missmoo4

On my first (and so far, only) cruise, I was with my husband and 10 other family members. We're Kiwis and have a unique sense of humour. Luckily, our main waiter "got' us and would banter with us every night.

One night, I went to the loo after ordering dessert. I came back to see the 2 waiters standing back to back behind my seat. My plate was covered by a room service tray, which had a butter dish, condiments and other dishes piled on top of and around it like a fort. My family and our waiters collapsed in to hysterics at my surprised look. Turned out, one of my cousins had thought my dessert looked nice so swiped a spoonfull. Our waiter was horrified (in a good way), so had brought me out a replacement and then constructed the fort to protect it.

We are looking at shouting my in-laws on a cruise around June/July 2016 and were wondering what the Comedy Cruise is like? We were thinking the one that goes from Auckland to Sydney but that is open for negotiation.

Do you think a 60-65 year old couple would like this? They often go to comedy shows in Christchurch where they live

They've never cruised before but hubby and I did one last year and loved it so think they would too. Thanks

We caught a bus from the airport to Termini train station. Can't recall the price but it wasn't expensive. We purchased the ticket from a stand at the airport. Definitely watch out for people approaching you to offer a taxi. usually more expensive!

we did a 12 day cruise for our first one! Was port intensive, only 2 sea days in that time though. Loved it

I'm gonna go with the flight itself... since we live in New Zealand, it's a bazillion hours and another bazillion dollars to get anywhere. Our first cruise was this year from Rome, took 36 hours of travelling time. Each way. And cost $2500 each (return) - which was GOOD!

We went there on Serenade whilst in Europe in Sep. Some of the meals are main size, others are more appetizer size. It is not all that clear on the menu either. Our meals were delicious - I had the fajita - but they absolutely could not cope with the size of our group (12 ppl) even though they had been given ample warning. You can't book, but my SIL let them know we were coming about 4 days in advance, then reminded them the day before and day of. Consequently the service was downright appalling. Small groups would probably be fine but they completely dropped the ball for us. Luckily, the ship made it up to us so we left happy

I can't help with US customs, but Australia is similar to NZ where I'm from so:

DECLARE EVERYTHING down to that chocolate bar. If you're not sure, declare it anyway.

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/travel/cant-take

This is a good list of what you need to declare.

We were really impressed with the food on Serenade a couple of months ago! Admittedly we never eat in 5 star restaurants, but nor are we exclusively fast food eaters. we do eat out at good mid range restaurants several times a year and the MDR had some of the tastiest meals we've had.

Not at all! The second I stepped off the ship at Dubrovnik. it started pouring down. I was drenched in 2 seconds flat. It was THE HEAVIEST rain we've ever seen, (and coming from New Zealand we're used to rain as it rains a LOT!) We went back on the ship to wait out the storm, then headed into town. Didn't even bother changing as I knew I'd probably just get wet again. Did curse myself for not bringing a jacket though

If your're not big drinkers, just buy your spirits as and when you want. If you only have 2 or 3 drinks a night, it's a lot cheaper. I probably had a glass of wine and a cocktail most nights, my husband might have had a couple of beers, plus I drank a couple of cokes. Our total end of cruise cost was just over $500 for 12 nights, for the 2 of us. Worked out around $20 a day per person, which also included a specialty meal each and around $100 in the shops

We just did a 12 night Adriatic cruise on Serenade and loved it! Granted, it was our first cruise so we went with few expectations, but she beat most of them!

I'm from New Zealand where we don't tip, and our recent cruise and trip around Italy was fraught with should we tip her? how much? is it included? should we tip on top if it is? Our ship gratuities were prepaid but we wanted to give our waiters and room stewards extra. NO idea if we over or under tipped. Same with our tour guides in Italy, some of us tipped, some didn't, we might have been sen as cheapskates, we might have been seen as generous LOL.

In NZ tipping is creeping in - most cafes/restaurants have a tip jar on the counter. I don't think I've ever put anything in one though. Waiters and waitresses get paid at least minimum wage though (NZ$14.25)

Great info thanks! This is first time cruising any must have things we should bring for our cabins? How much was it for Giovanni's dinner? On embark day did you go somewhere other than windjammer? Do they have a free soft serve ice cream machine on ship? About when does muster take place? Are the shops onboard pretty expensive?

 

Thanks, stacey

Things for cabins - I only know what interior cabins have, so based on that, I would recommend some kind of washing line what you can suction on to the wall and ceiling, and inflatable coathangers. We also found post it notes great for leaving notes on each others doors. I honestly found there was plenty of storage so ignore people telling you you will need a hanging shoe pocket thing. I did take and use a command hook that I put on bathroom door for hanging my toilet bag (it folds open) and I'm glad as the knobs on the door made it sit funny.

