Obvious things a newbie cruiser might not know

[RoonilWazlib]

I recently joined Cruise Critic in preparation for my first ever cruise this coming spring. We're booked on Celebrity Silhouette, leaving Rome April 29! I've been learning a lot of things while here on the boards, and enjoying it a lot.

 

I was just hoping to start a thread, similar to the "Celebrity Secrets" thread, where people can continue to add to the list, only for newbie cruisers. I would like to learn about anything that may seem obvious to seasoned cruisers, but were maybe a surprise the first time. I'm still super cruise-illiterate, so even the most obvious-seeming things!

 

Like what is embarkation like? What will I need to have out? How does it work and how long does it take?

 

Or what is the Cruise Critic meet and greet? Who organizes those? Are they on every cruise??

 

And is room service really and truly free?? (Besides a tip of course)

 

Please share any newbie tips you can think of! Or funny stories from your first cruise that you feel silly about, now that you're a cruise veteran!

 

Please share! I like the boring details too! :) Hopefully I can walk onto that first-ever cruise in April and make people believe I've been cruising my whole life!

 

(P.S. I hope there's not a thread like this already, I did search for one, but didn't find one.)

[ClaudiaB]

Kacie you will love it but honestly some of the fun is the happy discoveries you'll find on the cruise. Having said that, however, by getting on your roll call and participating and reading here, you'll be ahead of the game. I've heard that only ten percent do CC.

 

Embarkation is generally easy and if you dont arrive when 1000 people arrive at once you can hand your check through luggage at the curb and be rolling on the ship in 15 min. They will get your credit card and take your photo for the credit card type sea pass card that you use to pay for everything and that you insert into a machine coming and going each time you leave the ship.

It opens your room too. The also get your printed paper with the bar codes that youll print out at home after doing your on-line check in. You do that as soon as you make your final payment.

 

Don't feel obligated to take the photos of every port stop, every time someone says to come pose. We take zero photos with them dressed in the silly costumes but some people think it is mandatory.

You can politely say no thank you and move on.

 

We eat at the $5 charge Bistro on Five for lunch when we first get on, rather than the buffet which gets crowded that day.

 

Room service is free. A tip is nice and we carry lots of singles and $2 bills.

 

Try and arrange private excursions rather than the ship tours. You'll save $ in most cases but mostly you will get smaller groups and avoid the buses. I always start with the internet and guidebooks and the Ports section on this site to see what the port offers and take it from there. We thought we hadto take the ship's only but not true. The independent excursion guides know they have to get you back on time, this is how they make their living. Some of our favorite days EVER were on tours we arranged ourselves and through cruise critic roll calls.

 

Eat at all the specialty restaurants as they are great and part of the cruise experience.

 

The meet and greet will happen if 25 people sign up for it. The ship will set up a room and some light refreshments usually day 2. There won't be an agenda but sometimes a very ambitious go=getter type person on each roll call will grab a mike or take a lead role.

 

Like I said before, it's easy, and they're there to make your vacation fun! You'll be busy in Europe - on a port-intensive cruise.

 

Take the stairs and use the gym. Walk when you can. Don't feel you have to eat everything and every meal -- check out your options besides the buffet, you can skip courses. We don't do snacks and ice cream during the day but it's there if you want it. Drink water!!!! You don't want to be sluggish and that can happen if you just go on the cruise to eat eat eat. I'm not saying that's you, but you'll find that some want to get their money's worth and they will gain weight. We usually lose a pound or two and we have a great time and eat TONS, just not continually. We drink more alcoholic beverages (one to two drinks before dinner usually) on a cruise than regularly. It's our one "thing."

 

The ship's lecturers are generally good to great - bingo is expensive - trivia is fun for some (we don't do it).

 

Hope that helped some --- you have a lot of time to get excited and keep reading here. We didn't get on CC until cruise 3.

[Orator]

A simple thing: When you stand in the corridor facing the front of the ship the Starboard is to the right and Port is to the left. Port side is not necessarilty the side that faces the port when the ship is docked.

[CaroleSS]

I remember that port has 4 letters and, coincidentally, so does left!!:cool:

[wwcruisers]

Be sure to read the daily bulletins (Celebrity Today) that the room steward leaves in your room each night. Unlike some other lines, you won't hear constant announcements over the PA system for sales, bingo, or other activities. So, the best way to know what's going on around the ship is through the printed bulletins. Have a great cruise! :D

[Karynanne]

A good tip: Along with having your credit card, have your passport available also, during the Embarkation check-in.

 

All most importantly...relax and enjoy yourself. There is nothing like the feeling of your first cruise experience. Unless it's your second, third, fourth, etc. experiences.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[dhmjdds]

Be sure you pay careful attention to where your room is. The number won't be on your card (for obvious reasons), so make sure everyone knows the number, and the deck it is on as well. Some of the cabin numbers don't match the deck they are actually on, especially on the higher decks. It's easy to get disoriented in the long, long hallways and end up at the opposite end of the ship from where you want to be.

