The 12 Signs You're An Expert Cruiser (Most Don't Know)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ย. 2023
- Want to be an expert before you ever take a cruise? Or maybe you've taken plenty, but want to test what you know about being smart when you sail.
That's why after dozens of cruises, I've rounded up things I think expert cruisers know... that many may have no idea about.
From saving money to dining room secrets to what to pack, there are the things that experts have learned to make their trip better.
For more on smart things to pack, see this article:
www.cruzely.com/39-useful-thi...
For more on cruising, be sure to visit Cruzely.com and check out our channel!
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As a cruiser with over 35 cruises on Carnival, my "expert tip" is to go to the muster drill as soon as you get on board, if it is the self muster style. Once you do, you don't have to worry about being called over the PA to do so.
Did my first NCL cruise last year and they pretty much directed you that way.. Granted I'm sure you COULD have went somewhere else but they really moved you that way..
I disagree with you on how to choose a cabin. In my opinion you need to look at what is above and below your cabin, you want to be on a deck that has cabins above and below you. It will greatly lessen the amount of noise that comes into your cabin. If you suffer from motion sickness get a cabin that is as low and as close to the middle of the ship as possible, they have the least amount of motion.
Agree!! I once had a beautiful aft balcony cabin but didn’t pay attention during booking… it was right above one of the main theatre show venues. At 7p and 10p each night I couldn’t even be in the cabin, it was SO LOUD! The bed would literally move 😂😂
on my first cruise i will get an inside cabin.
Totally agree. Feb 2023 from Fl to San Diego we did a 14 day cruise through Panama Canal on HAL. We had a Neptune Suite so not cheap for 14 days. We were right below the Lido deck and heard the food carts going back and forth until late in the evening. Since then I will only book a cruise if only rooms are above us. Expensive lesson learned.
I think he said decks 10 to 15 and generally those decks have cabins above and below. I always look that 8 have cabins above and below. I am real picky been cruising since 1972 and most of my cruise cabins are on deck 10 -12
I always book in between cabins also, we are always like in deck 9 to 10
Food tip: Indian items are often really good. Many of the chefs are Indian and make the food well.
Always check your cruise pass when the waitstaff gives it back to you. Make sure it has YOUR name on it.
It's nuts to travel without a passport. You could be unable to fly home.
If you want a fast debarkation book a shore excursion. We discovered this by accident on our honeymoon. We met up on the ship and were escorted, along with about a dozen other people, through and past the line. We easily found our luggage and there was no line for customs as they hadn't allowed anyone else into the terminal yet. Other than a few dirty looks and having to say "we're on a shore excursion" a bunch of times to get people to move out of our way, it was a quick, smooth and painless debarkation.
Regarding the room selection, if you’re older, I pick a room that’s close to the elevator & the dining room.
Regarding the balcony, once you have a balcony, you’ll never want to cruise without one. They’re addicting!
I carry ibuprofen, Alka-seltzer, tums, & emetrol for nausea. With emetrol you’ll need to put it in 2leakproof plastic containers, because once it’s opened, it’ll leak!
I used to pack a different outfit for each day, with shoes & jewelry to match. I always brought back over half of the clothes untouched. I’ve learned to take two pairs of black pants, one pair of jeans & multiple tops. Usually you wear the dress clothes to go to the dining room for short periods & maybe wear the same pants the next day with a different shirt. I wear only a couple of colors so I can wear the same jewelry with multiple outfits. I don’t even take my good jewelry anymore. I wear flats & comfy shoes because everything tends to be on opposite ends of the ship. Don’t stress about anything. Just enjoy every minute.
I agree near elevator and close to the Main dining room!😂
By the way we have taken for 20 yrs Ginger root capsules about 500 mg for sea sickness!
You definitely are a pro cruiser!
Had a cabin location right around the corner from the elevators on our cruise last month. No problem. Very convenient and did not hear any annoying ding-ding. If you are cruising during shoulder season and on a more sedate cruise line, being near the elevators makes it easy to get around.
To reduce clothing, we pack coordinated items so we can interchange them without having to pack separate outfits.
