Tony I noticed one of the things that you were talking about about getting your hair cutter style I started laughing because we always do a girls trip plus my husband can you imagine him with three women for over a week he does very well and the one that's like my sister she is our hairdresser for years and years I'm not going to say how many more years but we always have a blast this is going to be our last girls trip plus husband because she's getting married instead of Mama going next year we're going to take her husband with us my mother's 85 she said this is going to be her last year cruising she don't get around really really well but she does good enough I think
If you have cruise credit go to the casino and charge your account however much credit you have. Than go cash out at the cashier! Your cruise credit becomes cash back
We just did this. We were short on cash and wanted to give our cabin steward a decent tip at the end of the cruise. I easily transferred money on account to a slot machine, then cashed out and got cash back at the cashier window. Problem solved.
Most important tip not mentioned: Don't forget the Poo-Pourri toilet spray. With a small bathroom attached to a small living area, this is essential. Poo is part of life, but it's not something people talk about. It's amazing how well this stuff works.
My daughter and I took a third-party tour on Saint Kitts/Nevis We ended up going with a family of six. I kept thinking that the father/grandfather looked awfully familiar. Turns out it was Randy Owen, lead singer of the band Alabama! He was with his wife, daughters and grandchildren. We all had so much fun talking, laughing and yes, even singing. Took pictures because I knew none of my friends would even believe me. What a wonderful day it was!
RE: Airfare: I know with Royal Carib, if you book airfare through them and the flight is LATE or it gets cancelled-they will wait for you ..OR if REAL late they will fly you to the next destination.
The biggest thing that you should do on the cruise. If you have a question, ask you room steward first. They have networks to help answer any question.
On the excursion note, I will always book excursions through the cruise line. Consider the higher price like buying insurance. From a personal experience point of view...We booked a 12 day Southern Caribbean with Celebrity and one port of call was the Panama Canal. Our boat that the tour company utilized to go through the Canal went mechanical while we were on board. We ended up being 6 hours delayed getting back to the ship and Celebrity was waiting for us when we finally were able to get back to our ship. Could not have been happier that day having booked with Celebrity. Everything was handled professionally.
Another bedding tip…you can ask for a mattress pad if you find your bed is too firm for you! It makes a HUGE difference. I also pack my own personal pillow so I always get a good nights sleep!
I love ordering breakfast to the room & having my coffee every morning on the balcony! One of my guilty pleasures!! I’ll definitely check out a day pass to the spa; however, I have found the sauna and steam rooms have been closed due to Covid!😩😞
Tony, this sounds like the "welcome to the cruise briefing" I give my cruise guests! Another point to add: the benefit to buying excursions thru the cruise line is that the tour operators are vetted for safety concerns, financial stability, and sufficient insurance in case of accident etc. In case of injury or accident, the passenger is adequently covered.
Cathy, unless you have travel insurance of your own neither the cruise lines nor their vetted tour excursions offer any insurance. It's part of your cruise contract you sign to get on the ship, a waiver is printed on the back of the ticket, and the excursion operators have you sign a waiver before you arrive at your destination.
@@matthewhoffman9788 I was referring more to accidents while on the excursion: collapsing pier on Amazon boat tours for example. Surely the tour vendor would have some liability in that case. These were "talking points" from Shorex presentations over the years so I assume they are accurate statements but I have no personal knowledge about it. I have rarely had to sign any type of waiver on a ship's excursion, with exception for activities like diving or parasailing etc.
A great cruise tip I found out at guest services pertaining to all the cruise credit. Of course this credit on my cruise was not transferable and had to be spent or lost on my cruise so the tip was if you do not want to have to spend it all, buy cruise gift cards on board which can be used for another time. Made my last day on my cruise go smooth as silk.
re: cruise line airfare. they don't book your airfare until very close to your actual travel date and it is the lowest cost to them. you are likely to have 2 or 3 legs and not a nonstop.
Very helpful show. I learned several things I didnt know. I had a haircut onboard a ship once and was a bit disappointed that the stylist seemed more interested in selling the product than cutting my hair. Just a helpful comment.
When we first meet the room steward, we ask for (or leave a note for) ~ 2 extra pillows, 2 extra towels and a needle sharps container (for those who do injectable medicines like me). Usually have these items before end of evening. Stewards are busiest on embarkation and disembarkation days so please be kind to them. Thanks for sharing :)
I learned on my last carnival cruise that you can buy a carnival gift card with your on board credit and use it towards the purchase of your next cruise.
Here's another tip....Regarding onboard credit, check to see if your favorite cruise line offers onboard credit if you own shares of their stock. As an example, if you own 100 or more shares of Carnival, you qualify for up to $250 (US) in onboard credit. This applies to all of their brands, not just Carnival.
The Dining Trifecta ... 1) Talk to the Maitre D upon arrival if you want a different main dining room seating time or table change later in the cruise (they can likely accommodate) 2) There is usually a loyalty lunch on the first day if you board early enough (much better than the crowded buffet) 3) main dining room for breakfast - you get served - you don't need to find a table in the buffet
We eat in the main dining room wherever possible always for dinner, mostly always for breakfast, and lunch when they're open. I'm on a cruise, I don't want to serve myself if I don't have to. 😆😆
With ship excursions, we have also been unhappy, complained and got either all or a portion of our money back. Doubt that would happen with a 3rd party.
Awesome info, Tony! One thing - the instruction on the ship will not 'Certify' you for scuba, but it does give you enough information on the process that you are able to participate in a dive with some confidence. Certification takes classroom time followed by pool time followed by open water training dives. What it does, though, is make you realize how cool it is to breathe under water and a lot of folks (like me) go on to full certification!
Room service came in handy my second day because for some odd reason I booked an 8a salon appointment, so having that continental breakfast delivered to the room gave me a little extra time to not be rushed in the morning. And it was as simple as filling out the door hanger card before I went to bed. And in talking to fellow passengers after a night of rough seas, many didn't seem to know about the free motion sickness tablets available.
My honey and I always try to meet our room steward that way you can greet them morning and evening. It seems to give them a smile. And makes it easier to get things as they arise.
On the Power thing, don't forget the International adapter or get a USB charger before Sailing. Not sure if other Cruise lines are better at this, but on Carnival Miracle, there are Zero USB outlets in your room, and they didn't sell Chargers or International adapters on the ship. Note. If you make that mistake and are stuck like I was, they use standard Panasonic TVs in the room, which has a USB port in the back. It's eye-wateringly slow, and the screen has to be on, but if you put it on outside view and Mute, it works to charge your Phone by morning and will tie you over until you get to port. (Also, I strongly recommend Radio Shack in Cabo Sans.)
Great tips! One that I use regularly when cruising are the workout room showers. You can bring a change of clothes and go straight from the pool to the shower. That way 2 people can shower at the same time (one in the room) and you don’t have to wait. This saves time and most of the time no one is in there so you have a big bathroom all to yourself! You just have to bring a bag with your toiletries and change of clothes. Great for after a workout as well.
