What "rookie" mistakes did you learn from?

[iancal]

Like others....overpacking.

[Tsi2quick]

Best.Thread.Ever. :)

[Uncle Doug]

Went to the ATM on the third day of the cruise..Was low on cash, it was

closed. In fact they had put a poster over the area it had been. That blew some shore excursions that day.. the next day I found I had been on the wrong deck. the ATM had always been open, just two decks higher..

Will take plenty cash, and pay attention to where things are..

P.S. the cost of cash from the ATM is outrageous like 5 or 6 bucks a hundred..

 

 

You can get a cash advance (in casino chips) in the casino applied to your sail & sign card. The fee would then only be 3%. Then go to the casino cage and cash out. I here you can do the same thing on the slots with no fee.

[gaylensgigi]

Our first cruise is in April, 2009 and I've learned a ton of things from reading this thread. Here are some of the highlights...

 

1. Bring shoes, but not too many

2. Pack clothes but not too much (these two mean don't over pack)

3. Eat plentiful, but do it in many places and take a walk around before you fill your plate

4. Enjoy the activities and shows but take time to relax as well.

5. If you're in an inside cabin take an alarm clock that doesn't need electricity

6. Speaking of electricity, take a power bar

7. Enjoy the first on board drink (no matter what it costs)

8. Use the drink coupons for alcohol but not for non-alcohol drinks

9. Again, speaking of drinks, don't start too early, shortens your day and could ruin the next one.

10. Plan ahead, research and excursions are usually better cost if purchased through tour operators.

11. Really plan ahead and do what I've done, 4 days in Ft. Lauderdale before the cruise and 7 days in North Myrtle Beach after the cruise to ensure we've relaxed and have experienced the best of our vacation.

 

So, tell me, have I covered everything, or is there something else I need to remember?

 

 

Hey I live in Myrtle Beach:D

Our first cruise,I was at the mercy of a TA I picked from the phone book.Inside cabin under a dance club. Live and learn.We have used guarantee a few time,got good cabins all but once.But good cabin/bad cabin, I was still on a cruise, had a blast

[teacherme]

Great thread

[Grits53]

My rookie mistakes:

 

Buying a bunch of new "cruise clothes" and only wearing half of them.

Over packing

Failing to try the Supper Club and Fish & Chips place.

Booking 2 excursions in one day.

And the BIGGY mistake.....not finding Cruise Critic until AFTER our first cruise!

[Payd]

We thought you went to the pier for the "advertised boarding time".

 

On our last cruise we met people that were planning to arrive at the pier after 2 pm. We encouraged them to be there as early as 11 am. It is sooooooooo nice to be on the ship before the crowds...lots of picture taking, a quiet lunch, time in the cabin before muster drill.

[5waldos]

There's no maybe about it. It is even disclosed now in the fine print on some cruise documents. At least it was on my HAL cruise last month (a CCL company).

 

As for the tour situations, While on a privately-arranged excursion last month in Bora Bora, I asked the owner of the tour company if he ever worked directly with the cruise ships. He said that he no longer did so because they took 30% as a commission, so he just relied on his website and word-of-mouth referrals.

 

I was trying to be polite for once:D

[shawnie]

Not sure if this really counts as a "rookie mistake" but more of "stupid mistake".

Went on a class trip in high school (Carnival Cruise), my first cruise, back in '89. Out of the 7 days we were on the ship myself and 3 others were confined to our cabins for the last 5 for not obeying any of the rules set by our chaperones. We were only allowed to leave our cabins for meals and port excursions. Kinda ruined the whole experience. I don't know what was worse, missing out on so much during the cruise or arriving home to two very disgusted parents...lol...To this day they like to refresh my memory of that incident whenever I leave for a cruise. Come on, I was 16 and that was 20 years ago.

[jayesouthworth]

Sometimes, it is easy to forget that we all were ONCE cruise newbies.....

 

I remember my first cruise - for the most part we were lost. Well before Cruise Critic, I didnt know about booking excursions, booking a good room, etc.

 

What mistakes did you make as a newbie - that you learned from - and have used that knowledge in future cruises??

 

For us... it was room selection. We were offered a guaranteed 4a - and scooped it up. We originally booked a 4 day Royal Caribbean, but our TA called us with this offer. When we got our cabin, we had M11 - way in the FRONT of the Ecstacy. Well, I was sick all week.

 

SInce then, I book middle cabins - and balconies for the fresh air!!

 

Maybe some of the newbies now can learn from our mistakes!

 

Bringing our own booze on board. After paying $6.50 plus tips for 3 oz of wine, it was a complete total rip off. We bring our own booze....lesson learned. ;)

[InitialD]

Every cruise I still learn something new. I'm glad some people made the same mistakes as me. Here's my short list:

 

1) Losing the Sign and Sail card. Luckily I found it. Now I head to the casino where they put it on a lanyard for free.

2) Not going to Captain's reception or whatever it is called. Free booze. I had seven drinks and was feeling good!

3) Going to the free liquor tasting. Wait 15 minutes for a thimble.

