My first cruise...what should i know?

Question

My hubby and I are wanting to go on a cruise. We have never been on one before. We are kinda wanting to go to mexico or bahamas (sp?) places like that. What should we know? Any advice would be great. What NOT to pack...rooms types...things to do...do we tip staff members on board? Food and drinks that are NOT included in the price would they be expensive?There anything to do for ppl like us who are night owls on board? Last my husband thinks we can just book a ticket for a cruise within 3months...i told him he is wrong you must book way inadvance..who is right lol? thanks

Answer 1

Go to cruisecritic.com and all your questions will be answered by veteran cruisers who love to share.

Answer 2

First I want to say book early, don't wait until the last minute because the prices of cruises go UP as the cruise date nears.  And 9 months or more in advance is not too early; the cruise lines have all of their cruises for this year and some of next listed on their web sites.

Since you have never been on a cruise before I will give you a brief summary of the world of cruising that you would or could get from a travel agent. Travel agents are paid by the cruise line on commission and so you can go to one and ask all of the questions you want and the agent will help you with no charge. Even after I explain things you may still want to use a travel agent to double check what I tell you and to book your cruise. If not you can book everything right on line. I have been on about 20 cruises and have booked several of them right on line.

If you have the money to spend for the very top and best cruise lines try Crystal, Oceania, Windstar, and Silver Sea. These cruise lines are a cut above the others because they run smaller ships (about 500 to 700 passengers) and have a higher staff to passenger ratio so you get top of the line service. They also have more amenities included in the much higher price, like all veranda/balcony cabins, tubs and shower bathroom, larger cabins, daily wine and/or champaign with meals, etc. . Prices for a 7 day cruise on these top of the line ships may start at $4000 to $5000 (vs about $1200 on the next tier of ships.). These ships tend to have a more sophisticated and older crowd and more formal dining.

Most cruises are done by the next tier of cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, and Disney. Most of the ships for these lines are now 1500 to 2500 passenger ships. The ships are big but things are so well managed that you really don't feel crowded on them. Prices on these ship can be as low as $800 for a 7 day inside cabin and about $1200 for a balcony cabin. Sometimes people get confused by the categories on ship that agents or the web sites refer to. Categories are simply a listing of the different types of cabins on the ship by size, location and amenities. Categories are the price structure.

If/when you go to a cruise line web site you will see the various cabins listed by type, i.e., SUITE, VERANDA or BALCONY, OUTSIDE, and INSIDE, the category, and generally the square footage of each cabin type. The category will generally be listed next to the cabin type.

The standard cabin that most people get is generally between 175 and 200 Square feet, about the size of a 9 by 12 ft home bedroom. Each cabin has a two beds which can be made into a queen, a bathroom with a shower stall, a closet and some drawer space, a TV and telephone, a safe for valuables, a mini-refrigerator, and a life jacket for each passenger.

Carnival is the fun ship, they are low priced, but their accommodations are not the best. Carnival is the party cruise line that most young folks and first time cruisers take (ages 20 to 35) who want to party, party, party. If that’s what you are looking for then Carnival is the one for you.

Disney has good ships (but just 2 ships right now) but is primarily for kids, and families with kids. It does have adults only areas on ship, but the kids are still there on ship. I would not recommend going on their ships unless you do not mind being around a lot of kids. Also, since Disney has only two ships your options with them are limited.

Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity, and Norwegian tend to have people who have cruised many times and are in the 40 and over age group; a more reserved crowd. Although the crowd is more served the ships are still just as much fun. Holland America tends to have the oldest cruiser; primarily people in the 60 and up age group. Celebrity and Princess also tend to be more upscale and Royal Caribbean tends to be more family oriented. Norwegian is also family oriented but is more casual with its "freestyle cruising" Freestyle simply means that you do not have to select a time to go to dinner each day; you just go whenever you want after about 6:00 PM. It also means that the traditional "formal night" which are really requested attire on ships, is more like "dress up if you want to night".

