What can I expect on my first cruise?

Question

I am a total cruise dummy. I don't know many people that have even been on a cruise vacation. I am going on my first cruise in October. I live in San Diego so I will depart from the local port. It is a 4-day Mexico cruise, the destination is Cabo San Lucas. I know there are restaurants and activities that are offered on the cruise, I am sure the food and activities are included in the price of the cruise. Does that include alcoholic beverages? Will we have to buy our own drinks? I am taking my boyfriend and he smokes. Does he have to go outside the ship in order to smoke or are there designed smoking areas or cabins (like non-smoking and smoking rooms in hotels)? Are we allowed to bring our own alcohol? Would they know? Do you they check your bags? How much additional money should we bring for extra stuff (tips, souvenir, etc.)? Any and all information will help. Thanks.

Answer 1

To answer your questions...you will pay for your alcohol onboard the ship. I have carried my own on board a few times and no one ever caught it. They do check bags randomly before entering the ship and they will check when you come back onboard from cabo.  On some ships there are designated smoking areas so my guess is he will not be allowed to smoke just anywhere.   How much money on a 4 day cruiuse...is hard to answer b/c it depends on how much of a shopper and drinker you are.  I would at least put up $300.  Hope this helps some!

Answer 2

Spa

Answer 3

We went on our first cruise last year... You have alot of questions .. I can answer most of them but i bet you would love this site... This is where i learned everything before my cruise.... I got addicted to ... So Great...

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/forums/ind...

or this one is great... h**l join both...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/

It is a forum for nothing but cruisers... Anything at all you need to know they will answer there.. it is alot like this place but about nothing but cruises....

Yes... they might tell you this.. but, you can sneak your drinks in... put them in your checked backage.. not your carry ons... I also wrapped ours in wrapping paper.. made them look like gifts....

Everything is included except your drinks...

Hope you like the site...

Email me or message me if you have any questions.. I am full of answers.. LOL.. we had so much fun on our first cruise .. we are addicts now....

Answer 4

My husband & I went on a cruise to the Bahamas. You should expect a very good time & to be waited on hand & foot. There are so many activities to do on a cruise so plan ahead what you want to do & your expences. Anytime you step off the ship you have to pay for all that you do. Alcoholic beverages are not included in your cruise package, When you go on the ship they give you a card like a credit card, You put your own money on the card (what you intend to spend) at any time you can add more money to the card. ATMs are on the ship. You must use your card to buy drinks (except shampain)----free. You must take cash on hand incase you choose to go off the ships at ports you will stop at. DO NOT attempt to take anything on or off the ship like alcohol. You may buy alcohol on the ship which is very cheep.lot of things are cheeper on the ship. If you buy one 1/2 gal or so you may drink it on the ship but you are not allowed to take your alcohol into any entertainment, like ---you may drink it in your room etc. But if you buy more than one you must have it placed in a box for the stewartest to deport off the ship & you will get it after your plain ride back home. Be careful about what you take & place in your suitcase, for if you are not careful you could place your self in a situtation. The guidelines & rules are very strict. Your boyfriend may smoke, however there are designated areas where he may not smoke just look for the signs. There is an x-ray bag checker. ----That Sees all in your bag!!! Take plenty of extra cash if you plan to do most of the activities like scuba diving or jet skis etc... Hope this has answered your concerns. I am sure you will have a good time!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Food is included drinks are not so what you do is give your credit card # and then everything is charged to your room then to your card.  Bring sea sick or motion sickness pills or patches because it can happen and you won't like it.  Bring a nice dress or two.  Money just have what you can afford, it all depends on what you will be doing off ship and if you are buying  souvenirs for others.  Most important thing is to have fun and just enjoy everything and each other.

Answer 6

you are picking the right cruise for your first one. Its smart to go from a port near you.  Alcoholic beverages are something you would purchase extra.  Also the activities on shore in each port cost extra too.  Your BF can smoke in designated areas on the ship. No smoking in the rooms (I believe). They do check your bags.  cruisecritic.com

or cruiseclues.com give you some ideas of how much you might want to spend for extras on your cruise. Cruise clues has great ideas on packing and menus too of different cruises.  good luck and have a great time.

Answer 7

First of all, you are going to have a great time.  Cruises are fantastic.  It is like being on a floating city!   Take advantage of all the fun activities.  They usually give you a schedule for the day at breakfast, so you can plan the day accordingly.   The food and activities are included in the price, but usually not alcohol  The drinks are usually pricey (but who cares, your on vacation) and you can charge them to your room and pay at the end of the cruise. You cannot, however, bring your own alcohol. They do check (it happened to me) and they confiscate it.   Even if you buy some at a Mexican port, they make you "check " it and hold it for you until the end of the cruise.   I am not sure how the smoking goes, since I am not a smoker, so I would check on the cruise's website for that.  A tip I can give you is that the pool on the boat is sea water, not chlorinated water.   The pools are usually small and there is limited seating around it, so if you like to lounge at the pool side, get there early.    The drinks will be flowing from the crack of dawn till all hours of the night.    Have a blast.