Also, you can use your on board credit to purchase the discounted drink package, spa services, etc before you cruise! When you go to the check out, go to the screen where you would normally enter your credit card, you will see that you have onboard credit available! I accidentally found this when I was buying cheers for our cruise in June!
Note! You can't use OBC for drink packages on all lines, but Carnival just changed their policy to allow you to use OBC prior to boarding (they didn't use to).
This is Royal specific, but some Royal ships have a lookout area where you can see the bridge and the officers navigating the ship. It's really cool. Ask if this is available on your ship (or Google it).
I ask the room stewart to have fresh water and ice twice a day. This gives me water for medication and to fill up water bottles for land shore tours or pool side activities.
Also if you have a sleep apnea machine... Tell your Carnival Agent. They will give you distilled water for free. Also ask for a fan or extension cord.... All free if you ask. It's 1st come 1st served.
Yes we had breakfast on the balcony almost everyday, it's fantastic! Idk if it's a secret but you will probably pack too much for your first cruise, we did. Now I travel carry on only. For us so much easier to embark and disembark.
Great video! One small thing that I think some new cruisers don't realize is that they can take their plate from the buffet, etc., and eat anywhere they want, including their cabin.
Great tips, all in one place!! Some of which took my dear wife and I a few cruises to figure out on our own. In Tip #17 you mention storing smaller suitcases in larger ones when storing under the bed to save storage space. I'll add to that by mentioning that we pack a small suitcase along with our clothes in each of our two large suitcases, that way we don't have to buy extra bags in the event we find clothes, photos or other souvenirs making us exceed the weight limit of two suitcases. #20 is an interesting one because I got WAY too much food when I tried this. Usually I like to have 3 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon and 3 or 4 hashbrowns for break fast. So I ticked off 3 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon, and 3 hasbrowns for my room service order. I got 3 egg breakfasts including toast and home fries. 4 pieces of bacon, also with toast and home fries, and 3 hashbrowns, with toast and eggs. And my dear wife's breakfast was also supersized like mine was! Needless to say, you'll never starve on a cruise! We didn't need lunch that day!
Never be afraid to ask. I forgot to bring a comb with me and the gift didn't have any. Went to customer service desk and ask them for one. They gave me one.
For Drinks and Specialty Dining if you had booked very early there will always be opportunities. Our best deal we ever had was on the Harmony TA last year we got the Ultimate Dining Package for $14.00 per day. Was only available for less than a day. I'm sure it was a mistake but check every day or you will miss out on great deals.
#21: You don't have to be certified to scuba dive. Certification agencies offer something called "Discovery Dives" where they go over the basics and then take you down a couple of meters. My wife and kids first did a Discovery Dive in a pool here in Minnesota, but I believe that most cruise lines offer excursions called "Beginning Scuba" that are really Discovery Dives. It's not for everyone, but the first time I was on scuba in a pool, I was thrilled that I was actually breathing underwater! And it'll be even more exciting when you're in the ocean during a Beginning Scuba excursion. Have fun!
Sorry fingers out of control. They also have on a lot of the island excursions where you dive hooked up to a hose that allows you to breath but you have no tanks so no certification is needed.
The pool is not the same as the ocean. So many variables can affect your safety in the water. Please get certified if you plan on going more than 10 - 15 ft down.
@@alvinarogers2113 I was reading the comments about Carnival's Beginning Scuba excursion, seems they do it from the beach in a protected bay or lagoon (not deep). Four people per instructor. People seem to have really had a good time. As long as you don't hold your breath you should be fine. KEEP BREATHING!!! There's the same risk with Snuba (airline to the surface).
Also worth it to use the “Price Match Guarantee” for your cruise fare AND excursions. That way you can get the excursions with the protection from the cruise line and the better price… has to be apples to apples which is good for the researchers out there.
Good tips, Tony! Re; Transfers. They are almost always more expensive than taxis or the many private shuttles that are always waiting outside the exits. Re; Cruise Excursions vs. private ones. The extra amount you pay for the cruise excursions is like a small insurance policy that you won’t be left, as you said. I have seen people left because their private bus or vehicle broke down for any number of reasons. Just depends on your level of confidence that you won’t be left.
If you actually book a third party, look at their refund rules and also their warranty that they will bring you back to the cruise on time. In addition, select the morning tours if your cruise will be in port all day because that will give you plenty of time to be back onboard. Never leave your valuable belongings on the bus even if the driver assures you that they will be safe. You can contact me to book those tours thru Expedia or Aviator. Happy Cruising!
I'm on my way back to San Diego after sailing to Hawaii. Due to policy changes by Hawaii, our order of island visits got changed a couple of weeks before we left, moving our visit to Kauai from the first island visited to the last. (Basically, Hawaii requires all cruise ships to first arrive at Honolulu for covid clearance before going to the other islands.) The change ended up giving us only four hours in port. We ended up sailing over an hour late while waiting for five different excursion busses/vans to get back. It was definitely a time not to be doing a 3rd party excursion. Personally, my wife and my excursion got cancelled a couple days before we arrived, so we spent a couple hours shopping then returned to the ship. We were watching one woman on the dock who seemed to be waiting for someone, perhaps her husband, but as far as we could tell she didn't get on before we left.
We were able to do our cruise check-in at the airport by using the transfer service, so once we got to the port we were able to use the express line to get onboard.
Personal favorite: Dress in your debarkation clothes when you pack and place a shoe in the safe. That way you know you have clothes to get off and don't forget the stuff in the safe.
I don't know if this is secret but we were among the first on an NCL cruise right before the shutdown. We toured the ship and ended up in the spa. They were having a raffle, only good until the ship sailed. I won a free spa treatment and my daughter won 30% off of a treatment. I think they were offering a discount to all who entered too.
Love on board laundry services. I pack lighter now by using laundry services. We usually use on board credit on ship excursions. Although, this on time (at band camp 😂), we bought a watch on board…great deal. We have used in port private local tours. They either ask or we tell them when we need to get back. We still feel safer on ship excursions.
So good to know that we can count on cruise line for transportation from and to the airport . It is a great deal specially for the elder or solo travellers. Thank you Tony!! Cheers!
I did this with NCL and they made us wait at Laguardia for other flights to arrive...we stood (there was no seating in baggage) for 5 hours....I was so mad. I will never do it again.
I love laundry services. I now pack lighter on our cruises. We’ve gone into a port town and booked a local tour. He asked what time we need to be back, and got us back in plenty of time. It was a great tour. We usually use on board credit to book an excursion. Although, this one time (at band camp), we bought a watch with our credit.
Many people don’t know that if you are a stockholder of at least 100 shares you get $100 onboard credit to spend on every cruise. This goes for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival.
Great info Tony, also sparked my memory of hacks I have used in the past!! I usually put my outfits on hangers prior to packing. On embarkation, I open my suitcase and just put the clothes in the closet. Finished!! Underwear and such have been packed in packing cubes and again just moved to a draw. Love your show and your agency!!