 

It is important to know whether this is your first trip to Europe, as well as your first cruise. The first time I went to Europe, I was very nervous about the language and custom differences. Then I found out none of that was a problem, but if it is your very first time to Europe, you may want to take mostly ship's excursions, for peace of mind. But if bus rides and droning guides bore you, pick your excursions carefully.

 

Unless you are in Aqua Class, the bottle of water sitting in your room will cost you at least $5. All the stuff in the refrigerator costs money too.

 

There is no reason to let them take your picture at embarkation if you don't want to (I mean the group picture. You do have to let them take your picture for your card!). Most people look like beaten dogs in those photos after traveling and lugging baggage around all day. It's OK to walk right by (saying no thank you, pleasantly, of course).

 

The champagne, mimosas, and orange juice that they offer to you immediately after boarding are really free, and no tip needed. But the guy/gal you may see soon after, carrying a tray of colorful tropical drinks, those are not free! Unless you have the premium alcoholic beverage package, that is.

 

If you are using a credit card, no cash is absolutely needed on board. Many people do tip a little cash for drinks (they automatically add 15% to every drink no matter what you do, and you can add more tip to the charge slip you sign) and if you get room service you should probably tip the delivery person, often your room steward, in cash at the time of delivery. The main other place that cash is used for is in the casino, but you can get cash from the window in the casino if that is your thing.

 

The casino is non-smoking. So wonderful, if just for making it possible to walk through there.

 

Be sure to read through all the materials that will be on your bed and/or desk when you first get in your cabin, and read things that show up on your bed or clipped outside your door throughout your cruise. There will be various invitations to events, some of which will not be in the daily program, like the Cruise Critic Connections party. You'll also get excursion tickets and reminders about specialty restaurant reservations and the like. You'd hate to miss something you paid for!

 

The Cruise Critic Connections party will be in the first couple of days of the cruise, usually at a very inconvenient time. This is not a true "party," there won't be a host per se, or alcohol served normally. It's a good idea to go if you have arranged any excursions with other CC members, and it's always nice to truly meet the people you've been talking to for months. Often one or more of the ship's officers will show up as well, so it is a good opportunity to talk with them.

 

Diane

[Northern Aurora]

There seems to be on-going and persistent confusion about the Cafe al Bacio (or Cova Cafe on the Century). At the Cafe al Bacio there is an extra charge for the speciality teas and speciality coffees, but there is no extra charge for the food. The food is included in your basic cruise fare.

[dhmjdds]

A good tip: Along with having your credit card, have your passport available also, during the Embarkation check-in.

 

All most importantly...relax and enjoy yourself. There is nothing like the feeling of your first cruise experience. Unless it's your second, third, fourth, etc. experiences.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

Excellent point! Do not pack your passport, other IDs, cruise documents, money or credit card in anything but what you will be carrying with you, on your person.

 

Diane

[sandancer]

A simple thing: When you stand in the corridor facing the front of the ship the Starboard is to the right and Port is to the left. Port side is not necessarilty the side that faces the port when the ship is docked.

I always remember it by "no port left". You might want to make up a sign for your cabin door (they all look the same usually) saying something like "RoonilWazlib Inaugural Cruise"

Print it on brightly coloured paper and please NO personal details that you would not want anyone knowing such as your names or home town. Then after a couple of apple martinis you will still find the right cabin.

[ASBJumper]

There seems to be on-going and persistent confusion about the Cafe al Bacio (or Cova Cafe on the Century). At the Cafe al Bacio there is an extra charge for the speciality teas and speciality coffees, but there is no extra charge for the food. The food is included in your basic cruise fare.

 

... food meaning.. gelato?

 

If so, YAY!

[breezepark]

... food meaning.. gelato?

 

If so, YAY!

 

The gelato is a separate, though close, area and has a fee. the food in the case where they make the coffees (pastries, mini sandwiches, desserts) are the included items.

[Project_gal]

You asked for stories from our own first cruise experience:

 

One thing you asked about was embarkation. You already seem to have a better idea than we did. In our ignorance, we thought that we would drive up to the ship at Dover, a porter would come out from the ship with a hotel-style luggage trolley and he would escort us and our luggage onto the ship. Ignorance is bliss.

 

We had so much luggage and I was so proud that I had managed to stow everything before dinner the first night. We were in an M-Class CC stateroom and I made full use of that few extra square feet of space. Then, at dinner, our experienced table guests told us we could store empty luggage under the beds.