Princess cruise #17 in 3 weeks, always a balcony, never the deck under the Lido (pool) deck, dinner buffets can be very nice, dinners in as many venues as you can, MDR dinners get "old" after a while, we always do everything thru the cruise line as they become responsible for when things go wrong, and they do occasionally. jack knife &/or Leatherman, super glue, 5 min epoxy in sealed packet, duct tape, zip ties, magnetic hooks for the walls, eye glass repair kit, every concievable OTC medication, luggage scale, Band aids...........the list goes on & on.......cruise on! 73 MP
Totally an accurate statement about how you pack for a cruise. My first and second cruise I packed multiple suitcases and a carryon and a purse. It was awful to move around with all that stuff and I didn’t use half of it. Now I have one suitcase, a small carry bag and a Fanny pack packed inside my suitcase 🎉😊
I like the last tip about having a good attitude. A month ago we went on our first cruise ever for our 20th Anniversary. We chose Royal Caribbean after doing some research and then watched a ton of videos like this as well as asked other people we knew who had taken cruises before. The attitude part is probably the biggest thing because no matter what happens, if you get into Cruise Mood, you will still have fun. If you get on board with Karen Mood... you most likely will not have the best time.
How did you enjoy it?
Which ship & itinerary did you decide on? Thanks!!
@@PatrickWagz Adventure of the
seas from Royal Caribbean leaving Fort Lauderdale
I agree with you about the buffet. We go there on embarkation day when we first get on but apart from that we always eat in the restaurants (never the speciality ones as I won't pay extra) and I only go to the buffet to get a cake and a free drink when I am by the pool. With regard to packing, I make a chart of every day and then fill it in and only take what is on the list, and try to take things that can be worn more than once. We always take a balcony cabin in the summer, if we do a winter cruise we are happy to have an outside cabin but I would never take an inside - we did it once but never again. We require an accessible cabin so we do not have the large choice that other people may have but we try to be near the lifts. Travelling from the UK we have to have a passport, even if we are only cruising round the British Isles. I never take a wifi package, they are very expensive and I am quite happy not to be contactable at sea and just use my phone when I am on land. Generally I try to spend as little as possible. I avoid the bars, the casinos and the spa and only eat and drink what is provided for free.
One other tip is pre (and post) cruise travel plans. Wise cruisers always get into town at least a day early. It allows you to check out the cruise city itself and avoids the all to common issue of unexpected travel delays.
As to cabin choice, a simpler suggestion is make sure there are cabins above and below you. I've noticed definite distinctions on how different lines number their decks, not to mention ship size. On a smaller older ship, sleeping on deck 10 or above may mean sleeping on a pool lounger😂.
Many times when sailing, I find myself on Deck 10-12. I think it's a sweet spot because you are sandwiched in between floors cabins and not vulnerable to the loud sounds coming from the Lido deck (usually the pool deck). Also, try to stay mid ship. Last cruise I was on, I was AFT of the ship and my family was FWD of the ship.... so we had quite the trek to see each other often and also reach mid-ship.
I disagree about room selection. I personally have to have a balcony room, regardless of cruise length. I absolutely love having my coffee out there every morning. I also like to have a buffer of rooms above and below me. We don't get motion sick so location fore or aft isn't an issue.
Totally agree, we love balconies. We did an inside once and I think that will be the only time we ever do that, felt like we were sleeping in a closet. Not that we spend tons of time on our balcony but love to have that little private space every now and then, when you just don’t want to be around the crowds and yes morning coffee is fantastic.
I agree. I had a large balcony at the rear of the ship. I love eating breakfast there every day.
Alaska cruises I don’t spend a lot of time on balcony too cold. Ocean view was good enough.
Right. And pack light layers, no heavy jackets. I took a light hoodie and a light Columbia rain jacket I could wear over the light hoodie.
I love the buffet. Main dining is embarrassing microscopic portions
Hint: if your cruise is port intensive, meaning you're off the ship most days, the drinks package may not be worth the price.
A balcony cabin is only worth the price if the ports are beautiful. The Caribbean has prettier views than industrial ports of some European cities.
