Todd and I love cruising, but it will be a very different experience with a toddler. Especially with our neverstitstillhavetomoveandseeandtoucheverything toddler. We are even considering this:
Yup, that is a backpack leash. But better to get stared at than to be chasing my kid 30mph through the pool deck, right?
Ooh, I forgot to share. (I promise, this is relevant!) I have a new love... purchased with the last of my gift cards to buybuy,baby... we are now the proud owners of this amazingly light and easy stroller, that Ethan LOVES to sit and even lie down in!
Look at that sunshade! Look at the small size, but HUGE seat area! and the fold, oh how I love the fold! Check this out:
video of amazing fold!
This will also help keep E contained on the ship, or in Bermuda!
And finally, the next portion of this post is tips for cruising, compiled for my Mom and Aunt! :) I offer no guarantees, I merely collected and collated the information!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Basic Cruise info!
Packing 101
there is only one US - style outlet in most of the cabins, bring a power strip
a lighted alarm clock is a good \ A night light helps to find the way to the bathroom.
- take suction cup hooks--they will stick on the walls and the mirrors, I've used them for hanging wet suits, makeup/toiletry bags, inexpensive necklaces, and curling irons / blowdryers.
- Buy your water shoes at home. If you are doing water based excursions, you will need them.
- Pack shirts, pants, anything susceptible to wrinkles in dry cleaner bags. Or send a bag to the ship's laundry the first day. Prices are very reasonable
- Bring a sweater for nights in the dining room and theater. It gets very chilly.
- Got a $1 over-the-door shoe rack for the bathroom door. Great for putting all kinds of stuff in.
- Post-it notes. Great for leaving note to steward, others traveling with you, etc.
- Backpack for ports
- Notebook journal - you'll otherwise forget what you did day to day if you're like me!
- OFF bug spray - still itching from some beach days
- bubble wrap to wrap breakable goodies
- PLENTY of dollar bills in SMALL denominations. Tough to bargain down to a great deal - then hand them a large bill.
- Bring wire or other light hangers. NCL will provide some hangers -- and your steward can bring more, upon request, but you still might not find that enough.
- Some people bring highlighters for marking up the Freestyle Dailies.
- Pack an expandable, but lightweight, bag for carting stuff home at the end of the trip. You'll need it, no matter how much you plan to go through while on your cruise.
- Rooms have hair dryers -- the kind you'd find in most hotel rooms. If you have a hairstyle that demands precise blowout, or you have thick hair, you might want to bring your own.
- There are two types of evenings onboard: casual, and formal. Suggested guidelines for these nights are:
Casual: Sport shirts and slacks for men, sundresses or pants for women
Formal: Suits and ties or tuxedos for men, cocktail dresses for women
What to do when boarding!
When you arrive at the port, you will be directed to a porter, who will take your luggage. Be sure to have not the only the provided tags, but your own tags with your name, number and address. It is customary to tip the porters. You will then be directed to park, and then take a shuttle to the terminal.
At the terminal, an agent will check your cruise documents, and issue your sea pass. Your picture will be taken both for the sea pass card and for a souvenir you can purchase later. Hopefully after a very short wait, you will board!
- look at the art work, where there are ships, or fishes on the carpet, the head will be facing the front of the ship, it helps to give you a sense of direction.
Remember, you will be unable to go to your room immediately following boarding. However, the windjammer will be open at 12 for lunch
- go to the dining room and make sure you're ok with your seating assignment
- You should send any pressing you want done out for the formal on the second night (if that's when it is) on the first day
- Ask the steward to clear the fridge, that way you are not tempted to buy those overpriced items on a whim
You can get a deck of free playing cards at the Purser's desk.
Purser will also punch a hole in your room key / charge card to attach it to your lanyard or keyring
You want to be on the portside of the ship during sailaway so you can get a great view of Manhattan. Get your camera ready and be sure to take pictures of the Verrazano Bridge as you go under it
The Compass (daily memo of days activities, left in your cabin) on Day #1 will have the time and location (Studio B) for the Ice Show ticket distribution.
Know that when you board the ship, and you encounter a waiter with a tray of "Welcome Aboard" drinks...they are NOT "free
Food stuffs!
Included Food: All food in main dining room, all food in the windjammer café, all promenade café foods. Iced tea, coffee, tea and water are also included.
Foods with the extra fee: specialty restaurants (portofinos, Johnny Rockets) Soda (even seltzer) alcohol, bottled water, specialty coffees are not included. Tips are always included when you are charged for a specialty drink.
You can order fresh berries - raspberries, blueberries, strawberries -- with whipped cream every night for desert.
They also serve NY Strip Steak any night or every night. Another big hit is getting shrimp cocktail every night if you ask for it in advance.
