143 Comments

• 1. Barbara Lombardo  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:12 pm

  You will love cruising. I’d recommend the early dinner and just “look” at the midnight buffet. Take advantage of ordering breakfast delivered to your cabin, at least coffee, juice and tea. It’s such a luxury that we seldom get elsewhere. Wonderful way to relax and enjoy with no worries.

• 2. Gina  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:14 pm

  Please let me know how you make out I am a 1st timer as well and hope to be going on a cruise within the new year Disney. I think they are great and so many people love them a friend of mine goes 2 times year with her husband and family and loves it.
  Have a wonderful time !!! Thank you for having such a great website to shop on and Merry Christmas to all of you!!
  god bless!!

• 3. Robin BNY  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:19 pm

  Been on many cruises. If you’re prone to sea sickness, get the patch from your Dr. ahead of time. But I don’t have a problem and I get motion sickness easily. On days that you have to get off the ship early for an excursion, order room service early in your room for breakfast(it is usually free). You not only save valuable calories, you’ll be able to get a quick start out of lines to get off the ship. Also, if you think you’ll do laundry(there are always laundry rooms) pack a small baggy with some dry laundry detergent for a load or 2…beats paying 5 bucks a crack! Have fun and take lots of pics.

• 4. Shell  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:19 pm

  Enjoy! Take advantage of the activites the cruise line has for the kids, but schedule some down time for yourselves as well as the spa treatments! Merry Christmas!

• 5. Maria  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:23 pm

  I have only been on one cruise so far, and it was fabulous. We did the early dinner, but for the next cruise will do the late dinner. With the early dinner, if you went on any excursions, by the time you got back to the ship you barely have enough time to relax and get ready for dinner. Although with kids you may want to do the early dinner. There are plenty of activities for the kids to do on the ship as well. Have a great time!

• 6. Diana  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:23 pm

  You will love cruising! My husband and I went to Alaska in September with my dad and step-mom to celebrate their 15th anniversary, and we were all first time cruisers. Take time to “explore” the ship and realize that you won’t be able to participate in every activity offered. We were up walking the decks of the ship by 5:30 am, and then had breakfast around 7:00. Of course getting up so early made us sleepy by 9:00 p.m.! I was able to order lots of your Alaska scrapbooks items for my book, and so did my step-mom, who I got hooked on scrapping! Have a wonderful time on your trip. Merry Christmas to everyone.

• 7. kim  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:25 pm

  You will LOVE cruising and so will the kids. I took my sons for the first time when they were 9 and 10, we go every year now. BUT.. here is one thing I found out on my first cruise and I don’t know why, BUT IT WORKS.. If you feel light-headed, head ache and a little sick from sea sickness, try this.. Apple Juice and Wheat Crackers. Sounds wierd but works EVERYTIME!!
  ENJOY!!! Merry Christmas!

• 8. Alyssa  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:25 pm

  Wonderful timing! My family is crusing for the first time as well! I am so glad you will be having an abundance of cruise related scrapping stuff! We will sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line and will be going to Key West, Cozumel, and the Grand Cayman’s and be gone for a week. The only advice I have gotten from seasoned cruisers is to ask your doctor for patches to avoid sea sickness! Have a great time and thanks for the great scappin’ site!
  Alyssa

• 9. Pat Moore  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:27 pm

  I cruise a lot. Cruisecritic.com message boards have everything you need to know from detailed ship info to destinations to what to pack. I always take ginger tea & candied in case of motion sickness. If you’re a coffee drinker, go to the ship store asap & buy a large thermal cup–it will save you a lot of a.m. trips to the coffee pot! Room service is wonderful, but I learned last year you should tip them each day–they’re not included in the tips at the end of the cruise.FYI: I’ve found ships have good doc/hospital on board (expensive but worth it).

• 10. Judy aka scrapylady  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:28 pm

  Julie, I have been on 10 cruises and first piece of advice is go to the chat room and read the postings under “cruising”. We have been sharing tips for over a year . Main thing you need to take because you will not find a substitute onboard is storage for anything you are saving to scrap. You need at least 2 pieces of heavy 12×12 cardboard, a firm sided plastic container and a few larger (8 1/2×11) envelopes. You will get a daily ship newlsetter you really want to save. I go everyday to the pursers desk and ask for an extra copy so I can put a clean unused one away because you will use one a lot because it tells you everything going on that day.
  Ask your head waiter for copy of the menus for the “special” dinner nights. Ask for an extra luggage tag both going and returning and pick up as mant brochures as possible on any tours or siteseeing you do.
  Plan on how much film or digital capacity you think you need and take 1/2 again as much. And batteries.
  Every opportunity to have the ship photographers take your pictures, do it. You do not have to buy them later but I have had some of the best formal pictures taken aboard ship, not to mention a lot of casual shots I treasure. Most of our ship bill is pictures, they are that good at it.
  Usually later in the cruise they will offer a DVD of the cruise…unless you actually see them filming something you are participating in don’t bother unless you can see it on the ship TV first. They are often very generic and not even taken on your cruise.
  If you kids have a food item they cannot live without, take it. DO not expect to find what you need onboard or at any port of call.
  Get a multi pack of disposable cameras and let the kids each have one at ports of call and the last day to take shots of their favorite things onboard.
  Be sure you have any suntan lotion, toiletries you will need because they cost double onboard usually.
  If you plan to send postcards, pretype labels and take stamps, saves standing in line later on ship.
  If you have any specific questions let me know.
  Have a ball!
  Judy

• 11. Lisa in Las Vegas  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:28 pm

  My husband and I are cruisaholics! First advise, wear your tighter fitting clothes on the first nights of the cruise and the looser ones towards the end! Take in the nightly entertainment (cheesey as some of it is) We always try to do most of the activities they offer just because they are things we normally wouldn’t do otherwise. Pack a small bag to carry off the ship with you to put your pj’s and toiletries in from the last night. You will have to put your luggage out the night before you get off the ship. Most importantly, remember to leave clothes out for the morning. Disembarking in your pj’s could be slightly embarrassing – but a good photo op! Have a great time – wish we were going!

• 12. Nancy  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:29 pm

  You are going to have a blast! I went for the 1st time 2 1/2 years ago, Carnival out of JAX. We went to Key West and Nassau, M-Sat.

  My tips to you would be: 1) Enjoy the entertainment on board. 2) Early dinner if possible. We had the second sitting and only went twice because we were too tired. 3) Take some of the hand sanitizer and use it frequently, especially the kids. 4) If you think you will get sea sick, you can get Dramamine, free, on the ship at the purser’s desk (on Carnival anyway). We got the patch from our doctor and felt like we wasted our money. 5)If the cruise offers a card or something for sodas and your kids drink alot, Get it. It will save money in the long run. We didn’t. We just drank the free stuff, iced tea, juices, etc. that were on the buffet line and available 24/7. 6)Have a great time!!!! You will never have a vacation like a cruise.

• 13. Kim Wall  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:29 pm

  Have a ball on your cruise Julie! I’ve only been on one so far (although I have a 12 night Mediteranean cruise scheduled for 08 all along Italy, Monaco, Cannes, and some place called Tunisia at the tip of Africa LOL!). The one I was on was a RCCL cruise though to Key West, Cozumel and Belize. A couple of things that worked nice for us and made the trip special for the kids is that I went to the RCCL website and you can pre-order some items for onboard the ship. I got the kids these little crayola lunchboxes that were filled with treats, a wine and cheese tray and a non alchoholic cider with chocolate dipped strawberries. They had these items waiting for us in our room so as we pulled away from the dock, we got to “toast” to the beginning of our vacation and have a little party out on our balcony! Cute pics and everyone loved it. Also, when you first get there, you have to do a fire drill to your “muster station”. Don’t forget to take your camera to the muster drill! Some of the cutest pics I have are ones that one of the other passengers took of all of us bundled up in our big orange life vests LOL! Another thing to consider taking is a set of good walkie talkies. If you and your hubby like to divide and conquer, cell phones don’t always work out there and that way you guys can still communicate and “hook up” where and when you need to on the boat. Lastly, if you guys drink lot’s of soda’s (other than at mealtime, cause they are free with your meals), you can pay a daily amount where you get this large insulated cup that is for unlimited refills on soda’s when you are hanging out at the pool, etc. My kids don’t drink that much soda that it was worth it, but it would be for some folks!
  We’ve been to Key West a few times and while it’s beautiful, it’s more of a “hang out on the beach” relaxing kind of place. Not a huge amount of kids activities. We rented double wave runners though when we went there on our cruise (so each parent had a kid on with them) and that was fun but would be way too cold at this time!
  That’s all I can think of for now! Have a ball!
  Kim

• 14. Suzanne  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:30 pm

  A couple of practical suggestions (I hope!):

  1) if they have a “drink plan” – usually a cup with a lid that you can buy for unlimited sodas/water/coffee – check into it buying it for the family – some of that is included – but some non-alcholic drinks are now charged for (soda by the can for example) and some isn’t – the last thing you want is a surprise on your bill if it turns out you order a number of drinks a day (water/soda)

  2) make sure you have cash for tips (unless they allow you to charge tips to your bill) – the ship will have an ATM – but if you don’t mind carrying the cash – may be cheaper/free to get it from your bank’s atm and bring it on board (rooms have safes)

  3) take the ship excursions – if you are on one of their excursions – the ship will NOT leave without you – if you are off on your own and you are late getting back – you pay to get your family to the next port of call. Ship excurisons may look a little pricy – but they have al different ones – at different costs and usually if you buy a couple – you get a discount (you can always ask if they have a special going on).

  4) go to the classes they have – lots of fun and sign the kids up for the kids activities – lets them have fun and gives you some free time!

• 15. Abbie Zimmerman  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:30 pm

  Coco Cay is beautiful. There are hidden nooks and crannies all over the island. If you have a chance, take a short walk to the back of the island (i call it the back because it is about the furthest spot from the dock, but it might not be the “back”). There are lazy hammocks tied to beautiful palms everywhere and it’s sooo relaxing. This side of the island is usually less crowded. There are also GIANT iguanas roaming the island. We had fun trying to spot them all.

  The Port of Miami is hectic and ridiculously busy, so plan to give yourself lots of time to get there and get on the ship. Also, since Coco Cay is technically part of the Bahamas, you’ll have to fill out those pesky and troublesome little sheets of paper. (I don’t know what they’re called!) I reccomend doing this before you get in line. Staff at the port will help you if it gets confusing.

  My experience has been that if you treat every single crew member as someone valued and appreciated, they will treat you the same way. Royal Caribbean is our favorite cruiseline and I believe that it’s virtually impossible to have a bad time on RCCL. Happy Cruising!!

• 16. Deb Schechinger  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:30 pm

  If you can find a small clock that also has one of those domed touch lights on it. VALUABLE on a cruise. If you have an inside cabin it is very dark in there, it is handy even if you have an outside cabin. Also, condense your outfits by color so you don’t have to take so many shoes – shoes are a waste of space in your suitcase. We think late dining is better so you don’t have to rush back to the ship to make dinner. Take one afternoon @ sea to just to explore the ship, you might be surprised of some of the neat things to see & some of the “hide- away” cafes. Look at your cruise compass that night before you go to bed & highlight a few things that really interest you to do. You are going on Royal Carib – for adults only but lots of laughs & don’t be afraid to get on a team – do the Quest game. Royal carib has some very nice spa packages. Enjoy!!

• 17. Andrea  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:31 pm

  What a great way to escape from the holiday madness! We have cruised two Disney and one Costa with our kids, ages 6 and 4. Tips: allow some time for afternoon rests so you can enjoy all that the evening has to offer. I always pack some small card games, coloring books, etc. and find a cozy lounge for an hour or two of quiet time around 3pm. Bring a highlighter and go through the newletter delivered to your room each night outlining the next day’s activities. This will make sure you don’t miss anything. Also, we really wanted some adult time at night so instead of saying “now you go into kids club” we would phrase it “do you want to go back and go to bed or would you rather go to the kids party tonight?” Believe me, “kids party” was always the winner b/c they thought it was a privilege, not a requirement. Have a great time, and Merry
  Christmas!!!!

• 18. Anne  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:33 pm

  What a wonderful Christmas gift. Your family will love it and remember it forever. Yes, don’t forget the spa treatments! A massage before bedtime is the best! Have a great time. You deserve it.

• 19. Cheryle  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:34 pm

  Crusin! We love crusin! I always take extra 35+ suntan lotion, hand sanitizer (machines don’t always work on the ship) binoculars. If you may get seasick – We went on a three week cruise: San Diego through the Panama Canal to Miami – the caribean side was a little rough due to some tropical storms brewing. I bought bonine before we left to have available. I have traveled with people who have used the patch for seasickness but a lot of people have reactions to it so I prefer to use bonine (Walmart). Try and purchase all your toiletries before you cruise because on the ship it is expensive! Also, take a few liters of water – on our ship it was $5.00 a liter! Each port, we would purchase a few liters of water. If they have a kids club, it is great! On Norwegian, they had a great kids club crew.

  There is one saying, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” Same thing….. “What happens on the cruise, Stays on the cruise!!!!”

