Tip the maître d’ upon embarkation – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

While dining in the main dining room is an experience not to be missed, dining with a group of three or four other couples is an experience most of us can do without. For those wanting a romantic dinner with their partner, you’ll quickly realize the tables for two are in high demand.

Upon embarkation, introduce yourself to the maître d’ and let him know of any special occasions you may be celebrating. Don’t forget to let the maître d’ know that you would appreciate a table for two — and offer him a gratuity for his time and consideration.

Say yes to the balcony – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

My husband and I decided that the best way to start our marriage was a honeymoon in the Bahamas.

One of the decisions that we had to make when booking our cruise was whether or no to pay extra for the balcony room. We booked the balcony grantee, which meant that we didn’t know exactly where our room would be but we were guaranteed to have a balcony.

It was so romantic to have our own balcony, and we spent a lot of our time at sea there. The price was not much more than the ocean view, but it was worth every penny!

Read more: Pay for windows – Cruise tip
Counterpoint: Get the smallest rooms – Cruise tip

Selecting the perfect shore excursions – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

I took the vacation of a lifetime last summer on an Alaskan cruise. Before I selected my shore excursions, I attended an informative session put on by the shore excursion staff. It was totally free to attend.

During the presentation, they showed me slides regarding the excursions and offered an excellent overview the hundred-plus shore excursions available throughout the cruise.

I was so inspired by the informative session that I went immediately to the shore excursion office to register for my excursions. I was not disappointed in a single shore excursion that I signed up for during the cruise!

Related: Purchase your excursions onboard – Cruise tip
Counterpoint: Research, and get off the beaten (excursion) path – Cruise tip

Pack a highlighter – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

My husband and I recently took our first cruise, and one thing he was smart enough to bring along was a bright yellow highlighter. I had no idea why he would bring it along, but apparently his frequent-cruiser relatives gave him this tip.

The first day of our cruise, we sat on our balcony sipping champagne reading the daily newsletter. My husband breaks out the highlighter and goes to town, highlighting all the activities that captured his interest.

I have to admit, it was a brilliant tip. There are so many activities onboard any cruise ship, and this is a simple, practical way to organize your time.

Ask for a map of the ship – Cruise tip

by Gadling Staff on

Most cruise ships have several floors with long hallways, multiple restaurants and rooms that look alike from the outside. Multiple levels and a variety of things to do means there’s more to remember, including where your room is located. Ask for a map and mark the room’s location as well as other areas you will be frequenting, such as the dining hall.

Make sure that everyone in your party has a copy of the map and never leaves the room without it. This way, if anyone gets lost it will be easier to stop and ask for help.