things you wish you would have known

[BroncosFan2010]

I wish I would have known that I could order multiple dishes in the Main Dining Room!

I wish I would have known that I needed twice as many shirts as I packed, and half as many "dressy" clothes.

I wish I would have known that the shampoo on cruise ships is horrible, and it is expensive to buy good brands on the islands.

 

Happy cruising.

[PattyG12]

I wish I had known that the rooms don't have an alarm clock. Oh, and I wish I had started cruising YEARS earlier than I did

[DrmnOfMaui]

I wish I would have known that I could order multiple dishes in the Main Dining Room!

I wish I would have known that I needed twice as many shirts as I packed, and half as many "dressy" clothes.

I wish I would have known that the shampoo on cruise ships is horrible, and it is expensive to buy good brands on the islands.

 

Happy cruising.

 

These tips are so helpful! My kids are still disbelieving that they can really order something else if they don't like what they get the 1st time. The clothes tip has changed our whole outlook on packing! And I was actually toying with not bringing my big shampoo bottle. I will definitely bring it along!

 

hello,

 

I just want to add this...enjoy the aesthetics of your cruise. Go out on deck and look at the sunsets and the Moon at night, and maybe there will be moonbeams on the ocean. Look at the stars.

 

my DW and I have always done this on our 27 cruises, and yet, it seems that so many just go for the food, entertainment, party, and so on. Nothing wrong with this but if you do not spend at least some time looking at the world around you when you are on a cruise ship, you will be missing much that make a cruise such a wonderful travel experience.

 

Fred

 

This is one of our main reasons for going! I have never been on a ship bigger than a ferry boat in San Francisco Bay... I'm thrilled to actually hit the seas. I'll bet the stars are gorgeous!:)

 

Excellent thread!

[SimpleKnowledge]

There I was in knit capris and a t-shirt with sporty sandals and here is almost everyone beautifully attired. I felt so out of place and was miserable both formal nights.

 

Aww, I feel sorry for you. I never dress up for formal nights and I feel superior to everyone who is wearing itchy, uncomfortable formal clothes. I never felt out-of-place. But then again, if I were wearing a gown, aw heck a dress, I would feel very self-conscious.

[SimpleKnowledge]

Lessons I learned from my 3rd and 4th cruises. Some of us are slow learners:

 

Do not explore the ship on the first night, save that for tomorrow. Instead go to Karaoke or Bingo. There are less people at those events and more of a chance to win (well, at bingo anyway).

 

Don't buy the soda card (unless you are underage). We always do and we seldom use it because we're drinking booze instead.

 

You do not need an excursion at every port. And never book 'em through the cruise ship. (Unless the cruise ship bought all the spots for what you want to do)

 

I over-pack in a different way. I don't bring too many clothes, I bring too much stuff "to do". I bring books, I bring magazines, I bring my Nintendo DS and all the games for that, I bring my laptop, and I never use any of it.

[butrflynlambie]

i wish that i would have known that i would not be carrying a cell phone and would need a watch to tell what time it was.

 

ooohh you can buy a watch for like 2grand on board if you forget yours.

[DrmnOfMaui]

i wish that i would have known that i would not be carrying a cell phone and would need a watch to tell what time it was.

 

ooohh you can buy a watch for like 2grand on board if you forget yours.

 

Never thought about that! I haven't worn a watch in years because I just use my cell. Thanks!

[karen&roy]

I wish i would have known to bring bandaids for my to tight sandals. Very hard to get to the medical office when they are open just to get bandaids.

 

Wish i would have known to always get a balcony room. Once you get one its hard to go backwards:rolleyes:

 

Wish i would have kow that texting from the ship at sea is the same price as calling from a foreign country..OUCH

[GORDONCHICK]

I never dress up for formal nights and I feel superior to everyone who is wearing itchy, uncomfortable formal clothes.

 

Not everyone has poor-fitting or uncomfortable formal clothing. I own lots of formal wear and none of it is itchy or uncomfortable.

[GORDONCHICK]

I wish people who are determined not to eat in the MDR at night because of the dress code would just try it on their first cruise. Then, if they don't like it, it won't be because they didn't try it. We learned on our first cruise that this was one of our favorite parts of cruising, as opposed to our land-based vacations.

[PhxPhin]

I had a cousin who just went on their first one and had no intention of eating in the dining rooms - ended up loving it

 

On my cruise I would say I overpacked - the clothes you wear at night on the ship will not get dirty and some stuff I didn't use at all

 

Two purchases that I got a lot of use out of were:

 

1 - a 3 plug power adapter that had 2 additional USB chargers - at night could plug in anything, as well as charge up the camera and mp3 player

 

2 - waterproof bag - this thing worked great - although it typically floated, it was submersible for a good depth - could keep ID, CCs, Cash, Camera, etc in it while going into the water - takes away any stress of locker hunting or keeping a watchful eye on your stuff - long strap helped make it comfortable as well - would just drap it around my neck when I went into the water or walked the beach, etc

[DrmnOfMaui]

2 - waterproof bag - this thing worked great - although it typically floated, it was submersible for a good depth - could keep ID, CCs, Cash, Camera, etc in it while going into the water - takes away any stress of locker hunting or keeping a watchful eye on your stuff - long strap helped make it comfortable as well - would just drap it around my neck when I went into the water or walked the beach, etc

 

Neat Waterproof bag idea! How large was the bag you had? And where did you get it?

