Networking - Personally Recommended

A few years back, when were first thinking about going cruising, I had to research sea sickness tablets for my partner. I stumbled across a cruise blog called the Cruise Note Book. Anyway I ended emailing some questions to Mike up in Canada and he got back to me with info about Bonine. Which was really great advice as it allowed my partner to go cruising for the first time, and since then we've become fully certified cruise crazies.

Last Nov (2011) we signed up for a Trans-Atlantic on Celebrity Eclipse. And guess who popped up on the Cruise Critic Roll call, none other than Mike and his partner. Cruising is like that, you make life long friends and often with out planning you eventually end up on the same ship.

Here is link to Mike's record of that cruise. Great pictures of Celebrity Eclipse (My fav ship to date). His blog is chock-ablock full of beautiful photographs and tips for cruises new or old.

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Also on that same same cruise was Monica and her husband from Maryland USA. We hit it off straight away on the Cruise Critic group and when we met onboard it was like we were old friends. Monica is a busy little bee and has some great blogs and websites.

From a her travel journal, Travels with Monica, to a cruise specific website (above). Monica also takes amazing photographs which are a wealth of information when choosing a cruise.

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If you have your own cruise or travel related blog, journal or website, or you know some one does, please share the details below.

Or if you want to start you own let us know, we'll help get you started.

Activities on board

Every line and every cruise ship is different.

The other variables are the itinerary, the weather and the crew.

But no matter what or where you cruise there will be a wealth of activities on board to keep you engised or relaxed, however the mood takes you.

From zoomba classes, to art auctions, pool games, and enrichment options like educational lectures there is always something to do. And all of it is detailed in a daily newsletter you will have placed in your cabin every night. These not only details all the actives, they highlight key points of the cruise, future ports, entertainment and special cocktails of the day.

Tipping

One of the contentious and confusing aspects of life at sea, especially to Australians.

NB Tipping is not a broadly accepted part of life in Australia, at least not to the same degree that it is in the USA or Europe. And when we do tip it is general spare change instead of 10-15%. As international cruise ships started to be based here this caused major problems to the entire financial model enable cruise lines to remain viable and staff able to survive. Most cruise lines now have raised prices for Australian based cruises that include a premium to allow companies to pay staff the tips they are used to, and rely on, in other parts of the world. Therefore the comments below relate to tipping as it operates on ships cruising in other regions apart from Australia.

This is one of the few costs that are not 'all inclusive' in your fare. It was always been thus. Cruise employees generally come from third world countries, work extremely long hours and get a very low, unsustainable base pay. Staff simply would not be able to survive without tipping to supplement their meagre wages.

Like it or loath it, baring absolutely appalling service there really isn't an option not to pay, because it is such an entrenched part of cruising.

NB This chart is not in $AUD. Useful as an overview only

Recommended tipping rates are published by all major cruise lines and naturally they vary, but plan one approximately $10-12 per person in your cabin, per day.

On the last night of the cruise envelopes are provided for you to add cash so that you can personally hand them to each of the staff concerned.

Cash can be problematic and hard to obtain as ships generally operate as a cashless society at sea. By ticking a box on your ship board account the cruise line will charge the tips to your credit card and then provide vouchers to be placed in each envelope which you then hand to staff. These act much like cheques that staff redeem.

This system has been entrenched as a part of cruising since the days of the Titanic and it all worked swimmingly when everyone had a set dining time and was served by the same wait staff every night. With the advent of freestyle dining where people sit at different tables every night the cruise lines needed someone to ensure staff still received tips - as the whole system of the companies paying minimum wages would have collapsed.

And this is why you want to enjoy Freestyle dining you must select this prior to the cruise commencing and pay your tips up front.

Recommendations as of May 2012 - In USD.

Celebrity:

Tipping Guidelines Added to onboard account. Cabin Steward, $3.50 per person/day ($4.00 for Concierge/Aqua class). Butler (Suites only), $3.50 per person/day. Waiter, $3.65 per person/day. Asst. Waiter, $2.10 per person/day. Maitre'd, $1.00 per person/day. Other personnel, $1.25 per person/day. Total, $11.50 ($12.00 for Concierge/Aqua class, $15.00 for Suites) per person/day.

Royal Caribbean:

Tipping Guidelines Waiter, $3.75 per person/day. Asst. waiter, $2.15 per person/day. Maitre'D, $.75 per person/day. Housekeeping staff, $5 ($7.25 for suites) per person/day. Total, $11.65 ($13.90 for Suites) per person/day. 15% tip included on beverage orders.

Princess:

Tipping Guidelines $11.50 - $12.00 per guest, per day (depending on stateroom category) automatically charged to onboard account (amount can be adjusted according to quality of service received). 15% tip included on beverage orders

More info re tipping at Cruise Critic

Formal dinners

Formal dinners are a traditional part of life at sea. On a short cruise expect one, a ten day cruise two, and two weeks or longer there will be three or more.

Some cruise lines like Cunard and Seabourn take this all very seriously and have strict dress codes.

Celebrity is not quite as strict and other lines like P&O because of the market they are chasing would have trouble enforcing even just long pants!

