My wife and I have been on several cruises. Most on Carnival and six or seven on Royal Caribbean and the thing that shocks me is the amount they charge for parking. It was bad enough when they charged $10.00 per day but now it is over $25.00 a day. One thing that new cruisers should be aware of is the fact that the ship never misses an opportunity to try to sell you something. Pictures are a big problem. There is always someone with a camera that wants to take your picture. It's okay to let them take your picture but beware of the fact that you may fall in love with the picture (s). It's so easy to give them your sign and sail card each time you go to the photo shop and you find out at the end of the cruise you have spent $200.00 or much more on photos. Just because you let them take your picture it does not mean that you have to buy it. They can take 100 pictures but you do not have to buy even one. On formal night my wife and I go from one photo setup to the next and get our picture taken. Maybe we hit eight or ten spots and when the pictures are put on display at the photo shop we pick the ONE we like and get it. The other pictures we get are taken with our cell phones. I take hers and she takes mine or we get a fellow cruiser to take a picture of both of us. We come home with sever hundred pictures in our camera and print out the ones we like on our color lazar printer and save the rest to our computers hard drive or a CD in case we want to print some later. Cruising is a lot of fun and very relaxing and if you play your cards right it can be very inexpensive. Happy sailing......
Most are Carnival bit 6 or 7 or the other guys? Good lord how many cruises have you been on and how do I get a peice of the action that can allow me to afford that many cruises? Lol. I'm 40 and just now getting around to my first. And even then its because I'm donating plasma so I got the money to go. Lol been on my bucket list for years but this is the year with any luck that I go on my first. Maybe even first and second back to back if everything works out right.
my first two cruises were on Carnival Legend, sailing out of Australia...the first time I was stunned at the amount of pictures PRINTED and displayed..I thought "what a waste of paper/ink" and hence why they are so expensive...I wondered why they couldn't just display them on screen so that if you then wanted one you could order it THEN get it printed out...as a first time cruiser I DID fork out for one of their packages and included was a Carnival ship shape USB..I plan to take it with me on next cruise and if their are any 'must have' shots I'll get them put on that for me to then printed when I want it, at less cost...
We always find an off-site parking lot (Park and Sail, Cruise and Park), which is much less expensive ($80/week or less) AND they will drop you and your luggage off right at the terminal. When debarking, they pick you up and take you back to your car, away from the cruise terminal traffic.
Some cruise lines have directional clues in the carpets in the halls, such as subtle arrows that point to the bow (front) of the ship. Note: port and starboard are not always left and right. Port is left when facing the bow. If you turn to face the stern (rear) of the ship, port is now on your right.
I wish I had known before my first cruise in 2016, just how much the cruise staff appreciated gratitude, cheerfulness and a general appreciation for their efforts. I’m getting ready for a cruise in March (now that Covid restrictions are relaxed). My goal is to take little gratitude bags that I will distribute to the UnderDogs. Those workers that do things kind of behind the scenes (ie: cleaning all the time that we may not even notice). They’re actually helping to make US more comfortable and enjoy our vacation to the fullest. I plan to have little goodie bags with a few dollars to just hand to them with my appreciation for all their efforts😌
We are very experienced cruisers, however I would like to know what you are putting in the bag? We give money, but would be very interested in giving something else with the cash. Thanks
Our first cruise, we had an inside cabin and ended up sleeping til noon the first morning because of how dark the room was. After that, we learned to turn the tv on and put it on the channel that showed the front of the ship. We learned quickly to be on a normal sleep schedule from that one change and haven’t had a single complaint of an inside cabin.
So this isn't about something that shocked me but good advice for any first time cruisers looking at these comments. Do NOT take dramamine unless you want to sleep nearly the whole cruise. Even the "non drowsy" ones. Instead take some ginger root vitamins with you and take them a couple times a day. They're natural and do not make you feel the need to sleep your whole cruise away.
Your video is very accurate. I can relate to all the points you made, especially the one about finding your cabin. It usually takes me a couple of days to find my way around the ship.
I saw on one cruise vlog that the carpet in the hallways can help you know whether you are walking toward the front or back of the ship. I forget the cruise line but the carpet had a pattern of schools of fish. The fishes are always swimming toward the front of the ship.
Also look at your cabin number.. some ships have a wave designed in the high point of the wave is towards the front . Most ships have little “ Tell” signs to help with directions
My big shock is I am totally addicted to cruising. You un pack once, and every day you are some place new. Second point all the food and drinks available.
I find that when I am trying to sleep on a cruise the ship has just the slightest rock to it with makes it SUPPER easy to fall asleep. I bet most people don't notice it but I love it. Things might have changed since my last cruise in '14 but I never sleep better on vacation than when I am on a cruise ship.
This is a lot like riding a train overnight; people think the movement of the cabin will keep them awake, but it does the exact opposite, lulling them to sleep. It's why we rock the cradle of a baby to get them to sleep, though nobody sang a lullaby to us when on the train!
Since my first cruise 5 years ago. I've met some amazing people. Who never grow tired of hearing cruise stories. I always use to cruise solo. Thanks to Facebook, Shipmates and even Cruise Critic. I've made friends even before sailing. Now I belong to groups of people. The biggest shock is how addicting cruising has become. Thanks so much for all your insight and helpful tips.Hope to see you on a cruise soon
Exactly. I join the Facebook group for my cruise and it feels so good to know somebody who is on the same cruise and I can choose to attend the events that they set up. I love cruising solo!
Ok I have a question for ya. You said you always cruise solo or used to anyway. Is there a way to not pay double for the room? What I mean is the site I've been looking at anyway, will sell me the same room with 2 people as with 1 for same price. What I mean is 2 people 319 each 1 person 638. Is there a way to pay less or should I just find someone to go with or just bite the bullet and pay full price?
@@Yugioh420 they charge double as most cabins are designed for a min of 2 passengers, so as theres only one of you, they would be losing a persons fare if they sold the room to a solo passenger, rather than 2 people. i was watching a video today that was talking about solo cruising, and there is a cruise line that only charges the single fare, not double. if i find the video again ill let you know which cruiseline it is :) i remember it had what they called studio rooms, with just a single bed. Tony from #LaLidoLoca travelled in one recently :)
Took my family on our first cruise in October 2022 on RC's Wonder of the Seas. The thing that shocked us the most was the sheer size of the ship. No matter how many videos we had watched we were just not prepared that these cruise ships are floating cities. We kept getting lost even on Day 5, 6. My wife and kids are now officially cruisers as a result of the experience
Yay! I went on my first cruise in August 2023 and my siblings and I loved it! I hope to do it again. I'm so happy to hear your part of team cruising! 🛳
My first Cruise was with Costa Grociere (an italian shipping company). When we first boarded the ship, I could not close my mouth because it looked so luxurious!
i was like that on our first cruise in may on the P&O Pacific Explorer :) The very first day we explored the ship, floor to floor, front to back :) I was just in awe :)
On my first cruise I was scared. This ship was so huge. I remember when my brother said to me, the ship was moving. I had grab him. I was so scared. I couldn’t even look at the water, that’s how scared I was. My husband wanted to take pics on the deck and I was to scared to go to the rail. My first cruise was not a happy one. I was just to scared of all that water. But, now, I’m a pro on the cruise now. Im loving them more and more❤️🥰😍😘🙏🏾
My first cruise is coming up. I have been losing sleep for all of the past month with anxiety. Height and bodies of water are right there with speed and "fanged belly crawlers"😬. Not a tree in sight, Jesus!!! .
@@urhmbc you are going to have a great time! I’m getting ready for my 8th in November and can’t wait. Some tips for your first cruise, bring a small first aid kit just in case (they have that stuff on the boat but you pay an arm and a leg for it) also, bring some stuff to combat sea sickness just in case. Personally I don’t struggle with seasickness but I know a lot of people do. Also, know that all of the drinks have the tip built into the cost. So know that before tipping additionally. Your room will also automatically be charged for tip. These are supposed to be split amongst all the staff that serves you.
Nice vid, as always. I'll come back and tell you about what shocked me on my first cruise when... I will actually cruise for the first time, in april 2023. We'll go on the MSC Seashore in the mediterranean sea, and I can't wait :)
@@SandcastleGirl It was awesome, we even went back on the MSC fantasia 6 month later and I'm now looking for the next opportunity to cruise. I have also created my own cruise channel on youtube for french audience. It's called "frenchies on the go", we have some international vids where I show full tours of the Seashore, the Fantasia and also the Costa Smeralda. Go check it, you might enjoy it 🙂 Anyway, there was nothing really "shocking", I had watched so many videos here before that it went quite as expected. Some minor things went wrong (dinner time to late, food not as good as expected - both on the Seashore) but it was great in any other way 🙂
My 2 biggest tips for 1st timers - 1- If you are flying during the winter from a cold state (North Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, New England, Colorado) pretty much anyplace that gets winter weather- and your port is someplace warm- Miami, Tampa, Galveston, LA - Plan to fly the day before and get a hotel room in the port city. The ship will NOT wait for you. 2- buy the soda package or the drink package before you get on the ship. 90% of the time it will be cheaper than if you buy it onboard. You don't even need to try and you'll get your money's worth. I am not a drinker except socially, but when I cruise I love to get the drink of the day usually after a day in port. Often times it's so good I decide to have a 2nd. Some cruise lines like Royal Caribbean include the gratuity for the drinks in the cost of the package. Some cruise lines don't and even though the drink has been paid for, you still get the gratuity charge on your bill. So do your research
Have to disagree. When the drink package is $75 a day and I don't even drink alcohol everyday..... yeah. I'm going to buy a la carte anything i might drink on the ship. One alcoholic drink a day on a cruise is "living it up" for me. lol
If you're coming in from a cold area during the winter, late fall and early spring, don't just come in the day before, plan several days before in the event there's a major blizzard that shuts down the airport for several days
It sounds like the drink package at $75/day is very similar to what is offered to owners of Royal Resorts. Being an owner, we have the option of adding the all inclusive package to our service fee. This would include food and drink. However I don’t drink most of the time and I cannot eat $75 worth of food a day. We just wait til Happy Hour when drinks are 2 for 1. Further, we typically have breakfast in the room and then go out for dinner. Too many good restaurants to just eat at resort. We actually own at 3 of the Royals. Ours in Cancun will end this year, the ones In Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morales will be willed to our kids. So far we have only done free certificates in Puerto Morales that included the all inclusive. Eventually we will get to know the town.
