20 cruise tips for beginners

20 cruise tips for beginners

In May last year I posted the following photo on Facebook with the heading "My birthday swag describes me in a nutshell: ambitious, but in the heart." And it is true: Despite ballet performances and riding lessons, I am a workers' girl in my heart. Then you will understand why our 16-day cruise from Tahiti via Hawaii to La was a small test in terms of etiquette.

alt = “tickets for ballet, riding lessons and, uh, a hard box set”> Atlas & Boots admission tickets for ballet, riding lessons and, uh, one the hard-box set

To help other first visitors, I have put together 20 cruise tips for uninitiated. These help you to get the best out of your trip and at the same time avoid confusion and potential embarrassment.

Book

If you are lucky enough to have some flexibility, keep your nerves up to the last two weeks before booking. The prices are often significantly reduced and you can get up to 50 % discount on the standard price. However, note that the trip can be fully booked or that prices can rise more than expected as soon as the ship is almost fully utilized. Cruise ships often like to leave some air to breathe, so don't worry about filling the very last places.

pills pack against seasickness

I was on many boats and was confident that I would be fine on an ocean tumble. Unfortunately, I was so queasy on two different occasions that I had to leave dinner prematurely. It is a good idea to pack some pills as a precaution. You can buy some on the ship, but they will be relatively expensive. Finally, apples with salt help to calm a restless stomach, so keep a few in your room.

check-in late

Check when the ship leaves. If boarding starts at 12:00 p.m. and the ship takes off at night, you are welcome to check in at 3:00 p.m. You will avoid the massive queues and avoid the stress of the shopping day. If you are worried about getting late, settle down in a nearby café where you can keep an eye on the queue while enjoying a coffee.

ask for an upgrade

Ask when checking in for an upgrade. You may not get any, especially if the day of embarkation for the crew was particularly stressful, but it is always worth asking about it. We got an upgrade from an inner cabin to a room with a window, but without view! It was not perfect, but the daylight made a big difference.

alt = "lifeboat view"> Atlas & Boots at least there is daylight!

you are not afraid to change the automatic tip

Some cruise ships automatically add a tip for your final bill, usually about $ 12 per person and day, which can quickly sum up if you are on a long journey. We were afraid of having to ask after a reduced price of $ 8, but the process was surprisingly simple: we went to the reception, filled out a form with the desired amount and that was it. Nobody treated us differently and it was completely painless. What I would say is that the cruise staff works in divided layers for incredibly long working hours. So if you can afford to pay the full tip, please do so. Also note that cruise lines generally offer envelopes in the past few days with which you can give your cabin steward, your waiters and other outstanding employees. Feel free to submit them to the respective employees.

Yes, you should wear sneakers for lunch!

Lunch is generally an informal affair, so wear sneakers or sports clothes. In Restaurants with seating, bathing clothes are advised, and a kaftan or a kind of cladding is estimated at the buffet.

Use a fresh plate on the buffet

When I first came across a few years ago, it seemed to be the most wasteful etiquette rule that I had ever met. Soon afterwards I found out that it was a food safety practice that was introduced to prevent germs from being transferred from their plate to serving spoons. In a closed room such as a ship in which germs can spread quickly, hygiene is twice important, so they always stick to this rule.

Imagine your waiters

When our first waiter introduced himself and went to the next table, Peter and I looked at each other. "Should we have told him our names?" We asked at the same time. The answer is. Even if he will not remember it, tell him your name. It is likely that you have the same waiter throughout the trip so that you can start good conditions.

Order what you want

You can order as much or as little as you want from the menu - and on request with two different main dishes or three desserts for two people.

Alt = “Nacht-von-Dreesser”> Atlas & Boots Okay, so yes, we ordered three desserts

I personally confused the soup department. Was it starters? Pages? Network? In fact, they were their own course. Order one if you want. Don't do it if you prefer not to. Order two if you want. Your waiter saw everything.

ask you to change tables if you prefer

cruise ships often put them at a table with other people. If you prefer to eat alone without leading small talk with the same people every evening, ask the Maître D for a table for two people. You cannot fulfill every wish, but you will do your best.

don't take the scones for God's love!

If you go to the afternoon tea, never take something from the tray yourself. When our waiter, the Damir mentioned above, who specializes in dead cheeks, offered me a tray with scones, I asked for a certain one. He tipped the tray in my direction, which made me believe that I would have to take the scone instead of getting it served. I happily stretched out my hand, whereupon it pulled away with lightning -fast reflexes. "Madam, Madam," he said strictly. "My superior watches." With red cheeks I lowered my head like a ashamed school child. "I'm sorry, damir."

Check the drinks fees

On our cruise there was free water, lemonade and iced tea at the lunch buffet. There was water free of charge in the seat Restaurant, all other drinks were subject to a fee. Make sure that you are clear about additional fees, since sometimes a tip of 15 % is added to the bar staff.

don't eat too much every day

We ate and ate and ate, and everyone increased several pounds in the course of our 16-day cruise. An occasional pleasure is okay, but try not to eat too much every day. It will leave them lethargically and bloated. Try to consciously perceive when you are full and then stop!

do without formal nights if you prefer

Most cruise ships have at least one formal night on the travel route. We had three nights that required jackets and cocktail clothing. Unfortunately we don't wear any extravagant in our backpacks, so we had to leave these nights completely. If you are sitting in the same boat (no word game intends), don't be annoyed: there are other options. On most ships you can eat at a buffet or in a casual restaurant or order room service at no extra charge.

Do the land tours themselves

Usually there is a strong service on excursions that are booked via the cruise line itself. If the additional effort does not matter to you, organize a tour instead. Rent either a vehicle and do it yourself or contact the tour operator directly to avoid the surcharge. However, note that the next point is very important if you decide to do it yourself.

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Do the land tours themselves

The Internet on board is horrendously expensive (and slowly!) And the information provided is not always sufficient, so you research your port runs in advance so that you know what you want to do. It doesn't hurt either. We were casual with our research for Moorea and planned to jump on a scooter for the day. When we arrived, the rental company discouraged us because none of us had previously driven a scooter. Since we could not afford a rental car, we had to run for an hour and a half to the next sight - not the best time use if you only have a limited number of hours.

ID use port calls

Always take your driver's license or passport with you during runs. I left mine on the ship during our first stop in Hawaii (most likely beyond the ease of immigration on board). When I return to the ship, I was stopped and interrogated, which triggered many Walkie-Talkie gimmicks. To mention unnecessarily that I have not forgotten it in future stops.

don't let yourself be left behind

It is surprisingly easy to lose sight of the time when you explore a new city, city or island. Plan enough time to return to the boat. If you know that you are generally scattered, set an alarm to remind you of it. If you are not there in time, the boat drives off without you so that you have to look for your own way to the next port.

try the conversation with caution from

The entertainment on board can be predictable. If you are not sure about a specific show, choose a place near the back so that you can easily escape. We practiced this route on two different occasions and at almost a third.

be flexible and responsive

cruises offer luxury trips on premium prices, so it is understandable why passengers expect a impeccable service. However, remember that you are in a closed room with limited resources in the middle of a large water. The staff may not have the very special dressing that they like for their side salad, or it takes a little longer than usual to fix a problem with their room. Be patient and respectful at any time. You (and I) most likely have no idea how hard you work. Always take it easy. You are on vacation. There is absolutely no reason to stress out.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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