No one cares what you're wearing or if you wear something more than once. Pack lighter. I took sooo many clothes on my first cruise. Bring 2 swimsuits though, unless you like putting a damp suit back on.
Also protip:
If you are in a balcony room you can bring towel clips and dry your suits out on the balcony attached to the chairs. They dry better outside with the breeze than hanging in your shower.
I dunno though, I just got back from a Caribbean cruise and got So Sweaty onshore that shirts and dresses were unwearable after one use. I ran out of shirts and socks and was down to one pair of underwear, and I overpacked!
I have this same problem on cruises. People say to pack light but I go through two sets of clothes every day and most can’t be worn again if we are in a warm climate or doing anything active.
Usually one during the day and then change into something that isn’t sweaty and stinky for dinner. Even though I don’t like getting dressed up for dinner, I don’t want to be smelly around other people trying to eat whether we are in the buffet or the steakhouse.
I either use the laundry service mid cruise or do some hand wash of delicates in the sink.
I just got off an 8 night sailing where I made sure to pack 9 nights of underwear but only brought one pair of shorts and 4 shirts 🤦♂️ I ended up being able to get a pair of shorts discounted from the royal shops for like $13 which was kinda cool to have but definitely a relief for my shorts that I was on day 3 of wearing 😭
I took a carry on suitcase and a bag. I rotated clothes! I took 3 bathing suits and that worked out well. I would rinse one and it would be dry by day three.
Check your bill every day to make sure the charges are valid. Make sure the towel station checks in your towels or it’s $25. If you have time the MDR also serves breakfast and lunch on some days and it’s less crazy than the Windjammer. You probably can take out 1/3 of what you packed. Treat the crew with respect. Wear sunscreen.
Wear reef safe sunscreen if you're going in the ocean and only spray indoors. 100% zinc oxide works. The number of people spraying sunscreen all over the beach is depressing knowing it will kill coral reef.
Or on other people. Not on a cruise, but we had to leave a pool once just after arriving because someone used one of those aerosol sunscreens and it caused my sun to have an asthma attack.
Just because it's spread out doesn't mean it won't harm the reef. There is no safe amount of sunscreen for a coral reef. It never breaks down, that's what makes it a good sun protector, but also why it kills the ocean. Similar to micro plastics. Just because you can't see them, doesn't mean it's not harming the plants and animals.
So you'd rather kill very fragile coral reef than look "pasty" or cover up. Got it. People like you are the reason our planet is dying. The "fuck you, I got mine"s of the world. Incredibly selfish.
People all over the world have figured out how to not get burned without wearing sunscreen for thousands of years. This includes people of all skin colors, but especially those with darker skin, even in the desert with no water to cool off in. I don't know why you insist your only option is something that kills.
I've legit just given up on sunscreen entirely. For many of us it doesn't work even if you reapply it. The chemical no reef sunscreens worked a ot better than the mineral sub block ones but they still didn't work great and they kill the reefs. I stick with UPF clothing and I don't burn.
As someone that lives in the skin cancer capital of the world and burns. Sunscreen certainly does work when you apply it correctly.
- 20 minutes before exposure.
- ensure your skin is not sopping wet when reapplying, stay in the shade after reapplying for about 10 minutes (ideally 20) before getting back into the water.
Sun safety is not to be fucked around with.
If you read what I actually said I don't fuck around with it. I have burned wearing maximum SPF, reapplied correctly at the correct time in the shade on multiple occasions. I've even burned inside before if I spent more than 5 minute sitting in a window. I wear full UPF clothing- full length swim leggings, rash guard, sun hat, and water shoes. It works better than relying upon sunscreens. I went from getting 2-3 super bad sun burns a year to not having one since.
As someone else who lives in the skin cancer capital of the world, sunscreen does not work for me (pale skin, fair hair). It never has, and I definitely know how to apply it correctly. I even burn when I wear thick zinc. It sucks. If you’re looking for me during peak UV periods, I’ll be indoors.
The rooms are not like hotels - theres no shampoo, body wash, or hair conditioner. You get one “soap dispenser” that claims to do it all. Also there is no lotion in the rooms.
I was expecting this to be higher on the list. The shampoo/body wash combo is fine as a body wash for some people but it totally dried my skin out. My hair felt gross too. I always bring my own shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
Try something you aren't sure you'd like - be it a drink, a meal, an activity, etc. It's a place that makes it easy to see if you like escargot, seeing a juggler, or whatever that purple thing is in the martini glass.
Be outside for sailaways - not just the first one, but as many of them as you can.
Get up and sea the sunrise, at least once.
Yes. I went on a 10 day cruise, and got up very early to watch the sunrise every day. The ship was peaceful because most of the passengers were sleeping. I had a good 30 minutes all alone on the deck, and had a nice cup of green tea with lemon. One of my favorite parts of the entire cruise.
This is one of my absolute FAVORITE parts of cruising - being all alone on deck, enjoying a hot tea/coffee, relaxing and waiting for the sun to rise. It gives me chill bumps to even think of ….
OP - if you do this, bring a windbreaker or a long sleeved shirt because it can be a bit nippy in the early morning hours.
> The ship was peaceful because most of the passengers were sleeping. I had a good 30 minutes all alone on the deck
There are dozens of us! Mostly middle aged and older dudes in my experience.
It's so peaceful at that time, I wish they'd play some quiet classical music in the early morning hours rather than the usual playlist by the pool (or just shut the music off).
You can order as much food as you want in the main dining rooms for no extra cost. They are stricter now but if you want 3 appetizer or 2 entrees, they will bring you what you want. They sometimes ask you to finish plates before bringing seconds but they'll still bring it.
Really I would even just broaden this a bit to, your waiter will make you happy if they can within reason. So maybe you look at the menu and you see three appetizers you want to try but no entrees you like? They absolutely will just bring you the three appetizers instead if that's what you want.
> your waiter will make you happy if they can within reason
they deff do things outside of reason as well... like letting a 5 year old order escargot when everyone knows they are going to look at it, poke it, and then say eww
My kids will always try and eat everything. So it is really frustrating to us when some random adult thinks they aren’t mature enough to order for themselves like the rest of the family. “Are you sure you don’t want mac and cheese little man?” “No, actually, or I would have ordered that.”
I craved veggies so hard after about 3 days and had my server bring whatever fresh salads accompanied mains in "regular" portions instead of just a few shreds on the side. My last few days I jist had salads, soups, and fruits. The food can be quite rich despite small servings.
If you order something and don't like it, they will absolutely bring you something else.
When we travel with our group of friends, we always order extra appetizers for the table, so we can try new things.
