"I wish I knew before..."

[Rahway742]

ive never been on a ship for a long period of time like this, but i love speed boats and etc. is a cruise different? like is there a chance i can get seasick or etc? if i do can i purchase meds onboard?

[Eris0303]

Originally Posted by Rahway742

ive never been on a ship for a long period of time like this, but i love speed boats and etc. is a cruise different? like is there a chance i can get seasick or etc? if i do can i purchase meds onboard?

Well, there's always a chance. I don't have a history of motion sickness but I still was sick the first two nights. When the earthquake hit Haiti a friend of mine was on a cruise and there were lots of people sick. Or a storm could hit. In a nutshell I would say be prepared. Yes, you can buy Dramamine or Bonine on board but it is much cheaper to buy it a grocery store/pharmacy/Walmart beforehand.

I ran out of contact lens fluid while on a cruise and a small bottle cost $12 on board. So, I would recommend getting any of that kind of stuff before your cruise. While you can find deals in the shops toiletries are not something you can save on.

[Rahway742]

ah ok very true. will stock up before i go! 196 days

Originally Posted by Eris0303

Well, there's always a chance. I don't have a history of motion sickness but I still was sick the first two nights. When the earthquake hit Haiti a friend of mine was on a cruise and there were lots of people sick. Or a storm could hit. In a nutshell I would say be prepared. Yes, you can buy Dramamine or Bonine on board but it is much cheaper to buy it a grocery store/pharmacy/Walmart beforehand.

I ran out of contact lens fluid while on a cruise and a small bottle cost $12 on board. So, I would recommend getting any of that kind of stuff before your cruise. While you can find deals in the shops toiletries are not something you can save on.

[teecee46]

Originally Posted by Storm730

I've always used Bonine. You can get that at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart or Costco.

Unfortunately I live in Ireland and we don't have any of those stores here. I've looked locally and Bonine doesn't seem to be available here.

[Eris0303]

Originally Posted by teecee46

Unfortunately I live in Ireland and we don't have any of those stores here. I've looked locally and Bonine doesn't seem to be available here.

I'm assuming you're coming a day or two before embarkaration. If so I really recommend not stressing about not being able to find Bonine in Ireland. Wait until you get to the US and go to a grocery store/pharmacy/Walmart near your hotel. I'm sure there will be other people doing the same thing. Perhaps you could ask on your roll call here on CC to ask if anyone is planning on going and if you could tag along.

[suzyed]

Originally Posted by Eris0303

I'm assuming you're coming a day or two before embarkaration. If so I really recommend not stressing about not being able to find Bonine in Ireland. Wait until you get to the US and go to a grocery store/pharmacy/Walmart near your hotel. I'm sure there will be other people doing the same thing. Perhaps you could ask on your roll call here on CC to ask if anyone is planning on going and if you could tag along.

Or maybe someone on your roll call can pick it up for you and you can pay them when you get there.

[Eris0303]

Originally Posted by suzyed

Or maybe someone on your roll call can pick it up for you and you can pay them when you get there.

Another good option. My roommate on my last cruise got to port a full day before me and picked me up some ginger ale

[T.O.cruisers]

Originally Posted by Eris0303

Another good option. My roommate on my last cruise got to port a full day before me and picked me up some ginger ale

Green apples are supposed to help with sea sickness too. Look for them on the buffets and keep a few in your cabin.

When I was on the Celebrity Millenium, I found single packets of bonine at the infirmary. I managed to help myself to a handful and those will be coming with me onto the Liberty of the Seas in the Mediterranean in a couple weeks.

[Eris0303]

Originally Posted by T.O.cruisers

Green apples are supposed to help with sea sickness too. Look for them on the buffets and keep a few in your cabin.

Didn't do me a lick of good. In fact it was the apple that pushed me over the proverbial edge

[daflemfam]

WOW. I feel like I am in need of some serious detox. I have spent the last five days reading, copying and pasting the posts from this thread. Incredible wealth of infomation for DW and I. We are looking forward to our first cruise. Halloween aboard Carnival Destiny.

[dustyroad]

Originally Posted by daflemfam

WOW. I feel like I am in need of some serious detox. I have spent the last five days reading, copying and pasting the posts from this thread. Incredible wealth of infomation for DW and I. We are looking forward to our first cruise. Halloween aboard Carnival Destiny.

it is kind of overwhelming isnt it . but just remember too get on the ship, relax and let come-what-may. i know you will have a wonderful time.