Choosing cabins: Avoid choosing near elevators, service corridors, under/over decks with pools, bars, or restaurants. If you get sea sick, avoid forward cabins.
Relax: don't sweat the little stuff!
People cruise differently. We love sitting on the balcony for morning coffee, an afternoon break, and star gazing or chatting in the evening.
We spend time on the balcony every day unless it is raining, so always book a balcony cabin. We ensure there are cabins above and below, ensure there are no venues or the pool above or below. Also do not book a partially blocked view cabin, as this usually refers to life boats that would block your view of the ocean or land masses.
if you are taking more than two cruises in a year get an annual travel insurance policy. Allianz travel is less than $500 for the year for two people.
I've been on 20+ cruises, and I have never heard of the 5-10-15 idea until this video. Brilliant strategy for first-timers! Personally, I book the most quiet, interior cabin for some peace and tranquility.
Lots of good advice. I do cruise a lot. I am going on longer cruises next year. My biggest thing I learned from this year;s cruise in Europe is only take one bag, It's hard to navigate two rolly bags on cobblestone sidewalks. They don't have smooth sidewalks like we have in the US. I do get one bag of laundry in my reward package, so I have learned to take less, I just needed to use a larger suitcase vs two smaller ones like I would in the US. Have fun cruising. I was going to start a TH-cam channel on my adventures as a senior mostly solo travelor, but I found from my past trip I would prefer to just enjoy my time away. Then focus on my family and friends when at home vs on the computer. Happy cruising.
I think you made a good decision! I'm 75 years old and enjoy traveling also and have decided to switch to the "KISS" method of living (Keep It Simple Stupid) works for me!!
Good one! Will have to use that! Muchas gracias!!
Dad and I bought a 28” (expandable on the side 2 extra inches) for our cruise back in August and it was perfect.
My cut off before I splurge on a balcony is actually seven days. Seven days or less I always book interiors. More than seven days I splurge on a balcony.
I also have a rule for the amount of specialty dining I book. 6 days or less, I do not book any specialty restaurants. 7-8 days I book one. 9-10 days I book two. 11 days or more I book three maybe more depending on what is offered and the price.
As a person with claustrophobia, I always book a balcony cabin. I feel better knowing I can get to open, fresh air in seconds rather than making my way to the upper decks. We always choose midship to avoid as much motion in rough seas.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE of the itinerary of your cruise before you show up without a passport. I was told by an NCL sales rep that on their closed-loop Panama Canal partial transit cruise, no passport was needed. WRONG! Because of their port call in Colombia, I was almost prevented from boarding the cruise for which I paid. I found out when I was completing my boarding procedures online a week prior. Lucky to be living in Miami where there's a passport office, I was able to wrangle a new passport in three days.
Same thing for my closed look Greenland cruise. Passport required.
Agree with most but what is wrong with getting a room on a lower floor and walking (we do not use the elevators). ❤We normally do this and gain no to very little weight on a cruise. So what if it take a few more minutes but generally we get there just as quick do to people having to wait for an elevator.
PS. My suggestion would be no internet access.
Thank you SO much. I'm unable to use the stairs, and I am grateful to all able-bodied people who choose the stairs and leave the lifts available to people like me.
I am a fan of not having more luggage than I can carry on (a plane and the ship). It avoids potential problems and is worth doing if you can. In deciding whether an upgrade to a veranda is "worth it" depends on what it costs.
That is true but cold weather cruising like Alaska or Canada requires more luggage space. So does traveling with children.
My second cruise, first on Carnival, the Maitre'd did a great job promoting the open dining room for breakfast and sea day brunch on the first night. Food was vastly superior to the buffet and more relaxed setting than the pool side eateries.
Also, nowadays most wifi you find on land has maximum download speed closer to 500Mbs than 100Mbs.
I disagree about the passport. If you are off ship and a foreign port and for some reason you miss the ship or have a situation that requires a hospital visit not having a passport on you makes getting back to your country or medical care. US passports are simple to get and last 10 years so end up not expensive.
Breakfast in the MDR is such a treat. Being waited on and served hot food to order early in the morning is a great way to start the day. The only downside is that it takes more time, so it's harder to do on busy port days.