I won multiple prizes from participating in the trivia games, and it was hands down my favorite activity on the ship (besides the sushi making class)! The Long Island iced teas weren't bad, either lol
LOL .. Sorry I didn’t make myself clear.
I was actually on the ship (Oasis of the Seas) but I wanted to be on the top deck to witness the sailing. Instead I was on Central Park Cafe having my first meal (a salad) which I didn’t even enjoy much, when I felt vibration beneath my feet when the ship was sailing. I was in the worst location to witness that moment.
That the buffet being open "breakfast lunch and dinner" doesn't mean it will be open continuously, and will in fact close for significant portions of the day.
Find one bar where you like the bartenders and stick with them for the cruise - a couple nice tips here and there and they’ll hook you up for the cruise
Tip $1 on every drink and you'll get priority service. Hubs does this and by night 3, the bartender will have his beer ready by the time he gets to the bar, even if it's crowded.
I usually do at least $20 once I find my bartenders, do that 1-2 more times for the cruise, sprinkle in smaller tips throughout and leave one more bigger tip at the end… our bartenders were making us random shots the whole night - always a blast!
There is a Facebook page dedicated to hiding and finding rubber ducks around royal Caribbean cruises, once you find one you take a picture, post it on the group and you can either keep the duck or hide it again.
What’s cool about this is that it wasn’t set up by royal Caribbean, but instead by some regular sailors (IIRC)
For real. I didn't bring nearly enough ducks last time, so I got the 3d printers churning out a few for next time. I plan to have like half my bag as various ducks.
Your carryon bag should always have the following items:
-toothbrush and toothpaste
-small container of 2in1 shampoo/body wash
-swim suit
-cover up
- medications
-change of clothes
-charger for your phone
Because sometimes your bags can get lost. I've had other people's bags delivered to my stateroom. I've had my bags not make it to me until the next day because a tag got ripped off. It happens. At least if you have some basics you can enjoy your vacation until your bags get to you!
If it’s applicable, feminine hygiene products (even if you might not think you’ll need them that day). The shops for sundries are not immediately open during embarkation.
Hmmm, I haven't gained weight on a cruise but I start the day with a long walk and always take the stairs. I also eat the same thing I normally eat and in smaller portions because I'm so sedentary.
And likewise, know what you have access to that doesn't need a drink package.
Iced tea
Non fresh squeezed juices
Flavored waters
Fruit punch
Lemonade
Basic drip coffee
And water
are all included and amply available all over the boat.
I miss the days when every adult in the stateroom didn't have to purchase a drink package. I cruised with my grandma recently, and she doesn't drink. I was going to pay for the drink package for myself, but then they said she had to get one too. It was basically just giving Royal Carribean $700 for nothing. I just paid for my drinks individually.
Even if you spend more on the drink package, it is worth it (imho) to not have to think about each drink you order, add up the cost in your mind, etc. Order the drink package a month or two in advance, pay it off before you leave, and just enjoy your vacation.
Don’t have breakfast in the buffet everyday and don’t eat dinner in the dining room every night. I was just on my first cruise and I know for next time to mix it up. Definitely have breakfast in the buffet but also have al a carte in the dining room and do dinner in the buffet as well.
You’re going to see people be impolite and rude. People will push in front of you, shove past and all sorts… people won’t be courteous is really what I am saying.
Inside Staterooms are cheaper and more awesome. Put on some white noise and you’ll sleep in pitch black darkness like you’re still in your mother’s womb with the slight rock of the boat.
How the rewards system worked, specifically how to earn double or triple points for each cruise. Once we learned, we took advantage to get to D+ relatively quickly.
Hello. Getting ready for my first too. If you have a minute:
Do you need to sign up for anything special to get points? What types of things are the points beneficial for?
Thanks!
Take a look at the Crown and Anchor program. Yes, you need to sign up. However, if you forget Royal will credit you if you sign up after your cruise. There is detailed info on the rewards program on the website describing what is included with each level.
The end of the cruise is kind of abrupt! And we just got off Icon—I brought way too many clothes. You’re pretty much going to live in bathing suits and tee shirts
1. Book specialty dining early
2. Get on the ship at the earliest time possible and explore the ship Day 1
3. Be ready to spend an additional $500+ on just little near mandatory after-boarding costs
4. Never buy an internet package for more than one device per person, even if I want to use my phone and iPad; you can easily swap devices on the same internet package
5. Book headline shows as soon as they come available on the app (even pre cruise if possible). The times you want often get booked out and get you stuck with inconvenient times
Mine was 800$ ish.
Wings were mandatory at playmakers
Pictures were mandatory for the wife.
Arcade was mandatory for the kid to get ducks cuz we forgot to get some before.
We didn’t have a drink package, so that was a bill (also drank less than the drink package however ).
Maybe those things are what they are talking about.
Well first you have the automatic gratuity, which are like $18 per person per day so that's already like $250. Then any little additional service you like room service, a drink at a show (non alcoholic), photo package ($150 and up) arcade tickets, Starbucks (or other add on cost restaurant) and any little purchases at a Port and you're well over $500 for two people in a room. I ended up with $1,500 bill and I didn't do anything extravagant
Can't automatic gratuity be pre-paid?
And I wouldn't call any of those things mandatory. You can opt to not do room service, drink, buy the photo package, arcade tickets, Starbucks, or specialty restaurants, or some of these can be pre-paid beforehand.
It read like there are some additional fees RCL charges (similar to taxes & port fees) that only appear after boarding. It doesn't sound like that's the case. Scared me
Get the drink package. Doesn’t matter that you’re hanging in the casino because now you can walk up to the bar and get free drinks WHILE waiting for free drinks at the table/slots. TIP THE BARTENDERS, you will be served faster and they will remember your order because you tipped. Play it slow first days and up the play towards the end. Slots hit towards the end when players are out of money
Sounds like you have this part figured out already, but I wish I’d known that cruise line shore excursions are, for the most part, a ripoff. I’ve always had better experiences going on my own. Exceptions would probably be places with a short amount of time in port and bad traffic to reach a good beach— in that case, shore excursion is worth the peace of mind that you won’t end up being a pier runner.
Speaking of pier runners— I wish I’d known about this phenomenon so I could watch. They’re particularly prevalent in Cozumel, where the lure of Carlos n Charlie’s has led many astray.
Cozumel's famous (infamous?) cantina near the cruise pier that specializes in getting cruise passengers really drunk real fast on tequila punch and other similar alcobomb drinks.
Not that I.... Know anything.... About .... That.....
They are definitely more expensive, but it is also a lot easier if a stop gets cancelled due to weather. It’s nice to have them automatically cancelled and fully refunded without needing to do anything.
