share your useful tips for a royal caribbean cruise?

[whimsy7]

would you share your tips that you wished you'd known before you went on your cruise? or tips that you now know after going on your cruise?

this question was asked on the Princess cruise board and it generated lots of useful posts.

thanks in advance.

[NorbertsNiece]

Plan as much as you can before hand, then be prepared to throw your plans out of the porthole when the sheer joy of being on board takes over and you can chill and enjoy each moment for what it is.

[AF-1]

Go on Royal's website and pre book your shore excursions and shows; also print out your setsail pass and your luggage tags. This helps a lot; especially when you want to go on a very popular excursion

[sparky-elpaso]

It's fun to check out each port using Google Earth. It gives you a better idea of what's there than a regular map.

[kyriecat]

Bring a highlighter and mark the things on the Cruise Compass that look interesting. When you are looking for something to do, it's easy to see what appealed to you.

[cardamon]

Get on the ship early. Meet friends you've made on the cruisecritic threads at the Champagne Bar prior to sailing- and then enjoy the smiles you receive as you pass them on the ship during your cruise. Join in all the activities you are offered, or if you like to watch, cheer the participants on. Sometimes this is the best entertainment!

Plan a Cabin Crawl with your new friends so you get to visit all types of cabins. Organize a Slot Pull in the Casino for all your new friends. We each put in $10- and split our profits, winning $18 additional $$$$. It may not have been a lot of money, but it was lots of fun! Make the most of your cruise!

[RayJacki]

I'm trying to attach (below) a document that lists some of the items that I have on my packing list for cruises that I put together for a friend that DH and I are cruising with soon. I don't know for sure if the attachment will work or not. If not, let me know and I'll try again

 

[CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO ATTACH AN EXCEL FILE HERE?]

[dln929]

If you order room service breakfast, the coffee comes with a small bowl of those individual non-dairy creamers. If you want real milk in your coffee, not fake stuff, order milk with your breakfast.

[kyriecat]

RayJacki - According to FAQ, Excel files are not supported attachments. You can use BMP, DOC, GIF, JPG, JPEG, PDF, PNG, PSD, or TXT.

 

To attach a file, start a new post then click on the paperclip on the toolbar.

[printingchick]

• ATTEND THE QUEST SHOW!
  
• Pack some 70's clothes to really get into the 70s party.
  
• The crew versus passenger dodge ball and/or water volleyball games are a lot of fun to watch.
  
• Totally agree with the highlighter for the Cruise Compass!
  
• Even if you want to eat breakfast at the Windjammer, ordering coffee or tea from Room Service serves as a friendly wake-up call. (They call your room before they show up.)
  

[Sequim88]

Get on the ship early.

To expand on this... don't believe the boarding time on your documents. Unless there is some unusual circumstance real boarding will start at around 11am - so that's the early mentioned.

 

After boarding most people head to Windjammer buffet - on Voyager class and larger Promenade Cafe is also a good place to wait until cabin is ready - about 1pm.

[cruiseguy1016]

Try to learn about the various places that serve food. A lot of people think of only the main dining room and the Windjammer. All of RCI's ships have other places to grab a bite to eat. Be it a fancy restaurant such as Chop's or just a quick nibble such as hors' d'oeuvre in the Champagne Bar during happy hour. There a lots of options. My favorite places to eat lunch are the Compass Deli on Majesty and the Seaview Café on Radiance class ships.

[ric33ely]

Avoid windjammer when it has just opened for lunch. Can be real crazy. In in King Lear restaurant for My time dining request a balcony seat, you get an amazing view of all the other dining rooms below and the lovely chandelier. There is a shop on board that you can get cosmetics that you have forgotten i.e shampoo , soap, deodarat( can be a little pricey so if you can wait til you get to port and use local shops then it is better). If you drink beer check the prices, american beers tend to be cheaper and check the size of the bottle. Some are more expensive. If you drink shorts dont be too shocked by the price as they tend to be eqivalent to a double measure in UK, and if you are lucky to become a regular in one bar then your bar staff tend to be even kinder with the size of your shot !! Happy sailing . :)

[cb at sea]

The drinks they will offer you upon boarding are NOT free....after you take the drink, they'll ask for your seapass, so they can charge you! Many 1st timers do not know that!

Best to wait to go to a bar, where you can order the drink of your choice!!!

 

You do NOT have to do everything! Decide on the things that really interest you, and take it from there. Just because someone tells you it's a "must do", doesn't mean it's a "must" for you!!!!

