We celebrated our 25th anniversary in 2016 and that trip also included a cruise. I wrote a post then about choosing a cruise and thought I would update it since we have taken three more cruises since then. If you have never cruised before, you may have some questions. If
you've cruised before, I'd love for you to share your experience in the
comments. We think of cruising as a "sampler plate" - we see a lot of places in a short amount of time. We left Ireland and Scotland wishing for more time to explore and our experience with trains has us thinking about a more land based trip in the future. A helpful site is Cruise Critic. Here are some of the things to think about when cruising:
#1 - Who You Travel With
Les is always my #1 travel companion but we have also cruised once with Lance and Monica and twice with Doug and Lori. Les and I do almost everything together on cruises, the main exception is the fitness center. Les is more likely to workout on the ship than I am. When we have traveled with the other two couples, we did not do everything together and we were all fine with that! We enjoyed some meals and some excursions together, while others we did on our own.
#2 - Where Will You Go?
This is important when choosing a cruise. It may be the newest ship in the fleet, but if it's going to be cruising the Hawaiian islands, Les and I will probably pass! Our ports for this trip were all new to us but we have done repeat ports in the past. There are so many places to explore that a repeat stop is not necessarily a bad thing.
This is important when choosing a cruise. It may be the newest ship in the fleet, but if it's going to be cruising the Hawaiian islands, Les and I will probably pass! Our ports for this trip were all new to us but we have done repeat ports in the past. There are so many places to explore that a repeat stop is not necessarily a bad thing.
#3 - How Many Days at Sea Will You Have?
This was important to us when we booked this trip. The cruises we took last year both had 3 days in port and 3 days at sea. That was way more days at sea than we like. This time we only had two days at sea and we loved it.
#4 - Work With a Travel Agent
I cannot stress enough how much our travel agent helped us! We did not pay her a single penny - her income comes from the cruise lines. If you're looking for a travel agent you don't need to live in Simi Valley - Paula is licensed to work with customers in the entire state of California. I haven't seen her since the first cruise she helped us with in 2016 - we do everything by phone and email. Check out Paula's Travel HERE. Paula also helped us with hotels, transfers, and excursions before and after the cruise.
#5 - Book Early, Really Early
We booked our cruise 9 months in advance, but did not benefit from a price drop this time. (In 2016 we booked a year in advance and our price dropped about $1,400!) I'm pretty sure cruise lines aren't discounting as much these days as they continue to recover from the COVID shutdowns.
I cannot stress enough how much our travel agent helped us! We did not pay her a single penny - her income comes from the cruise lines. If you're looking for a travel agent you don't need to live in Simi Valley - Paula is licensed to work with customers in the entire state of California. I haven't seen her since the first cruise she helped us with in 2016 - we do everything by phone and email. Check out Paula's Travel HERE. Paula also helped us with hotels, transfers, and excursions before and after the cruise.
#5 - Book Early, Really Early
We booked our cruise 9 months in advance, but did not benefit from a price drop this time. (In 2016 we booked a year in advance and our price dropped about $1,400!) I'm pretty sure cruise lines aren't discounting as much these days as they continue to recover from the COVID shutdowns.
#6 - Does the Cruise Line Matter?
We have cruise a grand total of six times, so we are not experts at all! We cruised Carnival in 2008 (pre-blogging days) and again in 2011. We cruised Royal Caribbean in 2016. We have now cruised Princess three times. There were definitely some differences that I'll get into, but they did not spoil our trip, nor did they make us like any cruise line more or less. We've all read horror stories about problems on cruise lines, but I think they can happen on any cruise line. Just like things can go wrong with airlines and hotels chains, it's what happens when things go wrong that can make or break a company.
We have cruise a grand total of six times, so we are not experts at all! We cruised Carnival in 2008 (pre-blogging days) and again in 2011. We cruised Royal Caribbean in 2016. We have now cruised Princess three times. There were definitely some differences that I'll get into, but they did not spoil our trip, nor did they make us like any cruise line more or less. We've all read horror stories about problems on cruise lines, but I think they can happen on any cruise line. Just like things can go wrong with airlines and hotels chains, it's what happens when things go wrong that can make or break a company.
#7 - Your Cabin Location Does Matter!
In 2011, our room was directly above the casino and our balcony overlooked a Jacuzzi. It was noisy day and night! I explained that to Paula in 2016 and we looked at the deck plans to choose our room. Since then Paula has always done a great job getting us a quiet room. As I mentioned, we had an inside cabin this time and we actually really liked it. This is when your number of days at sea can really make a difference.