Hi Tyler, thanks for the video! We have learned many things as avid cruisers. If you don’t drink much….Bev package can be too pricey! Inside cabins are amazing, we can cruise more! We do self assisted disembarkation and only bring carry ons! First off the ship! We cruise shoulder season when kids are learning! The water in the cabin(tap water) is great! Ask your cabin steward to keep your ice bucket refreshed daily. If you want the best seating in buffet go just a bit before it opens enjoy a coffee and you will have the freshest choices and best seat! No matter where you are located on the ship…..the service will be great! We have had many cabin types including elite types…..it’s been a wonderful way to travel! Cheers and happy cruising! 😊
Hey Tanner! Great video as always!!!
Very helpful, and a lot to think about.
Nice information. I appreciate the time you took to make this video to help others. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I agree fully with what you have said here. Not a fan of the over the door organizers though. But the go with the flow comment is 100% correct. Having a negative reaction to changes can ruin the rest your cruise for something you have no control over.
On our first family cruise we packed two large suitcases for each of us (8 total) plus 4 back packs! All the luggage was delivered at the same time and no one could get down the hallway! 😅 we are down to one each now!
Thanks for the video. Good stuff. But I’d quibble with you on a few points. I eat most of my meals in the buffet because I enjoy eating in the buffet. I book inside cabins because - for my life - it’s a choice of fewer cruises and a balcony or more cruising in an inside cabin. I choose more cruises. And if getting the cheaper Wi-Fi means I spend less time online, I’m ok with that.
Patience is key!
We have seldom payed for meals but get some of the best food you can possibly have by getting up early before most people are out. We have been in every type of room from interior to a Spa Suite and we do out best to get one 2 decks below the lido in the middle of the ship. Normally the least noise and motion for being close to the Lido.
The bottle of wine and pop brought on board on the start of the cruise works at all North American ports, for European port I would recomend reviewing with your cruiseline.
I use deckplan websites and YT reviews for research when selecting our rooms. We make sure we are in between stateroom decks when possible. That being said, sometimes, if it’s a smaller ship this isn’t possible. I get the cost savings with interior rooms however, we did one once and would not do it again. It felt claustrophobic, like we were sleeping in a closet. We are not on our balcony constantly, but we like to have that private space to just hang out with some fresh air at times and not have to go to common spaces.
We have been very happy with Verizon coverage. Airplane mode on sea days. At port we’re able to pickup local towers. Mexico is always included but we’re able to access others for $10/day. We do a photo dump to fb and maybe call home if we need to.
Verizon's 10.00 plan is excellent and downloading what's app is a good mode of communication while on a cruise as well
One thing I do is bring my own towels. I can get a bundle of good enough towels at Walmart for a fraction of the price of what the ship charges for just 1. Now, if you can be assured that you won't lose any then don't bother. But I take my own and don't worry about it!
The main thing I do is take shoes. I need shoes for walking and dress shoes for dining. In addition, I need flip flops for early in the morning when I do for my morning snack. On Carnival, their coffee shop has the best hot chocolate - I don't like coffee. They also have an early morning continental breakfast; Disney cruise lines does not.
9:36 top right shelf. Cruise essential: KY Jelly "lube". And if you're really lucky, Vaseline.
Am subscribed and even hit the like button. There are some good tips on here even if am an experienced cruiser.
But did you "smash" the like button? This is TH-cam after all.
@@Cruzelycom Of course I did. Didn't I say that I did? Besides having taken 31 cruises, I've been hitting the like button for almost two years.
Have sailed on 50+ cruises. Have an inside cabin 95% of the time. We sail on cruises that are 10 - 14 nights. Use the ship as a getaway from winter weather. Have met other cruisers who are there for the same purpose. They book inside cabins and stay aboard for long periods of time. You can stay onboard for twice as long if you book an inside cabin. We cruise primarily on Celebrity and their inside cabins are a good size - 180 - 200 square feet. Also the buffets on Celebrity Edge class ships are fantastic - always something new and nicely presented.
If you’re on a ship with passenger laundry facilities, take fewer clothes and plan on doing a load or two.
