Leaving this Sunday on first cruise

[MicCanberra]

- During sail away if someone comes by with a tray of drinks and hands you one expect to be asked for your cabin card to charge it to - free drinks on ships are rare (not impossible, but rare).

 

- If you like music bring a very small set of speakers for cabin - turned down low for consideration of neighbors but it is nice to have a little music. TV may have soft music on some channels.

 

- TV will have two channels that are useful, one of outside over the bow and another with ship position and info like heading, speed, temperature, wind, etc.. Bow camera is really useful if in an inside cabin because at night it is dark and as it gets light outside it brightens.

 

- Yes, take water bottles. Tap water on ships is the same as bottled water so no need to pay for expensive bottles of water. Cabin steward can provide ice.

 

- All the staff will "want to please" so be sure to ask if you need something. Beverage service is an added tip deal (not included in end of cruise tipping) but it helps to tip well at the time of service. An extra buck on the slip goes along way.

 

- Getting from main dining room (MDR) to theater there is often a less crowded route by going outside on promenade level then re-entering at other end of the ship. Like an express lane. :cool:

 

- RCCL has a nice color coding system for carpets to let you know forward from aft and Port (left, facing forward) from Starboard (right).

 

- if you forget what day it is ride an elevator. ;)

 

- if you have a balcony some heavy duty woodworking spring clamps are handy for clipping items to dry on chair (on sea days or when underway).

 

- Electronics can charge on the 220v outlet with a plug adapter - no need for voltage converter if the device's charging converter says Input: 110~220v Gets you an extra outlet.

 

- Put phones in airplane mode so they don't accidentally connect to ship service or in port connect to very expensive roaming services. We turn ours off and put in safe for duration.

 

- Extra pairs of sunglasses and don't forget hats. A small, cheap, disposable poncho (the kind that fits in a pocket) can be very handy especially in ports.

 

Great advice.:D

[maldenmusic]

Don't worry about trying to do it all. It's impossible. just pick what's important.

[SadieN]

There are often limited outlets in each room. We are taking a usb hub (that plugs in to the wall) this time to help with charging our various devices.

 

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We also pack a picnic lunch (take ziploc bags in your luggage). There are often cold meats, cheese and sub buns available at breakfast along with sealed mustard, mayo etc. We grab some fruit and fill our bottles, throw it all in small backpack and away we go. That way we can stop at a nice little beach and enjoy a picnic. You cannot do this in Cozumel however-no food is allowed off the ship-they search your bags and have dogs sniffing bags -we knew this ahead of time so we bought lunch in Cozumel and it was very nice.

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Eat in port. You'll get a better understanding of a culture while eating the local foods. As said above many countries have AG laws. They need to prevent harmful things destroying their environment. That being said, we bring off commercially prepared foodstuffs- cereal bars, hard candy, cereal boxes.

 

Household Surge Protectors are a fire hazard onboard. A ship 'grounds' differently than a building in land. We bring a simple $2 three outlet extension cord. Depending on Line and Ship typical cabins have one 110v outlet and a 220v outlet. Can bring my a plug adapter for your dual voltage items.