We just went on our first cruise, freedom of the seas. One thing we learned from watching people try to get off the boat at the end of the cruise. Don’t forget your room key card and leave it in your room at the end of the cruise because you need it to get off the boat. This is not a hotel where you leave your key card in the room so they can use it again. They need to know that you got off the boat. No one told us this and I never heard it in any of the blogs. We watched, and I feel like we watched them all, And we saw so many people having to get out of the line and go back up to their room or go to the front desk to get their card. When we left the room we thought about leaving it because we did not need it anymore but thankfully we decided to keep it for a souvenir and low and behold we needed it to get off the ship.
I’m the complete opposite I will never book with a travel agent again it’s way too easy to do it myself if I wanna call rccl and change something I can I don’t have to wait until my TA pick up the phone explain to him or her what I want than they explain to rccl what I want when I can simple call rccl myself and know it’s done right
I'm glad it works for you. Personally, I can't be bothered to waste my time on hold. And when there's a problem, a TA is so helpful dealing with Royal instead of me chasing them down for things.
My wife and I have had bad experiences with travel agents when we booked a cruise, especially the last one. We just had it transferred back to Celebrity. The Travel Agent was totally unresponsive. I know there are good agents out there but they are difficult to find.
Totally agree Shawn! I used a travel agent after booking myself 4 or 5 times. I really did not like the extra in between step, and having to wait for someone else to get the price drop savings on my behalf is too stressful.
@@davva360 I also had a bad experience that’s why I stopped using them my first 2 cruises I was a newbie so I listened and got a travel agent but I’m very hands on I look up deals specials etc… I called my agent and told them about a deal that just came out and they had no idea what I was talking about I call rccl to add the deal and they wouldn’t because I had a travel agent and they said they my agent has to do it. Long story short I almost missed out on a savings of hundreds because my agent wasn’t knowledgeable enough
Thank you for the great tips. This is the list whenever I go to the cruise: - 1 & 5 dollar bills for tips - something for door decorations because they're all the same - magnetic hooks, bathroom spray, eye drops, pouf, headphones, bandage, night lights, seasick medicine, suntan, hat. Everything on the ship is so expensive.
@@FewNewReasonss these are for the baggage handlers and a small gratuity for room service. Also, sometimes you might want to tip the room steward a little extra.
Bring the over the door shoe organizer BUT hang it up with magnets on the wall. It is great for sunscreens, sunglasses, etc. Great for people that don't want clutter on your counters.
The problem I have with any cruise ship is the price of internet. There is no way internet of a cruise ship should cost as much for one day as it does for a week or more at home. Internet is actually one of those things that is needed no matter where you are. $20 a day for internet that isn't that good and sometimes, non existent, is way out of line.
Agreed. I went on navigators of the seas in December 2023 for 4 days and my wife got wifi package for 1 adult. And we shared the wifi by Bluetooth for the other adult. It wasnt the best but we saved some money and had some money saved.
As soon as I got cellular back, I received a TON of texts and emails that didn't come through with the on-board wifi. Also I swear it was just totally out half the time for other things
For me, when I’m on a cruise, one of my favorite things is being disconnected from the world. My phone is now a camera. And that is fine with me. If someone needs to call me with an emergency what am I going to do with that information from the middle of the ocean?
One thing to keep in mind is that unlike any land based resort or hotel, which can easily be hooked into the internet, a ship must rely on satellites for internet service. The shipboard equipment is expensive, as are the terrestrial stations and the satellites themselves. Bandwidth on these systems is very expensive as a result. Even if the ship (doesn't have to be a cruise ship) is equipped with Starlink, the bandwidth is still going to be limited.
I'm your Huckleberry... 1) Don't forget to enter all your info into the App prior to cruise. 2) Don't do a late dinner. 3) Don't pack an over the door shoe organizer unless you absolutely need many shoes. 4) Don't forget to print luggage tags prior to arrival at Port. 5) Don't feel obligated to go to Specialty Dining every night even if you have Dining Package. 6) I'm never eating at Hook again. The menu is dominated with Shellfish. 7) I'm not going to go on as many cruises in 2023. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. 8) I'm never booking a last minute cruise, on my own, without a Travel Agent.
Thank you. Also, regarding number 3. Not just for a lot of shoes, but everything. Lotions, sunblock, curling irons, straightening irons, makeup, blow dryers, so so sooooo much more than just for shoes!
My over the door organizer folds completely flat in my suitcase, hardly taking up any extra space. I put items in it such as sunblock cans, over the counter medicines, chair clips, hair accessories, and stuff that I need to use most every day. I find it helpful to not have to rummage through drawers looking for what I need. I am over 50….I usually forget where I set things down, so it’s a time saver for me. 😂
We have 9 booked in the next year and my travel agent wont return my calls or texts so decided to just book directly through Royal Caribbean it was a lot easyier then using the travel agent
I joined the Facebook page for my next sailing. The administrator is a travel agent on the same sailing. She said she would love to help people. I sent an email with questions. I received an auto reply saying she received my email. But she never answered my questions. So I am more than happy to keep doing everything on my own.
I have booked 12 cruises on my own. I don’t think an agent is necessary. Booking a cruise is very easy. It seems they make the process very user friendly.
27 cruises for us on different cruise lines and always booked on-line and find it very easy. RC is our favorite, then Norwegian. MSC is pretty good too.
@@equallyyoked1 We're traveling with a group of almost 30 people to a cruise, so far we've pretty much all gotten the exact same information but one guy has taken the lead as the pseudo travel agent for the group. So most information flows through him and to everyone else, this is ideal imo. Large group chat where people keep everyone informed, etc. Not a "everyone book it yourself and show up" kind of thing. If I remember, I'll update to let you know how much goes wrong, we're a few weeks out haha. So far I think everyone is at least flying in the day before.
Been doing late dinner since the 80’s and still love it. On port days, no rush to get to dinner. Can enjoy sail away, get ready and have a drink & dance before dinner. On sea days Love laying around the pool after it clears out.
I have booked my own cruise for the past 13 cruises and have never used a travel agent. I do lots of research and everything has always gone smoothly. 11 on RCL and 2 on Disney. So I wouldn't discourage anyone from doing it on their own. But they should definitely do the research and know what they are doing.
We were on wonder of the sea and checked out the watch sale. They were telling us the watchers were $900 etc marked down to just over $200. We check online for the same watch direct from the watch company it was on sale for $50. I will never buy from the sales.
"Part of going on a cruise is curating it to your experiences." So well said; in fact, I think it is THE most important part of cruising. There are so many options to ensure a great experience, starting with the line, the ship, the itinerary, etc. Then once you get on the ship, sooo many choices to help you have the best cruise for yourself or your party. "You do You", "or in more classic language, "To thine ownself be true."
LOVE the shoe organizer! It's NOT about storage space; it's about grab & go convenience. I can open the cabin door and quickly leave my watch and grab sunscreen or flip-flops to head for the pool without opening drawers and closets or disturbing a napping companion. In the morning, I can stow phone chargers and my cabin-mate doesn't have to guess where I stashed it.
Love second seating. We lay by the pool late afternoon after it clears out then get ready and have a cocktail somewhere before dinner. Also less rushed and can get to chat with the wait staff. Still time to see a show and go dancing.
I love everything about second seating until you leave and it's already sometime in the 10:00 hour. Contrast that with an early dinner and the evening feels like your oyster!
As a conscientious TA, how do we reach you to help us book our first cruise vacation?! Seriously, we are thinking of booking it ourselves, but if there’s a reputable TA out there, maybe we should do that!!
We loved the over the door organizer, but we hung ours on the wall with magnetic hooks. We used it for things we needed most often, like or sunglasses, sunscreen, deodorant, sandals, glasses cleaner kit, seapass cards, liquid iv drink mixes, etc. very handy for the on the go cruiser! 🎉😊
I love my over the door organizer. I have narrow ones. Leave the over the door hooks at home and use strong magnets to hang it on the wall. Helps us to keep paperwork, excursion tickets and small items off the limited desk space.
Unless things have changed, a travel agent that does a lot if bookings can be very helpful when selecting the actual cabin. All cabins in the same price range, even on the same deck, are not all created equal. Also, travel agents that do a lot of business with a cruise line can sometimes get better deals.
