What are your must haves, traditions, and secrets on a Royal cruise?

[Bookster99]

"Bubbly on the balcony" :D

 

Have always enjoyed sail away with a glass of champagne on our

balcony. Even when we had to smuggle it on. ;) :p

 

Now it is waiting for us on ice when we check into our cabin...nice!

 

We won't have it waiting on ice because of the Texas alcohol laws.... We'll grab some in the bar, but room bottles aren't delivered until after we sail...

[Bookster99]

For many years, our 'tradition' was get onboard early, grab something to eat in the Windjammer then head straight to the ship library and pick out several books to read. Sadly, libraries onboard RCCL are now a thing of the past. You are lucky if you find a few shelves with books, and many of them are not in English. I guess libraries are not 'cost-effective' and the kindles etc. have made them obsolete. Now, I bring paperback books with me, and leave them on the bookshelf when I disembark.

 

I'm afraid I'm part of the problem: My Kindle goes with me everywhere. And is loaded with mysteries set aboard cruise ships.

[dreadpirate3]

I'm afraid I'm part of the problem: My Kindle goes with me everywhere. And is loaded with mysteries set aboard cruise ships.

 

So are we. Kindles enable me to pack lighter and carry all I want!

[VASOXFANN]

This isn't RC-specific, but we always bring battery-operated tea-light candles to put in the stateroom (both nitestands, the bathroom, etc.).

 

We do this to have nite-lites and to be able to get to the bathroom at night without 1) killing ourselves and 2) waking each other up.

[Bookster99]

Our routine is:

 

1 arrive a day early for our cruise

 

2 buy 2 two liters to take on board

 

3 get to the port at 11:00

 

4 after boarding go directly to the windjammer to eat

 

5 leave the windjammer and check our dinning table in the MDR

 

6 find a public area to sit and wait for our stateroom to become available

 

7 go to our stateroom and drop off our carry on

 

8 wander around the ship until muster

 

some where a drink will appear in my hand

 

Hey! That's exactly our routine! Well put!

[Bookster99]

So are we. Kindles enable me to pack lighter and carry all I want!

 

Thanks. I feel better now.

[Jarronwood]

Now that I'm back on a freedom class next month, me and the wifey go right to vintages, plop ourselves down on the patio and sip back vino, with appy's and take part in people watching.

 

Sounds great but what are appy's??????? WHats the fizz like? Weve got the deluxe drinks package and I adore a glass of bubbly, my fav is Verve Cliquot but a good proscecco will do instead.

[Bookster99]

Add us to the list of people who arrive at the departure port at least a day early (if we're flying in--Baltimore is the only one to which we drive). We try to arrive at the cruise terminal between 10:00 and 11:00 simply because we can't wait to be onboard...and then we have a drink at the pool bar.

 

I also unpack as soon as the rooms are ready. I want it to feel as much like home as possible as quickly as possible.

 

We always have a balcony cabin but I like to do sailaway above the main pool deck. The vibe is always energetic and it's a great way to "get the party started."

 

One of the newer things we're doing is the Chef's Table. We've done it on 3 cruises thus far and loved it every time. It's worth the cost!

 

Love Chef's Table! One of our traditions, too.

[travelin_nat]

I always get excited seeing the ship when we drive up - pure adrenaline rush.

 

Once we are on board, we head to the WJ for lunch, then find a table by the windows on the pool deck and order the drink of the day. Although I've just learned about the so popular Miami Vice - will have to give that one a try. Next we head to our cabin to drop off our carry-ons.

 

Is it time to go yet???

[candicane0104]

I wish it were time to get onboard. We leave March. It's a surprise Christmas present for our boys and we have a few folks joining us so they will be thrilled.

 

Thanks to all for sharing I love to read these daily and learn new secrets each time!! It's fun!! Can't wait

 

 

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[candicane0104]

My must haves:

A new book on my kindle

A hump balcony

My water camera

Scent Bug for the cabin

 

My traditions:

A mimosa to start the mornings

Sail away on my own balcony with a bottle of bubbly and chocolate covered strawberries

 

The secrets I'm getting from here!! I love this thread OP!

 

 

Thank you and me too!! I've enjoyed reading all of them except one close to the beginning that has no musts and each vacation is different! lol there is always one. I hope people keep sharing I am taking notes on things I find helpful. Thx for taking the time to share.

[nomoreknothead]

I must have a pop-up clothes hamper for dirty clothes, an over the door shoe holder to hold all the odd n ends, a room air freshner of some kind, one of the lights that look like a big push button to keep on the bathroom counter for midnight trips, and magnetic hooks to hang from the walls or ceiling.

 

We always go to the port city at least 1 day ahead of sail day.

 

We always try to have everything unpacked and put away before muster (if luggage arrives) !!

[Aussie Happy Cruiser]

One thing I always have in my possession even at home is a small bottle of essential lavender oil, for bites or burns. This can be used neat relives sting and itch of insect bites almost immediately. Don't forget sunscreen and apply regularly as you will burn quicker from the suns reflection. A can of eucalyptus spray as it is antibacterial fresh smelling and no need to wear thongs in the shower after spraying shower floor. Also a small bottle of antibacterial hand wash for when your on shore excursions don't want to get sick while on holidays.

 

 

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[cementhands]

Rcl favs are the raisin bread at breakfeast, the tutti salad in main dining room for lunch, hidden fact if you or spouse own 100 shares of rcl stock you get $ on board spending on each reclaim or celebrity cruise, you must submit form etc.

Best loyalty program is rcl, drinks, laundry and dry cleaning on celebrity once your at elite. If you are into cruising for the long haul, like many others, the diamond lounge has drinks, breakfeast etc.