Call me old fashioned but I like the sense of occasion that comes with pulling out the old Tux. Ships where this tradition is still up held by the majority take on a real sense of occasion and there is an incredible vibe that permeates the entire ship. It is quite infectious.

However if black tie is not for you, there is no obligation what so ever to dress up, and those that don't can always head up to buffet or other speciality restaurants.

Sticky Vicky TIP: For our last big cruise we ordered Tux's online, they were tailor made to our measurements and delivered for about $100 each. When I find it I'll add a link here.

Alcohol

All drinks served on board are at duty free prices. Which are generally cheaper than what we are used to paying on land.

Martini Bar - Celebrity

Mixed drinks range from $5 up. Cocktails from $7/9 up.

Wine can be purchased by the glass - normally $7+ or by the bottle from about $25.

This of course depends on the cruise line and where the ship is based. Ships that are based here for a season will have all prices in Aussie Dollars. 15% is generally automatically added to each bill for service.

Some cruise lines allow you to bring one bottle of wine on during boarding. This can be drunk in your room or there is normally a corkage charge if you take it to the dining room. Once underway most lines will confiscate bottles you bring on board at mid cruise ports. They will return this at the end of the cruise.
   

Royal Caribbean - Bar Menu

Sticky Vicky TIP: Look out for daily happy hours at various bars and cocktails of the day specials. Once you start using cruise Critic you will see a lot of references to Rum Runners and when you research what they are, we can not obviously condone their use, nor do we.  I won't put a link on here but naturally the related website can be found by doing a simple google search. I mention it only because it is a controversial issue that arrises on virtually every cruise critic roll call. Again one of those things only seasons cruises know about.

     

Food on board

Anyone who has cruised in recent years will attest to the fact that food is one of the joys of ship board life.

Celebrity Eclipse - Main Dining Room

Traditionally ships always had a main dining room, generally with two sittings, 6pm - 8pm where you had to sit on the same table with the same people. Sounds horrible but many many people think that is one of the joys of cruising and this is one granted way to make life time friends. You can normally choose a small or large table.

Now days most cruise lines have introduced some form of freestyle dining where you rock up when ever you want to. Just like a traditional restaurant. The service in the dining room is almost without exception first class, true silver service with crisp linen. You will have ahead waiter, an assistant, a wine waiter and sometimes a cocktail waitress. The advantage of set seating is you get the same wait staff every night and they quickly get to know how you like your steak etc.

Princess Cruises - main dining room fare.

Good cruise lines will provide live music during most meals, which generally are long leisurely affairs of 3- 4 courses every night.

Dinner is normally relaxed and casual, meaning neat attire, no jeans etc. Depending on the length of the cruse and the line there will be one or more formal nights where black tie used to be mandatory. Now days especially within Australia that is not as common.

Vicky TIP: I never thought I'd enjoy the whole black tie thing, but it grows on you in this day and age we so rarely all get dolled up, that it makes a refreshing change.

The dining room will be open for breakfast and lunch, generally be free seating and you will be offered a menu exactly like a restaurant at home.

Grand Buffet - Celebrity

Every ship will also offer a buffet, normally on the upper decks. This will also be open for all meals and no reservations are necessary and it is free seating. Imagine an amazing buffet at a 5 star hotel and that is what to expect. The menu will also change daily. Additionally every ship will offer numerous other food outlets from 24 hour burger and pizza, to coffee shops with french pastries and even healthy option salad bars. These will all be included in the price you pay for your cabin.

Qsine - Celebrity

Central Park - Oasis of the Seas

Premium dining options. Most ships will offer one or more specialty restaurants ranging from pizza parlours, to steak houses, or even ones under the direction of celebrity chefs. These are additional to your cruise fare, and range from $3 up to $20 per meal. For example Royal Caribbean offer a Johnny Rockets hamburger diner. You can eat as much as you like off the menu for $3.95.

A typical Main Dining Room dinner menu - this one, Celebrity

Sticky Vicky TIP: If on your cruise you have selected Traditional Dining - One of the very first things you should do after boarding is head to the dining room to check your table to ensure it is the size you requested and the location, (e.g: you don't want to be by the galley). This is about the only time you will be able to change it. 

Cabins

If you haven't cruised before you will likely be pleasantly surprised with how well designed cabins on modern ships generally are.

Expect all the comforts of a plush 5 star hotel with a surprising amount of cupboard and drawer space. one of the best bits of cruise holiday is that you only unpack once, and then you slide that big old suitcase under the bed and it's not seen again until the last night.

The air-conditioning is normally excellent with individual control. And the beds on good ships are some of the most comfortable I have experienced.

Older ships tend to have have small rooms and consequently no room for a separate sofa from which to watch TV, or just relax. This makes a difference on longer cruises. Some ships have a curtain that separates this area from the bed, which is great is you and your travel companion have different sleep patterns.

Royal Caribbean

Sound proofing is again normally fantastic and it is rare to hear any other guests in the hallway or next door.

Occasionally some ships, generally older ones have issues of noise from decks above or below a particular cabin. This can happen if under the pool deck where deck chairs are repositioned at night, the runner track, galleys or even large show rooms. Again it's normally only a problem on older ships and you can save a lot of grief checking deck plans before selecting a cabin.

