Non-Disney Cruise tips

[scrapgal123]

I am planning a weekend cruise with friends and family to celebrate my upcoming birthday. This would be my first cruise also.

So any budget tips, ideas? Also, any recommendation on active message boards for cruises?

TIA

 

[Marionnette]

I am planning a weekend cruise with friends and family to celebrate my upcoming birthday. This would be my first cruise also.

So any budget tips, ideas? Also, any recommendation on active message boards for cruises?

TIA

Try cruisecritic.com. They have very active forums for most cruise lines and their ships. You can get a lot of information that is specific to your trip from the members there.

 

[TLuvsD]

Definately head over to cruisecritic.com. Lots of information, very helpful people.

 

[bpesch]

The biggest tip I can give you is to be VERY careful about charging on board a ship. Especially if you're a drinker. I've had friends that ended up with a gigantic bill at the end of the cruise because they charged everything and never kept track of it. Especially easy to do if your drinking those over-priced tropical drinks. Nothing puts the skids on a great time like a huge bill at the end that you didn't even realize was coming. It happens all the time.

 

[minerva78]

I'm not sure if you have any excursions planned or not, but if you don't I would suggest planning something that would take about half a day, whether it's spending half a day at the beach or on a tour. That way you can eat a big breakfast before you go out and come back to the ship to eat at lunch time. Depending on how much time you are in port you could even go back out again later that afternoon. DH and I have been on three cruises and that's always what we've done, plus it gives you a chance to spend some time on a non-crowded ship, which is very nice.

Also, depending on what ports you are going to, in some areas it is expected you haggle prices with street vendors. That's how it was with us in Freeport and Cozumel. If something doesn't have a price tag on it, it doesn't hurt to try to get a better deal than what the vendor first tells you. Again, in some areas this is expected, especially when several vendors are selling the exact same items, you can always say that someone else was selling their item for $3 cheaper or so. I've found most vendors will always start out with some outrageous price because they expect to get much less. This doesn't work everywhere (we found most prices for items in Nassau were about the same no matter where you bought it) but I feel it doesn't hurt to try. And definitely take a variety of bills with you, so you can pay for things with exact change as much as possible, because not everyone will give you change in U.S. dollars!

I definitely agree to check out forums on cruisecritic.com, it is a great site. If you register you may even be able to find a "roll call" board with people going on the exact same cruise as you are, and they can give you ideas too. But I've found the boards for each specific cruise line to be extremely helpful as well. Have fun on your cruise!

 

[Baliezer]

Instead of suitcases, take rolling duffel bags. When you finish unpacking, you can store them under the bed, and use them as laundry hampers. When it is time to depart, most of your clothing will already be packed.

 

[laurafergie]

The biggest tip I can give you is to be VERY careful about charging on board a ship. Especially if you're a drinker. I've had friends that ended up with a gigantic bill at the end of the cruise because they charged everything and never kept track of it. Especially easy to do if your drinking those over-priced tropical drinks. Nothing puts the skids on a great time like a huge bill at the end that you didn't even realize was coming. It happens all the time.

Just to clarify, you have to use your room key to buy anything aboard the ship, as the system is cashless. However, some f the newer ships let you review your account on the TV, or you can always stop by customer service and look at your account. And on this same subject, keep your reciepts, mistakes are sometimes made.

My tip is to get to the ship around 10:30 -11 am, which is earlier than your cruise documents say, you will walk on with less waiting. Also have your birth certificate or passport, driver's license and cruise documents out and ready. You will have to show them more than once.

 

[bettymae1121]

Generally speaking, you spend very little time in your cabin. Get the smallest cabin you can to save money. If taking stairs or waiting for an elevator isn't an issue for you, the lower level you are on, the cheaper the cabins tend to be. That said, if anyone in your party is prone to motin sickness, getting a cabin mid-ship (forward to aft and top to bottom) can help with that, as they move the least. Try to find a cabin that isn't right underneath a noisy area, like the night club. They do their best with the sound-proofing but it only goes so far.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Make sure when leaving the ship for excursions, or what ever set you watch by the ship's time. You do not want to be left behind. I am usually back on board about an hour prior to departure. If you are on one of the ship's excursion they will wait. If you are on your own, no they won't.