Take magnets to hang maps and other lightweight things on the cabinwalls
We prepay the daily cabin gratuities and check the account once or twice a day, so we will catch any errors that we can have corrected immediately. We usually sail out of where we live, so we checked our suitcase when we arrived at the cruise port. We are flying to Hawaii mid May and are taking a carryon suitcase and personal bag. We will carry onto the ship this time to save us an hour when we disembark.
I also keep an extra razor/toiletries in my luggage because for several cruises I left my razor in the bathroom after shaving the morning of the cruise. And for some reason shaving supplies are hard to find onboard.
If you are a regular, you can get by with a carry-on. We get one free laundry pile, and you want shirts from the ports. Three cozzies, and you're golden!
Lovely presentation, touching on a number of relevant and important points. Every cruise I take, I always select a stateroom with a balcony on any of the top three decks. I could not see myself staying in an inside room; not even a room with a window would do. Also, I cannot do a cruise under 7 nights. It has to be between 7 and 11 nights. I need to resume cruising, which I stopped since the pandemic.
We only do inside rooms. We do not limit ourselves to only 7 to 11 nights. We have been on many cruises since the pandemic.
@@rsvihla I get what you are saying, and I understand, but I will do no other room except for one with balcony. With a balcony I do not have to go on deck to watch the activities and scenery as the ship approaches or departs a port. It also provides me with the comfort of sitting on the balcony any hour of the night or day, and thus, remove the need to be on deck at various hours. That is the reason I do no other room but a balcony.
I agree, cruise without a balcony is not a cruise, I am not interested in windowless hotel in a shopping mall.
@@dmitripogosian5084 I strenuously disagree that a cruise without a balcony is not a cruise. And what’s this shopping mall nonsense?
We would have broke even on drink package on Wonder of the Sea. Should have gotten it so would not have to worry about. Bought the soda package, worth it. Though we could only find 3 soda stations, or asked bartender. Elevators were always going between floors near bottom or top so we would just used stairs when elevators were busy.
After 3 days the buffet salad bar reminded me of Subway. Needless to say I tore up the desserts after that.
In my mind, a person should think about how much they drink before deciding whether to get a drink package. I actually drink more alcohol while on a cruise than I do at home, simply because the cost of the drinks are included in the package. But, if I were to have only one alcoholic drink per day while on the cruise, I would re-evaluate whether the drink package is worth the money.
I would maybe adjust your 5-10-15 rule to 6-10-15. I feel if your on a ship you’ve never sailed before, 5 days is about what it takes to fully explore the ship and remember where things are, so maybe 6 instead of 5 for a balcony room.
I LOVE how you said to bring a ‘good attitude’. SO true! Your on vacation, take a deep breath and don’t make a big stink about the small things!
1 backpack and 1 carry on PERIODT!
I prefer an inside cabin during the off season in the Caribbean. I don't swim that much (the water is cooler), and I'm not as comfortable in the heat of the Caribbean (the temperature is lower). This is my best and, fortunately, cheaper time for me to sail. I bring some over the counter ginger supplements and maybe some ginger candy or cookies. I find they work better with no side effects than medication in my case. Two a day and I'm on the way. 🙂 Note: this works for me, your mileage may vary. 🤣
Off topic, but you must be from Austin. Austin birth certificate, Texas football, HEB brand, etc. The best 28 years of my life was living in Austin. Miss it so much, but try to get back yearly to visit long time friends and family. Living in Dallas now and when HEB opened in Plano I was like a kid at Christmas! Graduated with my BSN in 95 from UT Austin - Hook ‘em horns!
On topic, great video! Really enjoying your content to help prepare for our upcoming mom and son trip. Just me and my oldest who’s 25 (born and bred in Austin!) We can’t wait for our New Years Eve sailing to the Mexican Riviera on the Norwegian Bliss. Cheers! 🎉
Let's just say breakfast tacos are a staple of my diet and if you say "Combo Loco," then I know exactly what you're talking about.
