I am going on my 1st cruise in June to the western caribbean so I have a few questions?

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Julie T

On RC, tea and lemonade are free, however you do have to pay for all other beverages including soda.

You can purchase soda by the can at $1.75 or buy a soda fountain card on your first day. As I recall, the card was about $5 or $6 per day per person. From a cost stand point, the card is a good value if you are a soda drinker.

However, we were quite frustrated on our last RC cruise when we tried to use the soda card. You must get your soda at the bars. The bartenders will serve everyone else at the bar including those guests arriving after you if you want soda. They get a 15% gratuity on each bar drink and nothing on serving soda. This was such a problem,that I reported it to the pursers office.

As for other out of pocket expenses, your picture will be taken at every corner by the ship'sphotographer. While the purchase of the pictures is optional, they run about $20 per sheet.

Gratuities usually run about $10/per day/per guest. RC still allows the cash tipping system so put back your tip dollars when you board the ship. If you charge the tips to your account, you cannot adjust down for poor service.

Bingo cards cost about $35 per 6 plays. Spa services run $40-$200 each.

For shopping in port, take a good quantity of $1,5 and 10 bills for taxis and shopping in the open air markets. Be sure to negotiate. If the vendor says $50, offer $30...it is a part of the custom to negotiate.

Be aware...due to the hurricane damage in Cozumel, you may have to tender (ride the ferry) to get to the island depending upon how many ships are at the port when you arrive. The ship gives passengers with shore excursions booked through them priority when tendering.

You can save some money by booking your own shore excursions by researching on the web. Other folks just hop off the ship and pick up a tour from an operator at the port.

If you are flying home don't book your return flight home too soon. Debarkation can take some time.

If you are driving home be sure to check the fees to park at the port. Usually about $10 per day per car.

Get some colorful yard or a plastic markers from the hardware store to mark your luggage. There is a ton of black luggage in the cruise terminal and it can be hard to find if not marked.

Been to Cayman and Ochos Rios on a different ship, so can only answer on those.

In Cayman, Stringray Island is a GREAT excursion to go on. You swim and feed string rays. They're used to it so they don't sting you and in fact swim up against you, around you and let you pet them. They give you pieces of squid to feed them (so cool!!). There is also tons of shopping places at the port. You will tender into the port (meaning a small tender boat takes you to the port while the ship is anchored out in the water vs. anchored at a dock).

In Ochos Rios, you dock at the port and there are lots of shopping places at the port there too. Be aware in Ochos Rios that the locals beg you a lot to but things from them or take their taxis (some taxis are NOT government approved so you take your chance if you get one of them). In the shopping at the port, the beggers don't follow you into the main shopping "mall" there that has Margarettaville and some local small shopping places. Basically as far as excursions and things to do in Ochos Rios, they have all the normal Caribbean fun places (swim and snorkel, parasailing, hanging out on the beach, etc.). Also beware of being offered "good" cigerettes while in Ochos Rios even while the local police are standing there hearing it and seeing it. Best put, it may be illlegal in Jamaica, but very much tolerated by police. And the best way to handle it is to not even acknowledge them by even saying no, just keep walking and they leave you alone.

As far as food and activities being free on the ship, yes, they are free included in your cruise price. Soda does cost you and if you think you are going to drink a lot of soda, get a soda card at the very beginning and drink unlimited sodas for one price.

Serendipity

You will find that the food is free and abundant and many free activities will be planned for you on the ship. You will, however, want to take plenty of spending money for your shore adventures, including money for guided shore excursions unless you feel comfortable taking a taxi and getting around on your own. There will also be other things you will likely want to buy on the ship but if you want to be frugal you will find that there is more than enough to eat -- free!

Here is a site about Labadee:
http://www.caribbeanportreviews.com/Labadee.htm

Grand Cayman
http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=1

Cozumel
http://www.islacozumel.com.mx/

Ochos Rio
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ports/group/home.do?portCode=OCJ

You will be given a list of events each day. Ask questions of other more experienced passengers and you will get along just fine. Just remember that you should pack half as much as you think you should and take twice as much money as you think you should! - you can always bring it back home if you don't spend it.

s

tbugs

No, soda is NOT free. It costs around $2 per can or $1.50 for the bar fountain drink. You can buy a sticker for your keycard which will allow you to order all the soda you want at any bar. This sticker must be bought on the first day of the cruise.

Yes, all food on the cruise is included except for the "alternative" restaurant. Food is good, too. You can ask the waiter for as many appetizers, entrees, and desserts as you want and they will be brought to you. Most people do ask for 2 lobster tails on formal night.

All activities are not free on board. Extras are for bingo, the casino, etc.

Grand Cayman is my favorite place. Be sure to take the excursion to swim with the stingrays at Stingray City. It is a wonderful experience that you will not forgt. Cozumel is a great place to snorkel. Go to Chakkanab park and snorkel there. Great variety of fish to see.

Ocho Rios is fun. Most people go on the waterfall tour where you actually climb stones to go to the top of the waterfall. It is a tourist trap but is fun to do.

As far as shopping goes, do your research before you go if you are planning to buy watches or jewelry so you really know the US prices.

hargonagain

Drinks are not usually free except with dinner, and even then it usually costs something. You can usually buy a soda card which on Carnival is $20.00 and you get all the soda you want. I have never been on RC before, so I am not sure, but you can check. Not all activities on the ship are free, but the food is always free, even room service! I am sure some body who has been on RC can give you more info, but I have been on 3 Carnival Cruises and that is how it worked.

watermelon

The soda is not free if you are an adult. If you are a child your parens can buy you a special card and you just show it to the bartender. The card is $20. If you go to the buffet and your dining room it is free, Only if you go to a special restaurant like an italian one you have to show your "ding ding" card/room key and they will charge it to your room. The activities on the boat are alll free, If you are doing rockclimbing, roller skating... you have to sign a consent form for your child if you have one. I have been to all of the islands you mentioned. In labadee when I went there was a big water slide and a restaurant. The shopping there isn't that great I didnt find. Cozumel has excellent shopping. Grand cayman and ochos rios have good shopping too. If you have a chance on he cruise to go to the shopping shows. You will have a shopping guy that does all of theses shows on sea days to tell you where to go and not to go. And you an purchase these coupon books to save money. They also have free stuff too, gems, pendants, del sol, chains.................

arecibena_ausente

Your best bet would be to buy a soda card if you are a big soda drinker, with dinner it's free. Some restaurants you do have to pay like Johnny Rockets as well as the 1 or 2 fancy restaurants that are on board which i've heard they are really good and it costs about $20.00 per person. All activities on board are free but you do have to pay for the spa. We went to Grand Cayman and went swimming with the Stingrays and it was awesome and also went to Cozumel and did the Fiesta Party Boat and had tons of fun. I don't know your age but we like to party (some) and drink so we enjoyed it. They take you to Playa del Carmen and stay there for a while, we had fun there. If you get hungry, there are stuff to eat as well as shops to buy gifts and stuff. Cruise critic boards are the best help out there to find out everything about your cruise, excursions and everything you want to know about cruising. Enjoy your cruise!

williamsv

wow! lucky you what a great cruise . i have sailed with rccl the best in my opinion sodas beer wine all alcohol is not free all food in main dining is free and wind jammer free if your ship has specialty restaurants there is a 20.00 cover charge. Jamaica was so beautiful i loved it .didn't do shore excursions too much money but i did walk around the island went to jimmy buffets so great i didn't care for labadee not much there Haitians not real friendly but you wont be disappointed at all you will have the time of your life. good luck and happy cruising

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