Bring some cheap expendable refrigerator magnets to decorate your cabin door with. All cabin doors look the same but these help with that. Just don't use anything cute or they might gain legs and walk off.
Aside for new ships; it should be noted the newer cruise ships also come with higher prices. It is a point of debate; I would not count out older ships just because they don't have the latest in technology.
I prefer the older ones. Cheaper fares like you mentioned, allow me to cruise more often. Also, I don't need all the new fads and gizmos. Plus, they are usually smaller in size than all the latest ginormous behemoths, so easier and faster to get around.
Thank you for mentioning the elevators/lifts. I have a request for the able-bodied. PLEASE LEAVE THE ELEVATORS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T CLIMB STAIRS! Please, please, please. Pretty please with sugar on top. Oh, I fully understand that you don't want to go up six decks with the stairs. But if you're only going two or three decks, walking them is quicker, and helps keep cruise calories away. Both my bestie and I need walkers/rollators. Even if I fold my walker (and brace myself against the wall), I take up the space of two people. I'm sorry about that, but I can't do anything better.
One thing that I've learned is to go to my cabin soon after I get on board. It not only gives me a chance to drop off my carry on bag but check the cabin and make sure that everything is working. My last cruise I did not have a working refrigerator, so I was able to alert the steward immediately. This is especially important because of how busy they are on embarkation day.
The view from the balcony is worth the cost. However the sound of the ocean is worth the cost. I love to hear the sound of the waves hitting the ship as it slices through them. It’s so calming.
I am an inexperienced cruiser (wanting to plan my first for myself and my fiancé soon) and am a bit overwhelmed with all of the options of cruise lines, destinations, itineraries, packages, etc etc etc. I love these videos, but if I can be honest, it is still a bit overwhelming even with all of the videos out there with tips, tricks, etc. Is there a discord or something like that to get direct answers to direct questions? I am really excited at the prospect of cruising
We have done 24 cruises. Here are a few guidelines: Don’t pick a mega-ship, one with more than 3500 passengers. Stay with smaller, oftentimes older ships. Don’t book a bargain cruise line. Go with Princess or Holland America. Book an ocean view or balcony cabin somewhere near the center of the ship. An unobstructed cabin is best. Sail during shoulder season when kids are in school. Avoid major holidays. Fly or drive to the port 1 or 2 days prior. Buy travel insurance from an independent company with CFAR, cancel for any reason. Limit your shore excursions to every other port. Use ship excursions at first to be guaranteed a return to the ship. Limit your onboard spending by eating in the main dining room, one drink per day and resist all the photo ops by the crew. Explore the ship and see the shows. Make sure you lay out you next days clothes the night before you disembark. On a side note: You didn’t mention your age but Princess and Holland cater to more mature cruisers and offer a more traditional cruise experience. Carnival and NCL are for younger crowds with more bells and whistles. We are in our 70’s and our next cruise is with Carnival, mainly because we can drive to the port. Hope this helps. Have fun!
Royal is our fav followed by Norwegian…. Don’t do a brand new huge ship. They can be overwhelming for beginners Depending on budget and if you want a sanctuary of your own, get a balcony. Try just a couple specialty restaurants and do the MDR or other complimentary places the rest of the time Really decide if you will use the drink package. You usually have to drink 6-8 cocktails (more of beer) to break even. And that’s every day. Don’t forget you’re gonna be of ship many days And finally…. Don’t do too much! Make sure you have chill time and enjoy the relaxation and ship
My perspective: You won’t spend any appreciable time in your cabin, book an inside for better sleep. Be aware of what is above and below your cabin regardless of what type you book, noise is awful and the kitchen runs 24/7. You can’t buy the drink package for only one person in a room so you’d both better be dedicated to drinking. You can order more than one appetizer, main course, or dessert. Bring magnet hooks to hang stuff up. Carnival has the best rewards program to actually get perks you’ll want, Holland is the slowest. Tip your room steward in cash at the beginning and again at the end and tip anyone who provides good service in cash, too. Bring your own travel cup for coffee/tea/beverages because they only have dinky cups at the buffet. Google the ship and your cabin number to find reviews. Don’t overpack if you self carry luggage because you may be taking the stairs with your bag when there are no elevators. Shut off your cell service as soon as the ship starts to move because cellular at sea is EXPENSIVE.
a bit late, hopefully you're ready enjoying your second or third cruise by now. But my advice for all first-timers is to find a travel agent that specializes in cruises and has taken several themselves.
