Tips for cruises

skitchums · by **skitchums** » Sun Mar 11, 2022 10:54 pm

We're just back from our honeymoon cruise on the Oasis of the Seas, amazing!!
Have to say, there was heaps of families and children but I don't actually remember seeing any young babies..but for toddlers and older children there's so much entertainment and baby sitting services.
A few tips would be firstly get a balcony seaview room.
The Royal Caribbean do My time dining which allowed you to select different times to have dinner, alone or with other guests. Your tips are all pre paid too which is one less thing to worry about.
Pre book all the shows and entertainment in advance as they can get booked up. You don't have to go but at least you have the option.
Would love to be going again, will definitely book another one in the future, enjoy!

Littlebo · by **Littlebo** » Mon Mar 12, 2022 2:15 am

Ginger Power wrote:Another quick question, did ye use your credit card to pay or cash?? heard q's for cash can be quite long

You just give your Credit Card to them for a Swipe/authorisation and then off you go! No Queues for Cash top ups and no need for taking your Credit Card with you every where you go either.

You just charge whatever you want to your Credit Card and the night before they give you an express checkout bill etc to your room. We used to view our Bill on the Tv sometimes just to see what we were spending.

skitchums · by **skitchums** » Mon Mar 12, 2022 2:43 pm

Yeah we spent approx $900 for the week onboard and that included an excursion which came to $220 in total, plus we ended up buying aqua shoes as they were compulsory.
We also did 2 speciality resaurants but we had pre paid for them. Chops Grille on the Oasis was unreal food!
I can't wait to cruise again either, we were online looking up a heap of them the day after we got back :o0

...if only we had the funds now.... :duh:

Synergy · by **Synergy** » Mon Mar 12, 2022 5:28 pm

Yep as the others said, I think you put your details online when your doing the online check in/set sail pass. They swiped my card at the port and that was the end of it. We just used our seapass/cabin keys for paying for everything. We had cash for our excursions but didn't spend a lot. A few dollars for fridge magnets, a few drinks and some one dollar bills for tips. On the night before debarkation, they leave your statement on your door. You don't need to do anything else with your account unless you have any issues with it, you just walk off the ship with a heavy heart. I'm still sad after leaving the Oasis :weep

skitchums · by **skitchums** » Mon Mar 12, 2022 9:33 pm

Synergy wrote:Yep as the others said, I think you put your details online when your doing the online check in/set sail pass. They swiped my card at the port and that was the end of it. We just used our seapass/cabin keys for paying for everything. We had cash for our excursions but didn't spend a lot. A few dollars for fridge magnets, a few drinks and some one dollar bills for tips. On the night before debarkation, they leave your statement on your door. You don't need to do anything else with your account unless you have any issues with it, you just walk off the ship with a heavy heart. I'm still sad after leaving the Oasis

Synergy, what date were you on the Oasis?
We were on the Western cruise a few weeks ago, sailed from the 18th-25th feb!
I loved Haiti too, so relaxing and all beach, that's what we wanted.
We did an excursion I. Jamaica and it was very disorganised. I think we were just unlucky with the tour operator we got, she was all over the place! We did the dolphin touch and Dunn Falls.the bus driver was a maniac :eek

Also, the locals were very pushy and intimidating we found, didn't enjoy it as much.
We actually stayed on the ship for Mexico, we had no intention of shopping so we chilled out up in the solarium and just made the most of the ship while it was quiet.
We absolutely loved the ship. It was our first cruise so we had nothing to compare it to but we would definitely do a cruise again. I thought Amy the cruise director was great, the DH thought she was a pain in the arse :o0

Did ye go to the Quest or Love and Marraige gameshow? They were some craic.
Lobed Hairspray too, all the shows were great, so much entertainment.

Bride2be040812 · by **Bride2be040812** » Mon Mar 12, 2022 9:35 pm

We are doing an NCL cruise in the Med on the Epic. Anyone been on it? Honeymoon is in August...