• 20. Jennifer Connors  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:34 pm

  Once you start crusing you won’t be able to stop! You will get off the ship planning where you want to go next! We just did, Carnival Freedom’s, Med. Cruise for 12 days, and 7 cities, and it was fantastic!! With cruising you get see a lot of places in a short time! Carnival Freedom had a ton of scrapbooking products on there. I spent over $100 just in scrapbooking! We have already planned out next cruise on the Carnival Splendor. The more family you can get to go with you, the more fun it is! However, they do take your credit info and give you a ship card, remember you still have to pay for that at the end of the cruise, it’s easy to forget that. We always get the late dinner seating, so you have time to get back from excursions, and get cleaned up. You WILL have a blast, and you will be hooked! Have fun!!

• 21. Sue Yeakel  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:38 pm

  Julie,
  Our son was 5 when we took a little cruise and I just found out (14 years later) that he was scared to death during the whole cruise, cuz right after you get on board they take all the passengers through the life raft drill. Tell Logan ahead of time, so he’s not frightened by the drill. Our son said, “As soon as we got on the boat, they told us what to do when the boat starts sinking!” Also, we midwesterns aren’t always exposed to much diversity, so be sure your children know that the staff is GREAT and helpful, but they may not speak like we Iowans do! They are from many different countries.

• 22. Nancy  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:38 pm

  Dear Julie: You will LOVE it. We have been cruising for years. It is my favorite form of travel. I have to admit that I have never been on Royal Caribbean. We cruise Holland America and Princess, but they tend to have an older tamer crowd. I can’t speak for Royal, but Princess has a kids club and we recommended that for our friend’s son. He was 8 yrs old. They did age appropriate crafts and things that kept him busy so he was not bored. As for adults you can relax and rest or get off and sightsee at the ports, depending on the cruise some ports have busy activities and others more relaxing. If you ever cruise Alaska, the Baltic, the British Isles, we have done them more recently. We cruised the caribbean in 1975 so things have changed since then. We are cruising England to Italy next year. We have done the late dinner, flex dinner and early. I prefer the early dinner, (not because we are old) but rather because there is time afterwards to go dancing and see shows and listen to music. I do not like to eat late and then miss the other evening activities. It was only a problem when our shore excursions returned later than the meal time and then we ate at the buffet on those times. Also Princess and Holland have formal nights (which we like…well I like and the husband goes along with it) It makes me feel like a princess to be dressed up and have him in his tux. Have a wonderful time and be glad you are going to warm weather climate, you can pack so much lighter than we did for Scotland, Russia, or Alaska…Brrr!
  Best wishes for a Healthy Happy Holiday with your family and a wonderful new year…Happy traveling and Scrapping!

• 23. Laurel  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:39 pm

  Are you driving directly to the port? If so, check with the cruise line to see if there are any food/beverage items you are allowed to bring, especially if you can bring your own bottled water or kids fave snacks.

  Also, I have heard if you go to the bursar’s office and request it, they will punch a hole in your key card (used for room entry and on-board charges), which you can then hang from something around your wrist or neck for easy access. Of course, as a scrapper you have your own hole punch! But you don’t want to punch in the wrong place…

  Oh, and you should be able to check your on-board charges through the TV in your room. I’ve never been on your line, but Carnival and Celebrity both had that option.

  Remember to bring cash for tips – at the end of the cruise you are expected to tip your waiter, busboy, maid, and cabin steward. The cruise line should have info on $$ amounts.

  Bring a pedometer if you have one – it will be fun to see how many miles you walk on the ship, and on-shore.

  HAVE FUN!

• 24. Bambi Kitchens  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:41 pm

  Your whole family will love the cruise. My husband and I just went on a cruise in Sept. for our 30th anniversary. We have also been two other times with our children. We previously did the earlier dinner time but this time we did the later dinner thinking it would give us more of an afternoon around the pool or on the islands. After having done both, we will go back to the earlier dinner (especially if you have little ones). We did not get out of the dinning room until 10:00 pm every night so the mid-night buffet we did not get to enjoy. Do take an extra small bag to pack the things you will need on the morning (example: toothbrushes, pj’s, make-up, etc) that you disembark because you will be leaving your luggage outside your state room to be picked up the night before. My husband said that he really enjoyed our 7 day cruise because it was so relaxing but at the same time plenty to do if you choose too!! We met several families on board and once they took their little ones to their fun times with the crew, they didn’t even want to go to dinner with their families!!!
  Have a fun trip!

• 25. Tammy  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:44 pm

  Julie,
  You will love it! We have been on 3 cruises since 2000 – twice to the Caribbean and once to Alaska. We’ve been on Carnival twice and Norwegian once (we like Carnival better!). We eat the late dinner, check out all the shows, and dress up on the formal nights! We always take excursions, and some are better than others. Dog sledding on a glacier in AK was excellent, as was petting the stingrays in the Cayman Islands. Have a great time!

• 26. Debi  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:49 pm

  We love to cruise. It is relaxing. The food is divine and the sites are spectacular. We always do the late seating for dinner that way if we are off the ship we don’t have to hurry back to eat. Besides there is eating 24/7 on board and you can always get a great meal. Take in as many shows as you can. They are well put together and usually the comedians are hysterical! We have taken several and they have all been with Carnival. The service is great and ships have been clean and updated. Children are treated with gold at least on Carnival they are served first!! Have fun!!

• 27. Lynda Buchanan  |  December 12th, 2007 at 2:58 pm

  As a true cruise lover, all I can say is ENJOY. Don’t try to do too much in one day. See as many of the shows as you can, enjoy the “Drink of the Day” everyday and indulge yourself every chance you get. My sister is my cruisin’ buddy and together we have almost 20 cruises to our credit. I’m sure there are a lot of folks out there who have many, many more and I hope to live long enough to catch up to them or even better yet, pass ‘em up!!

  Merry Christmas to you and your family and CRUISE ON!!!

• 28. Leigh Ann  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:00 pm

  My husband and I have cruised numerous times. Here are a few tips:
  1. Try the cokes first on the ship I have tried many cruise lines sodas and I think they are nasty. I buy can cokes at the ports and keep them in my room.
  2. Take an air freshener for the bathroom of your cabin. Bath and Body has a little can that is legal with the airlines. You are in such closed quarters that if any one uses the toilet it can become very attractive smelling!
  3. I agree with a previous poster that use a lot of hand sanitizer. They have found on the cruise ships that the people that use it religiously do not come down with the cruise flu-like illness.
  4. If you are like me, you have already gathered a bunch of scrapbook paper to use with yuor pixs. Before I go, I jot down some of the colors and paper that I have on hand as well as stickers and it helps to stage some of my pixs to look great on my pages.
  You will have a great time and love the kid facility on board. It will give you some free time with out the kids. There are also adult pools to relax and have a frozen drink. Try a lava flow! Happy Holidays!

• 29. Melissa Norgren  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:02 pm

  We went to Alaska last September and it was our first time cruising as well. We had a blast. My husband got a little sick on one rough day, the rest of took dramamine for the rest of the cruise, just to make sure we would be ok. The shows were great, definately take advantage of ordering breakfast to your room a couple of days. We had early dinner reservations, it was perfect. We had the best servers. They learned your name and never forgot it. Those guys work hard and long hours. We would see them on the lido in the morning and lunch and at dinner and of course again at the midnight snack time!! They made the trip. Have a blast.

• 30. Donna  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:03 pm

  Having been on several cruises my advice would be to take bottled water or soft drinks (in bottles) with you. Canned soft drinks are $1.50 or more on the ship. Plus you can bring back souvenirs in the space you packed your drinks in.

• 31. Linda - California  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:04 pm

  My husband and I have cruised many times. Most recently we cruised around the Hawaiian Islands with Norwegian Cruise Lines. Not only did they sell scrapping supplies in the ship’s store, but they also had scrapping classes onboard several afternoons during the cruise!
  So watch the ship’s daily bulletin. You could probably TEACH the class, but it is just fun to meet other scrappers!

• 32. Janice  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:07 pm

  OMG ! You’ll love it ! Have been on 5 cruises and will be booking another soon. Be sure to keep daily ship news and any other memorbilia for your scrapbook pages. You’ll have a blast exploring the ship and taking pics of and with the staff, including the captain. You can eat as fancy or as simple as you appitite dictates. Don’t fall for the “drink of the day glass” everyday. One for souvenir is sufficient. Don’t over pack , or worry about super fancy dress attire for special nights. Just nice outfits for a chance to dress up. Everyone will have a wonderful time and a holiday you’ll never forget. Enjoy.

• 33. Hollis  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:08 pm

  As a family, we’ve been on many, many cruises, in fact my daughter works for a cruise line. Anyway, the seas are usually pretty calm in that area, but if they’re not, go down to the doc’s office and grab some Meclizine, it works wonderful, my brother-in-law is a ship’s physician and says that’s why they carry packets of it, they work great and they’re free! ENJOY!

• 34. Cathie in Ut`  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:09 pm

  Right before Thanksgiving we cruised with RCI (RCCL) Jewl of the Seasnand had the vacation of our life!
  We didn’t have kids but from what I saw the kids were well entertained and the ships are prepared for all ages of children.
  My tips would be
  1. Bring extra cash in small bills to tip those who do the extra things like room service ($1 or $2 each use), The baggage handlers at the ports ($1 or $2) a bag, taxi rides if you take them and those who help out on your excursions if you take them. I was surprised at how many tips we ended up giving out by the end of our cruise.
  2. Pack an extra duffle if you can for those dirty clothes at the end of the cruise…there is laundry service on RCI but it is costly and there is no do it yourself service. I just tossed in the dirtys and left my suitcases for all the goodies I picked up along the way!
  3. Put all those documents into one folder or even a ziploc bag. I used a vinyl folder type thing that had a snap on it. I put all the things we needed to show like our cruise document book, copies of our Driver’s license our birth certificates, our plane documents like tickets and itinerary even maps and directions to places we wanted to visit! DH was impressed when he saw how everything was together and easy to get at.
  4. Key West…the Mel Fisher Museum was interesting with the gold and artifacts, we walked to the “furtherst south monument” it is easy to do but it is a bit of a walk and you could rent bikes or take a train around the Key but it doesn’t stop to take pictures
  5. We enjoyed the late seating as it allowed us some down time from our busy shore excursions but for children it seems to be rather late. One of our table mates had their children (they had 6) take turns coming to dinner with the grown ups as they had older children to watch the younger ones. The kids either ate at the buffet or ordered room service.
  6. Take plenty of film, batteries and or memory cards and take as many pictures as you can! We ended up with about 700 pics on our cards but of course won’t scrap them all however I wanted to be sure not to miss anything LOL. I had rechargeable batteries and took my charger with me on the cruise and always kept a spare set ready to change as needed. We also took two underwater cameras, the single use kind for snorkeling. but wish we had a flash although the water is clear the deeper the fish etc the darker and I could have used more light.
  I could go on and on but most of all each evening if you can go up to the top deck and enjoy the sunset!
  It was a perfect way to end the day and begin the eveing!
  Have fun and let us know how everything turns out!

• 35. Teri  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:12 pm

  1. Take as little as possible. Cabins are very small and there is very little room for all the souveniers you will collect, much less for clothes and storing your suitcase.
  2. Have a clock with am/pm designations. We were in an interior room and fell asleep (after 2 flights and a bus ride to get to the ship). When we woke up it was 2:00–but it was 4 decks up to determine if it was night or day.
  3. Be prepared for a VERY small shower.
  4. Remember to enjoy yourself!

• 36. maryann  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:18 pm

  You will love it….you can do everything or just relax…Royal Carribbean is perfect for familes….have cruised many times. And of course, making the scrapbooks after is a lot of fun, too….espcailly with all your scrapbook supplies…..ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

• 37. Katharine  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:28 pm

  Lots of good advice so far–the only thing I would add is that you try to find out about excursions as early as possible as they fill up fast. If you cannot pre register from the cruise line’s website, you can go directly to the purser’s office and sign up for everything you want before the ship even sails! Bon voyage!

• 38. Mary Nacey  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:28 pm

  If you have to pay additional for drinks, take a couple of 6 packs of your own soda. I cannot live with out my diet cokes.

• 39. Jill  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:31 pm

  Cruises are absolutely great and can quickly become addicting. I would warn though to be conscious of your spending while on board as no cash is used on the cruise ship and all things such as alcohol, things from the gift shop and shore excursions are billed to your room on the last day as well as greatuity per person per day. Just something I had learned. I would absolutely reccomend Norweigan cruise lines if anyone is planning one in the future. Their freestyle crusing is such a great idea. It is built great for families, couples or even seniors because you have the luxury to do things at your leisure with no set tables for dinner or time in addition to having the freedom to wear what suits you and they have tons of activities both on the boat. The staff on the Norweigan Dawn that travels out of New York to the bahamas and bermuda was more than accomodating

• 40. Beverly Gilmore  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:31 pm

  We love cruising, once we had a balcony room we never had any other kind! We have been all around Europe, med.,Baltic, Alaska, Panama Canal, this next year will do the Amazon River.
  I like the hand sanitiser suggestion also the small bills for tips on shore etc. If you have a great waiter he might also get a tip or the steward for your room.
  Take a bottle of water on board or buy the first one & then refill it with the tap water on board to save paying for the extra bottles.
  We prefer to eat at the regular seating dinner instead of the buffet that never stops, but that is just us! Also always have a light breakfast in our room, you can order cereal & milk, fruit for the kids coffee or tea for the adults.. no charge
  Be on time for your shore excursions both going & coming back!!
  We always cruise Princess as our daughter works for them.. Have Fun, lots for the children to do also…

• 41. Katheen  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:31 pm

  Have been on three cruises in the past year and going away Christmas week. You will love Royal Caribbean, it is the only one we use. Make sure the kids sign up for the kids program, plenty of activities. Miami is a busy port but won’t be able to get into your room before about 1 so don’t have to be there super early. Ordering breakfast to your room is a great idea and all included in your cruise except for a tip. Too many activities to talk about, but you will need room for all of the things you get to make a truly memorable scrapbook, they even have scrapbooking classes onboard. Usually not something that I would need but a fun way to spend an hour with people with similar interests.
  Have the time of your life!