On NCL now they allow bottles of wine and if you have a drink pkg the usual $15 corkage fee per bottle is waived! So you might want to update your information!
recap from last cruise to Alaska. Cruise director comes on the intercom to remind people to do their declaration cards or else it will delay the whole ship and they can be detained by immigration even if they are not planning on getting off at the port of Victoria. Read everything and ask questions. I don't know how many times I hear someone got denied boarding or .......the best one ever.....passenger trying to get into Canada to board her Carnival Cruise in Vancouver with a big old bag of weed. Yeah...that's illegal.
Repositioning cruises are great for getting home at the end of your visit to Europe. We did a B2B on the Nieuw Statendam pre Covid and sailed home. What a great way to decompress. 2 additional benefits are Europe is less crowded after school starts and it is cooler. Fly over, spend 2 days near the port city to shake off jet lag and enjoy your vacation.
Mini electric tea lights are perfect for leaning in the loo at night. Also, for an inside cabin, leave the TV set on the bow camera at night with no sound so you know when it's time to wake up.
I'm taking my first cruise in October. I've seen a lot of videos with decorated doors. I thought that would be a cool way to keep the fun cruise vibes. What is the best way to attach things to the doors? Are they magnetic like the inside walls?
I've heard the doors are also magnetic. Your decorations should be magnetic and non flammable. Also beware of second meanings behind pineapples and flamingos I think. Happy cruising!
Going on the NCL Getaway in October. Going while school is in is a great tip! Anyone have any tips for that boat let me know this will be first time on NCL.
Mainly. We love having a balcony to sit at and watch the water. Also. More room is always a plus. And. You get to embark early. Usually we get to go on an hour before anyone else. Not sure if anybody else has had this happen for them. Also. On the Mardi Gras. The shower was very big and nice. Two shower sides. And lastly. The location. If feels as though the suites are on the bat locations on the ship. I do know some people prefer other locations. I love where they are located. Especially when traveling with family. The family suites are a definite must. If you are able to splurge a little.
Always take an extra bag with you, either a collapsible duffel or additional suitcase nested in your primary to make room for laundry or souvenirs. The lines all sell bags around $30 because they know guests are going to debark with more than they came aboard with.
my very first cruise was an internal cabin, my second was a balcony...as nice as it was to have a window to look out I think I prefered the internal...why spend more when all you have to do is go out on deck to see what's out there..!! they only time you wish you might have a view is when, unfortunately, get seasick and are not leaving your cabin, otherwise, save your money, for like that rather expensive drink package..
I’m going to be doing a B2B cruise for my B-day so I decided to get a balcony my cruise is already paid off I even decided to get insurance just in case something happens it’s better to be prepared I just opened my Royal Caribbean acct hoping to try them eventually 👍
One tip that I learned is have fun. We get systematic on ships, trying to get to everything and do everything. I found it is nice to just slow down and enjoy the time on board. Also participate in the activities on board it makes the cruise much more enjoyable and satisfying.
For starters, choose h a travel agent who will keep you up to date on cruise policies, procedures, and price changes Also, book as many items as possible prior to the cruise. Combined, these will greatly reduce pre-cruise stress.
So far for me as a solo traveler it's been having to pay normal rate for a cabin which is double occupancy. However, have been hearing about a very few cruise brands like NCL (Norwegian Cruise line) that has exclusive Solo cabins. Hopefully as other readers on this chat board can chime in on other cruise lines that specialize in solo cabins because I would like to know too.
For me. Be free to vacation without having to compromise what activity to do. As a solo traveler if not comfortable with saying to others that am traveling solo. Create a cover story of something along the lines of: " Yes. I'm traveling with someone however we choose to do our own thing. Unfortunately you might not meet them" If you choose to share that " Yes, I'm solo traveling." And want to take someone to your room. While in the public spaces are you 100% comfortable with that person if so then and only then invite them to your cabin. If not never disclose your cabin address for safety. Insist on public spaces. My opinion that is.
Great video but I can't agree with the don't get a balcony tip. My first cruise was a balcony and I can't go inside. I love to see and hear the ocean. Some nights I would leave the balcony open so the ocean can put me to sleep. I will take heed to some of your other tips though.
Bring some cheap expendable refrigerator magnets to decorate your cabin door with. All cabin doors look the same but these help with that. Just don't use anything cute or they might gain legs and walk off.
Some TV's in your stateroom have a USB port on the rear of the screen, use it to plug in your charger and keep the wall plugs free for other items.
Great tip!
Aside for new ships; it should be noted the newer cruise ships also come with higher prices. It is a point of debate; I would not count out older ships just because they don't have the latest in technology.
I prefer the older ones. Cheaper fares like you mentioned, allow me to cruise more often. Also, I don't need all the new fads and gizmos. Plus, they are usually smaller in size than all the latest ginormous behemoths, so easier and faster to get around.
Thank you for mentioning the elevators/lifts. I have a request for the able-bodied.
