If your child is shy, a tip is to visit and register the first day of your cruise, so that you can go in with your child and meet the animators. You’ll likely be surprised at the quality of staff, activities and inviting atmosphere. The menu will often consist of a few choices of appetizers, main dishes and desserts, which will change from day to day. However, there are some classic choices which will be available every night. In the morning you’ll find a variety of juices, as well as milk, water, coffee and tea. The rest of the day, buffets usually have unsweetened iced tea, some sort of juice or lemonade, water.
Getting ready for shore excursions
Cruise expert's top advice and tips after sailing on 300+ ships - Business Insider
Cruise expert's top advice and tips after sailing on 300+ ships.
Posted: Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
DIY shore excursions not only save you money but also allow for a more personalized and flexible experience. You can explore at your own pace, choose the sights you’re most interested in, and even find more affordable dining options. As a side note, make sure to check the cancellation policy for the excursion so you’re able to cancel and rebook if there’s a dip in prices. Do-it-yourself (DIY) shore excursions can be a great way to cut down on costs while cruising. Instead of booking expensive tours through the cruise line, you can plan your own adventures when the ship docks.
Travel insurance
A free way to enjoy the port cities and save some money is to simply head to the beach. Don’t worry if you don’t have pesos, or any other local currency. In Caribbean cruise ports American dollars are widely accepted (and often preferred).
Take a laundry bag
You may have heard of people getting free cabin upgrades in the past. I like to have everything in one place and really like to write things down. If you’re the same, you’ll love the Ultimate Cruise Planner. Since green apples will usually be available in the buffet, take one or two back to your cabin ready to slice up and eat if you need them at any time. However, if you want to snag a cabin upgrade, there are a few tips to try.
Before Your Cruise: Download Movies, Shows, Offline Apps, and Books
The one time I didn’t take one, the weather in Monaco unexpectedly turned unseasonably warm, and I couldn’t take advantage of the ship pool. Bring a small purse or wristlet to take to meals on the ship. After you get your ship identification card and place your valuables in the safe, you will only need a keycard, cellphone and a tissue. A small purse can take a great deal of weight off your shoulders. They have orthotic insoles for arch support and come in a variety of widths, including extra-wide. I have a few pairs and always use them for travel because they are comfortable, lightweight and easy to pack.
Book a cabin surrounded on all sides
Here’s a post I wrote with some advice for what to pack in your cruise carry on bag that might be helpful. Do yourself a favor, and add an extra night at a hotel to your cruise vacation. On our past cruise, a plane had a rough landing in Newark and this closed the airport for several hours. This resulted in cruise passengers on other planes, being unable to land. The plane actually needed to be diverted to a nearby airport.
DIY your shore excursions
For example, Holland America provides complimentary access to nytimes.com. So we use the ship’s online portal to browse this news site for free. We’re doing so not to read the news, but rather to simply gauge how quickly those NY Times pages are loading. When they load fast, we know this is a good time to log on to our paid wifi plan to get more efficient use of limited wifi minutes on the cruise.
Hacks for getting started on your cruise packing
Ok, no one would confuse travel by cruise ship with the speed of traveling by plane. Just be sure to put everything back or you’ll get charged for whatever is missing. What’s that huge line you see in the middle of the ship at the beginning and end of the cruise? It’s always a hassle to have to deal with getting things straightened out with your onboard account, but it’s something you occasionally have to do.
Beef up the bathroom supplies in your cabin
One of the best and easiest ways to save money while cruising, and not sacrifice your fabulous vacation, is to book excursions privately or consider touring on your own. Most cruise lines will have port lectures or port shopping talks. Travel agents often have extra perks that they can give you when you book with them.
Cabins just below the pool deck and near the anchor also can be problematic as well as cabins near casinos. Some phone companies have cruise-specific plans you can buy in advance of a voyage. I just put my phone in airplane mode the moment I step on board a ship and never switch it back on. I then turn on the phone's Wi-Fi, buy a Wi-Fi package and do all my calling, texting and internet surfing over Wi-Fi. That way, there's no way that I can be surprised by an unexpected charge. There are ways to make calls and access the internet from ships without spending a boatload of money.
There are no baggage fees, or real restrictions on how much you can bring (within reason). You also don’t have to worry about the 3-ounce liquid rule. While we think travel insurance is a good idea to give you peace of mind, think twice before buying the insurance that the cruise lines offer when you book your trip. Yes, it’s better than nothing, but third-party cruise insurance is often a much better deal. In this case, you shouldn’t waste your money on the cheapest service. Even at is best, the wi-fi on a cruise ship will be slower than you’re used to seeing at home.
These types of cabins are designed with a door inside that connects to an adjacent cabin. Although they might seem convenient for large groups or families wanting to stay close, they can sometimes compromise your privacy and quietness. The door between the cabins, even when locked, can let through sounds from the next room, which can disrupt your peace and sleep.
To entice passengers to book these deals early, the cruise lines offer special discounts. That’s a big savings over what you’ll spend if you wait to buy until you get on the ship. Yes, there are stories of people hitting it big, but that can be tough. In our experience, cruise ships don’t offer great payouts. For example, low-limit blackjack tables will often pay 6-to-5, instead of the usual 3-to-2 you’ll find in many land-based casinos.
If you don’t have time to read up before your cruise, load a novel or two on your Kindle or download an audiobook. I recently finished reading The Good Left Undone, a historical novel set in Viareggio (Tuscany), and I can’t wait to retrace the author’s steps. It’s a good idea to do some research on the ports you’ll be visiting before your cruise.
