Personal experience: 10 tips for those who are going on a cruise

We spent on the cruise ship 7 days. Route Galveston (Texas) -Jamaica-Cayman Islands-Cozumel-Galveston. The day before, my husband and I had many questions, I had to interview my friends and call the company a couple of times. But then, having armed ourselves with other people's instructions and having gained personal experience, we ourselves can now call ourselves experts and share tips.

1. Is it worth it to go on a cruise?
We are a young family with a 2-year-old child. A week of vacation. We wanted it to be beautiful, inexpensive and no organizational issues this time. And the liner departs from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, which is an hour's drive from Houston. In our case, all the components coincided: if you have a port nearby, you don’t want to organize anything and just want to relax, then yes, it’s worth going on a cruise.

What is a “cruise” anyway? This is a journey on a huge ship-city, where there is an endless amount of food, music, and events. Where there are friendly neighbors and employees around, the sea and no worries. Eat, sleep, have fun. Periodically go out to the islands, swim, go on excursions.

We wanted beautiful, inexpensive and no organizational issues this time. Photo author

2. How to choose a carrier?
Ask your friends or fellow Americans. They love going on cruises. It turned out that every second person I interviewed has been on a cruise several times or is passionate about going there and knows a lot of useful information. Choose a company based on your place of residence so that you don’t have to travel to the port by plane or with transfers. We chose Carnival and bought it on the official website. You can buy on Expedia.com, they often offer tempting bonuses, but you must have US passports or a green card. If you don’t have either one yet, you’ll have to buy directly from the carrier.

For a cruise that has a route with visits to other countries, you must have a passport with a US visa. But only! No other visas are needed if you are sailing from the USA. Passport is checked only when you return back to the USA. In the ports all go on a cruise card, there is no customs.

3. What to take with you?
To be honest, I got into trouble by focusing my wardrobe on swimwear and everything that goes with it. We spent most of our time inside the ship. And it’s cold inside - 18-20 Celsius. Don't limit yourself to pareos and light sundresses.

But evening dresses do not forget. For dinner, at least 2-3 times for a cruise you will be asked to come in elegant clothes.
Bathrobes, hair dryer, shampoo, refrigerator in the rooms. Towels can be taken from the ship to the beaches when you make stops on the islands.
You cannot bring drinks in plastic containers on board; you had to throw away the water. But you can have soda in cans, as well as a bottle of wine/champagne per person. It's definitely worth bringing alcohol on board. It is usually not included in all-inclusive packages. But you don’t need to take food.

4. Check-in and parking
You must select a registration time on the website. If possible, take an earlier date. You will have more rest. After all, the ship is already at your disposal until departure. We managed to see enough of the dolphins and the beauty of the city from the height of the 10th deck, had lunch, slept - and all this before sailing. We increased the rest time by half a day.
When you register also do not forget to write the child in the garden.
If you check-in time at one o'clock in the afternoon, then you should come at least in 12. You need to put the car in the parking lot, and you can get to customs by shuttle. With port parking there are no problems. We booked online and paid about $ 10 per day. But even on the spot there will always be free places. If you are not by car and you have to fly to the port, please note that cruise campaigns offer a transfer from the airport. Worth $ 40 per person one way.

5. Which cabin to choose?
The cost of the tour depends on the category of cabins. They are 4 types: without a window, with a window, with a balcony and suites (this is already an apartment). The carrier adds $ 50-100 for each of the options: floor, the ability to select a particular cabin.
We were advised to take the cheapest one, since spending time in it was supposedly impractical. But, since we had a child sleeping after lunch, we took a cabin, although it was an economy option, but with a window, on the lower first deck. They did not pay extra for the right to choose a specific cabin. We were given it at the very stern. This is not considered the most convenient option - it is better for the cabin to be in the center.

But, overall, I am extremely pleased with this choice. Close to the water, you can watch the waves and close to the exits.

In ports, disembarkation starts from the bottom up. We were on land before the rest of the decks.
The service, in terms of housekeeping, is equally excellent on all decks.

6. Is such a holiday suitable for children?
Definitely yes. One kindergarten is worth something. It is possible to leave children from 2 to 12 years old under supervision from 10 am to 22 pm. It is also possible from 22 pm to 1 am, but for an additional fee - $6,75 per hour.
In the garden, children sing, dance, draw, and have fun. If you don’t want to leave it in the garden, then the swimming pools, slide, playground on the deck, game rooms are at your service.
7. What to do in the ports?
During the week-long cruise, we visited 3 in different states. Usually arriving at the port in 8: 00, and back to 16: 00. It would seem a whole day. But feel free to subtract 3-4 from this hour. This is the time for landing and landing and the road from the port to the city / beach. Therefore, time is quite short. Decide in advance what you want to see. It is better to move away from the place where tourists gather. Because when residents of poor countries see guests from an American cruise, they try to make the most of them. And they are waiting for ships, as apple dealers at the railway station are waiting for trains with visitors from Sochi.
Regarding the Caribbean destination, I would recommend going on an island tour in Jamaica, diving with stingrays in the Cayman Islands, and in Cozumel - the sea is beautiful and the city beach is too.

On the ship selling excursions. They cost, on average, $ 60-120 per person. Getting off on the Cayman Islands, we bought the same excursion, as suggested by ship, 30% cheaper.

There are many bars onboard, 2 large swimming pools, 6 jacuzzis and even a waterslide in the 3 floor height! Photo author

8. What to do on board?
There is plenty of room to roam on board (290 meters long after all!). The program of events is very rich, the ship has a theater and a club for performances, many bars, 2 large swimming pools, 6 Jacuzzis and even a water slide 3 floors high! For sports lovers: a fitness room, a sauna, volleyball and basketball courts on the deck, covered with netting, a mini-golf course and a circular jogging track on the uppermost deck. There are sun loungers everywhere, and there are always free ones. At the bow of the ship there is a quiet relaxation area only for adults: there are soft loungers-beds on which it is pleasant to lie down and read a book at any time of the day or night. Above the largest pool hangs a huge screen - 5 by 10 meters - on which the latest movies are shown every evening. If you want, then come to the casino: blackjack, poker, roulette, push-button bandits - everything is there. And, of course, food - the buffet is almost always open; if you wish, you can order chicken and potatoes directly to your cabin at any time of the day.

9. How much does it all cost?
The website says that a 7-day cruise costs from $350 per person. In fact, this, of course, does not include taxes, the presence of a window in the cabin, or the floor. This is the bare minimum. Even if you pay 50% of the cost for a child’s trip, taxes will be charged as for an adult. Our taxes were $90 per person - that is, an extra 270 bucks on top. Also take into account the tip, which will be removed automatically - $12 per person per day! We count: 12x7x3=252 bucks. Upon entering the ship, everyone is given a card for payment on board, the tip will be written off from it, and when you leave the ship, you will not be allowed out if there is a minus on the card. There have been permanent queues at the card replenishment department for the last 2 days - everyone was covering their card debts.

Children won't be bored on a cruise. And if parents want to relax, there is a kindergarten on the ship. Photo by the author

10. Last tip: relax!
The main thing to remember on a cruise was voiced by our host at the first meeting: “I want you to forget about everything and vow to have 7 days of complete rest! You have already paid for everything!”

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