Cruise Tips

Soooo...the whole famn damily's going on a cruise in a coupla weeks. Looking for tips. Ya know, like certain things to bring that we would most certainly overlook. The best tip so far: bring air freshener, the rooms are cramped. Things of that nature...

Not really looking for suggestions on what to do when we're on land really. We decided NOT to book any activities ahead of time. This is the first REAL vacation we've had in FIVE years and've decided NOT to commit to a schedule. We're all comfy with just sitting around on the beaches for 7 days if that's what happens. We just don't wanna HAVE TO be here or there at any given time...

Bought the meal 'ticket', juice & soft drink 'ticket' and we're bringing $1000 cash. We don't plan on doing much drinking onboard, just sleeping & eating...

Plus, those excursions are an utter rip-off and I've already spent a bulk of our vacation money on the Corvette! :lol:

Best thing to do is once you hit and Island grab a Cab driver and find out what he would charge for the day and Haggle down a good price...and He will show you everything and then some....and you have the ability of bailing at any time. We did this a few times and it was just like the normal tourist stuff but at your pace and no crowd. Worked out Killer..

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Originally Posted by Pigman

Best thing to do is once you hit and Island grab a Cab driver and find out what he would charge for the day and Haggle down a good price...and He will show you everything and then some....and you have the ability of bailing at any time. We did this a few times and it was just like the normal tourist stuff but at your pace and no crowd. Worked out Killer..

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Awesome tip right there! I've also heard those are the guys to talk to for...well, you know... :smoker

Make sure you have an alarm that alerts you well before you have to be back on the ship.

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Originally Posted by Awesome

Make sure you have an alarm that alerts you well before you have to be back on the ship.

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Yup, we've heard that from several people...

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Originally Posted by Awesome

Make sure you have an alarm that alerts you well before you have to be back on the ship.

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Yea.....this is key also

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Originally Posted by Stoneman

Awesome tip right there! I've also heard those are the guys to talk to for...well, you know... :smoker

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Shit, does having a briefcase full of shit stuffed into your cab count????? if so your good :spit:

1. Bring more cash

2. Bring a book of papers

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Originally Posted by Pigman

Yea.....this is key also

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it does seem they are always calling at least a couple names at the end of the day

We didn't do the excursions thru the cruise line but got good deals on a couple on a cruiser forum. Swimming with Stingrays, Cave Tubing.

Some of the areas can be sketchy and my wife was a little freaked at times when we got away from the port... I tried to blend in and not look like a tourist.

Cabbies will charge you per person and not per distance. So you can cram 8 people in there and it will still be the same per person as if you just had 2.

We did (and reccomend doing) all the "On ship" stuff (i.e. FREE), the shows, the dinners, met the captain (needed formal wear at his dinner), climbing wall, used the gym, shuffleboard, mini golf etc. they should have a daycare type center with kid activities or even sitters you can use.

Have a blast! Oh and Haggle, Haggle, Haggle.

If you are going to drink on board, even a little, pack it in your suitcase if you want to save lotsa cash.

My last cruise 2 years ago, I tried using "Sea Bands" that you wear on your wrists and a bead puts pressure on a pressure point to help eliminate sea sickness. Worked great for me & I'd never go on another "cruise" without them. Also going on a Cruise to Bermuda on May 15th on NCL "Norwegian Gem" & SO looking forward to it. :wink:

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Originally Posted by ilikenapalm

If you are going to drink on board, even a little, pack it in your suitcase if you want to save lotsa cash.

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We've pretty much resigned ourselves to NOT drinking on board unless it's an absolute necessity...

pack some Benadryl. i'm not allergic or sensitive to anything but whatever Royal Caribbean does to their water fucked with me bad. instant itchiness after a shower. only happened to one other person in our group of 20+ but it was annoying.

not drinking on board? screw that, that's the only time i DIDNT feel the thing rocking.

watch what you leave behind in backpacks if you do join any excursions. the zipline place we went to in St. Maarten (or St. John, forget) had lots of theft reported. if you need to leave anything behind anywhere, make sure you're OK with never seeing it again. never leave your passport in a backpack.

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Originally Posted by Stoneman

We've pretty much resigned ourselves to NOT drinking on board unless it's an absolute necessity...

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it will be ;)

like ilikenapalm said, grab some of those flexible/flat liquid holder thingies to pack your own sauce. save tons.

Do they check backpacks etc. when you reboard at each port?

bring pants with elastic waistbands. they feed you copious amounts of awesome food constantly.

do everything on the ship that might interest you. you can always walk out later if it sucks.

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Originally Posted by Stoneman

Do they check backpacks etc. when you reboard at each port?

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they did on mine - royal Caribbean

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Originally Posted by Stoneman

Do they check backpacks etc. when you reboard at each port?

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Originally Posted by mzdagrl

they did on mine - royal Caribbean

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yup, same here. also RC...

thorough ID checks, bag scanning machines and all. a buddy and i wanted to bring some 'party favors' so badly but got completely sketched out. we were glad we didnt.

on a separate occasion (Bermuda) i had a security dog come sniff my shit up...

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Originally Posted by typeone

yup, same here. also RC...

thorough ID checks, bag scanning machines and all. a buddy and i wanted to bring some 'party favors' so badly but got completely sketched out. we were glad we didnt.

on a separate occasion (Bermuda) i had a security dog come sniff my shit up...

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Dogs and machines are looking for bombs, not drugs.

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Originally Posted by Awesome

Dogs and machines are looking for bombs, not drugs.

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machine, i hear you... dog, i was sketched out regardless :D

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Originally Posted by typeone

machine, i hear you... dog, i was sketched out regardless :D

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Typically that's how it goes boarding ships/planes. Customs is a different story.

If you think the group will seperate often, those little hand held walkie talkies come in handy. Damn ships are big.

I remember seeing lots of groups with those

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Originally Posted by MysteriousR1

If you think the group will seperate often, those little hand held walkie talkies come in handy. Damn ships are big.

I remember seeing lots of groups with those

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Good fuggin' idea! I have a set I use hunting that I'll bring...

You get nailed using cell phones, right?

once upon a time you could buy duty free liquor on the boat cheap and drink it in your room, or buy it in town and bring it back on board . they still let you buy it on board and bring it back on the ship from town , but they take it from you and store it until teh cruis is over so you bring it home with you ,. they realized that they were losing money on drinks by allowing it .

so they check your bags coming on board , take your liquor and you get it back going off the ship .


bottled water is pretty pricy on board as well , pack some reusable water bottles, when you go to the buffet for breakfast , there will be signage at the drink station not to fill water bottles , so just get several cups of water and refill your bottle back at the table.

+ one for the walkie talkies , cell phone roaming rates are $$$$$$ out at sea , and probably in port as well unless you have international coverage .

Bring all the seasickness stuff you can...then bring more. Nothing worse than that.