Rach Kev Posted January 22, 2020 #1 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Hi there we are new at this and our first cruise is on the 18/03. Happy to except any tips thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ReneeFLL Posted January 22, 2020 #2 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Which ship and itinerary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted January 22, 2020 #3 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Welcome to Cruise Critic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M-H-B Posted January 22, 2020 #4 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Welcome, hope you enjoy your cruise. Best time you will spend will be in learning the search functionality for these forums because everything you need to know is already here in past threads. Lots of “tips” past posts, and interesting and worthwhile things to read. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted January 22, 2020 #5 Share Posted January 22, 2020 9 hours ago, Rach Kev said: Happy to except any tips Browse the threads on the ship which you will sail - pick that on the drop down menu on the main RCI page. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted January 22, 2020 #6 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Research your ports...the more you know about them, the better time you will have. Do what you want...it is a vacation, after all! Try breakfast in the dining room, rather than the buffet....it's nice to be served! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohninDC Posted January 22, 2020 #7 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Arrive at least one day prior to sailing; flying in the day of the cruise is too risky with delayed or cancelled flights, etc. What ship? What home port? What airport? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lazydayz Posted January 22, 2020 #8 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Don't try to everything the ship has to offer on your first cruise. Each evening, study the daily activities for the next day and pick out the things you want to do on the ship. Don't worry if you don't make it to all of them. If a tour of the ship is offered on boarding day, take it. Attend the first time cruiser session if offered on your ship. Skip the port talks and shopping talks, as they are mostly just sales pitches. Give the main dining room a try for dinner. If you don't like your table or dinner mates, you can ask to change tables. Lunch is the main dining room on port days is wonderful. Love the salad offering and I am not much of a salad person. And at lunch, you can request a private table. For most ports, there is little need to book a ship excursion. Do research on your ports, then research private vendors. The port of call forum is helpful for this. You will usually save money and have a more intimate experience on privately booked tours. On the same token, if your ship is in port for 10 hours, don't book a private excursion lasting nine hours. It takes time to get on and off the ship. Always give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship. I like to be back at port at least one hour before "all abroad." Don't rely on your cell phone for the time. Some ships stay on ship time, which might be an hour different from the port time. Don't forget to take some time to relax and enjoy the experience. One of my favorite parts of cruising is just watching the water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach Kev Posted January 22, 2020 Author #9 Share Posted January 22, 2020 1 hour ago, JohninDC said: Arrive at least one day prior to sailing; flying in the day of the cruise is too risky with delayed or cancelled flights, etc. What ship? What home port? What airport? Voyager of the seas. Sydney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach Kev Posted January 22, 2020 Author #10 Share Posted January 22, 2020 33 minutes ago, lazydayz said: Don't try to everything the ship has to offer on your first cruise. Each evening, study the daily activities for the next day and pick out the things you want to do on the ship. Don't worry if you don't make it to all of them. If a tour of the ship is offered on boarding day, take it. Attend the first time cruiser session if offered on your ship. Skip the port talks and shopping talks, as they are mostly just sales pitches. Give the main dining room a try for dinner. If you don't like your table or dinner mates, you can ask to change tables. Lunch is the main dining room on port days is wonderful. Love the salad offering and I am not much of a salad person. And at lunch, you can request a private table. For most ports, there is little need to book a ship excursion. Do research on your ports, then research private vendors. The port of call forum is helpful for this. You will usually save money and have a more intimate experience on privately booked tours. On the same token, if your ship is in port for 10 hours, don't book a private excursion lasting nine hours. It takes time to get on and off the ship. Always give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship. I like to be back at port at least one hour before "all abroad." Don't rely on your cell phone for the time. Some ships stay on ship time, which might be an hour different from the port time. Don't forget to take some time to relax and enjoy the experience. One of my favorite parts of cruising is just watching the water. wow