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The cruise lines will often welcome local experts and historians to come aboard to give a presentation. Here you can watch the sunrises and sunsets together; grab a blanket and stargaze into the dark night skies; and, order a special room service meal al fresco. Most ships show outdoor films where passengers lounge in deck chairs and munch on popcorn (much like the old drive-in theater experience). Some of the most popular and memorable times on a cruise happen onshore.
Bring these six other things, too
To still utilize this space, the cruise lines often show feature films on the big screen that overlooks the deck. You can grab a pool chair or hang out in a hot tub and watch a flick. The top deck on a cruise ship will feature tons of chairs, although those closest to the pool get picked first.
Meet the Ship’s Captain
Keeping organized for the ship’s activities can be a bit of a challenge. You’ll definitely want to go through the daily cruise planner (Cruise Compass, Freestyle Daily, Princess Patter, etc.) and plan for certain activities you really want to attend. Cabins are obviously quite dark at night, especially if you’re in an inside cabin.
Final Thoughts: 75 Genius Cruise Tips and Hacks
And even if you just misplace it, losing a passport is a major ordeal. That’s why we like to put our passport in our cabin safe and carry a photocopy of the ID page with us in port or just use a driver’s license. If you have a pair of cheap flip-flops that you like wearing around the pool, then it’s time to upgrade.
Courses cover the basics, and some cruise lines have professional photographers as the instructors. Then, join a technology and/or social media class to learn about sharing your images and stories with friends and family. The options for relaxing and unwinding include massages, body wraps, mani and pedi services, yoga, Turkish baths, facials, healing rituals, sauna and steam grottos and much more. Then, make a reservation at one of the ship’s many specialty restaurants for a dinner for two. While there are many, many other passengers onboard, this is a way to have a quiet meal together.
Pool time
What they do for their guests is undeniably above and beyond. The provided gear will include outerwear (a souvenir parka is yours to keep on polar expeditions) and the ships are equipped with complimentary launderettes. Viking’s Expedition ships currently devote June, July, August and September to cruising the Arctic and Great Lakes.
For example, Carnival offers a ride from Miami International to the port for about $23 per person, one way. The trip is only about 15 minutes and an Uber costs about $25 for the trip. In other words, a roundtrip on the cruise shuttle would cost $184 for a family of four, but only around $50 with Uber or Lyft. With everything seemingly so perfect on the ship, it can be easy to think that ports of call are perfect as well.
9 Best Cruise Destinations For Families - TheTravel
9 Best Cruise Destinations For Families.
Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
While you can book cruise line shore excursions, in some cases it can be easy and give you more freedom to head to a beach or do a walking tour on your own. Of course, you always want to be safe and never miss the cruise ship so research is key. You just never know, however I’ve seen it happen from time to time. Most cruise lines have a special drink of the day offered at a reduced price. While not free, it will likely be a few dollars less than other similar drinks on the menu. Nowadays it’s super important to download the cruise line app for online check in, emuster and more.
Rainy Day Activities
If you don’t want a picture taken, you can just politely decline. And there’s no charge unless you decide to buy the picture. Not the sort of person that likes having your picture taken by strangers? Get ready, because it will start before you even step foot on the ship. It’s big business on a cruise for roving photographers to take pictures of guests having fun.
Some lines will let you sign up for shows, tours and other activities (including meals at specialty restaurants) in advance of sailing using online portals. If you want to be sure that you get a seat for a specific show on a specific night, or a specific tour or restaurant reservation time, it's a good idea to do this. It's not uncommon with some ships to find that some shows, tours and restaurant reservation times book up in advance. Just like restaurants on land, cruise ships sailing from the United States undergo regular health inspections. This checks everything from food service to pool cleanliness and lots more. The fact is, cruising is a world unto itself, and in some ways you can never research enough.
Two don't-miss activities on any sailing are bingo and trivia. For the first, you'll have to pay a per-card fee, while the second is free, but the stakes are also much higher for the former when it comes to prizes. If cash or free cruises sound enticing, bingo is the way to go. Trivia swag is generally less coveted, often consisting of cruise line branded items like key chains, but that doesn't make showing off your knowledge of useless topics any less fun.
Travelers who have more than two weeks to spare and who prefer to arrive in Hawaii via ship rather than an airplane can do so on Holland America's 17-night Circle Hawaii itinerary. They'd better also love sea days because crossing the Pacific from San Diego or Vancouver to Honolulu and back requires 10 days. The overnights on Maui and Kauai also mean it's possible to try several of Hawaii's signature experiences that most port calls don't allow. Passengers can catch dusk or dawn from atop Maui's massive 10,023-foot dormant volcano with sunrise and sunset excursions to the Haleakala Crater. And with the ship in port all night on Kauai, guests who want to enjoy traditional Hawaiian cuisine, music and hula performances can book the Luau Kalamaku for a fun evening out. Keep in mind that although cruise cabins are small, they can also be organized and efficient.
Early in the morning (before 8 a.m.) and late at night (after 11 p.m.) are the best times to see the shortest lines. And cruise lines have included gratuities with your cruise fare or charged daily to your account, so they are taken care of automatically. That means when you eat in the free restaurants on the ship like the buffet and the main dining room, there’s no bill to pay or tip to leave. If you’ve been tempted by the drink packages, do the math before you buy it. Drink packages seem like good deals, but the rules can make them quite pricey. For instance, many cruise lines force each person in a cabin to buy the package if any passenger buys it.
If you are looking for more spa days and quiet times by the pool, Celebrity or Holland America might be a good fit. Consider Princess Cruises as a cruise-line that offers a nice mix of activity and traditional cruising, offering something for everyone. Don’t head home on debarkation day without having another cruise to look forward to. Booking your next cruise onboard, or simply placing a deposit on a future cruise with date unknown is a great way to save money. Plus, you’ll avoid some of the inevitable post-cruise blues.
The cruise ship deck is windy, and towels tend to fall down and even fly away a bit. Keep not only your good jewelry, wallet and cash in your safe – but also keep your passports and car or house keys. We realize we often have these with us when we travel, and to avoid searching for them at the end of the cruise, they simply go in the safe the very first cruise day. If you’re in an inside cabin, open the light in the bathroom and leave the door open just a sliver. It will add just enough light to the room so you don’t trip or stub your toe if you do need to get up during the night. Do keep papers that you need and want to refer to in a regular spot.
Are you interested in learning more about scotch, wine or even bartending and making certain drinks? On many cruise ships, you can participate in tastings as well as workshops, so you can learn how to make the perfect cocktail. Of course, a little sampling of the concoctions is part of the experience. On many cruise ships, you’ll find a broad range of interesting guest speakers.
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