What "rookie" mistakes did you learn from?

[agusto1999]

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

 

 

~~we brought our own beach towels, after reading on CC that you don't want to loose those Carnival towels! I learned, I'm just as responsible on a cruise as I am at home. I never used the 3 beach towels I packed.

 

~~regret not eating the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake on the last night. What was I thinking?

 

~~regret not packing a backpack. I meant to, just forgot it. It would have come in handy on shore excursions. To me, backpacks are easy to carry than a traditional beach bag.

 

~~regret not taking a friend for my 13 year old son. He's an only child. He didn't have any interest in the Carnival Clubs and we didn't push the issue. Don't get me wrong, he had a great time on the cruise..but he would have had more with a friend.

[katmandoo]

I am no good in the am till I have a LOT of good coffee and hate refilling the tiny coffee cups a hundred times.(not to mention it is never that good)

now i always bring a stack of those disposable coffee cups with lids and my own flavored creamers.

You dont know how many people on the coffee line always ask me where I got them and were upset that they were mine from home

that is my only must have-I stopped bringing surge protectors/over the door shoe organizers/too many things i didnt use

 

ps, those little bottles of baileys can substitute for creamer in a pinch :)

[travel_lover]

I think our biggest mistakes was booking excursions with the cruise lines...we could have saved so much money it's unimagineable...we know better now...the same excursions in the caribbean the ship offers you can get 70% less in some cases.

[MamaParrotHead]

1.) Do not waste precious vacation time fighting the throngs to attempt to do laundry. It sucks. Work harder on packing more efficiently instead.

 

2.) I'm getting better at packing less and less each time. I always pack too many shorts/tshirts outfits, forgetting I pick up some tshirts on the trip (that ofCOURSE i want to WEAR).

 

3.) Don't exhaust yourself trying to squeeze too much in.

 

4.) Be aware of all our "Plan B" options....whether it be for ports (incase an excursion is cancelled or a port is skipped) or flights (incase the ship has a problem clearing Customs), etc.

[tym2crooz]

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!

 

Where do you buy drink and photo coupons?

[Cruise, J.D.]

Where do you buy drink and photo coupons?

 

http://www.carnival.com/BonVoyage/Default.aspx?cat=Specialty+Items

[bflandry317]

I love this thread!

 

We definitely packed wayyyy too much. I know better next time. It's gonna be hard packing for a 1 year old.

[Stircrzy]

I am no good in the am till I have a LOT of good coffee and hate refilling the tiny coffee cups a hundred times.(not to mention it is never that good)

now i always bring a stack of those disposable coffee cups with lids and my own flavored creamers.

You dont know how many people on the coffee line always ask me where I got them and were upset that they were mine from home

that is my only must have-I stopped bringing surge protectors/over the door shoe organizers/too many things i didnt use

 

ps, those little bottles of baileys can substitute for creamer in a pinch :)

 

I've been bringing a package of those tall lidded cups for years...around $2.99 for 10 or so at your local grocery store. I run down to Lido and bring back my hot tea and sis-o-stir's coffee...aren't I a lovely sister?!?

 

They make good holders for that late night soft serve ice cream too. We like to mix up a package of the dark chocolate hot chocolate, divide it between two cups and fill the remainder with ice cream...stir up...yummmmmmmmy.

[yogi2929]

Just a newbie tip that I never discovered til after several cruises. Probably everyone knows, but the public bathrooms have a red dot by the handle when they are locked and in use. If it is free, the dot is white. Helps not to have to bend and look under the stall doors.

 

I have discovered the automatic door openers for the ladies restrooms, the ones have a handicapped stall have these. One less door to touch.

[thinkpink]

dispite being told to not pack heavy.. i will be .. i change like the wind .. i could want to wear something at one time then get ready and not like it ... ahhaa ..its ok .. i HAVE to have choices!

[pcrum]

The talks are all repeated many times on your stateroom TV, so you can watch them while you are in your room. No need to go in person to hear them.

[shawnie]

Leaning over the railing to far and having my cap blow off in the wind and dropping my camera over the side trying to grab my cap, losing both!! What a b*tch that was!!

[Uncle Doug]

Leaning over the railing to far and having my cap blow off in the wind and dropping my camera over the side trying to grab my cap, losing both!! What a b*tch that was!!

 

At least you did not lose your a$$. Then there would be loads of threads about man jumps overboard to save favorite cap and camera.

[AFsouth]

Originally Posted by 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

Yep!!!!!:eek:

[Angelamu7]

Leaning over the railing to far and having my cap blow off in the wind and dropping my camera over the side trying to grab my cap, losing both!! What a b*tch that was!!

