Best 60 Cruise Tips for First Time Cruisers
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By taking the stairs as much as possible, even part way, you’ll get those steps in balance out some of the extra indulgences. Consider ordering a free room service continental breakfast. While not every cruise line includes free room service at all hours (we love the ones that do!), many will have free room service for a simple breakfast. Did you know that on most cruises, you can order as many dishes as you like?
Taking sketchy DIY excursions
While booking as early as possible is usually the best way to save money when booking a cruise, prices can actually come down after you book. To make sure you can take advantage of price drops, monitor the price of your cruise and cabin category. If the price has decreased before final payment, ask the cruise line or your travel agent for a price adjustment – in most cases they will do so. The least expensive cabin for all cruise ships will be interior staterooms. If you don’t think you’ll be in your room much, skip an oceanview or balcony stateroom and stay in a cozy inside room.
How to Make your Alaska Cruise Travel Easier: Tips - Royal Caribbean Blog
How to Make your Alaska Cruise Travel Easier: Tips.
Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:23:24 GMT [source]
Bring your own shampoo
Every Caribbean port will have some exclusive beach clubs with hammocks and drink service, but they usually charge an entry fee. Instead, do some research (or ask a taxi) on where the free beaches are. You might have to deal with more people, but nothing beats having a day on a world-class beach without having to spend a dime.
First Time Cruise Tips
Always pack a few baggies with you on your trip, and you’ll be sure to find a use for them. While you can use Ziploc bags, we like the idea of having a watertight pouch or bag when you head to the beach. Best of all, they can snap onto your waistband so that you can carry your things with you in the water while taking a dip — and not leave them vulnerable on the beach. In Miami you can take the Orange Line train from the airport over to the Coral Way Trolley, which drops at the port (directions here). In Seattle, the Link Light Rail lets out just blocks from Pier 66 (directions here).
But you’ll be warned against hanging clothes on the balcony, and it’s not a good idea anyway. If you have a balcony cabin, one of the big benefits is having access to fresh air. Many people choose to leave the door open to let in a breeze, hear the ocean, and generally enjoy the sea. When you are on the ship, your cruise cabin is your home away from home. It’s a place for you to relax, take in a beautiful view (assuming you have a balcony), and generally enjoy yourself. It’s not just where you sleep; it’s your refuge away from the rest of the ship.
Sound can easily travel between two balconies and if someone were to simply lean over, they could get a peek into your area. Your own little cozy, private spot with a beautiful view, the person you love, and a drink in your hand… it simply doesn’t get much better than that. Of course, that may give you the idea of getting a little frisky with your significant other. Or maybe the sunshine makes you want to lay out and get a suntan all over. As well, it seems like there are often wild swings in temperature even if you don’t touch the thermostat.
I know some cruisers that didn’t realize certain features of the ship until the last day of a cruise. Royal Caribbean automatically adds an 18% gratuity to bar bills and minibar items, as well as spa and salon purchases. Many first-time cruisers don't know this and write in a hefty tip at the "additional tip" line on bills at cruise ship bars and spas. If you're unsure, ask if a gratuity has already been included before adding another 15% or 20% to the total.
Chibang: Carnival Cruise Line's hybrid Chinese and Mexican restaurant (with menu) - The Points Guy
Chibang: Carnival Cruise Line's hybrid Chinese and Mexican restaurant (with menu).
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Travel agents often have extra perks that they can give you when you book with them. When using a travel agent, whether local or online, make sure that they have experience and specialize in selling cruises. While you can eat small pieces of ginger, and this may be given out on some cruise lines, it’s easier to pack ginger candies and bring them onto your cruise. I love ginger candies and bring them on every cruise, just in case. On some fun loving cruise lines, one of the activities will be a drink making competition of sorts. Born out of necessity, as I have forgotten items more than once, I created a printable cruise planner that you may find useful.
You can enjoy the beverages for free within your stateroom; however, a corkage fee of $15 will apply if consumed in public areas. They do not allow for beer or spirits to be brought onboard. Doing this ahead of time will ensure that once you board the ship, your vacation will be as hassle-free as possible. If you don't dedicate the time to doing proper research before booking your cruise, you might be left feeling disappointed. Below, we've narrowed down the top twenty tips for first-time cruisers to help make planning seem a little less overwhelming.
Readers have noted this on Carnival Cruises and Celebrity, but this may be possible on other cruise lines as well. If you want to have a calmer, quieter cruise, then look for trips that are seven days or more. Shorter cruises, which are less-expensive overall, tend to attract younger and more energetic crowds. With 4,000 cruise passengers trying to go up and down on more than a dozen decks, elevators are constantly busy, no matter the time of day. That’s why you should always wait to enter only after people have gotten out. It’s polite, but it also makes getting on and off much easier.
So if you’re flexible with your dates, you can sail during off-season months like January or October and save some considerable money. The same trip sailing in late January can be 50% the cost of the same sailing that departs at the peak of summer. While every cabin has air conditioning, they don’t have fans of any kind. That’s not an issue if you have a balcony and open your door, but any interior room is going to get a little stuffy — especially if you’re the sort of person that’s used to airflow. As a bonus, a fan makes a great white-noise machine to help drown out any sounds from neighboring cabins.
When you leave your cabin, be sure to put any valuables in the cabin safe. No, it’s not perfect, but it acts as a good deterrent from crimes of convenience and provides you with a little peace of mind. The safes aren’t that big, but will hold cash, jewelry, phones and passports with plenty of room to spare. From portable fans to laptop and tablet chargers to nightlights to curling irons, the need for outlets in a cruise cabin is always increasing. That’s why we suggest bringing aboard an outlet adapter like this one to plug in and give you more free plugs.
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