The big thing that shocked me on my first cruise (1997) was how little food there was. One of the only things I’d ever heard about cruises before I went was that you’re eating all the time on the ship. Meals, afternoon appetizer buffets, late-night buffets, and so on. I have no idea what cruise line(s) did this, but the cruise I took had three meals per day. Nothing else. No special dining options, either, just the main dining room. I’m sure things have changed - I haven’t cruised in more than 20 years - but I was shocked that we weren’t fed all that much.
Sometimes its easier to navigate on the outside of the ship rather than go through the maze of people, casinos and distractions when you just want to go from one spot to another on the ship
My first cruise was a 3 night on RC. Considering how many stories I heard revolving around drinking, I was shocked at how much there is to do without alcohol.
The thing that surprised me was how some people that cruise freak out when there is a small storm. Just a little rocking and they get their life jackets ready to get in the life rafts. That was what happened with the people in the cabin next to ours. They were like that for the whole cruise.
Our first cruise was on Disney and what confused my wife and I was how the alcohol package worked. We boarded and a crew member walked up and offered us drinks of the day. We didn’t know if we had to pay for it or what. He said something about keeping the glass and getting it refilled whenever we wanted. We just smiled gratefully and accepted the drinks. Everyone talks about the price and is it good or bad, but we had no idea what to expect as complete rookies. I hadn’t found the videos or Facebook groups yet so it was all confusing and made us both feel like dummy’s. Just FYI, now after 10 (soon to be 12) cruises we yield that package like pros…
People get lost because they don't take note of their surroundings. I notice things like maybe the even number cabins on the starboard side or visa versa. People are not familiar with nautical terms like stern, port, bow etc. So it is easy to get lost on the ship but it's also very easy to figure it out. So I think it comes down to how a person thinks. People also don't know how ships are designed in terms of managing balance. Like where people mass together. That's why most of the time the main dining is near the rear and the theater is near the front, two places where big numbers of people will gather at the same time. So that's how I figure out which way some things are and the easiest way is to look at the drawind of the ship posted everywhere " You are here ". Thanks bro your videos are always very informative.
Yes deck plans online are helpful! On NCL at the elevators there is a deck image an a dot for YOU ARE HERE. With a list things and which deck they are on!
I only found out about the "human mass balancing" aspect recently. Makes total sense! Mass also explains why swimming pools are pretty small on cruise ships (or are 'big' but 80% of the area is shallow): water weights A LOT and having all that mass at the very top of a vessel is what engineers probably call Not A Great Idea.
@@breadyegg Absolutely. That's why most of the entertainment is on levels in the lower part of the ship because if the ship gets top heavy it will capsize. So that's what I meant when I said some of it is how people think. Just knowing some of these things give you an idea which way to go and look for things.
Hi Amanda ! I hope you'll have a wonderful time on your first cruice ! 🌞🚢 😎🍹🍹😎 Just take some time to plan your travel warderobe. Most people pack far too much... 🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒😳 My tip is to colour coordinate your clothes. I usually opt for 3 - 4 colours. Some with patterns, and some without. That way I can make many combinations with a few pieces. 🧡💛💚💙 👍 Love from Norway 🇳🇴
Make sure you take cash with you at port. Especially during your excursions. We swam with the 🐬 in Nassau, but only brought a credit card off ship. The pictures and videos we wanted to purchase were cash only.
How much would you recommend to take with you off ship at each port? And should we take the time for currency exchange or just use American and do exchange rates in your head and haggle if they trying to cheat ya?
It really depends on the port. I just got home from a cruise a few weeks ago. In Helsinki, the merchants at an outdoor market all had credit card readers. In Warnemunde, Germany I went to two brick and mortar stores that only took currency. I really wanted something from one of the stores and ran to find an ATM. I only had 30 minutes until they closed and made it back in 25. 😄. That was the only cash I used in 14 days, other than a few US dollars for a busker. If you do carry cash, make sure to have small bills. I was at a straw market once and tried to use a $20. Instead of giving me change, I was persuaded to spend the full $20.
BTW, regarding currency exchange, the easiest way to handle it is just to withdraw what you need from an ATM. This is what Rick Steves recommends. I like to make up a little spreadsheet for shopping:. 1 kr = $0.13, 10 kr = $1.34, etc. Sometimes conversion is really easy. Right now the Euro is really close to the US$, and the Swedish kr is about 10 cents.
I thought that as the cruise lines were not owned or flagged in Australia you do have pay gratuities. The labour laws of the country where the ship is flagged apply to the crew. So the crew maybe being underpaid by Australian standards. Gratuities are a major part of how the crew are paid even if it is sailing in Australian waters. So unless you are sailing with a cruise line that includes the gratuities as part of fare or adds them automatically you do have to pay gratuities. Also as you noted crew prefer a cash gift, if you want to leave a little extra. They have very small cabin space themselves and so little gifts can become burdensome.
@@brontewcat sorry I thought it was pretty explanatory- the gratuity is in the fare which is why our fares are never low. There’s none of this opt out stuff. I’d never stiff the crew on a gratuity. The little monetary gift to the room stewards is an extra to thank them for their work.
@@andreagriffiths3512 It depends on the cruise line as to whether the gratuity is included in the fare not whether you are on an Australian cruise. I had a look earlier a few months ago, and most cruise lines do not include gratuities in the fare, but add them later. One of the reasons we booked with Celebrity is because gratuities are always included with all cruises. Carnival also includes them, but P & O, Princess, NCL, Royal Caribbean, HAL and Cunard do not. So it is an issue for most Australian cruises, because people can opt out when it is not included in the fare. As a lot of Australians are not used to tipping it is important they understand No 8 is no different for Australian cruises than any where else in the world.
on my very first cruise on Carnival Legend (AUS) seeing the wastage of printed out pictures that NOBODY was going to buy..and I suspect that's the reason that the ones that WERE purchased were so expensive..covering printer costs..I'm hoping my next sail on Carnival Splendor will only have them displayed on monitors so you can have the choice of buying/printing or not..
Need to come back and share any first time tips you learn or experience that wasn't in one of these videos after you get back. I keep learning more and more. Learned. The pool got ocean water in it from a comment further up the page after reading dozens of these things so cant wait to see what I learn next.
We are going on our 4th, 10 day cruise in 2023. We are going on Princess and they upgraded us from a balcony room to a mini suite. The promotion we got when we booked our 4th cruise came with free wifi, drinks package and prepaid tips. We started with Princess and we will continue with them.
#1 Rule on a cruse ship have fun, but in pursuit of your fun don't interfere with anyone else's fun. Also you WILL see an item on the itinerary called friends of Bill W. That is not some rich guy who rented out the space. If you don't know what it is you aren't suposed to. And if you need it it is there. Another tip, yes the cabins are small but they are only for the 5 S's ( Sleep, Shower, Shave, S**, & S***.
We started cruising many years ago, before specialty restaurants and anytime dining. To meet people, we chose to be seated at a large table, which was really great. With the inclusion of more and more specialty dining, it often happened that some evenings there would only be 4 of us at a table for 10, not great. With the increase of anytime dining to the point where it now takes the majority of tables, you can get back to that enjoyment of communal eating by requesting to join a larger table. My only problem with this came in our only Carnival where on a 7 day cruise twice we were seated at a table as the other people were just finishing their entrée, once the opposite, we were the only ones at a table for 8 until after we had ordered dessert. That said, it is still a great option to meet people, who if you really get along with, can become table partners for the rest of the cruise if YOU so choose.
I don't know about shock, but the very first time I was on a ship I was surprised that almost no crew were American. I know why that is now, but it was wild to see every employee was from another country.
Indeed. On land, we're accustomed to staff being of the country that we're in and, rightly or wrongly, naturally assume this will be the case also at sea :)
@@jaleciachambers5960 Hi there. If you're asking "Why are they not American?" I did a quick google and found this excerpt: " Crew nationality - Where do the rest of the crew come from? On most cruise ships, crew will be from a range of lower wage countries like the Philippines. There are counterexamples, though. Pride of America’s crew is largely American, because the ship is registered in the U.S. " I found on the P&O Cruises the staff were primarily Philippines, Malaysian, Indonesian etc.
Only one cruise ship is flagged in the United States; in addition to N D's comment; they Bridge staff are typically Greek and Italians on ships sailing out of the United States.