 

I am sorry I just busted out laughing because I leaned over on my first cruise and my clip on sun glasses went into the ocean! LOL

[kandrsmommy]

Wait till you are on board to book spa services. I really wanted a massage on my last cruise (RC Explorer of the Seas), but looking it up, it was very expensive. DH came told me on the second day of the cruise there were specials posted in the elevator. Saved about 1/2 (which is what I would have paid on dry land anyway)

 

I enjoy going to the dining room for breakfast. Just like someone waiting on me and not having to juggle my food.

 

Bring a highlighter and highlight those activities you want to do for the day. Kids included.

 

Speaking of kids, bring something for them to hang around their neck that will hold their card. Don't have to worry about pockets. I think we got ours from $5 Below or a dollar store.

 

Also, bring walkie talkies for the kids. They can tell you when they leave one place and where they are going. My kids have to travel in pairs, but I still like to know where they are. Ships too big to search.

 

Take naps.:)

[madaamt]

at least you did not lose your a$$. Then there would be loads of threads about man jumps overboard to save favorite cap and camera.

 

rofl.. Funny stuff.

[madaamt]

packing too much stuff...trying to pack light this time!

 

Wow you must reall like the Conquest huh?? LOL:D

[madaamt]

I had my daughter and granddaughter an anklet made from this "gold by the inch" and they have had and wore them for about 3 years and have not had any problems with them!!!I think its a wonderful deal and so do a lot of others or they wouldn't keep selling it.

 

I bought my mom an anklet about 3 yrs ago. She showers with it and it still looks like it did the day I bought it.

[MB1974]

I had my daughter and granddaughter an anklet made from this "gold by the inch" and they have had and wore them for about 3 years and have not had any problems with them!!!I think its a wonderful deal and so do a lot of others or they wouldn't keep selling it.

 

 

You know. The stuff is good. I bought my mother one on my first cruise 09/07. She still wears it and it still looks great. I was amazed!

[djseus]

Cruise #2 is coming up in May... woohoo!

 

lessons learned from cruise #1:

 

 

1. After showering in the spa showers (with like 15 shower heads) - i will never, ever shower in the stateroom bathroom again!

 

2. Speaking of the spa - that steamroom sure does a great job of 'clearing the head' for the evening (after having a few drinks with lunch)

 

3. One more thing about the spa - apparently most men don't check it out, because the men's side was empty every time I used it. Very nice!

 

4. Bring more ginger pills. Ginger is the absolute BEST solution for sea-sickness. I don't know why it works, but I know that it works like a light switch - it just turns the nausea off. We brought enough for my wife and I, but ended up sharing them with some green-looking passengers. They loved em. I got the idea from a myth-busters episode - works way better than the wrist bands or even the antihistamines. It works!!

[djseus]

oh, i thought of two more -

 

5. Waiting until the last day of the cruise to try the free sushi. It was awesome (i love sushi) - I will be snacking on that stuff quite a bit on my next cruise, thank you very much!

 

6. Bringing liquor in the original bottle. We got it through security, only to have our room steward steal the bottle. (not something you can really report to the cruise ship, now can you? "Yeah, my room steward stole the booze we smuggled in...") We'll be using those flasks this time...

[dbogusch]

Where do you buy drink and photo coupons?

Go to Carnival.com under gifts and services - you can buy them there.

[dbogusch]

Cruise #2 is coming up in May... woohoo!

 

lessons learned from cruise #1:

 

 

1. After showering in the spa showers (with like 15 shower heads) - i will never, ever shower in the stateroom bathroom again!

 

2. Speaking of the spa - that steamroom sure does a great job of 'clearing the head' for the evening (after having a few drinks with lunch)

 

3. One more thing about the spa - apparently most men don't check it out, because the men's side was empty every time I used it. Very nice!

 

4. Bring more ginger pills. Ginger is the absolute BEST solution for sea-sickness. I don't know why it works, but I know that it works like a light switch - it just turns the nausea off. We brought enough for my wife and I, but ended up sharing them with some green-looking passengers. They loved em. I got the idea from a myth-busters episode - works way better than the wrist bands or even the antihistamines. It works!!

For someone REALLY prone to motion sickness, how often should you take the ginger pills? My upcoming cruise will be the first time I try ginger.

[5waldos]

I love this thread!

 

We definitely packed wayyyy too much. I know better next time. It's gonna be hard packing for a 1 year old.

 

Except they don't care what they are wearing! Wait until they are a few years older and demand what THEY want to wear. Their things are so small at 1- we got some of the nylon ripcord material shorts which dry in a flash and a pile of tees. Add a hat and a pile of diapers (leaves lots of space for bringing home purchases), sandels and pjs- and a few toys. That will all fit into a small carryon. Oh- and an umbrella stroller- my always and forever best thing when my kids were small. It served as a bed for naps (often during dinner which meant that we could eat at a leisurely pace!), kept them from wandering when we were in lines, kept little legs from getting tired. And when the littlie wanted to walk everything else could be piled in it saving mom's arms.