In 2011, our room was directly above the casino and our balcony overlooked a Jacuzzi. It was noisy day and night! I explained that to Paula in 2016 and we looked at the deck plans to choose our room. Since then Paula has always done a great job getting us a quiet room. As I mentioned, we had an inside cabin this time and we actually really liked it. This is when your number of days at sea can really make a difference.
#8 - How Do You Deal with All the People?
Surprisingly, it never seems like there are a lot of people on the cruise ship once you set sail. The first day can be a little busy with everyone getting on board. The cabins usually aren't available until after 1:00, so everyone heads to the cafeteria. This trip was a little strange - some days seemed more crowded than others. Water taxis are definitely when you notice the crowds because they don't want to leave the ship or port without having a full boat.
Surprisingly, it never seems like there are a lot of people on the cruise ship once you set sail. The first day can be a little busy with everyone getting on board. The cabins usually aren't available until after 1:00, so everyone heads to the cafeteria. This trip was a little strange - some days seemed more crowded than others. Water taxis are definitely when you notice the crowds because they don't want to leave the ship or port without having a full boat.
#9 - How Much Should I Pack?
Les and I are pros at packing due to our frequent travels. We have medium size suitcases that even when packed as full as we can get them, they are never over the allowed weight of 50 pounds. They usually come in around 35-40 pounds. We both wore everything we packed at least twice. And I can't stress enough the importance of comfortable shoes! You can read my full post about packing here.
Les and I are pros at packing due to our frequent travels. We have medium size suitcases that even when packed as full as we can get them, they are never over the allowed weight of 50 pounds. They usually come in around 35-40 pounds. We both wore everything we packed at least twice. And I can't stress enough the importance of comfortable shoes! You can read my full post about packing here.
#10 - Can I Do My Own Laundry?
This, of course, can make a huge difference in your packing! There were laundry rooms available on the Carnival Magic, but none on Jewel of the Seas. Princess had the best option - laundry rooms on each deck that had staterooms. I did laundry twice.
#12 - How Can I Get Rid of Wrinkles?
Sorry, I have no magic face cream for you! But if you're trying to get rid of travel wrinkles in your clothes I have found the secret - Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus. I have been using this for years and it really works! Princess does have irons and ironing boards in their laundry rooms but I never needed them. Most of my clothes were slightly wrinkled from being in my suitcase. I lightly sprayed them, pulled on the wrinkles with my hands, then hung the clothes up. That's all it took! If you are a frequent traveler, get yourself a bottle of this. I have a big bottle that I keep at home, but I also have a travel size that goes with me.
Sorry, I have no magic face cream for you! But if you're trying to get rid of travel wrinkles in your clothes I have found the secret - Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus. I have been using this for years and it really works! Princess does have irons and ironing boards in their laundry rooms but I never needed them. Most of my clothes were slightly wrinkled from being in my suitcase. I lightly sprayed them, pulled on the wrinkles with my hands, then hung the clothes up. That's all it took! If you are a frequent traveler, get yourself a bottle of this. I have a big bottle that I keep at home, but I also have a travel size that goes with me.
#13 - Do I Need Formal Clothes?
This is really up to you. Les and I have plenty of opportunities to dress up at home, so we really don't like to use suitcase space for fancy clothes and shoes. For dinnerwear I took four dresses, while Les took a few nice shirts, a couple pairs of slack and two sport coats. There were two nights on our cruised that were "Formal" dress for dinner. We did not feel under-dressed at all. Yes, there were people in very fancy clothes (tuxedos and gowns) but there were just as many who were not dressed up.
#14 - Should I Pay for International Roaming on My Cell Phone?
In 2011 we turned our phones off before we landed in Barcelona and left them off the entire time. We loved being unplugged and never felt like we needed them. In 2016 we did a lot more exploring on our own and could have used our maps. Of course this time we had MAPS.ME and it worked with our phones on airplane mode. We used WI-FI on the ship, in our hotels and in cafes/restaurants. I needed to make a phone call once and I think we both used data a couple of times. Some carriers charge international fees by the day so as soon as you access your data abroad you are charged a flat fee for the day. For example, Verizon charges $10 a day for international roaming. This would have added up quickly. Our carrier (Spectrum) charges by usage and we spent less than $2.00 for the entire trip.
