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. You will not be denied entry to the main dining room if you decide not to dress up, as long as you are at least sports casual. But most people do dress up. A gown or party dress for women and a suit or tux for men. Some people dress up both formal nights, some don’t.
- 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.
- Pack using the vacuum clothing bags (about $20 for 3 at Target) so that you can get more in your bag AND so that if the TSA at the airport opens your bag they can see what’s inside without rummaging through your things.
-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 your clothes that you sleep in.
- If you are taking your cell phone, MP3 player or other item that needs to be plugged in take an extension cord as the plugs in the cabin are generally not in the best places and there are usually only one or two.
- Take a small bottle of hand sanitizer and/or hand-wipes. There are generally sanitizer dispensers at the entrances of restaurants, the buffets and dining room, but some times the are not there or not working. The sanitizer helps prevent the spread of the Norwalk Virus that sometimes occur on cruise ships.
-If you plan to get into the pools or hot tub as soon as you get on ship (they will be open), bring those clothes in your carry on bag; you other luggage may not get to your cabin until much later in the afternoon.
- Take a can of air freshener for your cabin bathroom. The bathrooms do not have exhaust fans.
- Take a few zip lock bags of various sizes; they always come in handy.
- Take some one dollar bills (also maybe a few $5′s) for tipping the porters in the airport, at the pier (they do not work for the ship), and they will come in handy in port stops for buying small items in the markets and at vendor stands; especially bartering places.
You will be fine, I went on my first Caribbean cruise last year, on Freedom of the Seas. Had a blast! Those ships have stabilizers to help cut back on the ships movement through the ocean. Oh for when you’re out and about, get a waterproof container you can wear around your neck to hold some cash, your seapass card, passport, etc when you’re away from the ship. For tipping, when you buy drinks, and food a 15% is automatically added, however being in the service industry myself, I give a little extra to my bartenders/servers. The people of Royal Caribbean treat you like gold, returning the favor is the least you can do! For each drink, add on an extra buck, and for any extra dinners you do, make the tip 18-20%
sea sick pills and a plastic flasks to brin gyour own liquor, cuz the cruises jack up prices on drinks. use these
I doubt you’ll have any motion sickness problems, but if in doubt, get your Bonine at Wal-Mart before you go. They over charge for these kind of things at the on board boutique.
The tips are added to your SeaPass account, but you can adjust them up or down at your discretion. You can do this at the purser’s desk anytime before the last day of the cruise.
Be sure to check out the WindJammer.
Bon Voyage!!