I am 106 days out from my 30th cruise and I am still learning. I don’t think that will change because it seems the cruise experience is always evolving. Love getting my hair cut onboard. I find the cost is comparable to what I pay on land. You and Jenny will probably enjoy the Sky, I was on her next to last cruise prior to the pause. Beautiful ship.
Holy ship . Do you live on a ship? My wife and I just sailed on the Mardi Gras that was our only 3 rd cruise. Now where about to book our cruise first cruise on the harmony. And we’re about take our girls on there first cruise. So we thought why not take them on royal Caribbean and the harmony. And where really thankful royal took away those stupid masks. Next we’re hoping it’ll be those testing
I read about getting grooming on board and considered it for my current cruise. A haircut and beard trim was about $75 on the Koningsdam, more than triple what I pay at home.
@@geraldcollins5684 why in the world would you go on your cruise and pay for a hair cut or trim? I just bring my trimmer’ for my beard I get my wife to trim in it on our cruise our when we travel.
@@geno5169 Before our cruise I watched a video about 'cheap ' upgrades to get more from your cruise. They suggested a haircut was slightly more expensive, so out of curiosity I looked into it for my cruise. However triple wasn't what I would call slightly, so got my normal haircut and trim the day before we left for our cruise on the Koningsdam. Two more days before its over.
How are you cruising for 30 cruise’s? Holy ship.where booking our third but first cruise on the harmony. And we’re taking our girls on there first cruise
Some pretty good tips there. I tried to listen carefully but don't think that you mentioned that there are secret open decks that aren't always mentioned on some ships.
We really like having ice in the cabin so my husband will usually get a bucket of beer and bring the bucket back with us. We then ask (and tip) the steward to keep it filled with ice. Barring that, we just ask (and tip) the steward to keep the metal ice bucket filled.
Crazy how you have gone on all these cruises. Wish I could have gone on that many. My 1st cruise was in 2004, and have only been on about 6 to date. Not for the lack of want.
Great timing, Tony. I have not Cruised in 2 years. Go on my first cruise since the start of the pandemic in March. This video was a great reminder. Thank you for your videos. Enjoy your upcoming cruise with Jenny.
To avoid disappointment go into the pretrip excursion planner. Most lines will show tickets avaliable for an excursions. I watch the tickets and buy when close to sold out.
We've used the laundry service on board celebrity. They did a excellent job on ironing my husband's shirts better than what I do! I've also took casino classes on board and didn't feel intimidated 😌. I will try the ride to the airport ... great idea!
I just LOVE Le Petit Chef. I add it every time I'm on Celebrity. At the moment, they have 2 different story lines, thus, 2 different menus. I prefer the one with ravioli & steak frites to the one with bouillabaisse & lobster tail. I understand they are developing a 3rd show/menu. It's so clever and creative!
I always book my air travel with the cruise. I took a cruise out of Nrw Orleans when the Mississippi was closed We has bad weather at the air port so was couple of hours late getting in, in fact they had to divert to Jackson for hot refueling before going back to New Orleans. The cruise company had someone waiting for us and sped us to the terminal, We ended up boarding the ship an hour after departure time, we were the last on board but because we had a cruise and fly package the boat waited for us,
The other great thing about booking flights through the cruise line is that if you have bought the travel insurance it will cover you if your flight is delayed.
Great tips! I've always ordered my room breakfast for the time I want to get up, like an alarm clock for me.. coffee in the morning while getting ready... forgot this one, don't pay gratuities up front when you purchase your cruise, use onboard credit if you have it...
I appreciate you going over some things that new cruisers may not know! That last tip is definitely something we’ll be incorporating in our FIRST cruise this late August - super excited! Thank you for all these great videos 👍🏽
Transfers by the cruise lines are too darn expensive. You can usually find companies outside the terminal giving transfers to the airport for less than half the price of the cruise lines.
I no longer worry about ironing before I cruise, I just do the pressing service. I think I might have cruised too much (is there such a thing) as I have know or used all of your suggestions LOL I am sure there are tons who will appreciate knowing these items sooner rather than later.
Tony no matter what cruises offer and the size of the ship,they all get small after 3 to 4 days.I’m sailing in April the only reason is to check out a couple of the islands to decide if I want to spend some extended stay trips on them.it’s a better way to decide what islands I want to vacation on.🏝🏝👍
Canceled cruise in 2020 took the 600 obc to re book then had a promo for 500 obc to book in 48 hrs. All in all I got 1100 obc. Very happy with carnival. Will be on the legend may 2022
The wife and I are 177 days out from our first cruise (but who's counting), and I've been devouring videos and your channel to get the most out of our cruise! She wants to be surprised.
Thanks for your suggestions. I'd like to add another: NCL offers a discount on SPA services, massages, treatments, etc. while in port. If you're staying on the ship for the day or even before or after your excursion this is a great benefit. I don't know if any of the other lines offer this but it's worth asking for.
Also, attend the lectures from the spa and beauty salon. They always give some gifts away and may select you to demonstrate a makeup or hairdo. I ended up with my hair and makeup done at a Carnival ship on the Captain’s night and spend zero 💰!
Re: travel insurance - for $20 we have insurance that covers $50k for medical and dental and evacuation. It does NOT include trip cancellation, but this is perfect for us. Booked for 4, 5 and 6 day cruises for 2. Through Marriott Bonvoy from Allianz.
Another tip: if you find the showers in your cabin/stateroom to be uncomfortable, we find on RC (haven’t done it on any other line) gym showers are the way to go. Yes, it’s inconvenient to gather your stuff up and go there every day but I rather plan for it and if it doesn’t happen, than so be it 🚿
I do this on Carnival every time. It's a well kept secret most don't think about. They are huge showers and there are lots of towels. If I have a spa cabin or a pass, I'll use the showers in the spa, but the ones in the ladies locker room are sufficient too.
When we cruise my husband and I always book our flights through the cruise line as well as transfers to the ship and back. We also take advantage of having out luggage transferred from the ship to the airport at the end of the cruise- much less of a hassle! We also book everything prior to cruising so we don’t have to do anything except enjoy our time away. We always sail with Celebrity, and I can’s say enough about how helpful they have always been!
Regarding onboard Credits: Wife and I recently took a small 4-day cruise with a $600 onboard credit. Knowing we would not spend that amount on such a short cruise, we went to the Cherry on Top candy Store on Carnival and purchased a $400 Carnival gift cart with the credit. We then used the gift card toward the purchase of our next cruise. Little tip on how to use, not lose your credits.
I often use the airport transfer ship to airport but it is a bit more complicated if you fly in the day before and stay in a hotel. Then I use Uber. I once tried going back to airport from Hotel to catch the transfer on cruise day but it was a hassle
We will taking an Alaskan cruise in June the last time we cruised was in 1999 , the tips you gave will be quite helpful. I subscribed to your and Don’s channel about 6 weeks ago and found not only informative but entertaining!