PLEASE LEAVE THE ELEVATORS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T CLIMB STAIRS! Please, please, please. Pretty please with sugar on top.
Oh, I fully understand that you don't want to go up six decks with the stairs. But if you're only going two or three decks, walking them is quicker, and helps keep cruise calories away.
Both my bestie and I need walkers/rollators. Even if I fold my walker (and brace myself against the wall), I take up the space of two people. I'm sorry about that, but I can't do anything better.
One thing that I've learned is to go to my cabin soon after I get on board. It not only gives me a chance to drop off my carry on bag but check the cabin and make sure that everything is working. My last cruise I did not have a working refrigerator, so I was able to alert the steward immediately. This is especially important because of how busy they are on embarkation day.
The newer ships are better for those who want lots of activities. For those of us who just want to chill and relax, the older ships are awesome!
I love the buffet for breakfast but rarely will go back for lunch or dinner
The view from the balcony is worth the cost. However the sound of the ocean is worth the cost. I love to hear the sound of the waves hitting the ship as it slices through them. It’s so calming.
Carnival newer ships have breweries on board and their beer isn’t bad.
It is much cheaper than buying bottles when you buy the pitchers too
I am an inexperienced cruiser (wanting to plan my first for myself and my fiancé soon) and am a bit overwhelmed with all of the options of cruise lines, destinations, itineraries, packages, etc etc etc. I love these videos, but if I can be honest, it is still a bit overwhelming even with all of the videos out there with tips, tricks, etc. Is there a discord or something like that to get direct answers to direct questions? I am really excited at the prospect of cruising
We have done 24 cruises. Here are a few guidelines: Don’t pick a mega-ship, one with more than 3500 passengers. Stay with smaller, oftentimes older ships. Don’t book a bargain cruise line. Go with Princess or Holland America. Book an ocean view or balcony cabin somewhere near the center of the ship. An unobstructed cabin is best. Sail during shoulder season when kids are in school. Avoid major holidays. Fly or drive to the port 1 or 2 days prior. Buy travel insurance from an independent company with CFAR, cancel for any reason. Limit your shore excursions to every other port. Use ship excursions at first to be guaranteed a return to the ship. Limit your onboard spending by eating in the main dining room, one drink per day and resist all the photo ops by the crew. Explore the ship and see the shows. Make sure you lay out you next days clothes the night before you disembark. On a side note: You didn’t mention your age but Princess and Holland cater to more mature cruisers and offer a more traditional cruise experience. Carnival and NCL are for younger crowds with more bells and whistles. We are in our 70’s and our next cruise is with Carnival, mainly because we can drive to the port. Hope this helps. Have fun!
@@druegillis1744 me and my fiancé are in our mid 30's.
Royal is our fav followed by Norwegian…. Don’t do a brand new huge ship. They can be overwhelming for beginners
Depending on budget and if you want a sanctuary of your own, get a balcony.
Try just a couple specialty restaurants and do the MDR or other complimentary places the rest of the time
Really decide if you will use the drink package. You usually have to drink 6-8 cocktails (more of beer) to break even. And that’s every day. Don’t forget you’re gonna be of ship many days
And finally…. Don’t do too much! Make sure you have chill time and enjoy the relaxation and ship
My perspective: You won’t spend any appreciable time in your cabin, book an inside for better sleep. Be aware of what is above and below your cabin regardless of what type you book, noise is awful and the kitchen runs 24/7. You can’t buy the drink package for only one person in a room so you’d both better be dedicated to drinking. You can order more than one appetizer, main course, or dessert. Bring magnet hooks to hang stuff up. Carnival has the best rewards program to actually get perks you’ll want, Holland is the slowest. Tip your room steward in cash at the beginning and again at the end and tip anyone who provides good service in cash, too. Bring your own travel cup for coffee/tea/beverages because they only have dinky cups at the buffet. Google the ship and your cabin number to find reviews. Don’t overpack if you self carry luggage because you may be taking the stairs with your bag when there are no elevators. Shut off your cell service as soon as the ship starts to move because cellular at sea is EXPENSIVE.
a bit late, hopefully you're ready enjoying your second or third cruise by now. But my advice for all first-timers is to find a travel agent that specializes in cruises and has taken several themselves.
On NCL now they allow bottles of wine and if you have a drink pkg the usual $15 corkage fee per bottle is waived! So you might want to update your information!
recap from last cruise to Alaska. Cruise director comes on the intercom to remind people to do their declaration cards or else it will delay the whole ship and they can be detained by immigration even if they are not planning on getting off at the port of Victoria. Read everything and ask questions. I don't know how many times I hear someone got denied boarding or .......the best one ever.....passenger trying to get into Canada to board her Carnival Cruise in Vancouver with a big old bag of weed. Yeah...that's illegal.
