What are the best tips and things to know about cruising ... and I'm not talking from
some person that just took their first trip, but from someone that's spent literally months
at sea across cruise lines, ships, and destinations.
That's what I've done and decided to put together what I think are some of the smartest tips
and most interesting things to know so that you're ready for your next cruise.
Whether you've sailed or not, these are what I consider to be "must knows"
On a cruise, there is more of a schedule than other vacations.
There's a time to arrive at the port, a time for dinner, a time to debark, and more.
One good tip is stop trying to be early or even on time, unless you're heading back to
the ship.
People love to be the first on or off the ship.
The result is that line right at the start or long.
Sure, sometimes you have a reason to try to get out before everyone else, but if your
schedule allows, just let a little time pass and you'll find that the wait is significantly
shorter.
If you don't mind spending more, then by all means, just wait until you get on the ship
to buy things like drink and internet packages.
For everyone else, there's almost always a discount if you book these things early.
Carnival, for example, offers a drink package for $5 per day less if booked ahead of time.
That saves you more than $40 over a 7-day cruise when you factor in the 18% gratuity
charge that's also tacked on.
Book early, save money.
It's simple.
Ships you sail range in age from being brand-new to being 25 to 30 years old.
And while they are updated regularly, there's still a definite difference between the older
and newer ships.
My opinion?
Those new ships are way better.
Yes, they tend to be larger and not everyone is a fan of huge ships.
But they also have all the newest activities, restaurants, and things to do.
They are also much more modern in amenities and design.
So all things being equal, I'd suggest that the newer ship is more likely to give you
a better cruise.
Want to know the cheapest place to drink on a cruise?
It’s in port!
If you want to get a good buzz going, check out the bars and restaurants in the area.
Many of them not only have cheap drinks every day, but offer drink specials to entice cruisers
to stop in.
If you plan on drinking, get your fill in port and then walk back to the cruise ship
that afternoon/evening.
It’s a lot cheaper to pay $2-3 bucks for a beer in port compared to $6-8 on the ship.
They should call it the “law of cheap cruising”.
If you want to save a ton, be flexible with your dates and sail when school is in session.
When school is in, families with kids — a huge demographic in cruising — can’t easily
take their trips.
As well, times like summer and holidays are simply easier for just about anyone to sail.
That means the cruise lines are looking to fill rooms and will offer up cheap fares to
entice people to sail.
In fact, it’s not surprising to find fares that double during holiday breaks when families
can take their trips.
Think you have to search site after site to get the best cruise deal?
Think again.
What you'll almost always find is that cruise prices are actually the same across all websites.
That’s not to say that prices won’t change (they will), but when a price moves, you’ll
see it reflected everywhere.
Just pick your favorite spot to search and stop worrying if another website has it cheaper.
What you might find is that some sites offer better incentives.
For instance, Costco will often give you a Costco Cash Card if you book with them that
can be used like cash in the store.
When you think of a cruise, you likely think of heading to the warm Caribbean.
But trips go everywhere, and different locations can give a different experience.
Honestly, I've taken enough trips to the Caribbean that I know what to expect.
But taking a cruise to Alaska is like nothing else.
The landscape is simply stunning -- really like nowhere else I've ever been -- and the
ports of call are more cities that cater to tourism compared to towns that revolve around
tourists like in the Caribbean and Bahamas.
If you've been, then you know what I mean.
If you haven't, then I'd recommend you start planning a trip there.
No you can't bring liquor or beer, but cruise lines let you bring on some wine or champagne.
Others -- including Carnival and Royal Caribbean -- allow you to bring on non-alcoholic drinks
as well.
Take advantage.
With drink prices on the ship, every little bit helps.
If you bring a bottle of wine and some sodas, you could save yourself $50 or more versus
buying on the ship.
One thing you might not realize is that cruise lines way overpack when it comes to food.
In fact, for a week-long cruise, it's not unusual for the ship to pack at least several
more days worth of food, up to another week's worth.
The reason?
You never know what might happen.
An issue with the ship could mean it's delayed coming back to port.
Or maybe the weather means it has to spend an extra day at sea.
No matter the reason, ships prepare for the possibility of delays by packing more than
they need.
It's also why it's no issue if you want to order a second entree in the dining room.
Didn’t realize you needed a reservation or the spot you wanted was already filled?
Don’t worry… you might still be able to get in.
You can head down to the restaurant and see if there is any room available.
Sometimes people make reservations and then forget about them, freeing up space.
Your chances are best if you go early or late — instead of during peak hours.
There’s no guarantee you’ll get a space, but it does happen.
When it comes to the number of meals served, the buffet is going to be at the top of the
list.
But let's not kid ourselves it can be better.
Still, many people eat breakfast and lunch in the buffet and at least some occasional
dinners.
I'll be honest, after eating in the buffet a couple of times, I've had my fill for the
cruise.
