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What mistakes did you make as a newbie cruiser?

What mistakes did you make as a newbie cruiser?

Old Jun 14th, 2014, 11:24 AM
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What mistakes did you make as a newbie cruiser?

Come on, fess up I remember two. It was before discovering Fodor's and Cruise Critic.

1) Buying something in a gift shop I tried to pay cash. I had no idea that all goes on the statement.

2) A friend who sailed on the same ship, same route, told me they don't have herbal tea on that ship, only coffee and iced tea, so I brought some packets.
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Old Jun 14th, 2014, 06:52 PM
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Thought that the only way to see the ports was through the ship's shore excursions.
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Old Jun 15th, 2014, 09:16 AM
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On our stops in Villefranche (Monaco) I hailed a cab to go to Monaco and wow $50.00 one way. I figured our better ways to commute after that.
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Old Jun 19th, 2014, 09:41 AM
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Too many to list, and probably too embarrassed to tell. Since it has been so long ago, my memory failed me totally ...

We probably made some choices that we probably won't made again but I would much rather call them learning moments.

Here are some examples:
(1) Too much luggage. We travel much lighter now. We can survive a typical 7-days cruise on a 20" carry-on, with room to spare.
(2) Bought too much souvenirs. At least one item at each stop, plus the gift shop. We hardly buy anything now except for things that we know we will use after we got home.
(3) Trying to do too much. There is just no way that you can cover all the activities listed daily. Spent so much going from places to places that you are tired instead of being relaxed.
(4) Have more than 2 people in the cabin. Maybe I'll call this one a mistake. Our kids were with us on our first cruise, 4 of us in a cabin were too much. Didn't know any better or didn't ask questions.

Dayenu, trying to use cash and bring tea is nothing. I know someone else (other than me) used to pack coffee and a french press until the ship's coffee improved. It is really too much trouble to pack.
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Old Jun 19th, 2014, 12:08 PM
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. Who could that be????
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Old Jun 19th, 2014, 11:29 PM
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Larry!! Tsk, tsk, tsk
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Old Jun 20th, 2014, 02:48 AM
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All I want is a good cup of coffee. .
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Old Jun 21st, 2014, 06:19 AM
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Another newbie mistake: asking for a soft boiled egg at the buffet. It is just not possible.
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Old Jun 21st, 2014, 12:10 PM
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Expecting to receive toiletries such as shampoo in my cabin bathroom.
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Old Jun 21st, 2014, 02:27 PM
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HappyTrvlr, we have not been on any cruises where toiletries were not supplied. Depending on the cruise line, ship and/or cabin, it was either individual mini bottles like most hotels or bulk in the shower stall.
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Old Jun 21st, 2014, 02:39 PM
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Same here. HappyT when did this happen and what cruise line was it? We have had shampoo, conditioner, shower gel.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2014, 08:07 AM
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So far, five cruises, five different ships with three companies, always had toiletries supplied.

Before my mistakes, I did four Major things right. I made a good choice of ship, itinerary and time of year. Also, I flew into the port city the day before, using price line bidding for first time and got a beautiful hotel super cheap.

Mistakes, none of which actually affected my enjoyment of the cruise:

Didn't know about the daily schedule and didn't really look at most of the papers until about the third day, so missed activities.

Didn't think much about ground transportation ahead of time.

While I got a lovely hotel, it was kind of isolated. I should have selected one closer to the port and someplace with restaurants and good area to walk.

Knew nothing about cabin location, so took guaranteed inside category and lucked out to a nice mid-ship ocean view.

Thought there was an extra charge for all dining rooms, so ate in the buffet the first two days.

Didn't discover the gorgeous adult-only pool until day five. That, I would have liked every day.

Didn't plan land excursions, so joined groups spontaneously. It worked great sometimes, not so well other times.

Many things I did not think of taking, like flashlight, tape, sticky notes, marker, books, cards, etc.
I am sure there were many other mistakes that I do not recall.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2014, 08:27 AM
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Great point about point in one day early. We failed to do that our first two cruises but no problems so we were lucky I suppose.

Actually our 1st cruise was the western Med. out of barcelona and our TA told us to get a taxi or a private guide when we got off which worked very well so from the onset we did what veteran cruisers learn thanks to her advice.

Our last vacation included and overnight in Bangkok so I found a nice looking hotel at a very good price, like $50.00 including transport to and from the airport so I took it. Well that was a bit of a mistake as the advertised ride was double what they said and it was basically in the middle of nowhere and the road immediately leading to it was so full of potholes the driver had to swerve like every 10 ft. to avoid them. I suppose I should have know better but the room was fine and service was good so for an overnight it was ok but when I saw the Novotel we passed on the way which like $120.00 and way closer to the airport with a mall right in its locale, well I would go there next time given the same circumstances. Should have looked at trip advisor first.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2014, 09:42 AM
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Jacket,

Isn't it funny that even after lots of experience, we may still miss something we should think about? Unless it is really horrible though, for most of us, it doesn't affect the overall enjoyment of the trip, and sometimes it turns out to be a good thing in some way. We meet someone nice or discover a great restaurant, etc.

Our last trip, due to my negligence in looking at the wrong day of a bus schedule, we ended up in a big jam. DH usually leaves travel stuff up to me, but he could see my frustration and stepped up to solve the problem. He was my hero that day for sure, so in a way, I was pleased I made the screw-up in order to remind myself of his devotion to my happiness. The day turned into the best day of the trip.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2014, 10:20 AM
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And that's why you married him. .

Actually by staying in that hotel as it turned out I was able to get one thing off the bucket list. We had time in the morning and as the airport in BKK was sweltering the night before I needed a new shirt. We went to a mall where lo and behold durian was being sold in the food court. It's that super smelly fruit which is very sweet to taste and custardly but smells like a sock that's been buried in a compost pile. Well I wanted to try it so I did. Next time I'll take an apple. .
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Old Jun 22nd, 2014, 06:20 PM
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Sassafrass, you may find this funny: all these years of cruising and I have never ever spent any time in a ship's swimming pool, adult or otherwise, not even dip my feet into one, and not even in the hot tub.

Excursions can be luck of the draw. A great guide makes all the difference in the world. You have a better chance with a private guide, usually you hire them due to their reputation or recommendation from others. If you are on a group tour, then you are at the mercy of the guide.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 11:01 AM
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It was a Viking river boat cruise on the Danube. I had to buy toiletries ashore and I couldn't read the labels as I don't know German. Finally bought shampoo and others found out and came to our cabin to borrow some. Glad to near that this isn't the norm!
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Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 12:58 PM
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I was speaking about big ship cruises.
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Old Jun 25th, 2014, 10:07 AM
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Never took a river cruise, so I would probably make the same mistake as Happy.
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Old Jun 25th, 2014, 12:54 PM
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Happy was not nappy!
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