First time cruisers - our honeymoon

[First time Fi]

Hi there

 

I thought I should introduce myself and my husband.

 

My name is Fiona (Fi)- 47 and my husband is Tom-57, we are from Hertfordshire UK.

 

We have been married just shy of 2 months :) and have booked our very first cruise as our honeymoon.

 

I am currently studying an MSc degree so we were unable to take a proper honeymoon in February due to university commitments.

 

Looking forward to our honeymoon and to meeting lots of lovely people plus exploring the Caribbean.

 

We are sailing with Royal Caribbean on the Serenade of the Seas on 23rd November 2015, we are very exited.

 

Please feel free to share your advice and tips, we want this trip to be perfect.

 

Thanks for reading

 

Fi :)

[paul929207]

Welcome to Crusie Critic and congrats on your recent wedding

[Sixtytwo]

Welcome to CC! Best advice is to check out the roll call for your cruise, read the threads for the ports of call to determine what you want to do in each port, don't over pack, and have a great cruise!! :D Once you have specific questions, ask on here and you will get some great advice/answers from those who have been there and done that.

[Aquahound]

We are sailing with Royal Caribbean on the Serenade of the Seas on 23rd November 2015, we are very exited.

 

You chose an excellent cruise on a beautiful ship. Congratulations!

 

My 2 favorite stops on that cruise are Tortola and Dominica. Be sure to get out and see those islands. Tortola has excellent beaches and the rainforest on Dominica is excellent.

 

The sugar train on St. kitts was also fun, and it's a good way to see most of the island.

 

As for the ship, be sure to go to the Quest gameshow. You'll be laughing about it for years. Also, if you prefer time to yourselves, be sure to request RCI (or your TA) for a table for 2 in the dining room. Otherwise, you'll be seated with others. You're going to have a great time. :)

[First time Fi]

Thank you for the lovely welcome, we are so looking forward to researching and planning.

 

Aquahound they must have changed the stops, those places are not on the list now.

 

Will be back soon with tons of questions im sure :)

 

P.s I have found my roll call and joined. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Fi

Edited April 6, 2015 by First time Fi

[Aquahound]

My apologies....I was thinking of her other route. :o

 

But no matter...yours is excellent too. Enjoy your cruise! :)

[John Bull]

Welcome aboard, and stand by to be addicted :).

 

A few heads-up for closer to the time:

 

Travel agents & cruise lines aren't very up-front about expectations for tipping, and that catches out a good few first-timer from the UK, Aus, & other parts of the world.

If you've not been told, a charge of about $12 per day each will be added to your on-board account for cabin attendant & dining staff "tips".

Isn't that a large sum as a tip?

Yes, but these are effectively wages- the crew get their keep & a small monthly sum, and their real income is from those "tips".

Broadly, you have the right to adjust or remove those tips but if you were aware of them when you booked that would quite rightly be regarded as cheap-skating the crew.

(mentioned just so that Fi knows, folks. No heated debate on this thread please :D)

 

There's also a 15% service charge on top of already quite high drinks prices. That's a mandatory charge. Since you probably haven't checked drinks prices, it makes no odds - just remember to do the mental arithmetic when you see a bar menu or wine list.

 

And check out the drinks packages. Like many other cruise lines, RCI offer all-you-can-drink packages.

Do double-check in case I'm out-of-date on this, but RCI are unique in that you can opt into one of those packages at any time during your cruise up to about 3 days from the end, at the same pro-rata daily rate. So if you buy-as-you-go for a day or two to get a reasonably accurate idea of your daily spend, you can then opt into a package if your spend makes it worthwhile.

 

Ship's currency is the US dollar, though you'll not need cash to spend on the ship

When you board you register a debit card (come back & say if using a debit card, cos there's a pitfall) or credit card, & everything you buy on the ship - drinks (& the service charge), spa, speciality dining, ship's shops, ship's shore excursions etc - is charged to your on-board account in dollars, & settled by your debit/credit card in one lump sum at the end of the cruise.

Late into the cruise you'll be asked on a questionnaire whether you'd like RCI to convert the final bill to the currency of your card (sterling) "for your convenience".

Decline their kind :rolleyes: offer, allow your card to be charged in dollars - your card supplier will convert to sterling at the wholesale exchange rate, significantly better than RCI or any other cruise line will give you.