So I think it's a good idea to head to the other restaurants on the ship for something
different.
For instance, the main dining room serves breakfast and lunch as well.
There are also specialty restaurants.
They may cost extra, but I happily pay to not eat the same stuff over and over.
More than two years since the start of Covid, everyone knows it is still around.
And despite testing and vaccination rules, that includes on cruise ships.
The good news is that cases seem to be more mild.
The bad news is that every ship currently tracked by the CDC as of this video in July
2022 is either orange or yellow, indicating cases.
In fact, zero are green status.
You do need to be aware of it, even if most of us have gotten back to normal.
My suggestion is to mask up indoors and it's better if you drive to the port.
If you fly and end up with Covid, you won't be allowed to fly back home until after the
quarantine period.
If you drive, then you can drive home.
On any cruise, you'll find yourself going up and down decks constantly.
If it's three decks or less, do yourself a favor and take the stairs if possible.
Elevators, frankly, slow to arrive unless you get lucky.
After all, there are thousands of people on a modern cruise ship.
And since the stairs are always located right next to the elevators simply taking a few
flights up or down gets you there much faster.
You might be thinking...
oh great, another app to download?
But the apps for the cruise lines are really handy.
First, they can be used without having to pay for wi-fi, so you don't have to worry
about any costs.
But they also have things like ship maps, the schedule of events, and even allow you
to track your spending onboard.
So get it, use it, and then you can delete it after the cruise.
But you'll be happy you downloaded it.
If you can, look for a cabin that sits on the upper decks of the ship.
No, it’s not because higher decks offer great views.
Instead, it has to do with getting around the ship.
Cruise ships are usually laid out with a center promenade area that includes things like the
casino, a center bar, restaurants, and shopping.
On many ships this will be around decks 6-8.
Then there is the pool deck area that’s located at the top of the ship.
These two areas are where passengers spend the most time outside the cabin.
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.
Cabin hallways can go on forever, and with no windows, it can be hard to know if you’re
going forward or aft.
In that case, look for the clues.
On NCL, the hallway carpet has little fish on it.
These fish swim forward.
On Royal Caribbean, the door markers will have a clue like a small arrow pointing forward,
or an image of the ship that faces to the front of the ship.
If the ship is older, it might have a door marker in the shape of a wave.
Here, the higher part of the wave points the way to the front of the ship.
If you go on a cruise, then expect to see crowds.
You don't really get that in the marketing from the cruise lines.
The largest ships can hold upwards of 6,000 passengers.
Even so, if you hunt around, you will find places around the ship that are less crowded.
I like to try to hunt these areas down in the first day or two so that I always have
somewhere quieter to relax.
Quiet areas will vary based on your specific ship, but you'll be able to find them pretty
quickly if you just go for a walk to see where people do and don't congregate.
What’s that huge line you see in the middle of the ship at the beginning and end of the
cruise?
It’s the line to talk to Guest Services.
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.
Here’s a big timesaver.
If you do have to talk to Guest Services, plan your visit either later in the evening
or early in the morning.
At these times the line is almost non-existent so you can talk to a rep immediately.
(Guest Services are open 24 hours a day during the cruise.)
Drink packages are popular and can save you money.
But you need to know the fine print.
For one, gratuity is added on to the cost.
You also have to purchase it for each day of the cruise.
But one that catches some people by surprise is that everyone in the cabin needs to buy
if one person does.
I've put a link with more about drink packages in the video description, but you definitely
need to know all the rules before you decide to shell out hundreds of dollars.
Packing these items you'd never think about There's a whole list of things you can pack
for your cruise.
In fact, I've put a link in the description below.
But a few things you might not consider.
First, I always like to bring a plug adapter.
Outlets can be limited, and it turns one plug into three.
Second, some Poopouri.
Cabins are small, and it's nice to be able to cover up smells when you have to go.
Third are small magnetic hooks.
Cabins walls and ceilings are actual metal.
These hooks give you the perfect place to hang hats, wet swimsuits and more, instead
of taking up space elsewhere.
Balcony or not?
Of course, balconies are better, but they come with an extra cost.
My rule of thumb is four days.
If taking a cruise for four days or fewer?
You can skip the balcony and save the money.
You'll be out and about around the ship and in port that your balcony isn't likely to
get that much use.
Five days or more?
Then springing for the balcony is a good idea.
On longer cruises you'll have a bit more downtime, meaning you'll have more opportunity to sit
out and enjoy the view.
Here, you're more likely to get your money's worth.
Thank you for watching!
Before you go, I want to know what's your favorite cruise tip you've learned?
I'm only one person, and you likely have some great ideas to share.
Put them in the comments below.
Also be sure to check out the links in the description for more details on some of the
tips I mentioned.
You can also like and subscribe and until next time, happy cruising!