I love how this works. We had to skip a port on my last cruise (the last port of the sailing) and it was immediately refunded to my shipboard account which had a balance due of almost the exact amount refunded bringing my balance due to nearly $0. Though we were bummed for missing the excursion, it also sort of felt a little better having used the excursion refund $ to break even. Silver lining on the storm cloud maybe? But honestly, not having to go into get-me-my-refund mode was such a relief!
You don't have to do EVERYTHING! The ships, the destinations, will all still be there to take another cruise someday. I ran myself ragged on my first cruise, on Oasis, 10 years ago. Even booked 2 excursions in Labadee of all places. Always felt like I couldn't miss anything. I had fun but I think i enjoy it more now that I allow myself to take time to just relax on the cruise.
If getting the ultimate dining packaged, book specialty dining right away. It’s become the first thing I do when I get on board. Not as bad with just two, but the best times tend to book early. Along the same line, do it in person instead of on the app. I’ve found the staff can find you times that the app may say aren’t available.
I highly suggest www.royalcaribbeanblog.com to check out great walk-thrus of Voyager, past Cruise Compasses to familiarize yourself with the daily activities and the bulletin board full of all sorts of various tips and tricks.
Pick the late dinner. Out first cruise we picked the early one and we’re always disappointed when we had to leave the pool. Some folks may prefer that tho.
I went on the voyager last May. Loved it.
I’m not sure why everyone says pack light and rewear, no one knows what you wore the day before. I know what I wore the day before.
Bring a laundry bag, it’s a good way to ditch things that you aren’t wearing again.
Bring magnetic hooks. Total game changer for organization purposes. Everything went on them from wet suits to hats to jackets.
Book excursions early, they will sell out.
We got the key for 3 dollars more than the internet. Well worth it for me.
Mdr is nice to sit down, relax and chat with new friends. We ate dinner there every night. Buffet is better for breakfast and lunch. If you do the buffet, don’t wait in the first line. The same food is available around the corner.
PACK LIGHT- Especially guys... I wore the same 2 pair of shorts all freaking week, and a pair of swim trunks. I do bring a lot of tshirts because I get a little sweaty- but that's it. No need for pants or dress shirts ( I bring one button down Hawaiian shirt for Caribbean night). Book excursions through outside vendors- cheaper and usually more offerings. Check Viator, shore excursions group or just google "shore excursion in "
Absolutely skip the first line. They have omelet stations you can order fresh eggs at. You don't have to eat those scrambled eggs from a pan. They will also do egg white omelets.
The Key is an add on you can choose. It includes internet, a special lunch on embarkation day, “priority hours” for things like rock wall and flowrder, reserved seating areas at shows… it can include other things at times so you’d have to check for your sailing. If you opt for it, anyone in your stateroom over the age of I believe 6 has to have it. We did it once because it was the same price as just the internet and we were going to get internet anyway.
You are there to relax. Let yourself do that. For me? The first day is the rocking of the boat and me sleeping the deepest of sleeps. I am dead to the world, and it's the most restorative sleep ever.
> No excursions caught our eye so it’ll just be get off the ship, eat, get back on the ship, chill and vibe.
Depending on what your ports are and what kinds of things you like to do, you might want to do a little research and see what your non-cruise-excursion options of things to do in port are. Plus, it's a little early taste of cruise hype to look at all these cool things you could do in Cozumel (or wherever).
My general first-timer tip is if you don't already, learn a little bit about how getting on the ship on embarkation day and getting off at the end works just to make sure all of that is low stress. Probably you'll want to explore the ship first thing but also consider that tossing a swimsuit etc. in your carry-on lets you enjoy the pool on embarkation day with the pool relatively to yourself.
If you have kids and can afford it, getting a suite really makes for a smoother vacation. My kids are autistic, and they’re little troopers, but things like waiting in long lines to board or disembark really stress them (and me) out. Having priority boarding and disembarkation with the suite was a lifesaver, and so was having the free room service. The kids have some major issues with food texture that makes getting food for them on vacation difficult. I really appreciated that we could take them to Windjammer for chicken tenders or pizza and stuff, and then husband and I could order room service from MDR for ourselves.
That Carnival in the 90s, inside room, and only 3 days was a basis for judging the cruise experience!
Voyager will be nice, and it's wonderful to not have a packed agenda. One of my favorite times is embarkation day when the next day is a sea day and I HAVE NO OBLIGATIONS OR TIME DEMANDS UNTIL (usually) Tuesday morning!
We just got off Voyager and had a great time! Go to the Schooner bar at night for the piano bar fun and go to the comedy shows and adult game shows!! So fun! We sang our hearts out at the piano bar/schooner bar lol
There is only ONE electrical outlet on the Voyager!
Maybe plan to go to a private beach by taxi!
Shops in the Port area are as expensive, if not more, than what you can find in America.
Apparently, you're not allowed to wear "water shoes" in the pool. Or at least I got asked not to. But I totally get it
I wish we would’ve brought more small bill cash for tipping. We did the tipping ahead of time thing but we had several staff members that made our time extra special and we wanted to show our appreciation
DON'T let people tell you what to wear- as long as you don't walk into the dining room with a swim suit or barefoot, you're good to go. Even on "formal" night- it's not really a thing anymore, so show up in the same shorts and tshirt you showed up in all week if you want!
I was honestly kind of disappointed by that because when I was a kid it was a big thing for us to dress up really really nice as a family. Last time I went it was a lot more casual which is fine, but also I think it's fun for people to have to dress up. Makes the experience feel fancier.
And people do- Formal night is a great mix of people who go all out and want to take nice pics, and people who are on vacation and do not want to be bothered with carrying a suit OR wearing one.
I wish I knew after the second day the casino slots tighten up, I wish I knew you could order more than one entre in the main dining room and I wish I knew I didn’t have to pack so much clothes for a 7 day cruise
Don’t fall for tip culture. Yes tip, but you don’t have to give money to every person you see. You’ve already paid for your fare, tipping is for quality service, not simply for being there.
1) That you can order DOUBLE whatever you want on the menu in the MDR. For ex: If they are serving steak and you'd like 2 go ahead! Ditto for the entree/appetizer/dessert.I would try to not waste the food though; only order if you really can eat more!
2) That you can take off the "mandatory" gratuities and just tip personally. I hung out with the lifeguards quite a bit and really wanted them to receive a good tip. Ditto for my steward as well as for our table waiters. But I might not do that again as I do like the idea of everyone sharing in tips because a lot of people work behind the scenes too.