The price for Giovanni's depended on what you had I think, but from memory it was around $35 for 3 courses? Somewhere in that ballpark anyway. Definitely worth it!

There is a soft serve icecream machine in Windjammer :) also normal icecream is available on the dessert menu at the main dining room.

ON embarkation day we had lunch at windjammer, then unpacked once suitcases arrived, and explored the ship. Muster drill was at 4.45 I think, then afterwards we wet to the pool deck for the sailaway party. after that we just relaxed til dinner time at the MDR.

I actually didn't think the shops were particularly expensive BUT I am from New Zealand where things are more expensive than US to start with. I picked up some sunglasses for $30, toothpaste for $6 or so. They had bags, pashminas, t-shirts etc for around $10. They also had higher end products, jewellery etc.

How exciting... thanks for all the info... nice to know have someone right off the ship... my kids (15,18, 19,20,24)and I are on the Nov 22 sailing of serenade..... I have lots of questions...are you ready :)... did you guys do chefs table or murder mystery dinner? What shows and or activities did you guys really like? Was it hard to find lounger by pool? Do we need to get there early if we want to lay out? Any specials on the cruise for restaurants or a spa?

We didn't do Chef's table, but did consider it. It's $70 per person for 5 courses, including wine pairing with each course. We thought that for adults it was a really good deal. Probably less so for under 21s or if you don't like wine. Didn't do murder mystery either, didn't hear anything about it either sorry.

Loved the aerial shows in the centrum, they only last 10 mins though. The evening shows are at 8.45 and 10.45, we had an Argentinean drum and dance trio (good), a magician/comedian (ok), a Celine Dion inmpersonater (v.good), spanish ballet (v.good), ship cast doing show tunes (v.good), a guy doing mostly different types of juggling (ok) and the favourite was 2 russians doing cool acrobatic stuff.

Loved the other entertainment we went to, including worlds hottest man competition, belly flop competition, male revue (5 spunky ships staff members down to their undies - phoar! LOL), toga party, masquerade evening, bingo... there was also quizzes, kareoke, dance lessons, crafts, min golf, rock climbing, an arcade, basketball court, 1 min challenges...

We didn't spend a LOT of time lounging around the pool as we only had 2 ship days out of 12. But from what I saw yes you would need to get there early if you want to get loungers together. They actively discourage reserving though, so you can't put towels down and come back a few hours later. But ok if you go to the loo, get a drink or are swimming. There are more loungers available the further from the actual pool you go.

They offered 15 or 20% off specialty restaurants on a couple of days, or in the cruise compass said if you book 3 or more you get a discount too. The spa offered discounts in the cruise compass too, but I didn't take advantage of them.

Hope this helps!

We just finished a 12 night Adriatic cruise on Serenade of the Seas. None of us is a huge drinker and our cruise was very port heavy. So none of us got a drink package and just added any drinks we wanted to our set sail card. We had pre paid gratuities so didn't add any tip to drinks ordered.

We are Kiwis so maybe used to high drink prices, but we were very happy with the prices. It was certainly comparable to what we pay at home in bars/clubs.

Cans of soda $2.50

Cocktails $8-$10 (cocktail of the day includes a free glass)

Wine - I only had 1 sort which was $9 per glass or $25 per bottle I think

Beer - ranged, I think DHs was around $7 a bottle.

(all US dollars)

Tea, ice water, basic coffee, lemonade (not sprite but actual lemon drink), iced tea and some flavoured water was available at thirst quencher stations around the windjammer, park cafe and pool deck, as well.

I ordered a cake online to be delivered to the MDR on Serenade for my cousin's birthday. We decided to go to a specialty resaturant that night and it was no problem to swap it to be delivered there instead. It was yummy and they personalised the icing how I had requested, no extra charge.

Imagine our surprise the next night in the MDR when the waiters brought out another cake the exact same! No idea why, we played along and sung to her again LOL.

Anything specific you want to know? I have just gotten home from my first ever cruise which was on Serenade in the Adriatic. LOVED the ship and cruising life. I am early 30s and traveled with 7 others my age and 4 in their 50s - 70s.

We had an interior stateroom and were pleasantly surprised at the size of the room and amount of storage. We were on deck 4 right next to the bar and never had any problems with being kept awake by the noise. They have great noise proof doors between the bar and the cabins at night.

Food in the Main dining hall is AMAZING. We also loved Giovanni's table (Italian) and Izumis (Japanese). Windjammers (buffet) has a great selection too.

