Jason’s biggest fear about crusing was being stuck on a ship with thousands of people and it being overcrowded with not enough to do.  Well, needless to say… he was wrong!  You just cannot appreciate the shear size of a cruise ship until you step onboard.  It is comparable to a floating hotel, or better yet, a floating resort as it includes a casino, multiple pools, slides, kids clubs, night clubs, etc.  And let’s not forget the unlimited food selection.  And bars… did we mention the bars?

Another concern is feeling the ship’s motion.  Ships nowadays have massive stabilizers.  You often do not realize you are moving.  Have we felt the ship moving before?  Yes. But only during storms or really windy conditions and it didn’t bother us in the least.  You can actually get a really good night’s rest as the ship rocks you to sleep.

Gratuity 

On our first cruise, I paid the cruise fare and port taxes & fees for my family of five and got onboarc.  I linked a credit card for incidental spending and brought cash for spending in port.  But little did I know that ‘gratuties’ would be automatically added at the end of the cruise.  I truly had no idea and had not planned for this expense.  Luckily I had the money, but I could see this being a real problem for some on a tight budget.

Not only the overall gratuities that go to your stateroom steward and dining room wait staff, but Jason didn’t realized they were automatically adding a gratuity at the bar every time he ordered a drink!  Those bartenders were well tipped on that cruise as he added extra each time.

You can book excursions outside the cruise line

We had no idea what we wanted to do in port during our first cruise, which was a five-day itinerary to Progresso and Cozumel, Mexico.  So we went to the port excursions talk held in the theater on the first sea day and picked out what we wanted to do in Cozumel.  We didn’t see anything that interested us in Progresso so we were told we could explore on our own so we decided to give it a try.

I am very happy with the excursion we chose which was a sail & snorkel on a Fury catamaran and then a beach visit.  But I didn’t know that you could book excursions outside the cruise line.  Since then, I book some on my own and some through the cruise line depending on what we are wanting to do.

Also you don’t have to do an excursion in each port

Also, we didn’t know before boarding that we could explore on our own.  We really enjoyed just wandering the little town of Progresso, taking in the local culture, getting some yummy food, and taking a walk on the beach.  This is also where we encountered the ‘red tequila’, more on that later…

Order what you want!

Did you know that you could order more than one appetizer or more than one entrée or more than one dessert on a cruise?  We didn’t!  We had heard a rumor that this was true but didn’t really believe it.  I don’t think we ever did this on our first cruise.  But we sure do now!  Especially on elegant/formal night on Carnival, it is a must for Jason to get both the prime rib AND the lobster!  And for me, the crème brulee is only offered on this night… and it is really hard to choose between that and the chocolate melting cake… so sometimes I get both!

Sometime the rate can be adjusted 

With most cruise lines, if you book early then your cruise fare rate is adjustable!  Didn’t know this and paid for our first cruise and then never checked the cost again.  Now I know to check the rates!  If they go down, you can get your rate reduced.  Or you could possibly upgrade to a higher category for little or no additional cost.

And keep checking after you are paid in full.  You might just be able to get the difference in an onboard credit!

There are specials on the first day

Going on a spa tour on embarkation day is fun!  We didn’t discover this until we had many cruises under our belts.  You may be chosen for a free mini-treatment as part of a demonstration or you may be offered discounts.  And be sure to grab a raffle ticket and come back for the drawing.  We have never won ourselves, but we have seen many a very happy person win free spa treatments!!

Also, sometimes you can score a free bottle of wine for dining in a specialty restaurant on the first night.  For instance, on Carnival, dine in the steakhouse and this is a bonus treat!

Don’t miss the shows!

Cruise shows are spectacular!  We just didn’t go on our first cruise as we spend most of the time by the pool.  And on one cruise we missed them because we had late dining and the late show didn’t start until 10:30 and that was just too late for us. 

But once we discovered how much we enjoy this live entertainment, we never miss them!  We now choose early dining or anytime dining so our schedules work for the shows.  And if one is held at an odd time, we will choose to eat at the buffet or deli or pizza that night so we don’t miss it.

Did I happen to mention that we love the shows???  And I am mainly talking about the Broadway style shows in the theater, but don’t forget about the comedy or magic or variety shows… they have all been fantastic!

Don’t overpack!

We brought waaaaaay too many clothes on our first cruise!  Five big suitcases for five people on a five-day cruise… all sharing one cabin.  Yeah, we were so cramped for space!  PS – we never stayed five in one cabin again!  But that is a different story…  We brought multiple outfits for each day because we thought we needed one for during the day and one for at night and then special formal clothes and swimsuits, etc… 

Needless to say, we brought home a LOT of clean clothes.  And shoes!  Way too many shoes were packed.  No, you do not need a matching pair of shoes for every outfit!  No… you…. Don’t!  I have created a few packing videos to help others not make the same mistake that I have made!  Here is one:

You cell phone may night have the correct time!

We were in Cozumel having just gotten back from our oh-so-fun day of snorkeling and playing on the big jumpers at the beach and it was time to do some shopping!  So we wandered around the port going in and out of the shops.  Took our picture by the surfboards at Ron Jon’s Surf Shop.  Got a drink and some tacos at Three Amigos and thought we still had a couple of hours before needing to be back onboard.

Yep, the time was wrong on my cell phone and that is what we were going by.  Luckily we were close to the ship and when we saw everyone pouring through the gates to get back on we were smart enough to ask the time and find out we were wrong!

Moral of this story… wear a real watch and set it to ship time!!

How incredible a cruise vacation is, so much different than land

Wow, we had no idea how much we would love a cruise!  Before this, we had driven to a destination. Stayed in a hotel.  Maybe went to a theme park.  Ate at restaurants. ETC… Each with their own planning and individual price tag. 

I love that you plan the cruise and, well, that can be it.  Once onboard, you have options but choosing to eat a burger or tacos poolside is not really a hard decision to make.  Am I right?  The itinerary is laid out for you.   You can explore multiple ports in multiple countries all in the same trip.  It is simply amazing.  The one thing we regret is not starting to cruise sooner!!!