@@jaleciachambers5960 basically from a few videos I've seen the pay and food and sleeping accommodation are not the greatest for crew like they are for guests yet they are expected to go above and beyond for the money they get. And while it could be poor pay or living conditions for a lot of Americans especially some of us that are shall we say entitled, it could be an opportunity to make more money they any other way of life for a lot of lower paying or lower income nations. That's my understanding anyway. From the videos I've seen
One thing I definitely remember as a surprise on my first cruise; the main entrees in the dining room tend to be smaller than most restaurants. It was not uncommon for people to order two or three appetizers in addition to an entree or to order two entree dishes.
we found the same with even the mains. my mains onboard our first cruise were entree size. but i didnt mind as then i could eat dessert too :) which i normally cant eat after being to a restaurant on land as im way too full after eating just the meat from my main meal. im not a big eater lol
It’s an up charge per lobster and the lobsters are not tiny but also not big and cost about $30 (prices on Princess in October 2022). I’d 100% double down on something else or hit a specialty restaurant than get another lobster in the MDR.
For me personally, i have to disagree with your point about getting oriented and navigating on a ship. I’m blind, and I actually have quite good bearings and directional senses. In fact, it’s far easier to navigate the decks with just cabins than something like the lido, promenade, casino, or open plan areas. When leaving an elevator bank, I always will know which way I am facing, and with only 2 directions to go in a cabin hallway, it couldn’t be easier for me. My family on the other hand, that’s a different story. I remember being on the Golden Princess in 2014 and going back to my cabin with my dad. We were going out the midship elevators which faced differently than the forward ones and he tried leading me down the wrong hallway. I ended up getting us back to our cabin with 0 difficulty though, and that’s how it always goes for me. Sure it may take a little bit, like an afternoon, to find routes I want to take to places I want to frequently visit, but I acclimate rather quickly.
Well I’m sighted, and it’s quite easy to get ‘turned around’ even on ships I’ve sailed on before! You can’t f@ing disagree with an opinion! 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
@@JulieWallis1963 you can totally disagree with an opinion. You can't disagree with hard facts. What makes an opinion an opinion is that everyone can have a different one and nobody's as any more valid or invalid than anybody else's. I'm not sure how much site the OP has or when he or she lost their vision. I have been legally blind for the last 17 years having lived the first 32 years with 20/20 vision. Part of the appeal of going on a cruise for me is going to be the fact I don't think it will be that hard to find my way around. Like you, I get turned around easily, I'd Be afraid to go to a resort and get lost and not able to find my way back to my room. At least on a ship, a t worst, I'll be walking around in circles for a couple hours. 😅
One very important tip: if the night before debarkation you leave your bags outside for the staff to provide to you once you disembark, REMEMBER TO SAVE YOUR OUTFIT FOR DEBARKATION IN YOUR STATEROOM! Once they take your bags they won’t be able to sift through the thousands of bags to assist you with finding your debarkation outfit you accidentally packed.
I envy you so much. My first one wont be till December and only if I get the money and everything else in ordered before then. Have great time let us know highs lows and any tips you have that you haven't heard before when you get back. Just heard first time today in comments higher up that they got ocean water in pool so learning more each day
I’m unfortunately cruising the week after school let’s out or graduation. Everyone is posting about how many teens or children they’re bringing. I made a mistake, it won’t happen again.
Another no-go item: power strips (especially those with surge suppressors). These are fire hazards. A short extension with thick wires may be acceptable - I have a 6 inch 3 plug extension cord that has been accepted.
I've seen a few videos with accepted ones as long as there isn't a surge protector on it, so might be a cruise line by cruise line kind of thing but definitely worth doing research about your specific cruise before bringing anything
@@Yugioh420 the primary requirements are: No surge protection (fire hazards due to the different way ships provide electricity) Not long enough to get stepped on/caught under a chair leg (again fire hazard) Thick wires (again, less risk of fire) It helps to have the extension in the package showing the above.
The menu in the main dining room is set. Every day of the week has the exact same thing so if your cruise is 10 days every Sunday you’ll get the same stuff. Remember this because if you hated the sea bass last Sunday you’re going to hate it again next Sunday. If you are on an extended cruise, say 22 days around South America, there will be some slight variation on sides but chances are every Sunday will find you eating sea bass.
I had no idea how the dining worked on my first cruise! I thought you could only eat in the main dining room once per cruise 🤦🏻♀️ we ate at the buffet a lot that week, lol.
We are traveling on the Carnival Mardi Gras. From what I learned here the tips for drinks are added over and above the prepaid tips? If that is the case I am not wanting to pay the prepaid tips, I would rather pay individually. This is great information!
First time I cruised I was in highschool and didn't know all the things I could do on a cruise ship and all the things included in the initial price so I didn't eat much and didn't do much. I have always been a light packer. I've done 14 day cruises with only a backpack. now it's a military 5 day backpack but I can fit so many days worth of clothing in it and I usually do a load of laundry on the ship if it's available. I usually just hunker down with a book for a couple of hour and get it done its not a big deal to me.
wow i need to take packing lessons from you lol after my last interstate holiday, (i live in australia), i came home with 1 large suitcase, 2 medium overnight bags and 6 tote bags lol our first cruise i took a very large suitcase and an overnight bag, i do not know how to pack light lol i usually take way too many clothes, things to do like adult coloring books,and gel pens etc , actual books, cds/dvds, diary, notebook, card or board games, travel books, and totte bag of snacks ,then everything else but the kitchen sink hehe i really really need to realise that after prob 40 different trips away over the last 4 years, that i never ever use any of those things, so stop taking them, theyre not going to be used probobly on any holiday. but even my clothes, i could never fit in a backpack. i think youre amazing :)
@@travelwithdebandnick I spent 8 year in the US army and deployed 4 times to the Middle East and that has helped greatly with packing essentials. The biggest thing for me is knowing the weather. If it's cold like an Alaska cruise you won't be swimming so don't bring shorts but if you are going to Mexico in May don't take pants. Other then formal nights I just bring comfortable clothing. Additionally you can find clothing that may fit multiple roles like a sweater that can convert into a backpack.
We have a very different idea of jacket or hoodie weather. You must live in a warm climate because when I escaped the cold weather for my first cruise in April I never even considered wearing a jacket.
Navigating the ships are easy, even Oasis class ships. My biggest surprise was that they are not totally inclusive and things like soda are not included. I knew that before I sailed but not before I started researching it. I do understand why there is a surcharge for specialty restaurants because if not no one would eat in buffets or main dining. Food is good in the main dining rooms on Royal and Holland but still not the same standard as the specialty restaurants. I do love cruising and I am glad that I can just drive to several ports within a few hours. Makes it much more affordable and I dont have to worry about flying to a cruise port and dealing with airline baggage policies.
Size the ship got us my our first cruise . we got lost two i learned follow the carpet some ship have fish on them . it sounds funny but they go in the right direction and extra cost surprised us as well . i have learned to add it to our budget
Hi! I got a question about the bottle of wine you can bring on board. Are you allowed to drink it outside of your room? Any restrictions? Thanks in advance
Don’t recognize your hallway. Do what someone taught me years ago in Vegas. Tie balloons, streamers on your door, esp if you and your other half like to pass out in said hallways before your room. Have fun!
What irritated me most was the nickle and dime method the Cruise Lines use to milk out every out of you . I would gladly pay more to have a truly All Inclusive experience .C'mon expecting Passengers to HAVE to tip Workers to provide a living wage for them ? I have no problem tipping good service but being told to bothers me
Why don't companies offer incentive discount to people to book their first cruise? Why do they only offer discounts to regular bookers? These older, regular bookers are not the money makers for cruise companies. There is no incentive for me to buy a cabin as a first time cruiser when I see others getting discounts - this stops a whole class of potential new, younger clients. When the old clients die there will be no-one to replace them.
They drain it out every night, too. If the ocean is cold the pool is cold. Makes for a challenge going to Alaska. And yes, all pools and usually the hot tubs but not all the time with the hot tubs, it’s ship dependent
Since you report 30-40% of ship income is from onboard spending, there is no incentive for the ship to be in port longer than the minimum as the passengers will spend their money in city and not in the ship. Extended stays only make sense for the ship if the company owns the resort island when on an island stop, for example.
Or perhaps being able to book more then 1 excursion in the same stop if multiple ones appeal to you. But other then that yea I can definitely see your point. Unless the "other guys" offer longer excursions and port times. Then they got to also to keep up with that competition
Just wanted to say I absolutely love your channel and all the advice and tips you give. I've cruised multiple times between NCL, Carnival, and Princess. I am thinking about trying Royal Caribbean. Any advice on which cruise line you like best? I get amazing deals since I gamble with Carnival. However NCL hasn't given any discounts to me even with the amount I gambled, however I do like that you can get the free at see offers included in price.
I find I get casino cruise certificates from land based casinos to get free cruise fare for 2, but if you do enough play and lose on NCL in their casino just call CAS (casino at sea) and ask! On a previous cruise I lost enough for them to give me an added 20% discount to the 35% NCL is already putting out there! If you lose enough on previous play in the onboard casino they have record of that and can see if it's enough to get you some discount! Just ask NCL CAS!
We love Royal Caribbean and are planning our 5th cruise with them. Don't waste your money on Disney cruises. They cost twice as much as RCI for what? To be inundated with Mickey Mouse? Even our kids didn't want that!!
