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little things you do differently the next time you cruise RC!

obsessedsc

By obsessedsc,
in Royal Caribbean International

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obsessedsc

obsessedsc

Posted
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i wanted to start a thread for people that cruise royal caribbean over and over and what things that they make a "note to self" that they want to do different the next time and things that they would def not change!

 

for us:

1. not interested in the shows...would rather be in the hot tub or the casino. so many nights we planned around them and got stressed out trying not to miss...and one night i even fell asleep in it! (our exception is the Love and Marriage show! love it)

 

2. watch the sunrise. in the cruise compass it tells you what time the sun will rise. we set our alarm the morning we were pulling into cococay and found a peaceful spot on one of the upper decks and held hands and enjoyed one of God's many gifts! it was one of my favorite moments the whole week and i'd love to do it more than once on the next trip (you can always catch a nap later on)

 

3. ive seen the ice show on voyager and mariner and it will never get old!

 

4. try to find your favorite bar tenders day to day...they put a smile on your face and you put a smile on theirs (its a win-win) and when you tip them you feel like its going to someone you've bonded with!

 

5. pre order wine- we will do this again!

 

6. we are in our 20s. we will buy one coke card next time and just share a soda when we are craving it. that was too expensive for the little amount we used it!

 

7. dress up!!! i wore formal dresses to formal night and cocktail dresses to all the other nights and my boyfriend wore a tux the formal nights and shirt and tie all but 2 nights! it made us feel like we were glamorous! so worth it! do it long enough to eat and get a picture and then change!!

 

8. Private islands- yes. lunch is free but the birds love it and its not my fav. learned this on voyager and so this time we got back on the ship and got Johnny rockets at its best (NO WAIT) and we'd do that again!

 

9. specialty dining option- yes it costs but its so worth it. this time were are doing both of them! (try to make reservations a priority on your first day so you can get the day and time you want)

 

10. taking ferries to other islands. we love to cruise more so for the ship so this is our best bet. find if there are islands closest to the ones you have already visited with ferries to commute. I have a long list of islands i want to visit and i've been to several others multiple times!

 

11. use cruise critic. but look at peoples responses to various questions and get a feel if they are similar to you. because everyone likes different things about vacation. we are young and we did NOT enjoy QUEST, the Parades, the contests by the pool. Our goal was kind of to stay away from the action! ha! (another thing is i don't know how people my age stay up on a ship until 4am and then make it off the ship the next day...we took naps and were still tired by 11/12)

 

 

12. we didn't get into the pools at all and didn't get in the hot tub until the last night. we will make time for this on the next trip.

 

13. don't be too picky. there are going to be things you like and things you dont like. somedays you are going to get hungry at the same time as the majority of the ship, there are going to be things you wished you did and things you wished you didn't just make a mental note and do things a little different the next time!

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obsessedsc

obsessedsc

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pre book, pre order as much as you possibly can (especially if money is an issue with you) we pre paid for wine, gratuities and excursions with our final payment and that helped us out a lot when it came time to cruise and paying for our sea pass purchases!

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ckrobyn

ckrobyn

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Great idea for a thread :)

 

I guess mine would be to remember that I am on vacation, and the reality is that although the compass is chalk full of things to do.....I don't have to do any of them if I don't want to!!!! I need to leave the stress behind in the office and just relax and enjoy the cruise! :D

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karena1

karena1

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Really don't change much from cruise to cruise. We just love going. We never do any ship activities (Bingo, etc). For us the vacation is all about laying in the sun, enjoying each other. Sometimes we do Specialty, other times not. We try to hit the shows, but it to tired, we just don't. We pretty much play each day by ear, unless there is a specific island tour we want (which is VERY rare). Normally, just hit the beach and lay in the sun.

 

Learned a long time ago not to stress on a cruise, and haven't since. We do try to hit a least a couple sunsets and DH sees most of the sunrises (I am usually in the gym at that time).

 

Ice shows are a must, same with Love & Marriage, and Quest. Also, try to make the Pool party at night, parades if they have them, and if there is a "Disco" night, we try to hit that. Takes us back to our "dating" days and we have so much fun dancing the great disco music!

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wolfcathorse

wolfcathorse

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On a 3 day solo cruise I'm going to tell the cabin steward not to clean my room for 3 days. I'm not messy, with 2 towels in the bathroom I won't need a change of towels in 3 days, it'll lessen their work load and I can sleep in without feeling obligated to get up and out so they can "freshen" it in the morning. I'm not helpless; if my wastebasket gets full I can dump it when they're out and about in the hallways at night. If I need ice I can get it in WJ before it closes.

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kidless

kidless

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I always take a pack of individually wrapped Handi Wipes to keep in my purse or pocket. You hear so much about viruses being spread on ships. I also try not to use the railings when taking the steps.

