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Dallas
On April 10th I'm going on a 7 Day Western Caribbean cruise leaving from Galveston, TX and going to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and Cozumel, Mexico.
What are some major needs for a cruise like this? I've never been on a cruise so this is just something new to me and I don't want to end up forgetting something I'll need.
Answer
I cruise 3 or 4 times a year and so here are some things I do to get ready:
1. Make sure that you have completed the required cruise pre-registration information so that you are not delayed when you get to the port. Plan to get to the port a minimum of 90 minutes before the scheduled departure time; that's pretty much a requirement so that the ship can send a complete passenger manifest to Homeland Security 60 minutes before departure. Boarding generally starts between 11:30 AM and noon.
2. Make sure that you have a passport or the documents required to cruise including your original or certified copy of your birth certificates and a photo ID.
3. Make sure that you have all of the cash you want to take (typically about $300 to 400 for a 7 day cruise) . You will not need an local currency anywhere in the Caribbean and Mexico.
4. Make sure that you have planned carefully your arrival day and time at the cruise departure port; i.e., plan to travel there a day early for both US and overseas cruises. You don't want to miss your cruise because of a flight delay or cancellation.
5. Pack for the various activities of the cruise including exercise wear, swim wear, formal wear, casual clothes for the daytime and sports/resort casual clothes for after 6:00 PM. After you pack look at what you have and try to eliminate as much as you can; think mix and match tops and bottoms and plan to wear each piece twice; or do laundry on ship (or use the laundry service); only a couple cruise lines have self service laundry but they will all do it for a fee.
6. Pack shoes for the various activities like beach shoes, sandals and/or flip flops, sneakers and good walking shoes, and shoes to wear sports casual and formal.
7. Make sure that you have any prescription medicines for the entire trip plus a week. Your cabin will have towels and soap provided, including pool and beach towels, and a hair dryer. It will also have a generic hair shampoo so you do not need to bring that unless you like a specific brand.
8. Pack clothes using those vacuum travel bags (cost about $20 for 3 at Target) so that I can get more in my bag and also so that if the airport security folks (TSA) opens my bag they can see stuff without rummaging through my things.
9. Prepare a carry-on bag: including some 16 oz bottles soft drinks and water (get this after finishing any air travel); MP3 player and its charger and headphones, camera and its charger or extra batteries, a couple books to read; a security pouch to hold my money and credit cards and passport and ID while traveling and/or off the ship; a large insulated cup with a seal able lid; and if flying a few snacks like nuts and crackers.
10. Plan carefully what you want to wear when you board the ship because the ship's photographer will take a boarding photo which you may want to purchase and you will be in those clothes all day and evening. Your luggage may not get to your cabin until about 5-6:00 PM
Other tips:
-Take a small carry-on bag for the last night of the cruise. On the last evening you will be required to put your luggage outside your cabin by about 2:00 AM so that they can start taking it down to the lower deck for offloading the next morning. So you will need a small bag for your toiletries and your clothes that you sleep in.
- If you are taking your cell phone, MP3 player or other item that needs to be plugged in take an extension cord as the plugs in the cabin are generally not in the best places and there are usually only one.
-If you plan to get into the pools or hot tub as soon as you get on ship (they will be open), bring those clothes in your carry on bag; you other luggage may not get to your cabin until much later in the afternoon.
-The cruise lines will offer a lot of interesting tours but they will be expensive. You DO NOT have to buy tours to get off the ship in port stops. You can go off on your own and many times in Caribbean and Bahamas ports you can find cheaper tours on the pier. Do a Google search of each port to see what activities are there that you may want to participate in. Then decide whether you want a ship's tour or to go on your own.
-Cruise lines will take lots of photos of you boarding the ship, getting off in ports, at dinner, on formal nights, around the ship and these are expensive. So take your camera with you all the time and ask others to take photos of you.
What are some things you should bring on your cruise?
LifeLoveLa
We are going on a Carnival cruise to the Caimen, Jamaican ,and other islands. Its my first time going on a cruise and I wanna know what to bring along!!!! Thanks in Advance! : )
Answer Your cabin will have two beds which can be made into a queen, a bathroom with a shower stall, a closet and some drawer space, a TV and telephone, a safe for valuables, and a life jacket for each passenger. They will furnish fresh bath towels a couple times a day and also provide towels for the pool, and you can sign to have towels to take to the beach if you want. They will provide soap and shampoo and a hair dryer. Some ships have a small refrigerator/mini-bar that you have to pay for drinks from. But you can always call for free room service if you are hungry or thirsty.
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 donât 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 donât 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 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 shipâs 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. (we usually take off the formal stuff after dinner and pictures anyway).
Its best to pack using soft-sided luggage because with space limited in your cabin it fits under the beds better if its not hard sided luggage. Take a small carry-on bag for the last night of the cruise. On the last evening you will be required to put your luggage outside your cabin by about 2:00 AM so that they can start taking it down to the lower deck for offloading the next morning. So you will need a small bag for your toiletries and and your clothes that you sleep in.
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