WHAT'S INCLUDED

The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals (except the specialty restaurants), all shows and entertainment, and use of all facilities on ship. The things that you will have to pay for are:

GRATUITIES: They will amount to about $10 per person in your cabin per day; about $70 each for a 7 day cruise. When you check in at the pier they will set up an on-board charge account for you to cover any and everything you may buy on ship. They will issue you a "cruise card" which will also serve as your room key and pass to get on and off the ship. At the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity to your tab and you can pay with a credit card or cash, your choice.

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND SOFT DRINKS: Coffee, tea, milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided free but you must pay for drinks (alcoholic beverages) and they will add a 15% gratuity to each drink of soft drink order.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Cruise lines will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. These will cost a lot, like $15 to $20 for most.

TOURS/EXCURSIONS: These are listed on your cruise line web site and you can reserve them well before the cruise and pay for them also. If you wait until you are on ship to book tours they will be charged to your on board account (then you can pay cash to settle your account on the last day). Once you book your cruise the cruise line will send you a booklet listing all of the tours.

SOUVENIRS: Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your on board account. Things that you buy on shore you pay cash or credit card for.

CASINO: If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.

OTHER: most cruise lines have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there is a gratuity/service charge. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all that will be available.

If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.

Ships now have internet cafe and some have WiFi but the there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive (like about $50 to $60 an hour).

You cabin will likely have a minibar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for them (but there is free room service 24/7).

BEST DEALS

I have found that the best deals can be had by going directly to the cruise line web sites and looking for their specials. Most will have their specials prominently displayed on their home page but I have found that Royal Caribbean and Carnival have the best web sites for this.

You will always get the best price if you book very early and early means 9 to 12 months or more in advance. You can book on most any cruise line web site by paying a deposit of $250 to $350 per person, depending upon the length of the cruise, and then pay the balance no later than 60 to 75 days before the cruise (depending upon the cruise line).

Another factor to consider is to be flexible on your date of travel. Also consider going when there is a special. Many times identical cruise itineraries can very in price by hundreds depending upon the date.

I suggest that you go to the web site for the cruise lines and look at the cabin prices, port stops, the features for the ships and select a cruise that will do what you want to do. Then you may want to talk to an agent and see if they can find what you want. Finally, decide whether you want to book your self or have an agent do it for you.

MORE TIPS:

The dress on ship is casual all day until 6:00PM. So take swim wear, shorts, sandals, beach shoes, your snorkel equipment if you have it, sun glasses and sun screen, lotions, a cap or big hat for the sun, a book if you are a reader, your music player, sneakers and clothes to workout in if you like to use the gym, good walking shoes, your camera, and other personal toiletries.

Your cabin will have towels and soap provided, including pool and beach towels. It will also have a generic hair shampoo so you do not need to bring that unless you like a specific brand. They do not provide tooth paste, mouth wash or lotions. They DO provide a hair dryer.

After 6:00 PM they request that you wear "sports or resort casual" attire. That's attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, (like a bank employee), shirt with a collar, slacks, skirt, blouse, etc. You can still wear shorts and swim wear in the pools and spas but not in public areas like dining rooms and restaurants, show rooms, bars, casino, etc.

Most cruises have a formal night or two when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken, and maybe meet the ship’s Captain. The formal nights are REQUESTED not required attire. But most people do dress up in a tux for men and a long dress (any color) for women. Some men just wear a suit and tie and some women wear a nice dress but not a gown. You will not be denied access to the dining room or anything else if you choose not to dress up.

- Its best to pack using soft-sided luggage because with space limited in your cabin it fits under the beds better if its not hard sided luggage. Take a small carry-on bag for the last night of the cruise. On the last evening you will be required to put your luggage outside your cabin by about 2:00 AM so that they can start taking it down to the lower deck for offloading the next morning. So you will need a small bag for your toiletries and your clothes that you sleep in.

-If you want to use the gym, pool and/or hot tub as soon as you get on ship pack those clothes and a change of clothes in your carry on bag because it will be hours after you board before you get your luggage.