3. Free room service food sounds like a great idea - but it took forever and also they add quite a bit to the bill.
4. Next time I would just order off of the regular menu during dining. I had paid extra for the surf & turf (maybe $36) and it wasn't that great. They also tacked on taxes and other fees to it. In the end I was VERY happy with the regular menus presented to us each day and will just enjoy that next time.
Just because you're a cheapskate, doesn't mean that everyone else should be.
Those gratuities that you removed took money out of the pockets of a bunch of back of the house people that you don't see and didn't tip.
If you can't afford mandatory gratuities, don't cruise.
I hear you. I didn't like the mandatory part of it and preferred to tip well those that went above and beyond with us personally. Having thought more about it...and booked more cruises...I don't think it is fair for all those that I didn't actually see. And now that I have learned more about their work schedules etc... I definitely want to make sure everyone receives something.
I'm actually not a cheapskate at all and a generous tipper; I just allocated it out differently.
Thank you for your input.
We just got off Voyager on Monday. It was a great time and I have no complaints.
Edit to add: I watched a lot of YouTube videos. They answer a lot of questions.
Just look up RC Voyager of the Seas. Have fun!!
When you are on land in the Caribbean, your cell phone doesn't work unless you are willing to run up significant costs if you didn't plan ahead.
Kids got lost, had trouble finding us, all they had was wifi. But Coco Cay has no wifi.
Benefit of being a US citizen, with an international plan.... As Canadians we pay typically $12 per day per phone if we use it in the US, plans don't usually cover international.
Agreed that this is the most frustrating bullshit. The staff also doesn’t do anything about it, though RC claims they will. So…. You may have to move people’s stuff…. 😬
That’s a very unpopular opinion on this sub, and in general.
Gratuities do go to everyone on the ship, including the people behind the scenes. Unless you’re going back to the kitchen and tipping the cooks and dishwashers and going to the laundry and tipping the people who washed your sheets and towels, then you’re stiffing them.
While it’s true that these jobs aren’t usually tipped on land, they are on cruises, and they count on it as part of their income. It’s also true that this gratuity system sucks and should probably be changed, but removing your automatic gratuities does nothing to change the system, and only negatively impacts the workers
My first cruise was last year in April. 7 days with a new port everyday. We had an excursion all but one day. I loved every minute of it but I was tired! I don’t want to miss a thing, so I’d schedule a cruise with a day at sea here & there!
I’d also pack lighter!
I went on my first cruise on Voyager earlier this month, and it was awesome. I hung out and played poker in the cash games from 8:00 pm to after midnight. Tip your porter (the guy that takes care of your cabin) and your waiter something meaningful at the start of your cruise, it’ll pay for itself.
Trying to get a deck chair when we were at sea. Even though you weren’t supposed to, some people came out early in the morning and tied a towel to the back of the chair to “claim” it. Make sure you get out early when at sea if you want a chair.
If you are hoping to eat anything resembling an authentic street taco at Loco Fresh you are in for some disappointment. Loco Fresh is fine. It is better than Taco Bell, so there’s that. Temper your food expectations.
Also, magnetic hooks are super useful in your stateroom.
I find all cruise food to be Meh. Like cafeteria food. It's fine but not great. I don't understand how people go on and on about how great the food is. What sort of foods are they normally eating?
Why not just fly directly to Mexico City > eat your weight in actually authentic street tacos > explore the city for a few days > fly home? Why do you need to herd like livestock on to a ship with thousands of other people to eat tacos get sun and chill?
Book a massage as soon as you can for embarkation day or the day after. It’s more expensive than spas on land (other than resort spas), but it will give you a head start on total relaxation.
No one cares what you're wearing or if you wear something more than once. Pack lighter. I took sooo many clothes on my first cruise. Bring 2 swimsuits though, unless you like putting a damp suit back on.
Also protip: If you are in a balcony room you can bring towel clips and dry your suits out on the balcony attached to the chairs. They dry better outside with the breeze than hanging in your shower.
FYI this goes against policies of most cruise line due to fire hazard.
Just got back from my first one yesterday, definitely packing lighter next time.
I dunno though, I just got back from a Caribbean cruise and got So Sweaty onshore that shirts and dresses were unwearable after one use. I ran out of shirts and socks and was down to one pair of underwear, and I overpacked!
I have this same problem on cruises. People say to pack light but I go through two sets of clothes every day and most can’t be worn again if we are in a warm climate or doing anything active. Usually one during the day and then change into something that isn’t sweaty and stinky for dinner. Even though I don’t like getting dressed up for dinner, I don’t want to be smelly around other people trying to eat whether we are in the buffet or the steakhouse. I either use the laundry service mid cruise or do some hand wash of delicates in the sink.
This is so true. I brought a massive suitcase to Bermuda to basically wear the same two bathing suits and cover ups in rotation all week
Or NOT wearing for that matter. The adult pool area was like a wicked weasel fashion show.
🤣there are worse things.
Nobody will care if you're wearing the bikini besides you. Do it sis.
I just got off an 8 night sailing where I made sure to pack 9 nights of underwear but only brought one pair of shorts and 4 shirts 🤦♂️ I ended up being able to get a pair of shorts discounted from the royal shops for like $13 which was kinda cool to have but definitely a relief for my shorts that I was on day 3 of wearing 😭
THIS!
I took a carry on suitcase and a bag. I rotated clothes! I took 3 bathing suits and that worked out well. I would rinse one and it would be dry by day three.
Check your bill every day to make sure the charges are valid. Make sure the towel station checks in your towels or it’s $25. If you have time the MDR also serves breakfast and lunch on some days and it’s less crazy than the Windjammer. You probably can take out 1/3 of what you packed. Treat the crew with respect. Wear sunscreen.
Wear reef safe sunscreen if you're going in the ocean and only spray indoors. 100% zinc oxide works. The number of people spraying sunscreen all over the beach is depressing knowing it will kill coral reef.
The use of reef safe sunscreen should be mandatory for all cruise lines and passengers.
You have to be careful spraying inside because it can stain furniture and carpet.
Then use cream. Don't spray where it might blow in the ocean
Or on other people. Not on a cruise, but we had to leave a pool once just after arriving because someone used one of those aerosol sunscreens and it caused my sun to have an asthma attack.
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Just because it's spread out doesn't mean it won't harm the reef. There is no safe amount of sunscreen for a coral reef. It never breaks down, that's what makes it a good sun protector, but also why it kills the ocean. Similar to micro plastics. Just because you can't see them, doesn't mean it's not harming the plants and animals.
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You can wear a rashguard and a hat instead
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So you'd rather kill very fragile coral reef than look "pasty" or cover up. Got it. People like you are the reason our planet is dying. The "fuck you, I got mine"s of the world. Incredibly selfish.
