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Thank you so much for all the hard work you do for us, and for creating this awesome cruise planner!!! I just purchased it, downloaded, and looked through it already. You have some things I never thought of until it's too late, so I am grateful you took the time to do this. Even the translator page with useful phrases in other languages is brilliant!
What we have learned over the years...when u need to get to a showing have to walk the entire length of the ship is to go down to the floors that are all rooms and you can avoid the crowds and walk much faster...
This right here. So much easier and faster in exchange for a few extra steps. However, you didn't always need to go down. Sometimes just go to the hallway to the outside of the ship. Depends on where you are.
My friend and I bought art once. We thought it was a nice reminder of the cruise but it was pretty expensive. We do both have our piece on our walls and it is a nice vacation fun reminder lol.
We order room service breakfast almost every day...not to save time but rather to have regular portions rather than be tempted to loading up our plates. Also a great way to enjoy quiet time on the balcony 😊 .
@@vincem4756 many cruise lines offer room service breakfast at no cost, depends on the line. But the balcony cabin can be a lot more then an inside. We always book insides. Never done a balcony on four cruises. 🙂
We always print out a deck plan of the ship and put it on the wall. We also make a daily itinerary with port times, planned excursions, booked entertainment/specialty dining. Keeps us organized.
Royal Caribbean ships have interactive deck plans on each level at the elevators as well as in other places throughout the ship. Plus, their onboard App has deck plans. It's great to have that in your hands. We always stay in the same rooms on deck 8 (Oasis class). That way we know the ship before we get on. Plus with a wheelchair deck 8 mid ship is great! A quick roll to the beautiful park area, bars, restaurants, etc. :-)
My family has a wheelchair user but often to maximize space allowed for other guests we will split the party and half will use the stairs while someone stays with the wheelchair user.
I LOVE ordering room service breakfast even if it’s just fruit and coffee. It feels so decadent. Eating in bed is something I would NEVER do at home. Love sipping coffee on the balcony. I hate crowds (yes, the irony that I love cruising).
On a recent Princess Cruise we took, we found that we were able to move to the front of the line at the Main Dining Room was to be open to sitting with others. Those ahead of us always wanted to sit by themselves and so they had to wait. We said we'd love to sit with others and we were taken right in!
I'm going on a cruise in October with a dear friend of mine. I booked my excursions as soon as they were available a few months ago and I'm glad I did. Not only were they discounted, but now many of them are sold out already. One of the things my husband and I did for days where we had early excursion times was grabbed some easy food the day before to have in our cabin - bagels, fruit, etc. - so we could eat while we got ready in the morning. I always bring ziploc bags to throw things in to keep them fresh.
Zip lock bags great for organizing everything...and wet swimsuits. I always get a balcony room and bring a travelers clothesline. The white trash of the ship, lol
I just enjoyed a cruise on NCL. My previous cruise was in 1980 where I spent a lot of time sweating in the loud, hot and humid engine room and getting yelled at a lot. But the food was good.
Another way to save time port days is to store some food for breakfast in the fridge. One can get fruit, bread, milk, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, cheese, etc and put it in the fridge for the next day and have it in your room.
@@jerilynvillain1036Cruise lines have different policies. Never hard liquor, but some allow a bottle of declared wine or some soda in cans. Sealed food, like candy bars, etc is ok. No fresh or unwrapped food.
Some of the low cost excursions can be the most rewarding. Once at a port stop in Falmouth, Jamaica, I booked a walking history tour. It was literally a walk through the town with a local guide pointing out historical points of interest and talking about obscure laws that cover why some houses are abandoned (they are historical and unfit for living, but can only be restored using the original materials, which is too expensive). By the end, my legs and feet were complaining, but it was a memorable excursion for the few people who took it, and the entire excursion was walking, so it ended with a walk back to the port.
I do not have a good sense of direction so i take screen shots of visual clues (pictures, sculptures, coffee place)… This has helped me many times. My son gave me the best tip. Take a picture of the nearest column where you park. IT takes out the guesswork when you return.
On a ship, port side is the left side. Just remember both port and left are 4 letters. Starboard is the right side. Forward is the front of the ship, aft is the back
@@courtneyfannin9902 Can't speak for all cruise lines, but for Royal Caribbean typically complimentary breakfast is free even with room service, while extra breakfast menus are charged.
I am going to disagree with trying for the earliest embarkation time. I have given this advice on several forums as well. We try for the 1:00pm window. We don't have to bust our butts to get up and get going on embarkation day. The long lines have evaporated and we breeze through the check in process and most times our rooms are available when we board the ship. We can drop our carry on bags in the room, do the e-muster and the throngs in the food venues have all left for their cabins leaving it quiet for us.
We like to unpack and put everything away as soon as possible. This way we’re not digging through suitcases later looking for things. Also, having the suitcases hidden under the bed helps put us in the vacation state of mind sooner.
That is one of the best bits about cruising. Unpack once while visiting many places. Also saves having to go out and find somewhere to eat in a strange town and arguments over which place to eat at if you're with a group of people.
@ nope. The chances are extremely low. Honestly, you are more likely to be exposed to other “bugs” by touch door knobs, remote controls, elevator buttons, hand rails…. Is it possible the room has bedbugs… sure, but I’m much more likely to be exposed to flu, norovirus, cold virus than bedbugs…
❤Thank you. I'm getting ready for my back to back cruise on Carnival Celebration on May 14th -28. I would like to say that since my Beloved Mom passed away, I've found myself being a solo cruiser always with a balcony, and it's been serene for me. However, these ideas are great. However, since I fly early from Atlanta to Miami, I'm pretty tired about the time I get on board. I usually grab a bite to eat. I then wait until my room is ready. I unload my bags, hang out on my balcony, and watch all the excitement and beautiful yachts. Then freshrn up waiting for the sail away party on the Lido Deck. After that, I'm back in my Beautiful Stateroom falling asleep. So that's me then I'm ready for Sea Day: excited, rested, and can be a F.u.n guest throughout the next day! 🎉😊❤I always set up room service every morning of my cruise so I can have my quiet, prayer/devotional time on my balcony before starting my day! I ask for my coffee to be Hot-Hot. This will make them have your carafe not sitting but just out the pot. Loyal Carnival Guest🛳
Your method, sounds DEVINE!!! I think I will implement 'daily am room service, hot HOT tea/coffee, for much needed 'quiet time' . .thanks for sharing!! Cruising New Year's Eve, cannot wait!!💯🤣❤️
I have only been on one cruise and loved it. I have rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which are of course disabilities. Something I did before my cruise with my rheumatologist was add extra medications to take for that week. I recommend this to anyone. Not only did I feel incredible, I missed out on nothing!!! Thank you for your helpful info on cruising.❤️
I have lupus and fibromyalgia but I’m still pretty much able to get around. My biggest thing is we will never do a Christmas cruise again although it was fun!!! We are empty nesters with so we had our family Christmas later people literally do not control their children!! All night long they were running the halls!!! Bad things can happen on a cruise ship too if never allow that!!!
We just got back from our NCL Antarctica 14-day cruise and it was fabulous. We used ALL of your suggestions and it helped soo much. From arriving 2 days early, to booking the earliest embarkation time, to having our excursions booked ahead of time and our specialty dining booked before we left. Made our cruise experience so much more enjoyable.
Great tips, thanks for sharing🎉 I’m a seasoned cruiser but I did pick up a few useful tips. I have failed to download the cruise line app before hand. Didn’t think of going to the dining room or one of the optional eateries on embarkation day. I’ve always fight the crowds on the buffet line😂 I like how you state things clearly & concisely. Did google the upside down pineapple after watching one of your videos last night 😮
Or, pay half the price through a third party for the same excursion. Every single excursion I take is third party and we always go pick up the cruise passengers. Same excursion Same lack of stabbing More money in my pocket
Nice tips, Ilana! Here's one more tip: End of cruise tours! Most cruise lines off-load their passengers ASAP, allowing the crew to prepare the rooms for the next passenger. As a result, they shuttle you to the airport WAY early before the departure time. So book a tour at the end of your cruise. Why wait at the airport, when you can enjoy another tour? Not only does the cruise line guarantee you'll get to the airport, but you also extend your trip!
@@amymedina1966 Hi Amy, Each cruise is different, so you need to see the excursions offered by your particular cruise for the ending port. Please be ESPECIALLY careful that you pay attention to the time requirements for the tour and your flight time. Unfortunately, often the time requirement precludes being able to do my tip. Have fun!
Sometimes it saves time to go later in the day on embarkation day. If you’ve made all your plans in advance and don’t need to rush on board, going a little after the first rush you won’t be waiting in long lines and sitting around waiting to board.
What my rush getting on board the next is my state NYC so I will later time but it might change I have group on Facebook so time with group might be earlier we will see
I arrived really late for my first cruise because I had no idea you were allowed to come early 😂 I thought everyone arrived right before sail away lol. I couldn’t imagine getting free lunch and stuff that day 😅 Now I know better. But, being that i got on at the last minute, I was kind of spoiled with a ridiculously easy embarkation and zero lines and walked basically right on the ship and my luggage was there already! Easy peasy. I am bummed that I basically missed a half day of the cruise, but live and learn - and maybe it was a blessing in disguise that I didn’t have to wait in any lines on that first cruise because it made me absolutely fall in love with cruising! And now I’m obsessed and would be happy to wait in any line as long as it means I get to cruise ❤😅🚢
@@lexa_power we did exactly that and were very bemused that there was virtually no one there and the staff said we were just in time to make the cruise! We live 8miles from the embarkation port so had been waiting around at home before setting off for what we thought was actually embarkation first time, but was actually sail away time!!!
Avoid packing too many clothes by going with a color theme that can be easily mixed and matched. I always us just black and white with some vibrant scarves or shawls. Saves a ton of time when you're packing and then onboard when you're selecting that day's outfit.