Bonus… don’t drink the red tequila in Mexico 

Funny story, well not funny at the time, but we can look back now and laugh.  Remember how we were strolling along the beach in Progresso and taking in the culture.  Well, Jason and his brother thought that a little tequila would be a ‘cultural’ experience! So there was a restaurant on the beach serving food and drinks so we stopped.  We grabbed a table with an umbrella and some nearby loungers. 

The waiter comes over an offers us ‘free tequila shots’…  When we saw the liquid in the bottle was red, that should have been a clue to say no… tequila is NOT red!!!  But not them!  They opened up wide and the ‘red tequila’ was poured straight into their mouths!  Oh yeah, this is fun huh?

Not so fun the next day when Jason is sick!  And I mean SICK!  He got ‘sick’ while snorkeling in Cozumel and then ended up laying on a beach bed the rest of the day and missed our fun adventure.  Nothing in life is free… don’t drink the red tequila! 

Want More?

Want to see the video version? Here you go!

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Be sure to check out our other posts for: what to do before your cruise; extras to pack; what to do after boarding; food & drinks; ports & excursions; shopping onboard & in portand activities not to miss on a Carnival cruise.

If you want all 101 Cruise Tips, click here:

Want more cruising posts?  Here is our full list.

If you have enjoyed this post, please share!  Also, sign up for our emails so you have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

The post 10 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Our First Cruise appeared first on EECC Travels.

Cruise Line Gratuities

Gratuities per person, per day will be added to your account unless they were prepaid. (Some cruise lines add this charge each day and some add all on  the second to last day of the cruise) This goes to your room steward, MDR wait staff and other behind the scenes personnel.

• Carnival current rate is $12.95 pp/pd (13.95 for suites)
• Royal Caribbean current rate is $14.50 pp/pd (17.50 for suites)
• Norwegian current rate is $14.50 pp/pd (17.50 for suites)
• These can be removed if you choose to tip in cash on some cruise lines
• Sometimes first time cruisers are not expecting this charge

Tip the bartender???

Gratuity is added to every drink you buy at the bar or every drink package. No need to tip above unless your bartender is awesome.

Yes, you can give extra

You can tip above and beyond the gratuities charged for great service

Small cash is king!

Bring small bills ($1s and $5s) to tip on the ship and especially in port. You may need or want to tip a porter for handling your bag, a performer or a special photo op or for a ride (examples: bicycle carts that bring you from the ship into port)

Specialize your tip

We like to bring a gift bag for our steward/attendant – (tide pods & dryer sheets are nice to add) – this is the one crew member you will have the most interaction with on board, make them feel special!

Room service

Room service is free or comes with a small fee but it is customary to tip the person who brings it to you.

BE NICE!!!

BE FRIENDLY to the crew! They will go out of their way to help you, be kind in return!

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Be sure to check out our other posts for: what to do before your cruise; extras to pack; what to do after boarding; food & drinks; ports & excursions; shopping onboard & in port and activities not to miss on a Carnival cruise.

If you want all 101 Cruise Tips, click here:

Want to see these tips live:  Here is the video:

Want more cruising posts?  Here is our full list.

If you have enjoyed this post, please share!  Also, sign up for our emails so you have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

The post Cruise Tips: Gratuities & Tipping appeared first on EECC Travels.

There are lots of items you need to bring with you on a cruise to make your life comfortable.  Items like toiletries, medications, organizational items, etc.

Toiletries

Most cruise ships provide shampoo and body wash in the bathroom… but that is all.  Dollar Tree has travel size shampoo, conditioner and body wash… and if you’re driving they have $1 full-size bottles too.  Also things like deodorants, hair get or hairspray, lotion and razors.  And this is a great place to get a new toothbrush for the trip along with toothpaste, mouthwash and flossers!

Sunscreen

There are perfect size bottles of sunscreen with both 30 and 50 SPF.  These are small enough to pack if flying!!!  And remember to buy lots f you are going to the Caribbean, that sun can be brutal!

They also have aloe gel in case you get a sunburn…

Medications

You can build an entire and fantastic first-aid kit from the Dollar Tree!!!  There are band-aids galore, first-aid cream, antiseptics, etc.  And small bottles of every oral medication you can think of… acetaminophen, ibuprofen, cold medicine, allergy medicine, stomach medicine, antiacids… you get the picture.  Don’t go to the drug store for these when you can save serious bucks here!

I like to get one of the large 7-day pill boxes and fill one box with each medication labeled so I don’t forget what’s in each one.  This is easier than carrying seven different bottles along.  I also recommend getting cough drops, etc as these items can be very expensive on the ship!  Trust me, I found this out the hard way…

This is also a great place to get hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes!!!

Organizational Items

You have a small cabin and lots of stuff… so you may want a few organizational items to make the most of your small space.  I like to get pop-up hampers or laundry bags for our dirty clothes.  Clothespins for hanging wet swimsuits on the shower line.  Towel clips for your beach towel.  And many more useful items for $1.

PS – these little mesh lingerie bags are perfect for collecting seashells!  You can put them in the bag and rinse the sand off of them and they will dry quickly!

And don’t forget your quart and gallon sized zip-lock bags!  Thes have a multitude of uses!!!

Packing items

If you are flying you will need to have all of your liquids fit the TSA rules.  You can find small plastic bottles that are perfect for this.  We also like to but shower caps which are 8 for $1.  Why shower caps you ask?  Well to put over your shoes to keep the dirty shoes separated from the clean clothes.

BAGS!

There are so many amazing bags here! They have tote bags perfect for going to the beach, small purse-style bags that have a long strap that can go across your body to take into port and cute reusable shopping bags.  We buy this shopping bags for making our room steward a gift bag and always pack one in case we get a bit carried away while shopping in port…

Lights in all shapes and sizes…

If you have an interior cabin, they are pitch black at night! Soo you may want a night light.  You can find the traditional plug-in style…

Or these battery operated tea lights that put off a small amount of light and don’t take up one of your valuable plugs…

And finally, glow sticks.  Crack one each night for light OR grab a few if your ship will be having a glow party or white night!!!