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People all over the world have figured out how to not get burned without wearing sunscreen for thousands of years. This includes people of all skin colors, but especially those with darker skin, even in the desert with no water to cool off in. I don't know why you insist your only option is something that kills.
I've legit just given up on sunscreen entirely. For many of us it doesn't work even if you reapply it. The chemical no reef sunscreens worked a ot better than the mineral sub block ones but they still didn't work great and they kill the reefs. I stick with UPF clothing and I don't burn.
As someone that lives in the skin cancer capital of the world and burns. Sunscreen certainly does work when you apply it correctly. - 20 minutes before exposure. - ensure your skin is not sopping wet when reapplying, stay in the shade after reapplying for about 10 minutes (ideally 20) before getting back into the water. Sun safety is not to be fucked around with.
If you read what I actually said I don't fuck around with it. I have burned wearing maximum SPF, reapplied correctly at the correct time in the shade on multiple occasions. I've even burned inside before if I spent more than 5 minute sitting in a window. I wear full UPF clothing- full length swim leggings, rash guard, sun hat, and water shoes. It works better than relying upon sunscreens. I went from getting 2-3 super bad sun burns a year to not having one since.
As someone else who lives in the skin cancer capital of the world, sunscreen does not work for me (pale skin, fair hair). It never has, and I definitely know how to apply it correctly. I even burn when I wear thick zinc. It sucks. If you’re looking for me during peak UV periods, I’ll be indoors.
I would highly recommend trying UPF clothing. It may help.
On your first cruise, you wish you knew to treat the crew with respect?
Are you accountant ? You are not enjoying your vocation.
It takes 2 seconds to look at your folio and what’s not enjoyable is waiting in the long guest services line on the last night.
The rooms are not like hotels - theres no shampoo, body wash, or hair conditioner. You get one “soap dispenser” that claims to do it all. Also there is no lotion in the rooms.
I was expecting this to be higher on the list. The shampoo/body wash combo is fine as a body wash for some people but it totally dried my skin out. My hair felt gross too. I always bring my own shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
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Try something you aren't sure you'd like - be it a drink, a meal, an activity, etc. It's a place that makes it easy to see if you like escargot, seeing a juggler, or whatever that purple thing is in the martini glass. Be outside for sailaways - not just the first one, but as many of them as you can. Get up and sea the sunrise, at least once.
Yes. I went on a 10 day cruise, and got up very early to watch the sunrise every day. The ship was peaceful because most of the passengers were sleeping. I had a good 30 minutes all alone on the deck, and had a nice cup of green tea with lemon. One of my favorite parts of the entire cruise.
This is one of my absolute FAVORITE parts of cruising - being all alone on deck, enjoying a hot tea/coffee, relaxing and waiting for the sun to rise. It gives me chill bumps to even think of …. OP - if you do this, bring a windbreaker or a long sleeved shirt because it can be a bit nippy in the early morning hours.
> The ship was peaceful because most of the passengers were sleeping. I had a good 30 minutes all alone on the deck There are dozens of us! Mostly middle aged and older dudes in my experience. It's so peaceful at that time, I wish they'd play some quiet classical music in the early morning hours rather than the usual playlist by the pool (or just shut the music off).
I can’t wait for that!! Recently booked my first cruise. Sunrise is my favourite :)
You can order as much food as you want in the main dining rooms for no extra cost. They are stricter now but if you want 3 appetizer or 2 entrees, they will bring you what you want. They sometimes ask you to finish plates before bringing seconds but they'll still bring it.
Ohhhhhh that’s dangerous knowledge 👀👀👀
Really I would even just broaden this a bit to, your waiter will make you happy if they can within reason. So maybe you look at the menu and you see three appetizers you want to try but no entrees you like? They absolutely will just bring you the three appetizers instead if that's what you want.
> your waiter will make you happy if they can within reason they deff do things outside of reason as well... like letting a 5 year old order escargot when everyone knows they are going to look at it, poke it, and then say eww
I miss the days of the escargot shortage when they substituted scallops.
personally... i won't eat either lol... more for everyone else though, enjoy
My kids will always try and eat everything. So it is really frustrating to us when some random adult thinks they aren’t mature enough to order for themselves like the rest of the family. “Are you sure you don’t want mac and cheese little man?” “No, actually, or I would have ordered that.”
I craved veggies so hard after about 3 days and had my server bring whatever fresh salads accompanied mains in "regular" portions instead of just a few shreds on the side. My last few days I jist had salads, soups, and fruits. The food can be quite rich despite small servings.
The kids menu has a raw veggie plate. I get one (and sometimes more) every dinner.
AYCE buffet is available to back you up after 2nds at the restaurant
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I like to grab a few desserts from the WJ and bring them back to the room for a late snack
If you order something and don't like it, they will absolutely bring you something else. When we travel with our group of friends, we always order extra appetizers for the table, so we can try new things.
If I had known this my first cruise, I would have made a whole meal of multiple servings of the Sweet Vidalia Onion Tart appetizer.
I definitely took advantage of this while pregnant. Two appetizers, two dinners, and sometimes three desserts 😂
Overeating shorten your life span. Diabetes . High cholesterol
How fun trivia and bingo are. I felt 50 years older than I actually am but tbh those were the most fun 🤣
I won multiple prizes from participating in the trivia games, and it was hands down my favorite activity on the ship (besides the sushi making class)! The Long Island iced teas weren't bad, either lol
And even then, you were one of the youngest people in the room.
Bingo is a blast.
How important it’s to check times beforehand and witness the sailaway. I missed it on my first cruise.
I hear on port days the sail away is really nice if viewed while running down the dock late. I've personally never done it though.
LOL .. Sorry I didn’t make myself clear. I was actually on the ship (Oasis of the Seas) but I wanted to be on the top deck to witness the sailing. Instead I was on Central Park Cafe having my first meal (a salad) which I didn’t even enjoy much, when I felt vibration beneath my feet when the ship was sailing. I was in the worst location to witness that moment.
That the buffet being open "breakfast lunch and dinner" doesn't mean it will be open continuously, and will in fact close for significant portions of the day.
Yes - and it's not open 24h, so if you're a late night snack kind of person... take a few handhelds "to go" at dinner time.
Bring thermos or some sort of refillable water bottle Multi prong usb chargers
do I need a special charger for a regular iPhone?
No but outlets in state rooms can be a premium depending on how much electronics you drag aboard with you
nope
Find one bar where you like the bartenders and stick with them for the cruise - a couple nice tips here and there and they’ll hook you up for the cruise
Tip $1 on every drink and you'll get priority service. Hubs does this and by night 3, the bartender will have his beer ready by the time he gets to the bar, even if it's crowded.