Excellent tip I’ve never thought of until I actually boarded. I’ll need to open up WiFi in the terminal. Thanks I’ve only ordered ship room service when I’ve had a super early shore excursion. Saved the time of buffet lines or not being set up yet for other than coffee and pastries.
Regarding excursions- simple excursions, like a beach trip you save time doing on your own. Often the cruise ship will set a meeting place in the theater for dozens of excursions groups. You go there and wait for your group to be called, walk out together and board the bus, and by the time you get there, you realize how much easier & faster it would have been to just walk off the ship and take a cab.
A lot of ships are continuing to offer the club and suite areas and private dining areas, which I guess is nice if you can afford it. I have always enjoyed the fact that everyone on a cruise is equal. When you meet someone and talk with them, you do not know if they are in the finest suite or the cheapest cabin. I fear that continuing to add all the private areas is slowly moving us back to the Titanic days of dividing people by classes. Just my thoughts. Thank you for all your information.
I think it's pretty clear what kind of cabin someone is in. Trashy people don't just suddenly become classy because they're on vacation. Classy people do sometimes end up trashy.
Then why have kids or adults or singles only areas? If people can afford to have a special and snazzy cruise all power to them. And just means more room at the other spots. 😊
Just got off the Regal Princess & got room service every day. We wrote in Things that we wanted that weren’t on the card & they came every day. We tipped each time :)
Thank you so much! My husband retires today and we are off on a cruise to celebrate. I've watched your videos and they have made a world of difference! From medicines and documents, tricks to organize the cabin, and what to bring on excursions, it has all been so helpful. Your friendly smile and great advice has made everything easier. Best regards, Jean Marie
We're doing that in a couple of months. My husband retired a year ago, and I've been on a years leave and just retired a month ago. It's been delayed all that time due to family reasons, but we've finally got a small window of opportunity and we're taking it!
oh and Royal has these touch screens by the elevators where if you need help finding your room you can get directions as well as see deck plans on there as well.
2 main points: 1) EVERY Diamonds International is the same. Run. 2) Excursions booked through the cruise line generally assume risk for getting you back to the ship on time. Non-related excursions have no reason to care. You’ll be gone by tomorrow.
Ilana, I am so very thankful to you for putting out these videos. We’ve booked a cruise for later this year, and without all the information you’ve shared (and cute dresses and bags 😊), we would have been pretty clueless. Thank you! I feel prepared, and confident that we’ll make the most of our week, that we are SO looking forward to! Really appreciate you.
Thanks for these. I've been on 9 cruises already with NCL, but there are still a couple time wasting mistakes I continue to make, so thanks for the reminders. TIME is SO VALUABLE while on vaca. And I just downloaded the ultimate cruise planner, looking forward to using it for my cruise for next week. My advice to not waste time or money. Don't eat in restaurants in the cruise ports.
Very good tips esp keeping screenshots of coupons, pre booked excursions or savings and making a tour of the ship on embarkation day. These have helped me a lot.
I always use MyTime. I make reservations shortly after booking the cruise. I've seen the lines where passengers didn't make a reservations and the lines were long. And a long wait to be seated. Great video. I'm a seasoned cruiser and a retired travel agent. Your videos are always helpful and informative. Thanks.
@@vhilton40000 My Time is where you can go to the MDR anytime you'd like. You can also make a reservation for a certain time and won't have to wait in line. I've been doing that for years and like the concept.
As far as the not wasting time finding one's way around the ship... My tip would be to try to print out the deck plan for the ship a couple of weeks ahead of your cruise. Look it over a bit and familiarize yourself with it a little, before the cruise. Then carry it around with you on board and refer to it frequently to further familiarize yourself with the ship. For me, doing this allows me to get used to where everything is within a couple of days, instead of a whole week.
This is the correct answer for not getting lost on the ship. Wherever we go on vacation, if there is a map of the premises, we will have it so we know exactly where everything is.
My biggest time waster is leading a group cruise. I’ve done it 3 times and it can be so stressful. The worst one was a group of 12 people, all retired family members who insisted on staying together for everything. Big groups slow everything down. I have decided that I will never do it again. They didn’t think to give me a small gift of appreciation for all the hours I poured into planning their wonderful vacation.
That's sad, I would always want to show my appreciation to those who help me. I'm so sorry, I'm single, 72 years old, I didn't know you could get that service
Did something similar. 3 families and wasted so much time figuring out what people wanted to do, where to go, and meeting for dinner. Never again. If people wish to join us, great, but we are not planing things for everyone.
@@danblackmore6099 I hear ya! I enjoy investigating all the things available to do. But when you have to consider everyone’s wants and abilities, it turns into work
For those who are nervous about leaving a bank card linked to your account, use a prepaid card. I personally put money on the prepaid card specifically for the cruise and generally bring cash. If I need to add money into account I’ll add the cash.
Thank you so much for all you do Ilana. I am a nervous wreck about getting things right as a first time cruiser. Your videos are a tremendous help. All I have to do is remember everything. 😅
Don't be nervous. Relax and enjoy it all. I use a spreadsheet to make checklists as I think of things so I don't forget. It includes a schedule of what to book or purchase (like accomm, flights, travel insurance), when to pay things, items to bring/pack and outfit ideas. I've been adding to and improving it since our first cruise and it really helps.
Just went on my first Cruise with Holland America. Did tons of research through your channel and honestly just binged your videos for the three weeks leading up to embarkation. You were unknowingly with me while I did my dishes, laundry, and other household chores. Thanks for all the good content! I would love to hear more about what you do off-ship and during port days. And what you like to do during specific itineraries. We come for the crusing tips and stay for your bubbly personality. 😊
Oh that's funny! I do the same thing with this channel and other cruise bloggers. Watch them while I do my dishes and laundry and house cleaning. For some reason it makes those tasks a whole lot more fun and easy!
I agree with having room service on a busy shore excursion day. It makes the day seem less hurried. We found we could alter the options on our Holland America cruise last month to make it suit us, e.g. crossing out some of the options and highlighting that we only wanted part of it. You picture looked like our breakfast 🤣
I will be on HAL Cruise this summer, can you explain please how did you order the breakfast for the room ? Did you tell the cabin crew the evening before? Was there a choice what to order ? When do they bring it? We will go on excursion every day and on own planning so I am very interested in leaving the ship early and get my bus on time :-)
I just came off a Celebrity Cruise last Monday, there usually a card in your room each day to order the room service breakfast, you pick and choose which items you want and pick a 30 minute window for delivery, such as 7-7:30 and hang the card on your door knob the night before Excursions they usually have you meet up in one of the lounges and everyone for that excursion leaves at the same time to meet their particular bus
we've tried it but to be honest, unless you are lucky enough to afford a suite, I don't really enjoy balancing a meal on my lap while sitting on the bed or on a chair on a balcony in the freezing cold. Then there's also this. If we have a decent breakfast we generally don't want lunch, which gives us extra time to do stuff on the excursion. We just get up a bit earlier.
We have friends that don’t like credit cards but love cruising. Because of the guest service lines they took their TA advice got a carnival and princess Credit Card ( they 12:45 only use those 2 lines) they now only use those CC for their 2 cruises each year) they love the ease and perks of those cards
What I love about cruising is except for waiting in lines I am never in such a hurry that I feel like I am wasting time. And to avoid lines we try to conta-cruise. We eat at unpopular times. We swim either early morning or after 5pm when many are getting ready for dinner and so on and so on.
I couldn't tell you the amount of time I got lost on a cruise ship. By the time I learned my way around it was all over. 😂Thanks for sharing this video and helpful tips! Making a mental note. 💕
I make sure we have all paperwork like you said screen prints your confirmation info, what excursions, reservation to speciality dining room. Make sure you know your ports on board time. My friend learned on like NCL Daily newsletter on day you port make sure you have port agent phone number, one time her bus excursion left her at excursions before the time to meet to leave. She had to call port agents to help her find a way back to ship.
I have found that using up some of my hotel loyalty points for the "nights before the cruise" have been a very good use of them as the hotels immediately around cruise ports are among the most expensive.
yes and no. We don't travel enough to ever get hotel points. Sometimes a hotel away from the port plus a taxi is cheaper and better than one close to the port. It's also nicer if the port is out of town and you want to spend a couple of days in town before the cruise, which we have learned is a necessity from a bad experience last time we travelled and had to fly in long haul from Australia. 24 hours buffer isn't enough if your 24 hour+ flight gets cancelled four hours after it's supposed to have left, as we found out. Luckily we figured cancellation was on the cards the later it got, and managed to get our flight switched to another code share airline in time. Many didn't, including a party of 30 who had their flight cancelled for the second day in a row and missed the wedding they were going to. To be fair, it wasn't the airlines fault. The cancellations the day before were due to a fire in the terminal and the second cancellation was due to a faulty engine and malfunctioning door. I was very glad we didn't end up on that particular plane in the end!
It would be based on ship capacity percentages, not ship size. For example, we went on a cruise soon after COVID. The ship we were on typically holds 6,000 guests at 100% capacity (and is therefore designed to engage that meant people), but it was limited at only 40% capacity. There weren't lines anywhere, we could easily go to any restaurant without any reservations, and the staff to guest radio was very close to 1:1. It was incredible! 😁
One time I wanted a bagel w/ cream cheese with bacon from room service. I was informed that I could not order bacon. I was able to order a BLT so I had to order one with no bread, tomato, lettuce, or mayo. The room service person said, so you just want the bacon? 🤷🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
Really studying your ship’s layout BEFORE You embark can save you so much time and steps. When we went on the Carnival Mardi Gras, we had to walk so much because of where our cabin was located. There were parts of the ship we never seen. This was our Grandsons first cruise so we figured out how to get to the fun water features,our MDR, and where the good food was and that was pretty much it. We had a blast but when we got home we seen stuff online that I really wish we would’ve known about while we were on the cruise. But this can be expected when sailing on these mega ships. I suggest that when you take someone new to cruising on a cruise you do it on a ship you are very familiar with. ❤
If you are traveling with a group of people, plan on the evening meal together at a pre-reserved restaurant and then agree that you may keep in touch during the day as other things come up that you want others to know about. A quick text or sticky note on your cabin door can be enough of an update to notify people that you're heading to the pool, going to play trivia, snuggling up with a book or heading to an exercise class. Tell everyone to feel free to plan their day out first and then worry about notifying others. Nothing worse than wasting your time by sitting around with members of your party constantly saying, "Whatever you guys want to do is fine with us." It's also fun to bump into members of your group during the day.