Our cruise was very port heavy so none of us got drinks packages as we knew we wouldn't drink enough when onboard to make it worth while. Sodas were $2.50, cocktails around $8-$10 (cocktail of the day came in free glass), the wine I drink was $9 a glass and I can't recall beer but I think it was around $7 a bottle? You are allowed to take 2 bottle s of wine per cabin on board on embarktion day, to be drunk in your cabin (unless you want to pay corkage). None of us are huge drinkers so our drinks bills were fine.

There is a small washing line in the shower, but we took one of our own as well, that we suctioned on to the wall and ceiling. We really needed 2 as clothes in the bathroom took forever to dry but on our line which we placed in the direct line of the air con dried pretty quick. Also recommend a couple of inflatable coathangers, they separated the clothes so the air could circulate faster. Worked amazingly well. No laundry facilities on board that you can use yourself, although on one daythey did offer a fill a bag for $30 for undies, swimming gear and shorts and t-shirts. We didn't use it though.

Depends on your itinerary really, but we were not overly impressed with the 2 ship excursions we did. the first one, the guide spoke in a monotone and nearly put everyone to sleep lol. the second one was to 2 islands off Venice and the Murano stop was super super rushed, but almost too much time at Burano, plus no real demo. We were very impressed with all the private tours we organised though.

Feel free to ask if you have specific questions. It's all so fresh in my mind right now!

torches for interior staterooms - there are lamps on both sides of the bed, which also had a small light on the base, just turned it on if I got up in the night! wasn't bright enough to wake hubby, but was enough to see my way to the bathroom. (this was on serenade of the seas)

Probably too late, but unless you have a HUGE problem with sea sickness, I doubt you'll need it. I get motion sick quite easily and only had 1 afternoon/evening out of 12 that I felt even remotely queasy. We did Rome and the Adriatic incl Venice between 5 and 17 Sept this year.

Hi I just came off Serenade 2 weeks ago. It was $2.50 for a can of coke, we pre-paid gratuities so didn't put any extra tip on top. There were no help yourself fountains. I didn't get the soda card as we were in ports most of the day, 10 out of 12 days so it wouldn't have been worth it to me.

I took a 4 pack of small coke bottles in my carry on and didn't get questioned. As did both my parents, my brother and SIL. I also occasionally took one on board from a port.

About to go on my first cruise, we also have a week in Italy before and after. We are flying there from NZ with only 20kgs (40ish pounds) of luggage allowance. I am a chronic over packer, hubby is a chronic under packer.

I am female. I will be wearing my sneakers and taking 2 pairs of Merrill sandals (good walking sandals) - 1 black and 1 beige. Plus 1 pair of black heels. Debating taking 1 pair of dressier sandals so I don't have to wear heels every night but will depend on weight.

Hubby will be wearing sneakers and taking 1 pair of good walking sandals and 1 pair of black dress shoes.

Thanks for the replies!

You can also carry on a reasonable amount of soda.

 

Roy

Good to know thanks!

I'm guessing their idea of reasonable and mine would be different LOL :p

Fellow Coke addict here--hi! :D

 

I have found that buying about 3 per day is the same as having the package. A PP is correct though that fountain soda is what you get on the package. There is about half as much soda in one of the glasses from the bar as would be in a can of Coke, and I find that at least half the time the mix is off and there is not enough syrup--some sailings I have not gotten a single Coke that was decently mixed. (once in a blue moon the bar will need to change over the bottles and pour me one from a can rather than go do that right away, but I can think of maybe four times that has been the case in 80 nights of sailing).

 

I have reached the point of preferring to buy them as I go and have a them from a can with the right ration of soda to syrup ;) I also like getting a can to throw in the in room fridge to have first thing in the morning, while I am still waking up and getting dressed (I TOLD you I am an addict).

 

Also, since you mention it is a port heavy cruise, technically they can stop you from bringing your own soda onboard, but no one has ever stopped me (I do not think it is often enforced). I usually buy a cold drink while in port and pick up an extra one to take back on the ship with me (that becomes my "in the fridge" one for the next morning.

 

Also, if you happen to be staying in a suite, they wil bring you canned sodas at no charge during the cocktail hours in the lounge.

I love having one in the morning too - hey it's no worse than coffee, I say!

Thanks for the advice on the fountain drinks with the package. I too hate getting either weak or too strong mixes. I think you have convinced me just to buy a can as I want it. And attempt to bring some in from ports.

Sadly no suite!

Thanks for all the info!!!

We are travelling as a family group of 12, aged between 29 and 75. I know the 'grownups' will be glad about about the tea and coffee! Me, not so much lol. I pretty much only drink Coke.

SO next question - how much is Coke if I buy it by the glass? Trying to work out if it is worth buying a soda package... our cruise is a port heavy one, 12 out of 14 days.

Thanks!