 

Different islands have different currencies, but US dollars are accepted everywhere on your itinerary - it's the only currency you'll need. :)

I suggest you get dollars before your cruise, from the usual suspects - M&S, Tesco, Post Office, on-line etc This is because again ship's exchange rates are very poor andnd you may have trouble finding an ATM ashore that dispenses US dollars rather than local jingle.

If you can get plenty of low-denomination notes $1 & $5, so much the better. If not, ship's casino can probably change down. Tourist shops & stalls & taxis & such will give change in dollars, no problem. But although shops geared to locals accept dollars, their tills are geared to give change in local currency - so a $20 note will get you that bottle of Coke you wanted plus a mountain of local coins.

Any left-over dollars you can pay into your on-board account, reducing the hit on your card.

 

Check out the Ports-of-Call boards on this forum.

Very broadly, shared taxis & minibuses available at the port are your best bet for sight-seeing by road. About 1/3rd the cost of ship's tours , way more flexible, way more fun. Drivers are friendly, trustworthy & reliable, they know their island & they know the importance of back-on-board time. Agree itinerary, broad time-scale & price in US dollars before you board, pay at the end - its the norm. The tour can end back at the ship, or if you prefer at the shops or a nearby beach - take your beach gear with you.

But very broadly travel by boat, 4x4, etc and activities like snorkelling from a catamaran, zip-lining, river-tubing, etc are much more difficult or impossible to fix up on-the-fly. Sharing a private excursion via your RollCall or ship's over-priced excursions are your best bet for these things.

 

All this, & doubtless up-coming posts by others, are for much closer to the time. So don't lose this thread!!

 

Have a great time

 

JB :)

[Host Walt]

Welcome to CC! Best advice is to check out the roll call for your cruise, read the threads for the ports of call to determine what you want to do in each port, don't over pack, and have a great cruise!! :D Once you have specific questions, ask on here and you will get some great advice/answers from those who have been there and done that.

Here's a link to the roll call thread for your cruise:

 

Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas - November 23, 2015

Edited April 6, 2015 by Host Walt

[First time Fi]

Wow,

Thanks so much for this information, I have booked and paid for the gratuities, does this mean I don't have to worry about tipping throughout the cruise?

 

I hope so, the thought of offending staff members is a concern for us.

 

Also if we book a drinks package, does that mean we don't have to pay the 15% extra on the drinks prices??

 

 

Cheers for all your help so far.

 

I have now registered for the Meet & Mingle, well I think I have lol.

 

Fi

[paul929207]

The autotip that you have prepaid will cover the cabin steward, the waiters, assistant waiters and people who assist them.

 

For drinks, there is a 15% tip added to any purchase. If you purchase a drink package, the 15% is added at that point.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Congratulations on your recent marriage.

Some people will tip extra to those people whom they feel made their cruise an enjoyable one -- like a bar tender who remembers what you drink and takes care of you every day.

[4x4bob]

Welcome to the fun and information site, Cruise Critic.

 

On your up coming cruise I really recommend that you take a camera if you have not already planned to take one. And please don't rely on just a cell phone or tablet to take photos.

 

This will become your most important cruise and you probably will develop a photo book of the photos so you can look at them for years to come.

 

Have fun

 

Bob

[Cruisin' Chick]

And since you'll be flying over here, make sure to book for a flight getting in at least a day or two. Not only because there's often problems with flights, but also you'll want to get accustomed to the time change.

[John Bull]

Some people will tip extra to those people whom they feel made their cruise an enjoyable one -- like a bar tender who remembers what you drink and takes care of you every day.

 

That always looks silly to us Brits - a tip on top of a tip. :confused:

But KK's comment does make sense because, as per my post, the 15% tip/service charge is effectively basic wages.

That said, because of the silly business of cruise lines charging 15% on top of the drinks price to pay the "wages", I've never tipped a bar tender on a US ship.

And nor will I - even if the bar tender carries me back to my cabin & tucks me in ;)

JB :)

Edited April 10, 2015 by John Bull

[First time Fi]

Welcome aboard, and stand by to be addicted :).

 

A few heads-up for closer to the time:

 

Travel agents & cruise lines aren't very up-front about expectations for tipping, and that catches out a good few first-timer from the UK, Aus, & other parts of the world.

If you've not been told, a charge of about $12 per day each will be added to your on-board account for cabin attendant & dining staff "tips".

Isn't that a large sum as a tip?

Yes, but these are effectively wages- the crew get their keep & a small monthly sum, and their real income is from those "tips".

Broadly, you have the right to adjust or remove those tips but if you were aware of them when you booked that would quite rightly be regarded as cheap-skating the crew.

