Cruise tips: before and during your trip
I’ve been on 3 cruises (went on 1 when I was five so I don’t really count that). All of them on Royal Caribbean and all of them with one of my best friends and her family (I've adopted myself into their family now lol). We’ve gone on 2 Caribbean cruises and 1 Mediterranean cruise since 2011. I’m not claiming to be a cruise expert, but they certainly are. Here are my top tips to have the best cruise.
This was my first cruise. They told me to put my hand in the dolphin’s mouth and I freaked out. I was in a bad mood the rest of the excursion lol
BEFORE YOUR TRIP:
My adopted fam on our latest cruise
Download the cruise’s app - If you don’t get the internet package, the app now allows you to message people on the cruise. This is a great way to keep in touch with your party or your “cruise crew.” This app also has all of the show times, your dinner times and/or reservations, any activities onboard, etc. It is a great resource. Just download it ahead of time.
Keep an eye on the prices - even after you’ve put down your deposit or fully paid, prices fluctuate. Cruise lines often honor price drops and will either give you money back or onboard credit. So even if you’ve already paid for your trip, keep checking regularly and if you notice a dip, call them and ask them to honor it.
ON-BOARD:
Make friends - I always make a group of friends on cruises and that’s my crew the entire trip. The last 2 cruises I went on, we all followed each other on social media and we keep in touch. Make friends, make plans to hang out on the boat (dinner, drinks, dance parties, casino, whatever!) and it’ll make your trip so much more enjoyable!
Go to the shows - I’m not really a big theater person, but these ships have some INCREDIBLE shows and not all of them are theater! The Love and Marriage show is always so funny. Royal Caribbean had a water acrobat show on the Harmony of the Seas that was incredible and very trippy. Enjoy these shows and book your time slot ahead of time!
Enjoy the solarium - the solarium is adults only and is so much more relaxing. No kids running around, your own bar and pool, and usually the chairs are still available.
Do some excursions - If they offer a catamaran in any port, that is always the best. Some people will book excursions on their own, but honestly the price is worth it to book it through the cruise line. They will make sure you get back to the boat on time and that your experience is worth it. Most of the boat rides (catamaran, sailboat, etc) also include alcohol, so it’s a win/win!
Naps on the catamaran
Do you have any cruise tips? If so, drop them in the comments below!