We always bring a highlighter for cruise compass, not to miss activities.

Clips for towels on chair, alarm clock, tea lights for night lite in room.

Small flashlight, dryer sheets for keeping clothes fresh.

If your sneakers get wet and smelly stuff a couple dry tea bags in them, absorbs smell.

Stainless steel drink bottle, refill with a glass at Buffett, careful to not cross contamination spigot.

Gym in am for stretching class usually free, gets you up and out, and walk deck with camera, in am great pics of cruising into port.

Once you reach diamond level diamond lounge with evening cocktails, usually 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, plus 3 drinks at lounge at those hours. Cruise critic is an excellent source of info, many share their insights.

[island lady]

We won't have it waiting on ice because of the Texas alcohol laws.... We'll grab some in the bar, but room bottles aren't delivered until after we sail...

 

Wow...that's different! Did not know that. Our bubbly is almost always waiting for us

when we check into the cabin around 1:00, but have never sailed from Texas. Interesting!

[indulf]

there's a pretty small list of stuff we bring on every cruise:

 

- small flashlight - a bright one. my recommendation is an Olight S1 Baton.

- highlighter for the compass

- spare bag for port days / gym, etc.

- night light. those interior cabins are DARK. i love it.

- i used to carry a white noise generator, but now i have an app on my phone.

- very basic med kit. bandaids, moleskin, analgesics, eye drops, maybe some anti-nausea meds if i remember to call my doc. i don't get motion sickness, but my wife has in the past. better to have it in case..

- a couple of trash bags

 

we're cruising on 21 Nov and for the first time we will bring our yeti cups for the deck and beach and whatever. should keep beach beers colder than those stupid plastic corona bottles :)

[Grenex]

Sailing out of Bayonne NJ and sitting in the Viking crown. The ship clears under the verizzano bridge with a mere 14 feet of clearance. Being in the Viking crown seems like you can touch the bridge as you go under.

[2chiefs]

I get on the ship and NEVER use an elevator. Gotta get some exercise when I'm eating all that food!

 

We ALMOST ALWAYS use the stairs too - for the same reason. We've found that it truly does keep the weight gain down. Exceptions might be when we're on lower decks in formal wear going to the Diamond or Viking Lounge.

[cpa2be]

I always take a picture of my husband inserting the seapass card into the cabin door on one evening, typically formal night. I make sure to get the cabin # in the photo.

 

It started out as a joke, sort of a "Come into my room..." (complete with wiggling eyebrows ;)) but has turned into a tradition.

[legaljen1969]

I don't know that we have any solid traditions, but we usually find the pub type bar or a piano bar that will be our usual hangout for the week. That's usually done the first night.

Chops at least one night.

If we do a ship that visits Grand Cayman, a trip to Stingray City is in order.

If we go to St Thomas, my mother and I head to her favorite perfume store.

We usually cruise as a multigenerational family, and we generally try to have dinner all together as many nights as possible.

 

 

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[island lady]

Sailing out of Bayonne NJ and sitting in the Viking crown. The ship clears under the verizzano bridge with a mere 14 feet of clearance. Being in the Viking crown seems like you can touch the bridge as you go under.

 

When we came back into the port under the bridge on EX a couple of years ago,

I swore we were going to hit. I was in a panic and was about to hit the deck. :eek: :p :p

[bigairboarder44]

We ALMOST ALWAYS use the stairs too - for the same reason. We've found that it truly does keep the weight gain down. Exceptions might be when we're on lower decks in formal wear going to the Diamond or Viking Lounge.

 

You also don't have to wait in line/wait for an elevator either!

[KiwiGal117]

Thrilled to hear that Vintages of Freedom class has a patio! YAY!!! It was our hang out of choice on Harmony, but no patio.

 

We've only been on 3 cruises, so traditions aren't quite settled yet, but we did bring the magnetic hooks and over the door shoe hanger for our "stuff" last time and it was completely worth it. The hooks made drying bathing suits easy, but also helped to keep totes, hats, etc. off the horizontal surfaces. With three people in a cabin, it made it much easier to find things.

[birdylady]

A number of our traditions and must haves have already been mentioned.

 

Tradition -

As soon as getting on the ship, we go to guest services to have a hole punched in our sea card so hubby can hang his on his lariat and me on my wrist coil/coin pouch (gotta have a place for $ in the casino).

Then on to MDR to check on our assigned table. If we're happy with it, kewl, otherwise we go back to see if we can change tables.

Hubby likes his sail away drink at the VCL for the view.

We also like to get on as early as possible (aside to start our vacation earlier) so hubby can go deck by deck and take as many pics with as few people in them as possible.

We also like to go to Love and Marriage and LOVE going to Quest!

 

Must haves-

We bring a 'scentable' refill for the bathroom. We also bring bungee cords. We find they are great for drying the bathing suits on the balcony (and before anyone flames us, we only do this at night and/or at sea so it doesn't look tacky. Plus only when we are there so the room steward can't get in trouble.

We just did our first inside cabin and also brought a pair of rubber coated hooked magnets. This worked great for the bathing suits at night as I hung them from the ceiling.

Another great use of the bungee cord. If the seas get rough, we can wrap it through the closet hangers so they don't clack and clatter and make noise.

 

I'm sure there may be a few more, but I'll leave some for others. :)

 

Erika

[mshight]

Two items I find invaluable are magnetic hooks (for hanging things on the walls) and a small water spray bottle. We decide what we are wearing the next day --before we go to bed, spray the wrinkles and when you wake up your clothes are ready to go. Works especially well on cotton and cotton blends.