that's very helpful. Thank you. we are celebrating my fiftieth so are keen to try out the fine dining that night 🤩 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach Kev Posted January 22, 2020 Author #11 Share Posted January 22, 2020 13 hours ago, ReneeFLL said: Which ship and itinerary? Voyager 10 days South pacific Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M-H-B Posted January 22, 2020 #12 Share Posted January 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Rach Kev said: Voyager 10 days South pacific Watch out for the cost of things in AUD in Noumea - I took my son to a place that looked similar to a local equivalent of a maccas and didn't get much but when converted to AUD, it had cost me almost $40! Don't get the RCI Hop On Hop Off excursion or anything like that - when you get off the shuttle that takes you into Noumea from the ship, there is a tourist hub and you can book everything there for much cheaper. If you come over to the Australia/New Zealand forums then there are heaps of experts on the South Pacific and Voyager over there 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare vacationlover_mn Posted January 22, 2020 #13 Share Posted January 22, 2020 My tip- I love to YouTube video the ship and excursions 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach Kev Posted January 23, 2020 Author #14 Share Posted January 23, 2020 9 hours ago, JohninDC said: Arrive at least one day prior to sailing; flying in the day of the cruise is too risky with delayed or cancelled flights, etc. What ship? What home port? What airport? Voyager Sydney Sydney cruising South Pacific Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach Kev Posted January 23, 2020 Author #15 Share Posted January 23, 2020 21 hours ago, ReneeFLL said: Which ship and itinerary? Voyager south pacific 10 days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mr walker Posted January 23, 2020 #16 Share Posted January 23, 2020 6 hours ago, M-H-B said: If you come over to the Australia/New Zealand forums then there are heaps of experts on the South Pacific and Voyager over there 🙂 Good advice, and we are mostly a friendly bunch 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NumnuT Posted January 23, 2020 #17 Share Posted January 23, 2020 1 hour ago, Rach Kev said: Voyager south pacific 10 days see you onboard! Craig🍺 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonsai3s Posted January 23, 2020 #18 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Envious...we were on the Voyager...Sydney to Heaven....ok, South Pacific. Wish we were sailing with you...what would you like to know? Any specific questions? Don't know your itinerary...but if you are sailing to Isle of the Pines...simply walk off the ship...walk to the left...and you'll find some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world...water so clear you can see the bottom. Happy Sailing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ReneeFLL Posted January 23, 2020 #19 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Here is your roll call. You will be able to chat with others on your cruise. Always good info here. Day 1 - Sydney, Australia Day 2 - 3 - Cruising Day 4 - Lifou, Loyalty Islands Day 5 - Mystery Island, Vanuatu Day 6 - Port Vila, Vanuatu Day 7 - Mare, New Caledonia Day 8 - Isle Of Pines, New Caledonia Day 9 - 10 - Cruising Day 11 - Sydney, Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2chiefs Posted January 23, 2020 #20 Share Posted January 23, 2020 (edited) On 1/22/2020 at 1:54 PM, lazydayz said: <<<SNIP>>> Lunch is the main dining room on port days is wonderful. Love the salad offering and I am not much of a salad person. And at lunch, you can request a private table. <<<SNIP>>> Our experience is that lunch in the main dining room is on Sea days, not Port days. But yes, we agree, they are wonderful in our opinion. Most ships have the Tutti salad bar and many ships have a buffet set up as well as a' la carte off the menu. T Edited January 23, 2020 by 2chiefs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lazydayz Posted January 23, 2020 #21 Share Posted January 23, 2020 1 hour ago, 2chiefs said: Our experience is that lunch in the main dining room is on Sea days, not Port days. But yes, we agree, they are wonderful in our opinion. Most ships have the Tutti salad bar and many ships have a buffet set up as well as a' la carte off the menu. You are correct, it is sea days! Thanks for catching that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandtgeddes Posted January 23, 2020 #22 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Welcome to CC Rach / Kev 😀 Take a squiz at the Roll Call, also sign up for the Meet & Mingle. Most of our group is from NZ too, Jaffas mostly, but it is always nice to meet up with fellow Kiwis onboard, although, I am Aussie by birth... See y'all soon! TraceyG😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest William Scheigert Posted January 24, 2020 #23 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Welcome to Cruise Critic! Definitely join the roll call, which is located right here: https://www.cruisecritic.com/rollcalls/voyager-of-the-seas-march-18-2020/ As it gets closer, see if they are having a Cruise Critic meet and greet, it will be nice to meet fellow CC members. That sounds like an amazing itinerary, I am quite jealous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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