(upbeat music)
- Hello, and thanks for joining us
for another "Legacy Travel, Travel Top Five".
And this time we're gonna be talking about
best five advice we can give to someone
new to cruising or goin' on their first cruise.
And this time I've got Lesley with us.
- Hi.
- And Alyssa. - Hey.
- So, anyway we love cruising and think
it's something that people should definitely try.
And so here's some tips if you're new to it.
So I'll go first if y'all don't mind.
- Yeah, go ahead.
- My number five pick is,
you may hear, you may read online,
so called friends may tell you.
When you're going on a Caribbean cruise
you don't need a passport.
Take a passport, get a passport.
You don't know what's gonna happen.
It's a very different conversation
if you're in on a foreign island and for whatever reason,
something goes horribly wrong and the ships leaves,
or let's say you get sick and stay on the island.
Getting back in the U.S.,
it's a completely different conversation
to say my passport's on the cruise ship,
but I got stuck on the island,
and the state department looks it up, and you know,
finds copies of your passport,
as saying I don't have a passport to get into the U.S.,
here's my birth certificate,
that is not gonna go well at all.
You don't know what's gonna, get a passport.
Even if it's not on your person,
the state department's much more forgiving
when it's like, it's on the cruise ship,
and I got stuck on the island.
Much better situation than I don't have a passport.
- Yeah. - Passport passport passport.
- Me? - You.
- My number five is the rooms are a lot smaller
than your average hotel room. (laughing)
- How do you know, you're a hypocrite.
- A lot smaller, and so technically,
most of the rooms will hold up to four people,
but what you're working with then
are essentially two bunk beds that have barely any space.
I just can't even imagine doing it.
So if you can avoid it,
try not to book four people into a room.
You know if you have little children,
that's a whole other thing, but they are so much smaller,
like we're talking,
I think probably around 150 to 250 maybe square feet.
So I just, think that through
when you're making your decision on your room.
- Very good point, however small you think
that cruise cabin's gonna be
is probably smaller than you think.
(laughing)
It's a very, very good point.
- My number five is as soon as your cruise is booked,
go ahead and set up your cruise profile,
so you can start exploring what's on board,
the excursions that are offered in each port,
really just get to know the ship on paper, if you will.
Even if you don't book excursions right away,
having an idea of what you want to do,
because sometimes two ports are very similar,
so maybe you wanna snorkel here, and scuba here,
but maybe one is only offered in one place.
Just kind of organizing your ideas
of what you wanna do before you go,
that's my number five, I think it's super helpful.
- Starting to not have confidence in my list,
'cause the things that y'all said
really wasn't on my list, and they both shoulda been.
(laughing) So that's, so,
you're exactly right, they're both very good points.
Read 'em number four, Miss Alyssa.
- My number four is be aware of what's additional,
and be aware of what's included.
Cruising is very inclusive in the fact
that most of your meals are included.
There are more activities than you can possibly imagine
to do on board, so be aware of those things,
you know, take advantage of it.
But also be aware there are things
that are additional cost that can definitely add up.
Things such as beverage packages,
depending on the cruise line,
that will determine what's included, what's not.
But if you're a soda drinker,
if you like to have wine with dinner,
just make sure you know what your particular cruise line
includes in your cruise fare.
Gratuities are another one, again,
depending on the cruise line, how inclusive it is.
Often there is a per person, per day or you know, charge
for your stateroom hostess that cleans the room,
and the dining room attendant, so little things like that,
shore excursions, specialty dining,
all things that you likely will wanna do
when you're on board,
that you need to factor into the big picture.
- Cost, yes.
- So my number four was, I said don't,
but try not to over pack. (laughing)
I'm very guilty of this, every trip I take,
but as Alyssa said, the rooms are not large,
so if you pack two plus suitcases,
and you have to store them,
plus all the clothes you brought in them,
it can get a little, everything's just a little cramped.
So if you're going on a Caribbean cruise,
chances are you're gonna be in sandals, wedges,
something of the sort, the whole time.
You don't need all these different heels,
or tennis shoes, unless you just want to,
but you know, pack accordingly, especially footwear,
'cause it takes up so much room.
If you're going on a European cruise,
or Mediterranean cruise,
chances are you're gonna be out walking everyday,
so maybe pack less of the sandals,
and more of the comfy shoes.
On board, if you have days at sea,
you're probably gonna be at the pool,
or something like that the whole time,
you don't need crazy, you know, prom dresses
and things like that, so I'm very guilty of it,
which is why I can say it. (laughing)
But try not to over pack.
