Cruise Tips

Erika over at LD just recently went on a cruise and had some tips to share:

First, pack light. There were three of us and we had 2 carry on sized suitcases and a garment bag. That was still too much for a 5 day cruise. Now, I get that y'all want to look your prettiest for the boys and will pack lots since it's hard to plan outfits, but I really do emphasize planning outfits, especially those that are sharing 3-4 people per room. The carry on size suitcases fit nicely underneath the bed so it keeps them out of the way, but unless you're in a suite, your room will be small. We had a balcony room and it was tight so the balcony was a welcome escape. The closet space was ample, but again, if you're rooming with 3-4 people in a room, it does get a little tight for space.

Coordinate with your roommates and take ONE hairdryer/straightener/curling iron between all of you. There is ONE outlet per cabin as well. There is one in the bathroom, but it is for a low voltage electric razor only. Actually, each cabin has 2 outlets, one American and one European. So, those coming from overseas, you don't need an adapter for your appliance.

There are self serve laundrettes on board. You can wash, dry, and iron clothes if needed. This helps in packing space as well. Expect to spend your sea days in a bathing suit and cover up. Dress for dinner (in the dining room) and one formal night. You can pack in one to two small bags and still get everything you need.

I HIGHLY recommend getting a Schick Intuition razor for the cruise. If you're in a room with a stand up shower only (suites have bathtubs), it makes it very hard to shave the legs. I have an Intuition and it is a miracle in those stand up showers because you don't have to worry about shaving cream. Another space saver in packing too. ;-)

Make sure you complete all your pre-registration paperwork on www.carnival.com before you get to the port. It makes checking in so much easier.

Carnival tells you that all you need to get back to the boat after a port of call is your Sail and Sign card. FALSE. You do need to take a picture ID off the boat as well. Local authorities will be checking your picture ID before you reach the gangway area where Carnival scans your S&S card. It is best to NOT take your passport off the ship though. Make sure you have another form of photo ID with you. A lost passport makes it harder to get back into the US at the end of the cruise. Yes, you don't need a passport, but if that is what you are using as proof of citizenship, you don't want to risk losing it. A driver's license alone will not prove citizenship back in Miami when you debark.

Carnival tells you you're allowed 1 liter of alcohol per person duty free. It's 2 per person. We had 4 and had no problems with customs. Just remember, if you're flying out of Miami, you can't carry this on the plane. It must be in your checked luggage. We drove to Jacksonville so we didn't have an issue with the flight. It's just something to remember. Bottles of alcohol are going to weigh down the suitcase and they run the risk of breaking in-flight.

Cigarettes are super cheap on the ship. 5 cartons for $100. Now, here's the catch, you're only allowed 1 carton per person through Customs. Buy them the first night on the ship and if you can, mail them to yourself when you dock in Key West. Don't mail them from Mexico. If you mail US to US address, it's not a red flag for the mail to be inspected. Or, you can just take your chances and hide extra cartons in your luggage.

Carnival says you're allowed a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages during initial embarkation. I saw people bringing on cases of water and soda. I don't recommend trying this though. I know Miami Port is a little tighter than Jacksonville (where I sailed from) so don't push your luck. I brought on the allowed 2 bottles of wine (1 per person over 21) and they never questioned it even though my bag was exrayed. Again, if you dare, try to put something else in your bag if you feel you want to.

On board liquor purchases are stored until the last day of your cruise. However, anything purchased from 4pm and on on the last day of sailing, you can take with you right away. Jonesing for some Patron shots but don't want to spend a fortune at the bar and want to spend the last night with a bang? Buy a bottle for $30 bucks at 4pm and spend the last night in style!

For those setting up their S&S card with a debit bank card, keep an eye on your spending with that debit card to make sure you don't overdraw yourself before the final S&S charges are taken out of your account. This didn't happen to us, but it's worth mentioning for those using a debit card attached to their checking account.

Unlimited soda is $6 per day and can be activated at any bar or restaurant on the ship. It is not good for room service soda. Room service food is free 24x7 as well.

Bring a hoodie/light jacket/pashmina on board. It can get chilly at night since you're on a moving ship.

I saw something mentioned somewhere about bringing a power strip since there is only one outlet. They might not allow it on board. There's one outlet for a reason (suites do have more than one though). You can't overload the circuits.

Remember this might not all apply to us, but there are some helpful tips to keep in mind! :)