4) Buying the cheap, fake Cuban cigars in Cozumel. Now I stick to the more expensive but legit shops. Fake Cuban cigar tasted like a smelly old fish.

5) Not taking advantage of the diner you are not in. If I'm main dinner, I head to the hot tubs after when half the ship is at late dinner, for example. Just seems everything is less crowded. Also because a lot of people are at the bit show.

6) Not ordering more than one entree at dinner. Once I learned you could do that, oh it was game on.

[skay]

Definitely one of the best threads!

[Nacwolin]

Lots of great posts here!

 

For me...

 

- Not bringing my own alarm clock with a snooze button. I used the alarm on my running watch, but was always afraid I wouldn't hear it go off and would miss a paid-for excursion - that meant I did NOT sleep well the night before a port.

 

- Not bringing a "sound machine". I am a light sleeper, and every little sound woke me up.

 

- Bringing too many clothes! No one will care that I wear something more than once, except me. This time I will bring less and use the washer and dryer on board.

 

- Not making sure we had some cash to give our waiter an extra tip at the end of the cruise (he really deserved it, and I really kicked myself for not being prepared; we were able to give our room steward a "bonus" though).

 

- Going to the port call orientation thing - turned out to be one huge sales pitch that made me just want to doze off.

[Cruise, J.D.]

My biggest rookie mistake was eating too much! Food is available at all times and it is easy to get carried away with it. The excessive eating made me more tired than usual on my first cruise. I've learned to be more careful.

[freddy penguin]

Thinking the dining room really required you to dress up every night. We finally went on our last night and discovered we would not be banned entry wearing khaki pants:rolleyes:

[mncrusin]

I had read on the boards about not opening your hallway door at the same time your deck door was open-produces a wind tunnel thing.

But I tried it and nothing happened so did it all the time...we were with a group. But about the 16th time we did it , it was really windy and all our papers flew into the hall and the closet door got torn off of all but one hinge.

Listen.Learn.Repeat

[tnt091605]

We have taken several cruises and each time we pack less and less clothes.

 

We finally realized that if you take a clothing optional cruise it is much easier to accomplish. :)

[shawnie]

I had read on the boards about not opening your hallway door at the same time your deck door was open-produces a wind tunnel thing.

But I tried it and nothing happened so did it all the time...we were with a group. But about the 16th time we did it , it was really windy and all our papers flew into the hall and the closet door got torn off of all but one hinge.

Listen.Learn.Repeat

 

HAHAHA!! The closet door...Damn, there must of been one hell of a gale blowing through that room.

[tigger41]

To actually do some on board activities this time, last time we relaxed, sunbathed, went on shore. took kids to clubs picked kids up from clubs, never played a quiz or bingo or danced after dinner, definitely dancing this year!!:p

[CarnivalCruiseLover]

My first cruise we brought our own beach towels! Little did I know :o

 

Also overpacking, and going to the cruise talks.

[Catrin]

I had read on the boards about not opening your hallway door at the same time your deck door was open-produces a wind tunnel thing.

But I tried it and nothing happened so did it all the time...we were with a group. But about the 16th time we did it , it was really windy and all our papers flew into the hall and the closet door got torn off of all but one hinge.

Listen.Learn.Repeat

 

 

Yes!

I have written about this exact thing on a few posts! Our closet door came right off! Scarry as anything!

 

Listen. Learn. Repeat... LOL!!

 

Catrin

[Martini Mom]

I will never book another inside cabin. I was way too claustrophobic.

 

I WILL always buy the Funship Special drink as soon as I board. It's a tradition for us. It's pretty (with all the garnishes), tasty, and provides us with a glass to re-fill with our own concoctions. That said, we only buy ONE each.

[dbogusch]

Here is what I learned:

 

*Go to the port early - you can get on the ship and be relaxing while everyone else is waiting in horrible lines

*Overpacking

*I buy drink coupons and photo coupons before we go - only for the purpose of keeping my sign and sail bill lower

*I only play bingo a few times - that can get expensive quickly

*I have a set casino budget and once that money it's gone - it's NO MORE CASINO FOR ME

*Get involved. Play in the contests and games and try to come home with at least 1 ship on a stick.

*You don't have to do an excursion at every port

 

This board has helped me in a HUGE way!

[FLCruiser001]

I will echo what PYRD Said about Nassau,,

But what we do is just go out and eat.. This past time, we found the best local Conk Restaraunt. Followed the locals where they were going and it was great...

 

Over pack, Not again

Fly in the morning we pull out,, NO..

Rush around trying to do everything in the capers..

Waste time at the art auction..

 

 

Did you dress like them to try and blend in? :p

(Referencing that other goofy thread!)

[tanyanubin]

I would say not ordering room service at all, not eating in the dining room for lunch or breakfast--didn't know we could!, always booking excursions through the ship until they didn't offer one we really wanted, not realizing we could try multiple entrees (too embarrassed), sitting by ourselves at dinner--we're going to try sitting with other people this time, not taking naps which made us fall asleep too early and miss the late-nite stuff, screwing up picture-taking by not understanding how to use my camera properly.