[MikeNJ1109]

1) Avoid the trough that is the WJ when boarding the ship on the first day. A wonderful alternative is the Cafe Promenade and while eating some great sandwiches you can enjoy watching the crowd as their jaw drops from admiring the Royal Promenade

 

2) A very quiet area to sit, read, watch the ocean and relax is the outdoor area of Deck 4 on Voyageur and Freedom class vessels.

 

3) The Champagne Bar and the Viking Crown Lounge are extraordinarily wonderful places for quiet, peaceful surroundings, and a cocktail of your choice.

 

4) The WJ has platters of cheese (blue, swiss, Et.Cet) where we go after dinner instead of eating desert in the MDR. The cheese, plus a glass of port, while sitting on our balcony or on the Promenade is quite classy.

 

5) Prepay the tips. Less to worry about at the end of the cruise.

 

Michael and Silke

[cruisemama1]

excellent ideas so far! Thanks.

 

Mine is: spluge on the bon voyage cheesy decorations for your room. Also order a bottle of champagne to be in your room upon embarkiation.

[hazeleyez3]

if you don't enjoy riskee activities, the Quest may not be to your liking.

 

Tips that are pre-paid must still be hand-delivered to the crew members.

[printingchick]

The drinks they will offer you upon boarding are NOT free....after you take the drink, they'll ask for your seapass, so they can charge you! Many 1st timers do not know that!

Best to wait to go to a bar, where you can order the drink of your choice!!!

 

You do NOT have to do everything! Decide on the things that really interest you, and take it from there. Just because someone tells you it's a "must do", doesn't mean it's a "must" for you!!!!

 

Good point, cb! I made that mistake on my very first cruise. I was so swept up in my first-cruise euphoria, I happily accepted that drink in a fancy glass, offered to me from the platter of a sharply-dressed crew member. To be honest, I accepted several. I didn't make it to dinner that night.

 

So I would add, GO EASY!!! Keep track of how many of those drinks you're consuming, from both a COST and a TOLERANCE perspective. There's nothing quite like a hangover at sea! UGH!!!

[Jimnbigd]

Do NOT get sunburned. It tends to ruin the cruise. Also, see if there are any youtube videos for your ship.

[FloridaPalms]

The MDR menu is divided into Starters, Entrees and Desserts. One of each would be a three-course meal. But you can order as many as you wish. If you want a five-course meal, order an appetizer, soup and salad from the Starters. Can't decide between two desserts - order both! If you can eat two entrees, go for it! I always order double entree on the lobster tails and always have a salad and appetizer from the Starter menu.

 

Just make sure to put your entire order in at one time since it makes it very difficult for your server if you request additional items during your meal.

 

Bon appetite!

 

~ Judy

[kc320]

if you don't enjoy riskee activities, the Quest may not be to your liking.

 

Tips that are pre-paid must still be hand-delivered to the crew members.

 

No they don't...they give you the vouchers & envelopes because many people LIKE to add more cash...or have something to hand their waiter the last night...but if you don't hand them out the staff still get's your prepaid tips...

[sunshinechgo]

My BIL and sisters will be insulated coffee cups so they can fill up with coffee and it keeps warm in the morning.

[bigque]

No they don't...they give you the vouchers & envelopes because many people LIKE to add more cash...or have something to hand their waiter the last night...but if you don't hand them out the staff still get's your prepaid tips...

 

Even though they will still get the prepaid tips, they like to know that you did, and giving it to them is a appreciative tradition.

[mark290]

Corner aft balcony cabins on Voyager and Freedom class ships.

 

You can slap a luggage sticker on a case of water and it will be delivered to your cabin.

 

Smuggling your own booze on board is easy and enhances the time on your corner aft balcony.

 

If you want something just ask.

 

If you want something really bad just ask and tip a little extra.

[cruisemama1]

The MDR menu is divided into Starters, Entrees and Desserts. One of each would be a three-course meal. But you can order as many as you wish. If you want a five-course meal, order an appetizer, soup and salad from the Starters. Can't decide between two desserts - order both! If you can eat two entrees, go for it! I always order double entree on the lobster tails and always have a salad and appetizer from the Starter menu.

 

Just make sure to put your entire order in at one time since it makes it very difficult for your server if you request additional items during your meal.

 

Bon appetite!

 

~ Judy

 

This is besides the point but...

Deck 7 corner aft huh? Wow! Im there! Thz for having that picture in your signature! :p