Can I get some info for a first time Cruise Go-er?

Question

Ok, Im going to be going on my first cruise(and vacation) In early october. I wil be 21, and I was wondering if some expierienced Cruise go-er could give me some advice that the cruise line didnt. Im going to be going on a 4 day Baja Cruise with Carnival on the Ship Paradise.

If you guys can give me what kinda stuff to bring and what to expect for the food and staterooms. I would appreciate it!!

Thanks

Answer 1

A complete answer to your question would be rather long.  However, I recommend that you read the reviews written by recent passengers on the same cruise.  Here are a couple of links ...

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/reviews/in...

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreview...

Answer 2

The food is always amazing on cruises, lots of different choices! The only thing you have to pay for is alcohol and sodas. The staterooms are small depending on the kind you get whether its an oceanview or interior or suite. Most people dont spend much time in the room though. Definitely go to the comedy shows at night especially the over 18 ones! lol Have fun on your cruise!

Answer 3

your going on a "party" carnival ship so dont expect alot of glitz and class...no offense carnival is just like a "floating trailer park" Id bring a few dresses nothing to special for dinner....and the rest just casual clothes. your going on a 4 day cruise so you wont need alot..

Answer 4

Pack light in colapsible luggage...there's not a lot of room to store stuff in your teeny tiny room

Take a soaking bath before you go....there's probably only a shower stall in your stateroom

Food- bring your appeitite and get on the board hungry..they feed you tons constantly

Dinner... the sitdown dinner restaurants are tightly packed Take a bathroom break before entering...and be there 20 minutes before your time.  Being there early saves you the difficulty of walking through the tables filled with your closest 500 friends ...while you are in formal wear

Ditch any purse on board ..bring your stateroom key and any credit card with you

Drinks are really expensive..but it's a lot safer to drink on board than on an shore excursion

Taking trips with Carnival providing transportation is probably safer and easier than trying to stake out on your own.

Answer 5

Here are some tips and info for new cruisers...

- take a power strip.  There is usually only 1 power outlet in the room.

- take a night light or alarm clock with a light.  The rooms are wicked dark.

- take one of those XXXL Ziploc bags to pack dirty, wet, sandy clothes for trip home

- pack your valuables, meds, breakables and anything you will want before midnight in your carry-on bag.

- get a lanyard to carry your sail and sign card.

- my daughters take a 2nd swimsuit because they don't like putting on a wet suit and the suits never seem to dry

- Carnival is a cashless system.  You will set up an account that is linked to a credit card or a cash deposit when you board.

- The tips are charged to your on-board account the moment you step on board the ship.  So if you are using a cash account, be sure to deposit the money for the tips and your spending money up front.

- Bar drinks are 4-12 each plus 15% gratuity

- Sodas are $1.75 each/or a soda fountain card for about $35

- On-board pictures are $20-22 each

- spa services are 50-200 each

- shore excursions are 50-200 per person

- take plenty of $1, 5 and 10 in US dollars for spending in the port markets, taxis

- take an extra canvas bag to carry home your shopping finds

- mark the handles of your luggage with brightly colored ribbon or yarn to help you find it upon debarkation.  There will be a sea of luggage that looks alike!

Answer 6

Go to cruisecritic.com and you can gets lots of information about any cruise topic.

Answer 7

Onboard you use your set sail pass for everything, its connected to your credit/debit card. Carnival usually charges the gratuities to your card but you can request for them not to and instead determine what you want to pay the staff. Also soda and alcohol are extra, while you aren't allowed to carry on alcohol you can bring other non alcoholic drinks onboard. If I feel I may want soda I buy it prior to boarding, I also bring a few bottles of water to carry at the ports. Also there is usually one bar, often poolside, where the drinks are the cheapest. Save room in your bags for stuff you will buy in ports, so try not to pack too much.

Answer 8

The food is amazing. That is undeniable. I love their food, and you will almost gain weight practically. Anyhow, the staterooms are really small, and you dont have alot of outlets so you might want to consider a power strip if you want to bring your cell phone and other electronics, as the outlet that is in the room is in the most stupid place. Usually right by a window or a door or hidden behind something. It's usually not that easy to get to. Also one of those over the door caddies that you can throw over the bathroom door come in handy as well. It makes your bathroom less crowded as those are really really small. Trust me the shower is barely big enough to turn around in and then everything is so cramped together its impossible for more then one person to be in there at the same time.

I would definitely bring t shirts and shorts, and some skirts and definitely a swim suit, or more then one. Anyhow, then dinner is going to be casual and informal and you will possibly have a formal night. So definitely khakis and a polo are okay, and then a nice skirt and blouse for formal night or a nice cocktail dress, and then a nice pant suit of skirt and blouse would do for a semi formal night. That's really up to you. During the day you can pretty much wear whatever you want.

Make sure you are within the airlines regulations if you are flying as the have the 3 oz liquid rule still in place. So I would just check everything liquid in your checked luggage and then put all your medications in your carry on in a reclosable zip lock baggie, as thats what you are suppossed to do. Also wear comfy clothes the day that you are flying and no metal belts and wear shoes that can slip on and off really easy as you will have to take your shoes off, maybe more then once, and it's going to be a long day so still look good but comfortable at the same time.

The ship is older and I believe that it is smoke free. Just a heads up there. Now for more information on the ship you might want to check out cruisecritic.com. They have lots of reviews from people who have been on the ship before and have been on the same cruise and all about their experiences. Also I would bring a credit card so you dont have to carry alot of cash on you and use that for souvenirs. I think thats about it, and then I am not exactly sure if the tips are charged to your account automatically or what but check into the tipping policy.