This is exactly why we booked through a TA. We are experienced travelers and I always make our own arrangements, but we've never cruised so we booked through a TA who specializes in cruises so we could take advantage of her expertise.
The over the door shoe organizer was a game changer even for just 2 of us. I want to make the most of every minute on our cruise so I spend about 1 hour unpacking and organizing our stateroom as soon as we are allowed this way I know I know where everything is.
HERE IS WHY I WILL ALWAYS CARRY ALL OF MY LUGGAGE ONTO THE SHIP - Several years ago (pre-covid) I went on a cruise out of San Francisco to Hawaii and back. The cruise was scheduled to depart around 5:00 so we could sail under the Golden Gate Bridge around sunset. Boarding was delayed for unknown reasons and as a result there was a long line to get on the ship around 3:30. In San Francisco checked luggage is required to be put on the ship by the union dock workers and the cruise line (Princess in this case) pays a LOT for this service. As we were waiting in line the dock workers came down the line to collect the luggage and DEMANDED $20 (cash only) for each bag. People complained and Princess sent out one of their employees to tell the dock workers not to do this. The dock workers became very upset and organized an on-the-spot strike where they refused to load any bags. They also took one of the very large carts of bags (60 - 70 bags I would guess) and dumped it into the bay. Princess then had to hire scuba divers to retrieve the soaked bags and contact the dock workers union to get them to load the remaining checked bags. As a result the ship did not sail until around 10:00 PM. I know this is unlikely to happen again, but I will never check my bags on or off a cruise ship again.
The over the door shoe organizer for big families is CLUTCH! We are a family of 6 with 3 sets of shoes each (gym shoes, sandals and fancy shoes for formal nights). We literally keep the shoes in them and that keeps the shoes off the floor collecting somewhere/lost. Huge difference for us.
On cruises that aren't charters, I find that dinner around 6 works best for me. On charters, I like doing concerts early (around 6:30) and grabbing the late buffet around 8.
The thing I would never do again is go without travel ins. Our first cruise in 2016 with our 2 boys and we were at Dunn river falls in Jamaica and my husband slipped and broke his ankle in 9 places! We had to leave the ship. Let’s just say hospiten for 3 days. It was a nightmare! Learned my lesson the hard way!
oh my! i'm sorry. yes luckily i didn't have to learn my lesson the hard way but i wouldn't go on a cruise without travel insurance. i'm a huge what-if/every possible scenario type person, so I always plan for the worst and hope for the best.
As a Canadian, I would never leave the country without buying travel Insurance! The thought of paying an American price for medical care is terrifying! Nevermnd all the contingency coverage!
We just sailed port canaveral and didn’t print luggage tags. As soon as I stopped at the drop off, porters asked if we had tags and we said no. She had them in her hand and took all of 2 minutes to put them on 6 pieces of luggage. They only need your room number. Wasn’t an issue for us at port Canaveral
Going on my first royal Caribbean cruise in 27 days :) on ovation, have bought refreshment package and 3 night dinning package I am doing wonderland and jamie oliver restaurant and also trying the chefs table. SO CANT WAIT!!!
Ive booked all mine on my own. When i talk with travel agents (ans ive talked to numerous) i dont see any value in using one. I watch all the pricing and always hunting for deals. Ive only even paid for an interior stateroom but ive never once stayed in one! I always on it to watch the prices drop after ive booked and get upgraded. Ive reduced my drink package cost, shore excursions i hunt and watch probably closer than travel agents would for my sailing. I just got off the independence of the seas for a 4 night cruise. I got it for $225 per person!
We enjoy using a shoe organizer onboard, but we hang it with magnetic hooks on a wall near the bed. We like being able to quickly find small items like sun glasses, sun block, jewelry, tie clips, ties, etc. in the organizer. Royal has lots of little storage areas, but remembering where we stowed everything is the problem. With the organizer, we keep all these little items off the countertop and tucked away but visible for easy retrieval. I agree with all of your other points though!
Exactly, I like keeping the counter free of crap. I also put make up in. I have a hanging make up bag but prefer to put those items in the shoe holder once on board.
My wife and I hit Platinum in January, after 11 years of marriage. In that time, we've sailed on the Vision, the Liberty, the Explorer, the Mariner, as well as the Emerald and Ruby Princess, one each, averaging a little better than 1 cruise every 2 years. For us, it is an escape from the real world, and for me, not having to cook (which I love to do, but do almost every day) is a big part of why cruising once every couple of years is a big deal for me. But, I think cruising more frequently would begin to erode the charm of the escape. We'll be on the Oasis in 19 days, then we'll probably take two years off.
I think the over the door shoe organizer is ideal for people like us - parents of toddlers. We’d have never needed it just the two of us, and I can’t imagine needing it once kids are teenagers. But right now with my soon to be 1 and almost 3 yr olds… we are definitely bringing one in February. Toddlers bring their own excess… and most of that is small and easily lost things like toddler shoes 😂 So I think it’s just a “not for everyone” hack.
@@lauramata4244 not true, it’s usually 6 months, with exemptions for long cruises, certain origins, or a number of consecutive sea days. Either way mine will be 13 months when we travel 🤷🏻♀️
So we always book the late seating in the MDR. 8pm. On our last cruise we went transatlantic. Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona. 14 days. Magical. What you don't realize is like every other day we lost an hour. So by the time we got to the first port in Spain it is a six hour change! If you had a 5pm dinner time and your body has not adjusted it's like eating dinner at 11am!
One thing I won’t do is go to the Wonderland restaurant. Lord that was horrible! Ran into an issue scheduling a reservation and just decided to try it and man was it regretful!!
We use the shoe oganizer on the inside of the bathroom. It's wonderful for all of the toiletries that you have! We love it and could never go without it! ❤ I do understand though, to each his own. Love this show.
We had a terrible experience with a travel agent and will never use one for booking on Royal Caribbean. We have always done it ourselves or booked on Next Cruise while on our current cruise. As too going on too many cruise... 💯 agree with you. My wife and I cruised on Allure for our honeymoon, then didn't go on another for 4 years, and we ended up going on a cruise 3 years in a row, Mariner, Harmony, and then Majesty.... booking the next cruise while sailing. stopped during covid and waited until they lifted the V restrictions and sailed on Grandure in October. While on Grandure, we booked for ICON!!! We are going on its 4th sailing, so I will have to avoid your channel for a few weeks since you are going on its maiden voyage... but then again, I might miss out on some of your great tips!! 😁
The 3-night dining package has always worked best for us. We can always get three nights of specialty dining on our 7-day cruises, but rarely are we able to, nor do we want to do more. It typically saves us $50 - $75 compared to booking individual restaurants onboard, so not a bad deal.
You've probably cruised more in the last year than I have EVER, but the closest I've ever gotten to specialty dining is the sushi-making class at Izumi. I've never been tempted enough by the menus to pay extra. But I think it's a cool option to have available.
Love this! I agree 💯% about the over the door shoe holder. I couldn't find anything to put in it. Also found the same things you did with the UDP, no way to eat that much, that often without a food coma.
I used mine for all my toiletries I didn't want all over the bathroom shelves along with brushes, comb, curling iron, suntan lotion, over-the-counter medications and shoes. I just left the sleeve at the door handle to the bathroom empty and put it behind the handle so it didn't interfere with opening the door.
Great tips!!! I will say that when we were just on Symphony, we did MDR at 8pm and the food was awful. It had sat under the warmer it seemed. We always do 5;30 because the food seems fresher. Love the tips!! Did not think about the drink package one!! Thats so smart!!
We booked kind of late so it was either my time or 5pm. We are cruising w grandma and 12 year old son so we are going for 5pm. It will make it so we have plenty of time for shows. Can always get a snack later also.
Over door shoe hanger is a life saver if you are traveling with kids, for all of their little items. Some cruise lines don’t permit hanging over the door, so use heavy duty magnetic hooks and hang it on your cabin wall.
I won't step foot anywhere near the spa or gym in the first two days of the cruise. I will never use the Vitality Spa again. My god, from the moment I stumbled across this place, I was given the hard sell on just about every service they offered. I caved and got a massage, which ended up being the most expensive massage of my life, and then I was sold a whole slew of products that, if i had bought, would have cost more than the massage.
