Baby Lets Cruise

Whenever we talk about Cruising we generally get one of two responses
“ Oh cruising is not for me’, or ‘ Oh I am cruiser and I have been on (insert number here) cruises’

We sit somewhere in the middle and we think everyone should at least give cruising a go.

Whilst we wouldn’t call ourselves seasoned cruisers, we are fans of this form of travel and have had some truly amazing experiences cruising around the world, that we would never have experienced if we limited ourselves to only travelling overland.

We feel the art to cruising all comes down to knowing what you want from your holiday and choosing your cruise line accordingly.

If you are a first time cruiser or need some convincing to dip your toe in the cruise line waters, we have put together some tips to ensure you get the most out of your cruise.

Choose your cruise line carefully

There is a large array of cruielines out there to choose from and it is likely there is something perfect for you and your needs.

From high end all inclusive lines, family orientated mega ships, to budget friendly fun ships. Each cruise line and each ship is unique along with the demographic of passengers on board.

We have created some tips on how to compare some of the best cruise lines here.

Choose your cabin based off your destinations

One of the bigger decisions you will make after choosing your cruise line and destination, is deciding what cabin or suite to call home during your vacation.

Most cruise lines will have a variety of options to suit your personal preferences and budget.

Interior – These rooms tend to be the cheapest but also smallest on board. An internal room will not have any windows, however does come with all the basic elements you need whilst enjoying your personal space, including:

• Double or 2 single beds,
• TV ( some ships will have channels you can watch the view on from a camera placed on the bridge, to give you uninterrupted views outside)
• small bathroom with shower
• limited storage

These rooms are very similar to a small basic hotel room, and are best suited to short cruises, or itineraries with back to back port days, as you will be spending most of your time out of your room.

Perfect for the budget conscious, or the more social cruiser, who will be outside of their room most the time anyway.

Ocean View  – Similar to an interior cabin in size and inclusions, the big difference with these cabins is the view.

Depending on the cruise line, you can expect a port hole window or a floor to ceiling window (Dependent on deck and category).
This will offer views of the ocean and ports you visit, and importantly for us , some natural light.

If budget allows, we recommend splurging a little ,to at least, have an Ocean View room for cruises any longer then 3 nights.

Balcony View – This is the perfect middle ground. A Balcony Cabin will be at least a little larger then an Ocean View, and will offer your own private balcony to escape other passengers and potentially see some dolphins swim right past your cabin. Your room should include:

• Double Bed or 2 Singles
• Sofa ( this can be turned into a third bed on most cruise lines)
• Study Desk / Dresser
• TV
• Mini bar
• Storage
• Bathroom including shower
• Balcony with 2 chairs and small table

If you have choosen a Balcony Cabin, we recommend enjoying room service breakfast on your balcony and enjoy the changing scenery on a sea day.

This is our preference when cruising and will offer the opportunity to have uninterrupted views when cruising through picturesque destinations like Milford Sounds or the Italian coast. For us it is worth the extra money.

Mini Suites  some cruise lines will offer a small selection of Mini Suites. These cabins will offer more space, with a separate living area and sleeping area (generally divided by a curtain). You can also expect more space, storage and most cases a bath in addition to a shower. These rooms are considerably more expensive, and we would only recommend them if you get a good deal, or are travelling for more then 10 days.

Suites this is where things start to get more expensive.
Suites are the most luxurious way to experience cruising, however for us we can’t really see how the expense would be truly worth it.

A suite can range from a standard 2 bedroom suite to a luxurious multi room space with all the trimmings, including your own hot tub, bigger balconies and your own butler.

Suite guests also get to experience added perks, that may include access to speciality restaurants and exclusive areas on board.

Let’s be honest we haven’t and are unlikely to experience this form of travel anytime soon, however from our experience, cruise life has so much to offer so you end up spending limited time in your room. For us this extra expense would be better spent on other experiences and indulgences.

Dining

Cruise Ships offer some truly incredible dining experiences.
One of the big bonuses of cruise life, is there will always be a variety of dining options included in your fare price.
Trust us you will never go hungry whilst cruising.

This said Dining whilst cruising can be confusing.

As cruiselines get more competitive, each ship offers different dining options and the traditional style of dining in a main dining room may no longer occur on your cruise.

Below are the most common options your will find.

Buffet Dining Most ships will offer a Buffet style dining area, where generally you can find a variety of food including salad bars, pizza, traditional roasts, asian fusion and mexican most times of the day. This is always a fail safe option if you find yourself only wanting a small bit to eat or late back from a shore excursion. It is also the most family friendly dining area on most ships and where most people will have breakfast as you can turn up whenever suits you and stay as long as you like.

Casual Dining in addition to Buffet Dining, most ships will have additional mostly complimentary casual dining areas. These will be a grill, pizza bar, burger place or hot dog bar. These  make a perfect place for lunch or a snack.

Complimentary Dining Including the Buffet and most casual dining options, there will also be at least one additional Complimentary dining venue on board, which will consist of a main dining room with 3 course meals, or a variety of alternative dinner venues ( and lunch on sea days).

This is where each ship will differ. With Royal Carribean International, we quickly learned the hard way, that you will need to make individual dining reservations at your complimentary venue preferences (4 in our case), for dinner each night.