Royal or Celebrity if you want a more "adult" or "luxurious" experience... they are both in the Royal Family but Celebrity is way more relaxing. They both have pretty good casino perks if you're a big player. I've gotten a few comped cruises through Royal Casino Loyalty program... I've never done Disney but REFUSE to spend that kind of money... I spent 6 weeks combined on cruises in 2019 (Pre Covid) all RCCL and Celebrity... I stay FAR AWAY from Carnival and NCL tbh.. I've done them but didn't like them AT ALL
as an Aussie sailing out of Australia I assume there are already gratuities included with my fare..so I assume I don't need to tip twice...we are not a tipping nation and with that it should not be expected when travelling within/just off of Australian waters then it should not be expected of us to tip, especially if it's already included in our fare..
on P&O it was included :) Except we did give our cabin stewards $10 each before departing, the service was nothing extra that they provided, we didnt even get them to clean our cabin each day, we dont like people in our rooms when we are not there, so left the do not disturb sign on the door throughout the cruise, but we sort of felt obligiged to give them something..... didnt want to seem rude. but we didnt tip anyone else as it was included :) ive heard that or RCL, even in aus, that if you buy a drink for eg, that they automatically when you sign to pay for the drink, add an 18 per cent tip onto each drink order. so think they are different to our first cruise, where the tipping was part of our original cruise fare that we paid to book the cruise :) there was literally not even one mention anywhere on the website or onboard re having to add gratuites :)
I don't mind paying the gratuities as part of the fare @@travelwithdebandnick, mind you, we're already paying their wages out of our fares, but to then tip again on top is a bit much..it's like we're paying them 3x's...
how easy it is to sleep in and miss you excursion time to leave the ship, your tired, its dark and your comfy in your cabin and its noon and you missed your excursion
My first cruise was back in the 90s when we dressed up in formal wear for dinner. I packed a long formal gown and somehow still had room for other clothes. We also could have a travel iron. Now I don't pack a formal gown, I bring dresses or pants and tops for dinner that don't wrinkle or need ironing because we cannot bring a travel iron or steamer. Some ships have a laundry room but I don't go on a cruise to iron clothes. I do that before I pack and I don't send my clothes out to be ironed. I like to cruise ot relax so the serenity deck is my favorite spot.
If you don't like crowds, this is a great time to cruise. My recent cruise was only about 50% full. I actually heard something like only 800 passengers. The main dining room was maybe 20% full when we ate there.
So you became their employer as well. They should go above and beyond that's their job their employer pays them to do. If anybody should be tipped it should be a doctor a firefighter.
I have always wanted to do a cruise. Never have but I somehow ended up on the algorithm for cruising and I’m enjoying the imaginary trip in my mind. 😂 Maybe one day. I want to take my kids on the Disney cruise but holy wow the price. 😅 Not ready for that. Nor am I ready to head the Florida for a cruise. I would probably stick to California cruises. Close to home and all. Anyway, thanks for all the information.
Each cruise line is different. This video presents great generalities, but do your homework on the line you are sailing. For instance, Virgin Voyages includes gratuities in the cruise fare. That means ALL gratuities--if you order a $10 glass of wine, it costs $10 (no tip added). No daily gratuity charges. And basic wifi and beverages are included (some lines charge wifi by the minute or gig of use, or as much as $20 per day). That means you don't need to buy a soda package. Spa charges on ships are generally at least twice wha I'd pay for the same thing in my city (if you live in NY or LA, this may not be true). Always fly in at least a day ahead. My logic is that if I am in the port city, then somehow I'm going to be on that ship. If I'm at my home city, too many things can happen to mess up flights. Yes, I pay for a night at a hotel, but that is cheap travel insurance. It also allows me to sleep late in the morning and get to the ship feeling rested, rather than getting up at 4am to get to the airport on time for an early flight. Also, check flight costs and policies. Booking flights thru some cruise lines can give you less costly flights and still allow you a lot of choice, while other cruise lines sell at the going flight costs or even higher and basically tell you what flight you will be on! Bottom line, I guess, generalities are good, but get the details on the cruise line and even the specific ship you are booking!
@5:15 advertising flyers, I never noticed any on P&O or Cunard, actually, not on Princess or Marella, either. Probably just American lines... Some cruise lines are now including gratuities in the overall price, though it is our experience that staff know it would be rude to refuse! Our first sea trip was on QM2, so gratuities have never been a shock since.
Im going on my first 7 day cruise next week and im so excited but nervous because I also have a fear of heights around glass stairs and elevators even high floors, any tips or suggestions to cope with it when I go? Thank you everyone Great video as always!
Thank you for saying I can bring all the suitcases I want to. Every one else is like.. just one carry on! just one carry on! Yeah, I'm bringing what i can fit in my car. driving to port. LOL My largest bag is 34 pounds. So... i'm not even close to the 50 limit.
I carry a big wheeled Nautica duffel bag. My wife is an overpacker. No worries, just bear in mind it may not fit under the bed, and pack in a way you can unpack and put it in the drawers. It sucked to pull a big bag on top of the bed every time you change clothes.
@@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131 well. it was kind of a joke, but it is good to know that i can have TWO bags if I want! LOL. Eight over nights with a husband and our sons. We CAN bring the snorkel gear.
My first cruise coming up and I’ve ordered, shopped, packed and repacked during the last five months. I have outfit maps and item lists everywhere. With 30 days to go I decided to dress like a true beach bum and bring just one checked bag and a crossbody. Who knew there were reversible dresses?
@@mandywalker3393 Og course you were joking. Me too ! 😄 But seriously. Everybody packs too much for å cruise. Even those who brag "I don't !" I always make a strickt plan for travel outfits. Like ; Two skirts. (Of different lenghts). Two pairs of trousers. Two tops. Two blouses. Two cardigans. One a little festive. All wrinkle free, in colours and patterns wich mix and match. You get sixteen outfits from that... 🤗 Anyway. Make sure you pamper yourself onboard, and have a lovely vacation !!! 😎🍹
That my time dining was a rip. It’s better to eat early to have your whole night free because the MDR takes a lot of time. To have something planned even if it’s little when you get off the ship bc if not you can spend a whole lot of money wondering around. And don’t Waste ur time or money on the in text chatting feature bc is is super spotty. Not that 20 bucks is a lot but it did not do what is what meant to do, for us.
My wife and I have been on several cruises. Most on Carnival and six or seven on Royal Caribbean and the thing that shocks me is the amount they charge for parking. It was bad enough when they charged $10.00 per day but now it is over $25.00 a day. One thing that new cruisers should be aware of is the fact that the ship never misses an opportunity to try to sell you something. Pictures are a big problem. There is always someone with a camera that wants to take your picture. It's okay to let them take your picture but beware of the fact that you may fall in love with the picture (s). It's so easy to give them your sign and sail card each time you go to the photo shop and you find out at the end of the cruise you have spent $200.00 or much more on photos. Just because you let them take your picture it does not mean that you have to buy it. They can take 100 pictures but you do not have to buy even one. On formal night my wife and I go from one photo setup to the next and get our picture taken. Maybe we hit eight or ten spots and when the pictures are put on display at the photo shop we pick the ONE we like and get it. The other pictures we get are taken with our cell phones. I take hers and she takes mine or we get a fellow cruiser to take a picture of both of us. We come home with sever hundred pictures in our camera and print out the ones we like on our color lazar printer and save the rest to our computers hard drive or a CD in case we want to print some later. Cruising is a lot of fun and very relaxing and if you play your cards right it can be very inexpensive. Happy sailing......
Most are Carnival bit 6 or 7 or the other guys? Good lord how many cruises have you been on and how do I get a peice of the action that can allow me to afford that many cruises? Lol. I'm 40 and just now getting around to my first. And even then its because I'm donating plasma so I got the money to go. Lol been on my bucket list for years but this is the year with any luck that I go on my first. Maybe even first and second back to back if everything works out right.
my first two cruises were on Carnival Legend, sailing out of Australia...the first time I was stunned at the amount of pictures PRINTED and displayed..I thought "what a waste of paper/ink" and hence why they are so expensive...I wondered why they couldn't just display them on screen so that if you then wanted one you could order it THEN get it printed out...as a first time cruiser I DID fork out for one of their packages and included was a Carnival ship shape USB..I plan to take it with me on next cruise and if their are any 'must have' shots I'll get them put on that for me to then printed when I want it, at less cost...
We always find an off-site parking lot (Park and Sail, Cruise and Park), which is much less expensive ($80/week or less) AND they will drop you and your luggage off right at the terminal. When debarking, they pick you up and take you back to your car, away from the cruise terminal traffic.
$25 a day does not seem unreasonable to me to park.
Even if you're parked for 10 days, that's only $250. That doesn't even cover one airfare for us 😀
@@HABSFAN2933 For some of us, who have saved For YEARS to do a cruise, $250 is still a lot of money.
Another tip...Cabin numbers increase as you walk toward the aft(rear). Even cabin numbers are on the port(left) and odd are on the starboard(right).
Pro tip.
THAT was the info I was looking for. Thank You!!
Some cruise lines have directional clues in the carpets in the halls, such as subtle arrows that point to the bow (front) of the ship.
Note: port and starboard are not always left and right. Port is left when facing the bow. If you turn to face the stern (rear) of the ship, port is now on your right.
Ummmm...no
@@vsee2207 what do I have wrong?
I wish I had known before my first cruise in 2016, just how much the cruise staff appreciated gratitude, cheerfulness and a general appreciation for their efforts. I’m getting ready for a cruise in March (now that Covid restrictions are relaxed). My goal is to take little gratitude bags that I will distribute to the UnderDogs. Those workers that do things kind of behind the scenes (ie: cleaning all the time that we may not even notice). They’re actually helping to make US more comfortable and enjoy our vacation to the fullest. I plan to have little goodie bags with a few dollars to just hand to them with my appreciation for all their efforts😌
I love this! Can you please fill me in n it more?
We are very experienced cruisers, however I would like to know what you are putting in the bag? We give money, but would be very interested in giving something else with the cash. Thanks
Our first cruise, we had an inside cabin and ended up sleeping til noon the first morning because of how dark the room was. After that, we learned to turn the tv on and put it on the channel that showed the front of the ship. We learned quickly to be on a normal sleep schedule from that one change and haven’t had a single complaint of an inside cabin.