The best part of booking our flight with our cruise to Alaska was when it was cancelled due to Covid we got all our money back for the flight as well . Didn’t have to use a credit by a certain time . And yes we did the Chef’s table on the Harmony. It was our actual anniversary the day we boarded. We got 40% off since we booked the first day . They even gave us an extra dessert to bring back to the room. We purchase our drink packages ahead . Not saying it doesn’t happen but they’ve never been cheaper the day of boarding then the pre cruise price . Lastly not only will the cruise wait for you if you get back late- but they also got us into museums normally closed to the public on certain days in Russia but even if they are open you get a “fast pass “ and get in early with your group and don’t have to stand in line for 3 hours .😄.
I cruise a lot and the transfers are wonderful. I was surprised to find that Princess provides transfers from Rome to the ship from the city center. I am going to Rome early to spend extra time and taking their transfer from the city center. It works the same way as an airport transfer and the have a rep at the city center. I found the best way to get that info from princess is to check their hotel booking service. ❤
#21 Tony: Luggage valet at some airports. You leave your luggage out at night with the tags given by the cruise line. It cost about $25.00 and the next time you see your luggage is when it comes down the shoot at your home airport.
Hey Tony l love your show regarding cruising. I have been cruising for the last 20 plus yrs on Carnival, NCL, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. My question: l was booked on Carnival ship the Mardi Gras sailing out of Port Canaveral August of 2022. Carnival cancelled my cruise l am on oxygen. They cited the CDC new guidelines as the reason for this. So is this guidelines going to be the new normal going forward?
Thank you, Tony. My comment concerns the excursions. We typically use 3rd party excursions. They are much cheaper and smaller...usually in a 12-16 person van. We have met many people on these that we still stay in touch with. These companies understand cruising and will have you back to the ship in plenty of time. If you do go to St. Petersburg, I can recommend a great company in Russia to work with.
Yeah, when I hesitate to use third parties (or Uber/Lyft/rental car) is when the destination is a ways from port, and within two hours of departure time. I’ve heard of busses from Disney back to Canaveral getting stuck in traffic for 2.5 hours on the way back. If my destination is a haul, I’m likely to stick with cruise line transportation if available for that security.
Good stuff to know Tony. The spas have embarkation and shore day specials to keep their staff working while few people are on the ship. Also booking a cruise while on a cruise or buying a placeholder for discounts on future cruises. On DCL it's 10% off the cruise price.
A couple years back I learned that you can have a great time while having a zero balance on your on board account. We had a 7 night cruise (prepaid gratuities) with flights and hotel all fully paid 8 months before hand. Then we had some unexpected expenses a month before the cruise. The financial issue was short term and we were getting by but it was tight. We had our grocery budget for the week and used it to tip porters and pay for taxis and food on travel days. I challenge Tony and Jenny to cruise only eating, drinking and doing activities that are included and have a zero balance on board account. (If you have a on board credit offered with the booking that would be okay to use.) I think it would make a good video for the channel.
Another tip: carry $1 and $5 bills to tips everyone onboard and at the port. Do not carry large amounts of money on any port and use the safe on your cabin for the rest of your only and valuables.
A lot of good info, as always. One thing to be cautious of, is that some cruise lines, i.e.: Royal Caribbean charge for room service. The Continental breakfast is free, (and there are plenty of options), but there is a charge for a bacon and egg, etc. breakfast. Just two more weeks and we're cruising on the Harmony. We are so excited!
RCCL charges $8.00 for room service. I would suggest to get up early and go the buffet to get breakfast for your party. Then bring it back to the cabin!
My wife and I going on the harmony for the first time and we’re taking our girls for there first cruise. Too. My wife and I just sailed on the Mardi Gras. We need something with more activities. Carnival doesn’t have.
@@mariareyes-ku6194 When we cruised last August, the Continental Breakfast was still free. We would get a small something and coffee with which to take our morning pills. Other than that, we've never ordered room service.
@@geno5169 There is so much to do on the big ships. If your girls are teens and under they have special areas for them. The teen area looks so cool. Not sure how much of the gathering type things i.e.: trivia, dancing, etc. have restarted by now, but I imagine many of those type of things have restarted. There is mini-gold, the FlowRider, rock wall climbing, ping pong, an arcade, full-size basketball court, or course the pools. On the Boardwalk is a real Carousel, shops, and the aqua theater. The Central Park is one of our favorite places, over 10,000 live plants, concerts in the evening. We love the big ships, we've sailed Oasis four times, Allure once and this will be our second on Harmony. This may sound nuts, especially since we are non-drinkers, but we love watching 'Mix' & 'Mingle', the robotic bar tenders. We fall into the 'more mature' class of cruisers, so what appeals to us, may not appeal to a younger family. Oh, I nearly forgot the shows, the aqua and ice skating shows are amazing, as are the shows in the theater. We're not a fan of 'Grease', so we'll probably skip that. Happy cruising.
@@janetsuemartin6843 wow.I really want to thank you for sending me all that great information from the harmony and what’s on our ship. To let us know what to expect. Because my wife and just came off the Mardi Gras in January. We sailed on royal back in 2001. I think it was the magicse. And my wife and I sailed with carnival 5 years ago . . So this it’ll be our 3 rd cruise but this will be our first cruise on the harmony and girls first cruise. Our one daughter is 18. The other 19. . Where going to book our cruise on the harmony for fall.
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I guess I was too late. Nothing would happen when I hit continue.
Tony I noticed one of the things that you were talking about about getting your hair cutter style I started laughing because we always do a girls trip plus my husband can you imagine him with three women for over a week he does very well and the one that's like my sister she is our hairdresser for years and years I'm not going to say how many more years but we always have a blast this is going to be our last girls trip plus husband because she's getting married instead of Mama going next year we're going to take her husband with us my mother's 85 she said this is going to be her last year cruising she don't get around really really well but she does good enough I think
If you have cruise credit go to the casino and charge your account however much credit you have. Than go cash out at the cashier! Your cruise credit becomes cash back
We just did this. We were short on cash and wanted to give our cabin steward a decent tip at the end of the cruise. I easily transferred money on account to a slot machine, then cashed out and got cash back at the cashier window. Problem solved.
Most important tip not mentioned: Don't forget the Poo-Pourri toilet spray. With a small bathroom attached to a small living area, this is essential. Poo is part of life, but it's not something people talk about. It's amazing how well this stuff works.
My daughter and I took a third-party tour on Saint Kitts/Nevis We ended up going with a family of six. I kept thinking that the father/grandfather looked awfully familiar. Turns out it was Randy Owen, lead singer of the band Alabama! He was with his wife, daughters and grandchildren. We all had so much fun talking, laughing and yes, even singing. Took pictures because I knew none of my friends would even believe me. What a wonderful day it was!
That is awesome!!!
That is so cool!
LOL! 😆 that’s awesome.
Love it!
additional hack: you can take a dry erase marker and write notes on the mirror and then just wipe away with a wet tissue
RE: Airfare: I know with Royal Carib, if you book airfare through them and the flight is LATE or it gets cancelled-they will wait for you ..OR if REAL late they will fly you to the next destination.