Thank you for yet another informative session. ROOM SERVICE - I never use it, nor on a ship nor in a hotel. Going to a restaurant is a main part of vacation travel, only exception is business travel. The reason for a vacation is to go out and enjoy.
Love room service as I take a while to get moving first thing in the morning, but enjoy the dinning room for lunch and dinner! I tend to avoid the buffet at all costs!
For parents of young kids, disabled folx, those who need to take extensive meds in the morning or at breakfast, those with chronic pain, those with serious food allergies, those who had a restless night, or those who don't do well in crowds... Breakfast in your cabin is far better than the frantic crush in the buffet. There are often not enough accessible tables, or able-bodied folks ignore the signs and staff and insist on taking accessible spots, or worse, like fellow passengers who *shove* wheelchairs or mobility equipment out of a line to get ahead, or are rude & belligerent... Add poorly trained staff and breakfast can be an absolutely miserable experience for disabled folx. Waking up to morning room service delivery, and dining in your cabin is just *so* much nicer, calmer, relaxed, quieter, easier experience... over the frantic, high pressure crush in the buffet. Contrary to what many may say, disabled folx matter just as much as other passengers - and disabled folx are anywhere from 10% - 50% of all passengers, depending on the line & age range for that sailing.
We started using room service for breakfast so we could get ready for the day at a leisurely pace, and not have to be all “ready to go” before going to a restaurant. I totally agree on your concept for dinner, however. Fine dining in an intimate atmosphere is the height of luxury for me…
Room service, especially breakfast, feels like such a flex or luxury. I love doing it; and, room service is free on Celebrity (which is my favorite cruise line), so I try to do it on port days so that I can get started earlier
We were on Oasis last week, Me, my Wife and Daughter ordered Room Service one night for a late night snack and also to try it. Ordered Wings, Soup, Sandwich, Fruit Plate, Juice, Cookies and Cheesecake. It was good, fast and well worth the $10 service charge.
Another excellent video! A simple tip we use for navigating the ship when leaving our cabin is decreasing cabin numbers to go to the front of the ship (theater) and increasing cabin numbers to go to the back of the ship (food). Even cabin numbers are usually on the starboard (right) side of the ship and odd cabin numbers are on the port (left)side of the ship. On Royal many of their ships use a wave cabin number sign and the wave points to the front of the ship. We always decorate our door to support our favorite sports teams and to make it easy to identify our room. To save time and walking distance we normally chose a cabin a little ways from the elevator. The first afternoon is also a great time to do onboard activities that have long lines. To avoid waiting for elevators, especially at dinner time, we usually go down a half hour early and have a drink in a bar or just sit in a public area and relax before dinner. Also, if you have flexibility time wise, when going ashore, do not try to get off the ship when the ship is cleared, this is especially true in tendered ports.
My thoughts on room service are about continental breakfast only. I did this on port intensive European itineraries, and it’s great in two ways. It is complementary (plus the dollar I tip to the crew member). I’m not bogged down by a heavy meal, and I’m ready to get the day started. We pick the earliest delivery time, and we can get breakfast while getting ready. It saves time and energy avoiding the buffet. I did this for every early port day.
redorbluepill ? vor 1 Sekunde I will be on HAL Cruise this summer, can you explain please how did you order the breakfast for the room ? Did you tell the cabin crew the evening before? Was there a choice what to order ? When do they bring it? We will go on excursion every day and on own planning so I am very interested in leaving the ship early and get my bus on time :-)
@@doktordermedizin In your stateroom, you should see a paper card of continental breakfast items that can be hung on the outside door handle. On my Royal Caribbean cruise last week, the latest time you could do was 3am. It may be different on HAL. I would mark the number of items I wanted in the box next to the item. For example, we both wanted bagels. I wrote “2” in the box. I would write “1” for items only one person wanted. I marked the delivery time (I chose between 6:30-7:30am) and hung the completed card outside my door before going to bed. The next morning, a crew member brought the tray into our stateroom, and I handed her a couple dollars as a tip. I left the tray against the wall outside our stateroom as we left for the day.
I have to say the one point that I might disagree with you a little bit is the urgency to get an early boarding time. What I've noticed is that because most people want to get that early time, it tends to be the most packed time at the port, so you tend to wait in line much longer to board the ship. When you get in early, your room will not be ready. The doors will be closed, telling you to check back after 1:30 p.m. that means if you have any carry-on stuff, you're going to have to lug it around the ship with you until 1:30. What has worked for me consistently is selecting a boarding time between 12:00 and 12:30 which gets me on the ship usually within 30 minutes or less from the time I parked which means by the time I get on board and go do my muster station I can basically go straight to my room drop off my stuff and go explore the ship. But then again I never buy the drink package because I think that is a total waste of money so I don't feel the need to get on board as early as possible so I can start drinking as much as possible so that I can feel like I'm getting my money's worth LOL
we tried a late board time on our last cruise...we did get to go right to our room. That was nice...I did miss getting in the hot tub w no one at the pool
What time is usually the earliest? I checked into our cruise a few days ago and the earliest available was 12:30pm-1pm. I didn’t do the check in the day it became available. I waited a day so the earliest might have been full by the time I did it
If you get a 10:30am boarding time, its like getting an extra day "at sea". Make sure you're only carrying a small carry-on and wear your swimsuit to board. 10:30 board. 10:45am e-muster 11:00am sitting by the pool getting your first drink.
I don't recommend booking a shore excursion ahead of time in Alaska because the weather can change. We sat in a freezing little gray boat on a gray lake looking at gray skies and a gray coastline for 2 hours. It was torture!!! I asked if we could cut the tour early because we were all so miserable and was refused. There were 4-5 inches of freezing ice water in the bottom of the boat. Our feet were frozen even though we were given boots and jackets. Holland America. We didn't book the sea plane excursion because it was very expensive, but when we got off the ship, the weather was beautiful and there was a private vendor selling the same excursion for half the price, so we took it. It was absolutely fantastic!!!
I visited Alaska not on a cruise and booked a zipline thing through what would be considered a third party website half the people there had booked through a cruise line the rest had booked independently but were on a cruise ( I was the one random hiker)
You are always right Ilana. Research research research. Prebook everything. Easier to cancel than book! I have done room service for multiple reasons that i deem important that day. Always register a credit card on ship. Am able to book a suite on cruises and i feel it is worth it due to quieter, concierge, dining, services included.
Kinda disagree with the earliest boarding time. For me it depends. I do like to explore the ship and enjoy lunch, but the down side is you will have to lug around your carry on until the cabins are ready. Also depends on where I am cruising from. Cruising out of Vancouver next month. Never been there, so we picked a 1:00 boarding time to have a bit more time to see the city.
We prefer a later boarding time. That way, when we get on the ship, the staterooms are already open and most folks have already eaten and the lines at eating places are shorter
My problem is EVERYONE wants the early check in times and I don’t like having over a thousand people around me just waiting to board. We skate right through with the later time.
Your videos are the best. Even though I've been on 12 cruises, you still come up with good ideas. I loved the list of items to buy for cruising. I bought the lanyards and a toiletry bag, both really nice and arrived fast. Look forward to watching more videos. Appreciate all the great tips.
Hello, I would like to see a video about the cost/price difference of a cruise compared to stationary vacation. Last time I was in Las Vegas the prices of rooms, parking and dining out was insane. Cocktails on our Celebrity cruise were much cheaper than any bar in Las Vegas. We did everything we wanted, no drink package, and the cost was a lot more reasonable than I thought it would be.
The Vegas of today certainly isn't the Vegas of the 80s into the early nineties. Back then things for cheap and you could have a fun vacation. Today everything is overcrowded and expensive.
I love ordering room service breakfast and enjoy eating it on the balcony. We usually save this for days at sea. You can order early on port days and watch the ship pull in.
Hi Ilana! Thanks for all of your great tips! One thing that we always do, is order room service breakfast. We usually just get the continental breakfast, yogurt, muffins, toast. We enjoy our coffee and tea on the balcony. That is free, and we are always sure to have a $5 bill for the server. That, to us, is a time saver, as we can get ready for our day at our leisure.
I'm not big on getting to the cruise terminal early, only to stand around and wait in a huge crowd. In Los Angeles, the earliest they allow you on the ship is 10AM, but the staterooms aren't ready so you need to bring your stuff everywhere. I usually shoot for between 11 and 12 embarkation. It gets me past the rush, and allows an easy boarding. I can complete the e-muster drill first before lunch at a dining room (I avoid the buffet if possible). By noon, even if the staterooms are not ready, they will allow you to drop your bags. Once bags are dropped, I walk around the ship to familiarize myself better than what I remember seeing on video in advance. Whenever possible, I have already booked excursions and specialty dining in advance (and paid for it as well). This keeps my OB account lower with less out of pocket expenses.
Quick tip to get oriented... most of the elevators (on the Princess ships I've cruised on) face the front of the ship. (Except for the glass elevators at the piazza.) When you get off the elevators it's easy to know front/back and port/starboard. Not sure if this holds up for all ships and/or cruise lines, but it sure has been great to orient myself on these ships.