Cant you just bring an alarm clock?
Having some sense of the light outside certainly helps, good tip!
So this isn't about something that shocked me but good advice for any first time cruisers looking at these comments. Do NOT take dramamine unless you want to sleep nearly the whole cruise. Even the "non drowsy" ones. Instead take some ginger root vitamins with you and take them a couple times a day. They're natural and do not make you feel the need to sleep your whole cruise away.
Your video is very accurate. I can relate to all the points you made, especially the one about finding your cabin. It usually takes me a couple of days to find my way around the ship.
I saw on one cruise vlog that the carpet in the hallways can help you know whether you are walking toward the front or back of the ship. I forget the cruise line but the carpet had a pattern of schools of fish. The fishes are always swimming toward the front of the ship.
That's a brilliant trick ! 🤗
Viking I believe.
That is NCL. Always follow your fish!!
NCL. Except for the red fish.
Also look at your cabin number.. some ships have a wave designed in the high point of the wave is towards the front . Most ships have little “ Tell” signs to help with directions
My big shock is I am totally addicted to cruising. You un pack once, and every day you are some place new. Second point all the food and drinks available.
I find that when I am trying to sleep on a cruise the ship has just the slightest rock to it with makes it SUPPER easy to fall asleep. I bet most people don't notice it but I love it. Things might have changed since my last cruise in '14 but I never sleep better on vacation than when I am on a cruise ship.
This is a lot like riding a train overnight; people think the movement of the cabin will keep them awake, but it does the exact opposite, lulling them to sleep. It's why we rock the cradle of a baby to get them to sleep, though nobody sang a lullaby to us when on the train!
You go face down into your supper? How embarrassing!
I am always in awe at just how big, even the mid-smaller boats really are.
Not until I’m at the dock do I see how big.
Since my first cruise 5 years ago. I've met some amazing people. Who never grow tired of hearing cruise stories. I always use to cruise solo.
Thanks to Facebook, Shipmates and even Cruise Critic. I've made friends even before sailing. Now I belong to groups of people. The biggest shock is how addicting cruising has become. Thanks so much for all your insight and helpful tips.Hope to see you on a cruise soon
Exactly. I join the Facebook group for my cruise and it feels so good to know somebody who is on the same cruise and I can choose to attend the events that they set up. I love cruising solo!
Ok I have a question for ya. You said you always cruise solo or used to anyway. Is there a way to not pay double for the room? What I mean is the site I've been looking at anyway, will sell me the same room with 2 people as with 1 for same price. What I mean is 2 people 319 each 1 person 638. Is there a way to pay less or should I just find someone to go with or just bite the bullet and pay full price?
@@Yugioh420 they charge double as most cabins are designed for a min of 2 passengers, so as theres only one of you, they would be losing a persons fare if they sold the room to a solo passenger, rather than 2 people. i was watching a video today that was talking about solo cruising, and there is a cruise line that only charges the single fare, not double. if i find the video again ill let you know which cruiseline it is :) i remember it had what they called studio rooms, with just a single bed. Tony from #LaLidoLoca travelled in one recently :)
Took my family on our first cruise in October 2022 on RC's Wonder of the Seas. The thing that shocked us the most was the sheer size of the ship. No matter how many videos we had watched we were just not prepared that these cruise ships are floating cities. We kept getting lost even on Day 5, 6. My wife and kids are now officially cruisers as a result of the experience
Yay! I went on my first cruise in August 2023 and my siblings and I loved it! I hope to do it again. I'm so happy to hear your part of team cruising! 🛳
My first Cruise was with Costa Grociere (an italian shipping company). When we first boarded the ship, I could not close my mouth because it looked so luxurious!
i was like that on our first cruise in may on the P&O Pacific Explorer :) The very first day we explored the ship, floor to floor, front to back :) I was just in awe :)
Going on my first cruise without my family in October. I’m so excited to learn how I travel on my own!
How did it go?
Hungry? You can order three appetizers and two entrees. Maybe a couple of desserts!
That shocked me. The decadence of choosing all the apps and desserts, if I wanted to
I was definitely surprised the appetizers and entrees are smaller than your typical restaurant.
@@kathleentrindade9193 And I usually do, because I can!
I will be sailing on the Carnival Freedom May22. Thank you for the great information.
Hopefully I'll be on the Vista come December
On my first cruise I was scared. This ship was so huge. I remember when my brother said to me, the ship was moving. I had grab him. I was so scared. I couldn’t even look at the water, that’s how scared I was. My husband wanted to take pics on the deck and I was to scared to go to the rail. My first cruise was not a happy one. I was just to scared of all that water. But, now, I’m a pro on the cruise now. Im loving them more and more❤️🥰😍😘🙏🏾
What ship was it?
@@jcspotter7322 Carnival. Not sure which Carnival
My first cruise is coming up. I have been losing sleep for all of the past month with anxiety. Height and bodies of water are right there with speed and "fanged belly crawlers"😬.
Not a tree in sight, Jesus!!!
.
@@urhmbc you are going to have a great time! I’m getting ready for my 8th in November and can’t wait. Some tips for your first cruise, bring a small first aid kit just in case (they have that stuff on the boat but you pay an arm and a leg for it) also, bring some stuff to combat sea sickness just in case. Personally I don’t struggle with seasickness but I know a lot of people do. Also, know that all of the drinks have the tip built into the cost. So know that before tipping additionally. Your room will also automatically be charged for tip. These are supposed to be split amongst all the staff that serves you.
@@noellebrown1665 thanks for the tips....all good to know....i only had the seasick covered ....patch and dramamine.🤢😍
Movie night on the deck was cooler than I had planned for. A light jacket or thin packable blanket is a plus
Can you not simply bring your blanket from your room? Or is it just too big or heavy to lug around?
@@Yugioh420 I would say the room blanket may be too large. My packable blanket can also help on the plane so I don’t mind bringing it.
@@schaundah8985 cool. I'll have to grab my smallest fake fur blanket to bring with me. Extra soft and pretty warm
Nice vid, as always. I'll come back and tell you about what shocked me on my first cruise when... I will actually cruise for the first time, in april 2023. We'll go on the MSC Seashore in the mediterranean sea, and I can't wait :)
How did it go? Did you enjoy it?
@@SandcastleGirl It was awesome, we even went back on the MSC fantasia 6 month later and I'm now looking for the next opportunity to cruise. I have also created my own cruise channel on youtube for french audience. It's called "frenchies on the go", we have some international vids where I show full tours of the Seashore, the Fantasia and also the Costa Smeralda. Go check it, you might enjoy it 🙂
Anyway, there was nothing really "shocking", I had watched so many videos here before that it went quite as expected. Some minor things went wrong (dinner time to late, food not as good as expected - both on the Seashore) but it was great in any other way 🙂
We meet some people on our first cruise from California and Minnesota we are going on our 4th and 5th cruise with them
My 2 biggest tips for 1st timers -
1- If you are flying during the winter from a cold state (North Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, New England, Colorado) pretty much anyplace that gets winter weather- and your port is someplace warm- Miami, Tampa, Galveston, LA - Plan to fly the day before and get a hotel room in the port city.
The ship will NOT wait for you.
2- buy the soda package or the drink package before you get on the ship. 90% of the time it will be cheaper than if you buy it onboard. You don't even need to try and you'll get your money's worth. I am not a drinker except socially, but when I cruise I love to get the drink of the day usually after a day in port. Often times it's so good I decide to have a 2nd.
Some cruise lines like Royal Caribbean include the gratuity for the drinks in the cost of the package. Some cruise lines don't and even though the drink has been paid for, you still get the gratuity charge on your bill. So do your research
Have to disagree. When the drink package is $75 a day and I don't even drink alcohol everyday..... yeah. I'm going to buy a la carte anything i might drink on the ship. One alcoholic drink a day on a cruise is "living it up" for me. lol
If you're coming in from a cold area during the winter, late fall and early spring, don't just come in the day before, plan several days before in the event there's a major blizzard that shuts down the airport for several days
It sounds like the drink package at $75/day is very similar to what is offered to owners of Royal Resorts. Being an owner, we have the option of adding the all inclusive package to our service fee. This would include food and drink. However I don’t drink most of the time and I cannot eat $75 worth of food a day. We just wait til Happy Hour when drinks are 2 for 1. Further, we typically have breakfast in the room and then go out for dinner. Too many good restaurants to just eat at resort. We actually own at 3 of the Royals. Ours in Cancun will end this year, the ones In Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morales will be willed to our kids. So far we have only done free certificates in Puerto Morales that included the all inclusive. Eventually we will get to know the town.
ALWAYS fly in the day before. Use the cruise lines transfer option for stress-free traveling between the hotel, cruise port, and airport.
@@jimroscovius you don't need to use the cruise line transfer system to be stress free.
The big thing that shocked me on my first cruise (1997) was how little food there was. One of the only things I’d ever heard about cruises before I went was that you’re eating all the time on the ship. Meals, afternoon appetizer buffets, late-night buffets, and so on. I have no idea what cruise line(s) did this, but the cruise I took had three meals per day. Nothing else. No special dining options, either, just the main dining room. I’m sure things have changed - I haven’t cruised in more than 20 years - but I was shocked that we weren’t fed all that much.
Ty we taking cruise next month this has helped another of your videos !
I'm not a huge people person but I absolutely LOVE cruising. I also enjoy camping.
