Going on a cruise for the first time

Gregster

Gregster

Gregster

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Essex innit!
So, me and the Mrs are getting older and fancied trying a cruise and booked up with Royal Caribbean for May 14th to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary. I know there are a few of us maturer folks here, so was hoping for some tips/ideas.

We will be sailing on the Brilliance of the Seas to St Petersburg and have booked an excursion there but no others as of yet.

Info's/tips please peoples. :)
 
Work colleague just came back, and rec'd a $300 phone bill, even though he was on an unlimited international data plan. The phone company said, cruise ships are excluded, as they use their own towers, and charge the phone company.

She also said, $300 was one of the smaller charges she normally see's.

You've been warned.
 
RCI are brillaint. I loved my cruise last year and I can see myself doing another in the near future.

My main tips are to go to as many shows and concerts on-board as you can (I'm an old-school metalhead, but even I enjoyed some of the shows!), book a regular table and eat in the main dining hall for your evening meals (and remember, you can order as many dishes on each course as you want) and when you get to each port, at least go for a walk and see the sights - the ship's coordinator will usually tell you all about each city (and you get an amazingly detailed timetable every day).

Finally, the staff on RCI were brilliant when I was on my cruise. Smile, chat and take some time to explore your ship.
 
thedoc46 said:
Work colleague just came back, and rec'd a $300 phone bill, even though he was on an unlimited international data plan. The phone company said, cruise ships are excluded, as they use their own towers, and charge the phone company.

She also said, $300 was one of the smaller charges she normally see's.

You've been warned.
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You have free wifi on the big ships though so using a data plan is just stupid. My parents have often skyped me from the ship using the wifi without any daft charges.
 
James J said:
You have free wifi on the big ships though so using a data plan is just stupid. My parents have often skyped me from the ship using the wifi without any daft charges.
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I looked at the wifi for the ship and it is far from free. My wife wants it though, as she wants to Skype my daughter who is pregnant (Mum's worry), so that isn't a problem.
 
You shouldn't have to take your zimmer frame with you as they'll have them on board, but you will have to take a supply of Werthers Originals as the cost on ship is apparently horrendous. Captive market and all that.
 
Don't get suckered into going on all the expensive organised excursions. If you can follow a map and have some basic understanding of things you can do similar ones on your own.

Cruises are great and aren't for old people.
 
Dimple said:
I never knew you were in your 70s :eek:

I've got another 14 years to go before I have my first cruise if I live that long.
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Not quite that old but cruising is generally associated with the older, more weathered folk and as I work on a port and seen the passengers, I am not wrong :D Both me and Mrs Gregster wanted to try it but both a little green and don't want to spend unnecessary money.

bsoltan said:
Don't get suckered into going on all the expensive organised excursions. If you can follow a map and have some basic understanding of things you can do similar ones on your own.

Cruises are great and aren't for old people.
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I am pretty good with an A-Z , so should be ok. Only booked up St Petersburg so far and might play it by ear and decide on the day for others.
 
Gregster said:
I am pretty good with an A-Z , so should be ok. Only booked up St Petersburg so far and might play it by ear and decide on the day for others.
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If you've got a smartphone download one of the many Offline Map Apps which are free and go down to street level with other useful information.
Switch on GPS and let it guide you.
 
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