Anyone have any cruise "tips" or "little-known secrets" for a first-time cruiser?

Question

We're going on Carnival's Fascination ship to Key West and Cozumel. It's our honeymoon-- 4 day cruise. We leave August 5.

We've been on lots of trips before, but never on a cruise ship. Frinds and family have showed us lots of pictures and video... and given us some general advice.

Any advice to make our trip more fun, smoother, cheaper, or more interesting?

Answer 1

For check in..... don't pack your proof of citizenship.  This causes all kinds of problems and delays when your are so excited about your fabulous trip.

On the last night.... you will be asked to place your bags outside of your cabin door so that the luggage can be taken off the ship first thing in the morning.  

1.  Please be sure to keep something out to wear for leaving the ship ( I have seen people come off in thier pajamas)  and if you have medication, please remember to keep that out too.  

2.  Again, don't pack your proof of citizenship you will be asked to show it when you clear customs at the end of your cruise.  

Also.......... Finding your luggage in the luggage bay is insane.  It's like a huge Easter Egg Hunt and almost all of the eggs look alike!  Most peices of luggage are black and more and more you see red.  If your luggage is black or red.... or any color for that matter, put something on it to make it distinctive so that you will be able to spot it.  Lots of people buy colorful name tags, or tie yarn pom-poms, or brightly colored ribbon or material on thier luggage and this really helps.  In your luggage area there may be 600 pieces of luggage and I can almost promise your luggage is not going to be all together it will be mixed in with the 600.... so every little bit of help is extrememly useful.

If you need the assistance of a porter, and you are wanting information about tipping, it's customary to tip $1.00 a bag.  BUT tipping is not compulsory.

Answer 2

They are great.  You eat like crazy, and there are so many activities to do.  I have been on 6.  I suggest getting involved and doing all the games and entertainment available.  Carnival is a nice cruise line, lots of fun.  Cozumel has alot of shops, mostly jewelery.  You can get some nice stuff.

Answer 3

If you are coffee drinkers, bring those large travel insulated cups with covers.  You then have "portable" mugs for your coffee that you can bring  with you while you walk around and explore the ship or just to sit on the deck and watch the sunrise together.

To save some money, pack bottled water in your suitcase, about 2-3 bottles per day for each of you. You can avoid paying high prices for bottled water for your shore excursions or to the beach. You can chill the water the night before in your stateroom. The stewards will give you ice for your room each night.

If you have free room service in your room, order sandwiches from the menu early in the morning and take them with you on your shore excursions. Pack a light, foldable, insulated bag to hold your bottled water and sandwiches for your day trips.

Bring a camera of course. Engage others to take pictures of you. I'm sure everyone will be delighted to know you are honeymooning and will obliged when you ask them to take a photo of you together. The photographs taken by the cruise line are VERY expensive to buy, as much as $20 for a 5X7. So budget and buy one as your souvenir, and make a photo album yourselves when you return from your own photos.

Answer 4

The card you receive to purchase things on the ship automatically has service charges added onto it for taking care of the tips-I think it is more personal to have the service desk remove that and tip on your own to the people who deserve it and "go the extra mile".  This way you can also decide whether your waiter should get more than your steward, or vice versa and et cetera.  

Sunscreen is your friend!  The water at Cozumel can strip off even waterproof in a short time.  I ended up looking like a lobster on my honeymoon and was in pain  anytime anything touched me-my husband didn't enjoy our honeymoon as much as he had hoped to for that reason.

If they have the art auction, go!  There was no way we could have afford anything, but we got champagne and to see Salvador Dali limited edition prints.  They also sometimes give away a print to get people involved.

The formal dinners are definately worth the time.  Get there early if you have trouble sitting "backwards" to the ships travel so you can get the right seat.

Mexican merchants are willing to haggle to make a deal on things.  Unless you really want to pay what they tell you, offer lower.  We got a handcarved quartz chess set for under fifteen dollars that was originally around $25.  Don't go too low, though, the people still do need to make a living.

I hope you have a wonderful time!  We did, and in 1.5 months we are going to get to again(this time to Alaska).

Answer 5

If your kids are with you dont give them the little card that you use to buy things. (you dont use money you use a card and at the end you get a bill) my mom did that with me when i was younger and i had a huuge bill.

&You wont travel anyother way after this cruise. it'll be too fun.

