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Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips
Posted on 1/22/24 at 8:44 am
Posted on 1/22/24 at 8:44 am
Going on my first cruise with the family February 10-15. Stopping in Costa Maya and Cozumel. Any cruise pro's in here with some solid advice? Kids are 4 and 8.
This post was edited on 1/22/24 at 10:52 am
5
Posted on 1/22/24 at 10:53 am to BigTiny1973
Prepay your onboard tips.
Set aside $50-100 in cash for your room stewards. Pay the head steward on the last night of the trip; he or she will distribute to the team. Make friends with your head room steward and they will bend over backwards for you.
Have the same dining time? Put aside $50 for your head waiter. Tip on the last night. Anytime dining? Bring $10 for your head waiter and tip if the service is good.
Buy repatriation/intl health insurance with UHC Safe Trip. It’s usually pretty cheap.
Since it’s your first cruise, book excursions through RCCL so you’re guaranteed not to get left behind.
Pay for the evening kids club one night and take the Mrs. to an upscale specialty restaurant.
Treat yourself & the Mrs. to a spa treatment. It’s pricey, but top of the line.
Set aside a little money to gamble. Table games. Not slots. Payouts on slots are not regulated at sea. (You just might win. I won $500 and a 7 night cruise on my first trip.)
You won’t get to do everything on a 5 night trip. Don’t try to squeeze everything on the ship in. You’ll just end up feeling exhausted.
Don’t let long lines or other passengers ruin your good time. You’re on a floating resort headed to the Caribbean. There aren’t many better places to be.
Set aside $50-100 in cash for your room stewards. Pay the head steward on the last night of the trip; he or she will distribute to the team. Make friends with your head room steward and they will bend over backwards for you.
Have the same dining time? Put aside $50 for your head waiter. Tip on the last night. Anytime dining? Bring $10 for your head waiter and tip if the service is good.
Buy repatriation/intl health insurance with UHC Safe Trip. It’s usually pretty cheap.
Since it’s your first cruise, book excursions through RCCL so you’re guaranteed not to get left behind.
Pay for the evening kids club one night and take the Mrs. to an upscale specialty restaurant.
Treat yourself & the Mrs. to a spa treatment. It’s pricey, but top of the line.
Set aside a little money to gamble. Table games. Not slots. Payouts on slots are not regulated at sea. (You just might win. I won $500 and a 7 night cruise on my first trip.)
You won’t get to do everything on a 5 night trip. Don’t try to squeeze everything on the ship in. You’ll just end up feeling exhausted.
Don’t let long lines or other passengers ruin your good time. You’re on a floating resort headed to the Caribbean. There aren’t many better places to be.
This post was edited on 1/22/24 at 10:58 am
Posted on 1/22/24 at 11:06 am to BigTiny1973
Posted on 1/22/24 at 11:34 am to LSUfan4444
I did search before I posted and saw your reply to that thread. We will be on Voyager. Not sure how similar all the ships are. Trying to decide on drink packages for adults and kids and seeing if it is worth the money. Mrs's had surgery a while back so shes a 1 maybe 2 drinks type of gal now. Is it worth paying $800+ for the deluxe drink package especially with 2 days not even being on the ship for most of the day. Ever been on stops to costa maya/Cozumel on RC? Any excursion suggestions.
Posted on 1/22/24 at 1:08 pm to BigTiny1973
quote:
Stopping in Costa Maya and Cozumel.
If you are good at managing your time, use trip advisor/review sites and find your own excursions. You will save a frick ton of money and have much better excursion than if you book through the cruise. Only issue is if you don't manage your time or have issues and don't make it back on time, then the cruise won't wait for you.
To me it's always worth the risk because I get to have a private tour guide without massive groups you get in ship excursions which often time suck hard and you get a much better experience. Combing trip advisor for excursions and looking for legit reviews helps a lot.
If you don't want to manage your time or bad at it, just use RCCL excursions and deal with the masses.
Both of those ports have a ton of thoroughly reviewed excursions offered by RCCL and 3rd party vendors on youtube. Just type in the excursion you want and the port and you will find plenty of recommendations.
