Any tips for a first time Cruise

[kevcala]

I'm going on my first cruise with my family next week to Bermuda.&nbsp; I'll be on the Royal Caribbean, Explorer of the Sea.&nbsp; I was just wondering if you ronfezers had any tips for someone going on their first cruise.&nbsp; Mostly in regards to what bring for the ship, any things I definately should check out, and any other tips you wish you knew before you went.&nbsp; <br />

[mdr55]

<p>What not to do: </p><p>Don't watch Titanic, Poseiden and those type of movies.&nbsp;</p>

[Sheeplovr]

don't jump on oprah's couch<br />

[torker]

<strong>mdr55</strong> wrote:<br /><p>What not to do: </p><p>Don't watch Titanic, Poseiden and those type of movies.&nbsp;</p><p>Do watch:</p><p><img height="475" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000AM6NV.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" width="345" border="0" /></p>

[Don Stugots]

free&nbsp;katie&nbsp;

[PapaBear]

<p>Get a haircut.</p><p><img height="215" src="http://www.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/dailydish/2006/09/06/ga_dish_suri150x215.jpg" width="150" border="0" /></p>

[Gaia]

<p>I have never been on a cruise and would love to go on one. </p><p>However; I hope you have the BEST time!!!</p><p>Dont they&nbsp;say the average person gaines like 8 pounds on a cruise?&nbsp;</p>

[tele7]

<strong>kevcala</strong> wrote:<br />I'm going on my first cruise with my family next week to Bermuda.&nbsp; I'll be on the Royal Caribbean, Explorer of the Sea.&nbsp; I was just wondering if you ronfezers had any tips for someone going on their first cruise.&nbsp; <strong>Mostly in regards to what bring for the ship</strong>, any things I definately should check out, and any other tips you wish you knew before you went.&nbsp; <br /><p>Just remember not to bring a towel.&nbsp; They have plenty of them.</p>

[Marc with a c]

don't go in the pool.

[stickyfingers]

<p>okay...I am not sure how old you are but I went when I graduated high school (with parents and an aunt).&nbsp; I met about 10 people my age, girls and guys.&nbsp; We had a great time, got really drunk on liquor we bought at the duty free shop before embarking.&nbsp; It was the best part of the cruise.&nbsp; They offer all these trips to go on when you port.&nbsp; They stink and are tourist traps.&nbsp; Enjoy the time at ports as you wish.&nbsp; Buy a bunch of knock off sunglasses on the islands and drink at the bars there for cheap.&nbsp; Dont forget what time the boat leaves.&nbsp; Dont sleep alot, get&nbsp;up early and nap by the pool.&nbsp; Eat at your convenience and don't bother going to the scheduled dinners unless you are with people that want to do that kind of stuff.&nbsp; Enjoy!</p>

[PapaBear]

<strong>Marc with a c</strong> wrote:<br />don't go in the pool. <p>Good advice. It's just not natural, and it fools your brain into thinkng you need to pass out. You might even get the bends.</p>

[kevcala]

<strong>stickyfingers</strong> wrote:<br /><p>okay...I am not sure how old you <br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p>29.

[reeshy]

I remember my first cruise....I walked up the gangway and saluted the flagstaff and then the OD...then he gave me over to the senior chief who showed me the berthing area and then told me to stow my gear and report to the XO...then I was assigned a duty station and watch bill assignment.....then, being a petty officer, I got liberty till the next morning...so I left the ship, walked to the bar, got drunk, got picked up by the shore patrol and brought back to the ship.....good times, good times!!!!!!<br />

[A.J.]

Stay away from the railing if you've been drinking.&nbsp; We don't want you to appear on a Dateline or 20/20 special.

[badorties]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>just remember the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handkerchief_code" target="_self">code</a>&nbsp;...</p>

[LordJezo]

