Looking for advice for my first cruise.. Any suggestions?

Question

We booked a Royal Carribean cruise out of Galveston, TX for the first week in December. If you have any suggestions on gratuity, drinks, excursions, clothes, anything.. I would greatly appreciate it.

Answer 1

Take a package of dramaine with you... this is a OTC drug that will keep you from getting ill.  As far what clothes to pack it depends on the places you will be visiting....   l  suggest you pack shorts,  t-shirts etc and bathing suits... now as to excursions go ...that will be up to you. once you get to your first port of call usually there will be a  overview of the port of call and what excursions are offered. go to this meeting and figure out which excursions best fit you. Do this for each port of call.

Here is what the Royal Carribean Website Suggests for graituity...

Suite Attendent:  $5.75 per day per guest

Stateroom Attendent:  $3.50 per day per guest

Dinning Room Waiter: $3.50 per day per guest

Assistant Waiter: $2.00 perday per guest

Head Waiter: $.75 per day per guest

There are three ways you may pay for this>>>

1) Prepay  by adding it to your reservation by your travel agent

2)Added to your onboard Seapass account

3) By Cash at the end of the cruise

This applies to guests of all ages and the graituity for  other  personal services are at your discretion. There is an automatic 15% gratuity add to your bar and wine bill.

As to what drinks you want while on the cruise... That is totally up to you, but I went on a cruise to the Bahamas back in 1995 after I graduated from high school and i wouuld recommend drinking lots of water so you and your family will not get dehydrated because sodas and alcohol dehydrate the body fast.

EAT EAT EAT....When ever food is offered or you are hungry eat.  And I also would recommend that you get your trip photos developed while on board your ship to avoid them getting ruined by x-rays at the airport and the loss of camera. i didn't do this and I do not have any photos of my trip to the Bahamas.

Answer 2

You are going to have a blast!  Plan on an average of 15% gratuity on drinks and food.  

You can tip the pilot of the boat taking you on excursions, but unless he has a tip jar out, don't worry about it.  

As far as buying clothing in the gift shop on board,  no tipping is required unless you have someone fitting you.  

When we cruised, we were asked not to tip our waiters, bellhops and maids until the very end of the cruise, and we were provided with individual envelopes with their names and titles on it.  

Oh, and you'd better check to see if you'll be responsible for any port charges upon arrival.  (My husband's company took care of that for us)  

Last but not least, relax and have a great cruise! God bless!

Answer 3

Arrive very early and ask for a free upgrade.  This is important!  You won't be upgraded unless you ask!!  Tip your cabin boy and wait staff at the end of the cruise.  Fifty is fairly common for a cabin boy but it is not the normal policy for most cruise lines to add a gratuity to your bill.  So double check on the policy.  Don't double tip unless the service warrants it.  You will find the cabin boys are quiet accommodating and their assistance will help to ensure you have a great cruise.

Part Two:  Avoid the treasure map games and such ploys that get you into the stores in port that give the cruise lines a kick-back.  Go off on your own or investigate other activities (unless you truly want to shop at the highest price stores).  Some of sponsored tours are well worth the price, so consider them all, but evaluate carefully.  Be sure to make it a memory worth keeping by planning for sea sickness in hurricane season.  Athough the ships are very large and stable they will still move against the force of an ocean or gulf swell.  This should not be a major concern.  Just an FYI file to keep in mind.

Part Three:  There are usually meals served twenty-three hours a day.  Two meals will be formal seatings so bring the appropriate attire.  Easier for a man as a Tuxedo will do for both meals, but the ladies will need two evening dresses and jewelry as well.

Part Four:  Make friends at the pool, bar and on deck.  Take a camera and film, disk, storage, etc.  Memories are made on cruises.  Yours will be great if you prepare for it properly.

Part Five:  The bed may be smaller than the one you have at home.  The cabins are small rooms and the furniture will be smaller to fit the room.  So be prepared and not disappointed.  They will remove the silver plates for soaps and other amenities before you make final port of call.  This is a precaution to protect the cruise line from quests that would take home such items.  Not a slight on any one person.

Finally, pack for your destination but bring something comfortable for the plane and your hometown enviroment.

Good luck and Bon Voyage.

Answer 4

Gratuity is at the end of the cruise, bring plenty of clothes, and bathing suits, lots of cash, the top deck is loaded with options, and the excursions are what that cruise may be offering. But, plan on gaining about 20 pounds......lol....you eat 24/7 on a cruise. And you drink bucket fulls.

Answer 5

Bring tipping money and the most comfortable and stylish clothes you have, Tons of Food! ENJOY!