Cups

If you are like me, I like to bring my own cup as I drink a LOT of water and those little bitty cups provided just don’t cut it for me.  Dollar Tree has a wide variety of cups that work great for cold drinks or thermals for coffee.

Flip-Flops

Now, these are not available all year long, but if you are cruising in the Spring or Summer, you can grab some flippy flops for $1.  And they have a wide variety to choose from!

Keep in Touch

If you are not on a ship that has an app where you can connect with your shipmates, or you just decide to go offline, you still need to communicate.  You can pick up magnetic dry erase boards and markers, post-it notes, Sharpie markers and highlighters.

Door Decorations

The seasonal area at the front of the store has some great items for making inexpensive door decorations.  In the summer there are great beach-themed items, red, white & blue for Fourth of July, etc.   We like to cruise on Easter week since the kids are out of school so we create Easter-themed decorations.  This is a great idea for any time of the year.  There are always themed items in this area.

Sunglasses!!!

Where else can you get a pair of sunglasses for $1???  And these aren’t crap either.  There are some good looking glasses here!  Especially for kids, they have some really cute ones.  AND they have these fantastic straps that connect to the arms of your glasses so you can hang them around your neck!  Genious for kids!!!

Want more cruising posts?  Here is our full list.

If you have enjoyed this post, please share!  Also, sign up for our emails so you have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

The post Cruise Shopping at Dollar Tree appeared first on EECC Travels.

This is how we pack for a cruise!

A week’s worth of clothing for two teenage boys

Each person packs…

• 1 casual outfit per day = shirt & shorts (mostly t-shirts or tanks but a couple of nicer shirts for the casual dinners)
• 1 full dress outfit (we usually only attend one formal night, but you can wear this outfit twice, you will only wear it for a few hours) OR if you feel you need two, pack two lightweight dresses for the girls and one dress outfit with two different ties for the guys.
• 1 pair of sneakers/walking shoes (wear these on your feet on embarkation day), 1 pair of flip-flops or sandals, 1 pair of dress shoes and possibly 1 pair of water shoes (some excursions require them)
• 1 pair of PJs
• 1-2 swimsuits
• Underwear & socks (enough for however many days you will be on the cruise)

Packing Cubes

Let’s talk a minute about packing cubes…  I have never used them before but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about so I bought one set to try out.  I packed one suitcase (my suitcase) in the packing cubes and used the rolling method for all of the others.  Let me back up one second to say that I used the rolling method WITH the packing cubes in my suitcase.

I really liked them!  I was able to organize all of my tops and dress and sweater in the large cube, my bottoms in the medium cube and swimwear in the small cube.  The set I bought also came with three pouches.  The largest pouch was the perfect size for underwear and I used the two smaller ones for jewelry, etc.

Can I live without them… yes.  But it was really nice to have the bag even one step more organized which is great for my over-organized personality!

My first time using packing cubes

Rolling Method

The rolling method is one thing I truly believe in!  Rolling the clothes very tightly saves a LOT of room and therefore you can fit more clothes in a smaller suitcase.  Also, rolling makes fewer wrinkles in nothing than folding.

Fold the shirt or pants in half and then roll from top to bottom.  Trust me, it really works!

Toiletries

Some items are provided for you like shampoo and body wash, but for the most part, you will need to bring what you need.  Here are a few suggestions:

• toothbrush & toothpaste, floss, mouthwash
• hairbrush
• curling iron or flat iron – hair dryer is provided but some prefer to bring their own
• hair gel or hair spray
• shampoo and conditioner
• deodorant
• perfume, jewelry, etc.
• make-up

I found a great toiletries organizational bag with lots of pouches of all sizes.  I was able to put the toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss on one zipper pouch, the deodorants in the other zipper pouch and the main area in the middle held the large items like shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and my hairbrush.

Proper Paperwork

• Boarding pass (printed during online check-in)
• Proper identification
  • Passport or birth certificate
  • State issued driver’s license

And the extras

• Power strip for additional plugs (no surge protector) – there is only ONE plug in the room (well sometimes two but not many)!
• Decorate your door – it makes your room easier to locate
• Backpack or beach bag
• SUNSCREEN and bring LOTS of it! Also, aloe gel in case of a sunburn – the Caribbean sun is intense!
• HAT! See above about the sun
• Sunglasses (and maybe a backup pair)
• Bug repellent for in port
• Disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer – 4,000+ people = lots of germs
• Highlighter to mark the activities on board that you don’t want to miss
• Post-it notes or small dry erase board for messages
• Ziploc bags to put your cell phone/camera in while in port and to pack wet things in for the drive home
• Binoculars for looking off of the ship
• Small first aid kit (with band-aids)
• Over-the-counter medications and also any prescriptions you need
• Seasickness medicine (just in case) – Sea Bands, Dramamine or ginger work well
• Pop-up clothes hamper or laundry bag for dirty clothes
• In case of wanting to do laundry: detergent pods, dryer sheets & quarters for machines
• Tide pen or Shout wipes for spills on clothing
• Downy Wrinkle Releaser is great instead of ironing
• Lightweight sweater or jacket – it can get chilly on deck at night
• Clothespins are great for hanging wet swimsuits to dry on the line in the bathroom.
• Towel clips for beach towels – it can get very windy on deck
• Large cup with a lid for water and/or coffee, the cups are very small on the ship
• Portable radio to listen to the local music while in port
• Magnet hooks – cabin walls are metal so extra hooks for storage are great
• Over the door shoe hanger is great for the bathroom if you have lots of toiletries
• Lanyard for your sail & sign card
• Extra memory cards and batteries for your camera/video camera
• Carnival allows one bottle of wine (750ml) per adult and soda (12 pack) per person in carry-on luggage (NOTE: we use bungee cords to strap the 12 pack of soda to the top of our luggage)

Want more details on these extras?  Here is the full post.

