Porters
Your “helpful” porter, who may do little more than watch you bring your bags to the curb, will harass you for tips. Ours kept mentioning that this was the last time we would see him and I thought, “Okay, it was nice to meet you,” but he kept saying it until my friend gave him a dollar.
Sneaking on/off alcohol
College students are cheap. Period. After paying over $500 for the cruise itself, we weren’t about to drink lots of $4-8 drinks with a 20% gratuity on each the entire time. We each brought a bottle of allowed champagne or wine. But we felt that we would need more.
We had heard from a friend that it was a good idea to put vodka in water bottles to mix with free juices instead of buying expensive drinks. This is definitely discouraged and probably not allowed, but we had to cut some corners.
Also, when coming back through customs, they didn’t check or tax our alcohol. Just let us through. Now this is probably not true at every Port Authority and it could have been the people working that day, but it seemed that one could get more home.
“Free” stuff
Go to free stuff, because almost nothing is free. There will be a Captain’s Reception that offers free alcohol on the second night at sea (also known as “formal” night). Another occurs on a later day for those who have been on one of the cruises before, as me and one of my friends were. Luckily, they let you bring guests. This has free drinks and appetizers.
Dining room vs. Buffet
The buffet will always be crowded with the people who are too lazy to put on a shirt with sleeves for the dining room. Yes, the buffet is good for soft serve ice cream and an afternoon snack, but otherwise, I always recommend the dining room.
The food is practically the same, but better (and as my sources have told me, the coffee is better). You also have many more options and you are already paying for it anyway. This is a rule of thumb for the dining room no matter what the meal: if you don’t like it, order something else. If you are still hungry, order something else. The cruise line makes preparations for the real all-you-can-eat people, but most are a one entree person. Get your money’s worth.
Shore Excursions
If you book with the cruise line, you will be charged too much. If you want snorkeling, scuba diving, shopping, whatever, you can find it on shore. You may prefer the peace of mind of having it pre booked, but plans change.
Ports of Call
Cruise lines choose these places because they are “tourist friendly,” but that doesn’t mean that they are completely safe. Just be aware of your surroundings.
Why cruises?
Below I will compare an “all inclusive” trip to Europe with a cruise
Cruises: (Carnival Inspiration, 5 days, from $409)
5 days room, unlimited 5 days food, 5 days transportation, 5 days entertainment, multiple destinations not included: soda, alcohol, excursions, casino, shopping]
not included: soda, alcohol, excursions, casino, shopping
Europe Trip: (Contiki London Explorer Trip, 5 days, from $609)
5 days hotel room, 4 breakfasts, bus transportation, 1 destination
not included: lunch, dinner, entertainment, airfare
Leave a Reply