<p>Okay, seeing all the &quot;serious&quot; responses I guess I'll kill the mood and chime in.</p><p> </p><p>Your going on a Voyager class ship, it's huge and its awesome. </p><p> </p><p>What you'll want to do, maybe.<br /></p><p> </p><p>1) The dining hall. Meh. Sure, you can pretend to be fancy and sit there with a bunch of people you don't know and get &quot;personal service&quot; but blow it off and go to the dining hall in the back of the boat. It serves the same exact food and it's a lot more laid back. You can sit where you want, eat when you want, and relax a lot more. It's a pain to have to make it to dinner at a set time and using this place will be much easier. Once we found out that it served the same stuff (plus more actually, there was a sushi bar back there!) we stopped going to the main dining hall.</p><p>2) Room service is free! Just tip the dude.</p><p>3) As soon as you can get on the ship make reservations for the Itallian place (or the steakhouse if it's on your boat, some have it, some dont). It's an extra fee but it's a really nice meal, fills up quickly. See if your family is interested.<br /></p><p>4) You old enough to drink? Fleece the bartender of the bar of your choice and keep going. On our cruise we ended up drinking for $5 a night. Guy charged us for 1 shot of tequila a night and everything else was on the house + whatever money we could find for tips. Make friends with one and you might get lucky. We liked the bar on the 14th floor or whatever it was. <br /></p><p>5) Don't bother with that worthless soda card. It costs a bunch extra and you can deal with not having Coca Cola for a week. If you really need it just get one for the family and have everyone share. Just fill up at one place, go to a different bar, fill up again, and share. Just trying to save you guys money. We thought we would need it so we got it and it got to the point where we were drinking Coke and Sprite (your only choices) for the sole purpose of hoping to get our money's worth. It was a sunk cost at that point but it made us mentally feel better. Having juices, water, coffee, and tea is enough and it's free.<br /></p><p>6) There is a Johnny Rocket's on the boat and it costs about $5 a person for all you can eat. Food there is fun but here's the trick, send one person in, have that one person pay the $5, and then have them order 4 burgers, 3 fries, and whatever else you want, and get it &quot;to go&quot;. Then walk out and share back in your room or on the deck. It might be fun to go, though, you can watch a bunch of non-English speakers who work there dance around and sing B-52s songs for you.</p><p>7) Don't get excited about the liquor store on the boat. You can't take anything with you. You can buy stuff super cheap but they keep it until you get off the boat.&nbsp; Everyone is allowed to bring one bottle of stuff on the boat so have everyone pack their bags.&nbsp; We brought wine but other people bring booze.</p><p>8) Get Cuban cigars once you get down there.&nbsp; Customs bothers no one when getting off the boat.&nbsp; When you get the declare thing just put down nothing and walk out.&nbsp; They have to deal with 3500 people at once and just take your slips as fast as they can.<br /> </p><p>9) Speaking of getting off the boat, <u><strong>COME UP WITH AN EXCUSE TO TRY TO GET OFF THE BOAT EARLY</strong></u>.&nbsp; Slip the stateroom person some cash, say you have a flight to catch, <u><strong>ANYTHING</strong></u>.&nbsp; Getting off the boat blows more than anything you'll experience in travel if you get a low card.&nbsp; They load everyone into a few area and then you sit there for hours waiting for your color to be called.&nbsp; It's a color system and each color goes at a different time.&nbsp; It took us 2 hours or something and we were in the middle of the pack.&nbsp; It got to the point of us thinking about never wanting to do this again, but I guess that was just us getting furious.&nbsp; If you can somehow get them to give you a white color, which is first, or some other high ranked ge

[Justice4all]

<p>I have been on several cruises.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>You will need some formal wear (if it is a cruise for more then 4 days) for one of the dinners.</p><p>One or two bathing suits should be ok.</p><p>Cash, but not alot. Do travellers checks also. I would say sunblock alot also, the open water does tend to increase the&nbsp;chance of sunburn, but&nbsp;being it is Bermuda and not the carribean you will not need it as badly.</p><p>Remember BErmuda is off the carolina coasts so it will not be THAT hot out. </p><p>Aside from thatyour cruise line should have sent you a booklet that says some of the more important things you will need.</p><p>R.C. is a GREAt cruise liner. You should have a blast. Let us know how you liked it!!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Oh yes...bring&nbsp;dramamine or however you spell the&nbsp;fucking thing. If you are going to BErmuda the Atlantic is not as smooth&nbsp;as the Carribean. so the boat MIGHT rock a&nbsp;bit. ONLY a bit. Some first timers it takes a while to get used to. Keep feeding yourself. A full stomach helps fight off the possbile sea-sickness.&nbsp;</p>

[Jennitalia]

i went on a weekend cruise to martha's vineyard.&nbsp;we were able to sneak beer on the boat with us, but as it was 1999, we really didn't have our bags searched as well as they probably should have.&nbsp; dramamine will definitely help.&nbsp;&nbsp; will you be able to gamble?&nbsp; if so, bring some extra cash for that. have fun.,

[KC2OSO]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>badorties</strong> wrote:<br /><p> </p><p>just remember the <a target="_self" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handkerchief_code">code</a> ...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Heh, Who knew about the hanky code?&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p>More like the hanky panky code A-OOOOGAH!<br /></p>

[OldGravyLeg]

<strong>When you board they ask you for a credit card to pay for you purchases on the ship.&nbsp; The first day go to the stewards office and have all gratuities removed tell them you will tip individually ie: your room steward, your dinner waiters.&nbsp; This way you set the rate and the employees do not get taxed, lowering what you have to pay them.&nbsp; Bring booze on board in your luggage if you are a drinker.&nbsp; The only thing you need is mixers and you can get them on board.&nbsp; Booze being your biggest bill.&nbsp; The excursions that they plan generally stink so book your own,&nbsp; cheaper.&nbsp; The jamaican rock coat is a little bit cumbersome ( Patrice O'Neals idea ) So think of alternatives.&nbsp; Great time enjoy.&nbsp; Just give everyone 2bucks,&nbsp; it works.</strong>

[Kevin]

<strong>PapaBear</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Get a haircut.</p><p><img height="215" src="http://www.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/dailydish/2006/09/06/ga_dish_suri150x215.jpg" width="150" border="0" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt; color: black; font-family: verdana">Don't make fake android babies</span></p>

[TheRealEddie]

<p>Tips, yeah? You'll be handing out a lot of em. The waiters, your cleaning staff, bartenders...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Have fun! And dont forget the sun screen!&nbsp;</p>