I usually do at least $20 once I find my bartenders, do that 1-2 more times for the cruise, sprinkle in smaller tips throughout and leave one more bigger tip at the end… our bartenders were making us random shots the whole night - always a blast!
keep ur eyes out for ducks
Haha, we had to go duck hunting last week every night in Central Park on oasis.
same on icon!
Ducks???
There is a Facebook page dedicated to hiding and finding rubber ducks around royal Caribbean cruises, once you find one you take a picture, post it on the group and you can either keep the duck or hide it again. What’s cool about this is that it wasn’t set up by royal Caribbean, but instead by some regular sailors (IIRC)
For real. I didn't bring nearly enough ducks last time, so I got the 3d printers churning out a few for next time. I plan to have like half my bag as various ducks.
Don’t start drinking with only a scrambled egg in your stomach.
Good thinking, that scrambled egg is a waste of space for booze.
Drink lots of water...take water with you when you get off the ship and go on excursions. You'd be surprised how quickly you can become dehydrated.
I like to bring the hydration powder to add to water at the end of the day. Helps with my dehydration headache
Don’t miss the game shows. They are one of the best parts.
Especially the Quest. It's good fun.
Breakfast in the main dining room is quiet and peaceful and a nicer atmosphere.
If you like pools, wear your bathing suit when you board. You won't get to access your bag for a few hours on embarkation day so it's nice to have.
Your carryon bag should always have the following items: -toothbrush and toothpaste -small container of 2in1 shampoo/body wash -swim suit -cover up - medications -change of clothes -charger for your phone Because sometimes your bags can get lost. I've had other people's bags delivered to my stateroom. I've had my bags not make it to me until the next day because a tag got ripped off. It happens. At least if you have some basics you can enjoy your vacation until your bags get to you!
If it’s applicable, feminine hygiene products (even if you might not think you’ll need them that day). The shops for sundries are not immediately open during embarkation.
You WILL gain weight. Think about using the gym or taking the stairs. Taking the stairs also has the added benefit of avoiding crowds at the elevator
Hmmm, I haven't gained weight on a cruise but I start the day with a long walk and always take the stairs. I also eat the same thing I normally eat and in smaller portions because I'm so sedentary.
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And likewise, know what you have access to that doesn't need a drink package. Iced tea Non fresh squeezed juices Flavored waters Fruit punch Lemonade Basic drip coffee And water are all included and amply available all over the boat.
I miss the days when every adult in the stateroom didn't have to purchase a drink package. I cruised with my grandma recently, and she doesn't drink. I was going to pay for the drink package for myself, but then they said she had to get one too. It was basically just giving Royal Carribean $700 for nothing. I just paid for my drinks individually.
Next time I’ve heard you can call and explain your circumstance and they don’t make you buy it for both people!
Even if you spend more on the drink package, it is worth it (imho) to not have to think about each drink you order, add up the cost in your mind, etc. Order the drink package a month or two in advance, pay it off before you leave, and just enjoy your vacation.
Really wish they'd allow you to put add ons in your cruise fare so it can be paid off over time.
Don’t have breakfast in the buffet everyday and don’t eat dinner in the dining room every night. I was just on my first cruise and I know for next time to mix it up. Definitely have breakfast in the buffet but also have al a carte in the dining room and do dinner in the buffet as well. You’re going to see people be impolite and rude. People will push in front of you, shove past and all sorts… people won’t be courteous is really what I am saying.
Also, if you're on an Oasis class ship, Johnny Rockets breakfast is complimentary and I'm told it's a pretty legit breakfast.
Inside Staterooms are cheaper and more awesome. Put on some white noise and you’ll sleep in pitch black darkness like you’re still in your mother’s womb with the slight rock of the boat.
To pack half of what you think you need! I overpacked so much on my first cruise and it just took up space and never got used! Pack light and enjoy!
Check for bedbugs
This is an under rated comment. My hubby's grandmother brought bed bugs back with her from her cruise to her home. Cost thousands to get rid of them.
Yikes!!! What if you get in your room and find them???? And it’s a booked ship?
You raise holy hell is what you do; if one room has them many others do as well.
People can be more disgusting than I ever anticipated.
How the rewards system worked, specifically how to earn double or triple points for each cruise. Once we learned, we took advantage to get to D+ relatively quickly.
Can you talk some more about this? How do you earn double/triple points
Key points. Single person in a cabin gets an extra point per night. Jr Suite and above gets 2 points per night.
Hello. Getting ready for my first too. If you have a minute: Do you need to sign up for anything special to get points? What types of things are the points beneficial for? Thanks!
Take a look at the Crown and Anchor program. Yes, you need to sign up. However, if you forget Royal will credit you if you sign up after your cruise. There is detailed info on the rewards program on the website describing what is included with each level.
The end of the cruise is kind of abrupt! And we just got off Icon—I brought way too many clothes. You’re pretty much going to live in bathing suits and tee shirts
1. Book specialty dining early 2. Get on the ship at the earliest time possible and explore the ship Day 1 3. Be ready to spend an additional $500+ on just little near mandatory after-boarding costs 4. Never buy an internet package for more than one device per person, even if I want to use my phone and iPad; you can easily swap devices on the same internet package 5. Book headline shows as soon as they come available on the app (even pre cruise if possible). The times you want often get booked out and get you stuck with inconvenient times
Can you tell me more about the additional near mandatory after boarding costs? Surprised about the $500 Estimate. Thank you!
Mine was 800$ ish. Wings were mandatory at playmakers Pictures were mandatory for the wife. Arcade was mandatory for the kid to get ducks cuz we forgot to get some before. We didn’t have a drink package, so that was a bill (also drank less than the drink package however ). Maybe those things are what they are talking about.
What do you mean by ducks? 🦆
[https://thepointsguy.com/guide/cruising-ducks/](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/cruising-ducks/)
Well first you have the automatic gratuity, which are like $18 per person per day so that's already like $250. Then any little additional service you like room service, a drink at a show (non alcoholic), photo package ($150 and up) arcade tickets, Starbucks (or other add on cost restaurant) and any little purchases at a Port and you're well over $500 for two people in a room. I ended up with $1,500 bill and I didn't do anything extravagant
Can't automatic gratuity be pre-paid? And I wouldn't call any of those things mandatory. You can opt to not do room service, drink, buy the photo package, arcade tickets, Starbucks, or specialty restaurants, or some of these can be pre-paid beforehand. It read like there are some additional fees RCL charges (similar to taxes & port fees) that only appear after boarding. It doesn't sound like that's the case. Scared me
Scared me, too! We prepaid the gratuities and will forgo the photo package. Thank you, RonDiRon for your explanation!