PS – Don’t forget your wine needs to be in your carry-on, not your checked bag!!!!

Want a printable packing list?  Click here for Packing List

The post Packing for a Cruise – 7 days in a Carry-On Bag appeared first on EECC Travels.

Attend the on board shopping show

If you are new to cruising, attend the shopping show! It’s a lot of fun and very informative.  Each cruise ship has a professional shopper on board who can give you the ins and outs and the best places to shop in port.  Especially if you are in the market for large purchases like jewelry!  Yes, she may lead you into a shop that is working with the cruise line and yes she make make a commission of of the sale.  But you can be sure this way you are getting a good product.

Pro tip: Be sure to sit up front as they throw free stuff into the audience!!

Photo from Cruise Critic

Let the bank know…

Make bank and credit card companies aware you are traveling out of the country.  Nothing will be more frustrating than finding the perfect purchase only to have your credit card declined!  They do this for your protection of suspicious purchases so let them know that sale in Mexico is coming from you!

Don’t use a debit card!

This can create holds on your checking account and there is less protection against fraud.  Instead use a credit card with a free international exchange rate.

Cash is best in port

Have smaller bills for ‘negotiating’ with vendors.  Many of the vendors will tell you a price when you first ask and then throw a lower price at you when you begin to walk away.  Know this going in and be prepared to negotiate for what you want.  It still kills me that my brother-in-law and I bought the same item in Cozumel and he paid less than I did because I caved on the price too soon!!!

Leave the cruise port

The shops outside of the cruise port will have better deals than those when you first get off the ship. You will also have a better chance of negotiating prices with these vendors.  Many of the shops within the port have their prices regulated so if you are looking for a good deal, look outside of these shops that are laid at your feet for convenience.

Did you forget a t-shirt?

Forgot to buy something in port? They will more than likely have the souvenir you are looking for in the shops.

I collect magnets from each port we visit and was upset when we ran out of time and I was unable to get one in Jamaica.  No worries, they had one on the onboard gift shop!

FLASH SALE

Check out the on board shops for their shopping deals – some are not great, but sometimes there is a good deal like t-shirts 2 for $20.  You will also find good deals on watches, etc on certain nights of the cruise.

Free liquor???

Shops will normally have free samples of alcohol on certain nights… check your schedule.  This is always fun!  There is usually a long line, but strike up a conversation.  They will hand you a small cup and allow you try a few of the options they are selling.  And there is usually a sale to go along with the tasting…

Of course, all purchases are duty free on a cruise ship!

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Be sure to check out our other posts for: what to do before your cruise; extras to pack; what to do after boarding; food & drinks; ports & excursions; tips & gratuities and activities not to miss on a Carnival cruise.

If you want all 101 Cruise Tips, click here:

Want to see these tips live:  Here is the video:

Want more cruising posts?  Here is our full list.

If you have enjoyed this post, please share!  Also, sign up for our emails so you have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

The post Cruise Tips: Shopping While in Port & On the Ship appeared first on EECC Travels.

There are five options of what to do while visiting a port:

1. Book a shore excursion through your cruise line (this can be pre-booked online or while you are on the cruise ship)
2. Book online with an outside vendor
3. Walk off the ship and hire one of the local tour guides in the port
4. Explore the port on your own
5. Stay on the ship

While some of you may want to stay on board and enjoy and empty ship… these tips will help everyone else enjoy their day in port.

Pre-book through your cruise line

If you want to book through your cruise line, do it online before your leave for your cruise.  There are several reasons to do this.

1.  Some popular excursion book up quickly so if you wait until you are on board you will miss out.
2.  You can research the excursion better.  Online, there is a rating system and reviews from cruisers who have done this exact excursion! Also, you can read other reviews online (Cruise Critic, Trip Adviser, etc) and look for videos on YouTube.  To me a video really lets me know if I will enjoy it or not.
3.  Price protection – Carnival offers a price guarantee where if you find the SAME excursion for less online, they will price match it 110%.  And this does work, I have done it before.  It has to be the exact same description so read the details.

Isla Pasion, Cozumel

Pre-book with outside vendor

There are many reasons to do this, but price is a big one.  Check online before leaving to book excursions for way less than through the ship.  Each cruise line builds in a little for themselves as a referral fee for organizing the excursion.  So if you book direct with the local vendors, you may save substantially!

Another reason is that not everything is offered through the cruise line.  Example: we were going to Montego Bay and wanted to go to an all-inclusive resort.  so we began searching with Carnival what was available and then we looked to see what other resorts were in the area.  We found Suncape Splash and loved it… but Carnival didn’t offer an excursion there.  So we booked with resortforaday.com for a day pass to the resort with round trip transportation.  It was a wonderful experience!

However, if you are wanting to go a long way from port, I would be wary of this option as there is no guarantee the ship will wait for you!

Do your research!

If you book outside the cruise line then do your research and be sure to book with a reputable company!  Read their reviews on Trip Adviser.  Email them and see how long it takes to get a reply.  Do they have a money back guarantee if the ship cannot stop in that port?  I make sure I am comfortable with a company before booking an excursion with them.

Goff’s Caye, Belize

New to cruising and need more info?

If you are new to cruising, and did not pre-book excursions, attend the informational talk on board.  The cruise director and members of the shore excursions desk staff will be there to present excursion options available and give you details, and sometimes pictures.  Also, these people have been on many of the excursions they are describing so have first hand knowledge. Ask questions!!!

Bring a bag ashore

Take a small bag/backpack ashore with water, small first aid kit with medications, sunscreen, bug repellent, hand sanitizer, rain poncho and travel toilet paper… in addition to your camera, etc.  Bring what you will need with you when you get off the ship.  Depending on what port you are going into and what you are doing this may vary.  If you are heading to an all inclusive resort you don’t need to bring water a long.  But if your heading up into the jungle to zipline, you may have a long bus ride and want to bring some snacks in addition to that water.

Behold our speedboat!