(mentioned just so that Fi knows, folks. No heated debate on this thread please :D)

 

There's also a 15% service charge on top of already quite high drinks prices. That's a mandatory charge. Since you probably haven't checked drinks prices, it makes no odds - just remember to do the mental arithmetic when you see a bar menu or wine list.

 

And check out the drinks packages. Like many other cruise lines, RCI offer all-you-can-drink packages.

Do double-check in case I'm out-of-date on this, but RCI are unique in that you can opt into one of those packages at any time during your cruise up to about 3 days from the end, at the same pro-rata daily rate. So if you buy-as-you-go for a day or two to get a reasonably accurate idea of your daily spend, you can then opt into a package if your spend makes it worthwhile.

 

Ship's currency is the US dollar, though you'll not need cash to spend on the ship

When you board you register a debit card (come back & say if using a debit card, cos there's a pitfall) or credit card, & everything you buy on the ship - drinks (& the service charge), spa, speciality dining, ship's shops, ship's shore excursions etc - is charged to your on-board account in dollars, & settled by your debit/credit card in one lump sum at the end of the cruise.

Late into the cruise you'll be asked on a questionnaire whether you'd like RCI to convert the final bill to the currency of your card (sterling) "for your convenience".

Decline their kind :rolleyes: offer, allow your card to be charged in dollars - your card supplier will convert to sterling at the wholesale exchange rate, significantly better than RCI or any other cruise line will give you.

 

Different islands have different currencies, but US dollars are accepted everywhere on your itinerary - it's the only currency you'll need. :)

I suggest you get dollars before your cruise, from the usual suspects - M&S, Tesco, Post Office, on-line etc This is because again ship's exchange rates are very poor andnd you may have trouble finding an ATM ashore that dispenses US dollars rather than local jingle.

If you can get plenty of low-denomination notes $1 & $5, so much the better. If not, ship's casino can probably change down. Tourist shops & stalls & taxis & such will give change in dollars, no problem. But although shops geared to locals accept dollars, their tills are geared to give change in local currency - so a $20 note will get you that bottle of Coke you wanted plus a mountain of local coins.

Any left-over dollars you can pay into your on-board account, reducing the hit on your card.

 

Check out the Ports-of-Call boards on this forum.

Very broadly, shared taxis & minibuses available at the port are your best bet for sight-seeing by road. About 1/3rd the cost of ship's tours , way more flexible, way more fun. Drivers are friendly, trustworthy & reliable, they know their island & they know the importance of back-on-board time. Agree itinerary, broad time-scale & price in US dollars before you board, pay at the end - its the norm. The tour can end back at the ship, or if you prefer at the shops or a nearby beach - take your beach gear with you.

But very broadly travel by boat, 4x4, etc and activities like snorkelling from a catamaran, zip-lining, river-tubing, etc are much more difficult or impossible to fix up on-the-fly. Sharing a private excursion via your RollCall or ship's over-priced excursions are your best bet for these things.

 

All this, & doubtless up-coming posts by others, are for much closer to the time. So don't lose this thread!!

 

Have a great time

 

JB :)

 

 

Hi all

 

Our honeymoon is just over a month away now, i have reread the tips and yes they were so useful.

 

We are wondering about sun loungers on board. Is it the same issue as on holiday abroad with towel on beds with no bodies in sight?

 

We were thinking of bringing our lilo's to lay on if this is the case.

 

Please can someone advise us.

 

Thanks again

 

Fi

[Roz]

You will have the opportunity to explore a new cultural experience onboard - American Thanksgiving, which is November 26 this year. One of the dinner options that day will be turkey with stuffing (some people call it dressing) and gravy, sweet potatoes or yams, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Enjoy! :D

 

Roz

[GottaKnowWhen]

Hi all

 

 

 

Our honeymoon is just over a month away now, i have reread the tips and yes they were so useful.

 

 

 

We are wondering about sun loungers on board. Is it the same issue as on holiday abroad with towel on beds with no bodies in sight?

 

 

 

We were thinking of bringing our lilo's to lay on if this is the case.

 

 

 

Please can someone advise us.

 

 

 

Thanks again

 

 

 

Fi

 

 

Chair hogs, as they are called, are a frequent topic of discussion here. Different companies have different policies. Generally the practice is discouraged but how strict the enforcement is will vary ship to ship. Do note however that most ships have many spots for sun bathing. Most competition will be for spots near the pool, but if you are willing to look around, there are loungers in other spots that you can use.