[PhxPhin]

i bought mine at cabelas, but imagine they'd be fairly easy to find

 

all sorts of sizes available - we brought one of the smaller ones - if I had to guess i'd say about 5 inches wide by 10 inches tall

 

our digital camera isn't too thick (although it's not one of those insanely small ones either) so this size worked out well

 

they also have larger bags that are designed so you can take photos underwater through the bag

 

my wife was skeptical, but we both loved the bag - when we got to the beach we put our valuables in it and then knotted the bag to our lounger - going into the water, just unknot it - also very easy to carry around when running to the bathroom, getting food, or just strolling

 

if you don't want people looking in at your goodies or the sun abusing them directly, just put in a piece of paper and put your stuff inside between the two sides

 

also agree with whomever mentioned a cheap watch - we bought one from target for like $10 - waterproof - worked great at land and sea

[rjm1cc]

You can get on the ship earlier than they say.

Rooms will not be ready if you are early so wear your bathing suit if you want to go straight to the pool.

Lunch is served

Consider booking your excursions long before you sail so you are not closed out.

[anita0427]

My first cruise was on Mariner of the Seas shortly after the ship was launched. Anyway, I knew there would be formal nights but somehow I thought I could just avoid it and eat in the Windjammer. But what I didn't know is that 95% of the ship's passengers are dressed in formal attire and they are everywhere, in the halls, in the elevators, on the top deck, in all the lounges, casino and theater, etc.

 

There I was in knit capris and a t-shirt with sporty sandals and here is almost everyone beautifully attired. I felt so out of place and was miserable both formal nights.

 

From that time forward, I have always been appropriately attired--if not full out glamourously formal, at least cocktail attire. I never made that mistake again.

 

OMG the same thing happened to me.I said never again. I will prepared com August:D

[BorisMD]

GREAT info everyone -- I'm glad I found this resource.

[skippyy]

Strongly agree, don't overpack, use ship laundry (they will have special

prices near end of cruise)...Keep medicines and valuables in carry-on

with sportswear and dinner clothes for one day...leave copy of all cruise

documents,air travel, passport with friend who can fax them to you on

short notice, take $$$$:) Hope this is helpful..

[Lakebound Girl]

9. We were really glad we took an empty duffle bag with us. We didn't think we bought much stuff, but still managed to fill it up by the time we came home. Used the soft duffle bag for our dirty clothes, which freed up the suitcase for the souvenirs and stuff that we wanted to protect.

 

 

;)I'm sure glad I read this, I never thought about a duffle bag?

[swtheart107]

Just got back from my first cruise a few days ago! it was amazing!!

 

-I would tell everyone to try the dining room for dinner we ended up having a great time with our table mates and no one at our table ever missed a dinner!(and there were 6 of us) The food was very good too!

-Also I did room service in the beginning for breakfast but definately try the dining room for breakfast and lunch at least once we really enjoyed these

- I agree with the watch thing we always use our phones so with them in the safe we were always having to ask people for the time

- If you are on carnival you dont need an alarm clock the phones in the room have wake up calls you can set on them. Also we put our paper on the door for the breakfast with the time to bring it and used that as our back up alarm (them knocking on the door of course)

 

Me and my boyfriend loved our cruise so much we just booked another!!

 

oh ya one thing to add... listen to all these people about overpacking I definately overpacked and will take half of what I took next time :)

[MinnieGi]

Thanks OP for asking this! Great advice, I'm taking notes as I read...

-watch

-alarm clock

-waterproof bag

-extra duffle

-Try, try, try to not overpack!

[Mrs.C05]

I wish i would have known to bring bandaids for my to tight sandals. Very hard to get to the medical office when they are open just to get bandaids.

 

Wish i would have known to always get a balcony room. Once you get one its hard to go backwards:rolleyes:

 

Wish i would have kow that texting from the ship at sea is the same price as calling from a foreign country..OUCH

 

 

Isn't that the truth!!!:D

[Mrs.C05]

;)I'm sure glad I read this, I never thought about a duffle bag?

 

Yep, I have a foldup/zippable duffle bag (it's Carnival too:p) that's about 10x14 that fits perfectly in my suitcase. If we buy any souvenirs or have a lot of dirty clothes, this bag comes in very handy!

[DogGroomer]

Someone posted about blisters from shoes. Last year before we went to Disney I found this great product called Glide. You put it on like a stick deodorant on any place your shoes might rub. Never got sore feet, it works great for flip flops and lasts all day. I got mine at Dicks sporting goods.

 

Happy cruising!!

 

Jane

[TnTnFlorida]

Not everyone has poor-fitting or uncomfortable formal clothing. I own lots of formal wear and none of it is itchy or uncomfortable.

 

I AGREE! I love to dress up for dinner on the ship, and I only wear comfortable clothes. Most people who know me think I dress up all the time... but I am always comfortable. It cracks me up when someone in a pair of constricting jeans will comment about my uncomfortable clothes, and I am wearing a loose sun dress or flowing skirt and tank top with sandals! Who's clothes are uncomfortable here?:rolleyes: Not mine!

[krogerlady]

My kroger just started stocking glide. i wondered if it worked. I have a pair of sandals that are already threatening to cause a blister just wearing them around the house to break them in. Great tip!!