Synergy · by **Synergy** » Tue Mar 13, 2022 6:44 pm

We went on Feb 4th-11th. I found Jamaica ok not brilliant for much the same reasons as yourself. We did the Irie Mon beach break. We had a great time but only because we had a laugh amongst ourselves. Did you see all of the marijuana growing at the side of the road? Was I imagining things?
We only got off the ship in Mexico to buy a few things from the duty free and we jumped straight back on. The solarium was only stunning but I was baking in there with all of that glass. Those love seat thingys were the business.
I thought Amy was only brilliant. I was mad about her, very entertaining and can think on her feet. The Love and Marraige gameshow was a scream. I nearly wet myself that night. We took part in the Quest and it was too funny. I fell running on to the ice like a loon and flashed my knickers. Bloody sore but laughed it off. I forgot to check the tv that night to see if they showed it Morto :-8

Our team got 2nd, how did ye get on?
We didn't see Hairspray, were too busy with the quizzes in Schooners :hic

I did see the aqua show, brilliant and the comedy show, so/so. I would sell my 1st born to go back on :o0

Hopefully we'll get on her again

mrsblacky · by **mrsblacky** » Tue Mar 13, 2022 8:23 pm

My sister is going on her honeymoon in October and is going on Freedom of the Seas for 7 nights so I went into her travel agent today to enquire about getting her a roon upgrade as a surprise present! The travel agent was looking on the website and said I could be looking at almost €1,000 for the three of them (they're bringing their daughter with them!) to go from inner cabin to an outside room with no balcony so I said no thanks, no chance at that price!!! She said she'd just ring to double check prices and when she rang the total upgrade price was €57.... WOW!!! The upgrade is booked!! They said there was a cancellation! So the tip is that if you were thinking you couldnt afford an upgrade, you should ring them and just see how much it would cost... You might get a bargain!!

skitchums · by **skitchums** » Tue Mar 13, 2022 10:28 pm

Synergy wrote:We went on Feb 4th-11th. I found Jamaica ok not brilliant for much the same reasons as yourself. We did the Irie Mon beach break. We had a great time but only because we had a laugh amongst ourselves. Did you see all of the marijuana growing at the side of the road? Was I imagining things?
We only got off the ship in Mexico to buy a few things from the duty free and we jumped straight back on. The solarium was only stunning but I was baking in there with all of that glass. Those love seat thingys were the business.
I thought Amy was only brilliant. I was mad about her, very entertaining and can think on her feet. The Love and Marraige gameshow was a scream. I nearly wet myself that night. We took part in the Quest and it was too funny. I fell running on to the ice like a loon and flashed my knickers. Bloody sore but laughed it off. I forgot to check the tv that night to see if they showed it Morto Our team got 2nd, how did ye get on?
We didn't see Hairspray, were too busy with the quizzes in Schooners I did see the aqua show, brilliant and the comedy show, so/so. I would sell my 1st born to go back on Hopefully we'll get on her again

Haha, gas about the Quest!
We were rubbish! Our team came 2nd last :-8

We didn't know what it was about really until it started.We were with another couple who brought us along, some laugh though.
The Love and Marriage was hilarious too!
I actually found the glass in the solarium protected you from getting burnt. We were smothered in sun block but I reckon there's some sort of uv protection in it, came back nearly as white as I was going :o0

Never saw the cannabis I. Jamaica but then our bus driver was going so fast it was difficult to see anything!!
We went into Schooners a few times too, Rick the piano guy, did ye have him? He looked like Bowie with a wig on!!
There were 2000 Brazilians on board the week we were on it, hardly no Irish, maybe 1 other family. Did ye do the My Time dining? That was really good, the food was great.Our waiter brought us out 2 main courses every night, the one we ordered and an extra dish to try! We went to Chops Grille the last night and Giovannis another night.Giovannis was only ok, we Preferred the main dining room.Chops was smashing food.
Seriously poisoned from food and drink coming home though.but would do it all again next week!

by **proud mamaof1** » Wed Mar 14, 2022 4:47 pm

Littlebo wrote:I went on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Jan 11 and it was fantastic. Go with the bigger fleet like the Liberty or Oasis of the Seas as much bigger and all the extras.

