Things people do that make it obvious they are cruise virgins

On my first cruise I packed just one carry-on and a standard-sized backpack. My second cruise was a Disney cruise. I packed two standard-sized pieces of luggage+ and ended up not wearing 1/3rd of what I packed. I also took the most pictures while on the Disney cruise.

Wearing their cruise card on a lanyard around their neck.

As an "Old Salty Lady", we don't have pockets usually... I always use a lanyard and all of mine are "bedazzled". It is really more convenient and I am less likely to misplace it.

Newbie no/no~

I would say using a selfie stick hanging over every rail and posing yourself over and over until you get that perfect shot... in line, in the buffet, in the piazza, on the tender, at the coffee bar... you get my drift!

The great lanyard discussion.

Why don't the ladies out there assemble a cruise wardrobe that makes cruising simpler for them? Leave outfits that can't accommodate a key card at home. Consider buying a skirt or two that will compliment a number of different tops that have at least one pocket for your cruise card. Do the same with your choice of slacks or shorts you intend to pack. Not a big fan of shopping? You could also take a favorite dress or skirt you wanted on your cruise to a tailor and have them sew in a small side or rear pocket. Bye, bye lanyard.

It would be very difficult to buy any outfit for a man that doesn't have at least one pocket so this post is focused to the fairer sex and isn't meant to be sexist. Regardless of gender if you are prone to forgetting you card while playing in the casino feel free to resurrect your lanyard. Score one for the lanyard.

Hear's a question most males have no answer for including me. Is it against Natures rule of gender for a woman to visit the powder room without a purse? If the answer was yes perhaps that purse might be a good place to store a ship card if your male companion isn't up to it keeping it safe for you. The purse came with you anyway, right?

I'm amazed that so many people seemingly can't walk 50 feet without a cell phone but manage to have it handy at all times and without a lanyard to hang it from. How is that possible?

I also don't think [most] passengers wear their lanyards around their necks when they go for a swim. They likely have some form of 'hand carry' that they stuff their lanyard/ship card into along with other stuff they may want or need when swimming. Bye, bye lanyard.

What was supposed to be a humorous take on wearing a cow bell, I mean lanyard, around one's neck looks to have turned into a bit of an Andy Rooney rant. I apologize.

Attend the art auction for the free champagne and purchase the same art available stateside for less.

God, this one is insanely annoying. Some people lack class.

Buy the photo package!

The great lanyard discussion.

Why don't the ladies out there assemble a cruise wardrobe that makes cruising simpler for them?

What was supposed to be a humorous take on wearing a cow bell, I mean lanyard, around one's neck looks to have turned into a bit of an Andy Rooney rant. I apologize.

I didn't want to, but I ended up wearing a lanyard last cruise because 4x my cabin card became demagnetized by my secret lanyard card hiding place (upper lingerie). I wish there were a law that all women's wear had pockets, but until then....

S

What do you have in your "upper lingerie" space that causes demagnetizations? A pacemaker?

I, too, use a lanyard or a case that holds cards, cash and more and is watertight. I also have a lanyard on my iPhone case. [emoji4]

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:p

What do you have in your "upper lingerie" space that causes demagnetizations? A pacemaker?

I,. [emoji4]

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Good question, but not my titanium knee. Perhaps the "boning?" I haven't figured it out.

I do know that my iPad case could, and has, done it, but that is easy to understand. The Reception on my last three HAL ships had no guesses.

S

Having just got back from my first cruise, I certainly walked around with a big grin on my face way too much, and kept saying things like "I can't believe how big the ship is!" Or, "where's my cabin again? I thought it was right over here..." I'm pretty sure I seemed like a newbie when we barely made it back to the ship in Costa Maya - "you mean they really leave when they say they will?" What can I say - I got sidetracked by the Tequila Museum and Tasting room:D.

Perhaps that is a virgin mistake as well?

I've lost count of how many cruises this will be, but I'll still walk around with a big grin plastered on my gob.

:p

 

Good question, but not my titanium knee. Perhaps the "boning?" I haven't figured it out.

I do know that my iPad case could, and has, done it, but that is easy to understand. The Reception on my last three HAL ships had no guesses.