The biggest thing that you should do on the cruise. If you have a question, ask you room steward first. They have networks to help answer any question.
On the excursion note, I will always book excursions through the cruise line. Consider the higher price like buying insurance. From a personal experience point of view...We booked a 12 day Southern Caribbean with Celebrity and one port of call was the Panama Canal. Our boat that the tour company utilized to go through the Canal went mechanical while we were on board. We ended up being 6 hours delayed getting back to the ship and Celebrity was waiting for us when we finally were able to get back to our ship. Could not have been happier that day having booked with Celebrity. Everything was handled professionally.
Another bedding tip…you can ask for a mattress pad if you find your bed is too firm for you! It makes a HUGE difference. I also pack my own personal pillow so I always get a good nights sleep!
You can ask for more pillows and even a different type pillow( foam v feather v that fluff stuffing).
I love ordering breakfast to the room & having my coffee every morning on the balcony! One of my guilty pleasures!! I’ll definitely check out a day pass to the spa; however, I have found the sauna and steam rooms have been closed due to Covid!😩😞
Tony, this sounds like the "welcome to the cruise briefing" I give my cruise guests! Another point to add: the benefit to buying excursions thru the cruise line is that the tour operators are vetted for safety concerns, financial stability, and sufficient insurance in case of accident etc. In case of injury or accident, the passenger is adequently covered.
Cathy, unless you have travel insurance of your own neither the cruise lines nor their vetted tour excursions offer any insurance. It's part of your cruise contract you sign to get on the ship, a waiver is printed on the back of the ticket, and the excursion operators have you sign a waiver before you arrive at your destination.
@@matthewhoffman9788 I was referring more to accidents while on the excursion: collapsing pier on Amazon boat tours for example. Surely the tour vendor would have some liability in that case. These were "talking points" from Shorex presentations over the years so I assume they are accurate statements but I have no personal knowledge about it. I have rarely had to sign any type of waiver on a ship's excursion, with exception for activities like diving or parasailing etc.
A great cruise tip I found out at guest services pertaining to all the cruise credit. Of course this credit on my cruise was not transferable and had to be spent or lost on my cruise so the tip was if you do not want to have to spend it all, buy cruise gift cards on board which can be used for another time. Made my last day on my cruise go smooth as silk.
re: cruise line airfare. they don't book your airfare until very close to your actual travel date and it is the lowest cost to them. you are likely to have 2 or 3 legs and not a nonstop.
Very helpful show. I learned several things I didnt know. I had a haircut onboard a ship once and was a bit disappointed that the stylist seemed more interested in selling the product than cutting my hair. Just a helpful comment.
When we first meet the room steward, we ask for (or leave a note for) ~ 2 extra pillows, 2 extra towels and a needle sharps container (for those who do injectable medicines like me). Usually have these items before end of evening. Stewards are busiest on embarkation and disembarkation days so please be kind to them. Thanks for sharing :)
I learned on my last carnival cruise that you can buy a carnival gift card with your on board credit and use it towards the purchase of your next cruise.
Here's another tip....Regarding onboard credit, check to see if your favorite cruise line offers onboard credit if you own shares of their stock. As an example, if you own 100 or more shares of Carnival, you qualify for up to $250 (US) in onboard credit. This applies to all of their brands, not just Carnival.
NCL does the same. You have to apply for it before your sailing, but it can be up to $300 pp.
So does RCL/Celebrity/Azamara
The Dining Trifecta ... 1) Talk to the Maitre D upon arrival if you want a different main dining room seating time or table change later in the cruise (they can likely accommodate) 2) There is usually a loyalty lunch on the first day if you board early enough (much better than the crowded buffet) 3) main dining room for breakfast - you get served - you don't need to find a table in the buffet
We eat in the main dining room wherever possible always for dinner, mostly always for breakfast, and lunch when they're open. I'm on a cruise, I don't want to serve myself if I don't have to. 😆😆
With ship excursions, we have also been unhappy, complained and got either all or a portion of our money back. Doubt that would happen with a 3rd party.
I usually eat at the a la carte sushi restaurant on the first night out to sea. The only reason is that fresh, raw fish is not fresher on days 2-5!
Breakfast in the cabin on an early excursion day works 👍
Awesome info, Tony! One thing - the instruction on the ship will not 'Certify' you for scuba, but it does give you enough information on the process that you are able to participate in a dive with some confidence. Certification takes classroom time followed by pool time followed by open water training dives. What it does, though, is make you realize how cool it is to breathe under water and a lot of folks (like me) go on to full certification!
Some great tips here, Tony! BTW, NCL ships usually have a mid week laundry special, fill a bag for $29!
Room service came in handy my second day because for some odd reason I booked an 8a salon appointment, so having that continental breakfast delivered to the room gave me a little extra time to not be rushed in the morning. And it was as simple as filling out the door hanger card before I went to bed. And in talking to fellow passengers after a night of rough seas, many didn't seem to know about the free motion sickness tablets available.
My honey and I always try to meet our room steward that way you can greet them morning and evening. It seems to give them a smile. And makes it easier to get things as they arise.
On the Power thing, don't forget the International adapter or get a USB charger before Sailing. Not sure if other Cruise lines are better at this, but on Carnival Miracle, there are Zero USB outlets in your room, and they didn't sell Chargers or International adapters on the ship.
Note. If you make that mistake and are stuck like I was, they use standard Panasonic TVs in the room, which has a USB port in the back. It's eye-wateringly slow, and the screen has to be on, but if you put it on outside view and Mute, it works to charge your Phone by morning and will tie you over until you get to port. (Also, I strongly recommend Radio Shack in Cabo Sans.)
Great tips! One that I use regularly when cruising are the workout room showers. You can bring a change of clothes and go straight from the pool to the shower. That way 2 people can shower at the same time (one in the room) and you don’t have to wait. This saves time and most of the time no one is in there so you have a big bathroom all to yourself! You just have to bring a bag with your toiletries and change of clothes. Great for after a workout as well.
Good one! My friend prefers showering at the gym showers! She also said more space too!
Also, you can use your on board credit to purchase the discounted drink package, spa services, etc before you cruise! When you go to the check out, go to the screen where you would normally enter your credit card, you will see that you have onboard credit available! I accidentally found this when I was buying cheers for our cruise in June!
Note! You can't use OBC for drink packages on all lines, but Carnival just changed their policy to allow you to use OBC prior to boarding (they didn't use to).
Which ship are you talking about?? I’m hoping it’s royal
I bought a cream colored sunhat. Then I bought different colored ribbon to match my outfits. You can find inexpensive ribbon at the fabric stores.
This is Royal specific, but some Royal ships have a lookout area where you can see the bridge and the officers navigating the ship. It's really cool. Ask if this is available on your ship (or Google it).
I ask the room stewart to have fresh water and ice twice a day. This gives me water for medication and to fill up water bottles for land shore tours or pool side activities.
