TwoNavySalts

The OTC medicine stash. I have a clear vinyl zippable Dopp-kit sized container that I fill with small or travel-sized bottles, or packets, of:

ibuprofen

acetominophen

Pepto-Bismol tablets

throat lozenges

Metamucil gummies

decongestant tabs

cough suppressant tabs

a few BandAids in different sizes

little single-use packets of Neosporin

You get the idea. Customize to your likely needs and trip length. Ship’s store may or may not have what you need, may not be open when you need it, and will definitely cost you more. 
 

Grocery stores and drug stores usually have a travel-sized area. And - search the check-out areas in Staples and Office Depot, as they cater to business travelers. 

The OTC medicine stash. I have a clear vinyl zippable Dopp-kit sized container that I fill with small or travel-sized bottles, or packets, of:

ibuprofen

acetominophen

Pepto-Bismol tablets

throat lozenges

Metamucil gummies

decongestant tabs

cough suppressant tabs

a few BandAids in different sizes

little single-use packets of Neosporin

You get the idea. Customize to your likely needs and trip length. Ship’s store may or may not have what you need, may not be open when you need it, and will definitely cost you more. 
 

Grocery stores and drug stores usually have a travel-sized area. And - search the check-out areas in Staples and Office Depot, as they cater to business travelers. 

Good posts above.
 

I just booked a May 2025 Silversea cruise, and the minute I hung up with our travel agent, I logged in and booked our excursions, got all the ones we wanted. Also set a calendar reminder to book dining 120 days out.
 

Part of my cruise research is a deep advance dive into the excursions, because I enjoy the research at various sources. I’m an “errors of commission rather than omission” person, and this has been my approach with Seabourn, Regent and Silversea. If we choose “wrong,” we enjoy what we have chosen and make a note on the missed opportunity, and perhaps catch it on another cruise or trip. 
 

If I were booking later than usual, and something I really wanted was not available, I would evaluate booking the private tour as a splurge or a reliable shore excursion company (allowing a fat margin of safety time to get back to the ship). 

Butlers, the good ones, and most are on SS, tend to adapt to your need levels. 
 

Some memorable experiences: 

- A lock had jammed on our hardshell luggage. Butler brought up an engineering buddy who was apparently the “fix it” guy, and he got it unjammed. We made sure to get his name and mention it in cruise evaluation. 
- I had booked an all-day shore excursion which included a seafood lunch; I’m allergic, but really wanted this excursion. Not wanting to get “hangry,” I asked the butler if he could help me put together some small bagged-up snacks I could stick in my day bag that wouldn’t spoil. Marcona almonds, 2 little wax-wrapped cheeses (like BabyBel), petite baby carrots, a small apple, a few squares of dark chocolate (Valhrona!). Perfect. 
- Help with dinner reservations, times or adding people, etc. 

- My husband iced his knee every afternoon after a joint replacement wth the little cold bag we had brought. Without fail, the bag was there with ice ready to go on his knee the minute we got back from a shore excursion or other agreed-upon time. We just left him a note on the pad in the room with “ice time.”

They are problem-solvers! Take advantage of their skills - and ask about their families and home countries. 

Many excellent tips above. 

We are experienced cruisers, so we typically go right to the room, drop off carry-on, go find lunch. We sail primarily Regent, Silversea or Seabourn, so we are often familiar with the layout. Go for a nice walk around the ship. 
 

Figure out the muster requirement - could be in-person or watch required video. 
 

Take some time to explore the TV menu. These days, you can find daily events, menu specials, look at your onboard bill and any charges accrued, find out the spa is having a special on a service, service on the second sea day, etc. 

If staff comes by to introduce themselves, take note of their names and be your best guest self - it always pays off for us. One of our carry-on bag handles had jammed in the up position, and our room steward brought his handy roommate by to work magic on it. He didn’t have to do that. 

I’ve enjoyed quickly skimming this good variety of tips so please forgive me f I repeat anything already mentioned. I’m a woman who has cruised with my husband 30+ times. We consider ourselves efficient packers by now. I have a standard list which I created for both of us, to help us remember must-takes, and we print off a copy and make notes for upcoming cruise. 

We typically cruise 10-24 days, so advice below reflects that. 
 

- For people who get chilled in the evening venues during shows or in lounges or restaurants, a tip for women, I take a lightweight wool challis wrap (scarf weight) in a generous size and neutral tone to cover shoulders and arms and back where AC vents might be blowing  on you. These fold or roll up small. I typically loosely roll it and fit it into the crown of my sun hat to pack. I have one in ivory, one in black, one in teal. I’ll typically just take one. Wrinkles come out with a steam in the bathroom. 
 

- To run around the ship, especially to meals, the gym, other ship events, I bought an inexpensive small black zip-up wristlet “bag” from TJ Maxx with a small gusset to add width.  I have my room card, glasses in a soft case, lip balm, phone, earbuds, the absolute minimum basics. At a meal, it sits in my lap or on the table at lunch if it’s just us - reduces the risk of leaving glasses behind or figuring out what to do with room key, glasses, etc. while doing something with hands like eating. I use the tote bag provided in the cabin to go to the pool or if one is not provided, bring a small string bag if I need a bit more cargo room. Fits in the room safe. Easy to transfer needed contents into day bag for shore excursions. My current wristlet has been on the last 20 cruises. Minimal room to pack. 
 

