Tips for cruises

teapotty · by **teapotty** » Thu Mar 15, 2022 9:42 am

BW where are you sailing to/ from?

I was on Explorer of the Seas last year, it was fab. Recently did a 7 day Med cruise with MSC (Splendida)- I would highly recommend MSC for anyone sailing in the Med, seriously good value. We paid less than people would pay to stay in self catering apartments for a week and yet you get all the entertainment, food etc including- such good value. Now we went in Feb which is a little off peak but it was really fab.

It seems like RC is the only cruise company Irish people have heard of, there's very little advertising of cruises here.

Mrs2be2012 · by **Mrs2be2012** » Thu Mar 15, 2022 10:27 am

This topic is brilliant!!!!! So excited reading all the tips... I'm off on the Oasis in May for a week on the Western cruise.. SO SO excited.. have never been on a cruise before so all the tips are fantastic. So far, definitely go to Chops Grille, Don't bother with giovannis.. do the love/marriage thing and quest. have no idea what they are but they sound like fun... Love Karaoke so definitely will be doing some of that.. just will need a few drinks to get me started..

One question, skitchums, you said to prebook the shows before you go... where/how do you do that?? definitely wanna see hairspray!!

Any other tips/must sees etc much appreciated.. Any excursions that you guys thought that were great ??!

And actually another question.. what are aqua shoes??!?!

BlairWaldorf · by **BlairWaldorf** » Thu Mar 15, 2022 10:29 am

Teapotty, we're going from Rome... well they call it Rome but it's some other name beginning with a C. Stop off somewhere in Spain and France, Then Dover and finishes up in Amsterdam. Looking forward to it so much now... I need a break!

I was wondering how you got on with MSC in the end... we were almost going to go with them (ships looked fab) but the dates didn't suit in the end.... and if I'm honest, I know what to expect with RC!

teapotty · by **teapotty** » Thu Mar 15, 2022 10:50 am

BlairWaldorf wrote:Teapotty, we're going from Rome... well they call it Rome but it's some other name beginning with a C. Stop off somewhere in Spain and France, Then Dover and finishes up in Amsterdam. Looking forward to it so much now... I need a break!

I was wondering how you got on with MSC in the end... we were almost going to go with them (ships looked fab) but the dates didn't suit in the end.... and if I'm honest, I know what to expect with RC!

Oh yeah it's "Rome" Civitavecchia- we are going from there in Nov Rome to Miami with Celebrity! Yes I am a cruise addict :o0

That sounds really cool to end in Amsterdam, more interesting than just doing a loop and ending back where you started.

If I were to compare the RC (Explorer of the Seas) and MSC (Splendida) cruises these would be the differences but bear in mind the RC one went from New Jersey so it was ALL Americans and the MSC one was ALL Europeans so I'm sure that has a bearing on the shows, entertainment etc that they choose to do. Different cultures really! Here goes:

MSC Splendida much newer more modern ship with really classy decor. Explorer was a bit dated, especially the cabins. Our internal room on Splendida was far nicer than the balcony room we got on the Explorer.

MSC decor throughout the whole ship was just very classy.

Entertainment on RC was better- all those games like Quest etc, broadway style stage shows and the ice-skating show was AMAZING. MSC entertainment was much more understated, but again that could be a European versus American things. The Americans don't like anything done in halves, big loud bright and in your face entertainment. It was great on RC.

Language is a factor on European cruies. All annoucements were done in 5 languages which I was dreading. But MSC did very few annoucements, really only the safety stuff. So it wasn't annoying at all.

I thought cruising in Europe compared to the Carribbean was actually more interesting because the stops are all so different. A lot of the Carribbean islands are very similar but at least you always have the weather!

There was one thing that was fantastic on MSC compared to RC and it's that they really don't try to sell you extras, RC are annoying for that. You just have to ignore it but it's annoying. MSC was a very peaceful experience in comparison.