Something semi amusing. We recently went on a post retirement cruise, I know this is a Royal blog but it was on Princess from Southamton to New England, Canada and back. My wife has had a couple of tough years with illness, things are on the up and she loves lobster. Four days before the cruise she came down with a shellfish allergy! She was OK to travel but decidely miffed. The cruise was a huge boost so the moral is dont worry if things are not perfect, just enjoy.
I fully agree with the earlier dining time. At least 2ce my entire table including people we just met scarfed our food down like animals so we could attend an evening show together around 9pm. Also no-one tells you that you can get BOTH desserts in Main Dining! Mmm
15 cruises in a YEAR!?! (I'll count the Alaska one) Wow, I can see how that can be a little too much. The traveling, constant packing, the amount of Jet Lag, hotels (good and bad), going through all the mail when you get home, and more. Jeez, I say you need a vacation from Cruise vacations XD
I don't get using a travel agent honestly, it just seems like an annoying extra step. Booking a cruise through RC's official site is not exactly hard... So instead of just doing the booking myself and see all the details in front of me, I have to ask someone else to do it for me? With a lot back and forth with details? It seems a lot more time consuming.
The over the door organizer was great with a baby in diapers to organize all those things and the bathroom door being so close to the bed itmade it so easy. Other then that we didn't find any other use for it
I didn’t care for hooked either. However I do not like Japanese style food but one restaurant I WILL DO EVERY CRUISE is Izumi’s. That is the best meal on the ship to me. I tried it because my sister-in-law wanted to try it because she had never tried anything like it. I thought well I will go but then go to the buffet afterwards to get something for me to eat. I was so shocked that I loved the food.
we love to over the door org for finding bits and pieces: hair ties/products, lip balm, make up, skin sprays, bug repellant, etc., all the little stuff that would clutter counter space, which is virtually non-existent in a cruise cabin. it will be coming with us on Solstice in 9 days!!!
Thank you for the wonderful review. A points were great. I don't agree on #5. Before you kill me, please know that I was a cruise travel agent for 8 years and that's a long time. I like the privacy of my home and computer. Thank you for an excellent video.
Christmas eve we booked our cruise for Icon of the Seas, for Feb. 2024. Selected an Ocean View Cabin with Balcony (as we always do). However, we have never noticed a "Guarantee" on the line when selecting. Sounded good, a "Guarantee", we chose it. We were not able to choose our Cabin?! The day after Christmas we called Royal Caribbean. We got educated on what it mean to select "Cabin with Balcony Guaranteed". Be aware, that means they will select a cabin for you a week or so before your cruise (approx. savings $300 per). We upgraded, selected our Cabin and all seems right again in the world. :-)
Oh, clever idea about the drink package. But another cruise blogger suggested simply telling the cruise line if the second person does not drink and they may waive the requirement.
I won't go to the salon for a massage. It was too expensive esp. since 1/3 of my massage was the hot rocks just sitting on my back. I think I over tip though.
Interestingly, we (meaning my family) have never booked any of our many cruise vacations through a travel agent. We simply go to the websites and do it ourselves with no hassle or missteps.
ORGANIZER? You selected a cheap $ store shoe bag. Purchase a toiletry bag. It's perfect for organizing all the little beauty & health items. For each trip, I replace any empties. Pack a couple of disposable raincoats and a small plug-in power bank. CHECK-IN? I love the scheduled check-in, but was disappointed there was not an attendant waiting for me with a wheelchair. I cannot walk more than 100 -200 feet. It wasn't until a white shirt saw me in distress and phoned....
LOL Hooked was one of the best restaurants I've ever experienced at sea. I am allergic to blue crab and shrimp but I love seafood! The service was awesome, I loved the views
I won't eat in the MDR again. The tables are way too close together, it's loud, and takes forever. I like to get in and out, and I'm not a big food snob so the buffet or snacking is ok for me. I did the over the door shoe holder once. I had it packed nicely with all my toiletries. When I folded it up to put it in my suitcase, everything fell out. Big hassle.
Unless the trip is complicated ((i.e. multiple segments in foreign travel) a TA is only useful for those not very experienced travelers. Highly experienced travelers can easily handle the various reservations. I’ve never been on hold with RCCL for more than 3-5 minutes. That’s not a big deal. Patience is a virtue some people don’t possess.
I was on hold 1 he and 20 Min. The end of our total call was 2:20 or so. 2 friends were also on hold for at least an hour. No big deal with speaker phone these days. Also, it depends when and what timeframe these calls are being made.
I am with you on the luggage tags! We just got onto the WOTS today. This morning, I realized I forgot to bring my luggage tags. I had the luggage tags prepped and inside the special tag holders with the wire tags too. We had no problem getting tags, but the tag on my daughter’s luggage tore off so it took us all day to get the luggage once our room attendant took us to go get it. I can’t help but think that if I hadn’t forgotten the tags, this would have been one less stress to deal with.
We actually always prefer the late seating. Cocktails at the Diamond Lounge (or the Trellis Bar on Oasis class ships), followed by dinner, followed by the show, followed by a nightcap at, say, the Schooner Bar is a perfect evening as far as we're concerned. And we do always carry a shoe organizer, but ours hangs in the closet, and we use if for shoes! As for luggage tags, not only do I print them at home, but I laminate them as well. I've seen unprotected paper tags melting away in a Miami cloudburst as they sit awaiting porters to transport them to the ship. Things we won't do again? - arrive at the cruise port the morning of the sailing. I almost missed a cruise once due to traffic around NYC, despite building a couple extra hours into the alotted drive time. When we arrived at the terminal there was only 1 desk still staffed, and they were packing up to leave. They told us they would take us out of "didn't show" and put us into "did show." By that point I was so flustered that I left my travel documents (passports included) on the shuttle to the ship. The good news is that the RCL crew radioed the shuttle driver, who swung back and returned the pouch to me, but lesson learned!
As a TA I always quote travel insurance and gratuities in the price. I understand that many people don't want those but I see daily what happens when they don't
I agree with the over the door organizer not being useful *for me*. I can totally see it being awesome for others. But like you showed in the video it blocks the door handle and it would bounce on the door every time it moves, so I wonder if it would work on a wall by hanging it on some strong magnetic hooks?
Yes, I got the tip to use the organizer from another video. I bought super strong magnetic hooks from Amazon and used two for each of the three holes on an open wall in the stateroom. It held up the full organizer with no problem.
Matt, really appreciate all the vids, fair info, and humor. Started following before our first RC cruise in May... headed to Cali this weekend for our second cruise this time on Navigator (in a GS!!) next week. Keep up the great work and know this RC noob is grateful for the quality content! Happy Holidays!
I'm 100% with you in regards to Hooked, and I'm a big shellfish eater. I want particularly impressed by any of the dishes. It was all "fine" but nothing really stood out. I'd much rather go to one of the other excellent choices on board the ship.
It might be sacrilege, but this is how I feel about Mason Jar. I was looking forward to eating there, but the food just wasn’t any good. I would say below main dining quality. The bar is a wonderfully lively place, but can be quite loud depending on where you are seated at the restaurant.
About the over the door organizer, I heard that some cruise lines don’t allow them because they can scratch the top of the door. Plus, I’m only 5 feet tall so the top half of it wouldn’t be very accessible for me. I’ve seen smaller ones with 4 or 6 pockets that I could hang on magnetic hooks.
I'm in a wheelchair and will be traveling with my son and his wife. I went on Amazon and got 2 - 7 pocket organizers. I will be hanging them up with magnetic hangers where I can reach them. I figure this will make the bathroom neater with all of my hanging near the shower. Just a suggestion for the future.
I have only booked myself....online. The only time i need to call is to cancel. Its not complicated. Some specialist cruise agencies may get a promo deal but they usually have catches eg ship allocated cabin etc.
I don't know if it was like this when the video was made but now you have to pay a fee on top of the dining package cost for Izumi and a few others so the cost really doesn't seem worth it. Best thing to do now a days is do your research. I was going to buy the package until I saw the additional fees.
I prefer later dining these days. I don't like fighting crowds, so I prefer to go to the less crowded shows in the theater. After my experience on Voyager, I'm about ready to just get late dining instead of flexible dining.