 

I also like to travel light after so many cruises I have always found I way over pack....so no more do I bring power strips or duct tape or ten tons of clothes or shoes...................

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FL_Cruiser64

FL_Cruiser64

Posted
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i wanted to start a thread for people that cruise royal caribbean over and over and what things that they make a "note to self" that they want to do different the next time and things that they would def not change!

 

for us:

1. not interested in the shows...would rather be in the hot tub or the casino. so many nights we planned around them and got stressed out trying not to miss...and one night i even fell asleep in it! (our exception is the Love and Marriage show! love it)

 

2. watch the sunrise. in the cruise compass it tells you what time the sun will rise. we set our alarm the morning we were pulling into cococay and found a peaceful spot on one of the upper decks and held hands and enjoyed one of God's many gifts! it was one of my favorite moments the whole week and i'd love to do it more than once on the next trip (you can always catch a nap later on)

 

3. ive seen the ice show on voyager and mariner and it will never get old!

 

4. try to find your favorite bar tenders day to day...they put a smile on your face and you put a smile on theirs (its a win-win) and when you tip them you feel like its going to someone you've bonded with!

 

5. pre order wine- we will do this again!

 

6. we are in our 20s. we will buy one coke card next time and just share a soda when we are craving it. that was too expensive for the little amount we used it!

 

7. dress up!!! i wore formal dresses to formal night and cocktail dresses to all the other nights and my boyfriend wore a tux the formal nights and shirt and tie all but 2 nights! it made us feel like we were glamorous! so worth it! do it long enough to eat and get a picture and then change!!

 

8. Private islands- yes. lunch is free but the birds love it and its not my fav. learned this on voyager and so this time we got back on the ship and got Johnny rockets at its best (NO WAIT) and we'd do that again!

 

9. specialty dining option- yes it costs but its so worth it. this time were are doing both of them! (try to make reservations a priority on your first day so you can get the day and time you want)

 

10. taking ferries to other islands. we love to cruise more so for the ship so this is our best bet. find if there are islands closest to the ones you have already visited with ferries to commute. I have a long list of islands i want to visit and i've been to several others multiple times!

 

11. use cruise critic. but look at peoples responses to various questions and get a feel if they are similar to you. because everyone likes different things about vacation. we are young and we did NOT enjoy QUEST, the Parades, the contests by the pool. Our goal was kind of to stay away from the action! ha! (another thing is i don't know how people my age stay up on a ship until 4am and then make it off the ship the next day...we took naps and were still tired by 11/12)

 

 

12. we didn't get into the pools at all and didn't get in the hot tub until the last night. we will make time for this on the next trip.

 

13. don't be too picky. there are going to be things you like and things you dont like. somedays you are going to get hungry at the same time as the majority of the ship, there are going to be things you wished you did and things you wished you didn't just make a mental note and do things a little different the next time!

 

little things I do differently the next time I cruise RC!

 

a) I be walking around with a sign around my neck "I protest the fuel surcharge"

 

b) In the dining room I will make a table top demonstration while shouting "I want real lobster"

 

;)

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pmshirl

pmshirl

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little things I do differently the next time I cruise RC!

 

a) I be walking around with a sign around my neck "I protest the fuel surcharge"

 

b) In the dining room I will make a table top demonstration while shouting "I want real lobster"

 

;)

Sounds like you will be having an exciting cruise!icon10.gif

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dsvd79

dsvd79

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I haven't done the rock wall yet. I am going to try it on Vision, if anything for the view!

 

I am going to let me dh read to his hearts content. That is why I invited a friend to come on the cruise with us.

 

I am going to try and enjoy my at sea days. Hopefully with my friend I won't get too bored.

 

 

My alcohol tab will be below $200!

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SusieV

SusieV

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6. we are in our 20s. we will buy one coke card next time and just share a soda when we are craving it. that was too expensive for the little amount we used it!

 

Umm, that's theft. Soda cards are one per person. If you think it's too expensive for one each, buy your soda by the can.

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cullinp

cullinp

Posted
Posted
i wanted to start a thread for people that cruise royal caribbean over and over and what things that they make a "note to self" that they want to do different the next time and things that they would def not change!

 

for us:

1. not interested in the shows...would rather be in the hot tub or the casino. so many nights we planned around them and got stressed out trying not to miss...and one night i even fell asleep in it! (our exception is the Love and Marriage show! love it)

 

2. watch the sunrise. in the cruise compass it tells you what time the sun will rise. we set our alarm the morning we were pulling into cococay and found a peaceful spot on one of the upper decks and held hands and enjoyed one of God's many gifts! it was one of my favorite moments the whole week and i'd love to do it more than once on the next trip (you can always catch a nap later on)

 

3. ive seen the ice show on voyager and mariner and it will never get old!

