Vickie Travelz
Tip #1 Bring some money to tip the luggage porters when arriving at the port.
Tip #2 They are going to take your picture, alot. It starts before you board the ship. You do not have to participate but you should. Just smile and let them snap your picture, it is part of the experience. Every night you can go look for your pictures and toss the bad ones in the trash.
Tip #3. Budget some money for pictures. There are lots of photographers on board and they are good at their job. You will want to buy a picture or two or twenty.
Tip #4 Bring a corkscrew and a bottle opener. On a Carnival cruise, you are allowed to carry-on one bottle of wine per person, good idea if you like wine, but if you forget the corkscrew you will be taking it home with you. You can purchase a bucket of beer that holds 4 iced beers. You can carry it anywhere on the ship with you. But, you cannot open the beer without a bottle opener.
Tip #5 Bring sunscreen, bug spray and aspirin. You might not need it but it is worth the space in the luggage if you do.
Tip #6 Don’t bring any clothes that are even the tiniest bit snug. They wont fit after the 1st or 2nd day. The amount and variety of food, drink and dessert available while in relax mode guarantees at least an extra pound or two. Hot chocolate & BLTs via room service is a family favorite.
Tip #7 If you are a photographer at heart, bring your camera. My daughter is a natural photographer and captures some amazing pictures with her phone but I need the camera to help me take some nice pictures. I can’t capture the vibrant colors with my phone.
Tip #8 If watching people drink alcohol bothers you, consider a different vacation. You can still have fun on a cruise if you don’t drink alcohol but there are bars everywhere and people drinking everywhere. They give out free mimosas when you attend a 10 a.m. seminar. Drinking is an all day activity for some.
Tip #9 Bring walking shoes. You will be walking all over the ship. Up the stairs, down the stairs, front of the ship, back of the ship. You will have beautiful calves at the end of the cruise if you never take the elevator.
Tip #10. Ladies, bring the heels for dressing up at night but be prepared to leave them in the stateroom. Walking in heels on a ship is a bit different than walking on land in heels. Also, your legs might hurt from walking all day or you might just be in a flip flop mood.