That only works on that cruise line. The others I've been on have elevators that face BOTH directions, so it can be disorienting. What I've learned to do (Carnival & RCCL) is to step off the elevator and look at the numbers of the rooms immediately next to it. If the numbers go UP left to right (room 456, 458, 459) then that leads to the back of the ship. The numbers of the rooms go down toward the front of the ship. There is also usually a map next to the elevators that say "You are HERE."
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 Thanks for the update! I wasn’t sure if this crossed over to other lines. It’s sure helpful on the Princess ships I’ve been on.
P&O Ventura lifts face the front, apart from the glass Atrium lifts. It made a huge difference to navigating the ship, knowing I was facing forward. Does this rule apply on any other ships or lines?
Seeing this video just solidifies to me why I will continue to only cruise with Viking. None of these stresses. Free WiFi, all excursions and dining reserved 90 days prior to departure, free room service 24 hrs, free laundry service for many cabins. No children. No casino. No smoking. Viking is the way to go.
Love the free room service on Holland American ships. Great for quiet days and sleeping in but also for early excursion days. Always make the decision the night before and order the night before.
As usual, *excellent* comments/recommendations, Ilana! I've waited all afternoon for hubby to get home from work so we could watch together. 😄 Getting ready to print your Ultimate Cruise Planner packing list once again (sooo useful!). 39 days until our next cruise! 🎉❤
I can’t speak for any other cruise line, but on Carnival, it’s possible to book a table in the MDR for anytime dining. We did this on our last cruise and it was so easy, because you don’t have to queue because they tell you when there’s a table ready.
@@ashleas.989 it was through the cruise line app. We input the details and then they messaged back once there was a table available. I’m pretty sure we only had a short amount of time to get there but my memory is a bit hazy. I thought it was 10 minutes but that doesn’t seem long enough if you’re at the other end of the ship. But it was pretty useful.
If you really want a specific excursion, don't wait. I booked mine well in advance and my friends waited and it was sold out by the time they decided to book.
I’ve never been on a cruise and have no desire, but when exploring the ship from your room. Use your phone and video going from your room to various places so you know how to get back .
I would add pre saving the maps of the ports your visiting. At least on google maps you can download area of the map for viewing off line and this could be incredibly useful particularly if you planning to do your own exploration of a port and don’t want huge roaming bills when you get back.
Just got home from a 14 day Japan and Taiwan trip on Holland America. I enjoyed using room service for breakfast on port days and did feel that it saved me time. The only caveat is that the delivery times were all over the place. The menu said delivery could be up to 15 minutes before or after the requested time, but I experienced delivery as much as 35 minutes early to 20 minutes late. The continental breakfast was great, and the only thing I ordered after one disappointing American style breakfast. Tried room service dinner one night, but the free choices were very limited, delivery took more than an hour, and the food (quesadilla) was not good.
Biggest waste of time is the excursions, my family went to Jamaica we just wanted to see the waterfall... All we had to do was call a taxi mean while we watched as the excursion people waited and waited until about 20 people were accounted for and paper work filled out before they could leave. Same going back. So glad my family just boarded a taxi cheaper and so much faster
I love how Riley has opened Graceland to the public to use as a wedding or event for people to use. Transformation for people with disabilities is awesome also.
Excellent video as always! We just got off our 4th cruise and one tip I have to share is to research the cruise line excursion you book carefully. We spent the majority of our 5hr excursion in transport and less then 2 hrs on the beach which was definitely a time waste.
People need to be aware that gratuities are ALREADY added to drinks though the drink waiter try’s hard to get you to add additional Tip. It is on their iPad , but if you pay attention you paid 20%.
@@stephaniemorrissey123 she was correcting her own self, not other people. You could have just left it at "tries" or not, but you were so busy to put her down.
I am so glad it takes me about 5 minutes to decide and book a cruise. I book all casino last minute deals. When it is available I book it. Easy peasy for me. $100 for any length cruise. Thank you Carnival. 7 of those deals this year including Alaska.
My advice to save time and money is to avoid the gym and spa area on the first few days if you have no intention of using them. They'll grab you to go on a spa and gym tour, where they will upsell you to the within an inch of your life, and then seduce you into staying in the hopes of winning $500 to use at the spa. But it's not actually $500, there are five or ten $50 to $100 vouchers to win amongst five or ten people. I think it's best avoided.
Hi Ilana! Love your videos! I just wanted to add a comment about My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean. My husband and I always do My Time Dining and prior to the cruise, we choose our dining times. For example, we’ve already made My Time dining reservations for our October 2023 cruise as well as our February 2024 cruise on Icon. It’s so easy to do!
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Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
I have 5 cruises currently booked. The Ultimate Cruise Planner helps me keep everything organized!
I got the planner. It is very nice and most helpful. It’s worth the small expenditure.
Thank you..me & my wife ❤love your travel tips..we really appreciate you.. thank you🤙
5/3/23 just downloaded the $17 planner. Looking fittest to using it
Thank you so much for all the hard work you do for us, and for creating this awesome cruise planner!!! I just purchased it, downloaded, and looked through it already. You have some things I never thought of until it's too late, so I am grateful you took the time to do this. Even the translator page with useful phrases in other languages is brilliant!
What we have learned over the years...when u need to get to a showing have to walk the entire length of the ship is to go down to the floors that are all rooms and you can avoid the crowds and walk much faster...
Good tip! 👍🏽
This right here. So much easier and faster in exchange for a few extra steps. However, you didn't always need to go down. Sometimes just go to the hallway to the outside of the ship. Depends on where you are.
Agreed 1000%!
Biggest waste of time was going to the art auction. Was boring and everything just felt like scammyness.
I Agree! A friend of mine ended up buying a piece of Art and had it sent home. What they got was not what he bought. He never got the one he bought! 😡
I always buy from the art auctions and have never been disappointed. What cruise line was it that was a scam?
Debra Almaraz, I’ve only been on two different cruise lines, so either Carnivalr or Royal Caribbean.
My friend and I bought art once. We thought it was a nice reminder of the cruise but it was pretty expensive. We do both have our piece on our walls and it is a nice vacation fun reminder lol.
Guess we got lucky as we got a free piece, which we liked, had them frame it. It was delivered home to boot & looks great!
On NCL the hallway carpet has a fish motif. The fish all swim towards the front of the boat!!!
The new ships on NCL have triangles in the carpet that point to the front.
😮
Hehe. Interesting
We order room service breakfast almost every day...not to save time but rather to have regular portions rather than be tempted to loading up our plates. Also a great way to enjoy quiet time on the balcony 😊
.
we use the dining room for the same portion control and lack of temptation too. The balcony thing is okay except if its very cold or raining.
Does that usually cost alot extra?
@@vincem4756 many cruise lines offer room service breakfast at no cost, depends on the line. But the balcony cabin can be a lot more then an inside. We always book insides. Never done a balcony on four cruises. 🙂
@@irishdadx4 do you know if Norwegian cruise line charges for room service?
@@lisagardner4814Check their website.
We always print out a deck plan of the ship and put it on the wall. We also make a daily itinerary with port times, planned excursions, booked entertainment/specialty dining. Keeps us organized.
Royal Caribbean ships have interactive deck plans on each level at the elevators as well as in other places throughout the ship. Plus, their onboard App has deck plans. It's great to have that in your hands. We always stay in the same rooms on deck 8 (Oasis class). That way we know the ship before we get on. Plus with a wheelchair deck 8 mid ship is great! A quick roll to the beautiful park area, bars, restaurants, etc. :-)
If you are able, don't waste time waiting for elevators. Take the stairs and burn off those extra calories you will be enjoying!
God ide. Så kan bare spise en smule ekstra:😋😋
Some of us cant use the stairs. At least not going up. Down is no problem.
@mikecreger9702 I'm the opposite. Going up is no problem for me, but going downstairs.... omgosh.
My family has a wheelchair user but often to maximize space allowed for other guests we will split the party and half will use the stairs while someone stays with the wheelchair user.
That’s what we did. It really helped. I only gained 3 lbs. which came off easily once I ate normally and didn’t have all that alcohol.
I can see how you earned your RUclips award! Your videos are crystal clear and amazingly informative. Thank you!
I LOVE ordering room service breakfast even if it’s just fruit and coffee. It feels so decadent. Eating in bed is something I would NEVER do at home. Love sipping coffee on the balcony. I hate crowds (yes, the irony that I love cruising).
On a recent Princess Cruise we took, we found that we were able to move to the front of the line at the Main Dining Room was to be open to sitting with others. Those ahead of us always wanted to sit by themselves and so they had to wait. We said we'd love to sit with others and we were taken right in!
I'm going on a cruise in October with a dear friend of mine. I booked my excursions as soon as they were available a few months ago and I'm glad I did. Not only were they discounted, but now many of them are sold out already. One of the things my husband and I did for days where we had early excursion times was grabbed some easy food the day before to have in our cabin - bagels, fruit, etc. - so we could eat while we got ready in the morning. I always bring ziploc bags to throw things in to keep them fresh.
Great ideas
Zip lock bags great for organizing everything...and wet swimsuits. I always get a balcony room and bring a travelers clothesline. The white trash of the ship, lol
Ziploc baggie girl here 😂 use them for everything LOL
Weird I never had to plan my cruises The Navy did all that for me lol.
I just enjoyed a cruise on NCL. My previous cruise was in 1980 where I spent a lot of time sweating in the loud, hot and humid engine room and getting yelled at a lot. But the food was good.
😂😂😂
I see what you did 😂😂😂
😂 thank you for your service
And no lines for the best on-board activity: firing off cruise missles.
Another way to save time port days is to store some food for breakfast in the fridge. One can get fruit, bread, milk, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, cheese, etc and put it in the fridge for the next day and have it in your room.