Sometimes its easier to navigate on the outside of the ship rather than go through the maze of people, casinos and distractions when you just want to go from one spot to another on the ship
Going on a cruise for me, is the best way for a vacation,
My first cruise was a 3 night on RC. Considering how many stories I heard revolving around drinking, I was shocked at how much there is to do without alcohol.
Most cruise lines have shampoo and body wash, from their salons, in dispensers in the showers. I don't take them anymore.
Just got back from my first cruise. Serenade of the seas. I was a little underwhelmed at the size when boarding. I bet that new icon is huge
The thing that surprised me was how some people that cruise freak out when there is a small storm. Just a little rocking and they get their life jackets ready to get in the life rafts. That was what happened with the people in the cabin next to ours. They were like that for the whole cruise.
Our first cruise was on Disney and what confused my wife and I was how the alcohol package worked. We boarded and a crew member walked up and offered us drinks of the day. We didn’t know if we had to pay for it or what. He said something about keeping the glass and getting it refilled whenever we wanted. We just smiled gratefully and accepted the drinks. Everyone talks about the price and is it good or bad, but we had no idea what to expect as complete rookies. I hadn’t found the videos or Facebook groups yet so it was all confusing and made us both feel like dummy’s. Just FYI, now after 10 (soon to be 12) cruises we yield that package like pros…
People get lost because they don't take note of their surroundings. I notice things like maybe the even number cabins on the starboard side or visa versa. People are not familiar with nautical terms like stern, port, bow etc. So it is easy to get lost on the ship but it's also very easy to figure it out. So I think it comes down to how a person thinks. People also don't know how ships are designed in terms of managing balance. Like where people mass together. That's why most of the time the main dining is near the rear and the theater is near the front, two places where big numbers of people will gather at the same time. So that's how I figure out which way some things are and the easiest way is to look at the drawind of the ship posted everywhere " You are here ". Thanks bro your videos are always very informative.
Yes deck plans online are helpful! On NCL at the elevators there is a deck image an a dot for YOU ARE HERE. With a list things and which deck they are on!
I only found out about the "human mass balancing" aspect recently. Makes total sense! Mass also explains why swimming pools are pretty small on cruise ships (or are 'big' but 80% of the area is shallow): water weights A LOT and having all that mass at the very top of a vessel is what engineers probably call Not A Great Idea.
@@breadyegg Absolutely. That's why most of the entertainment is on levels in the lower part of the ship because if the ship gets top heavy it will capsize. So that's what I meant when I said some of it is how people think. Just knowing some of these things give you an idea which way to go and look for things.
My bf and I are going on our first cruise in August and I’m reading every one of these helpful comments 😉
Hi Amanda !
I hope you'll have a wonderful time on your first cruice !
🌞🚢 😎🍹🍹😎
Just take some time to plan your travel warderobe.
Most people pack far too much... 🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒😳
My tip is to colour coordinate your clothes. I usually opt for 3 - 4 colours. Some with patterns, and some without.
That way I can make many combinations with a few pieces.
🧡💛💚💙 👍
Love from Norway 🇳🇴
Me too Amanda. I'll be going on my cruise in July.
My bf and I are going fist time in augest also
Me too!!
I am also going on my 1st cruise with my boyfriend in August lol. I hope you enjoy!
Make sure you take cash with you at port. Especially during your excursions. We swam with the 🐬 in Nassau, but only brought a credit card off ship. The pictures and videos we wanted to purchase were cash only.
Thanks for YOUR tip!! 👍🏻
How much would you recommend to take with you off ship at each port? And should we take the time for currency exchange or just use American and do exchange rates in your head and haggle if they trying to cheat ya?
It really depends on the port. I just got home from a cruise a few weeks ago. In Helsinki, the merchants at an outdoor market all had credit card readers. In Warnemunde, Germany I went to two brick and mortar stores that only took currency. I really wanted something from one of the stores and ran to find an ATM. I only had 30 minutes until they closed and made it back in 25. 😄. That was the only cash I used in 14 days, other than a few US dollars for a busker. If you do carry cash, make sure to have small bills. I was at a straw market once and tried to use a $20. Instead of giving me change, I was persuaded to spend the full $20.
BTW, regarding currency exchange, the easiest way to handle it is just to withdraw what you need from an ATM. This is what Rick Steves recommends. I like to make up a little spreadsheet for shopping:. 1 kr = $0.13, 10 kr = $1.34, etc. Sometimes conversion is really easy. Right now the Euro is really close to the US$, and the Swedish kr is about 10 cents.
Number 8 is not applicable on Aussie cruises but it’s nice to leave your stewards a gift (aka a bit extra money) at the end.
I thought that as the cruise lines were not owned or flagged in Australia you do have pay gratuities. The labour laws of the country where the ship is flagged apply to the crew. So the crew maybe being underpaid by Australian standards. Gratuities are a major part of how the crew are paid even if it is sailing in Australian waters.
So unless you are sailing with a cruise line that includes the gratuities as part of fare or adds them automatically you do have to pay gratuities.
Also as you noted crew prefer a cash gift, if you want to leave a little extra. They have very small cabin space themselves and so little gifts can become burdensome.
@@brontewcat sorry I thought it was pretty explanatory- the gratuity is in the fare which is why our fares are never low. There’s none of this opt out stuff. I’d never stiff the crew on a gratuity. The little monetary gift to the room stewards is an extra to thank them for their work.
@@andreagriffiths3512 It depends on the cruise line as to whether the gratuity is included in the fare not whether you are on an Australian cruise.
I had a look earlier a few months ago, and most cruise lines do not include gratuities in the fare, but add them later. One of the reasons we booked with Celebrity is because gratuities are always included with all cruises. Carnival also includes them, but P & O, Princess, NCL, Royal Caribbean, HAL and Cunard do not.
So it is an issue for most Australian cruises, because people can opt out when it is not included in the fare. As a lot of Australians are not used to tipping it is important they understand No 8 is no different for Australian cruises than any where else in the world.
on my very first cruise on Carnival Legend (AUS) seeing the wastage of printed out pictures that NOBODY was going to buy..and I suspect that's the reason that the ones that WERE purchased were so expensive..covering printer costs..I'm hoping my next sail on Carnival Splendor will only have them displayed on monitors so you can have the choice of buying/printing or not..
I LOVE being on the ship….it’s awesome 🥳
love your channel. its so infrmative. my first cruise is in Sepember. looking forward to it
Need to come back and share any first time tips you learn or experience that wasn't in one of these videos after you get back. I keep learning more and more. Learned. The pool got ocean water in it from a comment further up the page after reading dozens of these things so cant wait to see what I learn next.
Friends for sure. I’m still friends with people I meant on my cruises. Great vlog
I meant??
*Met 😂 typo
I sailed to Jordan Israel and Egypt, it did not know at the time that the countries were 30 minutes apart from each port :-)
We are going on our 4th, 10 day cruise in 2023. We are going on Princess and they upgraded us from a balcony room to a mini suite. The promotion we got when we booked our 4th cruise came with free wifi, drinks package and prepaid tips. We started with Princess and we will continue with them.
10 days huh? That's a good one alright. What ports of call if you dont mind me asking?
#1 Rule on a cruse ship have fun, but in pursuit of your fun don't interfere with anyone else's fun.
Also you WILL see an item on the itinerary called friends of Bill W. That is not some rich guy who rented out the space. If you don't know what it is you aren't suposed to. And if you need it it is there.
Another tip, yes the cabins are small but they are only for the 5 S's ( Sleep, Shower, Shave, S**, & S***.
Great info Dave from Hamilton
We started cruising many years ago, before specialty restaurants and anytime dining. To meet people, we chose to be seated at a large table, which was really great. With the inclusion of more and more specialty dining, it often happened that some evenings there would only be 4 of us at a table for 10, not great. With the increase of anytime dining to the point where it now takes the majority of tables, you can get back to that enjoyment of communal eating by requesting to join a larger table. My only problem with this came in our only Carnival where on a 7 day cruise twice we were seated at a table as the other people were just finishing their entrée, once the opposite, we were the only ones at a table for 8 until after we had ordered dessert.
That said, it is still a great option to meet people, who if you really get along with, can become table partners for the rest of the cruise if YOU so choose.
I don't know about shock, but the very first time I was on a ship I was surprised that almost no crew were American. I know why that is now, but it was wild to see every employee was from another country.
Can you say why that is please?
Indeed. On land, we're accustomed to staff being of the country that we're in and, rightly or wrongly, naturally assume this will be the case also at sea :)
@@jaleciachambers5960 Hi there. If you're asking "Why are they not American?" I did a quick google and found this excerpt: " Crew nationality - Where do the rest of the crew come from? On most cruise ships, crew will be from a range of lower wage countries like the Philippines. There are counterexamples, though. Pride of America’s crew is largely American, because the ship is registered in the U.S. "
I found on the P&O Cruises the staff were primarily Philippines, Malaysian, Indonesian etc.
Only one cruise ship is flagged in the United States; in addition to N D's comment; they Bridge staff are typically Greek and Italians on ships sailing out of the United States.
@@jaleciachambers5960 basically from a few videos I've seen the pay and food and sleeping accommodation are not the greatest for crew like they are for guests yet they are expected to go above and beyond for the money they get. And while it could be poor pay or living conditions for a lot of Americans especially some of us that are shall we say entitled, it could be an opportunity to make more money they any other way of life for a lot of lower paying or lower income nations. That's my understanding anyway. From the videos I've seen
One thing I definitely remember as a surprise on my first cruise; the main entrees in the dining room tend to be smaller than most restaurants. It was not uncommon for people to order two or three appetizers in addition to an entree or to order two entree dishes.