Lastly, as a retired career Navy officer and retired corporate frequent business traveler, I have my packing down to a regimen that provides variety but minimizes bulk and quantity. Four pair of black slacks - two to alternate going ashore in, with weather and activity appropriate tops/layers and outerwear. The daytime pants might include 1 pair of Columbia-type activity pants. Two to wear on alternate nights, one a palazzo-type, and the other a dressy narrow leg, both in dressier fabrics. That’s it for pants. Two hangers for me. Evenings, I have several shells in jewel tone solids and prints, (blues and pinks/magenta/coral and a black), in polyester for minimal weight and packing space. I bring 3-4 lightweight cotton cardigans, a blue, a hot pink, a white, a black, and swap those around. Pack some looks-real costume jewelry, add in swimwear and gym stuff, 1 pair shore/travel shoes, 1 pair gym shoes, 1 pair evening slip-ons, a pair of Skechers or Vans for daytime on the ship. We usually take 1 big suitcase with interior garment bag, a roll aboard each, a cabin bag each as our personal bag. My actual travel day bag fits in the front zip-up compartment of the roll aboard. As both of us are retired Navy, we roll our clothes up, a habit from uniformed days.

Happy cruising!
 

When I get to the room, open the minibar to see if my favorites are pre-stocked, grab a split of bubbly and a glass, and step out on the veranda, regardless of weather. More or less any time I am drinking Champagne on a weekday, anytime I want to. 

Fun that this zombie thread has been walking for quite a while...

Same experience here, except with the added twist we were told just this past week by our TA that Regent told them we had to book by 4/28/21, and cruise by 12/31/2022. Our May 2020 cruise on Mariner was canceled, ditto May 2021 cruise on Splendor, so now we have a May 2022 cruise on Voyager booked, in the hope by that time, all the turbulence will have settled down. We did get a nice additional Society savings on the one we booked. We have kept faith with Regent and allowed them to retain our cash without the value of a cruise in return over the course of what will be two years, and have continued to re-book, as have thousands of others. Surely the karma will be good!

Cunard Sea Goddess I or II, I have forgotten, now Sea Dream Yacht Club, in the late 80's, I think. Spoiled us. About 100 passengers. Copenhagen-Copenhagen, mostly Norway and a bit of Sweden.

Just a piano bar in the evening, as I recall. Peaceful, quiet, with interesting fellow travelers.

We still wear the sweaters we bought when the ship's doctor, a Bergen native, escorted us to the artisanal shop where his sister and mother bought their sweaters. This is after I mentioned at dinner I always tried to find the locals' favorite places, and avoid the tourist-focused shops.

My husband was out on the pool deck on a sea day, chatting with another Philly native, talking about hot pretzels and how they missed them. About 45 minutes later, a waiter appeared with a plate of hot fresh-made large pretzels, a pot of mustard, and two cold beers.

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I think the Cruise Critic professional reviews are usually very accurate as to the culture of each line. Worth reading.

We have sailed on several Seabourn cruises, including the two smallest ships which are now gone from the line. I think the only people I ever saw smoking were a European couple on our Baltic cruise, and one other man in a designated deck area! The only children we have seen were the occasional teens. I would say the cruisers varied from 40's - 70's.

We prefer the under-600 people ships, that's just us. No long lines, often pierside rather than at anchor, due to smaller size. No long waits to get off the ship for shore excursions. Easy and fast to get around. We don't need a lot of onboard entertainment and non-stop activity and announcements, and you really get to know fellow cruisers and staff very quickly. All-inclusive for on-board stuff - you don't have to think about it. Plenty of quiet nooks for reading and relaxing. Someone appears and offers you a drink or an afternoon cup of tea, and they soon figure out your habits.

If you don't book the Seabourn shore excursions, there are usually other firms with which you can book, or take the complimentary shuttle and head into town and explore at your own pace. The Seabourn shore excursions are usually very good quality.

The quality of service aboard Seabourn is truly delightful, which is why we keep going back. We occasionally rotate to Silversea (smaller ships and luxury again), and are trying a Regent Seven Seas cruise in 2018, due to a family group sailing. We have certainly been on the bigger ships, but for the last 15 years, have found our cruise niche on the smaller luxury lines.

Make a grid with ships vs. cost, what's included, what's not and cost (gratuities, air, transfers, drinks, port fees, shore excursions, pre-cruise hotel, etc.), cabin size (be sure to figure out if they have included veranda in the square footage), passenger size, port calls vs sea days - we find that helpful in sorting out all the info when comparing several cruise lines. Leave a space for notes on what you have picked up about culture, etc.

We always like a sea day every few days; others want to hit a port a day. Keep reading reviews but look for trends, and don't go too far back ships get re-furbished, and poor reviews get noticed these days.

Seabourn is usually very relaxed. You can dine by yourself or ask to be with a table - we enjoy both ways - no assigned tables or times.

Happy choosing!