Best Cruising Tips for Virgin Cruiser?

[Hypo]

When dining, remember that you have already paid; its not like a restaurant where you will get the check at the end of the meal. Always try something different (in addition to the steak, lobster, whatever, that you know you will like).

The chilled soups are to die for; try one every meal, if you don't like it, ask for something else.

The night they have escargot, try them, I would almost guarantee that you will find them delicious, and if not, someone else at your table will take them off your hands. On our last three cruises, we convinced everyone setting at our tables to order them (most had never considered eating a snail). We told them, if they didn't like them, we would gladly eat them. Needless to say, we never got an extra plate of snails from anyone at our table. (We had to order seconds from our waiter, LOL)

I would echo the previous posters when they suggest an alternative restaurant on Caribbean night, we are not much for spicy "jerk" food. A good alternative would be the Windjammer, where at night, they turn down the lights, have candles on the table, and transform the restaurant into a bistro setting where you can dine casual. Come to think of it, you can dine casual here every night, except the last night of the cruise, when they usually close the Windjammer for the evening. (They have to close the Windjammer to stop people from eating there instead of the dining rooms--and "stiffing" their waiters. The staff work very hard, and are essentially working for their tips, we all know that tips are a part of the cruise experience, so be prepared to do the proper thing and pay what's due. If the service was truly bad, speak to the Head Waiter, the Purser, Hotel Manager, etc and explain the problem. If the service was that bad, then you are within your rights to withold a portion of the tip.)

Take along a suit for the men and something nice for the women, and go to dinner in the main dining rooms on the formal nights, its fun and there is something nice about dressing for dinner once and awhile.

On debarkation day, they tell you to be out of your cabin by 0800, an extra $10.00-$20.00 to your room steward and a nice request about staying in your cabin until your flight is called, (or the steward really needs to get in the room to clean), will help to make debarkation more relaxing. If your flight is later, and you are not pressed for time to get to the airport, don't rush to get off. You won't have to stand in the crunch of people, to get their luggage and go through Immigration and Customs.

Don't try to smuggle anything through Customs. We have seen people arrested for smuggling drugs, it is not pretty. Also, plants, meat, animals, most fruit, cuban cigars, and many other items are illegal. You will be caught, delayed, have the stuff confiscated, and maybe fined. It's not worth the chance. When they take your luggage off, it is inspected by dogs, and dogs are also used to inspect your luggage that you carry off the ship. They are pretty hard to fool.

Most of all, don't sweat the small stuff, you will run into rude and pushy people, both on and off the ship. Remember, you only have to tolerate them for a few minutes; they have to live with themselves for the rest of their lives.


Mark and Juli