What is included in the price?

• Shipboard accommodations

• Ocean transportation

• Most meals

• Some beverages

• Most entertainment aboard the vessel

Additional costs: 
Airfare (we normally choose the group cruiseline airfare as it is less expensive once considering any transfers to and from the ship, they guarantee getting our luggage to us at the next port should our luggage ever be lost, and they hold the SHIP, or fly us to the ship or next port if our flights are delayed!) 

Purchases and alcohol on board

Should I worry about signing up for excursions now?  

We don't.  

We sign up while on board the ship.  The day before is usually plenty of time. 

We like to talk with others at dinner (we all sit in the same general area in the same dining room, at the same time each night).  We find out what others are doing, find out their tips and suggestions, and enjoy going on excursions with others.  

There are very informative explanations on one of the ship TV channels which play over, and over, and over in the convenience of your own room.  Some cruise lines even let you order the excursions ON your television. 

Should we do the excursions by the cruise line or independently?  

We've found out there is usually only a $5 if any difference, and it's worth it.  For three main reasons, it works out well: The convenience of booking on the the cruise ship, the convenience of the cruise line getting you to the excursion, and the guarantee the cruise line gives that the ship will not take off without you when on a cruise sanctioned excursion.  The only exception is if you want to just see the town and be with a few friends.  We have found it fun to jump in a cab at the port and make our own excursion.  We've been fortunate to have great drivers throughout the world, some of whom we actually keep in touch with!  We've always negotiated a price BEFORE getting in the cab so there are no surprises after the fact.  We either say where we want to go,  or for how long and agree to a price before we leave the port. Keep  in mind that air-conditioned cars are not the 'norm'.  We have paid more for the comfort of A/C.  

 

What to pack and what to wear?

To be covered:

(1) **  Summer Clothes? Really?  See pictures of last January Mexico cruise...

(2) **  How formal on Formal Night?

(3) **  Do you dress up for the "theme" night?

(4) **  What NOT to forget...

(5) **  What TO forget...

 

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/gata104/album?.dir=/8181&.src=ph&.tok=phjJVZCBlG9sRN.q

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be prepared for DAY ONE...

Day one can be a PAIN in the arse!  So just be prepared... the day will go:

 

(1) Limo (fun)

 

(2) The line at the port (kinda fun?)

 

(3) The Passport & Advanced Guest Registration to the registration desk (dull - unless, of course, one of us is illegal, which in that case could make for some great pictures!... but not likely - count on "dull")

 

(4) Room (can be 10 minutes of "fun" for couples, but count on dropping in exhaustion). 

 

(5)  At this point we can all go eat!  (fun)

 

(6) Announcement over the loud speaker:  "This is a drill.  Please put on your life jackets located in your stateroom and walk to your reporting station"  Think Titanic and you'll get the picture. 

 

Crowds trying to get to their appointed little boats attached to the side of the ship.  Yes, crowds, yes, everyone trying to use the elevators simultaneously, yes, crowded staircases and families yelling at each other in exhaustion... all of the above.  We've found bringing a camera helps lighten the atmosphere. 

 

There's hardly a better blackmail picture than a restrained friend trapped in one of these obnoxious orange straight-jackets called a "life jacket".   Take a camera!

 

THAT'S THE WORST PART.  THEN YOU'RE HOME FREE!  It's 100% FUN from the moment the bell sounds and the drill is over - FUN, FUN, FUN! 

How many students usually come to this? See a usual group of us below:

 

SHOPPING:(1) On Board - Duty Free

(2) Souvenirs at each port

(3) Daily use items from each port

(4) Massage and Facial Services

 

(1) On Board - Duty Free.  Duty Free on board has some nice deals - of course "Duty Free" means "tax free", but this only applies when out at sea.  In addition, the casinos are closed when at port.  The stores include Jewelry, Clothing, Logo Items, Perfumes, etc.  These shops are closed when we are in port. 

 

(2) On the Mexican Riviera we've found that each port has many of the same trinket things... but the last port is when there's a mad dash to get souvenirs for loved ones back home.  We find it just as easy to buy as we go as the last port will likely not have anything SUPER SPECTACULAR we couldn't have found (for probably a better price) at one of the earlier ports.  So, as a friend says, when you find it, buy it. 

 

(3) Daily use items from each port.  Not always easy to find a Target, Savon or comparable - it's better to just find what you need on board.  Any alcohol purchased at the Duty Free is not available for pick up until the last day when leaving the ship.  Most people who want to buy alcohol purchase it while at a port and find ways to confiscate it on board in Sparklettes or Soda bottles. (We've never tried this, of course, but that's what we've been told)

 

(4) Massage and Facial Services.  When taking advantage of these services we normally wait until a few days in when they might offer special discounts or additional free services.   The one draw-back we've encountered is it can feel like a "Tupperware Party for One Guest" when they start trying to sell you every product they've used on you before you leave.   If we've been polite to say 'no' they are too... not too many arm-wrestling knock-downs have occurred.  Again, if you anticipate one, please bring your camera - we want the pictures! 

 

We have found that the services range from a B to a C+ in terms of quality.  I always try to get all of my manicure, pedicure, waxing, etc. done before leaving.  Hope this helps!