There are also websites that offer advice on cabin selection and those that have caused problems in the past.

Bathrooms are notorious small. That being said on new ships some of them are as glamourous and better designed than 5 star hotels.

Celebrity Eclipse - standard bathroom.

Bathrooms are one of the reasons I suggest you avoid older ships - while almost every other part of the ship can be updated bathrooms are one area that really can't be changed. Older ships will also have shower curtains instead of sleek glass doors, which make a huge difference in a small space.

Pacific Dawn - standard bathroom

Every cabin has a TV naturally, and on these you should be able to view movies free of charge, numerous cable channels and your account.

Sea Sickness

This can really be a deal breaker. I know because for years I couldn't go cruising, couldn't even consider because my partner gets very bad sea sickness. Like in a bath. 

Anyway when we eventually got around to thinking about a cruise I researched it on the web. (See story on Networking)

And that's how I discovered Bonine. It has changed our lives. Traditional sea sickness tablets had major side efforts like drowsiness and not being able to drink alcohol. (why would you bother?).

Anyway it's only one tablet a day. Doesn't make you sleepy and best of all you can drink. Actually better than that, it actually works. We have successfully sailed across the Pacific and the Atlantic several times, once through 6-8 mtr metre swells.

Oh and it's cheap too. Like $20 for 18 tablets.

Only problem for us Aussies is that it's not available here, only in the USA. But it's not prescription and numerous websites will ship to Australia.

Boarding Mainfest

If you are just about to go on a cruise, or have just come back, you can add your details and share information, questions or stories about the ship or the line.

So that we can pool our collective cruise knowledge please add details of a past or future cruise you have planned. Eventually I'll break these up by cruise line and ship, until then please use the following format. NB You can copy and paste this into the comment box.

Ship name:
Cruise Line:
Ship Class:
Cabin/Deck:
Date of cruise:
Your name:
QF or home Location:
Comments and questions:
How best to contact you - email - Facebook (Optional).

Vicky NOTE: Make sure you hit the subscribe button located below the comment box, this way you will be notified when someone adds information.

What cabin - inside or outside?

Many big time cruises will only ever cruise if they have a balcony cabin. Again this is a major change to cruise ship over the last 10 years. Traditionally there were very few cabin with balconies as most of the public rooms were up on the higher decks. Designers switched the focus as balconies could be sold at a premium and now the vast majority of cabins now have them. Libraries, bars, shops and other public areas now face inward.


This has meant that people have come to expect them.

Balcony Cabin - Celebrity Eclipse

Exactly the same size and lay out - an inside cabin.

I am in the minority here in that I prefer inside cabins. We've had both, and on a two week transatlantic we only sat on our balcony two or three times. And because of that we figure the money we save - (up to 50-75% less than a balcony), we can go on many more cruises.


But that is not the only reason. We find we sleep so much better in an inside cabin. especially on the open sea light is more intense being reflected off the water. And it always manages to creep through the curtains. Inside we sleep until we wake, blissfully oblivious to what time it is. That to us is sheer luxury.

Which cruise ship to choose?

Again, like cruise lines, not all cruise ships are the same.

For my money, (which I'm loath to part with), I prefer new, big ships.

Why? Cruise ship have changed incredibly over the last ten years. The new ones have been refined to such a degree that a ship of 10-15 years old can seem like there is a 20 year difference. 

Oasis of the Seas - Central Park

I'm not just talking about the absence of new sexy features like out door movie screens, ice skating rinks and surf riders. It's much more basic than that. Ten year old ships have narrow corridors, low ceilings, cramped bars, theatres, buffets and main reception areas. They generally have smaller cabins, atrociously small bathrooms, no all-weather pools and perhaps worst of all slow lifts. 

Cruise ships date very quickly. And when you add in all of the wear and tear they experience in their 27/7, back to back schedules, along with the corrosive effects of salt air, they really should have a 'complete' refurbishment every 3-5 years. (Not just a comestic one).

Rhapsody of the Seas main dining room

Note the word 'complete' - some ships of 15 years if carefully maintained and refurbished every 5 or so years can still offer a beautiful cruising experience. Rhapsody of the Seas is a perfect example. Royal Caribbean don't just change the carpet, they are constantly adding new concepts and restaurants. Rhapsody has good bones and works well.

Dawn Princess main dining room

Princess, at least here in Australia seems to have taken short cuts, replacing carpets and furnishings, but with reproductions of the original designs from 15 years ago. And unlike Rhapsody, the Princess ships do not have good bones, and suffer from poorly designed public areas.

Size. I used to think that a big ship would be hideous. Far too many people. Crowding. But surprisingly having been on a ship with 4,500 people it never felt crowded.

The reason I personally recommend bigger ships for first time cruisers is that they offer so many more options, not just in terms of activities and dining, but loads of different passive areas such as by the numerous pools, initimate bars and open decks.

Small ships have a place and the super elite 6 star ships from all reports are simply sublime, however if you are new to cruising, I'd personally recommend you try a larger one. But that's just me.