Leaving Friday, last minute advice?

[tsj04]

DH and I are leaving on Friday to go to FLL for our first cruise ever!!:D We are going down a day early, our ship leaves on Saturday, the NOS. I *think* I have everything covered but since this is our first cruise any last minute ideas or advice? Thanks so much. I'll be sure to write a review when we return :)

[massfriends]

Relax and have FUN....

 

Happy Cruising...:)

[reallyitsmema]

Have a great cruise! I would just verify that you have either passports or certified birth certificates so you will have no issues boarding. I also call my credit card company to say that I will be travelling and it is noted on my account so no hold is put on the account if I have too much fun shopping:eek: :p

 

Have a great time!!!

[tsj04]

Have a great cruise! I would just verify that you have either passports or certified birth certificates so you will have no issues boarding. I also call my credit card company to say that I will be travelling and it is noted on my account so no hold is put on the account if I have too much fun shopping:eek: :p

 

Have a great time!!!

 

 

Done!:) Question...Can we get singles for tips onboard or should we just go to the bank here at home and get them beforehand?

[cruiser1163]

Done!:) Question...Can we get singles for tips onboard or should we just go to the bank here at home and get them beforehand?

 

You wont need singles to tip. All of the transactions are done with your seapass card and then charged to you at the end.

 

Keep in mind that they already add 15% to all drink purchases, but you will be given the option to leave additional gratuities on the card slip. It basically works as a credit card while on the ship. If you need to get cash you can get it at the casino for no additional fee.

[TPKeller]

DH and I are leaving on Friday to go to FLL for our first cruise ever!!:D We are going down a day early, our ship leaves on Saturday, the NOS. I *think* I have everything covered but since this is our first cruise any last minute ideas or advice? Thanks so much. I'll be sure to write a review when we return :)

If you plan to tip with cash, now is the perfect time to visit the Cruise Tip Calculator! :D

 

You may also find the Cruise Map of Fort Lauderdale of interest, although I don't have very many interesting markers on it yet. With the local search function (at the bottom of the map) you can find local restaurants, stores, etc.

 

Theron

[tsj04]

If you plan to tip with cash, now is the perfect time to visit the Cruise Tip Calculator! :D

 

You may also find the Cruise Map of Fort Lauderdale of interest, although I don't have very many interesting markers on it yet. With the local search function (at the bottom of the map) you can find local restaurants, stores, etc.

 

Theron

 

 

Just checked it out. Very helpful-thank you:)

[reallyitsmema]

Done!:) Question...Can we get singles for tips onboard or should we just go to the bank here at home and get them beforehand?

You can get singles on board but we brought some with us to use for room service and any other cash tips we wanted to do. We brought a variety of small bills to help us along the way with porters at airport and pier, taxis while in port and misc tipping.

[Jimmers]

Done!:) Question...Can we get singles for tips onboard or should we just go to the bank here at home and get them beforehand?

 

I usually take around $100 in ones and fives for tipping luggage handlers, etc and paying for cabs.

 

You won't any cash for tipping onboard.

 

If you do need cash onboard for extra tipping of the staff which we always do, you can get it at the casino. "charge" it to your sea pass account.

 

Enjoy

 

Jimmers:)

[tsj04]

You can get singles on board but we brought some with us to use for room service and any other cash tips we wanted to do. We brought a variety of small bills to help us along the way with porters at airport and pier, taxis while in port and misc tipping.

 

 

Thank you :)

[dutchess43]

Done!:) Question...Can we get singles for tips onboard or should we just go to the bank here at home and get them beforehand?

 

You can do it on board at the purser's desk. You can also have the tips automatically added to your ship board account & anything above that you can pay with cash. We also tip the porters when we drop off our luggage at the terminal & wait until I see it put on the metal luggage cart this way I feel sure that I will get my luggage. Before you leave the hotel make sure that your luggage tags for the ship are on & they are correct. There is only one problem with your first cruise you will be hooked forever(22 so far & two planned for next year). Have a great time enjoy your cruise & hopefully this will be the first of many many cruise adentures.

[TPKeller]

While tipping the crew on your seapass card is a perfectly acceptable option, and indeed preferred by many, please don't forget that tipping with cash is also perfectly acceptable, and preferred by many passengers as well.

 

There have been several posts (not just here) recently which state the matter in such a fashion as to possibly conclude that tipping on account is the only option.

 

Tipping with cash is the traditional method, and many passengers believe it is more personal and an important part of the cruise experience.

 

Staff members are usually reluctant to declare which method they prefer, and frankly, I don't think they really care all that much in the long run, but for now at least, cash is an option, so we should always make sure people are aware of that.

 

Stepping off my box now (and fully admitting I have a bias on this subject!) ;)

 

Theron

[RetireeWannabee]

Pack a day early and pick up the suitcase. If you find it too heavy, open it up and remove everything that you only packed as 'just in case'. Pick it up again and open it up again and remove any piece of clothing that only goes with one other thing (the top that only goes with those pants, the pants that only go with one top...).

 

Repeat process until suitcase is manageable.

 

Pack a book, sunblock, sunglasses and a WHEEE HAAA I'M ON VACATION attitude!

 

have a great time!!

[CruiseCrAzieS]

#1 As we ALL agree, Leave 1/2 of what you packed at home!!!

#2 Start saving $$$ for cruise #2 because by day 3 you are addicted and you WILL be planning your next cruise!

#3 Don't STRESS....if you hit a little glitch in the road, smile, laugh and move on and enjoy your vacation!!