What excursions do you like?
quote:
I did search before I posted and saw your reply to that thread. We will be on Voyager. Not sure how similar all the ships are. Trying to decide on drink packages for adults and kids and seeing if it is worth the money. Mrs's had surgery a while back so shes a 1 maybe 2 drinks type of gal now. Is it worth paying $800+ for the deluxe drink package especially with 2 days not even being on the ship for most of the day. Ever been on stops to costa maya/Cozumel on RC? Any excursion suggestions.
RCCL makes their drink packages not really worth it unless every adult you are with can down a shite ton of drinks, talking like 10-12 drinks a day to break even. However, the first day you get on the ship, they will most likely offer half price single day drink packages. We usually take that time to buy the package for just the at sea days when we know we will come out on top. Other days we drink the drink special some and pay per drink because we both don't drink that much to come close to the ridiculous price of the drink package on RCCL. We also don't drink soda and can live off water, juice, and lemonade that are free. If you need soda, that might sway your opinion on the drink package too. There is other ways to get around drink package once you get more cruise rewards or if you work the casino and get on their free drink program. Casino rewards are different than the ship rewards, that's a whole other conversation.
This post was edited on 1/22/24 at 1:21 pm
Posted on 1/22/24 at 1:31 pm to Dam Guide
Playa Mia in Cozumel.
You can grab a taxi cheap. Watch your time. This would not be an RCCL excursion.
LINK
This just opened in Costa Maya. It’s close to the Port:
Maya Water Park
The kids will go nuts for a dolphin encounter. Should be a couple through RCCL.
You can grab a taxi cheap. Watch your time. This would not be an RCCL excursion.
LINK
This just opened in Costa Maya. It’s close to the Port:
Maya Water Park
The kids will go nuts for a dolphin encounter. Should be a couple through RCCL.
This post was edited on 1/22/24 at 1:35 pm
Posted on 1/23/24 at 6:08 am to BigTiny1973
quote:
Trying to decide on drink packages for adults and kids and seeing if it is worth the money. Mrs's had surgery a while back so shes a 1 maybe 2 drinks type of gal now. Is it worth paying $800+ for the deluxe drink package especially with 2 days not even being on the ship for most of the day.
It won't let you do it online but give them a call and tell them you want the drink package but due to a medical condition the wife doesnt want it. They'll offer you an exception, let you get the deluxe package and she'll have to get the refreshment package.
Each person (of age) can also bring on one bottle of wine or champagne.
quote:
Ever been on stops to costa maya/Cozumel on RC? Any excursion suggestions.
Cozumel for us is always a beach day. Our preference is Nachi Cocum. Great service not pushy, food is really good and very limited guests.
Posted on 1/23/24 at 12:19 pm to LSUfan4444
You should be able to bring on 1 12pk of soft drinks per room. One bottle of wine per adult.
RCCL Beverage Policy
Buy Yeti bottles or something similar and save $ on bottled water by filling up at the drink stations.
I’m doing Nachi Cocom myself this April, but I don’t have kids. Playa Mia will have more for them to do even though it’s quite a bit busier.
RCCL Beverage Policy
Buy Yeti bottles or something similar and save $ on bottled water by filling up at the drink stations.
I’m doing Nachi Cocom myself this April, but I don’t have kids. Playa Mia will have more for them to do even though it’s quite a bit busier.
This post was edited on 1/23/24 at 12:37 pm
Posted on 1/23/24 at 12:48 pm to bluestem75
Heading on our first cruise for Mardi Gras as well, on Royal Caribbean.
what is a head steward?
It's like $250 for an hour long massage. that is ridiculous.
The not getting left behind part is pretty important, but you can do the same exact excursions for half the price outside of RCL. 4 wheeler ride to Jade Caverns through RCL is $500. Through local companies it's $240, and you have to enter all of your cruise info when booking so they know when you have to be back.
I was wanting to do a 4 wheeler or dune buggy trip.
Is it easy to just get to the beach somewhere and snorkel?
do all of the boats of casino's? I don't recall seing any mention of one on our boat, Mariner of the Seas.
