1. You can do the same cruise 3 times and see something different each time. 2. Remember to not let the small stuff upset you and ruin your cruise. Be a duck and let it roll off your back.
3. Christmas cruises are beautiful and fun, but do all your shopping before you go!!!
Posts: 33 | Location: Aliso Viejo, CA | Registered: May 30, 2006
Absolutely do not let glitches ruin your good time... remember, no matter what you are doing or not doing - you are on a cruise ship with the ocean all around you!
Hi Fellow Cruisers, One thing to remember when booking excursions with private contractors is if you get held up somehow the ship wont wait for you and you will have to find your own way to the next port.
quote:
Originally posted by pagan: Okay, it's late but I'll play along:
1. Relax and enjoy, you're on vacation! Just don't forget that so are all the other passengers on board!!
2. Get to know your wait staff/room steward/favorite bartender etc. . . these people are amazingly friendly (in my experience) and extremely interesting. On our last cruise the two most impressive and memorable people we met were our wait staff--they were fabulous!
3. As with nearly everything in life, a little extra effort, research and planning can pay off big when booking an excursion. We took the advice of multiple members of this forum & booked all of our excursions on-line via private indepedent operators for our last cruise. The result: we all had an absolutely wonderful time at each stop (Stingray City in Grand Cayman, Cave Tubing in Belize and a private day spa in Honduras) and were able to enjoy three excursions for less than two would have cost through Carnival. Just be sure you have booked with a reputable company, the other members here can (and have) offered up great suggestions.
1)As soon as you get on the ship, hit the laundry matt to iron out your clothes. (Before dinner they are much to busy)
2)If doing a private excursion pick on that is not way off in the boonies and within a 2hr walk if need be to the ship.(Most of them are within 20 min driving so you will be ok
3)Paying the extra money for a balcony really is worth every penny.
I haven't been on a cruise since my ex and I taught computer classes back in the '80s, but. . .
1. When in a foreign port and a local approaches you trying to sell something, smile and politely say, "No thank you." There's no reason to be rude to people trying to make a buck off the tourists (that would be you).
2. If you encounter someone who doesn't speak English, don't think that speaking slower and with greater volume will make them understand you more. They might understand you, but the more you do this, the less inclined they'll be to admit it.
3. Don't go to another country and expect yellow mustard or ranch dressing (to name a couple of items) to be readily available -- or available at all. You're travelling. Experience something new! If you wanted the same old stuff, you should have taken a road trip, perhaps across Route 66.
---- Carnival Victory - Eastern Caribbean 5/13/07
Posts: 23 | Location: Oregon | Registered: October 11, 2006
I used to have prawns and chips at my grandma's resturant all time! When I moved to the East coast nobody knew what I meant when I wanted prawns. Lets not even discuss gooyie duck
1. Patience is required; you stand in line to get on the ship, to get off the ship, to eat at the buffet, to get through customs, to use the elevators, etc . . . 2. It is okay to go to bed early, especially after a busy and exhausting day in port. Vacations are to relax. If you miss the show, the comedian or the midnight buffet once or twice you still will have an excellent time on your cruise. 3. If physically able, use the stairs instead of taking the elevators. The exercise is good for you, and you save a lot of time not waiting (see #1). Depending which deck your cabin is on you usually will not be going more than 3 floors in either direction most of the time.
1) Take one of those plastic hanging shoe holders for the bathroom door. It's extremely handy to store all kinds of stuff.
2) If at all possible, book a suite. Usually no waiting in line to get on the ship. Definately worth the extra $$$.
3) Take full advantage of the pools and hot tubs, no matter what you look like in a bathing suit. Who cares, you'll never see these folks again anyway!