Try to plan your days and pack accordingly,
so you're not bringing all this stuff on board
that you're never gonna wear.
- I would love to be able to carry on for every trip.
(laughing)
That would be, - Yes.
- that would make me very, very happy.
Make me very happy. (laughing)
My number four is gonna be sea sickness,
as far as, yeah it's not a horrible issues,
but if you're not sure, go ahead and try to prevent it,
and there are a lot of thing you can do.
You've got the Dramamine, they have non-drowsy Dramamine,
which is not non-drowsy, it's less drowsy.
- It's a little drowsy. (laughing)
- I mean, but you also have things like the patch
you can get for behind your ear, is that prescription?
Or is that, you gotta get a prescription for that,
but it's easy to get.
And they have these wristbands, I wear a wristband,
and it's acupressure, they got a little bump here
and it puts pressure there,
and so I don't get seasick.
Would I get seasick without the wristband?
I got no idea, 'cause I'm not gonna try.
'Cause I'm wearing the wristband each time,
'cause here's the thing I do know,
is that it's much easier to prevent
the seasickness ahead of time.
Once you're seasick, that's harder to overcome.
It's harder to get back on top of it.
So I'm always taking the wristband with me,
always wearing it.
What's really interesting to me is a lotta times,
I have more trouble when I get home,
than on the ship itself, on the ship I'm fine,
but I get home and I'm walking into walls and stuff,
the next day or two,
'cause my equilibrium's a little bit off.
But yeah, good thing to prevent it ahead of time.
Number three, three?
- My number three, so it kinda goes with the packing thing,
even if you are packing a very large checked bag,
keep a small bag with you when you get on board,
like maybe with a couple toiletries, or change of clothes,
if you wanna go to the pool.
I've experienced this first hand,
where my bags got, not lost,
but they got delivered to my room
at about 10:00 p.m. one night,
and my friends and I thought it would be really funny
to get on board with those long tee shirts
that make it look like you're wearing bikinis,
(laughing)
like thong bikinis, and so we were stuck in those
from about noon to 10:00 p.m.
We had to go to dinner in them, we had to just, you know,
browse through the ship in them.
So if you can pack, you know, just a change of clothes,
or something to freshen up,
just a little toiletry bag to keep with you
once you're on board, 'cause they'll deliver
your checked bag to your room.
I find that (laughing) very helpful.
- That's funny, very funny.
- (laughing) The memories.
- So I mentioned a little bit about shore excursions,
and those are the trips that you, little tours you take,
when you're in the destination, in the island or wherever.
The things that people may not realize
is that you don't have to get those through the cruise line.
And I recommend you not do it through the cruise line.
There are many, many companies that do that,
and these guys can hook you up with them.
But what's shocking to me is that most times
getting them through the cruise line
is a lot more expensive,
and the other thing is that it's a lot more crowded.
It's, it doesn't go hand in hand, but that's the way it is.
We do the independent ones,
you're doing maybe a similar tour,
but you're doing it for 60% of the price
that is one the cruise,
and instead of being with 100 people,
you're with like 15 people on this tour.
So it's a much better experience,
and you can get it, get it set up ahead of time,
and cruise line's gonna charge you a lot more for it.
So, talk to these guys about the independent ones,
and we have companies where we can send you the list
of all the tours at each of the stops you're going on,
and you can look, we'll go through it
and compare and contrast, but we're only considering
doing a trip with a third party
instead of doing it with the cruise line itself.
- My number three, - Three.
- Is one that's already been said,
but I think it's just important enough to reiterate,
is the passport.
I've had clients that have missed the ship
and didn't have their passport,
and just don't cause yourself that trauma on your vacation,
like that was not a fun day for them, unfortunately.
I was able to work on their behalf
to get them to the next port,
but could've been a lot easier
if there was a passport involved,
so I just can't nail that down enough.
- Yes.
- Lesley, your number three?
- Number, oh I did number three.
- Oh you did three, okay, 'cause all right,
I'm not keeping, (mumbling)
- Did you do three?
- I started number three.
- Okay, then I'll do number two.
(laughing)
All right, and this has been brought up also,
is the on board charges, so some of the cruise lines,
I think I say they mass market, and premium,
and those are guys like Carnival, Royal Caribbean,
Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity, Princess, Holland America,
those type cruise lines, a lot of their revenue
and profitability based on on board charges.