MY biggest TIp is to spend the little extra and get an outside view and definitely a Balcony. the interior ones are smaller and no natural light. The window looks out at the interior of the Ship and can be quite noisy. We met a couple whilst aboard and they showed us their room. The ship was full so they couldn't even change.

With the balcony obviously you get the sea as your backdrop and to sit out there and watch the beauty was amazing. Also great for coming into port and leaving.

Agree with littlobo. We did a caribbean cruise for our honeymoon in Jan 10. Would have thought about it again only I am scared after the cruise liner in Italy. How I went on one in the first place is beyond me. We enjoyed every min of it. We also took in NYC for a day/night to break it up prior to boarding in Puerto Rico.

All the best with the planning.

BlairWaldorf · by **BlairWaldorf** » Wed Mar 14, 2022 5:45 pm

skitchums wrote:Chops Grille on the Oasis was unreal food!

I'm still dreaming about this place. I can't wait for a nice juicy steak when I go back for another cruise in May.

Synergy · by **Synergy** » Wed Mar 14, 2022 5:58 pm

We couldn't get a table for the 6 of us at any of the speciality restaurants, they were all booked out! I loved the My Time too, it was so handy. Rick was a scream. I thought he was weird the first night but he grew on me after that. I thought he looked like Mick Jagger. He made a small fortune off drunken dh being fláthúil with his money. He's an awful eejit ha ha. Did ye do the karaoke? I thought that was really good. I liked that it was on the main promenade, it was much busier and nicer than the one on the Liberty.

What ship are you going on BlairW? I'm so jealous. We're booking a Med one as soon as they come out for July next year. I think we're going on the Voyager or the Navigator. My mam prefers the smaller ships. She's going on the Allure in Nov, I bet she'll come back adoring it.

skitchums · by **skitchums** » Wed Mar 14, 2022 11:47 pm

Ah there was 6 of ye? I was only saying its great for groups, would love to do it with a gang of friends or girlfriends, would have a ball!
Yeah, sorry Mick Jagger is more apt for Rick.I thought he looked like Jermaime from Flight Of the conchords but with blonde hair actually! :o0

We didn't go to the karaoke bar at all, forgot all about it, but then again there was only the 2 of us, if I was with a group we would have had the courage!
We ore booked the speciality restaurants online, but tbh with a group the main dining room ws ideal as the food was great in fairness.
I loved the towel animals every. iChat, was like a big child, couldn't wait to get back to see what was on the bed :o0

I'd say we'll book another one aswell, don't know about next year, maybe a European one but will be hard to go smaller, I think we'll be comparing it to the Oasis...want to go back!

ohsotired · by **ohsotired** » Thu Mar 15, 2022 8:24 am

We went on 7-night Med cruise last summer & it was fab! We spent about $800 for the week including our excursions - we did 2 organised and just went to port ourselves for the other 2 stops. We ate in the main restaurant every night - food was fab. Used buffet restaurant for lunch! On bringing a baby I am also pretty sure there is a minimum age and when bringing a child my friend who went before said look out for free child places offers because apparently there's not much difference in the price of a child and adult - although it's not something I looked into myself! We upgraded to outside cabin and it was definitely worth it! Enjoy!! Can't wait to go back again sometime (hopefully soon)!!!

BlairWaldorf · by **BlairWaldorf** » Thu Mar 15, 2022 9:18 am

Synergy, I think it is Brilliance of the Seas.... never been on it before. I've never been on the Freedom or Oasis class ships yet but would love to....

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