This is a guest post by Danielle Smith, an agricultural communications student at the University of Arkansas.
Danielle took her first cruise on the Carnival Conquest, sailing 7-days in the Western Caribbean to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico.
I had some ideas about what to expect when I went on my first cruise, but here are some things that surprised me, both good and bad, about cruising.
Read about my first cruise experiences to know more about what to expect.
1. The Food is Incredible and Offers a Good Opportunity to Try Something New
The food is absolutely incredible on cruises and many people go on cruises just for the food! Expect some yummy grub while sailing the seas.
My advice: eat in the restaurant as much as possible. It is already paid for in your cruise price and the food is much better quality than the buffets. Also, order whatever you want, it’s paid for. Try something new, order an appetizer and a dessert; enjoy yourself!
2. Alcohol Can Be Expensive but You Might Be Able to Bring Your Own Wine
I expected to pay a pretty penny for an alcoholic beverage, but prices were even higher than I expected.
My advice: check to see how much of your own alcohol you can bring on the cruise. Many cruise lines allow you to bring a couple bottles of your own wine or champagne; take advantage of this to save a few bucks. (BE SURE TO CHECK FIRST: Carnival, Princess and Holland America allow you to bring limited amounts of your own wine on board, but charge a corkage fee to enjoy it in the dining room; NCL and Royal Caribbean forbid you to bring on any alcohol, including wine.)
Will and Danielle with a comedian on the Carnival Conquest
3. The Service is Amazing
The service on cruises is incredible. Everything from dinner waiters, to entertainers, to the room concierge, you will feel like royalty.
My advice: get to know the staff. We found a dinner waiter that we liked and requested him every night; he always brought us little bonuses and took extra special care of us.
Check with your travel agent on how many pools to passengers there are on a cruise ship before you book.
4. Pool Space Can Be Limited
On our particular cruise there was only one small pool and 3 hot tubs for the whole cruise ship to use. From seeing TV commercials and ads I was expecting huge, beautiful pools.
My advice: Be prepared to share these common areas with a lot of people and if you are really into water attractions, do your research on the cruise line and ship you choose.
5. You May Not Need a Room With a Balcony
I was surprised to see that a room with a balcony that our friends stayed in was the same size and layout (minus the balcony) as our porthole room was.
My advice: unless you really want a balcony or plan to spend a lot of time in your room, don’t get too caught up where you are staying on the ship. Plus, there is too much going on to be in your room!
What surprised you about your first cruise? What advice do you have for new cruisers? Please share your thoughts in comments below.
A native of Stilwell, Kansas, Danielle plans to return to the Kansas City area upon graduation.
Danielle is currently working as a social media intern with VentureTime Travel. When she isn’t working or in classes, Danielle enjoys traveling the world with her fiancée Will.
Learn more about Danielle here.
Other posts on cruising you may want to check out:
- Do I Need a Passport to Go on a Cruise?
- 11 Out-of-the-Way Places Best Explored From a Cruise Ship
- How to Get an Onboard Credit For Every Cruise You Take
- Visiting Alaska by Cruise Ship? Answers to Your 6 Top Questions
- Photo Friday: Inside the Oasis of the Sea
- Cruising the British Isles: Onboard the Prinsendam