I’m frustrated that I was made to book with a particular travel agent as the cruise we are going on early next year is part of a wedding, so if i had booked with RCCL apart from everyone else, i would not have been counted with the rest of the party for the wedding, and would not have been able to join in the festivities. I cannot pay for my pre-cruise paid gratuity package, and have to book my travel insurance through the travel agent as well. The travel agent was so busy with her own full time job whilst doing this as well, that she dropped the ball so often with me, that i almost did not even make the final day of payment to be a part of the wedding party. I feel like as if i am tethered to a ball-and-chain.
Things I will never pack on a cruise as I didn't need them. Ipad. Phone was sufficient. Scarf. Never used them. Binoculars. Nothing to see. Too many socks. 4 prs are enough. Things i wish I packed. Magnets. To locate cabin door easier. A few more dress shirts. More underwear. Themed clothing for theme nights. Things I will never buy onboard again. Too many drinks. More than 1 special dining experience. Anything from the gift shops apart from a few souvenirs. And remember the gratuity tips are already in the fee, you don't have to tip all the staff. Its already costing a lot. I shudder to think how many extra costs people paid. Last cruise i paid extra 300 for onboard costs, and i was very cautious in spending. Happy cruising.
Things I'll never do on a RCI cruise 2023 edition: Have more than one lobster on lobster night, have turndown service, have access to the concierge lounge as diamond, pay 2022 gratuity prices, get a towel animal...
My luggage tag fell off and they won’t let you check until 9:00pm. I think that’s too late. It should be ok to check when it’s clear that your luggage isn’t delivered by dinner time. I’m the dummy who didn’t pack needed items in case this happened. I’ll never do that again! Make sure your luggage tag is secure and don’t forget to have a swimsuit and other needs in a backpack. Lesson learned. As far as dinner time, we like the 6:30 hour. I LOVE every second of pool time. My favorite time on the ship is to lie by the pool and grab the free ice cream on sea days!
We always book the late dining because when don’t want to have to rush when we are at a port. Having to rush back to shower to make it to a 5pm dinner is too much for me, specially when you got kids.
You said an over door shoe rack is not that helpful. The over the closet bar racks for shoes or sweaters work great. They add extra drawer space. Really great with kids an outfit a day.
I think one or two a year is plenty of cruises, even though I just came back off one and will be going on 4 in a 12 month period LOL. I was trying to take advantage of the post Covid pricing which for someone like me that is close to the ports made cruising a cheap vacation. I dont think I will ever book the Coco Cay Beach club again unless they make some changes. Our visit there was a disaster and they did not refund all the money even though we did not get to eat. Unless they rain proof the pavilion so there is somewhere to eat if it rains I won't take the chance again.
I like eating at 5/530, I play around til 2 or 3, nap til 4, get ready for dinner for 5, then I can go longer at night. I need a nap lol I'd rather hit the bars or later shows and have a set dinner time. I also typically get up at 6/7 am though.
Can confirm about that last point - Beth at MEI Travel was such a great help on our recent cruise on Oasis, I'll always go to her for booking another cruise.
I can think of two. 1) I won't be sheepish about ordering non-alcoholic drinks. A few times on my last cruise, for some reason I got annoyed looks from bartenders and even a "You sure you don't want alcohol in this?" from one of them when I ordered mocktails. It was so noticeable that I actually made a note of it on the post-cruise survey. I have no idea why since I'm certainly not the only one who orders mocktails, but yeah. It kept me from getting them as often as I wanted just because I didn't really want the hassle of being questioned or being made to feel like I was inconveniencing them, so from now on I'm just going to not worry about it and if asked just say I can't drink alcohol and leave it at that. Another thing I'm going to do is tip a buck beforehand. The only thing I can think of is maybe there is a prevailing idea that only people who get alcoholic drinks will tip extra, so if you don't get a regular cocktail, they are annoyed at having to make it? I have no idea, but it happened with different bartenders in different locations. 2) Another thing I won't do it show up on time for anything. We learned this very quickly. The first time we went to trivia, we showed up at the time it was supposed to start. BIG MISTAKE. The Schooner Bar was completely packed. We had no idea people will show up sometimes 30 minutes early for things like that to get a seat. From now on, that's what we do as well. We figure it's a good time to get settled and get drinks, at least.
Your last one was interesting and perhaps a little different in Australia but I almost always book my own now and do not use a travel agent. Travel agents can Never match the direct offers I have been given by the cruise line. For example I am cruising on a short 4 night cruise with carnival in Jan. I am in the grand vista suite on carnival luminosa. This would normally cost over AU $5000 PP twin share. I got it for $225 PP twin share with $250 room credit. So basically the cruise is $100 per person in the highest level suite on the ship. I have had other awesome deals from many of the different cruise lines. Travel agents can never match these deals. Also the only times I have had problems with bookings or with refunds are through travel agents. Example my cruise was cancelled but when I wanted to book on another cruise the travel agent demanded I pay a new deposit before I got my deposit from the previous cancelled cruise back. When you have a large booking with multiple rooms you just don't have that sort of money laying around. When booking myself I have never had a problem. The cruise line automatically applied my refund to the deposit of the new booking. Again could just be a difference between how it works in the different countries.
Years ago when my wife and I first started going to Disney.we tried travel agent. She put us in a crappy hotel and we got looked out it too. Since then my wonderful wife has booked our every trip and cruise. Now where v booked on the oasis f our first time plus we’re taking our two daughters. We’ve never tried those shoes cover over the door.
You nailed it,my friend. The spouse and I were just on the Allure last week and pretty much followed your advice. We did not purchase the special meal package, but may revisit ,using your guidance. We will be back on the Allure come July, for the President's cruise. I hope it's as good as the hype
We just went on our first cruise, freedom of the seas. One thing we learned from watching people try to get off the boat at the end of the cruise. Don’t forget your room key card and leave it in your room at the end of the cruise because you need it to get off the boat. This is not a hotel where you leave your key card in the room so they can use it again. They need to know that you got off the boat. No one told us this and I never heard it in any of the blogs. We watched, and I feel like we watched them all, And we saw so many people having to get out of the line and go back up to their room or go to the front desk to get their card. When we left the room we thought about leaving it because we did not need it anymore but thankfully we decided to keep it for a souvenir and low and behold we needed it to get off the ship.
Really good tip especially for first time cruisers!
why would you leave your card in your hotel room? just hand it in at checkout so they dont charge you for misplaced cards
Wendy, we had all our roomcards with us, it is a very nice souvenir und it remember us where we cruised all the years
How can anyone think they can 'use again' the seapass card? It literally has your name printed on it, unlike the hotel card.
Why would you leave something with your name on it lying around?
I’m the complete opposite I will never book with a travel agent again it’s way too easy to do it myself if I wanna call rccl and change something I can I don’t have to wait until my TA pick up the phone explain to him or her what I want than they explain to rccl what I want when I can simple call rccl myself and know it’s done right
I'm glad it works for you. Personally, I can't be bothered to waste my time on hold. And when there's a problem, a TA is so helpful dealing with Royal instead of me chasing them down for things.
My wife and I have had bad experiences with travel agents when we booked a cruise, especially the last one. We just had it transferred back to Celebrity. The Travel Agent was totally unresponsive. I know there are good agents out there but they are difficult to find.
Totally agree Shawn! I used a travel agent after booking myself 4 or 5 times. I really did not like the extra in between step, and having to wait for someone else to get the price drop savings on my behalf is too stressful.
@@davva360 I also had a bad experience that’s why I stopped using them my first 2 cruises I was a newbie so I listened and got a travel agent but I’m very hands on I look up deals specials etc… I called my agent and told them about a deal that just came out and they had no idea what I was talking about I call rccl to add the deal and they wouldn’t because I had a travel agent and they said they my agent has to do it. Long story short I almost missed out on a savings of hundreds because my agent wasn’t knowledgeable enough
I agree.
Thank you for the great tips. This is the list whenever I go to the cruise:
- 1 & 5 dollar bills for tips
- something for door decorations because they're all the same
- magnetic hooks, bathroom spray, eye drops, pouf, headphones, bandage, night lights, seasick medicine, suntan, hat. Everything on the ship is so expensive.
Pouf???
@@wilmatitzgreaux5086 I guess she wants a personal ottoman?
@@wilmatitzgreaux5086 bath scrub pouf?
Aren't you already laying gratuities?
@@FewNewReasonss these are for the baggage handlers and a small gratuity for room service. Also, sometimes you might want to tip the room steward a little extra.