[zither]

As virgin cruisers we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone on this thread for the extremely valuable information on here.

We have been visiting this thread for the last 18 months and can't believe that our sail date is almost upon us. We are so excited and feel well equipped with all the hints and tips posted on here. We would like to give a special mention of thanks to cornishpastyman1 and Happy Cruiser for your insights into cruising, we will be having an ice cream in Rome for Cornishpastyman1 and of course sampling the peanut butter ice cream with lashings of M&M's.

BIG BIG THANKS, Celebrity Eclipse here we come

Bernie & Valerie

[LuvCats!]

That is correct. We had been asked when we reserved the cruise if we were celebrating anything and we told them that we were celebrating our anniversary. They said it would be done on the 1st formal night but it came and went with nothing happening (all we wanted was the piece of cake/singing...it was a surprise for DH) so in the end I talked to our waiter and he came through with flying colors.

Originally Posted by paul929207

I think Luvcats! was referring to celebrating your birthday or anniversary, etc on a cruise.

If you want to arrange a private party, on Princess there is a section at their HQ that handles per planning for gatherings. They deal with the purser to arrange a room, etc. I would think other lines have a similar process.

[sethmonster]

1. How much fun Sea days are! Ports are great, but real relaxation where you don't have to be ANYWHERE by a certain time (except dinner) only come from sea days.
2. Pack half as much as you think you'll need
3. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Pack as much as you can because it is EXPENSIVE onboard.
4. Booking a cabin mid-ship and near (but not too near) to an elevator shaft is super convenient when you forgot your camera at dinner time and need to run back to the room.
5. Use your OBC and spending money wisely. The first day could wipe you out and then you'll feel guilty the rest of the trip....on the same note, try and bring alcohol in using stealth methods.

[Stigliano]

Originally Posted by sethmonster

1. How much fun Sea days are! Ports are great, but real relaxation where you don't have to be ANYWHERE by a certain time (except dinner) only come from sea days.
2. Pack half as much as you think you'll need
3. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Pack as much as you can because it is EXPENSIVE onboard.
4. Booking a cabin mid-ship and near (but not too near) to an elevator shaft is super convenient when you forgot your camera at dinner time and need to run back to the room.
5. Use your OBC and spending money wisely. The first day could wipe you out and then you'll feel guilty the rest of the trip....on the same note, try and bring alcohol in using stealth methods.

Hmmm wise advise but what 'stealth methods' do you recommned?
Our ports will be Dubai, Muscat and Cochin (India) so purchasing alcohol ashore to bring on board could be a problem.

[hmm33502]

The best piece of advice that I can offer is to read the boards often, but remember that most of what is on the page is an opinion and some people are just old, grouchy, and glass-half-empty people!

We did cruise ship sponsored excursions on 4 of our 6 port days....we created our own excursion one day and stayed on the ship one day. The day that my girlfriends let me take charge and plan a day where we got to decide what we were doing and the timing, etc, and not rely on a cruise ship sponsored excursion was the best day.

Your cruise is what you make of it!

[NewEnglandNANA]

Originally Posted by hmm33502

Your cruise is what you make of it!

So true! My first cruise was in April on NCL Jewel and I read these boards received some great advice and took the naysayers with a grain of salt.
We laughed all week no matter what we were doing, lots of relaxing and so much fun that we are sailing again in May on the NCL Dawn and looking forward to being in one place(Bermuda) for 2 1/2 days!
It is all what you make of it.

[Finkksta]

Op: why the binder clip for the shower?

[paul929207]

Originally Posted by Finkksta

Op: why the binder clip for the shower?

I believe the clip is intended to discourage the shower curtain from getting too friendly. Shower stalls are usually quite small on cruise ships.

[sethmonster]

Originally Posted by Stigliano

Hmmm wise advise but what 'stealth methods' do you recommned?
Our ports will be Dubai, Muscat and Cochin (India) so purchasing alcohol ashore to bring on board could be a problem.

What I've done in the past is buy a bottle of alcohol and a hand bottle of soda, then pour most of the soda out and a lot of the alcohol in, then bring it onboard. It'll taste different and be diluted depending on what you mix it with. But does the trick

Also, I've read on here that during embarkation, a cruiser bought a 'to go' large container from dunkin' donuts and filled it with a new plastic container full of alcohol and no on questioned him through security as he walked it on through security. I've also heard camel baks in backpacks work well.

Much of these are simply 'hiding in plain site'