Doesn’t this look like fun? Twister Boat in Cozumel

Bring your newsletter

Always take the daily newsletter with you when going ashore. This will have the details for the ship’s local port agent who is in constant contact with the ship – call in case of emergency or delay getting back on board.  This is one of those things you hope you will never need!  But if you are not going on a ship organized excursion, you better be safe and take it with you!

Wear a watch!!!

Take a regular watch off the ship and make sure it is set to the SHIP’s time!  Many cell phones will readjust their time to the nearest cell tower.  Local time and ship time may not be the same.  It would be terrible to miss your ship because you thought it was the wrong time!!!

Feed the fishies

If you are going snorkeling, grab some cereal from the buffet to feed the fish.  I am thinking along the line of Cheerios here…

Snorkeling the Belize Barrier Reef

Invest in good water shoes

Water shoes are a great idea! Some excursions require them and some beaches can be rocky.  I have been on beaches where I could barely walk because there were so many rocks and small seashells in the sand.  On these times, I WISH I had water shoes on… Never again, they go with me now.

Also, many of the more daring activities on board (ropes course, rock wall, etc) require closed toe shoes and water shoes usually have good grip on them.

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Be sure to check out our other posts for: what to do before your cruise; extras to pack; what to do after boarding; food and drinks; shopping; tips & gratuities and activities not to miss on a Carnival cruise.

If you want all 101 Cruise Tips, click here:

Want to see these tips live:  Here is the video:

Want more cruising posts?  Here is our full list.

If you have enjoyed this post, please share!  Also, sign up for our emails so you have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

The post Cruise Tips: Ports & Excursions appeared first on EECC Travels.

Choose the nights for specialty dining

Check the dinner menus for the week and pick which night to dine in a specialty restaurant – do this the first day as these can book up.  Check with the Maitre D and he should have these.

Make specialty dining reservations

If you did not pre-book reservations online, make them early in your cruise.  Especially at the Chef’s table as it has a very limited seating.  The steakhouse is a good idea for the first night and you get a free bottle of wine!

Lunch at Cucina del Capitano

Eat lunch at Cucina del Capitano – it’s free at lunch but there is a cost at dinner.  It’s a pretty cool experience too as your dish is made to order from choosing your pasta, your sauce, your meats, etc…  And the bread is to die for!

Breakfast room service

Order room service for breakfast the night before an early port day.  If you are getting off the ship at 7am, this will save you time from fighting the crowds at the buffet!

Cheese plate

Ask for cheese and fresh fruit plate at the beginning of the meal, let your server know you want this every night and it will be on your table at dinner when you arrive.  This item is on the dessert menu but if you ask they can bring it before the meal.  Our family absolutely loves this as the cheese goes great with the bread service.

Check out the kid’s dessert menu

Nothing on the dessert menu looks good to you? Ask for kids desert menu in the dining room.  Can you say cookies and hot fudge sundae???  YUM!

Tea Time

Check out Tea Time which is held mid-afternoon on sea days.  This is similar to a traditional English High Tea with… well tea of course, but also small sandwiches and delicious desserts.  These cakes and pastries are REALLY GOOD!  I enjoy tea time especially for these!  There will be a couple of tea options at no cost, but they will also have more exotic teas for about $1 per tea bag.  If you want coffee or hot chocolate instead, just ask!

Sea Day Brunch

Sea Day Brunch is fantastic and a nice break from buffet breakfast.  It is served from 8am through lunchtime and the menu has favorites such as ‘Funnest French Toast’ which is french toast covered in cereal, pancakes (my favorite are the chocolate chip with chocolate syrup), steak and eggs, eggs cooked any way you want and Huevos Rancheros!  And let’s not forget to start the day with a cocktail… you can get a mimosa or treat your self to the build-your-own Bloody Mary menu!

Snacks for port days

Pack some snacks from the buffet when you leave the ship.  Items like dry cereal or fruit are perfect to throw in your backpack.  Just remember no fruit in Cozumel, they have dogs as you enter the port checking for ‘contraband’ and fruit is one of them.  I heard that Cheerios are fun for feeding fish – disclaimer I have never tried this before…

Make a custom pizza

Custom pizzas are available at the 24 hours pizza spot. You will have to wait a bit, but you get the whole pie!  I don’t recommend requesting this if there is an extremely long line, but if they are not too busy they will be more than happy to make what you want.  I like getting a pizza with extra cheese and taking it to a Dive-In Movie

ORDER WHAT YOU WANT!

You CAN order what you want off the menu!!! More than one appetizer or entrée or dessert are fine!  You are on vacation, if you want to try more than one item then do it!  Now, I am not saying to waste food and order one of everything off the menu and take a single bite.  But, try new things.  If you order something and you don’t like it, order something else.  We love this with our kids because they will try things they have never dared to try before (ox tongue, calamari, escargot, frog legs) because they knew they didn’t have to finish it if they didn’t like it.  And guess what?  They usually really enjoyed it and discovered something new they would eat.  It has made our kids so much more brave with food!

Pre-Order drinks

You can pre-order bottled water and it will be delivered to your room.  This is actually the case for many beverages.  you can order sodas, juice and even alcohol for your room.  The water is reasonably priced but I feel the other drinks are a bit pricey!  For alcohol, you can get a bottle of liquor (rum, vodka, etc), bottles of wine or champagne and packs of beer.

Drink Packages

This is a topic that is very controversial… should you or should you not get the drink package???  Well first off, let’s mention that there are two different drink package on Carnival:  Bottomless Bubbles and Cheers!

Bottomless bubbles is the soda package.  With this, you can get unlimited soda and juice during your cruise.  The cost is as follows: $4.95 per person, per day for children 17 and under plus 15% gratuities or $7.50 per person per day for adults plus 15% gratuities.  Since you are allowed to carry on a 12 pack of soda per person, this does not seem like a good deal to me, but that is a personal opinion.  The other drawback is that the kids have to go to a bar to order the soda and it is sometimes difficult for them to get a bartenders attention.