S

Crazy idea, but if your "hiding place" is made of synthetic fabric it might generate a lot of static rubbing against the card...

Does the problem occur if your wear cotton?

Crazy idea, but if your "hiding place" is made of synthetic fabric it might generate a lot of static rubbing against the card...

 

Does the problem occur if your wear cotton?

Good question, why not try it? Of course I might have to look for that: should be fun!!!!!!

The great lanyard discussion.

Why don't the ladies out there assemble a cruise wardrobe that makes cruising simpler for them? Leave outfits that can't accommodate a key card at home. Consider buying a skirt or two that will compliment a number of different tops that have at least one pocket for your cruise card. Do the same with your choice of slacks or shorts you intend to pack. Not a big fan of shopping? You could also take a favorite dress or skirt you wanted on your cruise to a tailor and have them sew in a small side or rear pocket. Bye, bye lanyard.

It would be very difficult to buy any outfit for a man that doesn't have at least one pocket so this post is focused to the fairer sex and isn't meant to be sexist. Regardless of gender if you are prone to forgetting you card while playing in the casino feel free to resurrect your lanyard. Score one for the lanyard.

Hear's a question most males have no answer for including me. Is it against Natures rule of gender for a woman to visit the powder room without a purse? If the answer was yes perhaps that purse might be a good place to store a ship card if your male companion isn't up to it keeping it safe for you. The purse came with you anyway, right?

I'm amazed that so many people seemingly can't walk 50 feet without a cell phone but manage to have it handy at all times and without a lanyard to hang it from. How is that possible?

I also don't think [most] passengers wear their lanyards around their necks when they go for a swim. They likely have some form of 'hand carry' that they stuff their lanyard/ship card into along with other stuff they may want or need when swimming. Bye, bye lanyard.

What was supposed to be a humorous take on wearing a cow bell, I mean lanyard, around one's neck looks to have turned into a bit of an Andy Rooney rant. I apologize.

LOL

Instead of focusing on having their own fun, they keep looking around at others and pointing out how unsophisticated the supposed "virgins" are as compared to their own jaded, world-weary selves.:p

 

Thank you. I AM a cruise newbie, and as I read this thread, I'm just wondering exactly why any of the aforementioned "faux pas" are an issue? If it doesn't affect you, let the newbies enjoy their cruise any way they want to? The getting up early, the bathrobe to breakfast, the lanyard, excursions and photos. I fully plan to be guilty of all of it. :-D

Every seasoned mariner started as a 'newbie'. We all were guilty of doing something that [after a cruise or two] might be considered a cruise faux pas. As you correctly stated no harm was done because none of those faux pas affected anyone. Show up for breakfast or any meal in a bathrobe (weather it's in a motel, hotel or aboard a ship) and think that is acceptable behavior and doesn't affect those around you is just a bit too selfish. Make an effort and be considerate to the other guests that made that huge effort by putting some cloths on. The cruise is not just about you and unless you've chartered your own yacht you will be sharing space with other guests who, coincidentally, paid just as much as you did but dressed when having a meal. It's a 'bath robe' not a 'dinning robe'. The cruise lines deserve a poke in the nose for letting the dress code unravel as far as it has.

I still feel like a newbie (and sometimes act like one) and I've been on 17 cruises!

I still feel like a newbie (and sometimes act like one) and I've been on 17 cruises!

Good on ya, mate!;)

We will be heading out on cruise 15 in December and 16th in June. We're Diamond on Royal and Elite on Celebrity. We always have a big smile on our faces, we wear the lanyard and I'm not buying (or having pockets sewn into outfits to avoid wearing a lanyard). It's super convenient and I couldn't care less what the non-lanyard wearing snobs think about it. That lanyard of mine goes to the Diamond lounge with me every night. We still take loads of photos to go in a Shutterfly book we get made after each cruise. We don't miss out on a meal or a snack on the ship either. We LOVE talking to people that are on their first cruise. They seem to enjoy the cruise as much as us. I much prefer hearing their excitement over the complainers or the ones that enjoy making fun of their fellow cruisers because that's how they spend their time on a cruise. Who are you trying to impress or fool when you're on a cruise? I'm there to enjoy my vacation. Period.