• 42. Diana  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:32 pm

  I am a cruise addict! My husband and I have four children ranging in age from 13 to 7. We take our children every time. This is the perfect vacation for the whole family. Some advice: wait to buy onboard items (ie. cruise-wear, photos, jewelry, spa treatments, laundry services, etc.) until closer to the end of the cruise…they usually have sales then. Buy a case of bottled water on board so that you can always have water with you on your excursions. I always pack crystal light individual drink mixes to put in the bottled water when the kids want something more exciting than just water. Saves money in the long run. Also, pack baggies and grab a couple items from the breakfast buffet every morning that you can take with you on your excursions. Oh, and we found that packing those round collapsable mesh laundry hampers makes for a much tidier cabin and doesn’t take up any more room in your suitcase. Oh, and watch out…kids tend to overeat on these cruises because there is so much to choose from…bring some Pepto with just in case. Enjoy. You’ll probably be hooked on cruising, like we are!

• 43. Darla  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:32 pm

  Don’t wear yourself out trying to do all the activities. You will have a daily paper with activites for each day. I’ve been on 3 cruises, and learned you cannot do it all! ;-D
  Be sure to nest one suitcase inside another so you’ll have plenty of room for souveniers.
  Merry Christmas and I wish you smooth sailing!

• 44. Karen Cox from Long Beach, Ca  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:32 pm

  since your going on a trip and I know you plan to scrap this trip, take a small loose leaf notebook…add drop in plastic folders (1 per day you will be gone)…………..then each day put the post cards you pick up, crusie information for that day into that days plastic folders………………do this for each day your gone……when it comes time to scrap all you need is the material and your pictures and you will have all the information ready…I did this on all my cruises plus when we went to germany, as 1 church starts to look all the same, so I had everything at my finger tips………….have fun

• 45. Cruiser  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:33 pm

  Hi Julie

  You will love cruising. My husband and I have been on several cruises from the Caribbean to Alaska and Canada. We are planning on going on a cruise to the Greek Isles next summer. My advice to you is just relax and enjoy being pampered. We find a cruise to be the most relaxing vacation ever. Three of our cruises have been on RCCL and found the service to be impeccable. We have always done the early dinner time. Granted sometimes we are a little rushed if we have been on a shore excursion but never found it to be much of a problem. Have a great time and Merry Christmas.

• 46. Anita  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:34 pm

  We’ve been on several Sea cruises and a couple of river cruises. We love them! Our last one which was at the end of September of this year was actually on the Brilliance of the Seas and was a 12 day tour around the Mediterranean. It’s a great ship and you’ll have a wonderful time. Be sure to see the shows in the evening. We’ve been on Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity. We like them all but Royal Caribbean is our favorite. Have fun!

• 47. Michelle  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:35 pm

  We have been on a bunch of cruises and LOVE them! It is wonderful to be able to visit all kinds of new places and only unpack once! We always take travel size toiletries and just throw them away at the end of the trip. This gives you an extra bag for your souveniers. See if your cruiseline will let you prepay your gratuities. That way you do not have to worry about having extra cash to tip everyone at the end of the trip. We have never been on an RC cruise – we take Celebrity (which is owned by RC) so you should be able to prepay. We also take along a travel size of Downey Wrinkle Spray. I hope you have a great trip!

• 48. Darla  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:45 pm

  One other thing, be prepared for the survival drill before the ship leaves dock. You learn where to go in case of an emergency. The lifejacket is a little uncomfortable, but the drill doesn’t last long!

• 49. Esther, Calif  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:48 pm

  Your family is going to luv it. I recommend only buy 1 soda card. take turns getting your soda beverage.($25.00 soda card can buy you a lot of soda in 1 week no need for everyone to get one). If you take the group pictures entering the ship that’s a must but shy away from purchasing all the deport pictures, with all the pictures I bought I could of bought a brand new digital camera. I would invest on formal nite to take a real nice family portrait everyone will be all dressed up. If you are going to any of the excusions take advantage of the coupons or free charms that they give out. I got some real nice gem stones for free. Of course your kids will probably be entertained and they have there own agenda, while you can gamble, relax at the spa (when you arrive go directly to the spa and make your reservation while you are at sea all day because those days get filled up right away. These are a few things I wished I was aware of on my first criuse. I have taken about 4 cruises and I luv it.

• 50. Monica  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:48 pm

  Take a multi-tap to plug in all your appliances. Most cabins on most cruiselines have only one or two outlets and it’s just enough to charge phones, batteries, etc.

  And I agree with the previous comment about checking all the info on cruisecritic.com or cruisetraveltalk.com. Tons of info about the ship, the ports of call, roll-calls for cruisers on your same cruise, just so much info from experienced cruisers to help you out. After many cruises (and 2 upcoming ones) I don’t know how I would have been as prepared without these wonderful resources.

  Also, bring duct tape (handy for so much) and one of those hang on a door shoe holders for putting all the loose stuff like batteries, film, sunscreen, etc. The stuff that clutters up your cabin can all be kept neatly and accessibly in one of them.

  Last piece of advice: savor every second, especially just sitting and watching the sea.

• 51. Agnes  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:51 pm

  I went on my first cruise to Alaska with my sister. It was the
  best vacation ever. We went to 5 ports, the weather was
  wonderful. Oh! the food was more than I can say. I was up
  early went to bed late. Did not get sick, except for coming
  back with the time zone changing. I could’nt do nothing but
  sleep when I returned for the first day. Julie you will have a
  time of your life. Happy crusing and Merry Christmas to you
  and your family. I love your web site. I got most of my paper
  and stickers from you. Thanks for all the emails.

• 52. roxann  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:55 pm

  I am very happy for your family! Enjoy every minute as the time by so fast! I went with my daughter on the Disney cruise! It was awesome. Take advantage of the free drinks if they are offered. Get a bracelet for motion sickness to wear if the water gets rough-which it did!!! Take another suitcase for souvenirs. Pick up
  scrapbook stuff for your scrapbooking-postcards, your
  tickets and brochures about the ships etc. Have a great trip! Roxann from Minnesota

• 53. Sue  |  December 12th, 2007 at 3:59 pm

  I have been on several Carnival cruises and loved every one of them. I always take a fanny pack to use for my key card, the ship newletter, and small camera. For shore excursions, a tote bag is nice. My husband refuses to carry a “feminine” bag, so I always choose a plain tote bag for him to carry or a drawstring type backpack.

  If you plan to walk on deck very early, a windbreaker with hood is nice to have. I also pack clothes in 2 gallon zip lock freezer bags and squeeze them flat. A shirt, pants, and under wear will fit if folded small enough.

  Dont buy things in the ship’s gift shop the first couple of days. Wait and watch for the sales in the newsletter.

  I know you will have a fantastic cruise.

• 54. Caroline  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:03 pm

  Have done several cruises on three different lines. RCCL is my favorite as well.
  All great tips from the preceding comments. One big no-no, however! DO NOT under any circumstances make a ship-to-shore phone call. I knew it would be expensive, but I was not prepared for the 2-minute call that cost $137.00!! Nothing is so important that it can’t wait until the next island where you can buy a prepaid phone card to call back to the US.
  Take advantage of the kid programs. RCCL is known for their quality in this field and it’s a gift you can give yourself.
  Board the ship as soon as the boarding office opens as the crowd becomes worse once the groups and airline ‘meet and greets’ begin arriving.
  Have a wonderful time!

• 55. Jan  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:10 pm

  Take 6 wooden spring clothes pins. Put these on the bottom of the shower curtain and it keeps the curtain in the shower and avoids water all over the floor in the tiny bathroom. It really works!! Don’t bring them home!

• 56. Eve  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:11 pm

  Your family is going to love this vacation. Pack everyones bathing suit in your carry on so when you arrive on board the kids can play in the pool. Sign up early for special dinners, excursions, spa treatments, etc. So you get your first choice. After the first day have your kids give you a tour of the ship and always have them get you back to your cabin. You will be amazed! Enjoy thoses days at sea, you’re going to love them.
  I use a plastic accordian folder to hold my tickets, cruise news, etc. It keeps them in order by date and takes up no room. (Staples)
  Eve (too many cruises to count)

• 57. Gwen  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:12 pm

  Bring some small snacks for excursion days. Sometime the excursion are very busy and there isn’t always a lot of time or places for eating. Get room service on those days too. Bring a bag or backpack for excursion day to carry your stuff like towels if you are going to a beach.

• 58. Susan Grainger  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:13 pm

  You will have a great time. I have read a lot of good suggestions in the comments I’ve read. If you haven’t booked excursions yet, do it as soon as possible as some do fill up. If you have the chance, and the money for a dolphin excursion, I HIGHLY recommend it. Swimming and interacting with dolphins is amazing. Don’t worry about missing your seating time in the main dining room as there are a lot a places on board to eat at all times. I know at least one person reminded you to keep clothes out the last night as you pack, and I will emphasize that and add…don’t forget shoes. My husband packed all of his shoes and had to get off the ship barefoot. It was funny, but I worried about him on the escalator. Another suggestion if you are feeling a little woozy is to go out on deck and get fresh air.

  Have fun!!!
  Susan

• 59. Diana  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:16 pm

  Put your children in the clubs they have on the ship. They will have a great time and so will you!!!!

• 60. Tammy  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:17 pm

  Cruising with the family is a wonderful vacation. We have taken 6 cruises now and loved everyone of them. We were on Radiance of the Seas, which I believe is the sister ship to Brilliance, and it is my favorite of all the ships we have been on. Let your kids check into the options at the kids club. Mine loved all of the activities and my oldest still keeps in touch with the kids he met over the years on our cruises. Try new things. I have snorkeled in underground caves (terrified of closed spaces), my son has done ziplines over the rainforest (terrified of heights) and we have snorkeled with stingrays and sea turtles, and done 4 X 4 tours through the mountains and desert areas of other islands. There is so much cool stuff to see and do if you keep an open mind. And in the dining room, try food that you would be afraid to try otherwise. My youngest son discovered that he loves fish and even though he is a picky eater he has tried escargot, fruit soups, and calamari. But most important, Have a blast and relax!

• 61. Moon  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:20 pm

  OK, as someone who cruises with 4 kids, twice a year, ages 7 and under, I definitally have some recommendations…. Make use of the kids program. On Royal Caribbean, you need to make RESERVATIONS for the kids to eat at the kids program during formal night. It is really nice, cause you dress them up, go get pictures taken onboard, then back to the cabin, change them and off to camp they go while you ENJOY your dinner. Take early dining, or your kids will be asleep in their soup at dinner.

  We pack drink boxes for port days for the kids, cause the minute we get off the ship “I’m thirsty” hits them. Let’s see, kids need Lots of sunscreen on the cruise ship and in port. Coco Cay is beautiful, but remember the sunscreen. I read above anc cannot even begin to describe the amazing things you will find at cruisecritic.com boards. Let’s see…. I pack a hind full of matchbox cars and coloring books and crayons to distract the boys while we are getting ready to go out. Pack and empty bag to use to go ashore, and also to carry the kids “creations” from the kids program home. Most important, RELAX and have a great time!

• 62. Nanatravel  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:21 pm

  As my screen name implys, I am a grandmother who loves to travel. So much so, I joined Cruise travel Outlet this year as a consultant. You have chosen a great ship and itinerary for a 1st. time cruise with family.

  RCI does a fabulous job with the children. Utilize the buffet for breakfast and lunch but take the family to the dining room for the complete “adult’ experience. The servers really go overboard entertaining the children. Go to early dinner and one of you bring the children to the Camp as soon as it opens in the evening usually about 7:30PM, so you and hubby can linger over a quiet desert. Take in a show, listen to a pianist, go to lectures. Ask for a beeper/pager (if they have them) and tell your little guy you will only be moments away should he need you. Bring a favorite toy or blanket. Let the kids pack something special too. If your youngest is 4, you won’t need a stroller. If under, do bring a collaspable stroller for walks on board. Buy a soda card for any other school age child; water, lemonade/punch, iced tea and milk & coffee in the buffet area and room service are free. If you get Room Service, a tip at the time of service is appreciated. You may never see the server again. A few dollars is fine.

  If you have time, log-onto cruisecritic.com and go to Board; Roll Calls; Royal Caribbean; Brillance to check out others who will be traveling with you. Just look for the date of your cruise. Its a nice way to meet others who you can greet on=board, also good if they too have children.