Bring the over the door shoe organizer BUT hang it up with magnets on the wall. It is great for sunscreens, sunglasses, etc. Great for people that don't want clutter on your counters.
The problem I have with any cruise ship is the price of internet. There is no way internet of a cruise ship should cost as much for one day as it does for a week or more at home. Internet is actually one of those things that is needed no matter where you are. $20 a day for internet that isn't that good and sometimes, non existent, is way out of line.
Agreed. I went on navigators of the seas in December 2023 for 4 days and my wife got wifi package for 1 adult. And we shared the wifi by Bluetooth for the other adult. It wasnt the best but we saved some money and had some money saved.
As soon as I got cellular back, I received a TON of texts and emails that didn't come through with the on-board wifi. Also I swear it was just totally out half the time for other things
For me, when I’m on a cruise, one of my favorite things is being disconnected from the world. My phone is now a camera. And that is fine with me. If someone needs to call me with an emergency what am I going to do with that information from the middle of the ocean?
One thing to keep in mind is that unlike any land based resort or hotel, which can easily be hooked into the internet, a ship must rely on satellites for internet service. The shipboard equipment is expensive, as are the terrestrial stations and the satellites themselves. Bandwidth on these systems is very expensive as a result. Even if the ship (doesn't have to be a cruise ship) is equipped with Starlink, the bandwidth is still going to be limited.
I'm your Huckleberry...
1) Don't forget to enter all your info into the App prior to cruise.
2) Don't do a late dinner.
3) Don't pack an over the door shoe organizer unless you absolutely need many shoes.
4) Don't forget to print luggage tags prior to arrival at Port.
5) Don't feel obligated to go to Specialty Dining every night even if you have Dining Package.
6) I'm never eating at Hook again. The menu is dominated with Shellfish.
7) I'm not going to go on as many cruises in 2023. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
8) I'm never booking a last minute cruise, on my own, without a Travel Agent.
Thank you. Also, regarding number 3. Not just for a lot of shoes, but everything. Lotions, sunblock, curling irons, straightening irons, makeup, blow dryers, so so sooooo much more than just for shoes!
My over the door organizer folds completely flat in my suitcase, hardly taking up any extra space.
I put items in it such as sunblock cans, over the counter medicines, chair clips, hair accessories, and stuff that I need to use most every day. I find it helpful to not have to rummage through drawers looking for what I need. I am over 50….I usually forget where I set things down, so it’s a time saver for me. 😂
Brilliant idea, never heard it before this video. IDC if he doesn't like it, I'm trying it!
We use it to hold diapers for the kids, instead of scrambling to get them outta the closet
Love this idea! Thank you
Great organization tip! I love it!
We have 9 booked in the next year and my travel agent wont return my calls or texts so decided to just book directly through Royal Caribbean it was a lot easyier then using the travel agent
Just like a not-so-great mechanic, car wash, or restaurant, you can't write them all off based on a bad one. I recommend MEI Travel!
I joined the Facebook page for my next sailing. The administrator is a travel agent on the same sailing. She said she would love to help people. I sent an email with questions. I received an auto reply saying she received my email. But she never answered my questions. So I am more than happy to keep doing everything on my own.
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog no
What ships?
@@ryans4116 wonder, navigator, bliss, quantum, icon, ovation
I have booked 12 cruises on my own. I don’t think an agent is necessary. Booking a cruise is very easy. It seems they make the process very user friendly.
27 cruises for us on different cruise lines and always booked on-line and find it very easy. RC is our favorite, then Norwegian. MSC is pretty good too.
Unless you’re traveling with a group and every cruise’s representative tells each group member different things.
@@equallyyoked1 We're traveling with a group of almost 30 people to a cruise, so far we've pretty much all gotten the exact same information but one guy has taken the lead as the pseudo travel agent for the group. So most information flows through him and to everyone else, this is ideal imo. Large group chat where people keep everyone informed, etc. Not a "everyone book it yourself and show up" kind of thing. If I remember, I'll update to let you know how much goes wrong, we're a few weeks out haha.
So far I think everyone is at least flying in the day before.
Until you are stuck outp of town and can't get home and now you need that travel agent to straightete out your flights
Exactly!
Been doing late dinner since the 80’s and still love it. On port days, no rush to get to dinner. Can enjoy sail away, get ready and have a drink & dance before dinner. On sea days Love laying around the pool after it clears out.
I have booked my own cruise for the past 13 cruises and have never used a travel agent. I do lots of research and everything has always gone smoothly. 11 on RCL and 2 on Disney. So I wouldn't discourage anyone from doing it on their own. But they should definitely do the research and know what they are doing.
I absolutely love my over the door organizer for all my hair products, body/face lotions, sunscreen, brush, etc.
also i would use my magnetic hooks instead of putting it on a door!
We were on wonder of the sea and checked out the watch sale. They were telling us the watchers were $900 etc marked down to just over $200. We check online for the same watch direct from the watch company it was on sale for $50. I will never buy from the sales.
"Part of going on a cruise is curating it to your experiences." So well said; in fact, I think it is THE most important part of cruising. There are so many options to ensure a great experience, starting with the line, the ship, the itinerary, etc. Then once you get on the ship, sooo many choices to help you have the best cruise for yourself or your party. "You do You", "or in more classic language, "To thine ownself be true."
LOVE the shoe organizer! It's NOT about storage space; it's about grab & go convenience. I can open the cabin door and quickly leave my watch and grab sunscreen or flip-flops to head for the pool without opening drawers and closets or disturbing a napping companion. In the morning, I can stow phone chargers and my cabin-mate doesn't have to guess where I stashed it.
Love second seating. We lay by the pool late afternoon after it clears out then get ready and have a cocktail somewhere before dinner. Also less rushed and can get to chat with the wait staff. Still time to see a show and go dancing.
I love everything about second seating until you leave and it's already sometime in the 10:00 hour. Contrast that with an early dinner and the evening feels like your oyster!
As a TA thanks for repping us! I’ve read a ton of comments where people have had bad experiences with agents which gives the good ones a bad name.
My pleasure. TAs provide such an important service!
As a conscientious TA, how do we reach you to help us book our first cruise vacation?! Seriously, we are thinking of booking it ourselves, but if there’s a reputable TA out there, maybe we should do that!!
We loved the over the door organizer, but we hung ours on the wall with magnetic hooks. We used it for things we needed most often, like or sunglasses, sunscreen, deodorant, sandals, glasses cleaner kit, seapass cards, liquid iv drink mixes, etc. very handy for the on the go cruiser! 🎉😊
I love my over the door organizer. I have narrow ones. Leave the over the door hooks at home and use strong magnets to hang it on the wall. Helps us to keep paperwork, excursion tickets and small items off the limited desk space.
Unless things have changed, a travel agent that does a lot if bookings can be very helpful when selecting the actual cabin. All cabins in the same price range, even on the same deck, are not all created equal. Also, travel agents that do a lot of business with a cruise line can sometimes get better deals.
Agreed
This is exactly why we booked through a TA. We are experienced travelers and I always make our own arrangements, but we've never cruised so we booked through a TA who specializes in cruises so we could take advantage of her expertise.
The over the door shoe organizer was a game changer even for just 2 of us. I want to make the most of every minute on our cruise so I spend about 1 hour unpacking and organizing our stateroom as soon as we are allowed this way I know I know where everything is.
Only need thongs and formal shoes who needs an organiser
HERE IS WHY I WILL ALWAYS CARRY ALL OF MY LUGGAGE ONTO THE SHIP - Several years ago (pre-covid) I went on a cruise out of San Francisco to Hawaii and back. The cruise was scheduled to depart around 5:00 so we could sail under the Golden Gate Bridge around sunset. Boarding was delayed for unknown reasons and as a result there was a long line to get on the ship around 3:30. In San Francisco checked luggage is required to be put on the ship by the union dock workers and the cruise line (Princess in this case) pays a LOT for this service. As we were waiting in line the dock workers came down the line to collect the luggage and DEMANDED $20 (cash only) for each bag. People complained and Princess sent out one of their employees to tell the dock workers not to do this. The dock workers became very upset and organized an on-the-spot strike where they refused to load any bags. They also took one of the very large carts of bags (60 - 70 bags I would guess) and dumped it into the bay. Princess then had to hire scuba divers to retrieve the soaked bags and contact the dock workers union to get them to load the remaining checked bags. As a result the ship did not sail until around 10:00 PM. I know this is unlikely to happen again, but I will never check my bags on or off a cruise ship again.