@@Cruzelycom LOVE it!!! My adult daughter who lives in Frisco (they have one there now too) lives for their weekly specials . ☮️
THIS IS HOW TO PACK! Start by actually planning what to wear each day. Putting thought into this is far different than opening up your closet in the morning and deciding what you feel like wearing. My wife and I start by going through our closets and laying out things we'd like to wear, i.e., what our favorite clothes are at that time. Then we start to assemble outfits. Generally, we'll each wear 1 top each day and 1 top each night. Pants and shorts, on the other hand can be worn for 2 or more days, so make sure each bottom has multiple tops to go with it. Do the same for shoes - always try to get multiple wearings of as many items as you can. Then stick to it! We co-ordinate our dinner outfits and decide which nights we're going to wear them. The first and last nights can be a different than the other nights, and of course the formal nights are different again. The days are pretty much the same, the only difference you might account for is a port day vs a sea day. Then we write it all down on a list ordered by day, also listing where we are that day and take it with us. Because you spent all the time getting fully organized before you go, you waste little time aboard, not only when getting ready to leave your stateroom, but also like knowing what you're wearing the next day. I like to have all my clothes wrinkle free as soon as I can so I can get that over with. But if I'm pressed for time, I can focus on what I need next, leaving the rest for another time.
Buying items in advance depends. If you have a large onboard credit assigned through a number of avenues (military veteran, cruise line stock owner, etc.) it may be smarter to use OBC instead of money up front. Secondly, especially if you are on an itinerary where the ship is not fully booked, the cruise line will offer incentives that might also be reflected in a reduction of pricing for those who have already booked. You need to keep watch on these changes and contact your travel agent or your cruise line’s personal representative regularly.
This is a great comment. Thanks for mentioning these special cases.
👍@@Cruzelycom
I agree with the 5-10-15 strategy for picking a room, but it leaves out the fact that people who are prone to seasickness should seek a room toward the middle fo the ship rather than at the front or the back.
There are exceptions with airport transfers. From MCO to Port Canaveral a Lyft or Uber ran $60 one way but round trip transfers cost me me only $69. I would price it first before deciding.
The problem with comparing Uber with transfers is that the Uber rates are always changing. We booked an Uber ride from the hotel to Port Everglades the night before at $27 just to find that by the morning, the ride dropped to $14 ...
ITINERARIES -- matter a lot to many experienced cruisers. A lot of us are drawn to cruise lines that go to unusual places, especially if we've done a good deal of the more common itineraries.
As far as getting a balcony cabin, that really depends on the itinerary for me. Am I going on an Alaska inside passage cruise where I want to be out on my balcony enjoying the scenery, or am I going to the Caribbean where I won't really see anything worthwhile until I'm in port?
People can't get your goat if they don't know where it's tied and is selling in an interior room I recommend bringing a night light and or leaving the TV on when I stay in a interior cabin I usually leave the TV on with the bow camera station on
I was very thankful I could find Benadryl for only $15 on my recent cruise on Zaandam. When I got a bad cold, I was very happy they had it. Also, I always purchase the thermal suite in the spa on embarkation day. It's often cheaper than buying it in advance
Princess is great.
from what I've seen; while a Passport MAY not be required, it sure may be helpful if you have a problem, especially if it's a medical problem. Heck, it's less than a hundred dollars for almost 10 years (sometimes being within the last 6 months, can be an issue).
One thing I (only kinda) disagree with
When we fly in, we always get a Uber
BUT we pretty much always do the cruise shuttle from the port to the airport.
Yes it can be more expensive, but I find that the ease of the shuttle outweighs the cost difference
With Ubers, you gave to try to plan when to book them, because you never know how long security is going to be getting off the ship (we lost a Uber in New Orleans because it took too long to get out and he couldn’t wait any longer)
They charge a "little"?? more? Little is a very ambiguous word!! LOL
Buffet gets old unless you LOVE the food you get there!
Yep. Yep. Yep.
The wifi is a major pet peeve of mine because I always need to work for a few hours during the week while on a cruise. I always buy the fastest wifi, just in case. For the amount the cruise lines charge, the wifi needs to be serviceable - at least 1.5 Mbps to load web pages and process email quickly. I think many self-employed people would agree.
