My first cruise

[CruisinChris]

To the original poster,

 

One option no one mentioned is that if you really want a margarita on your balcony, you can call room service and order one or more and they will bring it to your room. They will even include a little bowl of bar snacks - chips or nuts, if you ask.

 

Enjoy your trip!

 

Generally speaking Princess gets kudos for their ship designs not feeling crowded.

[LaraTiara]

We will be in A742 Aloha deck. Is that near where you were?

 

 

Yes we were a bit more midship, in A338, and kids had an interior A336. You will like Port side. And a balcony room is a great way to experience cruising!

 

Another balcony tip.. We ordered the Champagne Balcony breakfast for the last sea day, and enjoyed that immensely. Of course you can bring your plates from International Cafe or the Horizon Court back to your room, but we get lazier as the cruise goes on.

 

The margaritas were flowing on land for us. In Cozumel, a number of CC members were at Nachi Cocum with all-you-can-drink. And in Roatan, the easy-access margarita beach bars are a nice stop before or after an excursion. We were plenty hydrated. 😀

[flourpot]

One thing to remember to bring is a watch. There are not a lot of clocks onboard and there isn't one in your stateroom, so a watch is important to get yourselves to places onboard, as well as off the ship, on time. I am a cell phone user for my watch, so I have to make it a point to bring an actual watch with me on a cruise (since I don't use my phone onboard...it can get crazy expensive!).

[Bubba54]

Congrats on your first cruise. Everyone here has done a great job of answering your questions. I only have one thing to add, about day two or three make sure you go and get a copy of your ship board account. You can easily lose track of what you are spending. I have seen to many shocked at the end of their cruise. Have a great time!

 

 

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[Max49]

All luggage is scanned when you get on board. There are threads here about being called to the "naughty room" where you open up your luggage and they check and if its booze, you say "bye bye booze". So don't expect it to pass inspection. If it makes it thru, bonus!! They are very good at identifying booze packages on the xrays!

 

Hand luggage is also scanned and all drinks being carried on are closely inspected to look for tampering and booze. Some folks have made an art out of replacing water with vodka and "resealing" their water bottles.....

 

When getting back on at Every port all hand luggage is xrayed and any booze you purchase onshore is to be handed it at a desk just past security where they tag it and return it to you the last nite so you can pack it in your luggage. ( luggage has to be packed and put outside your cabin the evening before you get off so they can offload it in the morning and you pick it up in the terminal - don't forget to leave out everything you need for the morning - including clothes!! :eek: ).

Now, coming back from a port, if the elevator lobby just past security is very crowded, it is possible to walk past the booze drop off desk and forget :rolleyes: to hand in your purchases before you get on the elevator - especially if they are not in booze boxes from the stores and are instead in some less obvious packaging. But again, don't expect to make it thru - if you do, bonus!

 

Re the drinks packages - both passengers do not have to buy - only one of you can get.

 

Congrats and enjoy! Emerald is a beautiful ship!

 

Another cc member has an awesome picture review of her here:

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/Princess/EmeraldPrincess/index.htm

 

 

Princess Cruises Expands Rollout of All-Inclusive Beverage Package

 

Drink Packages (2:41 p.m. EST) -- Eight Princess Cruises ships have the line's all-inclusive beverage package available, which the line began trialing late last year. Three more are scheduled to receive the package by April 1.

 

The package includes all cocktails, spirits, beer and wine priced below $10, as well as nonalcoholic items like soda, mocktails and shakes. Also included are coffee, tea, espresso and specialty drinks. Additionally, it includes a 40 percent discount on bottled wines priced less than $100 and any food items usually included with the coffee card like crepes and gelato.

 

The package is available on cruises longer than seven days and costs $49 per day, per person, plus a 15 percent gratuity. All adults traveling in the same stateroom must purchase the package. Any minors traveling with adults who purchase the package also must purchase the Unlimited Soda & More package.

 

Ships that already have the package are: Star Princess, Sapphire Princess, Crown Princess, Coral Princess, Royal Princess, Island Princess, Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess. Grand Princess will receive the package March 5, Caribbean Princess will get it March 22 and Golden Princess will get it April 1. Regal Princess will have the package when it launches this May.

 

That is an awesome picture review by Zydecocruiser, thanks for that link

[AmberTeka]

You might be surprised to discover that drinking is not the only thing you will enjoy on the cruise. Trivia. Casino. Star Watching at MUTS. Eating. Three squares a day and in between. Warm cookies from the I.C. at night. really good entertainers. Comedy. Production Shows. Other games. Zumba. Nice pools. One adult's only. A library. Satellite TV. Movies on TV. and on and on............Deck Parties. Shops are nice.

 

 

Or you can sit on your balcony and read...............or doze..................

 

Bet you get hooked. My oh so worried daughter..........what ever would she do on a cruise................totally hooked. As is her husband. There is a reason why people keep doing it............

[AmberTeka]

The best tip I ever received was on Cruise Critic Message Boards.

