SewMuch

Some passengers get turned around rather easily when in the hallways. The carpet on the port side has a red edge. The starboard carpet has a blue edge. Look for the edge color and you'll know what side of the ship you're on.

 

Also, the carpets have a wave pattern and the crest of the waves (the tops) face toward the bow.

You can remember that port side is red because port is a red wine

I've never (so far as I know) been on a trip with a big group, but I was once on a 2 week cruise that included two Amish couples. The men wore long beards and hats and all four people wore traditional Amish style clothing--very modest, dark colors, jackets on the men and white aprons on the women. I couldn't help but wonder if they refused to turn on the lights in their cabins! I am assuming that they were actually Mennonites, who dress similarly but are a bit more modern.

Various Amish communities set their own rules as to what's acceptable. As far as lights in the cabin goes, while they probably didn't have electricity in their home it's acceptable to use it if they are staying some place that already has it. Same with the elevators. And Amish businesses will use phones and even computers because they know they have to be able to compete.

Here's a confusing one. Celebrity Cruises is often referred to as X. I know it's because off their ship design but it would be hard for someone new to figure out. Example: I would rather sail on X (Celebrity) instead of DCL (Disney).

Thank you so much. Can't figure out how it got changed.

Gremlins

Since this is a honeymoon cruise, make sure the name on your cruise and plane tickets matches the identification you are using. Or bring along your marriage certificate to document the name change, assuming the bride is changing her name. Sometimes the bride and groom book as Mr and Mrs, not realizing she doesn't have any I D with that name yet.

Depends on which cruise line. Sometimes everything on the room service menu is free. Sometimes part of it is free and some items have a per item charge. Most people tip a few dollars to the delivery person

Eek! Please don't give them any ideas for more ways to make money!

But to answer your question, tenders are free.

If you think people don't care about every tiny perk, try taking one away. They will be all over CC complaining that they didn't get the free sprinkles or whatever that they are entitled to

Don't know if you've seen my packing list at www.zest4travel.wordpress.com Please take a look at it. I stand by the advice of layers, layers, layers!

Your list makes no mention of rain gear

 

 

AFAIK, cruise ships don't go into Martinique (has ferry service from St. Lucia). None of the mainstream lines go into Montserrat, but Windstar does). No cruise lines go into Port au Prince.

Cruise ships definitely go to Martinique

Kennedy Space Center

I should have thought of that! You can go there on your own or book a post cruise excursion through the cruiseline.

You can rent a car in cocoa beach and drop it off at the airport. Several major car rental agencies have transport vans running beween the port and the rental agencies, which are very near the port. Put your luggage in the trunk and go wherever you want. One suggestion is to check out Celebration, a Disney planned community. There are also outlet malls, or the beach.

I'm from Arizona. We don't generally own rain jackets. Nor do I really know how to shop for them. So I took one of those plastic rain ponchos. Totally tacky-looking and un-Alaskan. But it kept my torso and daypack dry on some VERY wet hikes. I used a thicker, higher-quality plastic poncho, not a tiny emergency one, but I've done other rainy hikes in the cheap emergency variety, and they really help. Beauty is as beauty does.

I'm with you. I see no reason to buy an expensive waterproof jacket that I don't need in my normal life just because I may get rained on in Alaska. I plan on taking my normal water resistant jacket that I wear here in Ohio, and have a plastic rain poncho in my day bag in case I get caught in an Alaskan downpour.

I've always wondered, can babies get seasick? What about toddlers? And then there's the possibility of a Nora virus outbreak. I don't understand taking tiny ones on a cruise.

Waterduo I haven't gotten a cabin assignment yet and we sail Saturday. May be in broom closet!!!

 

 

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Think Positive! Maybe you'll be bunking with the Captain!

Thanks so much for the quick Replies! He has an appointment in 2 weeks.

A question for the spouses of c pap users: Is the machine loud? Does it keep you awake? My husband snores incredibly loud and also stops breathing. He's finally going to talk to the doctor about it and I'm sure a c pap is in our future. It can't possibly be as loud as he is, but I'm wondering what it will be like. I'm hoping it will mean better sleep for both of us.

Book a massage at the spa on the ship

I don't think this is a dumb question. You're a first timer, so of course you don't know how it works.

I just want to highlight what Crystalspin said, make sure everyone keeps their boarding documents and id with them (Passport or picture Id and birth certificate). There have been a few reports of someone giving the porters the bag that has the paperwork in it. Oops!

And yes, tip the porter even though they actually don't do much.

I've never been on the Reflection, but in general I would say as a massage therapist you would be disappointed in a shipboard massage. The girls are not therapists, they just have "beauty school massage training", if you know what I mean. And price-wise, you can figure on paying twice what you would at home. Anyway, that's my opinion.

SadieN: Thanks for the info on Beach Pajamas. I was wondering what they were.

This is from a book titled "The New American Etiquette" published in 1941. It is a list of what to pack for a cruise to the West Indies. It should answer all your packing questions about proper attire!

Women: You will need a topcoat for wear on deck at night and light summer clothing ashore. Your wardrobe for the ship should include evening dresses - as many as you like - a tennis costume, a beret and a bathing suit; also some kind of rig for the fancy dress ball. You can wear beach pajamas, of course, and shorts, and don't forget a pair of low-heeled shoes for wear on deck and for shore excursions.

Men: Sports clothes, one or two business suits, flannel trousers, sport suit, a dinner jacket (but not "tails"), a topcoat, a beach robe to wear over a bathing suit going to and from your cabin.

I'm thrilled if my bags show up before dinner.

On the roll call for my Carnival cruise there was a discussion going on about how much of the planning was being done on facebook. I think with a younger demographic this might be where the Meet-n-Greet action is.

So a guy named Joe lived with his mother and his cat. Because he felt he had to take care of mom he never went on vacation. His good friend Harry finally persuaded Joe to take a vacation, promising him he would take good care of mom and the cat.

While on vacation Joe calls home and asks how things are going. Harry replies "Your cat died."

Joe was furious his buddy would just blurt out the news like that. So Harry asks "What was I supposed to say?"

So Joe says "First you tell me the cat's on the roof. The next day you tell me the cat fell off the roof but it's at the vet. The next day you tell me the cat took a turn for the worse. The next day you finally tell me the cat died."

Harry says "Ok, I see your point."

Joe says "Good, glad we got that cleared up. So tell me, how's my mom?

There's a pause, then Harry replies "Your mom's on the roof."