So they're gonna make it very easy
to spend money on ship, using your key card,
or your medallion, or your whatever you have.
Their profitability is based on it.
And it can add up quick, I mean really really quick,
you've gotta be very, very careful.
With that, you know, you can go on board
and not spend a dime.
But you gotta work at it, so really budget it carefully.
Don't make my mistake,
I was on a cruise one time, and our on board charges
equaled, just about equaled the cost of the cruise itself,
(laughing) when it was all said and done.
No, I don't do that anymore.
Yeah, on board charges, you know, there's a reason
they make it so easy to buy stuff, be very careful.
It can ruin your trip.
- It can. - Yes.
(laughing) - What you got for number two?
- My number two is come in the day before the cruise.
Again, just allows yourself time,
in case something happens, if your plane's delayed,
you know, you don't wanna be biting your fingers,
leading up to the cruise, you know,
wondering if you're gonna make the ship,
so if you come in the day before,
that avoids that issue altogether.
So if at all possible, get in the day before your cruise.
- Good idea. - Yes, my number two
is arrive to the cruise port early.
So early enough to be, what I think is fun
is when you first get on the ship,
even if your room's not ready,
'cause it's kinda like a hotel,
they're still turning it from the last people
who left the cruise ship, even if your room's not ready,
you can still start exploring the ship.
One thing I always hate is when I get on a boat,
or a ship for a couple days,
and then four days into my trip, I'm like oh my gosh,
I had no idea that restaurant was even there,
I had no idea that bar was even there.
So if you get on early, before,
not necessarily before everybody else, but you know,
while everybody's going for the lunch buffet,
'cause they're on board, start walking around the ship,
exploring, maybe explore the different decks,
find you know, the coolest bars and restaurants,
even if they're not open, just locating them.
Also if you like to take part in the activities,
like the shows, maybe finding the theater.
Just kinda finding those little places
that you know you're gonna wanna visit
while you're on board,
before the rest of the ship discovers them.
I love that.
- I know, I happen to agree with that.
I love exploring the ship.
The one warning I would give you,
and this is my opinion, but again,
the mass market premium ships,
like Royal Caribbean, NCL, Celebrity,
Princess, those guys, when you're, you get on early,
you explore it and stuff, in my opinion,
the worst meal you're gonna have that whole week
is that lunch, that first lunch is just a train wreck.
And they do the best they can,
but you've got all these people,
and there's usually but one restaurant open,
maybe one or two, and they are slamming that restaurant
at the same time, and making announcements
saying please, if you're through with your lunch,
please get up and give--
- It's like you've never eaten before.
(laughing)
- I know, I know, and the staff's doing the best they can,
but you know, those restaurants are designed,
it's a fascinating methodical equation how,
we'll have this many this time,
this many this time, and it's a well oiled machine,
that one day, everybody hits that one restaurant,
holy cow man, they are just trying to survive.
So when you're on board, you explore
and you have that first lunch, don't be discouraged.
Don't be like why did we do this, this is horrible.
It gets much better, the food gets much,
much better at that point.
I mean I agree, I love just exploring.
- Add something on the explore the ship,
multiple times I've gotten on board the ship early,
and started exploring, and they're like oh,
we're doing a raffle in the spa,
and twice I think I've won like $100 spa certificate,
just for being present and kind of--
- Nice.
- So see what's going on, sometimes they'll have
discounted things going on, and again,
it just doesn't hurt to see what's happening too.
- This isn't on my list, but you said that,
as far as, look also at spa,
look at the specialty restaurants too,
especially restaurants they're gonna charge you for.
On some cruise ships they've had a deal
where the first night,
'cause no one signs up for specialty restaurant
the first night,
sometimes they've got 'em discounted that first night,
so if you're exploring, stop by the specialty restaurants
and see if they got a discount on that also.
That was, was that my list,
I think it's off your number one.
- I don't think of one thing too. (laughing)
My number one is know your cruise line,
and talk to your travel advisor
about what the best cruise line will be
for what you're looking for.
Because if you are a honeymooning couple,
and wanna be away from kids, and relaxing,
you might not wanna be on Disney (laughing),
or if you are looking to relax again,
you might not wanna do Carnival,
and have it be a little more rowdy and party.
You know, just depends on what you're looking for,
and there is a cruise for everybody.
And you know, if you're not a big ship person,
don't eliminate cruising from the picture altogether.
River cruising is a completely different experience,
and definitely something to try.