  I am going on my 20th cruise tomorrow to no-where out of Boston for 2 nights on the NCL Gem. Let’s hope it doesn’t snow or we have high Northeast seas. Any questions, just email me. I’ll check in tomorrow before we head to Boston. Do plan to board by noon as recommended. Go to the buffet for lunch then tour the ship from top to bottom before the Life Boat Drill; children must attend.

  Bon Voyage
  Nanatravel

• 63. Deborah F  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:23 pm

  You will LOVE cruising. We like early seating dinner…gives you time to walk off some of the food before bedtime. In Key West we were on RCCL and took the train tour. I was really disappointed that there were no stops for picture taking and the train went pretty fast and some shots were a blur. Might consider renting a bike or maybe buying the train tour on shore may be different. Take lots of batteries or your charger, lots of $1 bills for tipping, a water camera and comfy walking shoes. We love snorkeling and usually try to do at least one shore tour. Unfortunately the weather didn’t allow us to see CoCoCay.
  I do the dirty laundry hamper thing also. They issue you one “big” beach towel that must be returned or bought. I also use a divided folder for stuff.
  Be sure to fill out all info on line before getting to Miami even book the tours if possible. We try to get on board as early as possible, it’s almost like having an extra day. And spa, spa, spa!!
  Have a great trip and Merry Christmas.

• 64. Pam  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:27 pm

  I’m sure you will have lots of good suggestions already in the posts above. I just wanted to say my family and I sailed on the Brilliance last summer (in the Mediterranian) and it is a lovely ship. I’m sure you will have a wonderful time and you deserve it with all the hard work you do on our behalf all year. Have fun and Merry Christmas!
  Pam

• 65. Cindy Sink  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:28 pm

  I have been on many cruises and loved them all!! Every night either at dinner or at bed time I would take a Bonine tablet I purchased at the drug store. I never got sea sick. I have 2 LARGE scrap books of photos just on my last cruise alone. I never left my cabin without one of my cameras. I also took extra memory cards for each camera. I always put the batteries on charge every night at bed time. Please don’t forget the chargers or extra memory cards. I always had photos taken by the ships photographer. They made beautiful pages for scrapbooking. You don’t have to purchase them if you don’t like them. I hpoe you have a wonderful trip!!!

• 66. Barbara  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:30 pm

  *what ever you pack, take 1/2 of it out.
  *tie a bright fabric to the handle of your luggage, at the end they place all of the luggage in one large area and it is next to impossible to find your “black” bag

• 67. Lisa Blomberg  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:31 pm

  Julie,

  I am a travel agent and have been on over 100 cruises in my career. The kids will have a wonderful time and most important RCCL does a great job with them. You will be able to relax and enjoy your “alone time” as well as family time. Make sure you take advantage of the kids programs each day. They will have a seperate daily planner just for the kids. SUNSCREEN is a must. Yes you live in Florida but there is nothing worse than a sunburn. The shows in the evening are fun for adults and the kids can go to their programs. The lido buffet for breakfast and lunch is the way to with kids, avoid the dining room. If you drink soda get the soda card, it is a better deal. Save your daily planners and bring them home. It is a great way to stay organized when your pictures are developed to get the places and dates straight. Have a wonderful time and once you come back you will most likely be ready to go again!!!

• 68. Barb  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:33 pm

  Hi Julie,
  I am a travel agent and have been on nearly
  20 cruises; and my advice is:
  1st – DO NOT forget your proof of citizenship
  Don’t waste time doing laundry on a short
  (under 7 nts) cruise.
  I love trying different foods on cruises, because
  if I don’t like it; I can always order something
  else!!
  I also like trying different “umbrella” drinks,
  even though I have to pay for them!!! Most
  are yummy; especially “Miami Vice”!!!
  Do try some shore excursions in Key West (your
  kids will love the Conch Train). At Coco Cay,
  you can just relax and enjoy the beaches, etc.
  Have a wonderful time!!!!!!!!!

• 69. Cynthia  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:42 pm

  Make signs with magnetic backs for your door. All the doors look the same and finding yours is MUCH easier if you have a sign on it. I just got back from a Disney cruise December 1st and I used scrapbook supplies to make the signs for our door before we left! Perhaps the kids will want to help you make the signs before your leave!

  Take hand sanitizer with you! It is VERY important to wash your hands FREQUENTLY and use the hand sanitizer. You may get tired of it, but it is much better than ending up sick!

  Take only the shoes you will wear. I took too many pairs and only wore about half of them. Take jackets. Inside the ship can be chilly because they hand the AC on full blast! Take lots of sunscreen.
  DO enjoy the spa! It might be a bit expensive, but well worth it! Take a beach bag/excursion bag to carry your things in on days you go to the beach or on an excursion. Enjoy ADULT ONLY activities! We ate at the Adult Only Restaurant “PALO” and it was excellent!

• 70. Rita Sweezy  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:44 pm

  We cruised with RCCL in August of this year with our two teenage daughters and their boyfriends. Everyone had a blast! We chose the late dining because if you do excursions off the ship it is difficult to get ready and get to the early dining. We did pre-book our shore excursions online ourselves before leave and everything worked out well. I was a little hesitant to not to the ones offered by the cruise line but with six people we saved quite a bit of money by booking these ourselves. The food was fantastic but try not to eat everytime food is available-you want be able to get in any of your clothes! We also took some bottles of water and the small cans of soft drinks in our luggage as use will have ice available in your cabin and that saved some money also. Be sure and take a small carry on case with bathing suits, etc, in the event you want to use the pool before dinner. If you board the ship early you can eat lunch at the buffet and then sit by the pool, but your luggage may not get to your cabin until 5:00 or so. Have fun and enjoy yourself.

• 71. Dolores  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:52 pm

  Julie,
  I’m sure you will have an amazing time on your cruise. I would take a few minutes and read on your travel papers all the do’s and don’ts that are listed, like weight limits on suitcases, what can be carried and what should not be in the suitcases; as that will save you some problems later on. I, for one, don’t like being dressed-up for the fancy dress-up dinners. I prefer being as casual as possible. Besides, think how much space all the dress-up clothes are going to take up in suitcases. We prefer to eat at the buffet and be casual. Our first cruise was to Alaska in 1997 for our 25th anniversary, and we brought the clothes for the dress up dinners. We didn’t find out til later that we could have bypassed the more formal dinners and eaten at the buffet. When we reached Skagway, and were leaving the ship, we found a box, some tape at the hardware store, and shipped all our dress clothes home. (of course, they needed to be cleaned at the dry cleaners to get all the wrinkles out) but then we had much more room in our suitcases, as the rest of the trip was going on the train or bush plane into the depths of Denali; and we didn’t need those fancy clothes anymore. So unless you really enjoy getting dressed up, pantyhose, dress, slip, etc., and the husband’s dress suit and the kids’ dress up clothes-leave them home and enjoy the casualness of the buffet. (More room for souvenirs)
  Pack as light as possible, as the rooms are quite small and little storage space. It’s okay to wear the same pair of jeans, slacks or shorts for more than once…just add a different shirt and it’s a whole new outfit. Try to coordinate your clothes so one pair of slacks will go with several different shirts,etc…saves a lot of suitcase space. I always pack a scrapbooking paper holder in the bottom of the suitcase to put all the brochures, ship news, flat souvenirs like postcards, etc. in them. If you do find scrapbook supplies, make the container big enough to hold 12 x 12 paper and stickers. It doesn’t take up a lot of room and will pack flat in the bottom of the suitcse and be very safe without bending anything.
  Have a wonderful time, and I will wait to hear all about your trip on the email when you return.
  Merry Christmas and Bon Voyage!

• 72. Cheryl  |  December 12th, 2007 at 4:57 pm

  We recently took a cruise to Alaska and a lot of the tips here are very good
  - we studied the little port advertising books the night before each stop and would then take a moment to stop in one of the bigger ‘touristy’ places, they had some great location specific scrapbook stuff we haven’t found anywhere else.

  I’m sure you already know to keep a journal – I’d not remember half that stuff without one!

  And if you have a midnight chocolate buffet be sure and stay up to do it! And I don’t like chocolate overly much.

  But one of the things I noticed most (and it may be directly related to Norwegian’s freestyle cruising) but relax and go with the flow, pretend you are on island time – you will be a lot less stressed out!

• 73. Jane Lyon  |  December 12th, 2007 at 5:08 pm

  Julie,

  I’m so happy you/family are going on a cruise. You will love it. Sounds like you have a ton of advise already. The only thing I would suggest is take a small hand held blow dryer for your hair. Take snacks for the kids. When you get off the ship don’t buy at the first store look around before you buy. Most of the time you can get a better deal if you wait. Especially at the cruise shops they will reduce items a couple of days before the cruise ends. Take advantage of the wonderful shows. I suggest the early seating especially if the children dine with you. Take ponchos in a zip lock bag if you think it is going to rain as they are very expensive on the ship and shore. Formal night pictures are a must for you/family. Have a wonderful trip and Merry Christmas. The LYON’S.

• 74. Becky  |  December 12th, 2007 at 5:09 pm

  I also took my first 7 day cruise this past Sept to Alaska. What a great trip your family will have. You’ve been given alot of good advice from everyone. We did the free dinning that worked out the best for us….eat whenever you or the kids want. Like others have said: take some of the classes, bring a extra plug to use to recharge your phone and camera batteries. But most of all even though you are a FLORIDA Girl like me don’t forget the SUNSCREEN!!! Also keep and eye on that tropical storm that is out there. Have fun and let us know how you liked it.

• 75. Debi From GA  |  December 12th, 2007 at 5:12 pm

  Hi Julie,
  You will have a “BLAST” We went on Carnival last Feb. and we have another one this coming Feb. here is my list for “Virgin” cruisers:
  1. go to the port early, they’ll let you board, you can
  eat lunch on ship, look around and learn the lay out
  of the ship.
  2. Don’t pack beach towels, the ship provides them
  and you just bring them back to the room, and
  they’ll give you clean ones for the next day.
  3. pack your own water bottles. We packed a whole
  rolling suit case with them and our cabin steward
  put them in our ice bucket for us each day.
  4. If you like water, coffee, or juice…don’t bother with
  a drink card and then your drinks are free.

  Have an awesome, amazing fantastic time…it will be the
  most relaxing trip you’ll ever take!!!

• 76. Cathi  |  December 12th, 2007 at 5:24 pm

  We have cruised Royal Carribbean 3 times now and have always had a wonderful time and been very happy with them. Coco Cay is a beautiful island to just walk around or enjoy the beach. My advice would be to take 2 swimsuits so that you always have a dry one to wear while one is still drying out. If you want to do any excursions you can book them online ahead of time because the popular ones fill up early. Also they have programs on board for kids so don’t forget to check them out. Also beware, cruising becomes very addicting-you can’t stop at just one. Enjoy your trip.

• 77. Joan H.  |  December 12th, 2007 at 5:29 pm

  We will be going on our sixth cruise in Feb. Because my husband doesn’t like to fly, we’ll be driving to Ft. Lauderdale.
  Why I like cruising: Unpacking only once; No beds to make nor meals to cook; Being treated like royalty for a few days; Never having to look at the right side of the menu for prices; Not having phones ringing; and pretty much doing what you want when you want! You’re going to love it!!

• 78. Amy Guion  |  December 12th, 2007 at 5:37 pm

  I absolutely love cruises–no matter the destination!! My advice to first time cruisers is to take Dramamine just before boarding the ship and take it as prescribed throughout your cruise!! If you run out, you can get it free at the purser’s office!! You and your family may or may not suffer from motion sickness, but your vacation is NOT the place to find out!! Give it to the kids, too!! Once you get sick, it is too late to take the medicine…it will not work then!!

  Have a blast! BTW, I love your website!!!

• 79. Melissa  |  December 12th, 2007 at 5:41 pm

  Julie, have fun! I’m sure you will love cruising! My tip is don’t feel like you HAVE to participate in the formal night(s); there are many people who don’t. I’m always disappointed with the “formal” nights – aside from getting dressed up, there is nothing different from any other night on the ship. Plus, we found the space your formal stuff takes up in your bag can be much better utilized for things you purchase in port!

• 80. Becky Phillips  |  December 12th, 2007 at 5:56 pm

  You will love the Brilliance of the Seas. We have been on that ship 2 times. The kids will have a blast. Don’t over pack the laundry service is very reasonable on board. The shoping is great on board and don’t forget to take lots of pictures to scrapbook! Get to the ship around 11:00 and you can get on board early and start exploring since your cabin won’t be ready until at least 1:00. Have a great time!!

• 81. Terri Brewster  |  December 12th, 2007 at 6:44 pm

  Julie,

  We have taken several Royal Caribbean cruises, and it was by far the best vacation ever. The soda cards for the kids are great, their drinks are then unlimited. Our son loved the kids clubs, and met some great kids, and preferred to be in the kids club, so the adults got to enjoy the shows. Royal Caribbean also had a 24 hour pizza restaurant, which my son loved, he could get pizza anytime he wanted. It truly has been the only vacations that we truly have gotten to completely relax. I recommend 2nd seating for dinner, just because if you are on an excursion, it gives you time to get back, rest, shower and dress for dinner, and by then kids club is open, and you might enjoy a nice dinner with your husband. I also took a few ziploc bags to put in things I wanted to bring home for my scrapbooks. Each night when you return to your cabin you will have a newsletter for the next days activities, and I kept all of those for our scrapbooks, and any other keepsakes you want to bring home. Each night our cabin steward folded a hand towel into an animal and left it on our son’s bed, it was a huge hit, and I took close up pictures of them, and then cut them out, and used puffy tape to make them look 3d on his scrapbook pages, they turned out very cute. Just have a great time, and relax!!!
  Thank you for such great cruise items, as well as Christmas. I need new Christmas ideas, as I am getting tired of the same thing year after year. You do a fantastic job!