Great idea!
Great idea
Just get up earlier enjoy sunrise and have an early breakfast!
Can you take food on the ship when you're boarding the 1st day? Can you take wine or liquor
@@jerilynvillain1036Cruise lines have different policies. Never hard liquor, but some allow a bottle of declared wine or some soda in cans. Sealed food, like candy bars, etc is ok. No fresh or unwrapped food.
Personally I think the cruise lines should give out maps of the ship. Having one in the staterooms when you check in would be great. 😌
@@janicebillingsley4595 yas! They make enough money to also make maps!
The map is on your app.
Some of the low cost excursions can be the most rewarding. Once at a port stop in Falmouth, Jamaica, I booked a walking history tour. It was literally a walk through the town with a local guide pointing out historical points of interest and talking about obscure laws that cover why some houses are abandoned (they are historical and unfit for living, but can only be restored using the original materials, which is too expensive). By the end, my legs and feet were complaining, but it was a memorable excursion for the few people who took it, and the entire excursion was walking, so it ended with a walk back to the port.
I do not have a good sense of direction so i take screen shots of visual clues (pictures, sculptures, coffee place)… This has helped me many times. My son gave me the best tip. Take a picture of the nearest column where you park. IT takes out the guesswork when you return.
On a ship, port side is the left side. Just remember both port and left are 4 letters. Starboard is the right side. Forward is the front of the ship, aft is the back
Thanks for the tips. I have a horrible sense of direction too.
Early morning room service, absolutely a time and anxiety saver!
How much is room service or is it free?
@@courtneyfannin9902 Can't speak for all cruise lines, but for Royal Caribbean typically complimentary breakfast is free even with room service, while extra breakfast menus are charged.
We still do not get a wifi package😂❤. No connection to the outside world is great!
I am going to disagree with trying for the earliest embarkation time. I have given this advice on several forums as well. We try for the 1:00pm window. We don't have to bust our butts to get up and get going on embarkation day. The long lines have evaporated and we breeze through the check in process and most times our rooms are available when we board the ship. We can drop our carry on bags in the room, do the e-muster and the throngs in the food venues have all left for their cabins leaving it quiet for us.
Good info. Thank you!!!
Agree! The later the better that way you don’t have to carry your carry on bigs with you for hours! And less crowds like you said.
Thanks for this information.
Agreed!
What about getting tickets for shows etc? Are they still easily available?
We like to unpack and put everything away as soon as possible. This way we’re not digging through suitcases later looking for things. Also, having the suitcases hidden under the bed helps put us in the vacation state of mind sooner.
That is one of the best bits about cruising. Unpack once while visiting many places. Also saves having to go out and find somewhere to eat in a strange town and arguments over which place to eat at if you're with a group of people.
I hate living out of a suitcase so I also am a huge fan of unpacking & "moving in" as soon as possible
We recently cruised and did the same thing...best eladvice ever!!🎉🎉
Do y’all not worry about bedbugs crawling all up in your clothes?
@ nope. The chances are extremely low. Honestly, you are more likely to be exposed to other “bugs” by touch door knobs, remote controls, elevator buttons, hand rails…. Is it possible the room has bedbugs… sure, but I’m much more likely to be exposed to flu, norovirus, cold virus than bedbugs…
❤Thank you. I'm getting ready for my back to back cruise on Carnival Celebration on May 14th -28. I would like to say that since my Beloved Mom passed away, I've found myself being a solo cruiser always with a balcony, and it's been serene for me. However, these ideas are great. However, since I fly early from Atlanta to Miami, I'm pretty tired about the time I get on board. I usually grab a bite to eat. I then wait until my room is ready. I unload my bags, hang out on my balcony, and watch all the excitement and beautiful yachts. Then freshrn up waiting for the sail away party on the Lido Deck. After that, I'm back in my Beautiful Stateroom falling asleep. So that's me then I'm ready for Sea Day: excited, rested, and can be a F.u.n guest throughout the next day! 🎉😊❤I always set up room service every morning of my cruise so I can have my quiet, prayer/devotional time on my balcony before starting my day! I ask for my coffee to be Hot-Hot. This will make them have your carafe not sitting but just out the pot. Loyal Carnival Guest🛳
I like Carnival too. Do you have to pay for 2 even if you travel solo?
@Southern Girl Ya'll yes I pay for two occupants🫣
Sounds like you have a really nice routine! I’m so sorry for your loss. Have an amazing cruise 🛳
@@LifeWellCruised 🛳🥰🫂Thank you!
Your method, sounds DEVINE!!! I think I will implement 'daily am room service, hot HOT tea/coffee, for much needed 'quiet time' . .thanks for sharing!! Cruising New Year's Eve, cannot wait!!💯🤣❤️
I have only been on one cruise and loved it. I have rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which are of course disabilities. Something I did before my cruise with my rheumatologist was add extra medications to take for that week. I recommend this to anyone. Not only did I feel incredible, I missed out on nothing!!! Thank you for your helpful info on cruising.❤️
What a great idea!
I have lupus and fibromyalgia but I’m still pretty much able to get around. My biggest thing is we will never do a Christmas cruise again although it was fun!!! We are empty nesters with so we had our family Christmas later people literally do not control their children!! All night long they were running the halls!!! Bad things can happen on a cruise ship too if never allow that!!!
We just got back from our NCL Antarctica 14-day cruise and it was fabulous. We used ALL of your suggestions and it helped soo much. From arriving 2 days early, to booking the earliest embarkation time, to having our excursions booked ahead of time and our specialty dining booked before we left. Made our cruise experience so much more enjoyable.
That’s awesome! What an incredible cruise that must have been - dream trip itinerary 👏
Antarctica is on my bucket list! That must have been an amazing cruise 🚢❄️🧊
Great tips, thanks for sharing🎉 I’m a seasoned cruiser but I did pick up a few useful tips. I have failed to download the cruise line app before hand. Didn’t think of going to the dining room or one of the optional eateries on embarkation day. I’ve always fight the crowds on the buffet line😂 I like how you state things clearly & concisely. Did google the upside down pineapple after watching one of your videos last night 😮
Same! No other way to cruise
Did you experience the Drake Shake? I would love to do that cruise but I’m afraid of the rough crossing!
Lived at sea for two years as a crew member. Highly recommend package tours. The ship knows where you are, you're less likely to get stabbed.
Ya. Not trying to get stabbed. I have enough risk with the gf doing it!
Great idea,let them do everything relaxing
Or, pay half the price through a third party for the same excursion. Every single excursion I take is third party and we always go pick up the cruise passengers.
Same excursion
Same lack of stabbing
More money in my pocket
@@robertshelton3796 just so unbelievably expensive.
What are the age limits for a crew position these days. How old is too old?
We enjoyed ordering room service and eating on our balcony. Great way to start the day!
Nice tips, Ilana! Here's one more tip: End of cruise tours! Most cruise lines off-load their passengers ASAP, allowing the crew to prepare the rooms for the next passenger. As a result, they shuttle you to the airport WAY early before the departure time. So book a tour at the end of your cruise. Why wait at the airport, when you can enjoy another tour? Not only does the cruise line guarantee you'll get to the airport, but you also extend your trip!
Funny, they took SO long we barely made our Flt & we booked it 1.5 hrs after they said to.
Who do you see to do this? It sounds cool.
Is there a charge to atay for the Tour? What time do they do the tours?
@@amymedina1966 Hi Amy, Each cruise is different, so you need to see the excursions offered by your particular cruise for the ending port. Please be ESPECIALLY careful that you pay attention to the time requirements for the tour and your flight time. Unfortunately, often the time requirement precludes being able to do my tip. Have fun!
We did this in Seattle. It was great! Unfortunately, when we were in Tampa, that excursion was cancelled due to lack of interest.
Sometimes it saves time to go later in the day on embarkation day. If you’ve made all your plans in advance and don’t need to rush on board, going a little after the first rush you won’t be waiting in long lines and sitting around waiting to board.
Very true! Unless you need to get on to book on board, it’s probably easier to get on after cabins are open :)
What my rush getting on board the next is my state NYC so I will later time but it might change I have group on Facebook so time with group might be earlier we will see
I arrived really late for my first cruise because I had no idea you were allowed to come early 😂 I thought everyone arrived right before sail away lol. I couldn’t imagine getting free lunch and stuff that day 😅 Now I know better. But, being that i got on at the last minute, I was kind of spoiled with a ridiculously easy embarkation and zero lines and walked basically right on the ship and my luggage was there already! Easy peasy. I am bummed that I basically missed a half day of the cruise, but live and learn - and maybe it was a blessing in disguise that I didn’t have to wait in any lines on that first cruise because it made me absolutely fall in love with cruising! And now I’m obsessed and would be happy to wait in any line as long as it means I get to cruise ❤😅🚢
Cruising is about waiting around on board. Kind of the point.
You’re on a ship. There you are.
@@lexa_power we did exactly that and were very bemused that there was virtually no one there and the staff said we were just in time to make the cruise! We live 8miles from the embarkation port so had been waiting around at home before setting off for what we thought was actually embarkation first time, but was actually sail away time!!!
Love these. I hate inefficiency especially on vacation. Reserving while in the terminal is a great tip.
I called HA and they said you have to sign up on the gym. On paper sign ups. Is this true. Does anyone know.
I only had to go to guest services once and I went at like 3 in the morning 😂 nobody was in line
Avoid packing too many clothes by going with a color theme that can be easily mixed and matched. I always us just black and white with some vibrant scarves or shawls. Saves a ton of time when you're packing and then onboard when you're selecting that day's outfit.
Wished I knew this before when recently cruised. 😂😂😂😂
Great tip logging on to WiFi in the cruise port before boarding 👍 You snooze you lose.
