Help a rookie cruiser?

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coloradomedic

Guest
Hello all!
Just joined the community. What a wonderful resource. My wife and I are going on our first cruise 12/4-12/11 on the Carnival Conquest out of Galveston Tx. This is our honeymoon cruise (and 1 year anniversary) and I am trying to plan an unforgettable experience for her. I have learned a ton from the message boards already.

The nuggets I have picked out so far:
1. Bring a bungee cord- we will be in a balcony room on the Panorama deck. Although I have no idea if this is good or bad :eek:P.
2. Do not use the carnival excursions- I have booked Carolyn Barrett in Jamaica for YS falls and Black River tour... Rays, Reef and Rum Point in Cayman with Nativeway......and the Royal Dolphin swim wih Shoretours in Cozumel. (Any input on these choices would be greatly appreciated.)
3. Bring plenty of 1 dollar bills for tipping room service.

Beyond those I am still researching and any tips, advice, or just general info would be GREATLY appreciated. I will post details of the cruise when I return to help those like myself that are future but inexperienced cruisers.

Thank you all so much for your help and the great posts! Happy Cruising :eek:)
 
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Einstein

Guest
Welcome Aboard!!! :wave Enjoy that 1st cruise and celebrate in style. :party I would also recommend a electrical strip with 6 outlets and travel clock with a lighted dial. :thumb

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Babushka

Guest
Congratulations on your first cruise and on your one year anniversary! You guys will love cruising! This recommendation doesn't necessarily pertain to cruising, but we always mark our luggage with something we can easily recognize. I have a set of mini pom poms in my daughter's school colors on all pieces of our luggage. You know all luggage looks so much alike when picking it up at the airport. By having something on your luggage you can spot it really quick. And believe me you'll want something like that when picking up your luggage when you leave the ship. Your luggage will be in a huge wharehouse and you will have to go thru it to find yours. Granted it's usually kept in colored sections but it can sometimes be really hard to find. Have a great time on your cruise!
 
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serene56

Guest
Since it is your first cruise-- the best advice will be relax and dont try to take it all in. There is too much to do and you wont be able to --trying will only frustrate you. Enjoy the vacation on the other side of the camera lens. Enjoy each others company and talk to people around you.
 
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Babushka

Guest
You may also want to include some type of travel bag that folds flat for your trip there but opens for your return home. We always bring back souveniers and it's nice to have the extra space for them.

Also, you may want to take a carryon bag with you on the ship with some "emergency backup". We've never had a problem with our luggage being in our room before we sail. But I know that it does happen occasionally that luggage won't arrive until later in the evening. You may want to have a toothbrush, some toiletries, maybe your bathing suits if you want to go lay on deck right away, things like that. We also try to wear something casual when we arrive at the ship that we can just wear to dinner, again just in case your luggage is late. Dinners the first night are always really casual because of that I think. You're not supposed to wear jeans or shorts in the dining room but I do see quite a bit of that on the first night.
 
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coloradomedic

Guest
More good advice. Thanks guys and gals. The travelling to and from the ship from home will actually be the easy part I think. We are flying in the day before, out the day after, and staying with a family friend in Houston who will drop us off and pick us up at the pier.
 
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BlueChef

Guest
You might want to take a little highlighter pen. Every evening, there'll be a copy of the Capers, the ship's newsletter. Listed are ALL the activiites for the next day. If you don't want to miss something in particular, highlight it!

Also - your 'bride' (and yourself) might enjoy "Tea Time". It's held in a small lounge on every sea day. Nice, usually with a little live music, servers in white gloves serving tea sandwiches, petit fors, tea and coffee. You don't have to be 'dressed' for this....I always go in shorts. It's held around 3:30 in the afternoon. Also - the art auctions have complimentary champagne, and are pretty interesting. You can just come-and-go to either/both of these events.

I second the idea of a lighted dial clock. Nice to know what time it is if you awake in the middle of the night. I wouldn't take a big outlet strip; takes up too much room. I take a little 3" adapter (79 cents at WalMart) that plugs into the socket and gives me three extra plugins.....for hairdryer, curling iron, camera battery, whatever. (There's only one socket in the bathroom, and it's only for electric razors.)

I always stress this to newbies....just in case they don't know: Irons, heating pads, and candles are NOT allowed in the cabins. Not only a fire hazard, but also electrical hazard.
 
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live to cruise

Guest
Hey Newbies and 1year honeymooners,
All advice great. Bungie cord I think to keep your balcony door open. I would also recommend duct tape. This can keep light from coming through your door if you are a light sleeper. You just tape around the door covering the gaps. My husband joked that our cabin steward must have thought we were kinky because in the AM we just stuck the tape to the door and reused it each nite.
You will love, love the Conquest. It was one of our best cruises. Dining staff was awsome. Our cabin steward was like a magician. One day we left, realized we had forgotten something and when we went back the room was clean. We never saw her but it was obvious she was there.
Have fun.
 
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coloradomedic

Guest
Thanks again for the great advice. One more question I came up with. Can you reserve any massages at the spa or do I need to do that once i get onboard? Would love to give my wife a 'queen for the day' type of package there.
 
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Babushka

Guest
I don't know that you can reserve spa appointments before you arrive on the ship. If not I highly recommend you go there first thing when you get on board! That was the advice given to me by my travel agent for the first cruise I ever went on and ever since that is the first thing I do, even before going to my cabin. Spa appointments book up quickly, especially on sea days. You will get a lower price if you have them done on port days. I love going to the spa for a facial, massage, manicure, pedicure and hairstyle. It is my day of beauty and I usually do it on one of the formal nights, but again these fill up quickly so you want to be one of the first to book your appointments. How sweet of you to want to do this for your wife. You know, you can also get the couples massage which I've heard is very nice.
 
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Erinm

Guest
Just wanted to say congrats for your first cruise! You will pick up lots of information here, and learn answers for things you didn't even know to question!
 
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coloradomedic

Guest
I have picked up some great tidbits on this site! Thank you all. One week and counting.......hope all our cruises are as exciting to prepare for as this one. Our only snag thus far is Cozumel.....Seems like the only place open is Paradise Beach..... and I am thinking that is going to be awfully crowded with the limited amount of choices in the area.
I had booked Palm Beach break club...but was just informed that they are closed down .. Any thoughts?
 
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chancock

Guest
Dear Rookie Cruiser,
My Husband and I Celebrated our 20th Anniversary on the Elation we renewed our vows and the staff was very accomadating to each of Richards request and the entire event was very special, you can go to Carnival.com and go to the gifts section and type in your booking number and have decorations put in the room you can also have a cake delivered at dinner. just check with a vacation planner at Carnival they will make sure everything is special for your wife.
Cindy
 
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