Also if you have a sleep apnea machine... Tell your Carnival Agent. They will give you distilled water for free. Also ask for a fan or extension cord.... All free if you ask. It's 1st come 1st served.
Yes we had breakfast on the balcony almost everyday, it's fantastic! Idk if it's a secret but you will probably pack too much for your first cruise, we did. Now I travel carry on only. For us so much easier to embark and disembark.
Great video! One small thing that I think some new cruisers don't realize is that they can take their plate from the buffet, etc., and eat anywhere they want, including their cabin.
That's a good one to know! Thank you.
This video was super helpful! Going on my first cruise in April and I’m so excited!
This is really helpful info. Can you do a video about onboarding credit specifically?
Great tips, all in one place!! Some of which took my dear wife and I a few cruises to figure out on our own. In Tip #17 you mention storing smaller suitcases in larger ones when storing under the bed to save storage space. I'll add to that by mentioning that we pack a small suitcase along with our clothes in each of our two large suitcases, that way we don't have to buy extra bags in the event we find clothes, photos or other souvenirs making us exceed the weight limit of two suitcases. #20 is an interesting one because I got WAY too much food when I tried this. Usually I like to have 3 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon and 3 or 4 hashbrowns for break fast. So I ticked off 3 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon, and 3 hasbrowns for my room service order. I got 3 egg breakfasts including toast and home fries. 4 pieces of bacon, also with toast and home fries, and 3 hashbrowns, with toast and eggs. And my dear wife's breakfast was also supersized like mine was! Needless to say, you'll never starve on a cruise! We didn't need lunch that day!
Never be afraid to ask. I forgot to bring a comb with me and the gift didn't have any. Went to customer service desk and ask them for one. They gave me one.
For Drinks and Specialty Dining if you had booked very early there will always be opportunities. Our best deal we ever had was on the Harmony TA last year we got the Ultimate Dining Package for $14.00 per day. Was only available for less than a day. I'm sure it was a mistake but check every day or you will miss out on great deals.
Great video Tony! So many great points you pointed out! Even a few I didn’t know about lol 😂! Thanks again
Thanks for this list! I’ve been on four cruises and didn’t know some of these. The SCUBA lessons surprised me!
#21: You don't have to be certified to scuba dive. Certification agencies offer something called "Discovery Dives" where they go over the basics and then take you down a couple of meters. My wife and kids first did a Discovery Dive in a pool here in Minnesota, but I believe that most cruise lines offer excursions called "Beginning Scuba" that are really Discovery Dives. It's not for everyone, but the first time I was on scuba in a pool, I was thrilled that I was actually breathing underwater! And it'll be even more exciting when you're in the ocean during a Beginning Scuba excursion. Have fun!
They also
Sorry fingers out of control. They also have on a lot of the island excursions where you dive hooked up to a hose that allows you to breath but you have no tanks so no certification is needed.
The pool is not the same as the ocean. So many variables can affect your safety in the water. Please get certified if you plan on going more than 10 - 15 ft down.
@@alvinarogers2113 I was reading the comments about Carnival's Beginning Scuba excursion, seems they do it from the beach in a protected bay or lagoon (not deep). Four people per instructor. People seem to have really had a good time. As long as you don't hold your breath you should be fine. KEEP BREATHING!!! There's the same risk with Snuba (airline to the surface).
Also worth it to use the “Price Match Guarantee” for your cruise fare AND excursions. That way you can get the excursions with the protection from the cruise line and the better price… has to be apples to apples which is good for the researchers out there.
We met an older man who was injured during a cruise ship excursion and the cruise line covered the care for his injuries. Didn't know this.
Good tips, Tony! Re; Transfers. They are almost always more expensive than taxis or the many private shuttles that are always waiting outside the exits. Re; Cruise Excursions vs. private ones. The extra amount you pay for the cruise excursions is like a small insurance policy that you won’t be left, as you said. I have seen people left because their private bus or vehicle broke down for any number of reasons. Just depends on your level of confidence that you won’t be left.
If you actually book a third party, look at their refund rules and also their warranty that they will bring you back to the cruise on time. In addition, select the morning tours if your cruise will be in port all day because that will give you plenty of time to be back onboard. Never leave your valuable belongings on the bus even if the driver assures you that they will be safe. You can contact me to book those tours thru Expedia or Aviator. Happy Cruising!
I'm on my way back to San Diego after sailing to Hawaii. Due to policy changes by Hawaii, our order of island visits got changed a couple of weeks before we left, moving our visit to Kauai from the first island visited to the last. (Basically, Hawaii requires all cruise ships to first arrive at Honolulu for covid clearance before going to the other islands.) The change ended up giving us only four hours in port. We ended up sailing over an hour late while waiting for five different excursion busses/vans to get back. It was definitely a time not to be doing a 3rd party excursion. Personally, my wife and my excursion got cancelled a couple days before we arrived, so we spent a couple hours shopping then returned to the ship. We were watching one woman on the dock who seemed to be waiting for someone, perhaps her husband, but as far as we could tell she didn't get on before we left.
We were able to do our cruise check-in at the airport by using the transfer service, so once we got to the port we were able to use the express line to get onboard.
Personal favorite: Dress in your debarkation clothes when you pack and place a shoe in the safe. That way you know you have clothes to get off and don't forget the stuff in the safe.
Excellent
EXCELLENT. BAM!. This works for hotels as well!
SO smart!
Or put an alert on your phone and save the shoe
What a wonderful video!!! Tony, I love the way you say KAH-roooooo-ZING!!!
I don't know if this is secret but we were among the first on an NCL cruise right before the shutdown. We toured the ship and ended up in the spa. They were having a raffle, only good until the ship sailed. I won a free spa treatment and my daughter won 30% off of a treatment. I think they were offering a discount to all who entered too.
Great tips and reminders👍 Getting back into cruise mood🚢 Really enjoy your videos and cruise news😎🏖
Love on board laundry services. I pack lighter now by using laundry services. We usually use on board credit on ship excursions. Although, this on time (at band camp 😂), we bought a watch on board…great deal. We have used in port private local tours. They either ask or we tell them when we need to get back. We still feel safer on ship excursions.
So good to know that we can count on cruise line for transportation from and to the airport . It is a great deal specially for the elder or solo travellers. Thank you Tony!! Cheers!
I did this with NCL and they made us wait at Laguardia for other flights to arrive...we stood (there was no seating in baggage) for 5 hours....I was so mad. I will never do it again.
I love laundry services. I now pack lighter on our cruises. We’ve gone into a port town and booked a local tour. He asked what time we need to be back, and got us back in plenty of time. It was a great tour. We usually use on board credit to book an excursion. Although, this one time (at band camp), we bought a watch with our credit.
Many people don’t know that if you are a stockholder of at least 100 shares you get $100 onboard credit to spend on every cruise. This goes for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival.
Great info Tony, also sparked my memory of hacks I have used in the past!! I usually put my outfits on hangers prior to packing. On embarkation, I open my suitcase and just put the clothes in the closet. Finished!! Underwear and such have been packed in packing cubes and again just moved to a draw. Love your show and your agency!!