• 82. Lynn  |  December 12th, 2007 at 6:48 pm

  My husband and I have been on 4 cruises, and Love It, Love It!! Royal Carib is our favorite. The only thing I make sure I do, is have my camera EVERYWHERE I go at any and every time of the day. You never know where you might find that unique shot… I purchased a small shoulder bag for my digital camera that also has places for the “sign and sail” card and money. No purse, just my camera bag and me on the the high sea!
  On our last cruse in April 07 I purchased the “drink of the day” cuz I just had to have the photo of the real pineapple as a glass!
  In Key West we took the Conch train excursion that took us all around the island. Takes about a hour and the kids might like the “choo-choo” effect. We also took the night walking tour call “Ghosts and Legends” which was very interesting….
  As one other person said: you can’t do everything, but it sure plants the “cruise bug”!!!
  Have fun!

• 83. Terri  |  December 12th, 2007 at 6:51 pm

  Request a room in the middle of the ship. You my have to walk further to the elevators, but the front and rear of the ship go up and down more than the middle of the ship (less motion-less motion sickness).

• 84. Pat Moore  |  December 12th, 2007 at 6:56 pm

  A few more tips: put the do not disturb sign on your door after the room is clean & you can find your room easy (with or without those umbrella drinks LOL). Some ships don’t allow signs as suggested before. Wipe the life vests with hand wipes and do NOT let the kids blow that whistle–ugh. Also, don’t rush outside to the drill–the first ones get pushed against the wall w/layers of people in front of you (I’m short). Ask for bathrobes as soon as you meet your cabin attendant–usually we get them. Pack a nightlight. I use ziptop bags to organize, like one for the nightstand (cough drops, slim flashlight, chapstick, etc); one for bathroom stuff (unpack the bag & store it w/the stuff for re-packing). Pack emergency items you probably won’t need in a ziptop bag but don’t unpack it (leave it in a front pocket of a suitcase). Pack a highlight pen for the newspaper; nest suitcases under the bed (I put mine in large trash bags–bed bug fears) but leave one unzipped so you can pull it out by the handle & drop dirty clothes in each day. Search for the quiet reading & people watching nooks–lounges during the day and the library.

• 85. Carolyn  |  December 12th, 2007 at 7:36 pm

  I love to cruise. We have been on 14 and Princess is my “boat” of choice. My husband loves to play bingo and do his thing in the casino. Myself, Bingo once a day is OK and then I go line dancing, we had a scrapbooking workshop on the last cruise and the movies under the stars and we always get off in all ports. My grandaughter now that she is a teen is into the club scene but before that she went to the childrens center. I have never had her ever turn me down when I ask if she wants to go. We go to the warm beaches as beach people are the nicest. Next trip in during spring break down as far as Aruba. Relax and enjoy and you will have a wonderful experience. Have a great trip.

• 86. Lora Michael  |  December 12th, 2007 at 7:38 pm

  My husband and I have been on several wonderful cruises on Carnival and one nightmare cruise on Royal Caribbean. We had our birth certificates stolen from our cabin. Royal Caribbean denied that it happened, and would not help us to get copies so that we would be able to return to the United States. If it were not for the company that my husband works for we would probably still be stuck at customs in Miami! So my advice to you is to put them in a safe or carry them or your passports with you at all times.

• 87. Gwen Blair  |  December 12th, 2007 at 7:45 pm

  You certainly have plenty of tips for your trip. I do agree, that unless you love getting dressed up and dressing up the kids, leave the fancy clothes at home. They just take up suitcase room that could otherwise be used for souvenirs. I found that the buffet usually has the same food served in the dining room, just without all the pomp. Do reserve and pay for your shore excursions in advance – just one less thing to deal with. The difference in price is worth making sure that the excursion you want is not filled when you get to the ship. Other than that, have a great time, and I’m betting you will be a converted cruiser when you get home. Bon Voyage!

• 88. Dorothea Bussman  |  December 12th, 2007 at 7:58 pm

  I’ve been on 9 Royal Caribbean cruises & you will love it. It is the best line for kids, they have great kids clubs. Let the kids help deceide on some excursions or at least cast a vote. Remember, it may be cheaper to book excursions on your own, but if you missed the boat, you’re out of luck. My husband went on a fishing trip & the boat had engine problems. But because he booked through the cruise line they had to wait till they sent another boat to bring them all back. Especially since it’s your first time, better safe then sorry. Bring non-drowsey Dramamine in case you need it. Have a great time!!!!

• 89. Jodi (AKA Scrappycruiser)  |  December 12th, 2007 at 8:01 pm

  Have a wonderful time – RCCL has always done really well by us, and we’ve cruised to Alaska, the Med and Mexico with them.
  Be sure to take a large envelope (large enough to hold 8×11 papers) or a box to put your paper souvenirs in – I leave mine on a shelf and add the ship’s newsletter, receipts, etc each day so I will have them to scrap when I get home.
  Take pictures of your room number, your room steward, the wait staff and the “towel critters” they leave on your beds each night. Good for scrap pages!
  Take time to enjoy the room service – we really like waking up to a hot cup of coffee or tea with a muffin, and it gives you time to get ready in the morning without rushing and without starving (especially if you have an early shore excursion!). Tipping is only a couple of dollars for this, and what a convenience – you can get a full breakfast if you wish, too.
  Let the kids enjoy the childcare programs while you enjoy yourselves – the kids have a wonderful time onboard,and have so much to tell you in the evenings.
  Let the ship’s staff take all the pictures they want every time you can – you don’t have to buy any, but you might find the perfect souvenir or two. Pictures aren’t cheap, but one special picture can be worth it.
  Get on the ship early on your first day – a full buffet lunch is included when you board, and your room won’t be ready until late afternoon, so you can enjoy your first meal aboard ship. This gives you time afterward to explore the ship, sign the kids up for their programs and get acquainted with the staff there.
  Be sure you go to the spa “get acquainted” session your first day onboard – great specials and first choice of bookings if you decide to have some of their heavenly treatments. Relax, you deserve it!
  Telephone calls are terribly expensive, so if you need to communicate with people back home, let them know when you will be on American soil (cell rates are cheaper then) or have them email you – RCCL has a wonderful email program and if you purchase a program of minutes with them, it is almost reasonable.
  Cruisecritic.com is a wonderful resource; both for your ports-of-call information, and for meeting your future fellow passengers.
  Don’t get your hopes up when you see they have a scrapbooking class onboard; they’re pretty pitiful if you have done any scrapbooking at all. On our last cruise, most of us decided we could have taught the class better ourselves…but they sometimes do have some cute die-cuts.
  Enjoy yourselves, and I look forward to reading all about your trip when you get home! Happy Holidays!

• 90. Barb  |  December 12th, 2007 at 8:22 pm

  You are going to have a GREAT time! I have only been on one … RC Navigator of the Sea and will be going on a second this coming summer to Alaska.

  Here are my tips:
  Put some clothes for each of you in each suitcase. If one gets lost … at least you will have something to change to. My friend learned this the hard way and had no clothes for 5 days … except what she bought and borrowed on the ship.

  Take some motion sickness meds with you … Over the Counter if you typically are not bothered by travel. This is “just in case”. I think one person in my party of 6 ended up not feeling well for a day or so.

  Look over the brochures they leave in your cabin for the next day’s events and try to pick out what you think you cannot miss. It is so busy, we missed things because we got caught up doing other things.

  Everyone on the ship is there to make your voyage enjoyable. Ask if you need something … ask if you don’t understand something. Try a new food. Ask your server what is best … they are happy to share their knowledge on the foods. They can describe them and tell you which are spicier or blander or sweeter … they really know their stuff and they will quickly figure out your likes/dislikes and will help steer you the best direction.

  Don’t forget to relax! Nothing is better than watching tghe sun go up or down on the horizon. We had a balcony room and I loved sitting out there first thing in the morning… to get a little quiet time.

  We always disembarked at port, but typically after eating a good breakfast and then we typically ate a later lunch back on board.

  Explore the ship. You can see where the captain/bridge is. You can go from one end to the other. Typically every thing is marked that you cannot enter.

  We had no children with us, but one evening the children did a Pirate show for us and they marched thru the dining room dressed in costume singing their pirate songs! We loved it.

  There was at least one night that RC NoftheSea had a chocolate show where they did huge displays and sculptures of chocolate. It filled the dining room! We were able to view it around 10-11PM then the Eat it part came after midnight. If we only had prepared with a nap! We walked thru the display, but did not stay awake for the food fest.

  Be prepared to have an activity for young ones (and husbands) when leaving the ship at the end of your cruise. That is probably the worst part. The line is long not because of the cruise line … but you have been out of the states and must go thru customs. We also had a big lay over at the airport. If you have one, you will want to be prepared with something for the young ones to do.

  ENJOY! I am a little jealous knowing what a GREAT TIME you are about to have!

• 91. Kimberly  |  December 12th, 2007 at 8:38 pm

  If you are soda drinkers pack some cans in your suitcase. The prices on the ship are CRAZY and they usually only offer like coke, sprite, and diet coke and I HATE coke products. Next time I will pack some Mt. Dews!!

• 92. Megan  |  December 12th, 2007 at 8:40 pm

  1) Those over the door shoe organizers are great for sorting out your stuff in a small cabin,
  2) Enjoy the food. Don’t make yourself uncomfortable by overeating but enjoy it.
  3) Soak up some rays on the deck and enjoy some relaxation time. There’s so much you can do on a cruise ship that you can actually get stressed just trying to have fun!

• 93. Debbie  |  December 12th, 2007 at 9:01 pm

  1.) Remember to take a waterproof bag for wet bathing suits. Also remember to take a small suitcase for when you disembark. You must put your luggage out the night before your final day. That way you can have your change of clothes and makeup until you collect your bags.
  2.) Sales in the shops are always late in the cruise. Buy at the end. Also specials in the spa are toward the end or even at stops in port. Watch for those. If you have a massage or somthing you can usually use the other spa amenities and just enjoy that area of the ship for no extra charge.
  3.) We always took walks out of the deck after dinner. It helps with the fullness.
  4.) If you get to the ship a little late in the window (like boarding 1-4 pm), you wil experience shorter lines. Everyone wants to get there at 1 pm and it’s awful.
  5.) The daily papers are great! We read them and plan out what we want to do or not to do. You can’t do everything so plan carefully.
  6.) We buy the soda card, it is a real deal if you drink cokes at all. I’m not sure if Royal Carib. does this but most do. Remember that alcohol is in addition and is added on at the end. Don’t be shocked by the bill at the end. Remember those who really treated you great and tip accordingly. The staff doesn’t make much and relies heavily on tips to survive.
  7.) The onboard hospital has motion sickness medication, sometimes for free. They don’t want you to be sick on the ship! You might want to call the ship and ask ahead of time so you don’t spend unnecessarily. I get sick in planes/cars but NEVER get sick on a ship. It’s just so big. I never slept better – like being rocked like a baby.
  8.) Take pain meds, stomach antacids, diarhea meds, etc., with you as if you need them they are very expensive on board. I usually take a little medicine bag full of things we might need. If we don’t I just put them back in my cabinet at home for later use.
  9.) Don’t forget suncreen.
  10.) Be warned – cruises are addicting.

• 94. Kathy  |  December 12th, 2007 at 9:11 pm

  Cruising is a lot of fun!! I have been on 2 and had a blast on both of them. I have 2 pieces of advise:

  1) Ask your cabin steward to bring you 2 itineraries to your cabin each day so you can save 1 of those for your scrapbook and I would usually carry the other one around so I know what is going on for the day.

  2) Tips – You are expected to tip your head waiter, waiter, maid, and cabin steward. If you want to use your seapass card (plastic $$ on the cruise ship) and have the tips go on your credit card, make sure you do it ahead of time (usually 1 to 2 days before the end of the cruise). If you do not want to use your credit card, make sure you save enough cash to tip at the end.

  Enjoy the ship, go to the shows and participate in at least 1 round of BINGO, you will have a blast!!

• 95. Judi Ziemann  |  December 12th, 2007 at 9:12 pm

  Merry Xmas, have a wonderful time on your cruise! My daughter and husband and their two girls went on the Xmas Disney cruise and just loved it!! They all wore the sea bands, that can be purchased at Walgreens and had no trouble at all with motion sickness. They said they were soooo busy, time went really fast so do all you can, take lots of pics, and enjoy yourselves. Take airbourn along so the germs cant get you, it pays to be safe.

• 96. Candace  |  December 12th, 2007 at 9:31 pm

  Love cruising…hubby & I try to do 2 a year. We are off on a New Years cruise in a couple of weeks. We like early dining that way if you want to relax and catch a sunset before night life (and digest supper) you have some time after dinner before the “night life” kicks into full gear.