Anyway I would sail with either company again but if going with RC I'd make sure to go on one of their newer ships.

teapotty · by **teapotty** » Thu Mar 15, 2022 10:58 am

I just thought of a tip for anyone who has never cruised before. If you want to avail of something that needs to be booked like the speciality restaurants and especially the hair salon on formal nights, do that first thing as soon as you get on the ship. The hair salons always book out for the afternoon/ evening of the formal nights.

Also the spa treatments are cheaper when the ship is in port and usually get cheaper towards the end of the cruise- they'll do more special offers in the last few days. Same goes for shopping on the ship.

BlairWaldorf · by **BlairWaldorf** » Thu Mar 15, 2022 1:31 pm

It sounds like you had a blast on MSC teapotty. I did think the ships and cabins looked AMAZING on MSC when looking at them in the brochure. One thing I was concerned about was the languages but it's great to hear that wasn't a problem. My other concern was the food.... how was that on MSC? And I'm very jealous you're off on another one in later on in the year. You can be WOLs resident cruise reviewer!

And good tip about the spa and hairdressers. I think I fancy a bit of pampering on this cruise!

skitchums · by **skitchums** » Thu Mar 15, 2022 5:34 pm

Mrs2be2012 wrote:This topic is brilliant!!!!! So excited reading all the tips... I'm off on the Oasis in May for a week on the Western cruise.. SO SO excited.. have never been on a cruise before so all the tips are fantastic. So far, definitely go to Chops Grille, Don't bother with giovannis.. do the love/marriage thing and quest. have no idea what they are but they sound like fun... Love Karaoke so definitely will be doing some of that.. just will need a few drinks to get me started..

One question, skitchums, you said to prebook the shows before you go... where/how do you do that?? definitely wanna see hairspray!!

Any other tips/must sees etc much appreciated.. Any excursions that you guys thought that were great ??!

And actually another question.. what are aqua shoes??!?!

Lucky you Mrs2b2012, can I come?!

you can pre book shows and restaurants on the royal caribbean website once you've paid the balance and have a reservation number and I think you have to have checked in online which can be done any time up to 48 hours before the cruise date. If you scroll down to the bottom of the home page of the royal caribbean website there's an "AREADY BOOKED" section, you'll see all the options there. Deffo book Hairspray. its brilliant!
Book all the shows even if you don't go as they can get booked up.
Have you booked the My Time dining? It allows you to choose different times to eat each night. Book your times soon also as the best times can be taken up very fast. I know its difficult to decide what time you want to eat every day so far in advnace but once your on the ship you can always ask to change this.Your tips are pre paid with the my time dining so you dont have to worry about them after that.

ginger power · by **ginger power** » Sun May 13, 2022 8:00 pm

Asking a stupid question but is jeans allowed on crusie, OH wants to bring some, but i dont think it will look well, im all worked up about what to wear :o(

moobride · by **moobride** » Sun May 13, 2022 8:34 pm

Ginger Power wrote:Asking a stupid question but is jeans allowed on crusie, OH wants to bring some, but i dont think it will look well, im all worked up about what to wear

Course you can, it's only on the formal nights you're not supposed to wear them to the dining room, but there'll still be people that do!!

boutiquebride · by **boutiquebride** » Sun May 13, 2022 10:39 pm

Briliant thread. Thanks girls for all the tips. We are heading from New Jersey on Explorer of the seas next week. Teapotty any tips on how much spending money we will need on board? its a 9 night cruise.

cunninj48 · by **cunninj48** » Mon May 14, 2022 7:46 am

Bring your european and US electrical adapters there are sockets for both in the cabins on Royal Caribbean ships!

Littlebo · by **Littlebo** » Thu May 17, 2022 12:26 am

Ginger Power wrote:Asking a stupid question but is jeans allowed on crusie, OH wants to bring some, but i dont think it will look well, im all worked up about what to wear

Definitely, don't stress over dress. Everything goes and the americans as you know are very casual. You will see shorts, jeans of all sorts.

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