Lol, I recently found this out 😂
Excellent tip I’ve never thought of until I actually boarded. I’ll need to open up WiFi in the terminal. Thanks
I’ve only ordered ship room service when I’ve had a super early shore excursion. Saved the time of buffet lines or not being set up yet for other than coffee and pastries.
Is this to avoid buying the WiFi package
Regarding excursions- simple excursions, like a beach trip you save time doing on your own. Often the cruise ship will set a meeting place in the theater for dozens of excursions groups. You go there and wait for your group to be called, walk out together and board the bus, and by the time you get there, you realize how much easier & faster it would have been to just walk off the ship and take a cab.
Indeed.
A lot of ships are continuing to offer the club and suite areas and private dining areas, which I guess is nice if you can afford it. I have always enjoyed the fact that everyone on a cruise is equal. When you meet someone and talk with them, you do not know if they are in the finest suite or the cheapest cabin. I fear that continuing to add all the private areas is slowly moving us back to the Titanic days of dividing people by classes. Just my thoughts. Thank you for all your information.
Totally agree with this!!
My thoughts exactly,not only cruise ships either.
I strongly agree
I think it's pretty clear what kind of cabin someone is in. Trashy people don't just suddenly become classy because they're on vacation. Classy people do sometimes end up trashy.
Then why have kids or adults or singles only areas? If people can afford to have a special and snazzy cruise all power to them. And just means more room at the other spots. 😊
Just got off the Regal Princess & got room service every day. We wrote in Things that we wanted that weren’t on the card & they came every day. We tipped each time :)
Thank you so much! My husband retires today and we are off on a cruise to celebrate. I've watched your videos and they have made a world of difference! From medicines and documents, tricks to organize the cabin, and what to bring on excursions, it has all been so helpful. Your friendly smile and great advice has made everything easier. Best regards, Jean Marie
🎉Congratulations on your retirement!! Long life to you!!😊
We're doing that in a couple of months. My husband retired a year ago, and I've been on a years leave and just retired a month ago. It's been delayed all that time due to family reasons, but we've finally got a small window of opportunity and we're taking it!
Congratulations on your retirement. Wishing you winds and following seas.
oh and Royal has these touch screens by the elevators where if you need help finding your room you can get directions as well as see deck plans on there as well.
2 main points:
1) EVERY Diamonds International is the same. Run.
2) Excursions booked through the cruise line generally assume risk for getting you back to the ship on time. Non-related excursions have no reason to care. You’ll be gone by tomorrow.
Ilana, I am so very thankful to you for putting out these videos. We’ve booked a cruise for later this year, and without all the information you’ve shared (and cute dresses and bags 😊), we would have been pretty clueless. Thank you! I feel prepared, and confident that we’ll make the most of our week, that we are SO looking forward to! Really appreciate you.
That blue blouse looks great on you. I very much enjoy your channel.❤
To me, the “group fitness classes” is a huge waste of time! I can do aerobics and fitness stuff in my living room.
Thanks for these. I've been on 9 cruises already with NCL, but there are still a couple time wasting mistakes I continue to make, so thanks for the reminders. TIME is SO VALUABLE while on vaca. And I just downloaded the ultimate cruise planner, looking forward to using it for my cruise for next week.
My advice to not waste time or money. Don't eat in restaurants in the cruise ports.
Very good tips esp keeping screenshots of coupons, pre booked excursions or savings and making a tour of the ship on embarkation day. These have helped me a lot.
I love that our last Cruise they actually offered a tour of the ship and gave you lots of little inside tips on that tour
I always use MyTime. I make reservations shortly after booking the cruise. I've seen the lines where passengers didn't make a reservations and the lines were long. And a long wait to be seated. Great video. I'm a seasoned cruiser and a retired travel agent. Your videos are always helpful and informative. Thanks.
Thanks so much for sharing! :)
What is my time
@@vhilton40000 My Time is where you can go to the MDR anytime you'd like. You can also make a reservation for a certain time and won't have to wait in line. I've been doing that for years and like the concept.
I had no idea you could make a reservation for my time!!!
Yes. I do that on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. I always ask to be seated with the same wait staff for the remainder of the cruise.@@PetraHolden
As far as the not wasting time finding one's way around the ship...
My tip would be to try to print out the deck plan for the ship a couple of weeks ahead of your cruise. Look it over a bit and familiarize yourself with it a little, before the cruise.
Then carry it around with you on board and refer to it frequently to further familiarize yourself with the ship.
For me, doing this allows me to get used to where everything is within a couple of days, instead of a whole week.
Thank you, getting the plans of the ship is a great idea. 😊
This is the correct answer for not getting lost on the ship. Wherever we go on vacation, if there is a map of the premises, we will have it so we know exactly where everything is.
Great idea... thank you!!!
My biggest time waster is leading a group cruise. I’ve done it 3 times and it can be so stressful. The worst one was a group of 12 people, all retired family members who insisted on staying together for everything. Big groups slow everything down. I have decided that I will never do it again. They didn’t think to give me a small gift of appreciation for all the hours I poured into planning their wonderful vacation.
That's sad, I would always want to show my appreciation to those who help me. I'm so sorry, I'm single, 72 years old, I didn't know you could get that service
Did something similar. 3 families and wasted so much time figuring out what people wanted to do, where to go, and meeting for dinner. Never again. If people wish to join us, great, but we are not planing things for everyone.
@@sarahhayslip1793 these group cruises were with family members. The one i referred to was my husband’s aunts and uncles and parents. Very stressful!
@@danblackmore6099 I hear ya! I enjoy investigating all the things available to do. But when you have to consider everyone’s wants and abilities, it turns into work
That’s tough. You’re right, people should appreciate the group organizer, but I don’t think they realize the work it takes :(
Counting down to 5 days from our first cruise on Carnival Paradise from Port Tampa. Thanks so much for your content! 😃
Woohoo!! Have a fabulous cruise 🎉
For those who are nervous about leaving a bank card linked to your account, use a prepaid card. I personally put money on the prepaid card specifically for the cruise and generally bring cash. If I need to add money into account I’ll add the cash.
What prepaid card do u prefer to use?
@@lisaz9820 I have a Green Dot prepaid card.
Thank you so much for all you do Ilana. I am a nervous wreck about getting things right as a first time cruiser. Your videos are a tremendous help.
All I have to do is remember everything. 😅
Don't be nervous. Relax and enjoy it all. I use a spreadsheet to make checklists as I think of things so I don't forget. It includes a schedule of what to book or purchase (like accomm, flights, travel insurance), when to pay things, items to bring/pack and outfit ideas. I've been adding to and improving it since our first cruise and it really helps.
Just went on my first Cruise with Holland America. Did tons of research through your channel and honestly just binged your videos for the three weeks leading up to embarkation. You were unknowingly with me while I did my dishes, laundry, and other household chores. Thanks for all the good content! I would love to hear more about what you do off-ship and during port days. And what you like to do during specific itineraries. We come for the crusing tips and stay for your bubbly personality. 😊
I hope you had a fantastic cruise!! I’ll be sharing some port videos this week :). Thanks so much!
Oh that's funny! I do the same thing with this channel and other cruise bloggers. Watch them while I do my dishes and laundry and house cleaning. For some reason it makes those tasks a whole lot more fun and easy!
I agree with having room service on a busy shore excursion day. It makes the day seem less hurried. We found we could alter the options on our Holland America cruise last month to make it suit us, e.g. crossing out some of the options and highlighting that we only wanted part of it. You picture looked like our breakfast 🤣
I will be on HAL Cruise this summer, can you explain please how did you order the breakfast for the room ? Did you tell the cabin crew the evening before? Was there a choice what to order ? When do they bring it? We will go on excursion every day and on own planning so I am very interested in leaving the ship early and get my bus on time :-)
I just came off a Celebrity Cruise last Monday, there usually a card in your room each day to order the room service breakfast, you pick and choose which items you want and pick a 30 minute window for delivery, such as 7-7:30 and hang the card on your door knob the night before
Excursions they usually have you meet up in one of the lounges and everyone for that excursion leaves at the same time to meet their particular bus
we've tried it but to be honest, unless you are lucky enough to afford a suite, I don't really enjoy balancing a meal on my lap while sitting on the bed or on a chair on a balcony in the freezing cold. Then there's also this. If we have a decent breakfast we generally don't want lunch, which gives us extra time to do stuff on the excursion. We just get up a bit earlier.
We have friends that don’t like credit cards but love cruising. Because of the guest service lines they took their TA advice got a carnival and princess Credit Card ( they 12:45 only use those 2 lines) they now only use those CC for their 2 cruises each year) they love the ease and perks of those cards
What I love about cruising is except for waiting in lines I am never in such a hurry that I feel like I am wasting time. And to avoid lines we try to conta-cruise. We eat at unpopular times. We swim either early morning or after 5pm when many are getting ready for dinner and so on and so on.
I couldn't tell you the amount of time I got lost on a cruise ship. By the time I learned my way around it was all over. 😂Thanks for sharing this video and helpful tips! Making a mental note. 💕
take note of the artwork hanging around the ship. It's like Hansel and Gretal following the crumbs!
I make sure we have all paperwork like you said screen prints your confirmation info, what excursions, reservation to speciality dining room. Make sure you know your ports on board time. My friend learned on like NCL Daily newsletter on day you port make sure you have port agent phone number, one time her bus excursion left her at excursions before the time to meet to leave. She had to call port agents to help her find a way back to ship.
I have found that using up some of my hotel loyalty points for the "nights before the cruise" have been a very good use of them as the hotels immediately around cruise ports are among the most expensive.