When there is an upcharge for say lobster do they charge per lobster or per meal at places like the steak house or sea food place?
we found the same with even the mains. my mains onboard our first cruise were entree size. but i didnt mind as then i could eat dessert too :) which i normally cant eat after being to a restaurant on land as im way too full after eating just the meat from my main meal. im not a big eater lol
It’s an up charge per lobster and the lobsters are not tiny but also not big and cost about $30 (prices on Princess in October 2022). I’d 100% double down on something else or hit a specialty restaurant than get another lobster in the MDR.
Great tips for first time cruisers!
For me personally, i have to disagree with your point about getting oriented and navigating on a ship. I’m blind, and I actually have quite good bearings and directional senses. In fact, it’s far easier to navigate the decks with just cabins than something like the lido, promenade, casino, or open plan areas. When leaving an elevator bank, I always will know which way I am facing, and with only 2 directions to go in a cabin hallway, it couldn’t be easier for me. My family on the other hand, that’s a different story. I remember being on the Golden Princess in 2014 and going back to my cabin with my dad. We were going out the midship elevators which faced differently than the forward ones and he tried leading me down the wrong hallway. I ended up getting us back to our cabin with 0 difficulty though, and that’s how it always goes for me. Sure it may take a little bit, like an afternoon, to find routes I want to take to places I want to frequently visit, but I acclimate rather quickly.
Well I’m sighted, and it’s quite easy to get ‘turned around’ even on ships I’ve sailed on before!
You can’t f@ing disagree with an opinion! 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
@@JulieWallis1963 you can totally disagree with an opinion. You can't disagree with hard facts.
What makes an opinion an opinion is that everyone can have a different one and nobody's as any more valid or invalid than anybody else's.
I'm not sure how much site the OP has or when he or she lost their vision. I have been legally blind for the last 17 years having lived the first 32 years with 20/20 vision.
Part of the appeal of going on a cruise for me is going to be the fact I don't think it will be that hard to find my way around. Like you, I get turned around easily, I'd Be afraid to go to a resort and get lost and not able to find my way back to my room.
At least on a ship, a t worst, I'll be walking around in circles for a couple hours. 😅
One very important tip: if the night before debarkation you leave your bags outside for the staff to provide to you once you disembark, REMEMBER TO SAVE YOUR OUTFIT FOR DEBARKATION IN YOUR STATEROOM! Once they take your bags they won’t be able to sift through the thousands of bags to assist you with finding your debarkation outfit you accidentally packed.
Hahaha. Please tell me you didn't have to debark in your pajamas
@@Cruzelycom Thankfully not! But I definitely saw some pj’s when I was making my way off the ship!
@@brittanyb3872 yes but how many of them was on purpose because they simply didn't want to have to fun or relaxation end so soon?
I met a couple on a cruise that are now my best friends... small world ENJOY! Virginia
Heading for my first cruise in 2 weeks. Thanks for these tips.
I envy you so much. My first one wont be till December and only if I get the money and everything else in ordered before then. Have great time let us know highs lows and any tips you have that you haven't heard before when you get back. Just heard first time today in comments higher up that they got ocean water in pool so learning more each day
I’m going in august . Im autistic and I’m nervous . I do well on planes but never a ship yet!
Regarding pool water, some lines do have fresh water.
Mercedes, I have a nephew on the spectrum and he's done fine on three family cruises.
I’m about to take my first cruise May 22-28🎉🥂🛳
I was shocked at how much free food was available. Also the cost of drink packages. Wow
I’ll tell you what shocked me on my first cruise I just took this past month, all of the dang kids in the hot tub doing cannon balls! Lol
I’m not looking forward to that
I’m unfortunately cruising the week after school let’s out or graduation. Everyone is posting about how many teens or children they’re bringing. I made a mistake, it won’t happen again.
That’s what I worry about 😩
😂😂😂
Is there no security on cruise lines?
Another no-go item: power strips (especially those with surge suppressors). These are fire hazards.
A short extension with thick wires may be acceptable - I have a 6 inch 3 plug extension cord that has been accepted.
I've seen a few videos with accepted ones as long as there isn't a surge protector on it, so might be a cruise line by cruise line kind of thing but definitely worth doing research about your specific cruise before bringing anything
@@Yugioh420 the primary requirements are:
No surge protection (fire hazards due to the different way ships provide electricity)
Not long enough to get stepped on/caught under a chair leg (again fire hazard)
Thick wires (again, less risk of fire)
It helps to have the extension in the package showing the above.
The menu in the main dining room is set. Every day of the week has the exact same thing so if your cruise is 10 days every Sunday you’ll get the same stuff. Remember this because if you hated the sea bass last Sunday you’re going to hate it again next Sunday. If you are on an extended cruise, say 22 days around South America, there will be some slight variation on sides but chances are every Sunday will find you eating sea bass.
First cruise with parents on Holland America. Most PAX were retired. Most boring vacay ever.
What shocked me was the sheer size of the vessel. It was way out of the scale that I had imagined.
The toilet noise did my head in on our first cruise
Why? What?
@@brijithixxx1388 the toilets are vacuum operated and make a very unique noise when flushed
I had no idea how the dining worked on my first cruise! I thought you could only eat in the main dining room once per cruise 🤦🏻♀️ we ate at the buffet a lot that week, lol.
We are traveling on the Carnival Mardi Gras. From what I learned here the tips for drinks are added over and above the prepaid tips? If that is the case I am not wanting to pay the prepaid tips, I would rather pay individually. This is great information!
First time I cruised I was in highschool and didn't know all the things I could do on a cruise ship and all the things included in the initial price so I didn't eat much and didn't do much. I have always been a light packer. I've done 14 day cruises with only a backpack. now it's a military 5 day backpack but I can fit so many days worth of clothing in it and I usually do a load of laundry on the ship if it's available. I usually just hunker down with a book for a couple of hour and get it done its not a big deal to me.
wow i need to take packing lessons from you lol after my last interstate holiday, (i live in australia), i came home with 1 large suitcase, 2 medium overnight bags and 6 tote bags lol our first cruise i took a very large suitcase and an overnight bag, i do not know how to pack light lol i usually take way too many clothes, things to do like adult coloring books,and gel pens etc , actual books, cds/dvds, diary, notebook, card or board games, travel books, and totte bag of snacks ,then everything else but the kitchen sink hehe i really really need to realise that after prob 40 different trips away over the last 4 years, that i never ever use any of those things, so stop taking them, theyre not going to be used probobly on any holiday. but even my clothes, i could never fit in a backpack. i think youre amazing :)
@@travelwithdebandnick I spent 8 year in the US army and deployed 4 times to the Middle East and that has helped greatly with packing essentials. The biggest thing for me is knowing the weather. If it's cold like an Alaska cruise you won't be swimming so don't bring shorts but if you are going to Mexico in May don't take pants. Other then formal nights I just bring comfortable clothing. Additionally you can find clothing that may fit multiple roles like a sweater that can convert into a backpack.
By the way, I love your videos!
My big thing is the size of the ship. No matter how many times I see a ship I can’t get over the size.
We have a very different idea of jacket or hoodie weather. You must live in a warm climate because when I escaped the cold weather for my first cruise in April I never even considered wearing a jacket.
Nailed it. 70 and sunny is comfortable to me. 70 and windy? Gimme a jacket.
I think they mean more at night on open sea can get chilli but by then most people are drinking and wouldn't notice the slight chill anyway.
Navigating the ships are easy, even Oasis class ships. My biggest surprise was that they are not totally inclusive and things like soda are not included. I knew that before I sailed but not before I started researching it. I do understand why there is a surcharge for specialty restaurants because if not no one would eat in buffets or main dining. Food is good in the main dining rooms on Royal and Holland but still not the same standard as the specialty restaurants. I do love cruising and I am glad that I can just drive to several ports within a few hours. Makes it much more affordable and I dont have to worry about flying to a cruise port and dealing with airline baggage policies.
Rule of thumb for flying in…NEVER ever ever ever fly in the day of your cruise. At the very latest, fly in the day before.
Size the ship got us my our first cruise . we got lost two i learned follow the carpet some ship have fish on them . it sounds funny but they go in the right direction and extra cost surprised us as well . i have learned to add it to our budget
I don't think my wife would like a cruise at sea - she knows I'd want to spend most of the time in the engine room looking at all the machinery!
Lol not like you be aloud in there anyway so probably be fine.
Some cruise lines will offer passengers a behind the scenes tour - for a price.
Hi! I got a question about the bottle of wine you can bring on board. Are you allowed to drink it outside of your room? Any restrictions? Thanks in advance
My first cruise was on Oasis of The Seas. I was awestruck when I saw it in person
It really is something else. I still get amazed when I see the Oasis-class ships.
Going on my first cruise in October...paying attention to everything. Was def shocked about the amount of advertising that will be sent to us.
We was on a small ship so we felt all the movement you fill everything
Have you got a video on the life boat telling about them and how many they got her ship and just basic info
Don’t recognize your hallway. Do what someone taught me years ago in Vegas. Tie balloons, streamers on your door, esp if you and your other half like to pass out in said hallways before your room.
Have fun!
I'm planning to go on a cruise in 2023. Here's one question. Is night swimming allowed?
What irritated me most was the nickle and dime method the Cruise Lines use to milk out every out of you . I would gladly pay more to have a truly All Inclusive experience .C'mon expecting Passengers to HAVE to tip Workers to provide a living wage for them ? I have no problem tipping good service but being told to bothers me
Why don't companies offer incentive discount to people to book their first cruise? Why do they only offer discounts to regular bookers? These older, regular bookers are not the money makers for cruise companies. There is no incentive for me to buy a cabin as a first time cruiser when I see others getting discounts - this stops a whole class of potential new, younger clients. When the old clients die there will be no-one to replace them.