Answer 6

I just went on my first cruise this month.  It was really fun.  When you go to Cozumel, I would suggest going on a Mayan Ruins tour.  They are really cool, and it's a great place to take pictures.  My number one piece of advice is get involved with other people and activities.  If possible, don't get a private table. Get one where you eat with other people.  Oh, and one more thing:  relax and just have fun!

Answer 7

You may want to bring a night light to see if you have to get up in the middle of the night.  The shoe organizer idea is a life saver!  Don't over pack shoes!  A dressy pair for dinner, comfortable sandals, and wear your athletic shoes on board.  You don't need to pack a beach towel, they will provide them.

Answer 8

enjoy yourself.

i have been on a total of 5 cruises,  1 carnival and 4 royal caribbean.  

The best thing to do is enjoy yourself, and frankly do what you want.  Get a couples spa,  since it is ur honeymoon.

Pack light, as you will probably end up getting alot of stuff on your cruise, and again enjoy yourself and congrats.

Answer 9

only one, do not demand too much from your waiter! be polite and never send anything back!! enjoy!

Answer 10

The one thing I keep hearing about is to buy a shoe organizer - the kind that hangs on a door and has pockets.  You can put your camera, toiletries, etc. in the pockets.  Also bring a power strip - there  probably won't be many outlets.

Answer 11

we took the same ship and places for our honeymoon last year. the ship is decent i really liked the passage to india bar they have live music. since this is your honeymoon i would order the just married cakes from the cafe the chocolate is to die for and they bring it to you at dinner and sing. you can bring wine and soda on the ship. (we also put left oer vodka from our wedding in our luggage). food wise the buffet is ok and eat at the main dinner. the prime rib and tiramasu are both good and so is the alaskan pie. gamble on the first day you will have a better chance winning. go to the art auction for the free champaine dont buy anything. key west was our faviort. we just walked around and shopped  i wouldnt do an excursion here. you also have to try the key lime pie and go to eat at sloppy joes.if u really want to drink do the pub cralw itsw like 30 bucks and u got to like 5 bars and get free drinks from all of them. in cozumel they tender.(meaning you get off the ship onto anouther one) you have to grab a number to get off unless it is an excursion. get ur number the night before... we did this and got number one. we did the unlimited snorkle excursion and it was a waste. i would either go to the ruins or take anouther excursion lol. there is a beach and a taxi can take u to. there is shooping right at port and a fat tuesdays. fat tuesdays has bad food but good drinks. downtown is ok but kinda scary. oh im sure that you are leaving from miami? first off get the the port early like at 11 and dont buy transfers from carnival. our hotel only charged 8$ a person. we stayed the night in miami the night before and we just stayed around the port area and ate at hard rock cafe. also when u leave to go home dont buy a transfer from carnival.. take a taxi they will  be waiting.

you will meet lots of people and if you are in your twentys and thirtys there are alot of people this age there. also go to the newlywed game and convince them to pick you its a  blast!! plus they will give u a bottle of wine. (when its 1 am go up on the deck and drink it trust me u will be alone lol) and bring one sweater if case it does get a little windy at night and a raincoat/pancho. have fun its ur honeymoon and best wishes on your life together you will talk about this trip to everyone and to each other for a long time and you will get hooked on cruising!

ps you can go on carnival web site and buy excursions early and buy stuff such as a honeymoon package and advance alochol and soda tickets, i would buy the unlimited soda card on the ship but if u drink for 19.50 u get 4 drink tickets.

Answer 12

Check out  www.CruiseCritic.com

There is more information there than you will ever need.

You can also "meet" some people there who will be on your ship.

Answer 13

The 'Banglas' - the Bangladeshi cabin stewards - are often on 'tips only', as are a lot of the waiters etc.  This means that the only money they are paid is what they get in tips.  The result is - if you give enough money to your cabin steward, he can get you absolutely anything you want.  Maybe even a new cabin if he thinks nobody will notice.

Answer 14

The only thing I wish someone would of told me was to save money for the trip prior because you really don't pay attention to your spending at times because you charge everything to your room and then your credit card at the end.

And to pack light, on a four day cruise, there will be only one formal night so pack light and bring some wrapping paper for dishes if you are going to want the souvnier cups, sometimes when you order a drink they will automatically give you and charge you for the glass that is yours to keep, make sure you ask for plastic glass it's cheaper and it's not yours to keep or bring some paper to wrap your glasses to take home, they are lovely.

Those are only things I wish people would of told me.

Have fun, it's a blast.