I did that for the cruise I ended last week. Free hotel in Sydney and the hotel was close enough it took us less than 10 minutes to walk to the ship.
yes and no. We don't travel enough to ever get hotel points. Sometimes a hotel away from the port plus a taxi is cheaper and better than one close to the port. It's also nicer if the port is out of town and you want to spend a couple of days in town before the cruise, which we have learned is a necessity from a bad experience last time we travelled and had to fly in long haul from Australia. 24 hours buffer isn't enough if your 24 hour+ flight gets cancelled four hours after it's supposed to have left, as we found out. Luckily we figured cancellation was on the cards the later it got, and managed to get our flight switched to another code share airline in time. Many didn't, including a party of 30 who had their flight cancelled for the second day in a row and missed the wedding they were going to. To be fair, it wasn't the airlines fault. The cancellations the day before were due to a fire in the terminal and the second cancellation was due to a faulty engine and malfunctioning door. I was very glad we didn't end up on that particular plane in the end!
My parents were experienced cruisers. They said that the larger the ship, the more people, and the the longer the lines. Something to consider.
Not always true. Larger ships have more people, but they also have more space, common areas, and restaurants. This makes the lines shorter.
It would be based on ship capacity percentages, not ship size. For example, we went on a cruise soon after COVID. The ship we were on typically holds 6,000 guests at 100% capacity (and is therefore designed to engage that meant people), but it was limited at only 40% capacity. There weren't lines anywhere, we could easily go to any restaurant without any reservations, and the staff to guest radio was very close to 1:1. It was incredible! 😁
We always do traditional dining ( late seating). It gives us more time in our day to relax.
One time I wanted a bagel w/ cream cheese with bacon from room service. I was informed that I could not order bacon. I was able to order a BLT so I had to order one with no bread, tomato, lettuce, or mayo. The room service person said, so you just want the bacon? 🤷🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
Bacon was at a shortage on our cruise but I think it's fine currently.😀
Solution Based 🥓
I would have done the same thing. Silly rules.
lol, I would have done the same. I’m allergic to tomatoes, so I would have ordered the BL, with no T
😂
Really studying your ship’s layout BEFORE You embark can save you so much time and steps. When we went on the Carnival Mardi Gras, we had to walk so much because of where our cabin was located. There were parts of the ship we never seen. This was our Grandsons first cruise so we figured out how to get to the fun water features,our MDR, and where the good food was and that was pretty much it. We had a blast but when we got home we seen stuff online that I really wish we would’ve known about while we were on the cruise. But this can be expected when sailing on these mega ships. I suggest that when you take someone new to cruising on a cruise you do it on a ship you are very familiar with. ❤
Another tip, do self disembarkation, can pack late into the night before, no waiting for assigned time, you're one of the first to leave the ship.
If you are traveling with a group of people, plan on the evening meal together at a pre-reserved restaurant and then agree that you may keep in touch during the day as other things come up that you want others to know about. A quick text or sticky note on your cabin door can be enough of an update to notify people that you're heading to the pool, going to play trivia, snuggling up with a book or heading to an exercise class. Tell everyone to feel free to plan their day out first and then worry about notifying others. Nothing worse than wasting your time by sitting around with members of your party constantly saying, "Whatever you guys want to do is fine with us." It's also fun to bump into members of your group during the day.
Thank you for yet another informative session. ROOM SERVICE - I never use it, nor on a ship nor in a hotel. Going to a restaurant is a main part of vacation travel, only exception is business travel. The reason for a vacation is to go out and enjoy.
I could understand, it’s a nice experience to be served at a restaurant as well :)
I find room service valuable for early morning excursions just in case the buffet is crowded.
Love room service as I take a while to get moving first thing in the morning, but enjoy the dinning room for lunch and dinner! I tend to avoid the buffet at all costs!
For parents of young kids, disabled folx, those who need to take extensive meds in the morning or at breakfast, those with chronic pain, those with serious food allergies, those who had a restless night, or those who don't do well in crowds...
Breakfast in your cabin is far better than the frantic crush in the buffet.
There are often not enough accessible tables, or able-bodied folks ignore the signs and staff and insist on taking accessible spots, or worse, like fellow passengers who *shove* wheelchairs or mobility equipment out of a line to get ahead, or are rude & belligerent...
Add poorly trained staff and breakfast can be an absolutely miserable experience for disabled folx.
Waking up to morning room service delivery, and dining in your cabin is just *so* much nicer, calmer, relaxed, quieter, easier experience... over the frantic, high pressure crush in the buffet.
Contrary to what many may say, disabled folx matter just as much as other passengers - and disabled folx are anywhere from 10% - 50% of all passengers, depending on the line & age range for that sailing.
We started using room service for breakfast so we could get ready for the day at a leisurely pace, and not have to be all “ready to go” before going to a restaurant. I totally agree on your concept for dinner, however. Fine dining in an intimate atmosphere is the height of luxury for me…
Room service, especially breakfast, feels like such a flex or luxury. I love doing it; and, room service is free on Celebrity (which is my favorite cruise line), so I try to do it on port days so that I can get started earlier
We were on Oasis last week, Me, my Wife and Daughter ordered Room Service one night for a late night snack and also to try it. Ordered Wings, Soup, Sandwich, Fruit Plate, Juice, Cookies and Cheesecake. It was good, fast and well worth the $10 service charge.
Booked my first cruise and I'm very excited. I'm going in May and these videos are helping me immensely. Omg I'm so glad I discovered this channel
Another excellent video! A simple tip we use for navigating the ship when leaving our cabin is decreasing cabin numbers to go to the front of the ship (theater) and increasing cabin numbers to go to the back of the ship (food). Even cabin numbers are usually on the starboard (right) side of the ship and odd cabin numbers are on the port (left)side of the ship. On Royal many of their ships use a wave cabin number sign and the wave points to the front of the ship. We always decorate our door to support our favorite sports teams and to make it easy to identify our room. To save time and walking distance we normally chose a cabin a little ways from the elevator. The first afternoon is also a great time to do onboard activities that have long lines. To avoid waiting for elevators, especially at dinner time, we usually go down a half hour early and have a drink in a bar or just sit in a public area and relax before dinner. Also, if you have flexibility time wise, when going ashore, do not try to get off the ship when the ship is cleared, this is especially true in tendered ports.
Love all these tips!!
You should put pineapple stickers on your door
NCL has schools of fish on the carpet that are swimming towards the front of the ship..
I'm a newby and will do my first cruise in August on NCL Prima. What do you mean by "... Do not try to get off the ship when the ship is cleared..."?
@@sarahann530 only if you know what pineapples mean. Ilana has a video on that
I make it a main thing to explore every nook and cranny of the ship (I’m allowed to enter) the first day of the cruise
My thoughts on room service are about continental breakfast only. I did this on port intensive European itineraries, and it’s great in two ways. It is complementary (plus the dollar I tip to the crew member). I’m not bogged down by a heavy meal, and I’m ready to get the day started.
We pick the earliest delivery time, and we can get breakfast while getting ready. It saves time and energy avoiding the buffet. I did this for every early port day.
redorbluepill ?
vor 1 Sekunde
I will be on HAL Cruise this summer, can you explain please how did you order the breakfast for the room ? Did you tell the cabin crew the evening before? Was there a choice what to order ? When do they bring it? We will go on excursion every day and on own planning so I am very interested in leaving the ship early and get my bus on time :-)
@@doktordermedizin In your stateroom, you should see a paper card of continental breakfast items that can be hung on the outside door handle. On my Royal Caribbean cruise last week, the latest time you could do was 3am. It may be different on HAL. I would mark the number of items I wanted in the box next to the item.
For example, we both wanted bagels. I wrote “2” in the box. I would write “1” for items only one person wanted. I marked the delivery time (I chose between 6:30-7:30am) and hung the completed card outside my door before going to bed.
The next morning, a crew member brought the tray into our stateroom, and I handed her a couple dollars as a tip. I left the tray against the wall outside our stateroom as we left for the day.
Why do you tip. Is this HA ? I thought gratuities were all charged at the end.
For me, I need protein for the first meal of the day. Starch laden breakfasts leave me woozy. So this will depend on dietary needs.
@@BriarRosie1 Thank you! I was wondering how one ordered room service!
I have to say the one point that I might disagree with you a little bit is the urgency to get an early boarding time. What I've noticed is that because most people want to get that early time, it tends to be the most packed time at the port, so you tend to wait in line much longer to board the ship. When you get in early, your room will not be ready. The doors will be closed, telling you to check back after 1:30 p.m. that means if you have any carry-on stuff, you're going to have to lug it around the ship with you until 1:30. What has worked for me consistently is selecting a boarding time between 12:00 and 12:30 which gets me on the ship usually within 30 minutes or less from the time I parked which means by the time I get on board and go do my muster station I can basically go straight to my room drop off my stuff and go explore the ship. But then again I never buy the drink package because I think that is a total waste of money so I don't feel the need to get on board as early as possible so I can start drinking as much as possible so that I can feel like I'm getting my money's worth LOL
That’s a good point. Personally I like being on early, but you’re right arriving after lunch is probably a less hectic time
we tried a late board time on our last cruise...we did get to go right to our room. That was nice...I did miss getting in the hot tub w no one at the pool
What time is usually the earliest? I checked into our cruise a few days ago and the earliest available was 12:30pm-1pm. I didn’t do the check in the day it became available. I waited a day so the earliest might have been full by the time I did it
I have done as much check in as I could for documentation and stuff when does HAL have you finish check in and get embarkation times?
If you get a 10:30am boarding time, its like getting an extra day "at sea". Make sure you're only carrying a small carry-on and wear your swimsuit to board. 10:30 board. 10:45am e-muster 11:00am sitting by the pool getting your first drink.
I don't recommend booking a shore excursion ahead of time in Alaska because the weather can change. We sat in a freezing little gray boat on a gray lake looking at gray skies and a gray coastline for 2 hours. It was torture!!! I asked if we could cut the tour early because we were all so miserable and was refused. There were 4-5 inches of freezing ice water in the bottom of the boat. Our feet were frozen even though we were given boots and jackets. Holland America. We didn't book the sea plane excursion because it was very expensive, but when we got off the ship, the weather was beautiful and there was a private vendor selling the same excursion for half the price, so we took it. It was absolutely fantastic!!!