  I always take an assortment of ziplock baggies with me (from the small snack size to the Jumbo XL ones – they hold 12X12 easily with room to spare) and a sharpie to label the baggies with all my scrapbook collections. This way all your “treasures” are water and dirt proofed. I collected sand from one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to in the snack size so I could fill a shaker box for my scrapbook. (I have the cruise scrapbook from SYT and it is almost full….)

  Make sure to get a good copy of the daily paper, and save your chocolate mint wrappers – you can refill them with foam “mints” (crafters foam) to add to a layout.

  I like to do collages of the towel animals they are a fun part of the cruise that I always look forward to.

  Write down your waiter & stewards names so when you write about them in your scrapbook as you most likely will because they help to make the cruise so special you won’t be trying to zoom in on the photo you have of them to read their name tag.

  I have also done a layout of all the food my hubby and I ate in the dining room from our last cruise. When it is servered it is picture perfect and tastes as good as it looks.

  Enjoy the 24 hour ice cream machines!!!

  I could go on and on with endless suggestions…but I will sum it up with: just relax and enjoy the truly carefree atmosphere.

  Can’t wait to hear all about it and hopefully see some great layouts!!!

• 97. Kimberlee  |  December 12th, 2007 at 9:38 pm

  Hello! I have been on 3 cruises and am currently planning at least 2 more! The biggest thing for me was to take a wrap and a couple of cartigan sweaters with you for the dining room and entertainment. I tend to get cold in restaurants and it was no different on any of the 3 ships I have been on. I took just standard black and white to cover all evenings. We also take lots and lots of formal pictures on board, much to my hubby’s dismay, and then only buy the ones we like. If you see pictures you like, please pick them up at that time, otherwise you will end up sorting through piles and piles at the end of your cruise. I also purchase the pictures of us getting off of the ship at every port. You see this has the name of the port on the picture and that is how I begin scrapping the photos from that stop. It looks great and I don’t have to do much but a few embelishments on that page, just take a quick peak out the door before you walk down the gang plank, one side typically has a better background than the other! Have a great time, pack some benadryl and bug spray in addition to your sunscreen….you might need it on some of the more jungle type stops!

  Happy cruising, can’t wait to hear all about it!

  Kimberlee

• 98. Teri S.  |  December 12th, 2007 at 9:53 pm

  You will have a blast! The suggestion about putting some clothes in each other’s suitcases is great!
  Unfortunately, we had some MAJOR flight delays and didn’t have time to get our luggage from the airline before boarding the ship!
  (The cruise line mandated we leave our luggage)
  I had packed swimsuits, extra outfits, and a nice slack outfit for dinner in a carry on. Our luggage finally caught up with us 48 hours later. I am happy to say, we were in alot better shape than several others on our flight.
  Have fun and Merry Christmas to you and your family! You deserve it!
  Teri

• 99. Charles Kimball  |  December 12th, 2007 at 10:02 pm

  We have been on 4 cruises. We love cruising…we have been to Alaska (2), Hawaii, and the Mediterranean. In Europe everything is so expensive, but being on a cruise ship you know where your going to sleep, never a worry about food there is plenty… Our Mediterranean Cruise was on the Brilliance of the Seas. We have had balconies and the cheap seats, yes the balcony is great, but $$$ also. We are going to the Northern Europe in July 2008. I hope you have a great time and enjoy cruising as much as we do! A web site that is really good is CRUISE CRITIC a lot of questions answered and information are given by impartial cruisers on ships, ports and etc. it is worth checking out…

• 100. Loine van Pelt  |  December 12th, 2007 at 10:15 pm

  No wonder your supplies disappear fast – this has been up one day and I’m the 100th blogger! Julie, you and your family are going to LOVE cruising. TAKE LOADS OF PHOTOS – you are going to see scrapping opportunities everywhere you look….the sailing, coming into ports, lowering of “lifeboats”, lifeboat drill, midnight buffet, captain’s cocktail party, etc. You are doing exactly the right thing by having your first cruise be a short one. That way you aren’t investing a ton of money without knowing whether or not it is going to be something you will enjoy. RCI is a great line – their ships are fabulous. I’m not that familiar with the one you are sailing on, but the majority of their ships have the ice rink, in-line skating paths, climbing wall, Main St promenade down the middle of the ship, etc. I am so jealous I can hardly stand it! I am a total cruise junkie – have been on 41 and hope to go on 41 more before I leave this planet! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. And be sure and let us know how the trip was when you post again in two weeks…….(Betcha you also find some more special papers, diecuts, stickers, etc. that you just HAVE to have!) THANKS FOR SHARING and giving us a chance to give you some input!

  Oh, nearly forgot – get out all the clothes you think you will need, then put half of them back. I have never yet worn everything I’ve brought with me……if the kids get dirty, there are laundry facilities on board (bring quarters), or you can have the ship’s laundry do them for you – overnight.

  Bon Voyage!

• 101. Nancy  |  December 12th, 2007 at 10:19 pm

  5 days/4 nights WILL NOT BE ENOUGH! You will be ready for a longer cruise the next time. It seems like you just get started and it’s over.

  I have cruised 17 times and have another one in the works for July this year.

  The Cruise Critic has some great information. Also, there is a book Cruise Savvy, an invaluable primer for first-time passengers by John Maxtone-Graham.

  In this day of internet – you will be able to find a ton of information for first-timers. I bet you will go again within a year and you will go for a longer cruise.

  Our last one was 28 days! We don’t even consider anything less than 10-11 days now.

  Enjoy and don’t eat too much.

• 102. Nancy  |  December 12th, 2007 at 10:24 pm

  I just read the 100th blog and want to reiterate the clothes thing. I too always pack way too many clothes. Be sure to journal every day. Also keep any programs, tour information, brochures about what you see. It will be invaluable information. Since we cruise for longer periods of time, I take an 9 x 13″ brown clasp envelope and put all my brochures, postcards, etc. in at the end of each day. That way you don’t have a big stack to go through when you get home.

• 103. Caroline  |  December 12th, 2007 at 11:09 pm

  I’ve been on over 35 cruises but am a newbie scrapbooker (attended CKC last year and really got inspired).. You will love cruising BUT I will warn you that over the holidays there are sooo many children on board.. your kids will love this vacation and you won’t have to cook but go back sometime when it’s not a holiday if you want to realyyyyyy relax we are going Jan 5 for our first ‘08 cruise.
  Oh, and for scrapbooking the best tip I can give is get postcards in port.. and scan them to use as background paper? I love your papers and wish cruise lines would allow you to use their logos etc. as background on 12x.12 !
  Bon voyage and have a margarita for us!

• 104. Shirley  |  December 12th, 2007 at 11:10 pm

  If you plan to do any snorkling, take dog biscuits to feed the fish. If you put them in the water, the fish will come right up to you and nibble on them right out of your hand.

  Take some time to just sit on the deck and relax or read a book. I seem to always be so on the go, that I miss out on the opportunity to just take some time to relax and enjoy the ocean.

• 105. Vickie W  |  December 12th, 2007 at 11:14 pm

  If you get the “patch” – use it the way the instructions say to. My husband didn’t put it on until the second night when he was already sick. We missed the captain’s supper and that was very disappointing. Also, if you are going to do excursions, be sure to sign up RIGHT AWAY. We unpacked, looked around a little while, then went to sign up and everything was filled that we have wanted to do. Don’t wait! The food and entertainment was great. You will have so much fun!

• 106. Barb  |  December 13th, 2007 at 12:02 am

  I’ve been on 5 cruises, all with Royal Caribbean. They do a fabulous job with everything.
  Someone mentioned about taking money for tips but on Royal Caribbean, everything is paid for with the card you receive once you board. You’ll get a summary of the bill a couple of days before the end of the trip so you can look it over at that time. Final bill will show up under your room door the last night of the cruise.
  Check out the activities they have planned for younger children. I’m not sure how young they can be but one night before the entertainment started, they paraded the children through the room so they could show off the costumes they had made and what they had done.
  Have a wonderful time and try a frozen mango marguarita – they are delicious!

• 107. michelle  |  December 13th, 2007 at 12:08 am

  We have been on 2 week long Disney Cruises and wouldn’t change a thing. First bring your own Dramamine. Bring a clock that glows in the dark and an extension cord. Your own travel iron so you don’t have to wait in line in the laundry room. I brought 7 day outfits and 7 night outfits. I didn’t spend all that money to do laundry on my vacation. We brought a small lunch box style cooler so when we went on excursions we could bring our own food (Disney gives you room service free so we ordered ahead). Get the Sting Eze in case of jellyfish sting. Underwater camera or two and have a great time.

• 108. Maria Llamas  |  December 13th, 2007 at 12:27 am

  enjoy! Make sure to see the shows and try all the different foods. I have been on 3 and the last one was with my kids (boys 11, and 9). Take advantage of the kid events but don’t push them. Remember about the tipping, usually 10 per day per person in the room and this covers everyone and take advantage of all the free food and drinks on board. Get the patch or take dramamine if needed. Also, granny smith apples are suppose to help settle upset tummies. Make sure the kids don’t eat too much junk (or variety of it), the combo of all the goodies and the ocean don’t always mix. Have a great time!

• 109. Miss Kim  |  December 13th, 2007 at 9:08 am

  You will love Cruising! It is amazing. I spent most of my souvenir money on pictures onboard. They are great but expensive. It was my one luxury onboard.
  The drink plans for soda pop for the kids is cost effective if they drink a lot, otherwise it can be a waste of money. They usually have a limited selection of soda, like coke, diet and something clear. Check it out before you make your purchase.
  Get off the boat in every location and enjoy the area! Do the silly tourist things and enjoy some of the ships excursions. Take billions of pictures. If you are digital, take your laptop and download every night so you don’t have to worry about loosing your memory stick’s if your camera is lost or stolen.
  Save all your receipts, ships newsletters, luggage tags, brochures, etc for scrapping later. Take pictures of the signs everywhere you go. It will help you later remember the names of where you were.
  Take pictures of the ship and your room. Snap shots from the land of the boat. Muster Drill pictures are hilarious. Make sure you take your camera to that. Make sure someone takes your picture in your huge orange vest!
  Good luck and enjoy every minute! Happy Holidays.

• 110. Sandy S  |  December 13th, 2007 at 9:22 am

  We just went to Key West and Nassau on Carnival in October. I have never been on RC but I know Carnival had a great kids program. You definitely will not go hungry – there is food everywhere you turn. Take the trolley tour in Key West – it was about an hour but it was really neat. Your cruise should offer a brief meeting about shore excursions – go to that and usually they tell you where all the great shopping places are. I got a couple coupons for things such as a free pair of pearl earrings , etc. Don’t forget a hair dryer ! Have fun ! I just bought several cruise items from your site !

• 111. JamaicaRose  |  December 13th, 2007 at 9:33 am

  Been on many cruises and loved them all. Make sure you book your cruises from January thru May (for the Caribbean) if you want good weather. We booked our 1st cruise for November and had a tropical storm follow us all the way to Mexico and then we had to cruise through it coming back to Florida.
  Also take anti-diarreal medicine with you. I got sick on the last cruise we took from something I ate and was up all night. Have a good time and take lots of pictures to scrap!!

• 112. Karin  |  December 13th, 2007 at 9:36 am

  We went on a Disney Cruise last year and went all out because we didn’t think we would spend the money on another cruise again – we have another Disney Cruise booked for next November. My husband had a heart attack 4 years ago at the age of 38 and I vowed not to put anything off for the future again. I am so glad we went on that cruise. It was the best. Tips: purchase alot of professional cruise pictures but take them home as a CARRY-ON because a piece of our luggage was lost and didn’t make it home with us and I thought our pictures were in there – but weren’t – thank goodness; take a travel iron; eat at the early dinner so you can hit the evening shows before the children get too tired; take a few excursions – the kids loved it; purchase a journal for each of your children (if they are old enough) and have them write about their day before you go to bed every night – it was interesting to read their perception of the cruise; don’t worry about the dress code – everyone dresses to their comfort level; don’t over pack; take all extra daily news papers home for the scrapbook; we sent ourselves a postcard from Disney’s own private island in the Bahamas and received it a month after we got home as a reminder of all the fun we had; and last but not least: relax and enjoy the time with your family.

• 113. Peggy  |  December 13th, 2007 at 9:54 am

  I read thru a lot of the tips already mentioned and agree that the early dinner is probably better with children. I would do the later one if no kids. But I agree that sometimes if you were on an excursion, it was a bit of a rush to get to the earlier dinner time. I brought WAY too many clothes. We went to Nassau, St. Marten, St. Johns…usually we were in swimsuits all day, even if we were onboard the ship. So a couple pairs of shorts would have been just fine. And maybe 4-5 tanktops. I did bring many swimsuits, which were fun! Swimwraps were necessary. Nighttime entertainment is fantastic! Enjoy that. I actually was pretty tired after our cruise! Lots to do. We met so many fantastic people, friends that we still are in contact with. I know there is ton more to say, but I think the biggest thing for me, with 3 kids, was not to have barely ANYTHING to carry on. Each with a backpack (not packed full) and me with one bag (not heavy). We almost missed a connecting flight and had to run thru the airport like crazy people (I thought my hubbie would have a heart attack!). Everything was so darn heavy I could have screamed. So, that’s it! Have a fabulous trip – I am jealous! We would do one again in a second!