Cheers! is the alcoholic beverage package.  But it also includes UNLIMITED bottled water, sodas, smoothies, specialty coffees, energy drinks, etc.  On the alcoholic beverages, you are limited to 15 per day.  The cost is $51.95 plus 15% gratuity if preordered before the cruise and $56.95 plus gratuity if purchased on the ship.  This cost is per person, per day and has to be purchased for the length of the cruise (you cannot pick and choose the days to buy it for).  The only exception is when cruising out of Texas, it is not available on the first day of your cruise. The other catch is every adult 21 and older in a cabin HAS to purchase.  So you have to decide if it is worth it for your family to purchase Cheers!

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Be sure to check out our other posts for: what to do before your cruise; extras to pack; what to do after boarding; ports & excursions; shopping; tips & gratuities and activities not to miss on a Carnival cruise.

If you want all 101 Cruise Tips, click here:

Want to see these tips live:  Here is the video:

Want more cruising posts?  Here is our full list.

If you have enjoyed this post, please share!  Also, sign up for our emails so you have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

The post Cruise Tips: Food & Drinks appeared first on EECC Travels.

Switch your phone

Set your phone in airplane mode and use the ships wifi for communicating – this will avoid international fees.  I have heard horror stories of people who didn’t know about this and once they received their first phone bill after their cruise they about had a heart attack!

The Hub app rocks!

Use the Carnival Hub app! It is free to use and has all of the info from the Fun Times where you can set reminders of what you want to do.  Also, there is a chat feature for $5 per person for the length of your cruise so you can text with everyone in your party, even group messages.  Tip: The app must remain open for the chat to work.

Unpack your bags

Unpack as soon as possible, it’s no fun to live out of a suitcase.   This is your home for the next week (or shorter or maybe longer) so make yourself comfortable!  The steward can bring extra hangers if needed.

Have a mini-bar?

Ask the steward to empty the mini-bar (avoid accidental charges and fill up with your own drinks) – some ships do not have a mini-bar. Some have an empty mini-fridge and some have none at all.

Freebies anyone???

Ask the Guest Services desk for a postcard with the ship’s picture on it – should be free.  Also, ask if they can give you a free deck of cards.  Last cruise we grabbed a deck and played cards in the atrium while we waited for show time.

Open my wine please

A corkscrew can usually be obtained by your cabin steward if you brought your own wine.  This is if you want to open and drink it in your room.  If you want to drink it in the dining room, bring the bottle to your waiter and he will open it and serve it with your meal.  Can’t finish the bottle in one sitting, they will put your name on it and hold it for the next evening.  They will even chill it for you. Note: there is a $15 corkage fee per bottle in the dining room.

Update:  I received a comment that someone was charged $25 from a steward for use of a corkscrew.  We have always been allowed to use them at no charge, but I wanted to add this information.  We may want to pack one…

What about glasses?

Your steward can also bring ice and glasses for your wine or other beverages.  Just ask, they will go out of their way to help you make your vacation perfect.

Game time

The library has free crossword puzzles and trivia games each day of the cruise.  There are also board games and… books… in the library

Forgot a lanyard?

Visit the casino for a free Carnival lanyard for your Sail & Sign card.  They are long and stretchy, our kids love them!

Separate your pictures

Take a picture of the day’s schedule each morning, this will date set the photos taken each day on your camera or phone which makes it easy to see each day’s photos at a quick glance.

Pick your daily activities

Look through the list of activities each day and mark what interests you so you don’t miss it.  Mark with a highlighter or bookmark on the Hub app on your phone.

Extra showers…

Use showers, saunas & steam rooms near spa free of charge.  These are nice and larger than the showers in your cabin.  Also, if you have several people getting ready at the same time in one cabin with one bathroom, some can go shower in the spa area.

Meet new friends

Teens need to attend the first night meet & greet!  This will be the best time to meet the other kids in the teen clubs and make new friends for the duration of the cruise.

You may need a nightlight…

Inside cabins are dark. You can turn the tv to the forward camera channel for minimal light at night and it lets you know when the sun is up.  Or you may want to pack a nightlight.

Laundry rooms

Laundry or ironing rooms are on each floor but they are scarce. If ironing must be done, try to go in the middle of the afternoon as there will be a long line on formal night! (This info is Carnival specific)

Pictures!!!

Have your photo taken by the ship’s photographers! You do not have to buy them, but you may want to if they are really great!  How often is your entire family dressed up with a photographer right there?

Our family photo from our last cruise

Secret decks

Look for the ‘secret’ decks at the front of the ship.  Some ships have a deck that go all the way around… and some don’t.  Most of these have secret decks – well they are not really secret but they are not public decks.  You have to access these from a cabin deck, not a public deck like Promenade.  To access these, walk all the way forward and look for an access door leading outside.  You may want to ask the cabin stewards and they can point you in the right direction. (ex. Carnival Magic has on decks 6, 7, 9, 10 & 11)

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Be sure to check out our other posts for: what to do before your cruise; extras to pack; food, dinner & drinks; ports & excursions; shopping; tips & gratuities and activities not to miss on a Carnival cruise.

If you want all 101 Cruise Tips, click here:

Want to see these tips live:  Here is the video:

Want more cruising posts?  Here is our full list.

If you have enjoyed this post, please share!  Also, sign up for our emails so you have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

The post Cruise Tips: What to do After Boarding appeared first on EECC Travels.

This post contains affiliate links to products on Amazon.com – please don’t feel that you must buy them here, but I wanted to show examples.

Power strip for additional plugs

This is one thing that truly shocked me as a major difference between ship’s cabins and hotel rooms…. there is only ONE plug in the room!  Definitely bring a power strip or plug extender as you will need it! Just make sure there is no surge protector as these are not allowed!

This is the one I have bought:  I like it because it is small and compact and has three plugs plus three USB ports!