 

[ekatiel]

Budget tips I can think of:

Book using www.cruisecompete.com. They will give you quotes from several travel agencies, and you can choose the best quote (the price will often be the same, but the amount of on board credit usually differs).

Book an inside cabin. As a PP said, you won't be in your room much, anyways. Everything else on the ship is the same for you as the people who paid hundreds or thousands of dollars more.

Board early (around 11am), if you can. You can eat lunch on board the first day. That will save you lunch $$ elsewhere. Plus, your vacation starts sooner!!

Check the cruise line's alcohol policy-- some lines allow you to bring on a limited amount of wine, etc. Disney is unlimited. Carnival lets you bring on two bottles of wine per cabin, I believe. The lines will charge a corkage fee if it's opened in the dining room. We request two wine glasses from a random bar early on in the cruise and keep them in our room. We open the bottle there, and take the glasses with us to dinner. Slightly tacky, but eh, it works for us.

Remember that you will owe tips. They are between $10 and $12 PER PERSON PER DAY, so they can add up. Just budget them in.

Book excursions through outside companies, rather than the cruise line. You can save a lot of money. Just be sure that the company you book with has great reviews and will be reliable getting you back to the port on time. The ship will not wait for you.

If you are driving to the port, you can often find a hotel that will allow you to park your car there for the duration of the cruise for free. Check out cruisecritic to find suggestions on hotels for your particular port.

Not a budget tip, but if you are flying in, it is best to fly in the day before the cruise. The ship will not wait for you if your flight is delayed.

I hope these help! --Katie

 

[ENSOCK]

On our cruise last year, In Cozumel we did the excursion for Salsa & Salsa. It was the most fun I have ever had on a cruise excursion. Google them for the website. They are also in Los Cabos and Mazatlan.
Have fun!

 

[2disneyboys]

We just went our our first cruise this past oct & loved it!!!

I agree about getting to the ship early on depature day.. we got to the terminal around 10am (doc's all said to arrive around 1pm) we were through security, and onboard the ship by 10:45, this includes the time from the porters taking our bags until we were in the main lobby onboard the ship. It was so nice to get pics of the family in areas that later during the trip were extremly crowded... made me think of "rope drop" @ wdw... hardly a person in sight! keep in mind, your bags wont be in the room until much later, so if you plan to swim or something, make sure you keep that with you. also, we couldn't go to our room until around 11:30 so keep in mind what your holding, your hauling until then, lol!

watching your tab is a must also! We were able to review it each night. Royal Caribbean is also cashless - everything is charged to your room & you settle up before getting off the boat. We took cash with us, locked it into our room safe when we arrived, and then day before arrival, went to the customer service desk & paid our bill off w/ cash. then, the only charges left to go to our credit card was anything from that night and the day of depature.

i've always read you only need about 1/2 of what you pack (clothes).. umm. this was so true...

we opted to prepay our gratities (most ships offer this) that was one less set of bills to worry about @ the end of the trip. We did give a few of our "people" (like our head waiter etc) some extra @ the end of the trip as they really went over & above in some situations and we really appreciated it.

yes! Haggle @ the ports...

 

[MrsPete]

The biggest tip I can give you is to be VERY careful about charging on board a ship. Especially if you're a drinker. I've had friends that ended up with a gigantic bill at the end of the cruise because they charged everything and never kept track of it. Especially easy to do if your drinking those over-priced tropical drinks. Nothing puts the skids on a great time like a huge bill at the end that you didn't even realize was coming. It happens all the time.

Yes, it's up to you to keep track. They don't accept cash, so it's easy to spend more than you realize. Also, note that they add gratuities to drinks automatically. If you have children, at check in you can ask that their ID cards have a hole punched in them, which means no charging. Kids can run up a big bill without your knowledge.

