Getting the Most Out of Your Cruise

I’ve never been a fan of big cruises because I always wish I was spending time at my destination rather than out at sea. They don’t allow for much independent travel, apart from excursions. But my most recent trip may have changed my mind, as everyone books a cruise vacation for different reasons.

Some people love a good bargain and find cruises to be insanely cheap, which they typically are. For example, I recently saw a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas for $169 all-inclusive for an inside cabin for three nights. You can’t go hardly anywhere for that cheap. Others want to indulge in all day buffets or drink themselves silly. And some just want to be entertained.

So first, you have to ask yourself, what do I want to get out of my cruise?

Food

Most cruises are all-inclusive for meals, meaning you can choose from a few dining options during the day and are usually assigned to a dining room, time and table for dinner. Breakfast runs from 6:30 am until noon, but lunch runs almost straight into dinner.

On most ships, no one is checking your card every time you go through the buffet line, so you could reasonably be eating all day. My ship also had a pizza parlor open 24 hours per day. Dinner usually has a few menu options, so I chose things I wouldn’t necessarily order in a restaurant since it was already paid for.

You can also order multiple appetizers with your entree and dessert, as it’s covered. There are a few dining options that cost more, but you will hear about them once you’ve boarded.

Booze

For some people, cruising is all about boozing. And it just so happens that there are plenty of ways to get free drinks, as I found out on my cruise. The first night was ladies night, which was offering a free glass of champagne to females, plus $1 off Skyy vodka drinks.

There was also a free liquor tasting in duty free, but there was a long line and you only got a small half shot worth. The art auction, which occurred twice during the four day cruise, offered a free glass of champagne to those who attended. Gamblers are given free drinks in the casino after spending a certain amount of money and returning Carnival guests received a voucher for a free drink.

I found that splitting a pitcher of beer with my sister turned out to be a better deal than the cocktails, as the pitcher was $17 and served us each 2 drinks, while the cocktails start at $8, but are typically in the $10-12 range. And if drinking is your MO, Carnival offers the Cheers program, which costs $50 per day for all you can drink. You need to drink around 5 cocktails per day for this to be worthwhile.

Relaxation

My objective for the weekend was to relax, unwind and disconnect. I didn’t bring my laptop and my phone didn’t work onboard without spending roaming fees and it was my first “real” vacation in years. I spent the afternoon reading my Kindle on the sun deck, but you can also enjoy spa treatments, which cost extra, or check out the on-board gym.

They have some free classes as well as those for a fee. The ship also had a walking track, but it took 11 laps to equal one mile. The Serenity Deck was the most relaxing spot on the boat, as children aren’t allowed and the chairs are more comfortable.

Entertainment

The on-board entertainment is nearly constant on a cruise, whether it be awkward contests and events on the Lido Deck to karaoke to bingo. There’s also a dance club, live shows, trivia and a comedy club with family-friendly and adults only shows.

We didn’t take advantage of hardly any of these activities because I was entertained enough by the books I was reading. There’s also a library where you can borrow books and board games. If you’re traveling with children, there are also clubs they can join, which will keep them busy throughout most of the day.

Gambling

I’m not much of a gambler, particularly because I hate to waste money that could be spent on travel, but we put a few dollars into the slots one night. Some people spend their entire vacation in the casino and some are lucky enough to win back the cost of the cruise.

There are lots of slots and video poker games in the casino, as well as Texas Hold Em. You may not consider it gambling, but there’s an entry fee to the bingo tournament, which has an ever-increasing jackpot. And as I said before, gamblers get free drinks.

Excursions

My favorite part of every cruise is the part where you get off the boat. We only had one stop on this short cruise, which was Cozumel, Mexico. There’s plenty to do on the island that I’ve visited twice, including drinking and tanning at the beach and shopping in town.

The cruise also offers recommended excursions, like the one I took through the cave in Playa del Carmen. If you don’t have much time to travel during the year, these excursions are your chance to fit your entire vacation time into a few days. Choose an excursion that will take up most of the day.

What tips do you have for getting the most out of your cruise vacation?