A lot of people were making their reservations as soon as they boarded or in advance, however we were not aware of this requirement and quickly found ourselves on waiting lists, dining late or without an option on where to dine at night.

This will require some planning if you find yourself with similar dinining options that require reservations, as you will need to know what time you wish to dine and what style of dining in advance.

Whilst it does require additional planning, this form of dining offers more variety.

Specialty Dining

Most ships will offer additional dining options at an additional fee.

This may include experimental dining, with novel food concepts and ordering. We enjoyed dining at Wonderland whilst on a Royal Caribbean Cruise, which was like stepping into the world of Alice in Wonderland, with beautifully displayed and tasting food, based on a Sun, Ice, Fire, Sea, Earth and Dream (dessert) concept. It was a fun experience and worth the additional expense.

There may also be celebrity Chef restaurants such as Jaimie’s Italian, or fine dining experiences such as Munaro on Celebrity Cruises. A French style restaurant with a contemporary twist.

Most cruise lines will offer packages to enjoy their specialty dining options, however unless you are a foodie, you are likely to feel satisfied with the complimentary options available.

Drinks Packages

One question we often hear is “Drinks Packages. Are they worth it?”
The quick answer is no. Not really.

However if you can find a cruise fare with the addition of a drinks package it is a nice added extra.

The reason we don’t find drinks packages cost affective, is often they will have limitations on what you can use them for.

Most cruise lines will have complimentary tea, coffee, water and juices.

If you enjoy a glass of wine or two, or fancy making the most of your holiday with a few cocktails by the pool, you may be tempted by a drinks package.

We suggest before you commit, you weigh up how much you actually will drink whilst on holidays. As once you sign up you are committed for every day of your trip, no matter how much you use it.

With Drinks packages ranging from $50 – $80 per day, plus gratuities, you will need to be drinking consistently to get your value.

To give you a quick idea on average pricing:

• Beers on board are around $6,
• cocktails at $10 – $15
• wine $9 plus ( although most packages will cap the wine to a certain price level)
• Water $3
• Barista Coffee $4.50

If you had 1 coffee, 2 wines, 1 beer, a cocktail and a bottle of water every day, you would be spending $41.50 plus gratuities.

If you feel you may drink more then this consistently, then it may be worth getting a drinks package. Remember Drinks Packages cannot be shared among guests either.

What to pack

Another benefit of cruising is that you can bring extra luggage. Most cruise lines will not have a limit on luggage, however we recommend you only bring a suitcase or 2 max, as the storage in your cabin is limited.

Each cruise destination will require a different packing list, depending on the weather and what you intend to do on your shore excursions, however to get you started we have developed a basic packing list guide for you.

• Passport – Whilst this seems obvious, even when travelling domestically, bring your passport. You will need photo ID to cruise, and most cruises stop in foreign ports and you will be required to go through customs.
• Portable charger, power strip and/or converter. Most Cruiselines have limited US 110 outlets. Therefore you may want to pack a converter if from outside of the US and a power strip to charge any additional items such as your phone or tablet.
• Carry On – When you arrive to your cruise, you will drop your bags to a porter who will take the bags on board and deliver them to your room. This can take time, and therefore if you are keen to make the most of your holiday, we suggest packing your swimwear and anything else you may need for the first part of your trip.
• Formal Wear – Most cruises are casual during the day and smart casual for ladies and a collared shirt for men at night. For ships with formal nights, you may want to dress up. Ladies should bring a cocktail dress or nice pants suit, and men should pack a suit (tie optional). This is a fun excuse to dress up and some people will go all out. If this is not your thing, don’t worry, we have found on the cruises we have been on this is optional, however please check your cruise first.
• Swimmwear – Whilst a lot of cruises are in warm climates and swimwear seems an obvious iteam to pack, even if you are travelling in a cooler climate, most ships will have an indoor heated pool area and spa to relax.
• Comfortable Quick dry outfit – As you are likely to spend time by the pool, or go on a shore excursion that involves water, we recommend you bring something to cover up to venture into food venues or make your way back to the ship after a fun day out
• Variety Of Shoes – We recommend you bring some slip on shoes to wear by the pool and around the ship, but to also bring some comfortable walking shoes or runners, and at least one dressier option to wear to dinner.
• Outfits that don’t wrinkle easily – One thing you won’t find in your stateroom is an iron. Some ships offer a laundry with an iron, however for most you will need to pay for laundry service and this can be expensive. Therefore try to pack outfits that don’t wrinkle easily or will drop out with wrinkle spray or steam from the shower.
• A jacket or pashmina – Even if you are travelling ina warmer climate it can cool off in the evening with the ocean breeze so pack something warm to throw on if needed.
• Binoculars –  Hopefully you will have opportunities to see some sea life including Seals, Dolphins and whales, as well as some breathtaking  views.  We highly recommend you pack binoculars to make the most of the scenery.
• Gym Gear – Most cruise ships have incredible gyms on baord, and offer dance classes and other activities. If you enjoy staying fit, then cruise life offers many opportunities to work out.

Finally, we recommend you join your Cruise Critic Role Call before you cruise. The roll call will connect you with fellow cruisers, who will offer tips and advice on your destinations. It is also a nice way to get to know other people before cruising.