If i buy liquor in Cozumel, can i bring it back on the boat? I assume you can and they just keep it until the end of the cruise?
quote:
Set aside $50-100 in cash for your room stewards. Pay the head steward on the last night of the trip; he or she will distribute to the team. Make friends with your head room steward and they will bend over backwards for you.
what is a head steward?
quote:
Treat yourself & the Mrs. to a spa treatment. It’s pricey, but top of the line.
It's like $250 for an hour long massage. that is ridiculous.
quote:
Since it’s your first cruise, book excursions through RCCL so you’re guaranteed not to get left behind.
The not getting left behind part is pretty important, but you can do the same exact excursions for half the price outside of RCL. 4 wheeler ride to Jade Caverns through RCL is $500. Through local companies it's $240, and you have to enter all of your cruise info when booking so they know when you have to be back.
I was wanting to do a 4 wheeler or dune buggy trip.
Is it easy to just get to the beach somewhere and snorkel?
quote:
Set aside a little money to gamble. Table games. Not slots. Payouts on slots are not regulated at sea. (You just might win. I won $500 and a 7 night cruise on my first trip.)
do all of the boats of casino's? I don't recall seing any mention of one on our boat, Mariner of the Seas.
If i buy liquor in Cozumel, can i bring it back on the boat? I assume you can and they just keep it until the end of the cruise?
Posted on 1/23/24 at 2:30 pm to TeddyPadillac
quote:
what is a head steward?
Leads the team who cleans your cabin daily. S/he will introduce themselves to you on the first day of the cruise.
quote:
It's like $250 for an hour long massage
There are other cheaper treatments. I usually go for a shave or facial. They also will discount services at various times on board or while the ship is in port. I don’t drink, either, so I look at that as my alcohol bill.
quote:
Is it easy to just get to the beach somewhere and snorkel?
Depends on the port. Some ports don’t have much to do nearby. Others can be sketchy which is why I book with the ship sometimes.
I booked all of my excursions through the ship my first time because I wasn’t sure what to expect.
quote:
do all of the boats of casino's? I don't recall seing any mention of one on our boat, Mariner of the Seas.
All RCCL ships have casinos. Most lines do. Those that don’t advertise as such and cater to cruisers who don’t like the casino atmosphere.
Look up a deck plan map or check out a ship tour video on YouTube.
quote:
If i buy liquor in Cozumel, can i bring it back on the boat? I assume you can and they just keep it until the end of the cruise
Yes. They’ll drop it off to your room the last night of the cruise or designate a place to pick it up.
Posted on 1/23/24 at 3:21 pm to TeddyPadillac
quote:
The not getting left behind part is pretty important, but you can do the same exact excursions for half the price outside of RCL. 4 wheeler ride to Jade Caverns through RCL is $500. Through local companies it's $240, and you have to enter all of your cruise info when booking so they know when you have to be back.
I was wanting to do a 4 wheeler or dune buggy trip.
Is it easy to just get to the beach somewhere and snorkel?
Yes, and that half price cost will also get you a smaller tour group that will be more personalized. Last time we were in Costa Maya, we booked a private tour guide to go to Chaccoban and get some food. They did all sorts of things like stop at the pineapple town, which has really damn good pineapple and mango. They had a cooler full of free beer and sodas the entire excursion. We planned all the stops based off of reviews we found on youtube and trip advisor and let the driver know where to go. It was great and half the price of what the RCCL excursion to just see the ruins was priced at.
quote:
Is it easy to just get to the beach somewhere and snorkel?
Theres all kinds of beach clubs you can go to that will have food and snorkeling. I'd stick to one of them in Cozumel. Nachi Cocum was mentioned above, but there are plenty to choose from with different offerings.
This post was edited on 1/23/24 at 4:58 pm
Posted on 1/23/24 at 9:10 pm to BigTiny1973
Last cruise I went on the wife and I opted not to get the drink package. We drank as much we wanted and came out ahead. I'll never get the drink package again. To me having the drink package makes you want to drink more. With young kids with you, you will probably drink less than you normally do.
My first cruise my kids were about 5 and 7, they really enjoyed the shows. Get to the theater early and they may like them as well.
My first cruise my kids were about 5 and 7, they really enjoyed the shows. Get to the theater early and they may like them as well.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 7:54 am to CHEDBALLZ
quote:
Last cruise I went on the wife and I opted not to get the drink package. We drank as much we wanted and came out ahead. I'll never get the drink package again. To me having the drink package makes you want to drink more. With young kids with you, you will probably drink less than you normally do.