On my first cruise, I was a bit surprised the pool was filled with ocean water instead of chlorinated water like every other pool I had ever swum in.
Wow really? This first time I've heard mention this so thank you. Is it every pool on board or only the main pool or what?
They drain it out every night, too. If the ocean is cold the pool is cold. Makes for a challenge going to Alaska. And yes, all pools and usually the hot tubs but not all the time with the hot tubs, it’s ship dependent
When it comes to specialty dining pay attention because not all restaurants are a part of specialty dining and will cost extra.
When you get on it feels small but within an hour you feel like it is so big you can't find your way.
Since you report 30-40% of ship income is from onboard spending, there is no incentive for the ship to be in port longer than the minimum as the passengers will spend their money in city and not in the ship. Extended stays only make sense for the ship if the company owns the resort island when on an island stop, for example.
Or longer excursions that can be booked bringing in more money that way
Or perhaps being able to book more then 1 excursion in the same stop if multiple ones appeal to you. But other then that yea I can definitely see your point. Unless the "other guys" offer longer excursions and port times. Then they got to also to keep up with that competition
Just wanted to say I absolutely love your channel and all the advice and tips you give. I've cruised multiple times between NCL, Carnival, and Princess. I am thinking about trying Royal Caribbean. Any advice on which cruise line you like best? I get amazing deals since I gamble with Carnival. However NCL hasn't given any discounts to me even with the amount I gambled, however I do like that you can get the free at see offers included in price.
I find I get casino cruise certificates from land based casinos to get free cruise fare for 2, but if you do enough play and lose on NCL in their casino just call CAS (casino at sea) and ask! On a previous cruise I lost enough for them to give me an added 20% discount to the 35% NCL is already putting out there! If you lose enough on previous play in the onboard casino they have record of that and can see if it's enough to get you some discount! Just ask NCL CAS!
We love Royal Caribbean and are planning our 5th cruise with them. Don't waste your money on Disney cruises. They cost twice as much as RCI for what? To be inundated with Mickey Mouse? Even our kids didn't want that!!
@@jimroscovius aw come on you dont wanna see goofy in a speedo?
Lol
Royal or Celebrity if you want a more "adult" or "luxurious" experience... they are both in the Royal Family but Celebrity is way more relaxing. They both have pretty good casino perks if you're a big player. I've gotten a few comped cruises through Royal Casino Loyalty program... I've never done Disney but REFUSE to spend that kind of money... I spent 6 weeks combined on cruises in 2019 (Pre Covid) all RCCL and Celebrity... I stay FAR AWAY from Carnival and NCL tbh.. I've done them but didn't like them AT ALL
as an Aussie sailing out of Australia I assume there are already gratuities included with my fare..so I assume I don't need to tip twice...we are not a tipping nation and with that it should not be expected when travelling within/just off of Australian waters then it should not be expected of us to tip, especially if it's already included in our fare..
on P&O it was included :) Except we did give our cabin stewards $10 each before departing, the service was nothing extra that they provided, we didnt even get them to clean our cabin each day, we dont like people in our rooms when we are not there, so left the do not disturb sign on the door throughout the cruise, but we sort of felt obligiged to give them something..... didnt want to seem rude. but we didnt tip anyone else as it was included :) ive heard that or RCL, even in aus, that if you buy a drink for eg, that they automatically when you sign to pay for the drink, add an 18 per cent tip onto each drink order. so think they are different to our first cruise, where the tipping was part of our original cruise fare that we paid to book the cruise :) there was literally not even one mention anywhere on the website or onboard re having to add gratuites :)
I don't mind paying the gratuities as part of the fare @@travelwithdebandnick, mind you, we're already paying their wages out of our fares, but to then tip again on top is a bit much..it's like we're paying them 3x's...
What shocked me is how many people in the buffet line grab food with there hands and eat it right there in line.
We are taking our first cruise in Sept to Alaska on NCL Sun. I'm a bit nervous.
Prepare for layering of clothes, and comfy footware to stay warm, breathtaking views, and friendly people !
You'll have a wonderful time...
🏞🚢⛰🐬🐟🦅 😘
how easy it is to sleep in and miss you excursion time to leave the ship, your tired, its dark and your comfy in your cabin and its noon and you missed your excursion
My first cruise was back in the 90s when we dressed up in formal wear for dinner. I packed a long formal gown and somehow still had room for other clothes. We also could have a travel iron. Now I don't pack a formal gown, I bring dresses or pants and tops for dinner that don't wrinkle or need ironing because we cannot bring a travel iron or steamer. Some ships have a laundry room but I don't go on a cruise to iron clothes. I do that before I pack and I don't send my clothes out to be ironed. I like to cruise ot relax so the serenity deck is my favorite spot.
I was shocked at how crowded it was. Especially at the beginning when you couldn't access rooms...🤦♀️
So is this an advocate for later boarding so you can access your rooms as soon as you board or shortly after then?
If you don't like crowds, this is a great time to cruise. My recent cruise was only about 50% full. I actually heard something like only 800 passengers. The main dining room was maybe 20% full when we ate there.
#2 Yep! My jaw dropped when I boarded my first ship. Royal's Freedom of the Seas.
So you became their employer as well. They should go above and beyond that's their job their employer pays them to do. If anybody should be tipped it should be a doctor a firefighter.
I have always wanted to do a cruise. Never have but I somehow ended up on the algorithm for cruising and I’m enjoying the imaginary trip in my mind. 😂
Maybe one day. I want to take my kids on the Disney cruise but holy wow the price. 😅 Not ready for that. Nor am I ready to head the Florida for a cruise. I would probably stick to California cruises. Close to home and all. Anyway, thanks for all the information.
Whatever you do invest in a balcony if you are introverted
Each cruise line is different. This video presents great generalities, but do your homework on the line you are sailing. For instance, Virgin Voyages includes gratuities in the cruise fare. That means ALL gratuities--if you order a $10 glass of wine, it costs $10 (no tip added). No daily gratuity charges. And basic wifi and beverages are included (some lines charge wifi by the minute or gig of use, or as much as $20 per day). That means you don't need to buy a soda package.
Spa charges on ships are generally at least twice wha I'd pay for the same thing in my city (if you live in NY or LA, this may not be true). Always fly in at least a day ahead. My logic is that if I am in the port city, then somehow I'm going to be on that ship. If I'm at my home city, too many things can happen to mess up flights. Yes, I pay for a night at a hotel, but that is cheap travel insurance. It also allows me to sleep late in the morning and get to the ship feeling rested, rather than getting up at 4am to get to the airport on time for an early flight. Also, check flight costs and policies. Booking flights thru some cruise lines can give you less costly flights and still allow you a lot of choice, while other cruise lines sell at the going flight costs or even higher and basically tell you what flight you will be on! Bottom line, I guess, generalities are good, but get the details on the cruise line and even the specific ship you are booking!
@5:15 advertising flyers, I never noticed any on P&O or Cunard, actually, not on Princess or Marella, either.
Probably just American lines...
Some cruise lines are now including gratuities in the overall price, though it is our experience that staff know it would be rude to refuse! Our first sea trip was on QM2, so gratuities have never been a shock since.
Im going on my first 7 day cruise next week and im so excited but nervous because I also have a fear of heights around glass stairs and elevators even high floors, any tips or suggestions to cope with it when I go?
Thank you everyone
Great video as always!
Face your fears and you’ll discover that you’re braver than you thought, that’s how I dealt w/ my fear of public speaking. Happy sailing
Thank you for saying I can bring all the suitcases I want to. Every one else is like.. just one carry on! just one carry on! Yeah, I'm bringing what i can fit in my car. driving to port. LOL My largest bag is 34 pounds. So... i'm not even close to the 50 limit.
I carry a big wheeled Nautica duffel bag. My wife is an overpacker. No worries, just bear in mind it may not fit under the bed, and pack in a way you can unpack and put it in the drawers. It sucked to pull a big bag on top of the bed every time you change clothes.
You're not moving house, dear !
Just going on a cruise....😘
@@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131 well. it was kind of a joke, but it is good to know that i can have TWO bags if I want! LOL. Eight over nights with a husband and our sons. We CAN bring the snorkel gear.
My first cruise coming up and I’ve ordered, shopped, packed and repacked during the last five months. I have outfit maps and item lists everywhere. With 30 days to go I decided to dress like a true beach bum and bring just one checked bag and a crossbody. Who knew there were reversible dresses?
@@mandywalker3393
Og course you were joking.
Me too ! 😄
But seriously. Everybody packs too much for å cruise.
Even those who brag "I don't !"
I always make a strickt plan for travel outfits.
Like ;
Two skirts. (Of different lenghts).
Two pairs of trousers.
Two tops.
Two blouses.
Two cardigans. One a little festive.
All wrinkle free, in colours and patterns wich mix and match.
You get sixteen outfits from that... 🤗
Anyway.
Make sure you pamper yourself onboard, and have a lovely vacation !!! 😎🍹
On my first cruise, I was shocked by the fact that they didn’t have straws on board (they did have edible straws though)
*Carnival Sunshine
I am bad with direction, so find my way around the ship is a constant problem.
This is going to be me soon
That my time dining was a rip. It’s better to eat early to have your whole night free because the MDR takes a lot of time. To have something planned even if it’s little when you get off the ship bc if not you can spend a whole lot of money wondering around. And don’t Waste ur time or money on the in text chatting feature bc is is super spotty. Not that 20 bucks is a lot but it did not do what is what meant to do, for us.