Not everything in the boat is free.
Here are 7 things I’ve learned on this first cruise trip;
- Not everything in the boat is free. Your accommodation (cabin) and food served at the buffet and designated restaurant are included in your cruise cost. However, the rest are extra such as – liquor or soft drinks, excursions, food at the specialty restaurants and bar, photo taken at gala night, and internet connection. Your extra cost could easily run to hundreds if you are not keeping tabs on your expenses on the boat. I saw one passenger during our check-out time with 3 pages of transactions.
- There are nice free stuff in the boat (included in your cruise fare) . The buffet restaurant serves various kinds of food. And they are open almost 24 hours. The daily evening shows are free. It is not Broadway stuff but good enough to keep you in your seat for 45 minutes to an hour. There are several lounges in the ship that offers free live music and singing. Help yourself not to order a drink or two, that will cost you. Using the pool is free. You just have to find a good time so that it is not too crowded. When the ship docks, you are free to get out of the boat and experience the country where you are in. Most ports have free shuttle service from the boat to the port gate where a local transit or taxi is available. Other ports (like in Naples, Italy) have a galleria/shopping mall right next to where the ship docks.
- Study the layout of the boat. Find the best way to get from your cabin to the buffet restaurant and/or the meeting place during emergency procedure. The stairwell might be just a few doors down from your cabin. There are elevators everywhere in the ship. By the way, on the afternoon you embark, the ship crew will provide an safety orientation session.
- Keep your documents safe in the boat when you plan to get off the boat on your Port of Call. Cruise lines are very good in making sure that you are accounted for when you embark and disembark the boat. Your cruise card is scanned when you get off the boat and when you get in the boat. A safe is provided in all of the cabins. Use it to store your valuables.
- Although food is served at the buffet restaurant almost 24 hours a day, take note of the meal times. If you get there early, you might end up with food you don’t plan to eat. If you get there late, you might not have enough good selection of food. Wasting food is not good, so be mindful of what you put in your plate. Water and coffee or tea (and juice drink for breakfast) are the only drinks for free, it will cost you to drink the others.
- Excursions bought from the ship are nice because you don’t have to worry about the details of your trip. They are slightly more expensive. However, if you have time to research, try on-your-own excursion. Example: when we docked in Barcelona, a free shuttle from the ship brought us to the World Trade Centre bus stop. From that place, a local transit is available and the Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) operates. It cost 27 euro for about 4 hour trip on the HOHO around the city. You can also walk from the World Trade Center to La Rambla, a major marketplace in the city. Keep an eye of special priced excursions offered in the ship. During our cruise orientation session, the host/coordinator said that there will be a special excursion to Milan Expo. The cost of the excursion is the admission ticket to the Expo – 34 euros, bus transportation is free! That day was exhausting. The bus ride to Milan was 3 hours (one-way). The ride was worth it. We get to see the country side near Tuscani.
- Enjoy your cruise. The reason you took this cruise is to get away from the busy life you have. Read a book on the upper deck. There is decent library on-board the ship. Sleep longer in your cabin. Plan to eat dinner at the formal dining restaurant assigned to you, you might meet new friends. What I enjoyed in this trip was the destination. This is key to a long cruise trip, you either love the destinations or enjoy the facilities in the ship. In our case, both. We missed the opportunity to see the Tower of Pisa. I think it would have been as exciting as going to Milan.
Would I want to take a cruise trip again? Yes. I’d prefer taking a cruise than a vacation in a resort.