#4 Sit back and get ready to have the time of your life!! :D :D

[crusinmama22]

Definatly bring some small bills, great for room service tipping and for shopping in town. It helps to have exact change, especially when you haggle over prices.

 

We weigh our luggage so I know we are set, and how much can fit on the way home !

 

Then sit back and relax after all "YOU ARE ON VACATION, AND YOU ARE GOING ON A CRUISE !!!"

[Jimmers]

Our first stress after boarding is usually about when (or if) we're going to get our luggage delivered to our room.

It usually takes a few hours before it all arrives. Once we didn't get it until around 6:30.

 

Once we get it all and it's stowed away we're ready to relax and have fun.

 

Jimmers:)

[mercedesmom2002]

tsj04 come on over to the Meet and Mingle thread for our cruise, Navigator 11/24 and read up on all the wonderful people you will be cruising with. We have about 60+ people all communicating back and forth on that thread.

 

We are having an informal Meet and Mingle at 5 p.m. on Deck 12 by the Skybar for sailaway. We will all be wearing Lei's so please don your lei's and come join us!

 

If you want, e-mail me at mercedesmom2002@yahoo.com today or Weds, early in the day and I'll try to respond to you. I won't be available to reach at my computer after Weds. early p.m. as I will be getting ready to go to FLL.

 

Most of us are flying in the day before, several of us will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express Airport/Cruiseport. So if you're staying there or near there, look us up. We are Sue and Vic Walls so just ask for us at the desk. We'll be arriving around noon on Friday and heading over to the hotel after that. There are 16 of us in our group as we are taking my parents on this cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary. We got a group of relatives/friends together and ended up being 26 of us.

 

Hope to hook up with you since this is your first cruise. As everyone has stated, you'll be ready to book the next one by day 1 I predict as Navigator is by far our favorite ship. It is absolutely awesome and the staff are fantastic!

 

Hope to see you on board or before. If not, have a great cruise!!!

 

Sue;)

[Robb]

Take a good attitude and an open mind. And, by all means, have a great time.:D

[shag girl]

We just got back from our first ever cruise!

 

A few things I wish we had done differently. We had the early dining. As a result, we were full, and somewhat sleepy after dinner....from a few glasses of wine....and just wanted to go back to our room and sleep. As a result, we only made it to the show one night. :(

 

Also, we had a small table....4 people including us....and our "companions" weren't very interesting conversationalists. I really wish we had asked for a larger table. I found out on the 4th night that we could have asked to switch, but by then I figured why bother?

 

We got tired of the dining room food real fast. Also got tired of the buffet. I didn't find the food to be all that good...yes, it was edible - we gained the obligatory 5 pounds....just no "WOW" factor! So, go to Chops or Portofino's THE FIRST NIGHT and ask for a reservation. We waited too late to get one!

 

If you want ice in your room in the evening before dinner, tell your stateroom attendant when you meet him or her the first time. Ask for a large bucket to be delivered around 3 pm. Otherwise, you will have a tiny bucket of cool water waiting for you when you return from your daily activities! We finally got our ice when we needed it about the 3rd day of the cruise! :(

 

If you want to spend any time in the hot tubs...go early or extremely late. Otherwise you will find 6 or 7 large, hairy men already there! Ditto for trying to get a chair in the Solarium on sea days.

 

And, you WILL need lots of small bills. For tipping room service for coffee in the morning, cab rides, porters, bar tenders, the list goes on and on. Everyone everywhere will be looking at you expectantly for a tip.

 

Don't call room service expecting to get food right away. We were told it would take them an hour when we tried to get some chicken wings around 4 pm to tide us over until dinner. I was told, "There are over 2000 guest on this ship, Maam, and all of them are trying to get room service at the same time!" :eek:

 

Don't be suprised if you wind up standing in lots of lines.

 

Don't be suprised if you wind up cleaning the table off yourself in the windjammer, and also the Sea Veiw Cafe, in order to have a place to sit down.

 

Other than that...have a great time, if you can! :o

[TEXASMUNK]

When you get onboard, explore! Get familiar with your ship early!

 

Smile! Don't wait until the end of your cruise to say hello to total strangers!

 

Visit the Dining Room, find your table.

 

Hit the pool bar, before it gets busy, toast your decision to cruise!

 

Get involved in activities. by joining in or by being part of the audience....enjoy!!!!

 

Take a late night stroll outside...yes, it will be windy...but you cannot do that at home or at any resort....with a moving ship, the sea and the breeze.

 

Get up early, watch a sunrise.

 

Bon Voyage!!!

[tsj04]

I just got back online since posting and responding to a few people yesterday. Thanks to everyone for responding and for offering your advice and thoughts. I'm SO excited I almost can't contain myself:D Again, I will post a review when we return!!

 

Sue Walls I will check out the roll call as well. We are actually staying the night before at the Hyatt Pier 66.

[rclcruzer]

Don't forget the Passports, a good attitude, some cash, your credit cards and most of all....

HAVE FUN!! :D:D

[cruiseguy1016]

Your cruise docs will tell you not to board before 2:00. Don't believe them. Be to the pier at 11:00 - 11:30. You will be on the ship by noon. Go to the Windjammer and have lunch. Then check to see if you can get onto your cabin to drop off your carry-on. Then, get the camera out and explore the ship. It's great to get some pictures of the ship without 3,000 passengers on it. Later in the week you can get pictures with all the people on board and compare the two. As you are walking around exploring, stop at a bar an grab a Bahama Mama. That will really set the mood for the cruise. Enjoy it and Have Fun!!