This is really up to you. Les and I have plenty of opportunities to dress up at home, so we really don't like to use suitcase space for fancy clothes and shoes. For dinnerwear I took four dresses, while Les took a few nice shirts, a couple pairs of slack and two sport coats. There were two nights on our cruised that were "Formal" dress for dinner. We did not feel under-dressed at all. Yes, there were people in very fancy clothes (tuxedos and gowns) but there were just as many who were not dressed up.
#14 - Should I Pay for International Roaming on My Cell Phone?
In 2011 we turned our phones off before we landed in Barcelona and left them off the entire time. We loved being unplugged and never felt like we needed them. In 2016 we did a lot more exploring on our own and could have used our maps. Of course this time we had MAPS.ME and it worked with our phones on airplane mode. We used WI-FI on the ship, in our hotels and in cafes/restaurants. I needed to make a phone call once and I think we both used data a couple of times. Some carriers charge international fees by the day so as soon as you access your data abroad you are charged a flat fee for the day. For example, Verizon charges $10 a day for international roaming. This would have added up quickly. Our carrier (Spectrum) charges by usage and we spent less than $2.00 for the entire trip.
#15 - When Should I Book Shore Excursions?
I did a ton of research and booked all excursions in advance. It makes planning and packing easier. We didn't book excursions for every day. As I mentioned, I did not book anything through our cruise line. This saved us a LOT of money. For example, if I had booked the Giant's Causeway through Princess it would have been $260 a person. I paid $100 a person booking through Viator! This was our most expensive excursion, most were considerably less. I had an entire spreadsheet comparing excursions. Options are available, just do the work in advance. Don't arrive in a port without some prior knowledge and at least a little bit of a plan. Half day tours are great because you can spend some time on your own as well and those are often the best part of your day.
#16 - Do I Need to Buy A Drink Package?
Les and I don't drink any alcohol so those drink packages didn't matter to us. There are unlimited soda packages, but we have never bought them either. I think you need to drink about 5 sodas or specialty coffees a day to make them worth it. I usually get two or three Diet Cokes for the entire cruise, but that's it. Coffee, juice, tea, and water are always included so we don't go thirsty.
I did a ton of research and booked all excursions in advance. It makes planning and packing easier. We didn't book excursions for every day. As I mentioned, I did not book anything through our cruise line. This saved us a LOT of money. For example, if I had booked the Giant's Causeway through Princess it would have been $260 a person. I paid $100 a person booking through Viator! This was our most expensive excursion, most were considerably less. I had an entire spreadsheet comparing excursions. Options are available, just do the work in advance. Don't arrive in a port without some prior knowledge and at least a little bit of a plan. Half day tours are great because you can spend some time on your own as well and those are often the best part of your day.
#16 - Do I Need to Buy A Drink Package?
Les and I don't drink any alcohol so those drink packages didn't matter to us. There are unlimited soda packages, but we have never bought them either. I think you need to drink about 5 sodas or specialty coffees a day to make them worth it. I usually get two or three Diet Cokes for the entire cruise, but that's it. Coffee, juice, tea, and water are always included so we don't go thirsty.
#17 - How is the Food?
I previously wrote this: There were some differences in food on the two different cruise lines. Breakfast was about the same on both ships - a variety of buffet stations. Lunch was also a buffet, but Carnival had a better variety. There was a significant difference on the dinners. On the formal night on Carnival, steak and lobster was one of the menu options. If you wanted steak and lobster on Royal it was available for an additional charge. Overall, I think our dinners were better on Royal, it probably helped that we had a table for two so our service seemed better. Our head waiter, Marvin, was really good. He also had a helper who brought our drinks. After the first night, he knew we wouldn't want any alcohol, so he brought us tea right away.
I previously wrote this: There were some differences in food on the two different cruise lines. Breakfast was about the same on both ships - a variety of buffet stations. Lunch was also a buffet, but Carnival had a better variety. There was a significant difference on the dinners. On the formal night on Carnival, steak and lobster was one of the menu options. If you wanted steak and lobster on Royal it was available for an additional charge. Overall, I think our dinners were better on Royal, it probably helped that we had a table for two so our service seemed better. Our head waiter, Marvin, was really good. He also had a helper who brought our drinks. After the first night, he knew we wouldn't want any alcohol, so he brought us tea right away.
From this trip I will add: Princess food was much better on this trip than the two we took last year - especially the desserts. My biggest complaint would be getting enough to drink. At dinner we would get water and tea, but getting refills was very hit and miss with the exception of Alfredo's. The specialty restaurants on Princess are definitely better than the dining rooms, but of course they come at an additional cost. Also, even though we reserved the same time for dinner each night we were not seated at the same table. This meant different servers each night and service that was inconsistent.