 

Someone else mentioned the photographs on boarding and how noone looks their best. Well, our were so bad that they never got put out on show. We now never start to board without a quick check on how we look. Even if we avoid the photographers, the embarasment of everyone seeing us for the first time looking like that ...

 

Sue

[RoonilWazlib]

These are all fantastic tips! Thanks to everyone!!!

 

Two questions I just thought of:

 

How much available credit do you need on your credit card when you arrive onboard and they scan it? I just read somewhere that they'll freeze like $200 per day! For a 12-day cruise, my credit card limits don't go up that high!! Is that true?

 

Also, when crossing time zones, how does Celebrity handle that? If we bring along our own clock, do we just adjust it before sleeping, or how do people do that?

 

Thanks!!

[RoonilWazlib]

I always remember it by "no port left". You might want to make up a sign for your cabin door (they all look the same usually) saying something like "RoonilWazlib Inaugural Cruise"

Print it on brightly coloured paper and please NO personal details that you would not want anyone knowing such as your names or home town. Then after a couple of apple martinis you will still find the right cabin.

 

Are we allowed to decorate our doors, then? I wouldn't have thought that!

[dln929]

I remember that port has 4 letters and, coincidentally, so does left!!:cool:

 

My trick is that I am left handed and I like drinking port wine, so left and port are already a natural association in my mind. (Okay, it's a bit of a stretch but hey it works. :p)

[2theship]

A couple of things that have not been specifically mentioned here came to my mind.

 

If you have not already, join your Roll Call. If I understand your info correctly, yours is here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1625423

 

The roll call is wonderful for arranging transportation to the ship and private excursions on port days. Also, in addition to the Celebrity "Connections" party, the roll call may arrange a sail away party or some other gatherings on the ship.

 

As someone mentioned, at embarkation you will receive a card that is both your credit card and your room key. Beware of magnets! I killed several on one cruise until we realized that my evening bag had a magnet closure. Supposedly, cell phones can also interfere but I haven't had that experience.

 

Speaking of cell phones, even if you carry one that is enabled for European calling, be aware that while you are sailing, you are using the ship's satellite. Calls can be extra pricey and your cell phone provider can't do anything about it. If you have a smart phone, you may want to turn off your data because that can add up also.

[mferranti]

You need to know there's no iron in your room, and no laundry machines you can access. :rolleyes:

[RoonilWazlib]

A couple of things that have not been specifically mentioned here came to my mind.

 

If you have not already, join your Roll Call. If I understand your info correctly, yours is here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1625423

 

The roll call is wonderful for arranging transportation to the ship and private excursions on port days. Also, in addition to the Celebrity "Connections" party, the roll call may arrange a sail away party or some other gatherings on the ship.

 

As someone mentioned, at embarkation you will receive a card that is both your credit card and your room key. Beware of magnets! I killed several on one cruise until we realized that my evening bag had a magnet closure. Supposedly, cell phones can also interfere but I haven't had that experience.

 

Speaking of cell phones, even if you carry one that is enabled for European calling, be aware that while you are sailing, you are using the ship's satellite. Calls can be extra pricey and your cell phone provider can't do anything about it. If you have a smart phone, you may want to turn off your data because that can add up also.

 

Yes, I am on my roll call, and it has been SUPER helpful so far!

 

Also, if I keep my phone on airplane mode and just use it for an alarm clock, will that work to avoid the roaming charges and such?

[neverbeenhere]

Celebrity is not clothing optional (most times):D

If you want or need something --- Ask a crew member (better a suit)

 

Above all else, enjoy your cruise.

[2theship]

Yes, I am on my roll call, and it has been SUPER helpful so far!

 

Also, if I keep my phone on airplane mode and just use it for an alarm clock, will that work to avoid the roaming charges and such?

 

Yes, but I prefer to take it off airplane mode and turn off cellular data. That way I can use it to connect to wifi.

[u2cruiser]

Lifeboat muster is usually just before you set sail. A tip I got on the boards is to get a seat close to the back of the room so you can make a quick exit when it's finished and get out on deck for your first ever sailaway.

[RoonilWazlib]

Lifeboat muster is usually just before you set sail. A tip I got on the boards is to get a seat close to the back of the room so you can make a quick exit when it's finished and get out on deck for your first ever sailaway.

 

This is EXACTLY the kind of tip I need! I barely even know what a muster drill is! Do you watch a video? Listen to a speaker? Actually sit in the lifeboats? I'm clueless, but this tip helps a lot! Thanks!

[eetonaee]

There will be as much food available at the end of the cruise as there was at the beginning.

 

No need to bulk up the first few days or to hoard fruit and bread in your room.

[neverbeenhere]

You usually watch a video, now. You get to learn how to put on a life vest, where to meet in case of emergency, and what the ships horns(alarms) mean. Also, you get to check out who's on board and make snarky comments about what people are wearing.;)