- Join the cruise club so that the cruise line will send you their specials and so that you can get discounts on future cruises with them. The discount will typically be $50 to $100 per person.

- The cruise lines do not allow you to bring alcoholic beverage on board, EXCEPT some do let you bring a bottle or two of wine or champaign. If you will be cruising on Princess, RC, Holland America, Celebrity or Carnival each person age 21 or older can bring on one bottle of wine or Champaign FOR YOUR CABIN.

- If you are taking your cell phone, MP3 player or other item that needs to be plugged in take an extension cord as the plugs in the cabin are generally not in the best places and there are usually only one or two.

- Take a small bottle of hand sanitizer. There are generally sanitizer dispensers at the entrances of restaurants, the buffets and dining room, but some times the are not there or not working. The sanitizer helps prevent the spread of the Norwalk Virus that sometimes occur on cruise ships.

Answer 3

I have been on a couple of cruises so I have some experience. First of all, make sure if you are an Amercian that doesn't speak Spanish to choose an American cruiseline. Also, make sure the cruise company is well known and has a high rating among its people. If the cruise ship isn't well known, there is a good chance that the cruise won't turn out too good (personal experience, trust me). Secind of all, make sure that you take all your necesaries, like a toothbrush or a comb, etc. Do not take food with you because something will go wrong during boardingm whether you cannot take food with you to th cruise or something like that. Beverages are ok. There are about 5 different room types depending on the ship. There is a small room, small room with window view, suite room, suite room with window view, or balcony room (varies). I would suggest for two people a small room with a window view because the real reason for going on this cruise is to spend it outside so don't waste your time in that room other than to sleep, relax, etc. There are usually many things to do. There could be shows, there could be music and dancing, and there could be a casino, sports, etc. Tourism is a must. Tipping varies on how well they treat you and how well they seem to want to help. Tip only the waiters at the restaurants and room service at the end if you want. Also, tip those who help you out. If the service is unacceptably horrible, simply do not tip. Usuallly, this depends on the cruise but everything is inclusive unless it is a special drink or food or extra order. The mini bar is not included, nor is room service food. But this depends. There are casinos on board almost every ship, there is dancing, music,shows, etc. Your husband is WRONG. In order to get first picks on your room of choice seats for dinner of choice, etc., you must book ahead of time. You don't want to have a room exactly the oppoite of what you wanted do you? I hope this helped.

Answer 4

it's all inclusive except for alcohol (food, entertainment, lodging, FREE ROOM SERVICE) ... and your hubby is nutz to book that short because you'll end up PAYING THRU THE NOSE!  Book 9-12 months out, unless you stumble upon a deal.

Answer 5

You are in for a big treat!  Cruising is great - whether you are a single, couple or family - there is something for everyone.



I would recommend you either talk to a travel agent or call the cruise line directly.  We cruise Royal Caribbean - it's family friendly without being stuffy or too "partyish" - although there's plenty of partying.  The entertainment/shows are GREAT.  Carnival comes across as more of a party cruise for singles and looks like its kind of tacky or "low end"...But I do know people that cruise Carnival and they love it.

As far as activities - they are endless both on and off the ship.

- Pack only what you think you'll need.

- Pack extra bathing suits

- Pack sea sick pills which should only be taken at night before bed (that way the next day they are still in your system, but you are not groggy).  UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN DRINKING THEN DON'T TAKE THEM.

-Pack clothes pins to hang your wet stuff - otherwise it just doesn't dry.

- Formal night does NOT mean gown and tux (although you are welcome).  I wear a dressy dress or sundress and my husband wore a hawaiian shirt and khakis - he wasn't about to rent a tux on board!

Usually off-ship excursions/alcohol/spa/bingo/gambling/ti... are not included.

There are recommended tips based on # of people in your cabin and number of days.  You tip the cabin steward, the asst. waiter, the waiter and the head waiter.  You have the same staff the entire cruise.  You can pay cash in envelopes or add it to your bill at the end.

You can book last minute you just might not get the best cabin or location.