Decorate your door

The hallways on a cruise ship run all the way from the very front to the very back of the ship… and every door looks exactly the same!  Yes, you know about where your cabin is… and you SHOULD remember your cabin number… but it is so much easier to be in your hallway and spot your door in a second!  We began decorating our doors a few years ago and now will always do it.  Plus, it’s fun!  I always create cute and brightly colored decorations that make me smile when I see them. Here are pictures of what we did last year.  Everything came from the dollar store so I didn’t feel bad throwing it all away at the end of the cruise.  Here is a video on how I made my Spring Door Decorations.

SUNSCREEN and bring LOTS of it!

The Caribbean sun is intense!  It is different from going to the beach in the US for a few hours…  The Caribbean sun is relentless and bounces off of the clear water.  So being on the Lido deck of a cruise ship is a bad place to be without sunscreen!  We normally pack one bottle of sunscreen per person for a seven-day cruise.  I prefer the spray on application instead of the cream, but the downfall is that they don’t seem to go as far.  Also, use a high SPF, I recommend 50-70.

It never fails that I will see women on the first formal night in their strapy dresses who are bright red and blistered from the sun.  That dress isn’t as cute on a lobster, I promise you!  And the men are worse!!!  They have the macho ‘I don’t sunburn’ mentality… but I have news for them… Yes, you will burn!!!

Also, aloe gel in case of a sunburn, because they are inevitable…  I always seem to miss a spot when applying sunscreen and burn there.

This is my preference on sunscreen:

HAT!

See above about the sun   Seriously, you need protection from the sun!

Bug repellent

If you are going into port and not going to sit on a beach, you may want to bring along some insect repellent!  Heading into the mountains of Jamaica or Belize? Yep, there are bugs in there!  And there is the real chance of Zika so it is better to be safe than sorry and bring some buggy spray.

Here is a good skin friendly, kid-friendly version:

Disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer

4,000+ people = lots of germs!!!  There are many hand sanitizing stations on the ship but I always pack extra.  I keep a small bottle in the bathroom and another bottle in our port day backpack.  A small pack of wipes is great too if you want to give the surfaces of your cabin a quick wipe down or you never know when these little beauties will come in handy in port!!!

You can usually find these at the grocery store or dollar store, but here are some options as well:

Highlighter

Bring a highlighter to mark the activities on board that you don’t want to miss!  Each day I go through the list of activities and mark the ones I want to do, then I fold it and stick it in my pocket.  Some cruise lines also have an app (Carnival Hub) where you can bookmark these activities and set reminders.

Post-it notes or small dry erase board

Bring a pack of Post-it notes and a pen or small dry erase board with a marker for messages.  This is a great way to communicate with your cabin mates if you have decided to go off-line for your cruise!  Just write out a quick note on a post-it and stick it to the mirror letting the other person know where you are or where to meet you.  You can find small dry erase boards with magnets that will stick to the cabin walls.

These items can also usually be found at a dollar store, but here is an option:

Ziploc bags

These are great to put your cell phone/camera in while in port or to pack wet things in for the drive home.  Really these magical plastic bags have endless possibilities!!!

Binoculars

Bring a small pair of binoculars for looking off of the ship.  We have forgotten these before and the zoom on your camera will work, but it’s just not the same.  You can pick up a small, inexpensive pair and they will not take up much room in your bag.  This is one of those items that are not necessary but are nice to have.

Small first aid kit

I can’t tell you how many times this comes in handy!  Especially band-aids!  Someone is bound to get a small paper cut or slip and skin their knee.  More often than not, the band-aids get used for shoes rubbing on your feet…  I have even started putting preventative band-aids on the backs of my ankles to keep my shoes from rubbing if I know I will be doing a lot of walking.  There is even moleskin in our first aid kit in case a blister develops… and it has happened.

You can get a small basic first aid kit with almost everything you need in one pack.  Then you can just add any extras you think you may need.  Don’t forget to throw this into your bag when you go into port too!!!

Medications

Over-the-counter medications and also any prescriptions you may need.  I also recommend packing these items in a carry on as it may be late in the day before your checked bags arrive… or god forbid your bag is lost.

Medicines are VERY EXPENSIVE on board!! Once I developed a sinus infection and had some cold medicine but no cough drops.  They were $7 on board!  This would normally cost $2 in a drug store…  If they have it, it will be very highly priced.  But there are also some medicines you cannot find.

I like to bring the following: cold medicine, allergy medicine, Tylenol, ibuprofen, upset stomach medicine, diarrhea medicine, heartburn medicine and cough drops.  If you have small children, you may want to bring liquid children’s medicine as well.

Full bottles are not necessary.  I will get a pill box (you know, one of those that has a box for seven days of the week) and put each kind of medicine in each slot.  Just mark them so you remember what you have!  Here is a picture of what I bring.  The larger one is for my cabin and the smaller one goes in my port-day backpack.

Pop-up clothes hamper

I learned this one the hard way on our first cruise when I didn’t know what to do with dirty clothes for five people…  Putting them back in the suitcases was a hassle since they were under the bed.  We piled them in an empty closet but as it filled up we were afraid of an avalanche each time we dared to open the door.  So a pop-up hamper solves the problem!  They take up very little space in your suitcase and work beautifully as a place to store the dirty clothes.

We actually pack two: one for clothes and one for underwear.  Here is an example of the larger hamper we use:

Detergent for laundry

In case of wanting to do laundry. bring your own detergent pods, dryer sheets & quarters for machines.  They do sell these on the ships that have laundry facilities, but they will be very expensive.  Whenever we travel, I put two dryer sheets and two laundry pods into a ziplock bag just in case…  I have never used them, but I have them if I need them.

Tide pen or Shout wipes

It never fails that someone is going to spill or drop something on their clothing.  I keep a Tide pen in our first aid kit for this type of emergency.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser

This is great instead of ironing!  Now, you are not going to get those crisp lines that an iron provides, but it does a pretty good job of shaking out many of the wrinkles.  It works especially well on t-shirts and polo style shirts… not so well on dress shirts.  But it’s better than nothing!

Lightweight sweater or jacket

It can get chilly on deck at night, so packing a lightweight sweater is a good idea, even for the Caribbean.  And sometimes the dining room or theater can be a bit chilly too.