So far, I’ve only had one bad experience with wifi at sea. This was on Celebrity Solstice sailing to the Riviera in March. I could not get 1 Mbps with the fastest wifi, and the wifi actually went down completely for a couple of days. Thankfully, after speaking with the IT director, she issued a refund in 24 hours, after researching my usage and confirming my account.
Same here. Most cruises I see 3-5 Mbps on the fastest service. I've gotten up to 10-12 Mbps in some cases.
24 days and counting….. who is going to the 2023 Key West Fantasy Fest? October 20th to 29th. This year‘s theme is “Uniforms and Unicorns” 200 years of sailing into fantasy. The theme reflects the Florida Keys 2023 bicentennial. It’s to celebrate 200 years of the United States Navy in the Florida Keys
We've cruised 31 times on 11 different cruise lines and unless you're a confirmed alcoholic, the drinks package is never a good idea. We always go on at least a New Year's Eve cruise every year and drink whatever we want, whenever we want and as much as we want, just being sure we're not going feel under the weather the next morning. I always price out the drinks package but don't buy it. When I get back I compare what we spent for drinks, bottles of wine at dinner and specialty coffees using the on-board invoice that you get at the end of the cruise to what the package would have cost us. We routinely save $300 to $450. For example, our most recent cruise, our travel agent could have gotten us the drinks package for over $300 less than what
the cruise line charges and we still saved over $300 against that cost.
Wi-Fi package just isn’t worth it in my case. I don’t need to keep working because my work does not involve out-of-office work. I’m addicted to my phone already, it’s absolutely the best time to just unplug for me. Been on one cruise so far but planning the next for this august!
People should learn to ask questions. I asked questions to the people who could answer my questions. Do some research, and read your cruise contract. For example, the cruise contract, their website and a competent travel agent will have accurate information about what travel documents you need, what’s included in your fare and what’s extra, yet, newbies will ask travel documents questions in forums that to me, might get you in trouble, especially about passports. I’m the one stuck behind people debating with customs about why their birth certificate isn’t valid because it’s an uncertified copy. Someone told them all they need is their birth certificate, but left out the part about the “certified.” Of course I’m also waived over to the next available agent.
There’s also people who book on ships where there aren’t a lot for children to do outside of kids clubs, very often doing some research could avoid that. Experts cruisers know what to read, how to research and whom to ask which questions.
Not bad, but as a veteran of over 2 dozen cruises I disagree with a fair amount of it. I don't value balconies very highly. I like dinner buffets a lot of the time. Most Carnival ships have few cabins above deck 10. I rarely bother bringing OTC items. The more general advice of knowing yourself and what you want out of a cruise is valuable. So, thank you for that.
Everyone has their own opinion 🤷🏾♀️
@@juror6900 And a lot of times their opinion is wrong.
On carnival in Holland America they are charging $20 if you bring wine on board with your luggage. I think that's a little high and they call it a quirking charge if you try to bring a wine opener., They'll take that away from you in your suitcase 20 bucks is too too high. We are going on a 26-day cruise October 20th to the Mediterranean and back to fort Lauderdale we'll see how it goes we've had 75 days on the ships.
? 'Quirking'? Do you mean corkage fee?
Or going to guest services for a charge for drinks by a bartender in the theater TWICE when I had the drink pkg needed to be removed! If they had the card to place the charge, why wouldn't they have seen the drink pkg? That took 3 days to remove talking with guest services on the Breakaway!
I dint do buffet only on disembark morning and I try not to pay extra for food I feel I paid 4 already so on sea days I do bfast burrito or brunch at MDR have brunch in MDR
Even though we're only on a 4 night/5 day cruise, I wanted a balcony THIS TIME. It just feels so 'special' and it's not so much, really.
Hey, you want it, then by all means. For those that are waffling, I like the "five day" rule of thumb.
I have a question regarding OTC meds. If I take basic OTC meds on board, do they have to be in the original packaging? I have a little travel carrier that would take up much less space, but I wanna make sure it'll be feasible.
No, it shouldn't be an issue.