Repositioning cruises are great for getting home at the end of your visit to Europe. We did a B2B on the Nieuw Statendam pre Covid and sailed home. What a great way to decompress. 2 additional benefits are Europe is less crowded after school starts and it is cooler. Fly over, spend 2 days near the port city to shake off jet lag and enjoy your vacation.
Mini electric tea lights are perfect for leaning in the loo at night. Also, for an inside cabin, leave the TV set on the bow camera at night with no sound so you know when it's time to wake up.
Love those ideas. The tea light idea is genius.
just lost all credibility when he said 2 or 3 bucks for a beer at port while the bar sign at that split second said 6.00 smh
Your channel is great!
Keep up the good work mate👍😎
I'm taking my first cruise in October. I've seen a lot of videos with decorated doors. I thought that would be a cool way to keep the fun cruise vibes. What is the best way to attach things to the doors? Are they magnetic like the inside walls?
Magnets is what I saw on my cruise
I've heard the doors are also magnetic. Your decorations should be magnetic and non flammable. Also beware of second meanings behind pineapples and flamingos I think. Happy cruising!
Going on the NCL Getaway in October. Going while school is in is a great tip! Anyone have any tips for that boat let me know this will be first time on NCL.
Have fun you will enjoy it is best experience on vacation 👍👌👏❤️
bring a walkie taikie
We always get a suite when possible with a balcony. It’s worth the extra money.
Can you give some details why? You like more space? More service? All the above?!
Mainly. We love having a balcony to sit at and watch the water. Also. More room is always a plus. And. You get to embark early. Usually we get to go on an hour before anyone else. Not sure if anybody else has had this happen for them. Also. On the Mardi Gras. The shower was very big and nice. Two shower sides. And lastly. The location. If feels as though the suites are on the bat locations on the ship. I do know some people prefer other locations. I love where they are located. Especially when traveling with family. The family suites are a definite must. If you are able to splurge a little.
Always take an extra bag with you, either a collapsible duffel or additional suitcase nested in your primary to make room for laundry or souvenirs. The lines all sell bags around $30 because they know guests are going to debark with more than they came aboard with.
Thanks for the review 👍
Thanks for your tips
Alaska was our first cruise. It was the one I wanted to take for years, and it didn't disappoint. And get a balcony when going to Alaska!
I’ve noticed that I don’t drink enough for the drink package. I gamble so will wait and get free drinks in the casino.
my very first cruise was an internal cabin, my second was a balcony...as nice as it was to have a window to look out I think I prefered the internal...why spend more when all you have to do is go out on deck to see what's out there..!! they only time you wish you might have a view is when, unfortunately, get seasick and are not leaving your cabin, otherwise, save your money, for like that rather expensive drink package..
I’m glad I found you. Unfortunately I needed some of this info last month for my first cruise but I made it through. New subscriber.
I’m going to be doing a B2B cruise for my
B-day so I decided to get a balcony my cruise is already paid off I even decided to get insurance just in case something happens it’s better to be prepared I just opened my
Royal Caribbean acct hoping to try them eventually 👍
One tip that I learned is have fun. We get systematic on ships, trying to get to everything and do everything. I found it is nice to just slow down and enjoy the time on board. Also participate in the activities on board it makes the cruise much more enjoyable and satisfying.
For starters, choose h a travel agent who will keep you up to date on cruise policies, procedures, and price changes Also, book as many items as possible prior to the cruise. Combined, these will greatly reduce pre-cruise stress.
Thanks for another great cruising video.
Perfect Sunday and good tips
Any tips for solo travel? Making or traveling with strangers on board?
So far for me as a solo traveler it's been having to pay normal rate for a cabin which is double occupancy. However, have been hearing about a very few cruise brands like NCL (Norwegian Cruise line) that has exclusive Solo cabins. Hopefully as other readers on this chat board can chime in on other cruise lines that specialize in solo cabins because I would like to know too.
For me.
Be free to vacation without having to compromise what activity to do.
As a solo traveler if not comfortable with saying to others that am traveling solo. Create a cover story of something along the lines of: " Yes. I'm traveling with someone however we choose to do our own thing. Unfortunately you might not meet them"
If you choose to share that " Yes, I'm solo traveling." And want to take someone to your room. While in the public spaces are you 100% comfortable with that person if so then and only then invite them to your cabin. If not never disclose your cabin address for safety. Insist on public spaces. My opinion that is.
Great video but I can't agree with the don't get a balcony tip. My first cruise was a balcony and I can't go inside. I love to see and hear the ocean. Some nights I would leave the balcony open so the ocean can put me to sleep. I will take heed to some of your other tips though.