#18 - Will I Get Seasick?
I have only gotten seasick one time on our six cruises. This was a day at sea in 2011. I don't really blame it on the sea. I have gotten carsick in the past and it's usually if I'm reading and the road is winding. The one time I got seasick, I was reading on our balcony and the sea was a little rough. I have noticed in the past few years that I do experience more car sickness, so I've started taking Dramamine if I know the road is going to be windy. I also take a Dramamine everyday while I'm on the ship and that works just fine.
#18 - Will I Get Seasick?
I have only gotten seasick one time on our six cruises. This was a day at sea in 2011. I don't really blame it on the sea. I have gotten carsick in the past and it's usually if I'm reading and the road is winding. The one time I got seasick, I was reading on our balcony and the sea was a little rough. I have noticed in the past few years that I do experience more car sickness, so I've started taking Dramamine if I know the road is going to be windy. I also take a Dramamine everyday while I'm on the ship and that works just fine.
#19 - What About Tipping?
The standard way to take care of tips is to have it added in your bill upfront. It is a daily amount so you don't have to worry about tipping your room attendant or your server at dinner or anyone else who provides assistance. This does not include your guides on excursions, it is customary to tip them. Cruise Critic has a helpful article about that here.
#20 - What is the Deal with Recommended Shopping?
I don't remember hearing this as much on Carnival, but Royal Caribbean really pushed their approved stores. (I also didn't notice this on Princess.) Every night in our Cruise Compass a map was included of the next day's port. Shops and restaurants were named as recommended shopping. We never bought anything from any of the shops listed! I have since learned that cruise lines rake in a profit every time you buy something on shore at their recommended stores.
The standard way to take care of tips is to have it added in your bill upfront. It is a daily amount so you don't have to worry about tipping your room attendant or your server at dinner or anyone else who provides assistance. This does not include your guides on excursions, it is customary to tip them. Cruise Critic has a helpful article about that here.
#20 - What is the Deal with Recommended Shopping?
I don't remember hearing this as much on Carnival, but Royal Caribbean really pushed their approved stores. (I also didn't notice this on Princess.) Every night in our Cruise Compass a map was included of the next day's port. Shops and restaurants were named as recommended shopping. We never bought anything from any of the shops listed! I have since learned that cruise lines rake in a profit every time you buy something on shore at their recommended stores.
#21 - Why the Shopping Stops on Excursions?
We have noticed that almost every shore excursion includes a stop in some kind of shop. A cameo maker, a leather shop, or a pearl factory. We always feel like these are a waste of our vacation time and not what we paid for! Again, we've never bought anything at any of these places. Just like the recommended shopping, most sightseeing excursions include extended stops at souvenir shops chosen primarily for the size of the kickback they provide to the tour operator and cruise line. Another reason to not book an excursion with the cruise line, but head out on your own when you can.
We have noticed that almost every shore excursion includes a stop in some kind of shop. A cameo maker, a leather shop, or a pearl factory. We always feel like these are a waste of our vacation time and not what we paid for! Again, we've never bought anything at any of these places. Just like the recommended shopping, most sightseeing excursions include extended stops at souvenir shops chosen primarily for the size of the kickback they provide to the tour operator and cruise line. Another reason to not book an excursion with the cruise line, but head out on your own when you can.
#22 - Can I Leave the Ship A Day Early?
This is a new point but pretty important. We knew we wanted to leave the ship a day early. It is not just as simple as checking out of a hotel a day early. Paula requested a Deviation of Itinerary from Princess and they had to approve it. Two days before we were going to get off we received a notice in our stateroom cabin of what we needed to do. Our passports needed to go to Guest Services so they could be presented to French authorities and our luggage needed to be outside our room the night before. We weren't the only ones who left the ship early, so this is not uncommon, but there are procedures to follow.
#23 - ASK!!
As in many things in life, I think the key to travel is asking. You may not get the refund or you may not be able to change plans, but you may also get a yes. You'll never know unless you ask! If you're uncertain of where you need to go or what you need to do, ASK! Don't be that person who pretends to know what they're doing, all the while leaving a trail of disaster behind them.
Have you ever cruised? Share your stories in the comments!
If you haven't cruised, have I scared you away or are you thinking about taking one now?
If you haven't cruised, have I scared you away or are you thinking about taking one now?