Clothespins

These are great for hanging wet swimsuits to dry on the line in the bathroom.  If you lay a swimsuit across the line, you can fit 2-3 pieces. But using clothespins, you can hang the entire family’s wet swimwear up to dry at the same time.

You can also use them to weigh down the corners of the shower curtain to prevent water from getting into the bathroom.

Towel clips for beach towels

It can get very windy on deck and a sudden gust can whip that towel into your face if you are on your lounger or can send the towel flying if you are using it to hold your space… for a few minutes while you take a dip in the pool, not for hours while you are enjoying another activity

BYOB (bring your own beverages)

Carnival allows one bottle of wine/champagne (750ml) per adult and soda (12 pack) per person in/with carry-on luggage.

Royal Caribbean allows one bottle of wine/champagne (750ml) per adult (limit two per stateroom).

Norwegian allows one bottle of wine/champagne (750ml) per adult (subject to a $15 corkage fee)

Large Cup

Large cup with a lid for water and/or coffee, the cups are very small on the ship.

Check out this one with a nautical theme to it:

Portable radio

While in port, you can listen to the local music.

Seasickness medicine

Sea Bands, Dramamine or ginger work well.  These are great to have ‘just in case’.  Even those who do not typically get seasick may feel a bit nauseous if the seas get rough.

Magnet hooks

Cabin walls are metal so extra hooks for storage are great!

Shoe Organizer

Over the door shoe hanger is great for the bathroom if you have lots of toiletries.  These have 24 pockets, so plenty of room to store everything which keeps the counters neat and clean!

Lanyard

I love having a lanyard for your sail & sign card.  It is harder to lose if it’s hanging around your neck!  And you don’t have to fish it out of your pocket when you need it.

Here is just an example.  We use what we like!  My oldest son is joining the Marines, so he has a USMC lanyard.  I am a huge Mickey Mouse fan, so you can guess what is on mine…  And if it does get lost, going to guest services and saying, “I lost my card with my Mickey Mouse lanyard’ is much quicker to locate than a plain black one.

Extras for your cameras

Extra memory cards and batteries for your camera/video camera.  If you are like me, I take LOTS of photos and video while on vacation.  A memory card can fill up quickly and your battery will drain.  It is a good idea to have extras!

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Be sure to check out our other posts for: what to do before your cruise; what to do once onboard; food, dinner & drinks; ports & excursions; shopping; tips & gratuities and activities not to miss on a Carnival cruise.

If you want all 101 Cruise Tips, click here:

Want to see these tips live:  Here is the video:

Want more cruising posts?  Here is our full list.

If you have enjoyed this post, please share!  Also, sign up for our emails so you have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

The post Cruise Tips: 27 Extras to Pack for a Cruise appeared first on EECC Travels.

Check-In Online

Complete online check-in as soon as possible!  Some cruise lines, like Carnival, will let you choose your boarding time, so the earlier you check in the more likely you will get the boarding time you want.  Also, print and READ all of your cruise documents!

Get Organized

Make a copy of everything and put in a folder.  This includes copies of your passport or birth certificates, copies of health insurance, copies of credit cards and picture id (in case wallet is lost or stolen) and copy of the itinerary and anything you pre-booked before boarding (excursions, drink packages, etc)

Questions???

If you are unsure of a policy or a procedure, look on the cruise line’s website – all answers are there!  Every cruise line will have different policies so verify before you head to the port.

Don’t lose your luggage!

Attach a luggage tag to each checked bag and also put one inside in case it gets torn off.

Make your luggage stand out

Make sure your suitcase is easily spotted – tie a bright ribbon to the handle, etc.

Don’t over pack!

Once you have everything ready to pack, rethink the amount of clothes and shoes and remove some – don’t over pack!!!

Pack a carry-on

Pack swimsuits, a change of clothes, sunscreen, sea-bands or patches for seasickness, & medications in a carry-on – it may be a while before your checked bags are delivered to your room.

Kids Clubs

Pre-register your kids for the onboard kids’ camps.  This goes for your teens too so they can straight to their area when they are ready.

Pre-order your drinks

Order any beverages for your cabin.  This includes bottled water and bottles of alcohol along with sodas or juices for mixed drinks.  Also your drink package – these are typically cheaper if pre-booked.

Don’t be late!

Plan your travel so you arrive in plenty of time – the ship will leave you!  If flying to port it’s best to arrive the day before in case of delays.

Consider travel insurance  

This can be bought through the cruise line or from an outside carrier.  This will protect you in case you miss your trip or have to cancel last minute due to an emergency.  And lost luggage.  Also, it provides health insurance outside the US, so if you are ill and need to see the ship’s doctor or worse need a hospital in port.  

Parking

Look into parking before you leave for the cruise, there are alternatives to parking at the port which are cheaper, especially if booked online in advance. Also, some hotels have ‘stay & park’ deals.

Let your bank know

Make bank and credit card companies aware you are traveling out of the country.  It can be really frustrating when you go to make a purchase and it is denied!

Know your ship

Get familiar with the layout of the ship.  Shipmate app has all deck plans and there are ship tours on YouTube.  Shameless plug… Here are my ship tours for the Carnival Dream & Carnival Freedom.

Get to know your shipmates

Find the Facebook group for your cruise and join it!  You will get to know your fellow cruisers before you even leave and it helps to get excited! There are usually fun activities planned as well.

I hope you find these tips helpful!  Be sure to check out our other posts for: extras to pack; what to do once onboard; food, dinner & drinks; ports & excursions; shopping; tips & gratuities and activities not to miss on a Carnival cruise.

If you want all 101 Cruise Tips, click here:

Want to see these tips live:  Here is the video:

Want more cruising posts?  Here is our full list.

If you have enjoyed this post, please share!  Also, sign up for our emails so you have every new post delivered right to your inbox!

Thanks,

Alisa

EECC Travels

The post Cruise Tips: What to do Before You Leave on Your Cruise appeared first on EECC Travels.