• 114. Diana in Texas  |  December 13th, 2007 at 9:55 am

  We too are going on a cruise Jan. 13, 2008 with our 3 kids. They are now 12, 14 and 18 but went on their first cruise 8 years ago. We are going on the Voyager of the Seas. Here are a few tips that are helpful to us. I would take the early dinner. If you booked the late seating you can change it once you get on the ship. Traveling with small children, it is better to have the early sitting. They have kid programs that run 9-12, 2-5 and 7-10pm everyday. If you pick the late seating the kids will miss out on the fun things that they do with them in the evening segment. Royal Caribbean has an excellent kid program. My kids like it the best. We have been on RCI, Carnival, NCL, Celebrity and Princess. As for sea sickness. If you feel sick stay in the middle of the ship on the lower decks. You will not feel the motion. I have been on 2 cruises during a hurricane. My last one was on the Ecstasy out of Galveston during Hurricane Katrina for my 20th anniversary. That was a very rough ride for 2 days but I think most of the people did fine and that ship is half the size as the one you are going on. I agree with Lisa in Vegas, save the loose clothes for the end of the cruise.LOL Participate in as much activities as you can. You will never see these people again. We have been in the Newlywed game (lost big time but makes for great pictures for the scrapbook) and many others and RCI has an adult game called The Quest. This is not to be missed. Take camera and camcorder!! Pay the extra for the group babysitting after 10pm that night since the game starts at 10:30pm. This is our highlight of all our RCI/Celebrity cruises. I know ya’ll will love it and be hooked as we are. There is so much to see and do for any age and it is usually an inexpensive vacation if you go when kids are in school. (Tip for next time) We always take our kids out of school for the week and have never had a problem. We usually go during hurricane season (Sept/Oct) because you get the best rates. Have a great time and take lots of pictures. Also, if you do not have a water camera, I personally use the Kodak waterproof cameras. They take excellent underwater pictures and the kids have fun using them snorkeling. They also have ice cream free for the taking at the buffet so watch the kids. Mine basically have their mouths to the nozzel the entire week! And every article of clothing they own has chocolate ice cream stains on them!!LOL Someone mentioned laundry – RCI does not have “do it yourself” laundry. If you need something cleaned you will have to have the ship do it for you for a price. I have been scrappbooking for 15 years and I always keep the daily compass that they give you for the activities of the day. I save everyone that they leave in the room for the scrapbook and go to the pursers desk and get a copy for us to use for the day. They are worn by days end and not worth putting in a scrapbook. Same with the kids. They will get their own according to the age group. The ship will take your picture as you get off at each port. I always get these no matter what we look like (sunglasses do wonders!) because it tells where you are and is great for the scrapbook. I also always make sure we are dressed “tropical” for the picture when we board the ship because it is also a great “starter picture” for the scrapbook. When the ship photographers come around, especially in the dining room to take pictures, get up and stand by your kids. They will take one of each one of you and that can add up if you buy all of them. We also take advantage of Formal Night and this is when we get our yearly family photo done. Everyone is already dressed up and everyone with a family of 5 knows it is a hassel to go to a studio to have it done. You can go all over the ship to the different backgrounds and have it done. Be sure and get dressed early so you have your picture before dinner. One of my boys tends to wear what he eats. Also ask your kids throughout the cruise if they have had their picture taken. They will take kids pictures while they are in the kid program, getting ice cream or swimming. This way you will know to look for those too.
  The day after pictures are taken I would go to the photo gallery and find yours and buy them then. The prices do not go down on photos at the end of the cruise. If you wait until the end you will not be able to find all of your pictures among the thousands that they have taken. Also, don’t make copies. Once you get home you can call RCI and they will fax you a release to copy their photos. Carnival does this too. I make separate scrapbooks for each cruise but I also have ones for each of my 3 kids so I have to have copies of the group pics for their albums too. Thanks for all the cruise scrapbooking supplies. The hurricane paper and Katrina die cut were perfect for my 20th anniversary album in Aug 2005. BON VOYAGE!!!

• 115. Sylvia Watson  |  December 13th, 2007 at 10:09 am

  When traveling with kids, you might want to take the little tubes of therir favorite drink mixes, some bottled water, and an individual drink container – one with the pull up top, to avoid spills. You can’t always get their favorite drinks, or kool aid. You also might want to try the sugar free mixes, to avoid those sugar highs.
  Enjoy the trip!

• 116. JamaicaRose  |  December 13th, 2007 at 10:18 am

  If you want almost perfect weather go between Jan and May. Also bring anti-diarreal medicine. I got sick on my last cruise from something I ate at the international buffet they had and was up all night in the bathroom. And the next day I had a hard time finding a drugstore to buy some and was it expensive. Any medicine you think you might need take because even if you get it on the ship it will be expensive.

• 117. Kim Berry  |  December 13th, 2007 at 11:24 am

  We took our boys on a Carnival cruise last Christmas, and we were all first timers. We were able to keep it a surprise though (it was tough for my husband NOT to tell the boys)…but we told them Christmas Eve to go pack a suitcase and left it at that. So once we got to the airport, they figured it out little by little. We sailed out of Miami and went to Key West and Cozumel.

  We did the early dinner so that we could enjoy the shows in the evening time. Although even after dinner, the boys could definitely be found at the pizza and ice cream stations!! always food to be found on a cruise!

  Our boys are all teenagers, so they pretty much had the ship figured out within the first few hours. There are lots of activities going on for all ages.

  I saw some comments about sea sickness…I took Dramamine, however, the only problem with that is that it made me very sleepy. We sailed right through the middle of a storm and hit some pretty high waves and we could definitely feel them. I was told that if you feel sick, go to the middle of the boat to get that balance. We went on a 2nd cruise for the 4th of July with the boys for a summer vacation, and fortunately didn’t run into any storms. However, I found these bracelets at Rite Aid or CVS drugstore and they are kinda like sweat bands, but they have a ball in them that is applied to the pressure point on your wrist and I found those to work great!! so this time I was able to stay up later to see the shows without falling asleep so early!

  Happy Sailing!! I thought it was a great experience and the kids will absolutely love it!!

  Merry Christmas everyone!!

• 118. CruzerGurl  |  December 13th, 2007 at 11:26 am

  I have been on many cruises and I can tell you that you will get hooked! It is an amazing way to see the world for a fair and reasonable price. Since almost everything is included except alcohol in your cruise price, you can leave your cares behind and let someone else take care of you for a few days!

  If you do drink at all, when you first get on the ship, Royal has wine packages that may be of interest to you. Also, if you drink soda products at all, PLEASE get the soda package on the first day of the trip. You pay something like $7/day up front and your sodas are unlimited whereas if you pay for them each time, they are somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.95 + gratuity each!

  Also, if you decide that you love cruising (which I am sure you will), sign up for Royal’s Crown & Anchor program which is their frequent flyer program for repeat cruisers. The program has many benefits and each time you cruise with them you get special stuff.

  If you can handle it, my recommendation is to have the late dinner seating. It is usually at 8pm. My husband and I now have a tradition of relaxing on the top deck and watching the sunset in the evening while the early seating guests are rushing around to get ready and get seated for dinner. It makes for a much less rushed and relaxing cruise. Also keep in mind that you do not have to eat dinner in your assigned dining room, but you usually get better food in there….especially on formal night – usually a good lobster tail is a choice on formal night. Also remember that you can order as much or as many items as you like. If you find an appetizer that you love, order two or three….it is all included!

  Just remember the following things to ensure your cruise is the most delightful vacation possible:

  Make sure you have all of the proper travel documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)

  Bring some Dramamine – just in case of sea sickness

  Drink only bottled water while on the cruise – to be safe from water-borne illness (I always like to be careful so I am not sick during my vacation!)

  Remember any prescription medications

  Don’t be in a hurry to do all kinds of excursions so much that you do not get to relax and enjoy yourself

  Spa treatments are usually at least 15% cheaper while in port rather than when you are at sea

  Take advantage of the Adventure Ocean program for the kids – they will love the activities and you will love the alone time!

  Take LOTS of photos! And always remember to visit scrapyourtrip.com to get cool stuff to preserve your memories!!! )

  Have GREAT time!!!

• 119. Janet Bessette  |  December 13th, 2007 at 11:44 am

  We have been on one cruise and that was to Alaska aboard the Holland America line. This company is more attuned to the older crowd although there were some younger guests aboard. We had an awsome time as I am sure you will. Early dinner is good if you want to see some of the evening entertainment. However, the downside is having little time between returning from a shore excursion and dressing for dinner. Make sure you spend the first day checking out the ship and what is offered for entertainment so you don’t miss any of the things you really want to see or do. We ordered room service once for breakfast but I really enjoyed the mixing and mingling of the restaurants. My husband was ill one night though and room service brought a light meal for him (I ate in the dinning room with our traveling companions) and an evening movie on tv worked for us. All in all, I loved the trip and would do it again. Enjoy.

• 120. Liz Lowe  |  December 13th, 2007 at 12:01 pm

  Cruising is so relaxing. To prepare for your trip, check out my husband’s website http://www.cariberesource.com where you will find all sorts of helpful advice to make your trip a fantastic memory. For those out there already tired of winter, you can book a cruise or any other Caribbean getaway !! Lots of CD’s and books available too !! Have a great time

• 121. The Meikle's  |  December 13th, 2007 at 12:10 pm

  Happy Holidays to the Swatek Family. Best advice get there early. You won’t be able to get into your rooms but they will have a wonderful buffet. Have a small bag with cameras etc. Things you’ll need until you get into your room. Pass up the buffet until AFTER you have signed up for your spa treatments. Do that first … all the convenient times ususally fill up quickly. Then enjoy the buffet and have a wonderful time. Each morning under your door is a daily list of activities. Plan them with the family and work that plan. It’s exhausting but your week will be filled with such wonderful memories.

• 122. Judy aka scrapylady  |  December 13th, 2007 at 1:11 pm

  Julie, I want to add to comment #117’s reference to the bracelet. We use these on all our cruises and they really help. We do have a problem with sea sickness and on rough days take a pill but usually those bands will work alone. Another easy place to find them is boating stores and baby stores because Moms-to-be wear them too.
  Also someone mentioned earlier something for the kids to do. You “could” have a long wait to board the ship the first time so definitely something for them to play with or do. I have actually read a whole book while waiting to board in the past.
  Have a great time.

• 123. widget  |  December 13th, 2007 at 1:44 pm

  1) Explore the ship when you first arrive. It’s nice to know where everything is located.
  2) Bring a yellow highlighter. You need to STUDY the daily ship’s paper to know what is going on each day and highlight what you want to attend.
  3) Obtain an extra copy of the paper to aid in your scrapping of the trip.
  4) Book excursions in advance. Popular ones may be filled by the time you board the ship.
  HAVE FUN!

• 124. Cat  |  December 13th, 2007 at 1:52 pm

  Got a few tidbits ….
  1) take along an over-the-door organizer to put in the bathroom to save the counter space and keep things neater when you’re all sharing a small space.
  2) Take along 6 heavy big clips (for paper) to clip on the bottom of the shower curtain (it sometimes drifts and clings to your legs)
  3) Take a nightlight (the cabins are VERY dark)
  4) take a small extension cord with a mulitple plug end
  5) Take the elastic-y keychain things that you can wear on your wrist (for your room key) – or a lanyard. (you can sometimes get them from the casino)
  6) take sports bottles or cups with lids to fill at the buffet with water or juice etc to take on shore excursions.
  7) You can get reprints of your excursion tickets from the excursion desk (for the scrapbook)
  Ask at the pursers desk for a deck of cards (nice free souvenir !)
  9) Take a travel clock for the room
  10) Go to “afternoon tea”… it’s a fun/tasty experience and the kids will feel very grown up.
  HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!

• 125. Melinda  |  December 13th, 2007 at 3:05 pm

  I saw at least one other person recommended http://www.cruisecritic.com. It is a GREAT resource for cruisers-especially first timers. Check the roll call section for your cruise so you can meet your fellow cruisers. Have a great time! Cruising is great! Going on my fifth one in May.