Aside from paying your tips on the last evening, you don't have to spend anything to have a good tie on a cruise.

 

[MrsPete]

Budget tips I can think of:

Book using www.cruisecompete.com. They will give you quotes from several travel agencies, and you can choose the best quote (the price will often be the same, but the amount of on board credit usually differs).

Book an inside cabin. As a PP said, you won't be in your room much, anyways. Everything else on the ship is the same for you as the people who paid hundreds or thousands of dollars more.

Board early (around 11am), if you can. You can eat lunch on board the first day. That will save you lunch $$ elsewhere. Plus, your vacation starts sooner!!

Check the cruise line's alcohol policy-- some lines allow you to bring on a limited amount of wine, etc. Disney is unlimited. Carnival lets you bring on two bottles of wine per cabin, I believe. The lines will charge a corkage fee if it's opened in the dining room. We request two wine glasses from a random bar early on in the cruise and keep them in our room. We open the bottle there, and take the glasses with us to dinner. Slightly tacky, but eh, it works for us.

Remember that you will owe tips. They are between $10 and $12 PER PERSON PER DAY, so they can add up. Just budget them in.

Book excursions through outside companies, rather than the cruise line. You can save a lot of money. Just be sure that the company you book with has great reviews and will be reliable getting you back to the port on time. The ship will not wait for you.

If you are driving to the port, you can often find a hotel that will allow you to park your car there for the duration of the cruise for free. Check out cruisecritic to find suggestions on hotels for your particular port.

Not a budget tip, but if you are flying in, it is best to fly in the day before the cruise. The ship will not wait for you if your flight is delayed.

I hope these help! --Katie

I agree with most of these:

Arriving a day ahead isn't optional in my book. It not only frees you from worrying about travel delays preventing you from meeting the ship, it allows you to board the ship relaxed and ready for your vacation. If you drive to the ship, you can choose a hotel that allows you to park for free while you cruise, and you'll save the high cost of parking at the terminal, which essentially makes the overnight free.

Definitely book your island excursions with private company rather than the ship. They cost much less, but the real benefit is that you're in smaller groups and have more control over what you do.

And do board early. 10:00 is usually good.

 

[Angie789]

You can find some of this info on CruiseCritic, too, but my biggest budget tip is to skip booking excursions through the ship and book directly yourself before you travel. Saves a ton of money - the ship prices are usually marked up 30-40% over direct booking. CruiseCritic will give you info about reputable companies that work out of every major port - you name it, you can find it cheaper!

 

[a1tinkfans]

My "tip" is that you get what you pay for
If you like space the savings for the inside cabin is useless when you trip over your feet And have no space
We d never go without a balcony To us having a view of the port (also plan ahead by cking the itinerary) and having a drink or snack or coffee when the sun rises can't be beat t
To us a vacation does include the accommodation/room both location and size
As a newbie cruiser I would not suggest using outside vendors for excursions .. They are often not insured, ( people do get hurt) they are not all legit and if they run late you can miss your departure .. They also tend to not be as accommodating huddling masses into vans etc
I think cruising is a great way to travel and see many places in a shorter time but like a Disney trip planning ahead will really give you a great advantage.
Like Disney also there are many options for room locations categories and most important cruise line themselves , meaning the amenities food and even the clientele and atmosphere vary very widely .
Hope you have a wonderful time

 

[TLuvsD]

We have been on several cruises. I book some excursions with the ship, some with the vendor. Anything high risk or far from the ship, I use the cruise line excursion (helicopter to the top of a glacier, zip lines in Mexico). Low risk, close to the port I use an independent vendor (beach day in Mexico, tour of Nassau).

 

[scrapgal123]

Great tips and ideas to think about!

As this is a weekend cruise through Carnival, we will only be visiting Nassau, Bahamas. Our group is going to include a 1 year and my parents, in their 60's. I have never been to the Bahamas. Any suggestions on the excursions? We will be in the Bahamas overnight. We were thinking of having dinner on the ship and then also exploring in the evening.