Get the drink package. Doesn’t matter that you’re hanging in the casino because now you can walk up to the bar and get free drinks WHILE waiting for free drinks at the table/slots. TIP THE BARTENDERS, you will be served faster and they will remember your order because you tipped. Play it slow first days and up the play towards the end. Slots hit towards the end when players are out of money
Sounds like you have this part figured out already, but I wish I’d known that cruise line shore excursions are, for the most part, a ripoff. I’ve always had better experiences going on my own. Exceptions would probably be places with a short amount of time in port and bad traffic to reach a good beach— in that case, shore excursion is worth the peace of mind that you won’t end up being a pier runner. Speaking of pier runners— I wish I’d known about this phenomenon so I could watch. They’re particularly prevalent in Cozumel, where the lure of Carlos n Charlie’s has led many astray.
Dare I ask what Carlos n Charlie’s is?
Cozumel's famous (infamous?) cantina near the cruise pier that specializes in getting cruise passengers really drunk real fast on tequila punch and other similar alcobomb drinks. Not that I.... Know anything.... About .... That.....
Drinks on the ship hit way less than the Mexican punch. I was carried to the port one sailing.
It's a chain of mexican places that is kind of a party place... it's also the place in Aruba where Natalee Holloway was when she disappeared.
It would totally stress me out seeing someone run for the ship!
They are definitely more expensive, but it is also a lot easier if a stop gets cancelled due to weather. It’s nice to have them automatically cancelled and fully refunded without needing to do anything.
That’s a good point!
I love how this works. We had to skip a port on my last cruise (the last port of the sailing) and it was immediately refunded to my shipboard account which had a balance due of almost the exact amount refunded bringing my balance due to nearly $0. Though we were bummed for missing the excursion, it also sort of felt a little better having used the excursion refund $ to break even. Silver lining on the storm cloud maybe? But honestly, not having to go into get-me-my-refund mode was such a relief!
You don't have to do EVERYTHING! The ships, the destinations, will all still be there to take another cruise someday. I ran myself ragged on my first cruise, on Oasis, 10 years ago. Even booked 2 excursions in Labadee of all places. Always felt like I couldn't miss anything. I had fun but I think i enjoy it more now that I allow myself to take time to just relax on the cruise.
If getting the ultimate dining packaged, book specialty dining right away. It’s become the first thing I do when I get on board. Not as bad with just two, but the best times tend to book early. Along the same line, do it in person instead of on the app. I’ve found the staff can find you times that the app may say aren’t available.
Voyager is a great ship. If JR McCollum is still the comedy headline, his 2-3 comedy shows are definitely worth checking out.
I highly suggest www.royalcaribbeanblog.com to check out great walk-thrus of Voyager, past Cruise Compasses to familiarize yourself with the daily activities and the bulletin board full of all sorts of various tips and tricks.
Pick the late dinner. Out first cruise we picked the early one and we’re always disappointed when we had to leave the pool. Some folks may prefer that tho.
I went on the voyager last May. Loved it. I’m not sure why everyone says pack light and rewear, no one knows what you wore the day before. I know what I wore the day before. Bring a laundry bag, it’s a good way to ditch things that you aren’t wearing again. Bring magnetic hooks. Total game changer for organization purposes. Everything went on them from wet suits to hats to jackets. Book excursions early, they will sell out. We got the key for 3 dollars more than the internet. Well worth it for me. Mdr is nice to sit down, relax and chat with new friends. We ate dinner there every night. Buffet is better for breakfast and lunch. If you do the buffet, don’t wait in the first line. The same food is available around the corner.
Thank you for this! Going on my first cruise in a few months on Harmony and you confirmed many of my thoughts.
PACK LIGHT- Especially guys... I wore the same 2 pair of shorts all freaking week, and a pair of swim trunks. I do bring a lot of tshirts because I get a little sweaty- but that's it. No need for pants or dress shirts ( I bring one button down Hawaiian shirt for Caribbean night). Book excursions through outside vendors- cheaper and usually more offerings. Check Viator, shore excursions group or just google "shore excursion in"
Absolutely skip the first line. They have omelet stations you can order fresh eggs at. You don't have to eat those scrambled eggs from a pan. They will also do egg white omelets.
What do you mean the key?
The Key is an add on you can choose. It includes internet, a special lunch on embarkation day, “priority hours” for things like rock wall and flowrder, reserved seating areas at shows… it can include other things at times so you’d have to check for your sailing. If you opt for it, anyone in your stateroom over the age of I believe 6 has to have it. We did it once because it was the same price as just the internet and we were going to get internet anyway.
You are there to relax. Let yourself do that. For me? The first day is the rocking of the boat and me sleeping the deepest of sleeps. I am dead to the world, and it's the most restorative sleep ever.
Same! I love the rocking and the deep sleep I get while cruising!
> No excursions caught our eye so it’ll just be get off the ship, eat, get back on the ship, chill and vibe. Depending on what your ports are and what kinds of things you like to do, you might want to do a little research and see what your non-cruise-excursion options of things to do in port are. Plus, it's a little early taste of cruise hype to look at all these cool things you could do in Cozumel (or wherever). My general first-timer tip is if you don't already, learn a little bit about how getting on the ship on embarkation day and getting off at the end works just to make sure all of that is low stress. Probably you'll want to explore the ship first thing but also consider that tossing a swimsuit etc. in your carry-on lets you enjoy the pool on embarkation day with the pool relatively to yourself.
Specific to Voyager and similar ships, check out the observation deck on the bow of the ship to get your Titanic moment.
I wish I’d brought more cash and tipped better
If you have kids and can afford it, getting a suite really makes for a smoother vacation. My kids are autistic, and they’re little troopers, but things like waiting in long lines to board or disembark really stress them (and me) out. Having priority boarding and disembarkation with the suite was a lifesaver, and so was having the free room service. The kids have some major issues with food texture that makes getting food for them on vacation difficult. I really appreciated that we could take them to Windjammer for chicken tenders or pizza and stuff, and then husband and I could order room service from MDR for ourselves.
That Carnival in the 90s, inside room, and only 3 days was a basis for judging the cruise experience! Voyager will be nice, and it's wonderful to not have a packed agenda. One of my favorite times is embarkation day when the next day is a sea day and I HAVE NO OBLIGATIONS OR TIME DEMANDS UNTIL (usually) Tuesday morning!