We will be heading out on cruise 15 in December and 16th in June. We're Diamond on Royal and Elite on Celebrity. We always have a big smile on our faces, we wear the lanyard and I'm not buying (or having pockets sewn into outfits to avoid wearing a lanyard). It's super convenient and I couldn't care less what the non-lanyard wearing snobs think about it. That lanyard of mine goes to the Diamond lounge with me every night. We still take loads of photos to go in a Shutterfly book we get made after each cruise. We don't miss out on a meal or a snack on the ship either. We LOVE talking to people that are on their first cruise. They seem to enjoy the cruise as much as us. I much prefer hearing their excitement over the complainers or the ones that enjoy making fun of their fellow cruisers because that's how they spend their time on a cruise. Who are you trying to impress or fool when you're on a cruise? I'm there to enjoy my vacation. Period.

Griffy116: Thank you!! You are my hero!

When the day comes that I don't get giddy about my next cruise, or I start snickering or making fun of a "newbie", I'll know I've fallen into permanent "grumpy resting face" mode and should spend my time cursing at the assisted living center staff because my chocolate cake doesn't have enough sprinkles...

Instead of focusing on having their own fun, they keep looking around at others and pointing out how unsophisticated the supposed "virgins" are as compared to their own jaded, world-weary selves.:p

 

 

 

Thank you. I AM a cruise newbie, and as I read this thread, I'm just wondering exactly why any of the aforementioned "faux pas" are an issue? If it doesn't affect you, let the newbies enjoy their cruise any way they want to? The getting up early, the bathrobe to breakfast, the lanyard, excursions and photos. I fully plan to be guilty of all of it. :-D

 

 

[emoji106]I agree

As an "Old Salty Lady", we don't have pockets usually... I always use a lanyard and all of mine are "bedazzled". It is really more convenient and I am less likely to misplace it. !

Funny how people have a different take on this Lanyard Thing. on my first cruise or two I had no idea about Lanyards then I learned how practical they are and from then on I will not be caught without at least one on a cruise.

Many women's Skirts may have pockets but they are not tight fitting so items tend to fall out. not to smart to keep important things in that.

so I vote that Lanyards are a smart must have for veteran Cruisers not a newbie thing at all........

Me too! I have a box-like thing, I think they call them waterproof safes or some such thing. I have 3 sizes. One holds my iPhone-5 and several cards as well as some cash. I hang it under my top. It has a long enough cord that it doesn't make me look like I have 3 breasts...just a bit of a belly. [emoji79]

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Packing snacks in their carry-on bags.

Me too! I have a box-like thing, I think they call them waterproof safes or some such thing. I have 3 sizes. One holds my iPhone-5 and several cards as well as some cash. I hang it under my top. It has a long enough cord that it doesn't make me look like I have 3 breasts...just a bit of a belly. [emoji79]

 

 

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I hate the lanyard thing. But I do confess to bringing one of these waterproof thingys you describe to beach and other wet stops, if I don't have anyone with me staying dry. They are a godsend for those who don't want to leave their stuff on the beach towel. (Just make sure they are secured well, that way you won't have to snorkel down to retrieve yours. Ummmm, not that I'm speaking from experience or anything!;)) But I don't need or use it on the ship. Then again, I'm not a woman and always have pockets.:p What can I tell you? :D

I disagree that it's a newbie thing to be a woman dragging a purse around. I'm not a cruise newbie, but I have either a tote bag or a big bucket purse I carry around - to hold my yarn and whatever project I'm working on and Kleenex (or a book or word find or something). I don't want to have to hoof it back to my room, I'm on vacation and I wanna have fun at any given moment without having to delay to walk back to my room and lose the perfect lounger or whatever :)

So while you all are waiting in line to do whatever, waiting for a show to start, etc. I'll be sitting/standing there crocheting or reading totally enjoying my vacation :)

Newbies are the ones who are not wasting their time looking down on others! They are enjoying themselves! ;)

Well said! oh and remember you are so so blessed to have the resources to take a luxury vacation on a cruise ship rather than only being able to afford a weekend at the local beach. That's the big vacation for most americans :-(