 

4. try to find your favorite bar tenders day to day...they put a smile on your face and you put a smile on theirs (its a win-win) and when you tip them you feel like its going to someone you've bonded with!

 

5. pre order wine- we will do this again!

 

6. we are in our 20s. we will buy one coke card next time and just share a soda when we are craving it. that was too expensive for the little amount we used it!

 

7. dress up!!! i wore formal dresses to formal night and cocktail dresses to all the other nights and my boyfriend wore a tux the formal nights and shirt and tie all but 2 nights! it made us feel like we were glamorous! so worth it! do it long enough to eat and get a picture and then change!!

 

8. Private islands- yes. lunch is free but the birds love it and its not my fav. learned this on voyager and so this time we got back on the ship and got Johnny rockets at its best (NO WAIT) and we'd do that again!

 

9. specialty dining option- yes it costs but its so worth it. this time were are doing both of them! (try to make reservations a priority on your first day so you can get the day and time you want)

 

10. taking ferries to other islands. we love to cruise more so for the ship so this is our best bet. find if there are islands closest to the ones you have already visited with ferries to commute. I have a long list of islands i want to visit and i've been to several others multiple times!

 

11. use cruise critic. but look at peoples responses to various questions and get a feel if they are similar to you. because everyone likes different things about vacation. we are young and we did NOT enjoy QUEST, the Parades, the contests by the pool. Our goal was kind of to stay away from the action! ha! (another thing is i don't know how people my age stay up on a ship until 4am and then make it off the ship the next day...we took naps and were still tired by 11/12)

 

 

12. we didn't get into the pools at all and didn't get in the hot tub until the last night. we will make time for this on the next trip.

 

13. don't be too picky. there are going to be things you like and things you dont like. somedays you are going to get hungry at the same time as the majority of the ship, there are going to be things you wished you did and things you wished you didn't just make a mental note and do things a little different the next time!

 

Really good thread - we're in out 20's too and agree 100% with the majority of your points!!

 

Additions.......

 

1) Share a nice glass of wine with your better half in Olive & Twist on formal night pre or post dinner. Amazing setting high up above everything, Live jazz in the background, just a really lovely time with the one you love.

 

2) Never miss the Ice Show - fantastic fantastic fantasic.

 

3) Never attend another shopping guide show........waste of my holiday!

 

4) Always book a balcony cabin or JS if possible.

 

5) Always cruise RCI!!

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cullinp

cullinp

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Umm, that's theft. Soda cards are one per person. If you think it's too expensive for one each, buy your soda by the can.

 

Oh come off it Inspector Cruise........by a show of hands how many people have bought one soda card between two and shared it throughout the week??!!

 

I can tell you a hell of a lot of people on my cruise did it! The soda is fountain soda, you can only get one glass at a time and in my opinion can share it with your partner if you so choose. It's up to the bar tender not to give you two glasses (which I never ask for anyway)!

 

In essence what you're saying is that sharing your drink with your better half is theft?:confused:

 

Once in the sports bar the chap asked me if I had the package, I said I did but explained I'd accidently brought my DW's out with me which didn't have the package. He said no problem and gave me the drink anyway.

 

Theft.......pah..........throw me in the brig then!

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obsessedsc

obsessedsc

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I haven't done the rock wall yet. I am going to try it on Vision, if anything for the view!

 

I am going to let me dh read to his hearts content. That is why I invited a friend to come on the cruise with us.

 

I am going to try and enjoy my at sea days. Hopefully with my friend I won't get too bored.

 

 

My alcohol tab will be below $200!

 

 

i didnt do the rock wall on the voyager and i made myself do it on the mariner...i hate heights but i was so glad i did it but at the same time i dont know if i'd ever get the guts to do it again! that might have been a once in a lifetime moment...showing off for the boyfriend that was too chicken to do it!

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cruzobsessed

cruzobsessed

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my DH and i were just discussing this very thing..... we have our 6th cruise in 9 DAYS........and there are several things we've yet to do and are swearing to do it this time.....

 

1. order room service for breakfast and eat on the balcony

 

2. eat breakfast or lunch in the dining room

 

3. watch a sunset

 

4. go to the gym

 

5. not make him crazy on sea days:D

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obsessedsc

obsessedsc

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my DH and i were just discussing this very thing..... we have our 6th cruise in 9 DAYS........and there are several things we've yet to do and are swearing to do it this time.....

 

1. order room service for breakfast and eat on the balcony

 

2. eat breakfast or lunch in the dining room

 

3. watch a sunset

 

4. go to the gym

 

5. not make him crazy on sea days:D

 

 

i like the room service idea!

oh and if you haven't yet...def go for the sunrise and a sunset and don't forget the camera!!

i also haven't made it to the gym except to check it out to see what it looks like ...think i might add that to my list!

on my past 4 cruises we have gotten breakfast in the dining room on the last morning...never lunch though!

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