So just know, have an idea, just have a conversation.
You might, you know, find out more information
that helps direct you, but just have an open mind,
and be vocal about what you're looking for.
- Can't believe that wasn't on my list.
That's probably the most important thing,
and not on my list. (laughing)
Elaborate on that, one time we had a client
who we knew, and I think my wife Kathy's
the one that booked 'em.
This guy, you know, good ol' boy,
and had got into this business,
and did very, very well, very well.
But he wore his overalls and that kinda thing,
and so his wife wanted to go on a cruise,
and they could've afforded easily
the five star Regent Crystal type thing,
they would've been miserable,
'cause they were not, you know,
that just wasn't their people.
And so she says we're gonna put you on Carnival,
and you're gonna have a great time, and put 'em on
the nicest Carnival she coulda found, but you know,
he could've afforded the luxury stuff,
but Kathy was right, they would've not enjoyed
the people on that ship, so you're right,
know your people, talk to an advisor.
Can't be one on my list, you know my list. (laughing)
- My absolute number one is plan to get there early.
The destination early, like a night or two even.
I know Alyssa already said it, but planning a pre-night,
even two, if you're going to Europe,
and you're departing out of Venice or something,
maybe you want two nights pre.
But it's, I've witnessed it more times than not
when there are delays, cancellations,
and you don't even end up in the cruise port
until the day that you're departing,
so if you didn't even have that pre-made schedule,
you would've arrived the day after you're departing.
So just having, even if you're going to Miami,
or Galveston even, which is right down the road,
just having a pre-night, it starts your entire trip
off on the right foot.
I find that when one thing goes wrong,
everything goes wrong, so if you're already starting bad,
with a negative light,
you know negative attitude on your mind,
then the rest of the trip is just gonna be that way too.
So, just take that stress off of yourself,
plan to fly in or drive in a day early,
just to relieve that stress
and pressure from the whole trip.
- Absolutely, and so obviously we don't ever compare lists,
'cause then like they mention things,
that shoulda been on mine, wasn't on mine.
But my number one absolute number one
is get there at least a night ahead of time.
You said it for number two, you said it for number one
you've got to do it.
We have got staff meeting tomorrow night,
and the topic on that is the reiterate,
we're getting pretty much to the point
that we're not gonna sell a cruise,
without going in the night before.
For all the reasons she said, but even if somehow,
miraculously, you know you're fighting to get there on time,
still do a pre-nght.
We do a pre-night, get on the ship,
if you've had a nice night's sleep, slept late,
you had a big breakfast,
then you can avoid that horrible first lunch.
(laughing)
And a fun game to do is looking on the ship,
you find who did fly in today,
'cause they are harried looking,
they have been through the wringer,
and they are miserable, they're exhausted,
they're grumpy, they're yelling at their kids.
They're the ones that came in that day,
and they're gonna miss the first night,
'cause they're gonna go to bed at 8:00,
and finally catch up for the next day.
But you absolutely do.
- Oh that's another point, if you are flying to Europe,
having a pre-night, if you're flying in the morning of,
you're gonna be so jet lagged. - Oh it's gonna be a mess.
- You're not even gonna enjoy the first,
probably two days of your cruise.
- Oh it's gonna be a mess.
- So yeah, especially Europe, do it, one or two,
just so you can get past that jet lag
before it even starts.
- I'm, I mean it's on my staff meeting list,
we are gonna do it for every single cruise.
It's gonna be a thing where we don't do it,
you gotta have an extremely good reason
why we're not doing a pre-night there.
Have to be a very good reason.
- I have one honorable mention.
- Please, absolutely, absolutely.
- Just in the scheme of things,
your phone probably isn't gonna work.
I don't think everyone thinks about that,
but depending on the cruise,
you know, you're gonna be at sea,
you're away from cell phone towers,
so if you're banking on being connected,
whether to talk to family, or to work from the ship,
consider getting a wifi package,
and even still, don't anticipate it
being the same connectivity that you're used to at home.
- And it's gonna be, the price is,
more than likely be prepared for that.
Gonna be pricey.
- Not as pricey as your cell phone bill.
(laughing)
If you don't have it.
- No, you're absolutely right,
no that's 100% right, if you're doing data
or anything on that cell phone, you got a problem.
So that was great one.
Thanks y'all very much for doing that.
Thank you for watching, and we'll see ya next time,
on "Legacy Travel's Travel Top Five."
- Bye.