Vacation Expert Professional
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Cruises are one of THE best vacations you can take. Once you are on ship the staff caters to you, its whatever you want. There is something to do all day every day.
When you arrive at the port to check in you (each passenger) will have an on board charge account set up and will receive a key card which will serve as your room key, charge card for anything you buy on ship (i.e.,drinks, souvenir, photos, tours, etc.) and its also your pass to get on and off ship in each port. When you first board the ship the security personnel will take a photo of you that is included in the magnetic strip on the card. Each time you get off ship you will need this key card and many times also a photo ID (passport or driver's license). This card allows them to keep an accurate track of all passengers entering and/or leaving the ship.
Each day of your cruise you will receive in your cabin a "newsletter" listing the time, place and particulars of everything happening for you on ship. There are generally activities like demonstrations of ice carvings, napkin folding and towel folding, and cooking demonstrations.. There will be a Cruise Director who will organized games and other activities around the pools. In the evenings there are shows, one show for those with an early dinner seating and another (same show) for those who eat late.
There is always free food available. Usually there is a place in ship where you can go get something. Or, you can always just pick up the phone in your cabin and order from the free room service menu.
The ship (unless you are on Disney) will have a casino with slots and table games. Some ships have movie theaters, generally small but nice, and you can also see movies in your cabin. They have ATM’s and a purser’s desk where you can cash a check or exchange currency if you need to. There is a tour and activities desk so you can schedule land tours and activities. At port stops you can get off and on as much as you want and you do not have to book any of the ship's shore tours and activities; you can go on your own.
There are free morning exercise programs, stretching and walking, etc, and on some you can pay for other things like Spinning. The ship will have a gym so you can go workout, usually any time from 6:00 AM to late at night. There is usually a walking/running track on one of the decks also. Some ships leave the gym open all night. They call the gyms Spa because they do promote getting pampered with things like wraps and massages with aroma therapy. They will also generally have a beauty salon to do hair and nails. These latter you must pay for.
There are always pools. Some ships have more than one and the newer ships generally have an indoor pool as well as outdoor ones and all of these have hot tubs. There is generally a basketball court on the top deck, a place for scuffle board, and a mini-golf course. The newer Royal Caribbean ships have a rock climbing wall, roller blading and ice skating, and the newest ones has a place for water surfing called the Flow Rider.
There are places on ships to play cards and board games, and the cards and games are provided. If you want to just sit and read, there’s a library where you can bring your books or select one from the shelf. Ships have internet cafes and some offer WIFI if you bring your prefer to use your computer in your cabin (some ships offer notebooks for rent).
There are cocktail lounges that feature a variety of music. Some have a piano bar with jazz. There is usually a disco that starts after 10:00 PM each night and last until everyone leave. On certain days ships will have special activities like a chocolate lovers buffet, or a midnight deck party .
Some people worry about getting sea sick, but the ships being used these days have automated stabilizers which minimize the rocking. The larger ships cut through the water so easy that you don’t even feel like you are moving. When there is bad weather the cruise lines will steer around and away from it, sometimes changing the order of port stops. Also, the ships generally move overnight and dock in the mornings so you don’t feel much movement. Consequently, your chances of getting sea sick are minimal. There is generally less motion than on an airplane. If you do get
sick, all ships have a doctor and they will dispense sea sick medicines. If you are prone to motion sickness, just get pills or a patch from your own doctor before you go, or go to a boating store and get a sea sickness bracelet.
The dress on ship is casual all day until 6:00PM. So take swim wear, shorts, sandals, beach shoes, your snorkel equipment if you have it, sun glasses and sun screen, lotions, a cap or big hat for the sun, a book if you are a reader, your music player, sneakers and clothes to workout in if you like to use the gym, your camera, and other personal toiletries.
After 6:00 PM they request that you wear "sports or resort casual" attire. That's attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, shirt with a collar, slacks, skirt, blouse, etc. You can still wear shorts and swim wear in the pools and spas but not in public areas like dining rooms and restaurants, show rooms, bars, casino, etc.
Most 7-day cruises have two formal nights when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken, and maybe meet the ship’s Captain. The formal nights are REQUESTED not required attire. But most people do dress up in a tux for men and a long dress (any color) for women. Some men just wear a suit and tie and some women wear a nice dress but not a gown. You will not be denied access to the dining room or anything else if you choose not to dress up.
The price of a cruise includes your cabin, all of the shows, and use of all of the facilities; all meals and snacks all day and night. There are places on ship where you can go to breakfast, lunch and dinner and midnight buffets and all of the food is free. There is generally a room service menu that you can order from 24/7 and that food is free (you should tip the delivery person a couple dollars). But that does not include all drinks. The ships provide coffee, tea, milk, juices, and drinks like lemonade and punch for free. BUT, you must pay for soft drinks (usually about $1.50) and all alcoholic beverages including beer and wine.
The things that you can do on ship will vary by the cruise line and the ship. Many of the newer ships of all of the cruise lines have more activities than there are on the older ships. Older ships would in general be those launched before about 2000.
The types and number of activities also varies by cruise line with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line having by far THE most activities. Things that may be available depending upon the ship:
- use the pools, hot tubs and water slides
-use the water surfing on a boogie board on ship (RC's Freedom class ships only)
- use the full service gymnasium with all types of free weights and exercise machines
- use the full service spa where you can get hair and nails done and massages and wraps.
- use the sauna and/or steam rooms
- use the mini-golf course and/or a golf driving range or golf simulator
- use the roller blade track and/or an ice skating rink. If there is an ice rink there will be an ice show like the ice capades
- use the rock climbing wall.
- use the full sized basketball/volleyball/tennis court
- play table tennis
-play with the over sized Chess/Checker sets and shuffle board
- use the walking/ jogging track
- use the video arcade
-use the kids only area, some with a pool and/or water slide
- use the teens only area, some including a teen disco
-use the bowling alley (NCL ship)
- shoot pool on a pool tables (RC ships)
- go to a show room where there will be a show every evening, one for each dinner seating
- use the game room with games and cards provided
- use the internet cafe (they charge a fee for this)
- use the library with books provided or bring your own
- go to the disco that is open every night starting about 11:00 PM and lasting until the last person leaves.
- enjoy the piano bar and/or the sports bar; all ships will have lounges and cocktails bars at various places on ship
- some ships have a small movie theater and you can also watch movies (most for free) in your cabin. Princess has movies under the stars on top decks of some ships.
- enjoy free 24/7 room service
- use the casino for gambling
- eat the huge variety of food and plenty of it, seconds and thirds are OK too.
- sit on a deck or your cabin's balcony and watch the ocean go by.
- go to art auctions
- go to lectures and learning seminars on some ships
- go to the Karaoke bar
- enjoy wine tasting
- shop for souvinirs
There may even be a few others things that I have not listed. Remember that not all ships have all of these things. Some may have only a few.
When you get done with your cruise you WILL want to go on another. I have been on about 20 and have 3 booked right now. |
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