Questions from a newbie

[rockster]

I just discovered this site today. I've been reading it for a couple of hours now and getting some great advice!

 

I've never been on a cruise before but am planning on going on a 9 day cruise on the "Voyager" with my husband next month. I'm trying to find my answers on the boards but I'm getting a bit dizzy scrolling down the pages, so I apologize in advance if my questions have already been asked.

 

-When dining, do you sit with the same people most of the time? or do you always get to sit with different people.

 

-I get motion sickness pretty easily, but from what I have read so far it seems you don't feel much motion since the ship is huge. I feel nauseous just scrolling down on these forums looking for a thread, so I guess I should pack some gravol?

 

-I'm looking at a deal that is about $1,100 balcony room for 9 days (stops include Jamaica, Haiti, Grand Cayman and Bahamas). Is this a good price?

 

-We're on a budget and I'm wondering about how much extra money we should have aside from the gratuities.

 

Thanks so much for reading and I look forward to chatting with you!

[tupper]

Q-When dining, do you sit with the same people most of the time? or do you always get to sit with different people.

 

A-Yes, unless you decide you want to change your table, if you don't like your tablemates or time you have been assigned.

 

Q-I get motion sickness pretty easily, but from what I have read so far it seems you don't feel much motion since the ship is huge. I feel nauseous just scrolling down on these forums looking for a thread, so I guess I should pack some gravol?

 

A-Motion is usually minimal, but some people are more suseptible to the motion than others. If you like to have a drink or 2, I have used SEABANDS, which are terrycloth wrist bands with a little knob that sits over a certain area of your wrist using accupressure to counteract motion sickness.They are drug free. Of course, Bonine is always helpful to bring just in case, but you have to be careful of drug/alcohol combonations with some of these meds.

 

Q-I'm looking at a deal that is about $1,100 balcony room for 9 days (stops include Jamaica, Haiti, Grand Cayman and Bahamas). Is this a good price?

 

A-Price depends on time of year...but this does seem reasonable for the length you are cruising in a balcony.

 

Q-We're on a budget and I'm wondering about how much extra money we should have aside from the gratuities.

 

A-Figure $10 per person per day for cabin steward, waiter, assistant waiter and maitre D combined. So that is $180 for 2 people on your cruise

[kenandlaura06]

A great feature of a cruise is that you can totally control your out-of-pocket expenses because your meals are covered. If you don't drink or gamble, your onboard expenses can be minimal, other than gratuities of course. I have an uncle who cruises who never spends a cent other than on tips.

[cruiseescape]

I think on an average people spend about 50.00 per person per day. If you drink alot or gamble or like the spa that will be higher.Even if you don't drink much a drink or 2 a day and souvenires and maybe an excursion or 2 is going to add up but if you want to keep it moderate that's what I would plan on.

 

 

Good Luck!

[PappaSiera]

If you haven't already found it, there is a thread going with various tips (at this time, there are 1,294 posting on the thread!). Someone has compiled most of the tips onto a site at http://mysite.verizon.net/vzepx5q3/

 

The best advice I have for first timers is:

 

- Watch the price of your cruise. If it goes down, contact your agent (or RCI if booked directly) to get a refund

 

- Read up on your ports. Particularly the information on Cruise Critics Port of Call boards. Lots of information on getting local tour guides.

 

- Mostly, have fun and don't sweat the small stuff! Get involved in the activities. It's more fun (and gives better stories) being the center of attention than it is watching others having fun!

 

In regards to budgeting, you're going to get a lot of variation on estimates (cruiseescape figures $50 per person per day, I use $100). As mentioned, this is going to vary depending on your individual situation.

 

If you drink at all, it's easy to go through 5-10 fu-fu drinks in a day at about $6 including tip (YES, I know it is USUALLY less, but I always over estimate when it comes to expenses), so that could be as much as $60 in a day for pool drinks alone, not to mention wine and after dinner drink.

 

My wife will spend at least $300 in the spa. Photos are about $12 each (we always say pre-sailing that this time we're not getting any, but somehow we always end up with at least 2). Bingo can be a big expense as well. The jack-pot bonus pack is something like $65 alone, and you just can't get just one :D. And of course there is the Casino.

 

The biggest single expense (besides the cruise it's self) can easily be an excursion. Some of the higher end ones cost over $400 per person. But this is something you can have set before you sail by either booking RCI tours on line, or pre arranging a tour with a local operator.

 

As I said previously, get out there and enjoy! I always envy first timers. There's nothing like that first time awe and magic!

[fmax]

As mentioned, you sit with the same people at dinner if you're eating in the formal dining room. There is also a less formal, buffet style restuarant that you can eat in instead of the dining room.

 

As mentioned, check the port of call thread and you'll find some tips for exursions, doing it on your own, private drivers etc. Also check your roll-call for the ship as you may find people wanting to share excursions and that will bring the cost down as well.

 

Also check the daily compass - a newsletter you get daily telling you all the activities that are going on. You'll find here which bars have special drinks at certain times. The "special" of the day is always cheaper than your regular drinks.

 

Frances

[love2vacation]

I agree that one of the largest expenses could be shore excursions. If on a budget, you could decide on these and book on line and pay for them before you leave. (Maybe one each month till you leave.)

 

Just to give you an idea. Last cruise (6 day) our tab including tips and a couple shore excursions, and excluding the casino was 853.00. That was for 3 of us but one was our 17 year old daughter. There was some shopping on that tab also. Cruise before was much more, I am sure.