There is a charge of $3.95 if you use room service between the hours of 12 midnight and 5AM. All other times are free, but tip your delivery person in cash!
The Jade Grill ( port side of Windjammer café) offers Asian entrees such as congee and miso soups, various curries and Chinese dishes and sushi that change daily.
Seating in the Island Grill area (of the windjammer) is more available than in the Windjammer.
The table servers come around to offer beverages (both free and extra cost)
Yet another food venue is the Café Promenade in the Royal Promenade on deck 5.
- Be sure and get the honey stung chicken for lunch off the buffet (it's only available embarkation day}
- The omelet station in the Windjammer will also make other kinds of eggs
- Don't miss the salad bar in the MDR at lunch time. It is awesome!
- If you eat dinner in the main dining room, do not be shy about ordering several appetizers or main dishes. Just put in the entire order when the waiter/waitress asks for your initial order. It is not easy for them to go back for more after each course is served.
- The waiters will bring you anything you want (even off menu) I got a bowl of fresh berries for dessert one night as I didn’t fancy the desserts on menu - also they will bring extra lobster on that night - just ask.
- If you like a lot of water or other beverage with your dinner, ask the assistant waiter to have several glasses at your plate every night.
- There will be a dinner menu posted outside the upper level entrances of the MDR
Lunch and breakfast is served in the lower levels of the Main Dining Room (MDR)
- Afternoon Snacks" in the Windjammer from 3-5p, had the BEST hot scones each day, they also had hot bread pudding, and all sorts of other goodies! All free, and never crowded!
- Grab a cookie or ham and cheese croissant before you crash at the Cafe.
- chili chorizo dip from room service is excellent Ask for extra chips though, weren't enough chips for the big bowl of dip they brought us
-if you order room service for breakfast, order whatever you want (i.e. it doesn't have to be just what is on the printed menu. Don't forget to tip the delivery man!
- When you're in any bar or lounge, you can ask for trail mix and you'll get a DELICIOUS jar of nuts, seeds, raisins and yogurt-covered things. Free
- If you have a soda card, go to one of the smaller bars and nicely ask for canned soda. If you get it, the next time you come, bring a $10 and tip the bartender. You now know where to get better soda.
- You can order the drink of the day without the souviner glass, and it brings the price down
You may order breakfast room service the night before by filling out a card and placing it on the outside door knob of your stateroom and you may select the time you wish it to be delivered. They will call you a few minutes before delivering.
This makes an excellent wake up call for port days if you have an excursion booked! Make sure you order the LARGE carafes of tea or coffee as the small ones are more like single servings
Juice is free during breakfast only so if you like juice you can order or bring back some to use in your cabin during the day.
they might still have soft serve Deck 11, chocolate/vanilla and strawberry ice milk
If you like coffee - take a coffee(travel) mug with you
If you drink water - bring a water bottle - the water in the buffets etc is good and you can carry the water around with you.
- The night before you head ashore, write-in "ice" as an order on your breakfast room service card, if you're ordering the meal for your room.. And it's handy to have ice for water bottles at the ready
There is freshly squeezed orange juice for about $3.00. The regular juice is free. Make sure you get the right one!!!!
Things to know!
- Make the VERY FIRST pix on your digital camera a paper with your name, cabin number, and phone number written out neatly on a piece of paper. If you lose it (and an honest person finds it), he will be able to return it to you
- Wear a different color shirt each day that you are in a port so it will be easy to figure out which photos belong to which port when you get home.
- Start each day with a picture of the elevator floor....they mark the day on the floor...great way to keep all of those pictures organized
Keep a pile of small bills for tips for room service close by as those guys fly in and out and will not wait for you to find money to tip them.
- Notify your credit card company or bank if using a debit card that you are going to be using your card out of the country. It could save you some headaches.
- Towels, You really do have to return them. You will be charged $20 for every one you don’t return
- The helipad is a great spot to go out onto. It is beautiful at night and great for star gazing
To access the heli-pad: Deck 4 encircles 2/3 of Explorer's exterior, but most passengers never bothered climbing the short flight of stairs
Those stairs pop you up onto Deck 5, and if you amble forward another couple hundred feet you'll reach a short flight of steps up to the helipad and all the way to the very front of the ship (pic 2). No, Celine Dion will not serenade you while you're there.
The only way to the outside from deck 5 (Royal Promenade) is all the way forward through the lounge. Otherwise you have to go out on deck 4, walk forward, up a flight of stairs, walk forward on the bow, and up another short set of stairs to the helipad.
The peek-a -boo bridge is forward on deck 11.
Ok, I loved all the cruise tips!
ReplyDelete