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But you're also wondering if a cruise is really right for you. Your assigned stateroom attendant will be sure to greet you the first chance they get. When they do, it’s a good time to let them know about any preferences or concerns that you may have.
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But they do offer a lot of things that you probably know and love. Cruise ships typically appeal more to the second category of people. It's a lot like going to Disney World near Orlando or to an all-inclusive Sandals resort, where you can spend a wonderful week without ever leaving the property. On Celebrity, you can book all of the above online before your sailing, along with salon appointments and fitness classes, too.
✔ Prepare Your Travel Essentials
If you’re traveling alone or want to meet people during your trip, check out our guide to making friends on a cruise. If this is your first cruise, you will want to know that you can't have one person in your party sign up for a package and provide drinks for the rest. If there are two adults sharing a cabin, you’ll both need to purchase the same package. Whether you can fit clothing for an entire cruise itinerary into one carry-on bag is a source of fierce debate. But it's absolutely possible and, until airlines stop losing luggage, may be your safest bet to making sure you have clothing for the duration of your cruise. Check out our tips on packing before you try to cram your life into a small suitcase.
Look for a cabin on the upper decks of the ship
Surprisingly, the differences and changes onboard are minimal, and going on a ship today has a lot more in common with going on a cruise ship a few years ago. Keep scrolling for the things every first-time cruiser should know, but keep in mind that these may have been unique to my cruise ship and personal experience. Most cruise lines can work with a range of food allergies, but only in the formal dining rooms. I highly recommend that you speak with a vacation planner at the cruise line of your choice about this topic, as each cruise line handles food allergies differently. Ease in and out of your next cruise with transportation to and from your ship.
No matter where you choose to sail from, you’re bound for a bold adventure. From snorkeling in the Caribbean to dog sledding in Alaska, castle chasing in Europe and kayaking in the Mexican Riviera — wow-worthy adventures are yours for the taking. Make your next tropical vacation a cruise to The Bahamas, which includes stops in Nassau and Grand Bahama Island. Soak up some sunshine and catch views of crystal blue waters on a Caribbean cruise.
Also includes are full inspection reports, so you can see exactly what the ship needed to address. Be sure to use your card every time you play to get your spending tracked so that the cruise lines know how good of a customer you are. Ziploc bags have to be the most useful item you can pack. Have a bunch of small items that you’re packing and would like to keep together? Or maybe you want to snag a snack for later from the buffet?
Best of all, the food is usually better as well, since it’s made fresh. Nearly every ship you sail on will have a place to get free pizza by the slice. This way you get exactly what you want instead of having to eat a slice of whatever is available.
Texas mom arrested after cruise: Lakesha Williams' bond unchanged; accused of leaving 2 kids home alone while she vacationed - KTRK-TV
Texas mom arrested after cruise: Lakesha Williams' bond unchanged; accused of leaving 2 kids home alone while she vacationed.
Posted: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:56:20 GMT [source]
But Don’t Pick a Cruise for Just One Port of Call
Having a cabin between the two spots means you are within just a few decks of either. That makes it much easier to get to where you want to go as opposed to waiting on an elevator because you are on a low deck. The bad thing is that if you get sunburned, it can put you out of commission for several days, putting a damper on your cruise. Instead, the best thing to do is prevent getting burned. Cruise lines go to great lengths to sanitize and keep everyone healthy. Even so, definitely use hand sanitizer, which is available all over the ship.
Excursions give you a chance to do things you won’t have the opportunity to do anywhere else in the world — from exploring ancient ruins to taking a submarine under the Caribbean. After your trip you won’t remember the money you spent, but you won’t forget the experience you had. And if you’re looking to avoid younger folks and have a quieter cruise, then try to sail when school is in session and people are heading back to work. Months of January and February, as well as September and October will see older crowds compared to summer.
However, you should keep tabs on your account (you can do so via the cruise line’s app) to make sure that the charges are legit. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes errant charges will appear. If you find one, just let Guest Services know to get it removed. For example, Carnival charges $23 per person one-way to get you from the Miami airport to the Port of Miami — a 10-mile ride. Compare that to a taxi or Uber, which will charge you about $25-30 each way for up to four passengers. Meanwhile, with a taxi or other transportation, you aren’t tied to the cruise shuttle’s schedule.
Take Advantage of Drink PoliciesSome cruise lines (such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival) allow you to bring on a small amount of non-alcoholic drinks with you when you board. So you can bring on some sodas, juices, teas, or anything else that you like. If your favorite drink isn’t something that’s sold everywhere, then it may not be on the ship.
Of course, that means you need a place to park your car. Parking is always available at the port, but can be expensive. Instead, many hotels near cruise ports offer free or cheap parking if you stay with them the night before your cruise. It’s an easy way to save $100 or more if you plan to stay the night before anyway. In recent years technology — including passport scanners and facial recognition software — have made this faster at ports that have the latest devices.
The insurance offered by the cruise lines typically has lower limits and is priced higher from what we’ve found. It also often doesn’t offer as much protection as insurance offered by a third party. Be sure to check what is covered by any policy before buying. Not surprisingly, many people opt to pay for the cruise line’s wi-fi service, even though it is pricey. If you do decide to purchase, then you’ll find that there are tiers of service.
Often, independent tours will be much more intimate than the tours offered directly through cruise lines. They might go to the same sites but in a small van instead of a big motorcoach. You might have just six or eight other people on a tour with you instead of nearly 40. If your group is big enough, you might even be able to book a private tour with an independent tour operator. Some cruisers also swear by bringing magnets to ships to affix dinner invitations, excursion tickets and other important papers to their cabin walls. Walls on ships often are made with metal (even if they look like wood, thanks to faux wood veneers) and will hold a magnet.
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