That's really what i was thinking as well, and i told the wife we aren't 25 anymore. We aren't getting blasted every day with our 12 and 10 year old.
But i also figured drinks would be $10 a pop, and i was able to get the drink package for $750 for the two of us. Will i drink 10 beers a day? yes very easily throughout the entire day. the wife will drink 4-5 drinks as well. 15 drinks a day doesn't seem that crazy.
the cheap arse in me wanted to not get the drink package, and sneak on some tequila that i would just sip on all day over ice, and then the wife could buy whatever she wanted.
but the whole point of this floating golden corrall open bar is to eat and drink what you want and not have to worry about what it cost each time you do.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 9:18 am to TeddyPadillac
quote:
Will i drink 10 beers a day? yes very easily throughout the entire day. the wife will drink 4-5 drinks as well. 15 drinks a day doesn't seem that crazy.
If you keep an eye on the package, they will adjust the price and you can rebuy it and get the discounts that occassionally pop up for the package too.
My problem is I can't keep up with the drink package for the longer cruises because I just start to feel like shite by the end of the cruise. Plus once you start getting into some of the higher reward categories you get a certain amount of free drink vouchers per day that really make the drink package hard to keep up with to stay postive on the price.
I miss the 10 drink cards they use to sell pre covid too.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 9:53 am to TeddyPadillac
quote:
It's like $250 for an hour long massage. that is ridiculous.
Pro tip...on embarkation day around 3:30pm they will have a spa raffle; go to it.
Fill out your info on a few cards and drop it in a box for a chance to win. Even if you don't win they will offer everyone there a "manager special" and the price is way better than anything you're seeing now in yior cruise planner.
Its usually something like 60-75 minutes plus hot stones for $119.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 12:04 pm to BigTiny1973
Hire a driver instead of a Tour
1 you can go back to the ship when ready
2 you do not wait for bath room breaks
3 you do not have to wait for stragglers
4 stop when you want to see something and not if you are not interested
Posted on 1/26/24 at 1:19 pm to BigTiny1973
Voyager of the seas out of Galveston?
ETA: I read further down the thread for my question. Lets check knuckles at the swim up bar.
1st cruise with my family too. We booked the trip on the fury catamaran boat that takes you to a private beach with inflatables in the water for my 2 boys and a short offshore fishing trip in Costa Maya so they can hopefully catch something. Just planning to make the most of the trip. We got the drink package as well
ETA: I read further down the thread for my question. Lets check knuckles at the swim up bar.
1st cruise with my family too. We booked the trip on the fury catamaran boat that takes you to a private beach with inflatables in the water for my 2 boys and a short offshore fishing trip in Costa Maya so they can hopefully catch something. Just planning to make the most of the trip. We got the drink package as well
This post was edited on 1/26/24 at 1:34 pm
Posted on 1/26/24 at 2:06 pm to sonoma8
quote:
We booked the trip on the fury catamaran boat that takes you to a private beach with inflatables in the water for my 2 boys
You might want to look this up on youtube and re evaluate this for another beach club with good food and better snorkeling. Unless you want burgers instead of local food.
This post was edited on 1/26/24 at 2:07 pm
Posted on 1/27/24 at 4:10 pm to Dam Guide
Going out of Galveston as well for Mardi Gras because my boys had so much fun last year on our first one. 1st thing I did when I got on the ship was go to concierge and let them know we will be tipping as we go which eliminates them just charging you every time. I am also skipping the drink package and just pay as I go for drinks because my wife is not a big drinker. Also bringing 2 bottles of wine is a must! We went to the ruins last time in costa maya which was great but the majority of the time is driving 2+ hours in a bus. This time a cab and a beach joint Costa Maya Beach and then in Cozumel where I have been hearing for the last couple of months "How fun it was!!" Paradise Park
Posted on 1/28/24 at 8:14 am to bluestem75
quote:
You’re on a floating resort headed to the Caribbean. There aren’t many better places to be.
A 42 foot catamaran with 6-8 people headed to the another Caribbean island after spending all day on an island. That’s a better place to be.
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