 

You are not going to be in the states anymore. Pack a bag, we call ours, the "store"". with essentials. Hair spray. Shave lotion. Band aids. Alcohol for small cuts or such. shower cap. Big bar of soap if you don't like the minis. Bug spray. Basically...any thing that you buy at Walgreens or something similar....................pack it. Extra toothbrush. Don't count on being able to buy anything. Or if you do, it will come at a price.

 

I once left my hairspray. It cost me $22 for a can of hair spray. it was wonderful stuff, but....too high for me. I left my comb and brush once. I still have the ones I had to buy. And still remember the price I had to pay. If you want to eat Lobster in the MDR on Formal Nights, pack some long pants and a tie. At least. Unpack as soon as you get your luggage and stash them under the bed. Your cabin doubles in size. Take your life jacket with you to Muster. And you have to go. For real. After you are unpacked. Done the Muster Drill........cruise begins..............Enjoy. And taking ship tours does cost more but you will never miss the ship. If your driver gets lost or whatever...........they wait for you.

 

First night. When time to go to bed...FIRST.........Find the International Court. Get some warm cookies .. The chocolate chip cookies are good. good. good.

Edited December 31, 2014 by AmberTeka

[MGnut]

Princess Cruises Expands Rollout of All-Inclusive Beverage Package

 

Drink Packages (2:41 p.m. EST) -- Eight Princess Cruises ships have the line's all-inclusive beverage package available, which the line began trialing late last year. Three more are scheduled to receive the package by April 1.

 

The package includes all cocktails, spirits, beer and wine priced below $10, as well as nonalcoholic items like soda, mocktails and shakes. Also included are coffee, tea, espresso and specialty drinks. Additionally, it includes a 40 percent discount on bottled wines priced less than $100 and any food items usually included with the coffee card like crepes and gelato.

 

The package is available on cruises longer than seven days and costs $49 per day, per person, plus a 15 percent gratuity. All adults traveling in the same stateroom must purchase the package. Any minors traveling with adults who purchase the package also must purchase the Unlimited Soda & More package.

 

Ships that already have the package are: Star Princess, Sapphire Princess, Crown Princess, Coral Princess, Royal Princess, Island Princess, Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess. Grand Princess will receive the package March 5, Caribbean Princess will get it March 22 and Golden Princess will get it April 1. Regal Princess will have the package when it launches this May.

 

That is an awesome picture review by Zydecocruiser, thanks for that link

 

Max49, this is what the current information says about the All Inclusive bar package:

 

"Take advantage of our All-Inclusive Beverage Package which includes any individual beverage item, such as soda, water, cocktails, spirits, wines, beers, coffee and tea, up to $10 (retail value). Bottles of wine are NOT included in the package; however, when purchased in the bars, dining rooms, or in the stateroom, will be available at a 40% discount from the menu price. Applicable to all bottles below $100 retail. Note: This package is available for consumption at all bars, public areas and dining venues (not room service and excludes mini bar items). Price includes service charge.

Package does not apply to Sun Princess, Sea Princess and Dawn Princess or Diamond Princess and Golden Princess voyages departing from and returning to Australia."

 

They dropped the requirement for all adult in a cabin to purchase the package, so you can buy it for yourself, only, if you like. :)

 

Howard

[crochetcruise]

Hi Max,

 

Don't forget that there's no "open container" law onboard these ships. It's perfectly acceptable to grab whatever you want from one of the many bars and take it back to your stateroom! ...Including your choice of several frozen drinks.

 

You can find the Emerald Princess bar menus here:

 

http://zydecocruiser.net/Princess/EmeraldPrincess/ep_bar.htm

 

I'll be on the EP next week doing the Western Caribbean itinerary (Costa Maya, Belize, Cozumel).

 

I hope you enjoy your first cruise! Do some research and be ready to make the most of it -- whatever that might mean to you.

 

THANK YOU! A friend wants to know what's in a Fruity Rita Mocktail. Your link, gave me the basic information, not the proportions yet, but it's a start. I will let her know the basic information, and confirm when I cruise in 2016.

 

Happy New Year to you!

 

Crochetcruise:cool:

[Max49]

Oh, Thanks Howard,

 

I might do that.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

...Hand luggage is also scanned and all drinks being carried on are closely inspected to look for tampering and booze...

 

I got pulled aside at San Pedro after my carry-on was x-rayed and was questioned about the alcoholic beverage I had in my bag :eek:. It turned out the bottle of Purell I packed (62% alcohol) looked like booze. They checked it carefully to make sure it wasn't.

Edited January 1, 2015 by Ryndam2002

[AZbeachboy]

I think you have been given plenty and good advice about the booze. So not much more can be said. I would say though that we preorder and pay ahead of time as a gift to ourself the bottles available. That has always worked out. We don't drink a lot so that tends to satisfy our needs.

 

We have used both ship excersions and gone with groups from our roll calls and have used some from the port areas. To decide which one I use depens on one question. If something goes wrong how hard will it be to get back to the ship? If the excursion is our of the port city where a van can breakdow or an area where traffic can be bottlenecks we go with the ship. If its a city tour, we will get something off the ship. These are examples. I wish you the best and have a good time.