I am 106 days out from my 30th cruise and I am still learning. I don’t think that will change because it seems the cruise experience is always evolving. Love getting my hair cut onboard. I find the cost is comparable to what I pay on land. You and Jenny will probably enjoy the Sky, I was on her next to last cruise prior to the pause. Beautiful ship.
Holy ship . Do you live on a ship? My wife and I just sailed on the Mardi Gras that was our only 3 rd cruise. Now where about to book our cruise first cruise on the harmony. And we’re about take our girls on there first cruise. So we thought why not take them on royal Caribbean and the harmony. And where really thankful royal took away those stupid masks. Next we’re hoping it’ll be those testing
I read about getting grooming on board and considered it for my current cruise. A haircut and beard trim was about $75 on the Koningsdam, more than triple what I pay at home.
@@geraldcollins5684 why in the world would you go on your cruise and pay for a hair cut or trim? I just bring my trimmer’ for my beard I get my wife to trim in it on our cruise our when we travel.
@@geno5169 Before our cruise I watched a video about 'cheap ' upgrades to get more from your cruise. They suggested a haircut was slightly more expensive, so out of curiosity I looked into it for my cruise. However triple wasn't what I would call slightly, so got my normal haircut and trim the day before we left for our cruise on the Koningsdam. Two more days before its over.
How are you cruising for 30 cruise’s? Holy ship.where booking our third but first cruise on the harmony. And we’re taking our girls on there first cruise
Some pretty good tips there. I tried to listen carefully but don't think that you mentioned that there are secret open decks that aren't always mentioned on some ships.
We really like having ice in the cabin so my husband will usually get a bucket of beer and bring the bucket back with us. We then ask (and tip) the steward to keep it filled with ice. Barring that, we just ask (and tip) the steward to keep the metal ice bucket filled.
Don't change a thing in you broadcasts. Some of them make me laugh, some make me think. Just keep it up
Crazy how you have gone on all these cruises. Wish I could have gone on that many. My 1st cruise was in 2004, and have only been on about 6 to date. Not for the lack of want.
Great timing, Tony. I have not Cruised in 2 years. Go on my first cruise since the start of the pandemic in March. This video was a great reminder. Thank you for your videos. Enjoy your upcoming cruise with Jenny.
To avoid disappointment go into the pretrip excursion planner. Most lines will show tickets avaliable for an excursions. I watch the tickets and buy when close to sold out.
We are about to go on our first cruise with my 4 year old. Great idea about ordering breakfast. He’s typically hungry the second he wakes up.
on carnival you can ask your room steward for a fan and they will bring you one
We've used the laundry service on board celebrity. They did a excellent job on ironing my husband's shirts better than what I do! I've also took casino classes on board and didn't feel intimidated 😌. I will try the ride to the airport ... great idea!
Thanks for the great info. I’ve been on 9 cruise 🚢 and I didn’t know some of the things you mentioned. 👍🏽👋🏼✨⚡️
That was some great info. I learned a lot, thanks Tony
We had a $300 onboard credit on our upcoming cruise so I booked a dinner at Le Petit Chef and a glass blowing class. Should be fun!
Those are the two reasons I want to cruise on Celebrity! Enjoy!
@@jbug11r47 I will, thank you!
I just LOVE Le Petit Chef. I add it every time I'm on Celebrity. At the moment, they have 2 different story lines, thus, 2 different menus. I prefer the one with ravioli & steak frites to the one with bouillabaisse & lobster tail. I understand they are developing a 3rd show/menu. It's so clever and creative!
@@cathyfromfl6724 I've seen the videos on TH-cam. I can't wait to experience it! 😊
I always book my air travel with the cruise. I took a cruise out of Nrw Orleans when the Mississippi was closed We has bad weather at the air port so was couple of hours late getting in, in fact they had to divert to Jackson for hot refueling before going back to New Orleans. The cruise company had someone waiting for us and sped us to the terminal, We ended up boarding the ship an hour after departure time, we were the last on board but because we had a cruise and fly package the boat waited for us,
Your information is RIGHT ON !!!
The other great thing about booking flights through the cruise line is that if you have bought the travel insurance it will cover you if your flight is delayed.
Great tips! I've always ordered my room breakfast for the time I want to get up, like an alarm clock for me.. coffee in the morning while getting ready... forgot this one, don't pay gratuities up front when you purchase your cruise, use onboard credit if you have it...
I appreciate you going over some things that new cruisers may not know! That last tip is definitely something we’ll be incorporating in our FIRST cruise this late August - super excited! Thank you for all these great videos 👍🏽
Transfers by the cruise lines are too darn expensive. You can usually find companies outside the terminal giving transfers to the airport for less than half the price of the cruise lines.
Good morning and Bon Voyage to you and Jenny B!
I no longer worry about ironing before I cruise, I just do the pressing service. I think I might have cruised too much (is there such a thing) as I have know or used all of your suggestions LOL I am sure there are tons who will appreciate knowing these items sooner rather than later.
Tony no matter what cruises offer and the size of the ship,they all get small after 3 to 4 days.I’m sailing in April the only reason is to check out a couple of the islands to decide if I want to spend some extended stay trips on them.it’s a better way to decide what islands I want to vacation on.🏝🏝👍
Canceled cruise in 2020 took the 600 obc to re book then had a promo for 500 obc to book in 48 hrs. All in all I got 1100 obc. Very happy with carnival. Will be on the legend may 2022
You can also get a free deck of card and a post card, atleast with Carnival
The wife and I are 177 days out from our first cruise (but who's counting), and I've been devouring videos and your channel to get the most out of our cruise! She wants to be surprised.
Thanks for your suggestions. I'd like to add another: NCL offers a discount on SPA services, massages, treatments, etc. while in port. If you're staying on the ship for the day or even before or after your excursion this is a great benefit. I don't know if any of the other lines offer this but it's worth asking for.
Also, attend the lectures from the spa and beauty salon. They always give some gifts away and may select you to demonstrate a makeup or hairdo. I ended up with my hair and makeup done at a Carnival ship on the Captain’s night and spend zero 💰!
Great video Tony! Also we learn on the best way to packing your lounge. Wonder of the Seas arriving to USA February 20. Safe travels!
Re: travel insurance - for $20 we have insurance that covers $50k for medical and dental and evacuation. It does NOT include trip cancellation, but this is perfect for us. Booked for 4, 5 and 6 day cruises for 2. Through Marriott Bonvoy from Allianz.
Another tip: if you find the showers in your cabin/stateroom to be uncomfortable, we find on RC (haven’t done it on any other line) gym showers are the way to go. Yes, it’s inconvenient to gather your stuff up and go there every day but I rather plan for it and if it doesn’t happen, than so be it 🚿
I do this on Carnival every time. It's a well kept secret most don't think about. They are huge showers and there are lots of towels. If I have a spa cabin or a pass, I'll use the showers in the spa, but the ones in the ladies locker room are sufficient too.