😮😮😮😮
This sounds like a scene out of a movie!! LOL LOL
Ahh, the joy of organized labor.
Yet the progressives think this is good.
The over the door shoe organizer for big families is CLUTCH! We are a family of 6 with 3 sets of shoes each (gym shoes, sandals and fancy shoes for formal nights). We literally keep the shoes in them and that keeps the shoes off the floor collecting somewhere/lost. Huge difference for us.
That’s an awesome room tip, thank you!
I agree! I never cruise without it!!!!
If you bring magnetic hooks you can hang it not on a door
On cruises that aren't charters, I find that dinner around 6 works best for me. On charters, I like doing concerts early (around 6:30) and grabbing the late buffet around 8.
The thing I would never do again is go without travel ins. Our first cruise in 2016 with our 2 boys and we were at Dunn river falls in Jamaica and my husband slipped and broke his ankle in 9 places! We had to leave the ship. Let’s just say hospiten for 3 days. It was a nightmare! Learned my lesson the hard way!
oh my! i'm sorry. yes luckily i didn't have to learn my lesson the hard way but i wouldn't go on a cruise without travel insurance. i'm a huge what-if/every possible scenario type person, so I always plan for the worst and hope for the best.
As a Canadian, I would never leave the country without buying travel Insurance! The thought of paying an American price for medical care is terrifying! Nevermnd all the contingency coverage!
So how do you identify a decent travel insurance company?
We just sailed port canaveral and didn’t print luggage tags. As soon as I stopped at the drop off, porters asked if we had tags and we said no. She had them in her hand and took all of 2 minutes to put them on 6 pieces of luggage. They only need your room number. Wasn’t an issue for us at port Canaveral
Going on my first royal Caribbean cruise in 27 days :) on ovation, have bought refreshment package and 3 night dinning package I am doing wonderland and jamie oliver restaurant and also trying the chefs table. SO CANT WAIT!!!
How’d it go? Any tips to share? Thanks.
@@syoung6429 was soo good definitely
do the specialty restaurants
Going on my first cruise next year great to see and hear all this great tips and thoughts
We do dinner at 6:00. Plenty of time for one or two shows afterwards.
Ive booked all mine on my own. When i talk with travel agents (ans ive talked to numerous) i dont see any value in using one. I watch all the pricing and always hunting for deals. Ive only even paid for an interior stateroom but ive never once stayed in one! I always on it to watch the prices drop after ive booked and get upgraded. Ive reduced my drink package cost, shore excursions i hunt and watch probably closer than travel agents would for my sailing. I just got off the independence of the seas for a 4 night cruise. I got it for $225 per person!
THAT'S ME TOO....GOOD ANSWER....👍
Royal Caribbean phone service outstanding for booking/changes/questions. No understatement, they’re amazingly helpful. No travel agent required imo.
We enjoy using a shoe organizer onboard, but we hang it with magnetic hooks on a wall near the bed. We like being able to quickly find small items like sun glasses, sun block, jewelry, tie clips, ties, etc. in the organizer. Royal has lots of little storage areas, but remembering where we stowed everything is the problem. With the organizer, we keep all these little items off the countertop and tucked away but visible for easy retrieval. I agree with all of your other points though!
Exactly, I like keeping the counter free of crap. I also put make up in. I have a hanging make up bag but prefer to put those items in the shoe holder once on board.
Yes this 👆🏼. I have to keep our stateroom neat and organized.
My wife and I hit Platinum in January, after 11 years of marriage. In that time, we've sailed on the Vision, the Liberty, the Explorer, the Mariner, as well as the Emerald and Ruby Princess, one each, averaging a little better than 1 cruise every 2 years. For us, it is an escape from the real world, and for me, not having to cook (which I love to do, but do almost every day) is a big part of why cruising once every couple of years is a big deal for me. But, I think cruising more frequently would begin to erode the charm of the escape. We'll be on the Oasis in 19 days, then we'll probably take two years off.
I think the over the door shoe organizer is ideal for people like us - parents of toddlers. We’d have never needed it just the two of us, and I can’t imagine needing it once kids are teenagers. But right now with my soon to be 1 and almost 3 yr olds… we are definitely bringing one in February. Toddlers bring their own excess… and most of that is small and easily lost things like toddler shoes 😂 So I think it’s just a “not for everyone” hack.
A lot of crew also swear by them.
Crew cabins are notoriously small, so any extra storage is a godsend.
I think you're right!
Be careful... Most cruise lines have minimum age of 12 months for children... It is not negotiable..it is an insurance procedure for them.
@@lauramata4244 not true, it’s usually 6 months, with exemptions for long cruises, certain origins, or a number of consecutive sea days. Either way mine will be 13 months when we travel 🤷🏻♀️
we have one of those. I think cut it down to about 5 rows to keep it higher than the door knob may be a good mod.
So we always book the late seating in the MDR. 8pm. On our last cruise we went transatlantic. Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona. 14 days. Magical. What you don't realize is like every other day we lost an hour. So by the time we got to the first port in Spain it is a six hour change! If you had a 5pm dinner time and your body has not adjusted it's like eating dinner at 11am!
One thing I won’t do is go to the Wonderland restaurant. Lord that was horrible! Ran into an issue scheduling a reservation and just decided to try it and man was it regretful!!
We use the shoe oganizer on the inside of the bathroom. It's wonderful for all of the toiletries that you have! We love it and could never go without it! ❤ I do understand though, to each his own. Love this show.
We had a terrible experience with a travel agent and will never use one for booking on Royal Caribbean. We have always done it ourselves or booked on Next Cruise while on our current cruise. As too going on too many cruise... 💯 agree with you. My wife and I cruised on Allure for our honeymoon, then didn't go on another for 4 years, and we ended up going on a cruise 3 years in a row, Mariner, Harmony, and then Majesty.... booking the next cruise while sailing. stopped during covid and waited until they lifted the V restrictions and sailed on Grandure in October. While on Grandure, we booked for ICON!!! We are going on its 4th sailing, so I will have to avoid your channel for a few weeks since you are going on its maiden voyage... but then again, I might miss out on some of your great tips!! 😁
The 3-night dining package has always worked best for us. We can always get three nights of specialty dining on our 7-day cruises, but rarely are we able to, nor do we want to do more. It typically saves us $50 - $75 compared to booking individual restaurants onboard, so not a bad deal.
I don't disagree, but I often find the price difference between the 3-night and unlimited package to be compelling
You've probably cruised more in the last year than I have EVER, but the closest I've ever gotten to specialty dining is the sushi-making class at Izumi. I've never been tempted enough by the menus to pay extra. But I think it's a cool option to have available.
Love this! I agree 💯% about the over the door shoe holder. I couldn't find anything to put in it. Also found the same things you did with the UDP, no way to eat that much, that often without a food coma.
Exactly!!
What’s not to love about “just keep eating” 🤣🤣
I used mine for all my toiletries I didn't want all over the bathroom shelves along with brushes, comb, curling iron, suntan lotion, over-the-counter medications and shoes. I just left the sleeve at the door handle to the bathroom empty and put it behind the handle so it didn't interfere with opening the door.
Can empathize with the first point. One thing I'll never do again is to forget to book the cruise. It's so embarrassing to show up without a titcket.
😂😂
Great tips!!! I will say that when we were just on Symphony, we did MDR at 8pm and the food was awful. It had sat under the warmer it seemed. We always do 5;30 because the food seems fresher. Love the tips!! Did not think about the drink package one!! Thats so smart!!
We booked kind of late so it was either my time or 5pm. We are cruising w grandma and 12 year old son so we are going for 5pm. It will make it so we have plenty of time for shows. Can always get a snack later also.
Over door shoe hanger is a life saver if you are traveling with kids, for all of their little items. Some cruise lines don’t permit hanging over the door, so use heavy duty magnetic hooks and hang it on your cabin wall.
At Miami, they had a special line for people who hadn't checked in already, and another for those with a Set Sail pass.