It’s easy for me to save money. I don’t care where my cabin is because I only sleep there & I’m hard of hearing & just take my hearing aids out when I sleep. Next, I don’t drink alcohol, so the complimentary drinks are fine. I don’t need any specialty dining because the complimentary dining is plenty for me & I don’t weigh 300+ pounds like most folks. Finally, I go on vacation to get away from the internet, so I don’t care about WiFi. The cruises hate my type of passenger, because I don’t care about any of the extra crap.
How do you bring a 12-pack of soda on a ship, especially when you flew down to the port? Won't TSA confiscate it? Even if they allow you to bring it, if it's stored in your luggage, won't they all explode open?
Someone told us to buy the soda at the nearest convenience store the night before.
Great tips! The only one I disagree with, and I’ve only cruised once and it was on NCL, is the birth certificate versus passport on debarkation day. While there was huge lines of passengers waiting to have their passports checked or their picture taken at the kiosk, we only had a birth certificate and walked right up to the agent, he glanced at our documents and we were on our way within 60 seconds bypassing everyone in the passport lines.
Now I understand this was once and maybe a freak occurrence, it was almost like we were VIP debarkation passengers! This was in New Orleans and probably isn’t the norm in most ports but this was our experience leaving the ship. I do agree with you about having a passport and we will the next time we cruise.
A passport & cruise insurance is worth every penny. Recently two young people got off the ship & rented a motorcycle. A car hit them. One of them was injured pretty bad but they wouldn’t treat the problem, only because of the insurance. It’s not getting ON the ship that’s the problem it’s getting back from the island/wherever you’re being treated for an accident that’s needs the passport. These two ppl are basically stuck there with not enough money to get treatment, transportation back to the ship & home.
If anything goes wrong, you can't fly home without a passport.
Passports have your photo and are accepted everywhere as a form of identification. Not so with a Birth Certificate.
I disagree some on picking your cabin. I had cabins that had cabins above and they are like a hotel room or an apartment. Those rooms are only quiet if the people above you were quiet. If the room above you had 4 or 5 kids that were running and jumping off the bed your room wasn't that quiet. I would never cruise in an inside cabin. It would be like sleeping in a box and I would feels closed in that I couldn't stand it. I would just feel the walls moving
Is there a way to ask that my account not be on the tv for others in cabin to see?
Starling is becoming a thing with cruise lines… speeds way up beyond what I can get at home 😤
I've been on ships with Starlink and wasn't impressed. I noticed zero different. Maybe I was just on the wrong ones?
I disagree with the buffet comment. You save more money when eating at the buffet. Just eat something different everyday. But if you can afford to pay for a meal at the restaurant, then do it. The food from the restaurant and buffet come from the same supply room.
IMO the advice about a balcony may not hold after one or two cruises. We have a favorite ship that we know well and we now
Spend a lot of time on our balconies.
NCL doesn't allow drinks
I like one deck below or above the deck where diamond club is on my Royal Caribbean ships. Quick to go up and get specialty coffee in the morning and go back to bed or balcony to relax for awhile.
The biggest con booking through 3rd party is if anything happens like if the cruise overbooked they will not let you get in. It's sad but true. Never again will book through 3rd party again.
But some companies like Shore Excursions group have a generous reimbursement policy in case you do miss the ship. That is why ironically some third party excursion companies actually do a better job getting you back to the ship in time. Because it would be a huge financial loss to reimburse the passengers so they have a much bigger incentive to get you back in time.
@asiaaro6534 yes.. I'm sure some companies will do that. But I will not take the risk because at the end of the day the cruises will get the people who bought the tickets from their main website and if shit goes wrong... 3rd party... good luck.
You get sick or hurt on a shore excursion getting home from a foreign port will be almost impossible without a passport
So, in summation, you need to learn how to not be screwed be the cruise line, unless you want to be, well, screwed?
Just lovely.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS -- single travelers often gravitate to lines that reduce or eliminate the single supplement. Some lines are better about this than others.
My first cruise I made mistakes. After I learned, won’t get me again.
Different-LY. Got it???
I hate buffets
Unless you are a big drinker, and I mean BIG drinker, and all the other room passengers are BIG drinkers, that package is a ripoff. But, people who make these posts, I feel, are somehow compensated by the cruise lines to push these packages.
Leave your attitude at home, and pack your patience.