We've cruised to the Western Caribbean (Mexico and Cayman), Bahamas (Nassau) and in the Mediterranean.

If you live near a cruise ship port all the better!

My husbnd is a little on the frugal side and he feels that cruising is the best value around.

Cruising is the best!!!

I hope this helps!

Answer 6

You are in for the vacation of a lifetime. We've been on 3 and are booked for this Feb. I'll list a few tips and pointers:

Clotheslines are provided. There is a small round thing in the shower.

Bring along empty paper towel tube. On last night, dining staff gives you an autographed place mat.

Razors, shampoo, cream rinse and hair dryers are provided.

Ordering beer in 4 bottle buckets saves $1.50.

There are 3 times drinks are complementry. At the Captain's Gala, liquor tasting on the prominade on night 1, and champagne at the art auction.

If you choose not to take a land excursion, wait an hour till everyone on tours is off, then you can walk off and shop on your own.

There is a coffee shop on board that charges a nominal fee, but cappachino, expresso, and latte are included with evening dinner.

Lobster is offered only once, same for the escargot.

Up on the lido deck at noon, there are 6 chow lines. They are all different. Walk past all of them before making decision. Ok to get food from different ones.

The midnight buffet is offered only once. It's worth checking out, even if you don't have room for anything.

Don't try & skip the muster drill. They do a head count and check every stateroom.

If you want to buy a tee shirt on board, hold off on the purchase till about day 6. They discount things near the end of the cruise.

There is cell service on board, but major roaming charges. Best way to call home is purchase a calling card from a local vender on some island and use a public phone.

Be forwarned, the toilets make a sound like a jet.

Recommended you check your Sea Pass / Sail & Sign account at the purser's desk periodaclly to make sure you're not over spending.

Internet cafe charges 75c a minute. I'd forget it.

Go ahead and try new foods. You're not out anything.

R rated stand up comedy is offered only one night.

Tops are optional on the Funnel Deck

There is a gally tour offered.

There will be towel animals in your stateroom each night.

Always set watch to ship time. It's not necessarily the same as on land. And don't be late to be back on board.

If you and your partner get separated on 2 differdnt tender boats coming back, no problem, they leave continuously as they get full.

The mini bar in your cabin is a fridge. Let the steward unlock it. You can keep milk there that you bring back to the room.

If using restroom while at pool, wrap yourself in towel. They are not cheap with air conditioning.

Don't skip the debarkation talk. It's a lot of fun.

Answer 7

Make sure you trust the one you're with....we'd hate to hear about you being lost at sea.

Answer 8

First of all - go Carnival Cruise Lines, they are by far the best.

Second- The Bahamas are only nice if you want to see Hemmingway's house or shop; otherwise go to Mexico. The East coast of Mexico has a warmer, clearer ocean and all ocean activities are really nice including snorkeling, scuba diving, and going to the beach. The east coast of Mexico also has many Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula, all of which are beautiful. I recommend Tulum. Also, the Carribean islands are beautiful, my favorites are Grand Caymen and Jamaica. Both are very beautiful and offer a myriad of activities and shore excursions. Carnival has a ship that goes to Grand Caymen, Jamaica, and Mexico. I went on that cruise last year, and I'm going again this year because I loved it so much.

Now if you want to go to Western Mexico, your best bet is Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerta Vallarta.

What NOT to pack: hairdryer, excessive clothing... I can't think of anything right now, but look here: http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/FAQLand...

You can either tip the staff on the ship, or you can pay gratuities along with the bill.

All food is included, all alcoholic and soda drinks are NOT included. They are moderately priced. Juice, tea, coffee, cocoa, water are all included.

There are tons of onboard activities. Night activities can include: Lido Deck (poolside) parties, Several different dance clubs, comedy shows, las vegas style shows, and magic shows. There's also a very nice midnight buffet that serves some tasty things.

I wouldn't recommend buying a ticket within just 3 months unless you want to end up paying more and/or not getting the dates you want. Try to plan it as early as possible.

I wish you guys the best of luck, and a great trip.