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But if you need more cash while on the cruise, you could incur that outrageous ATM fee simply by using the shipboard ATM. Instead, you can use a similar method, as described in the cruise hack above, to get cash from your onboard account. There’s usually no shortage of taxis waiting around for some cruise passenger dollars. But taxis at many cruise ports are notorious for overcharging unsuspecting cruise passengers. Be sure to know the going rate in advance and negotiate, where appropriate. Also, we’ve found that taxis often cost less (and are more pleasant) when catching them from town, rather than directly from the cruise port.
Bring magnetic hooks.
You may be surprised to find many empty seats right in the front in this particular corner of the theatre. During sailings on the Norwegian Star and the Holland American Volendam, the non-thru lower port-side theatre entrance was a sure bet every single time! While the starboard side was packed full every night, we’d easily slip into a front-row seat within minutes of the start of the show. Achieving a free balcony upgrade can be more difficult than ever these days.
Port excursions
Cruise expert's top advice and tips after sailing on 300+ ships - Business Insider
Cruise expert's top advice and tips after sailing on 300+ ships.
Posted: Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
As we’re always looking for the best values around the world, one of the questions we receive most about cruising is when to book a cruise to get the lowest price possible. Like airfare prices, cruise prices tend to fluctuate greatly and there’s no surefire way to guess exactly how those cruise fares may change. But based on past booking patterns, it is possible to have some idea of the direction cruise prices may be trending.
Where To Find A Super-Helpful Port Map
If not, the casino will be closed once it nears port, and you will have lost the ability to cash out your onboard credit. Meanwhile, at the beach, you’ll certainly want to stay out of the sun and have a place to relax. A pair of beach chairs with an umbrella regularly runs about $30-$50 and higher throughout most Caribbean ports.
Keep your toiletries organized and out of the way by packing them in a hanging toiletry bag. Cruise bathroom space tends to be limited, so a hanging bag makes use of the vertical space on the bathroom door or cabin wall. To avoid this problem, make sure to pack a few items of clothing in your travel companion’s bag, and vice versa. This way, at least you and your spouse still have at least a couple of things to wear and you won’t be stuck. There are many ways to use packing cubes to be organized as you pack for your cruise. Since you have to pay for parking a the port anyway, this is often a good value for cruisers.
Get Free or Cheap Drinks
Even people that cruise a lot find value in a travel agent for making the entire process easier. Good news, most cruise lines will let you price adjust if a better price comes along (unless the cruise is paid in full). There's so much to do on a cruise ship that you may wonder why it's worth spending extra for a larger room if all you're going to do is sleep, shower, and change in there. For those of you who don’t plan on spending much time in your room or aren’t fussy about cabin type/location, a great option to consider. Understandably, planning can be a bit overwhelming, especially for first-time cruisers. If you don't sign up for activities in advance, a backup strategy is to do so just after you board a vessel.
When traveling in larger groups or with your kids, you’ll want to have walkie talkies as a means of communicating since cell phones won’t work on a cruise ship. Some smartphones and watches even have a walkie-talkie mode or app that may work too. It may be worth it to get that photo package offered by the cruise ship.
Check your passport
The cabin location will be assigned to you prior to your cruise departure. Water is safe to drink on the ship, however many people like to have refillable water bottles to keep hydrated throughout the day. This is especially important when leaving the ship on cruise port days and excursions. While you can book cruise line shore excursions, in some cases it can be easy and give you more freedom to head to a beach or do a walking tour on your own. Of course, you always want to be safe and never miss the cruise ship so research is key.
Learn About Credit Cards
Our ship was NOT porting in the Bahamas, yet we strategically checked our phone’s data signal when the island was near. Turns out, we were indeed able to access the Internet for nearly an hour since Google Fi’s coverage covers the Bahamas. But using your phone data plan is not just limited to being in port. When we’re cruising through areas within a few miles of the coastline, it’s possible to connect phones to have Internet access through mobile data while on the cruise. Sometimes the port maps provided on the cruise will have such free wifi spots marked. If not, ask your favorite crew member where he/she goes to use the wifi.
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. As the head of The Points Guy's cruise content team, I get these sorts of questions all the time. Even if you aren’t planning to splurge on that massage, don’t be a stranger to the spa, which may also have some minimal complimentary facilities. If you don’t feel like squeezing into a cramped hot tub with a dozen other strangers, simply go when it rains. Unless it’s a really bad storm or lightning in the area, the pool facilities will remain open and functioning. When a ship is filled to capacity, it’s nice to have a pleasant place to retreat to for some serenity.
These last-minute bargains aren’t available during the height of a cruising high season. For example, if you want an Alaskan cruise during the middle of summer or a Caribbean cruise during the height of Spring Break, don’t dare wait to book those cruises last minute. Prices will likely rise before the cruise is ultimately sold out. If the price of a cruise does go down, you can usually change your booking to take advantage of the new pricing.
It’s not as rare as you’d think (just google the YouTube videos). Since green apples will usually be available in the buffet, take one or two back to your cabin ready to slice up and eat if you need them at any time. Although you won’t choose a specific cabin, a guarantee cabin is usually the best priced cabin in the cabin type. Often the price will be discounted by $100 or more per person, and you’re guaranteed that category or higher. If you’re a return passenger, you’ll likely receive an invitation to a past passenger cocktail party or event.
We recommend green apples and saltine crackers as natural seasickness remedies that are totally free on a cruise ship. All the crew members strongly advocate these tried-and-trusted natural remedies. You may even notice cruises more prominently offering green apples and saltines during any particularly rough days.
I admit, I've never done this, though I know I should — if only to wipe off the remote control for the cabin TV. Yes, you'll be able to find sunscreen, aspirin and Band-Aids on a cruise ship. Cruise lines know you're a captive audience and price their shipboard stores accordingly. Most cruising these days is casual, and you really only need a few outfits to rotate through a voyage. Many ships have launderettes on cabin decks where you can run a load or two of laundry every few days. Lastly, with so many cruise tips in this post to remember, be sure to bookmark this page or “pin” the image to the right to your Pinterest boards to save for later.
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