• 126. Anne from NH  |  December 13th, 2007 at 3:21 pm

  Don’t overpack! Don’t be afraid to re-wear clothes! I needlessly brought way too much stuff-only wore half of it. Not sure what you have for laundry facilities on board; there were none available for us to use. You had to have it done and it costs a fortune. My friend handwashed stuff in our room and then ironed it in the room. (They usually do not provide irons because of fire risk; I had a small travel one that we were very careful with.) I regret not buying a few cases of water before going on board. You may want to do that if you have the opportunity. It’s pretty costly to buy on board. Buying the soda/drink plan is okay but pricey for an entire family.
  Sign up early for any spa appointments-they fill up fast! They do try and sell you their products afterwards but that is totally up to you as far as purchasing.My husband and friend both purchased skin care items and thought they were wonderful! I was just happy with the seaweed wrap and massage. It was HEAVEN!
  As far as excursions, best to sign up before going but we also were able to get into tours on shore that were not affiliated with the ship and they were great.
  Do not take your children onto any party boat type excursions. They are not suitable to have children on. They can be pretty raunchy-spring break type of stuff can go on. Funny but not a place for kids.
  If your are in Miami early, take advantage of the shopping/entertainment area right near port-called Bayside. It was great. Places to eat, drink STRONG Cuban coffee, outdoor entertainment. Was just nice to relax a bit after a long travel day getting there. We went to breakfast before getting on the next morning.
  Anti-nausea meds? Bonine often works better than Dramamine because it tends to not make yo as drowsy. Sea Bands help too. I tend to get motion sickness and used those. The only day I really had a problem was when we had 14 ft waves in Grand Cayman!!!! Otherwise, I was golden.
  Don’t be afraid to use the kids’ activities; they’re safe and totally great! My 14 yr old daughter went while we went to a comedy show that was not appropriate for kids and she had a blast while there!
  We’ve been on two cruises thru Royal C. and they are great! Have a great time. Anne

• 127. Jennifer  |  December 13th, 2007 at 3:27 pm

  I have never taken my kids on a cruise before but they are only 2 & 4. But my husband and I went on one this past April. I swam with the sea lions and LOVED IT!! It was something that I would probably never do again and it was an awesome opportunity. The dolphins looked good too but filled up fast. Sea Lions were great and the kids might enjoy it. When we went I would not carry a purse. I would put money in my bra or some tight pocket. Nothing worse then having your purse or money stolen in a foreign place.

• 128. Sue  |  December 13th, 2007 at 4:31 pm

  You won’t believe the food on the cruise! On my first cruise I bought a beautiful white pants suit to wear home with my tan in the winter. The last night there was a cocktail party and we dressed up. You have to put your luggage outside your door the last night on board, and I pulled my white suit out, then set out my luggage. The next morning I discovered I gained 10 pounds in one week and my white suit didn’t fit. I had to wear my cocktail dress on the plane. My advise is to TRY ON YOUR OUTFIT before you give away your luggage.

  Have fun!

• 129. Donna Pinion  |  December 13th, 2007 at 4:35 pm

  Been on a lot of cruises. Just remember to have some “me” time. Make use of the childcare and spend a little time taking care of yourself, you will enjoy the children a lot more. If anyone starts to get quizzy go topside and let the sea air blow in their face and breath deep. Works everytime. Drink pleny of liquid. I know it sounds strange considering there is so much water around, but you have a tendency to get dehidrated on a ship. Make sure the kids get to see the sunset and sunrise it is usually very beautiful. Its fun to watch the sun go down and the moon come up. The kids will ask all kinds of questions. Don’t over eat, the food is usually great and over eating can be very unpleasant on a ship. Just enjoy, believe me this won’t be your last cruise.

• 130. Ann Burrows  |  December 13th, 2007 at 6:04 pm

  Just a quick note to tell you to have fun!!! I have been on many cruises, with and without children. Definately make use of child programs as they are geared for your kids, they will have more fun then hanging out with the grown-ups. Enjoy the shore excusions but since this is your first cruise, also enjoy the ship – don’t feel like you need to spend all your time on shore. This is actually a great time to spend time at the pool with your kids, there won’t be as many people around. Above all, relax and enjoy yourself and your family!

• 131. Helen  |  December 13th, 2007 at 6:53 pm

  I love cruising. I have a few suggestions. Those glow in the dark bracelets and necklaces are great to hang on door handles to see for night time bathroom trips. Slide your suitcases under the beds for storage and extra drawers. Schedule shore excursions ahead of time online as some sell out. Pose for all the professional pictures. You never know when a great shot will happen and the ones taken in each port help to keep things straight for scapbooking later. I took a file with 12 pockets and a closing flap and put each day’s receipts, itinerary, etc. in as we went along. It really helps when it comes to scrapping the trip later. Have a great time. This will probably not be your last cruise.

• 132. Sheri Mount  |  December 14th, 2007 at 4:01 am

  Julie! You will LOVE cruising! Unpack once, pack once! don’t over pack, you’ll buy fun tee shirts, etc on the trip and don’t take any really valuable jewelry. The save in the room isn’t always reliable. Most ships don’t do midnight buffets anymore but do ask for the early seating since you have your kids with you. I take a pill called Bonine for sea sickness and it really helps. (available almost any drug store) We’ve been on 14 cruises and can’t wait for the next one. (just so I can scrap it!) Book your spa appointments and excursions now, they do fill up. We don’t always do the ship excursions, sometimes you’re able to do the same thing by yourself with no cost invovled. Walk the ship for exercise, usually four times around is a mile. And if you do it every day, they usually give you a prize of some sort: a tee shirt or a sweat shirt or cap. Fun! Have lots of it.

• 133. Sandy Wilkins  |  December 14th, 2007 at 10:25 am

  I hope I’m not repeating… I just couldn’t read every response. I have never been on a cruise ship, but I lived on a sailboat for 11 years. RE: Sea Sickness. It seldom happens on a cruise ship because the motion (if any) is slow and gentle, but someone mentioned the patch and that’s a pretty good solution. If anyone tries the patch BE SURE TO WEAR IT FOR AT LEAST 3 DAYS AHEAD!!! Every now and then, a person reacts with hallucinations and it is not fun to find this out after you are cruising. DO NOT cut the patch in half. There is no way to coat the patch exactly even, so cutting could leave you with all the meds in one half and none in the other.

  Another solution, especially if you are not seasick, but just feeling a little puny. Ginger is a great solution for most people, but who wants to carry ginger root? You can take a regular spice jar of ground ginger and toss it in your suitcase. If needed, ask for a cup of tea and add no more than 1/2 teaspoon. It is not a pleasant taste, but it is not terrible either, and you may need a second cup. Not only will this stop your yucky feeling from getting worse, it will probably improve how you feel rather quickly. There are other ginger remedies, ie: special crackers, cookies, and sodas, but it must be made for this and not just a box of cookies. You need 1/2 box of ginger snaps to get the same amount of ginger. Special cookies can be purchased at some marine stores or on line.

  Have a really great trip!

• 134. Sharon  |  December 14th, 2007 at 12:06 pm

  I loved cruising, we went for the first time in July of 2006 for our 20th Anniversary.

  I saw some one say early seating for dinner, but we had wished for later seating for dinner so we had more time to do things. My husband wanted to stay up until after midnight ever night any way.

  I did not have problem with seasickness, only a little dizzy and some dramine took care of that. Just remember you can get some at the conceriege desk (sp) and don’t have to buy it. Or that is what I have heard since I have been off the ship.

  Go to the shows they were fun and we missed a few and really think we missed out.

  Don’t over pack! Uff dah, did we over do it with the dressy clothes! We went to Alaksa though so we did need warmer stuff.

  The most important thing! Have fun!

• 135. Gilly Bell  |  December 14th, 2007 at 1:18 pm

  Wow!

  Although I’m an intrepid Brit traveller and have been to many areas of the world, I’ve never cruised, even though my sister has raved about it for years.

  Guess what though? You people are so enthusiastic. I’m going to have to try it!

• 136. Linda Mattus  |  December 14th, 2007 at 2:51 pm

  I’ve been on several cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, the Panama Canal and Caribbean. It’s so relaxing and the best part is you can empty the suitcases and you are on a floating hotel. Since you have kids, would recommend the first seating for dinner; unfortunately, this will mean less time on shore. There is so much to do on a cruise ship you will never get bored and your stomach will never be hungry.

  The worst part of a cruise…packing everything the night before you dock and trying to figure out what to keep out that you will need in the morning. Plus, trying to find your luggage once you are off the ship.

  Overall though, I would cruise again without any hesitation.

• 137. BarbeFisher  |  December 14th, 2007 at 3:12 pm

  You are all cruising the wrong lines!! Regent Seven Seas may cost a little more, but the ships are smaller – about 720 passengers – and it is all inclusive. you have a free mini bar in the room with water, pop and beer. Water is provided free at every port for you to take on your excursion(it is right at the gangway) all beverages are free, including pop and alcohol. Two wines with dinner. NO assigned seating – you have 5-6 dining options plus free 24 hr room service. they have hand sanitizers all over the ship for you to use (and they work) and they have laundromats on each deck – free. And NO tipping policy. It is included in the cruise fare – saves all that little tipping.!!! We leave the maid a tip and usually the wine steward.
  We have done 5 cruises with Regent , just returned from a Thanksgiving Caribbean cruise, and booked another for next Fall while on board.

  Sea bands – are the bracelets you can buy for everone and they work. Any drug store should have them. We have had a few rough cruises so I take the patches of scopalamine with me. They work well, but make you VERY thirsty, so carrying water with you is a must.

  I pack everything in large Ziploc bags. You can put a whole outfit in one bag, socks undies and all – the kids can just pull a bag out of their suitcase and go. It gives you more room, makes the suitcase neater and speeds up things at the airport security.We also pack an outfit in our carryone, along with our medicine and toiletries, just in case the airline slips up!

  Take the kids for the Bridge tour or kitchen tour if they offer it. Very fun to do even for an adult.

  Most of all – have fun and relax. Enjoy each others company. It will be a great adventure!

• 138. Lauren  |  December 15th, 2007 at 3:21 pm

  I love cruising. Make sure when you go to the islands to get waterproof cameras because the water is so clear and you get great pictures. Also, don’t overpack. This is a hard one for me, but I’m learning. You think after the day in the sun you are going to change out of your bathing suits, but you’re not going to. Also, do the late dinner seating. I found out that I have more time on the islands with the 8:00 dinner because when it’s time to get ready, the ship is already pulling out of port so you won’t miss a thing. Do however, plan on chagning after the formal nights. As for the midnight buffet, just go early to look at it and then leave before it officially opens. Have fun!

• 139. Luv2cruise  |  December 15th, 2007 at 4:56 pm

  We took our first cruise WITH our son this past spring (my husband and I had cruised before). What he liked: rock wall, active excursions (jeep riding on the beach, exploring rain forest/caves, power snorkeling), the pool, rollerblading, video games/kids club. We booked all of our excursions before we departed — a must to make sure you get the ones you want and saves time on board! Early dinner — important, especially if you are booking early in the morning excursions. We asked our son (and helped him) keep a journal which he wrote in every night — this was a great addition to our cruise scrapbook as it reminded us of funny things that had happened during the day, and the trip from his perspective. We also purchased a group photo of our table (formal night photo) and on the last night of our cruise, we asked each of our tablemates to sign it and write a note to our son — what a treasure! Relax, enjoy! and, if you have time, have your husband rent his tux and shoes for formal night(s). Saves time and luggage space! Enjoy and don’t forget the sunscreen — you will be amazed at how fast you/your kids will burn nearer to the equator.

• 140. Christine Rivera  |  December 16th, 2007 at 2:40 am

  1. book your excursions online before you leave. it saves time and it is guarenteed.
  2. take a clock/alarm for your room.
  3. take water bottles with you.
  4. have sea sickness medicine just in case.
  5. suggest late dinner to maximize time during the day for activities.
  6. have cash on hand, especially small bills, when you are off the boat–you can’t bargain shop with a credit card or $20 bills.
  7. take underwater cameras with you.

• 141. Anne from NH  |  December 16th, 2007 at 5:24 pm

  One thing I noticed was when we got back on shore, I
  rocked” for a few days. I was really unsteady!!! Amazing how quickly you adapt to being on a ship!
  Be assured, the early seating is probably better with children. It may cut in on your shore time but I found the excursions were always back in time for the early dinner. The menus are great~lots of choices; always chicken, beef, fish, vegetatian choices as well as plainer fare if something seems too “unusual” for you. The waitstaff was great with our kids. The head waiter came right over when he saw my daughter struggling with cutting her meal! He prepared her entire meal for her! He even wanted to fix my lobster!!! Being from New England, I would’ve beeb embarrassed to have him fixing my meal! Also, if there is more than one item that appeals to you, you can go ahead and order two! We laughed about it but there were so many choices one night that deciding was hard!
  Once again, enjoy!

• 142. Cheryl  |  December 18th, 2007 at 8:49 am

  Don’t be alarmed when you see the size of your cabin, you hardly spend anytime in cabin, there are tons of things to do, even at all seaday.

  If the ships is rocking a lot, go to the middle of the ship, that’s usually where the bars are. The ship doesn’t rock as much.

  Read those newsletter that are left on your bed. They alert you to deals on the ship and gives an iterinary for the next day.

  Pace your eating. Its very easy to eat too much on cruises, the food on Royal Carribean is yummy. Take your camera to the grand midnight feast, you will get some great food snapshots for your scrapbook.

  Enjoy!

• 143. Evelyn Kelsey  |  January 2nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm

  My resolution is to complete my scrapbook for the three week trip I took to Italy in September 2005. I worked tirelessly for the past month and now down to the last 4 days of the trip in the book and counting. My niece who went with me, had her camera, computer and digital discs stolen from her home the month after we returned, and since her camera was better than mine, many times in Italy I said “there is a good shot” or “take one with your camera since mine isn’t good in low light.” Well, I think I was more depressed then her at the loss of the many photos, so just put my scrapin’ on the shelf. Now that I am planning a three week trip to China in September 2008, I must get the Italy book complete. Thanks for all the Italian pages and stickers, and thanks for the ones I have already bought with an Oriental theme.
  My best to all the scraping group and to you and your family. Cruising can be fun by the way. Sorry your experience wasn’t the best.
  Happy and Healthy 2008.
  Evelyn