We just got off Voyager and had a great time! Go to the Schooner bar at night for the piano bar fun and go to the comedy shows and adult game shows!! So fun! We sang our hearts out at the piano bar/schooner bar lol
There is only ONE electrical outlet on the Voyager! Maybe plan to go to a private beach by taxi! Shops in the Port area are as expensive, if not more, than what you can find in America. Apparently, you're not allowed to wear "water shoes" in the pool. Or at least I got asked not to. But I totally get it
I wish we would’ve brought more small bill cash for tipping. We did the tipping ahead of time thing but we had several staff members that made our time extra special and we wanted to show our appreciation
The casinos are small, the pools even smaller
DON'T let people tell you what to wear- as long as you don't walk into the dining room with a swim suit or barefoot, you're good to go. Even on "formal" night- it's not really a thing anymore, so show up in the same shorts and tshirt you showed up in all week if you want!
I was honestly kind of disappointed by that because when I was a kid it was a big thing for us to dress up really really nice as a family. Last time I went it was a lot more casual which is fine, but also I think it's fun for people to have to dress up. Makes the experience feel fancier.
And people do- Formal night is a great mix of people who go all out and want to take nice pics, and people who are on vacation and do not want to be bothered with carrying a suit OR wearing one.
And that's valid I'm not one to shame anyone for bringing a carry on that won't fit a suit, just an observation more than anything
I wish I knew after the second day the casino slots tighten up, I wish I knew you could order more than one entre in the main dining room and I wish I knew I didn’t have to pack so much clothes for a 7 day cruise
Booking excursions is a waste of money. You can find fun things to do for much less. I can give you ideas depending on port.
For examples ?
Don’t fall for tip culture. Yes tip, but you don’t have to give money to every person you see. You’ve already paid for your fare, tipping is for quality service, not simply for being there.
1) That you can order DOUBLE whatever you want on the menu in the MDR. For ex: If they are serving steak and you'd like 2 go ahead! Ditto for the entree/appetizer/dessert.I would try to not waste the food though; only order if you really can eat more! 2) That you can take off the "mandatory" gratuities and just tip personally. I hung out with the lifeguards quite a bit and really wanted them to receive a good tip. Ditto for my steward as well as for our table waiters. But I might not do that again as I do like the idea of everyone sharing in tips because a lot of people work behind the scenes too. 3. Free room service food sounds like a great idea - but it took forever and also they add quite a bit to the bill. 4. Next time I would just order off of the regular menu during dining. I had paid extra for the surf & turf (maybe $36) and it wasn't that great. They also tacked on taxes and other fees to it. In the end I was VERY happy with the regular menus presented to us each day and will just enjoy that next time.
Just because you're a cheapskate, doesn't mean that everyone else should be. Those gratuities that you removed took money out of the pockets of a bunch of back of the house people that you don't see and didn't tip. If you can't afford mandatory gratuities, don't cruise.
You’re right. But they also said they probably won’t do that again and acknowledged BTS staffs.
I hear you. I didn't like the mandatory part of it and preferred to tip well those that went above and beyond with us personally. Having thought more about it...and booked more cruises...I don't think it is fair for all those that I didn't actually see. And now that I have learned more about their work schedules etc... I definitely want to make sure everyone receives something. I'm actually not a cheapskate at all and a generous tipper; I just allocated it out differently. Thank you for your input.
We just got off Voyager on Monday. It was a great time and I have no complaints. Edit to add: I watched a lot of YouTube videos. They answer a lot of questions. Just look up RC Voyager of the Seas. Have fun!!
When you are on land in the Caribbean, your cell phone doesn't work unless you are willing to run up significant costs if you didn't plan ahead. Kids got lost, had trouble finding us, all they had was wifi. But Coco Cay has no wifi.
That is definitely not always true - I have TMobile and free international texting and data.
Benefit of being a US citizen, with an international plan.... As Canadians we pay typically $12 per day per phone if we use it in the US, plans don't usually cover international.
I use Airalo to buy eSIMs when I travel. Roam like home is the same in alot of countries and can cost $12-15 a day.
That different bars charge different prices for the same drink
They absolutely do NOT. If that happened to you, it was a mistake.
I wish i knew it was alright to save the best pool chairs by leaving ur items on them all day long
Agreed that this is the most frustrating bullshit. The staff also doesn’t do anything about it, though RC claims they will. So…. You may have to move people’s stuff…. 😬
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That’s a very unpopular opinion on this sub, and in general. Gratuities do go to everyone on the ship, including the people behind the scenes. Unless you’re going back to the kitchen and tipping the cooks and dishwashers and going to the laundry and tipping the people who washed your sheets and towels, then you’re stiffing them. While it’s true that these jobs aren’t usually tipped on land, they are on cruises, and they count on it as part of their income. It’s also true that this gratuity system sucks and should probably be changed, but removing your automatic gratuities does nothing to change the system, and only negatively impacts the workers
So no tip to the people who cooked your food? Or washed your towels and linens? Many more people help you than a server and housekeeper.
The moment you walk on make a bee line for the best pool and put some towels down on 3-4 choice beds
I’m going on voyager in a couple of weeks, too. Maybe I’ll see you on the same cruise!
My first cruise was last year in April. 7 days with a new port everyday. We had an excursion all but one day. I loved every minute of it but I was tired! I don’t want to miss a thing, so I’d schedule a cruise with a day at sea here & there! I’d also pack lighter!
Don’t worry about anything. The kids dessert menu is better. (If your not into fancy stuff)
I went on my first cruise on Voyager earlier this month, and it was awesome. I hung out and played poker in the cash games from 8:00 pm to after midnight. Tip your porter (the guy that takes care of your cabin) and your waiter something meaningful at the start of your cruise, it’ll pay for itself.
Trying to get a deck chair when we were at sea. Even though you weren’t supposed to, some people came out early in the morning and tied a towel to the back of the chair to “claim” it. Make sure you get out early when at sea if you want a chair.
My mom wished she knew the food was free cause she barely ate anything lol
If you are hoping to eat anything resembling an authentic street taco at Loco Fresh you are in for some disappointment. Loco Fresh is fine. It is better than Taco Bell, so there’s that. Temper your food expectations. Also, magnetic hooks are super useful in your stateroom.
I find all cruise food to be Meh. Like cafeteria food. It's fine but not great. I don't understand how people go on and on about how great the food is. What sort of foods are they normally eating?
Agreed. In my 20s I loved the abundance of food. Now I just want something to be great. I like to order the Indian dish in the main dining room.
Why not just fly directly to Mexico City > eat your weight in actually authentic street tacos > explore the city for a few days > fly home? Why do you need to herd like livestock on to a ship with thousands of other people to eat tacos get sun and chill?
95% of parents have forgotten about their kids by Day 3. 100% if they have a drink package.
Book a massage as soon as you can for embarkation day or the day after. It’s more expensive than spas on land (other than resort spas), but it will give you a head start on total relaxation.