Cruise

[Scrambled]

Going on my first cruise _ what tips has anyone got for life on board or for time in ports?

All help gratefully received.

Thanks

[LooneyTunes]

Which line are you going with? ...and where to? (makes a difference to advice)

[Scrambled]

Royal Carib. _ visiting Venice, Bari, Ravenna, Dubrovnik and Koper

Also interested to get tips about being on board.

[LooneyTunes]

A lex said:

We managed to rack up almost $4k of onboard spend in a week Like I say Spa and Beauty treatments can be ruinously expensive.

Did you actually stowaway and just treat the spa as your cabin?

Unless buying the odd thing from the gallery I've never managed anywhere near that sort of figure...

Anyway, back to the OP's questions. We've not been with RC, but in terms of general things to watch:

Excursions - this is another way they really make money. Unless it involves going a LONG way away from the boat, we always do our own thing (the boat's excursions are very expensive - usually cheaper to take a cab - but they will wait for the tour to get back before they sail). By way of example, we were recently offered a beach transfer for around EUR 25/head - local bus left from the cruise terminal straight to the beach every 20 mins, was EUR 3 rtn and we could choose when to come back.

Food - very easy to put on a couple of kgs.

Drinks - only thing we've ever been caught out by was that some countries levy taxes whilst the boats are in port. You may or may not find out about this until you get asked to sign the expected chit + 20%. Some lines allow you to take your own wines and pay corkage in the bars/restaurants. Most don't allow you to take spirits onboards (but quite a lot do smuggle for in room consumption - nowt wrong with taking a couple of bottles of fruit cordial is there? )

Internet - billed by the minute and can be slow at peak times. Best used when you think nobody else will be online. Or just download your email in port (follow the troupes of crew leaving the boat carrying their laptops and free wi-fi thou shalt almost certainly find!)

Laundry - take a few tablets of your own (the machines on most lines are free), but get there early in the morning on the day you want to use them.

In general - just relax and you should enjoy it.

Oh, and always call it a boat. Any fuddies will appreciate it.

[sussexjob]

Allways go for late sitting dinner or you end up the the blue rinses !

[greygoose]

LooneyTunes said:

Laundry - take a few tablets of your own (the machines on most lines are free), but get there early in the morning on the day you want to use them.

I don't think Royal Caribbean have laundrettes on board, their laundry is quite cheap if you do need washing done (probably not for a week long cruise though).

The a la carte restaurant is very good and worth the $20 extra if you want a break from the main dining room. The evening entertainment is usually good in the main theatre.

[Scrambled]

Have not been on for a while, so sorry for this late response.

Thanks for all the info.

[Ebo100]

If your ship arrives early in Venice, it's really worth geting up onto the deck with your camera.
the passage down the main canal past Venice as the sun rises is spectacular.

[Scrambled]

Thanks for the advice folks _ had a great time, your tips came in handy and I even git up early for the passage through Venice, well worth it.