I visited Alaska not on a cruise and booked a zipline thing through what would be considered a third party website half the people there had booked through a cruise line the rest had booked independently but were on a cruise ( I was the one random hiker)
8:50 *ALWAYS* use credit cards. You get free money (points back) and the possibility of bouncing a charge for a faulty item.
You are always right Ilana. Research research research. Prebook everything. Easier to cancel than book! I have done room service for multiple reasons that i deem important that day. Always register a credit card on ship. Am able to book a suite on cruises and i feel it is worth it due to quieter, concierge, dining, services included.
Hi,Elana! Thanks much for your super tips ,you are and cute and gorgeous 😀💕🎉
Kinda disagree with the earliest boarding time. For me it depends. I do like to explore the ship and enjoy lunch, but the down side is you will have to lug around your carry on until the cabins are ready. Also depends on where I am cruising from. Cruising out of Vancouver next month. Never been there, so we picked a 1:00 boarding time to have a bit more time to see the city.
Good idea
This will be my 17 cruise and I am still learning !! Only cruise on Carnival!! Your comments are very helpful!!!
We prefer a later boarding time. That way, when we get on the ship, the staterooms are already open and most folks have already eaten and the lines at eating places are shorter
My problem is EVERYONE wants the early check in times and I don’t like having over a thousand people around me just waiting to board. We skate right through with the later time.
I couldn't believe it when I saw people saying that they were going to stay up late so that they could be the first to check in online....
Thank you!!!
Your videos are the best. Even though I've been on 12 cruises, you still come up with good ideas. I loved the list of items to buy for cruising. I bought the lanyards and a toiletry bag, both really nice and arrived fast. Look forward to watching more videos. Appreciate all the great tips.
Hello, I would like to see a video about the cost/price difference of a cruise compared to stationary vacation. Last time I was in Las Vegas the prices of rooms, parking and dining out was insane. Cocktails on our Celebrity cruise were much cheaper than any bar in Las Vegas. We did everything we wanted, no drink package, and the cost was a lot more reasonable than I thought it would be.
Thanks for the idea!
The Vegas of today certainly isn't the Vegas of the 80s into the early nineties. Back then things for cheap and you could have a fun vacation. Today everything is overcrowded and expensive.
I love ordering room service breakfast and enjoy eating it on the balcony. We usually save this for days at sea. You can order early on port days and watch the ship pull in.
That's a great idea!
Hi Ilana! Thanks for all of your great tips! One thing that we always do, is order room service breakfast. We usually just get the continental breakfast, yogurt, muffins, toast. We enjoy our coffee and tea on the balcony. That is free, and we are always sure to have a $5 bill for the server. That, to us, is a time saver, as we can get ready for our day at our leisure.
I'm not big on getting to the cruise terminal early, only to stand around and wait in a huge crowd. In Los Angeles, the earliest they allow you on the ship is 10AM, but the staterooms aren't ready so you need to bring your stuff everywhere. I usually shoot for between 11 and 12 embarkation. It gets me past the rush, and allows an easy boarding. I can complete the e-muster drill first before lunch at a dining room (I avoid the buffet if possible). By noon, even if the staterooms are not ready, they will allow you to drop your bags. Once bags are dropped, I walk around the ship to familiarize myself better than what I remember seeing on video in advance. Whenever possible, I have already booked excursions and specialty dining in advance (and paid for it as well). This keeps my OB account lower with less out of pocket expenses.
I just booked my first cruise. I picked a 3 night so I can test the waters (pun intended) to see if cruises are even for me. 8 months out, so excited.
Quick tip to get oriented... most of the elevators (on the Princess ships I've cruised on) face the front of the ship. (Except for the glass elevators at the piazza.) When you get off the elevators it's easy to know front/back and port/starboard. Not sure if this holds up for all ships and/or cruise lines, but it sure has been great to orient myself on these ships.
That only works on that cruise line. The others I've been on have elevators that face BOTH directions, so it can be disorienting. What I've learned to do (Carnival & RCCL) is to step off the elevator and look at the numbers of the rooms immediately next to it. If the numbers go UP left to right (room 456, 458, 459) then that leads to the back of the ship. The numbers of the rooms go down toward the front of the ship. There is also usually a map next to the elevators that say "You are HERE."
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 Thanks for the update! I wasn’t sure if this crossed over to other lines. It’s sure helpful on the Princess ships I’ve been on.
P&O Ventura lifts face the front, apart from the glass Atrium lifts. It made a huge difference to navigating the ship, knowing I was facing forward. Does this rule apply on any other ships or lines?
And Royal Caribbean has an interactive ship map right next to the elevators and stairs, with a "you are here" indicator you can jump to.
Seeing this video just solidifies to me why I will continue to only cruise with Viking. None of these stresses. Free WiFi, all excursions and dining reserved 90 days prior to departure, free room service 24 hrs, free laundry service for many cabins. No children. No casino. No smoking. Viking is the way to go.
Sounds lame
I agree. That sounds like heaven and is on my bucket list 😊
glad you can afford it. Most of us can't.
That’s great for those who can afford it.
No casino? No way!!! That's one of the biggest reasons I go on a cruise and one of the ways I can afford to go. The perks I get from Casino Royale.
Ahhhh, for the days when no one could reach us on vacation.
Bad news can wait.
Love the free room service on Holland American ships. Great for quiet days and sleeping in but also for early excursion days. Always make the decision the night before and order the night before.
As usual, *excellent* comments/recommendations, Ilana! I've waited all afternoon for hubby to get home from work so we could watch together. 😄 Getting ready to print your Ultimate Cruise Planner packing list once again (sooo useful!). 39 days until our next cruise! 🎉❤
Awe!! Couldn’t ask for a better compliment, lol. Exciting to be planning again 👏🛳
I use Ilana’s Ultimate Planner a lot, too! That’s what I hang from my magnetic clips, to remember my plans.
I can’t speak for any other cruise line, but on Carnival, it’s possible to book a table in the MDR for anytime dining. We did this on our last cruise and it was so easy, because you don’t have to queue because they tell you when there’s a table ready.
How? Did you go speak w the matrie d once on board…
@@ashleas.989 it was through the cruise line app. We input the details and then they messaged back once there was a table available. I’m pretty sure we only had a short amount of time to get there but my memory is a bit hazy. I thought it was 10 minutes but that doesn’t seem long enough if you’re at the other end of the ship. But it was pretty useful.
If you really want a specific excursion, don't wait. I booked mine well in advance and my friends waited and it was sold out by the time they decided to book.
You’re so right!!
I’ve never been on a cruise and have no desire, but when exploring the ship from your room. Use your phone and video going from your room to various places so you know how to get back .
I would add pre saving the maps of the ports your visiting. At least on google maps you can download area of the map for viewing off line and this could be incredibly useful particularly if you planning to do your own exploration of a port and don’t want huge roaming bills when you get back.
Just got home from a 14 day Japan and Taiwan trip on Holland America. I enjoyed using room service for breakfast on port days and did feel that it saved me time. The only caveat is that the delivery times were all over the place. The menu said delivery could be up to 15 minutes before or after the requested time, but I experienced delivery as much as 35 minutes early to 20 minutes late. The continental breakfast was great, and the only thing I ordered after one disappointing American style breakfast. Tried room service dinner one night, but the free choices were very limited, delivery took more than an hour, and the food (quesadilla) was not good.
Biggest waste of time is the excursions, my family went to Jamaica we just wanted to see the waterfall... All we had to do was call a taxi mean while we watched as the excursion people waited and waited until about 20 people were accounted for and paper work filled out before they could leave. Same going back. So glad my family just boarded a taxi cheaper and so much faster
I love how Riley has opened Graceland to the public to use as a wedding or event for people to use. Transformation for people with disabilities is awesome also.
Excellent video as always! We just got off our 4th cruise and one tip I have to share is to research the cruise line excursion you book carefully. We spent the majority of our 5hr excursion in transport and less then 2 hrs on the beach which was definitely a time waste.
Mediterranean cruise Rome to Barcelone. Excursion Florence 2 hours to go and 1 hour to visit and 2 hours back We stop at one outlet on the way,
it seems like the ride there was part of the adventure
14:01 On Holland America the concierge desk in the Neptune Lounge was a real time saver.
People need to be aware that gratuities are ALREADY added to drinks though the drink waiter try’s hard to get you to add additional Tip. It is on their iPad , but if you pay attention you paid 20%.
*trys
@@jeaniebranconi3319No...it's TRIES. Don't correct people if you don't even know the correct word!!
@@stephaniemorrissey123 she was correcting her own self, not other people. You could have just left it at "tries" or not, but you were so busy to put her down.
I am so glad it takes me about 5 minutes to decide and book a cruise. I book all casino last minute deals. When it is available I book it. Easy peasy for me. $100 for any length cruise. Thank you Carnival. 7 of those deals this year including Alaska.
My advice to save time and money is to avoid the gym and spa area on the first few days if you have no intention of using them. They'll grab you to go on a spa and gym tour, where they will upsell you to the within an inch of your life, and then seduce you into staying in the hopes of winning $500 to use at the spa. But it's not actually $500, there are five or ten $50 to $100 vouchers to win amongst five or ten people. I think it's best avoided.
Hi Ilana! Love your videos! I just wanted to add a comment about My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean. My husband and I always do My Time Dining and prior to the cruise, we choose our dining times. For example, we’ve already made My Time dining reservations for our October 2023 cruise as well as our February 2024 cruise on Icon. It’s so easy to do!
I was wondering how that is done. My cuise is on Wonder of the Seas over new years so it may not yet be available. Do you do that on the app?