When we cruise my husband and I always book our flights through the cruise line as well as transfers to the ship and back. We also take advantage of having out luggage transferred from the ship to the airport at the end of the cruise- much less of a hassle! We also book everything prior to cruising so we don’t have to do anything except enjoy our time away. We always sail with Celebrity, and I can’s say enough about how helpful they have always been!
Regarding onboard Credits: Wife and I recently took a small 4-day cruise with a $600 onboard credit. Knowing we would not spend that amount on such a short cruise, we went to the Cherry on Top candy Store on Carnival and purchased a $400 Carnival gift cart with the credit. We then used the gift card toward the purchase of our next cruise. Little tip on how to use, not lose your credits.
I often use the airport transfer ship to airport but it is a bit more complicated if you fly in the day before and stay in a hotel. Then I use Uber. I once tried going back to airport from
Hotel to catch the transfer on cruise day but it was a hassle
We will taking an Alaskan cruise in June the last time we cruised was in 1999 , the tips you gave will be quite helpful. I subscribed to your and Don’s channel about 6 weeks ago and found not only informative but entertaining!
You can't call yourself a cruise insider when you only book balcony or above staterooms. lol
The best part of booking our flight with our cruise to Alaska was when it was cancelled due to Covid we got all our money back for the flight as well . Didn’t have to use a credit by a certain time .
And yes we did the Chef’s table on the Harmony. It was our actual anniversary the day we boarded. We got 40% off since we booked the first day . They even gave us an extra dessert to bring back to the room.
We purchase our drink packages ahead . Not saying it doesn’t happen but they’ve never been cheaper the day of boarding then the pre cruise price .
Lastly not only will the cruise wait for you if you get back late- but they also got us into museums normally closed to the public on certain days in Russia but even if they are open you get a “fast pass “ and get in early with your group and don’t have to stand in line for 3 hours .😄.
I cruise a lot and the transfers are wonderful. I was surprised to find that Princess provides transfers from Rome to the ship from the city center. I am going to Rome early to spend extra time and taking their transfer from the city center. It works the same way as an airport transfer and the have a rep at the city center. I found the best way to get that info from princess is to check their hotel booking service. ❤
#21 Tony: Luggage valet at some airports. You leave your luggage out at night with the tags given by the cruise line. It cost about $25.00 and the next time you see your luggage is when it comes down the shoot at your home airport.
Hey Tony l love your show regarding cruising. I have been cruising for the last 20 plus yrs on Carnival, NCL, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. My question: l was booked on Carnival ship the Mardi Gras sailing out of Port Canaveral August of 2022. Carnival cancelled my cruise l am on oxygen. They cited the CDC new guidelines as the reason for this. So is this guidelines going to be the new normal going forward?
you are not forced to do anything. I love to do not a damn thing.
Thank you, Tony. My comment concerns the excursions. We typically use 3rd party excursions. They are much cheaper and smaller...usually in a 12-16 person van. We have met many people on these that we still stay in touch with. These companies understand cruising and will have you back to the ship in plenty of time. If you do go to St. Petersburg, I can recommend a great company in Russia to work with.
See Cathy From FL's post, above.
Yeah, when I hesitate to use third parties (or Uber/Lyft/rental car) is when the destination is a ways from port, and within two hours of departure time. I’ve heard of busses from Disney back to Canaveral getting stuck in traffic for 2.5 hours on the way back. If my destination is a haul, I’m likely to stick with cruise line transportation if available for that security.
Good stuff to know Tony. The spas have embarkation and shore day specials to keep their staff working while few people are on the ship. Also booking a cruise while on a cruise or buying a placeholder for discounts on future cruises. On DCL it's 10% off the cruise price.
A couple years back I learned that you can have a great time while having a zero balance on your on board account.
We had a 7 night cruise (prepaid gratuities) with flights and hotel all fully paid 8 months before hand. Then we had some unexpected expenses a month before the cruise. The financial issue was short term and we were getting by but it was tight.
We had our grocery budget for the week and used it to tip porters and pay for taxis and food on travel days.
I challenge Tony and Jenny to cruise only eating, drinking and doing activities that are included and have a zero balance on board account. (If you have a on board credit offered with the booking that would be okay to use.)
I think it would make a good video for the channel.
that's a great challenge
Parodeejay channel travels like this almost constantly. The only extras are the excursions.
Kudos!!!!!
We had a cruise not too long ago that we got some of our onboard credit refunded. That was pretty sweet.
Another tip: carry $1 and $5 bills to tips everyone onboard and at the port. Do not carry large amounts of money on any port and use the safe on your cabin for the rest of your only and valuables.
A lot of good info, as always. One thing to be cautious of, is that some cruise lines, i.e.: Royal Caribbean charge for room service. The Continental breakfast is free, (and there are plenty of options), but there is a charge for a bacon and egg, etc. breakfast. Just two more weeks and we're cruising on the Harmony. We are so excited!
RCCL charges $8.00 for room service. I would suggest to get up early and go the buffet to get breakfast for your party. Then bring it back to the cabin!
My wife and I going on the harmony for the first time and we’re taking our girls for there first cruise. Too. My wife and I just sailed on the Mardi Gras. We need something with more activities. Carnival doesn’t have.
@@mariareyes-ku6194 When we cruised last August, the Continental Breakfast was still free. We would get a small something and coffee with which to take our morning pills. Other than that, we've never ordered room service.
@@geno5169 There is so much to do on the big ships. If your girls are teens and under they have special areas for them. The teen area looks so cool. Not sure how much of the gathering type things i.e.: trivia, dancing, etc. have restarted by now, but I imagine many of those type of things have restarted. There is mini-gold, the FlowRider, rock wall climbing, ping pong, an arcade, full-size basketball court, or course the pools. On the Boardwalk is a real Carousel, shops, and the aqua theater. The Central Park is one of our favorite places, over 10,000 live plants, concerts in the evening. We love the big ships, we've sailed Oasis four times, Allure once and this will be our second on Harmony. This may sound nuts, especially since we are non-drinkers, but we love watching 'Mix' & 'Mingle', the robotic bar tenders. We fall into the 'more mature' class of cruisers, so what appeals to us, may not appeal to a younger family. Oh, I nearly forgot the shows, the aqua and ice skating shows are amazing, as are the shows in the theater. We're not a fan of 'Grease', so we'll probably skip that. Happy cruising.
@@janetsuemartin6843 wow.I really want to thank you for sending me all that great information from the harmony and what’s on our ship. To let us know what to expect. Because my wife and just came off the Mardi Gras in January. We sailed on royal back in 2001. I think it was the magicse. And my wife and I sailed with carnival 5 years ago . . So this it’ll be our 3 rd cruise but this will be our first cruise on the harmony and girls first cruise. Our one daughter is 18. The other 19. . Where going to book our cruise on the harmony for fall.
#99 Some rental car companies have locations that you can return your car to that have shuttles to the cruise terminals.