 

Have a great time.:)

[TPKeller]

For help with the tipping budget, see the Cruise Tip Calculator.

 

It also shows you how to divide up the cash into the various envelopes. As a first time cruiser, that painful excercise is what inspired me to come up with the idea for the calculator! :D

 

Theron

[familycruzrs]

Do you prefer to tip in envelopes? When we have cruised before we just left our tips on our onboard account.

[TPKeller]

Do you prefer to tip in envelopes? When we have cruised before we just left our tips on our onboard account.

It is very much a personal preference thing. I do personally prefer to tip in cash, because I enjoy personally thanking the staff that has worked very hard to make sure I had a great cruise. Others feel that the convenience of the ship-board account is more important than the personal interaction with the staff, and that's fine. Some folks also like to take the time to write thank-you cards and use those in place of the ship-supplied envelopes, when they hand out the tips.

 

Sometimes the question comes up about which method the staff prefers. From reading many posts with various sources for answers to that question, I have concluded that the staff prefers roughly in this order:

 

1. A tip, in any form (as opposed to none).

2. The tip in cash.

3. The tip on the account.

 

They seem to be instructed to advise that it doesn't matter how they are tipped. But several reports also indicate that it may take a few days for the account-paid tips to actually reach the staff, but the cash is there when you give it to them.

 

Theron

[CaptData]

As above all are correct.

 

 

 

Here is a bit of a list to help figure out some extras to aid your budget.

 

 

 

Shore Excursion (thru ship_ $30.00 - $200.00) per person, cheaper if you go with locals.

 

Drinks you can buy a coke card with will give you fountain drinks for your entire trip ($45.00 the 15% gratutity) per person. All pop on board ship is Coke products. Only diet pop is Diet Coke.

 

Other drinks pop $1.50 (in cans) if you order pop from Room Service too

Foo Foo drinks $5.00 and up per glass

Beer $3.95 - $4.95 (sometimes have 6 pack sp)

Coffee $2.50 and up

Bottle of wine $21.00 and up (you can bring your own).

Shakes and pop at Jonny Rocks cost money

All above drinks also have a 15% gradtutity added on top.

 

Specialty Rest Chops/Portofino $20.00 per person

Jonny Rockets $3.95 plus you pay $3.95 for a shake and $2.00 for pop

 

Portaits $$$ from $15.00 on up.

 

You should tip the porters on the dock $1.00 per bag when they take your bag at the curb.

 

Bingo is around $25-30 per time.

 

Tips as above to cover everyone that needs to be covered would be $180.00.

 

If you order Room Service generally tip them a couple of $ per time.

[barbyma]

Minor correction to previous posts:

 

You sit with the same people in the dining room, unless someone requests a change, for DINNER. Breakfast and lunch are open seating, even in the dining room.

 

Barb

[rockster]

Thank you all for your help! I'm getting really excited about my trip. I'm going to print out this page for reference.

 

I just reserved through the RC website and got a guaranteed balcony. I just read a thread about the guaranteed balcony and it got me a bit worried. I haven't made the payment yet, but am required to make a payment in the next 24 hours to secure the spot.

 

After reading the thread about the guaranteed balcony room, I'm thinking I should book through a travel agency instead..

 

There's also a deal on a discount website that offers the same price but includes an "onboard bonus book" (not sure what that is). Is it better to book directly with RC website, travel agency, or a discount agency.. thank you again!

[Andros]

I was a first timer in February. My 2 friends had 1 previous cruise. They invited me to go with them this time. On the 2nd morning of the cruise we were pulling into Nassau. My friends were still asleep but, I was having my coffee and admiring the ship turning around. That's when it hit me! How fantastic is this. I was in Miami yesterday and now I'm somewhere I've only dreamed of. I knew before we left I had a lump sum of money coming. I had to decide. Vegas ( and throw money away) or Cruise. The decision was not hard. Gambling could never outweigh the chills I got when seeing some of the sites I was able to see. I have won some jackpots over 2500.00 dollars but, never will compare to cruising. Of course, I played on the ship and won 500 on a quarter slot. Paid for my trip and souveneirs.

 

Back to the subject. After contemplating for a few minutes . I had decided that my friends were very thoughtful in inviting me to join them. I told them the good news when they woke. I decided to book a 11 day transatlantic for all of us to enjoy. Couldn't think of any better way to spend, than to give. We leave in November but, have extended our vacation a few days in London and Barcelona before we embark.

 

May your first cruise be as wonderful as mine! I'm sure it will be. You too will then get the BUG! I think most people do. Cruise Critic is an invaluable place to ask questions and get advise. I don't know what I would do without it. So don't be afraid to ask or thank your fellow cruisers for anything. We all enjoy the pleasure of giving! Wishing you a great time and many more to come.

 

See Ya on the Flip Side:rolleyes: .

[goodml]

We've booked guarantees on 4 out of 6 cruises and been very happy with our cabins every time. People will tell you it's better to be in the center of the ship, or to pick the deck you want but we've just never found it to be a problem. We've been in forward cabins, cabins very close to aft and also in the center of the ship and we honestly have never noticed a difference.

 

With regards to the company you're booking thru, as long as you're booking with a reputable company it should be fine. My last four cruises have been booked with 3 different large internet ta's that were offering freebies or a better price and we've been happy with the service from all of them. I'm one of those that does all their own research and planning though so I haven't needed a bricks and mortar ta for quite some time.