I won't step foot anywhere near the spa or gym in the first two days of the cruise. I will never use the Vitality Spa again. My god, from the moment I stumbled across this place, I was given the hard sell on just about every service they offered. I caved and got a massage, which ended up being the most expensive massage of my life, and then I was sold a whole slew of products that, if i had bought, would have cost more than the massage.
Something semi amusing. We recently went on a post retirement cruise, I know this is a Royal blog but it was on Princess from Southamton to New England, Canada and back. My wife has had a couple of tough years with illness, things are on the up and she loves lobster. Four days before the cruise she came down with a shellfish allergy! She was OK to travel but decidely miffed. The cruise was a huge boost so the moral is dont worry if things are not perfect, just enjoy.
Excellent video! but I have a question as a Brazilian!
How do Americans have lunch at 12 pm and dinner at 5 pm?
There's no time to be hungry!!
I fully agree with the earlier dining time. At least 2ce my entire table including people we just met scarfed our food down like animals so we could attend an evening show together around 9pm. Also no-one tells you that you can get BOTH desserts in Main Dining! Mmm
15 cruises in a YEAR!?! (I'll count the Alaska one) Wow, I can see how that can be a little too much. The traveling, constant packing, the amount of Jet Lag, hotels (good and bad), going through all the mail when you get home, and more. Jeez, I say you need a vacation from Cruise vacations XD
I loved all my cruises, but it added up.
I don't get using a travel agent honestly, it just seems like an annoying extra step. Booking a cruise through RC's official site is not exactly hard... So instead of just doing the booking myself and see all the details in front of me, I have to ask someone else to do it for me? With a lot back and forth with details? It seems a lot more time consuming.
The value of using a travel agent isn't booking the cruise. It's all the stuff that comes after, ESPECIALLY if there's a problem.
The over the door organizer was great with a baby in diapers to organize all those things and the bathroom door being so close to the bed itmade it so easy. Other then that we didn't find any other use for it
Ah, that would make sense for babies
Going on The Allure of the Seas on Jan 22, 2022 I can't wait to go, it will be my 1st time with Royal Carribean
I’ll be on that same ship! Can’t wait!!!
I didn’t care for hooked either. However I do not like Japanese style food but one restaurant I WILL DO EVERY CRUISE is Izumi’s. That is the best meal on the ship to me. I tried it because my sister-in-law wanted to try it because she had never tried anything like it. I thought well I will go but then go to the buffet afterwards to get something for me to eat. I was so shocked that I loved the food.
we love to over the door org for finding bits and pieces: hair ties/products, lip balm, make up, skin sprays, bug repellant, etc., all the little stuff that would clutter counter space, which is virtually non-existent in a cruise cabin. it will be coming with us on Solstice in 9 days!!!
I use a travel agent sometimes but I mostly book my own cruises with no issues at all!
Thank you for the wonderful review. A points were great. I don't agree on #5. Before you kill me, please know that I was a cruise travel agent for 8 years and that's a long time. I like the privacy of my home and computer. Thank you for an excellent video.
Christmas eve we booked our cruise for Icon of the Seas, for Feb. 2024. Selected an Ocean View Cabin with Balcony (as we always do). However, we have never noticed a "Guarantee" on the line when selecting. Sounded good, a "Guarantee", we chose it. We were not able to choose our Cabin?! The day after Christmas we called Royal Caribbean. We got educated on what it mean to select "Cabin with Balcony Guaranteed". Be aware, that means they will select a cabin for you a week or so before your cruise (approx. savings $300 per). We upgraded, selected our Cabin and all seems right again in the world. :-)
Oh, clever idea about the drink package. But another cruise blogger suggested simply telling the cruise line if the second person does not drink and they may waive the requirement.
I won't go to the salon for a massage. It was too expensive esp. since 1/3 of my massage was the hot rocks just sitting on my back. I think I over tip though.
Interestingly, we (meaning my family) have never booked any of our many cruise vacations through a travel agent. We simply go to the websites and do it ourselves with no hassle or missteps.
ORGANIZER? You selected a cheap $ store shoe bag. Purchase a toiletry bag. It's perfect for organizing all the little beauty & health items. For each trip, I replace any empties. Pack a couple of disposable raincoats and a small plug-in power bank. CHECK-IN? I love the scheduled check-in, but was disappointed there was not an attendant waiting for me with a wheelchair. I cannot walk more than 100 -200 feet. It wasn't until a white shirt saw me in distress and phoned....
LOL Hooked was one of the best restaurants I've ever experienced at sea. I am allergic to blue crab and shrimp but I love seafood! The service was awesome, I loved the views
Question: Are there any dining chairs without arms? I'm a large woman and arms on chairs are uncomfortable.
They may have some reinforced stools in your weight class.
I won't eat in the MDR again. The tables are way too close together, it's loud, and takes forever. I like to get in and out, and I'm not a big food snob so the buffet or snacking is ok for me. I did the over the door shoe holder once. I had it packed nicely with all my toiletries. When I folded it up to put it in my suitcase, everything fell out. Big hassle.
Just got back from my first cruise and won the belly flop contest 😂😂 I was surprised how many people didn’t have the app prior to embarking
I really don’t understand how that’s possible!
Unless the trip is complicated ((i.e. multiple segments in foreign travel) a TA is only useful for those not very experienced travelers. Highly experienced travelers can easily handle the various reservations.
I’ve never been on hold with RCCL for more than 3-5 minutes. That’s not a big deal.
Patience is a virtue some people don’t possess.
I was on hold 1 he and 20
Min. The end of our total call was 2:20 or so. 2 friends were also on hold for at least an hour. No big deal with speaker phone these days. Also, it depends when and what timeframe these calls are being made.
Call as soon as they open up.
I am with you on the luggage tags! We just got onto the WOTS today. This morning, I realized I forgot to bring my luggage tags. I had the luggage tags prepped and inside the special tag holders with the wire tags too. We had no problem getting tags, but the tag on my daughter’s luggage tore off so it took us all day to get the luggage once our room attendant took us to go get it. I can’t help but think that if I hadn’t forgotten the tags, this would have been one less stress to deal with.
We actually always prefer the late seating. Cocktails at the Diamond Lounge (or the Trellis Bar on Oasis class ships), followed by dinner, followed by the show, followed by a nightcap at, say, the Schooner Bar is a perfect evening as far as we're concerned. And we do always carry a shoe organizer, but ours hangs in the closet, and we use if for shoes! As for luggage tags, not only do I print them at home, but I laminate them as well. I've seen unprotected paper tags melting away in a Miami cloudburst as they sit awaiting porters to transport them to the ship. Things we won't do again? - arrive at the cruise port the morning of the sailing. I almost missed a cruise once due to traffic around NYC, despite building a couple extra hours into the alotted drive time. When we arrived at the terminal there was only 1 desk still staffed, and they were packing up to leave. They told us they would take us out of "didn't show" and put us into "did show." By that point I was so flustered that I left my travel documents (passports included) on the shuttle to the ship. The good news is that the RCL crew radioed the shuttle driver, who swung back and returned the pouch to me, but lesson learned!
If you are not a first time cruiser there is no point using a travel agent. If you can book your own flight online you can book a cruise.
As a TA I always quote travel insurance and gratuities in the price. I understand that many people don't want those but I see daily what happens when they don't
I agree with the over the door organizer not being useful *for me*. I can totally see it being awesome for others. But like you showed in the video it blocks the door handle and it would bounce on the door every time it moves, so I wonder if it would work on a wall by hanging it on some strong magnetic hooks?
Yes, I got the tip to use the organizer from another video. I bought super strong magnetic hooks from Amazon and used two for each of the three holes on an open wall in the stateroom. It held up the full organizer with no problem.
Could you please provide a link for the magnetic hooks you used? This is such a great idea!😁
Yes please, I’m interested in the magnetic hooks and possibly the shoe hanger that worked for you
Matt, really appreciate all the vids, fair info, and humor. Started following before our first RC cruise in May... headed to Cali this weekend for our second cruise this time on Navigator (in a GS!!) next week. Keep up the great work and know this RC noob is grateful for the quality content! Happy Holidays!
Glad to help!
I'm 100% with you in regards to Hooked, and I'm a big shellfish eater. I want particularly impressed by any of the dishes. It was all "fine" but nothing really stood out. I'd much rather go to one of the other excellent choices on board the ship.
Thanks for sharing this!
It might be sacrilege, but this is how I feel about Mason Jar. I was looking forward to eating there, but the food just wasn’t any good. I would say below main dining quality. The bar is a wonderfully lively place, but can be quite loud depending on where you are seated at the restaurant.
As a mom of a toddler an over the door organizer was perfect
Tip to remember which side is which: P-O-R-T is four letters ... the same as L-E-F-T.
We have a two pocket wide shoe rack and use it for toiletries.
About the over the door organizer, I heard that some cruise lines don’t allow them because they can scratch the top of the door. Plus, I’m only 5 feet tall so the top half of it wouldn’t be very accessible for me. I’ve seen smaller ones with 4 or 6 pockets that I could hang on magnetic hooks.
I'm in a wheelchair and will be traveling with my son and his wife. I went on Amazon and got 2 - 7 pocket organizers. I will be hanging them up with magnetic hangers where I can reach them. I figure this will make the bathroom neater with all of my hanging near the shower. Just a suggestion for the future.
I have only booked myself....online. The only time i need to call is to cancel. Its not complicated. Some specialist cruise agencies may get a promo deal but they usually have catches eg ship allocated cabin etc.
The over the door shoe organizer is necessary for toiletries when there are two women traveling together. Never enough bathroom storage.
I don't know if it was like this when the video was made but now you have to pay a fee on top of the dining package cost for Izumi and a few others so the cost really doesn't seem worth it. Best thing to do now a days is do your research. I was going to buy the package until I saw the additional fees.
I eat early so a 6pm dinner is great. You have the rest of the evening to explore.
I prefer later dining these days. I don't like fighting crowds, so I prefer to go to the less crowded shows in the theater. After my experience on Voyager, I'm about ready to just get late dining instead of flexible dining.
I have only done the late dining! On MSC
I appreciate the support of Travel Agents! Thanks!
Always!
I’m frustrated that I was made to book with a particular travel agent as the cruise we are going on early next year is part of a wedding, so if i had booked with RCCL apart from everyone else, i would not have been counted with the rest of the party for the wedding, and would not have been able to join in the festivities. I cannot pay for my pre-cruise paid gratuity package, and have to book my travel insurance through the travel agent as well. The travel agent was so busy with her own full time job whilst doing this as well, that she dropped the ball so often with me, that i almost did not even make the final day of payment to be a part of the wedding party. I feel like as if i am tethered to a ball-and-chain.
Things I will never pack on a cruise as I didn't need them.
Ipad. Phone was sufficient.
Scarf. Never used them.
Binoculars. Nothing to see.
Too many socks. 4 prs are enough.
Things i wish I packed.
Magnets. To locate cabin door easier.
A few more dress shirts.
More underwear.
Themed clothing for theme nights.
Things I will never buy onboard again.
Too many drinks.
More than 1 special dining experience.
Anything from the gift shops apart from a few souvenirs.
And remember the gratuity tips are already in the fee, you don't have to tip all the staff. Its already costing a lot. I shudder to think how many extra costs people paid. Last cruise i paid extra 300 for onboard costs, and i was very cautious in spending. Happy cruising.
Things I'll never do on a RCI cruise 2023 edition: Have more than one lobster on lobster night, have turndown service, have access to the concierge lounge as diamond, pay 2022 gratuity prices, get a towel animal...
No thanks on any cruise. I'm going camping and catch fresh trout. A cruise seems too complex to enjoy.
My luggage tag fell off and they won’t let you check until 9:00pm. I think that’s too late. It should be ok to check when it’s clear that your luggage isn’t delivered by dinner time.
I’m the dummy who didn’t pack needed items in case this happened.
I’ll never do that again!
Make sure your luggage tag is secure and don’t forget to have a swimsuit and other needs in a backpack. Lesson learned.
As far as dinner time, we like the 6:30 hour. I LOVE every second of pool time. My favorite time on the ship is to lie by the pool and grab the free ice cream on sea days!
Yep. Carrying my luggage with me when I board.
We always book the late dining because when don’t want to have to rush when we are at a port. Having to rush back to shower to make it to a 5pm dinner is too much for me, specially when you got kids.
You said an over door shoe rack is not that helpful. The over the closet bar racks for shoes or sweaters work great. They add extra drawer space. Really great with kids an outfit a day.
I think one or two a year is plenty of cruises, even though I just came back off one and will be going on 4 in a 12 month period LOL. I was trying to take advantage of the post Covid pricing which for someone like me that is close to the ports made cruising a cheap vacation.
I dont think I will ever book the Coco Cay Beach club again unless they make some changes. Our visit there was a disaster and they did not refund all the money even though we did not get to eat. Unless they rain proof the pavilion so there is somewhere to eat if it rains I won't take the chance again.
I like eating at 5/530, I play around til 2 or 3, nap til 4, get ready for dinner for 5, then I can go longer at night. I need a nap lol I'd rather hit the bars or later shows and have a set dinner time. I also typically get up at 6/7 am though.
I don't care what you can or cannot do in the Royal Caribbean I plan on enjoying myself when I go for my 8-day cruise to the Caribbean
Can confirm about that last point - Beth at MEI Travel was such a great help on our recent cruise on Oasis, I'll always go to her for booking another cruise.
Beth rocks!
Contact info available? We’ve been using CruCon.
I didnt opt for the drinks package. It was going to cost about $500 i definitely havent drank $500 worth of drinks paying as i go.
I can think of two.
1) I won't be sheepish about ordering non-alcoholic drinks. A few times on my last cruise, for some reason I got annoyed looks from bartenders and even a "You sure you don't want alcohol in this?" from one of them when I ordered mocktails. It was so noticeable that I actually made a note of it on the post-cruise survey. I have no idea why since I'm certainly not the only one who orders mocktails, but yeah. It kept me from getting them as often as I wanted just because I didn't really want the hassle of being questioned or being made to feel like I was inconveniencing them, so from now on I'm just going to not worry about it and if asked just say I can't drink alcohol and leave it at that. Another thing I'm going to do is tip a buck beforehand. The only thing I can think of is maybe there is a prevailing idea that only people who get alcoholic drinks will tip extra, so if you don't get a regular cocktail, they are annoyed at having to make it? I have no idea, but it happened with different bartenders in different locations.
2) Another thing I won't do it show up on time for anything. We learned this very quickly. The first time we went to trivia, we showed up at the time it was supposed to start. BIG MISTAKE. The Schooner Bar was completely packed. We had no idea people will show up sometimes 30 minutes early for things like that to get a seat. From now on, that's what we do as well. We figure it's a good time to get settled and get drinks, at least.
I love your #2 tip. Couldn't agree more
Your last one was interesting and perhaps a little different in Australia but I almost always book my own now and do not use a travel agent. Travel agents can Never match the direct offers I have been given by the cruise line. For example I am cruising on a short 4 night cruise with carnival in Jan. I am in the grand vista suite on carnival luminosa. This would normally cost over AU $5000 PP twin share. I got it for $225 PP twin share with $250 room credit. So basically the cruise is $100 per person in the highest level suite on the ship. I have had other awesome deals from many of the different cruise lines. Travel agents can never match these deals.
Also the only times I have had problems with bookings or with refunds are through travel agents. Example my cruise was cancelled but when I wanted to book on another cruise the travel agent demanded I pay a new deposit before I got my deposit from the previous cancelled cruise back. When you have a large booking with multiple rooms you just don't have that sort of money laying around.
When booking myself I have never had a problem. The cruise line automatically applied my refund to the deposit of the new booking.
Again could just be a difference between how it works in the different countries.
Did the over the door shoe holder once...I think I left it on the ship lol I have no idea where it's been since 2018. I don't miss it either.
Years ago when my wife and I first started going to Disney.we tried travel agent. She put us in a crappy hotel and we got looked out it too. Since then my wonderful wife has booked our every trip and cruise. Now where v booked on the oasis f our first time plus we’re taking our two daughters. We’ve never tried those shoes cover over the door.
You nailed it,my friend. The spouse and I were just on the Allure last week and pretty much followed your advice. We did not purchase the special meal package, but may revisit ,using your guidance. We will be back on the Allure come July, for the President's cruise. I hope it's as good as the hype
I just budget an extra couple hundred dollars for specialty dining... That way I'm not stuck to a dining plan if I don't want to partake.