SECRETS THE CRUISE LINES, ¡don't tell you!
Cruise ship life can be a little mysterious… your choices aren't always spelled
out, in black and white.
The more you cruise, the more you pick up on the unofficial secrets the
cruise lines don't tell you -- which give you more options, let you save money
and generally allow you to have a better time onboard.
Maybe it's knowing what your cabin steward is able to bring you or what
the off-the-menu items are at the bar or dining room.
Or perhaps it's a tip to getting a good deal on an onboard purchase.
But why wait to figure these things out the hard way -- possibly after
you've missed your chance?, we trawled through all the great advice on Cruise Critic's Message Boards to
bring you some of the worst-kept cruise secrets ... at least among our readers
who love to share.
But whether you're a first-time cruiser or an old sea dog, you might
find there's something here you didn't already know.
Unlimited main dining:
You are not limited to one of each appetizer, entree and dessert in
the main dining room.
You can order two entrees or three desserts if you choose.
You can also order appetizer-sized portions of entrees as starters or
order a few appetizers for your main meal.
It's a great way to try new foods you're not sure you'll like (escargot, anyone?).
Cheap or free room service:
Room service is generally free, except for service charges on certain
lines.
Celebrity's late-night orders bear a $4.95 fee, while all orders on
Royal Caribbean (excluding Continental
breakfast) and Norwegian (excluding morning coffee, Continental breakfast
and orders placed by Haven Suite passengers) cost $7.95.
Meanwhile, Carnival and Holland America offer for-fee room service menus
in addition to their complimentary menus.
It's recommended you tip your delivery person, but in-room
dining is not the splurge it is at a hotel.
Breakfast options:
For your morning meal, you might have more options than just the buffet
and main dining room.
On Norwegian, it's no secret that O'Sheehan's offers tasty
made-to-order omelets and corned beef hash, yet many cruisers still don't know
about it.
Carnival's BlueIguana Cantina and Royal Caribbean's Johnny Rockets and
El Loco Fresh (on Oasis-class ships)
are other alternative breakfast venues.
Check your daily newsletter to see which restaurants are open in the
morning.
Specialty dining on the first night:
Most people dine in the main dining room or buffet on the first night of
the cruise, and many haven't discovered the specialty restaurants yet.
If you book an alternative dining venue for the first night of
the cruise, you might get a discount on select lines (like Celebrity Cruises) or have an easier time getting a reservation
for a popular venue.
Carnival Cruise Line passengers who dine in the steakhouse on the first
night get a free bottle of wine.
Complimentary bites:
Specialty coffee at the designated coffee shops onboard comes with an
extra fee, but the pastries, sandwiches and other food at these venues are
often free.
While some specialty items (like
chocolate-covered strawberries) will have a charge, don't assume all the
small bites do.
Some bars -- such as Celebrity's
Martini Bar -- also offer complimentary snacks; all you have to do is
ask.
Free ice cream:
Like ice cream?, cruise lines will charge for branded licks like
Ben & Jerry's and gelato.
However, there's always a free version -- whether soft-serve machines on
the Lido Deck or Hard-Serve Stations at the buffet.
And do your reconnaissance -- Cruise Critic members report that
soft-serve machines on either side of the deck can have different flavors.
Sit-down lunch on embarkation day:
On embarkation day, most people head straight to the buffet to have
lunch and wait for their cabins to open.
It's a mob scene. But many cruise ships have alternative venues open --
the main dining room or a mini-buffet in the solarium or atrium area.
Ask a crew member or check your daily newsletter to find an alternative
for a calmer first meal.
For example, on Princess Cruises, the International Cafe, Pizzeria and
Grill also are open; on Royal Caribbean ships, Sorrento's, the Solarium and
Park Cafes, Giovanni's Table, Cafe Promenade and Starbucks are open on the
afternoon of embarkation.
Menu sneak peek:
Don't know which night to make specialty dinner reservations?, the main
dining room menus are planned for the week, and the purser's desk often has
access to those menus.
Ask to see them so you can decide which nights are less appealing and
which you don't want to miss, and plan your cruise accordingly.
DRINK SECRETS
Open containers:
There's no "open beverage" rule onboard.
You can bring drinks from a bar or buffet to your cabin or elsewhere on
the ship and no one will bat an eye. (Same
goes for food.)
Wine on reserve:
It's often cheaper to buy a bottle of wine than a few glasses -- but
what do you do if you don't finish the bottle?, cruise ship waiters can mark
the bottle with your room number and save it for another night, even for dinner
in another onboard venue.
(But beware of restaurant corkage
fees if you bring your own bottle of wine.)
Buckets of beer:
Groups of beer drinkers can save by ordering buckets of beer.
You get four or five beers in a souvenir bucket at a per-beer cost
slightly cheaper than ordering individual bottles.
Soda savings:
On most lines, soda is not free -- but iced tea in the dining room
usually is.
Save on soda by buying a soda card, offering a set price for unlimited
soft drinks.
BYO limits:
Most cruise lines prohibit passengers from bringing beer and liquor
onboard, but do let you bring a bottle or 2 of wine or Champagne.
Some lines (such as Holland
America and Princess) also let you bring a reasonable amount of
nonalcoholic drinks onboard -- which helps save on pricy shipboard sodas and
bottled waters.
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian passengers are prohibited from bringing
any nonalcoholic beverages onboard, while Carnival only allows limited amounts
of soda and juice as long as the drinks are in cans or cartons (and not glass containers or plastic bottles).
Souvenir cup perks:
Enticed by all those special drinks in a souvenir glass?, you can refill
those glasses at a discount -- or ask to have the drink of the day in a regular
glass to save money.
Also watch your daily program for drink specials or happy hours
with reduced-price beverages.
CABIN SECRETS
They're magnetic:
Most cabins are made of metal… and therefore they're magnetic.
Bring along some magnets (or buy
some as souvenirs) and you can keep all your cocktail party invites,
alternative dining reservation notices and daily planners hung up on the walls
and doors.
Nightlight substitute
Inside cabins have no natural light, at all.
Turn your TV to the bridge cam station, turn off the sound and -- voila! -- you've got an instant
nightlight and a way to see if the sun is up.
Spa passes:
spa cabins can often be a smart financial decision for avid spa-goers.
For example, Carnival's Cloud 9 Spa balcony cabins include
access to the thalassotherapy pool, steam room and sauna.
The extra you'd pay for the cabin (above
a regular balcony room) is often less than what you'd pay for a
cruise-length spa pass.
Limited outlets:
With all of the electronics we tote around with us these days, most
people find cruise ship outlets to be insufficient, and only the newest ships
have USB ports.
You can bring your own charging station or power strip (check to see if these are legal on your
cruise line), but you might also want to ask your cabin steward.
Sometimes there's an extra outlet hidden behind the TV or under the bed.
Bedding by request:
Picky about your bedding? Some lines will provide egg crate mattress
toppers, top sheets and alternative pillow types by special request. Feel free
to ask, before or during your cruise.
Hidden storage:
Cabin designers are pretty smart about creating as much storage space as
possible.
Do a little exploring or ask your cabin steward for a tour.
You might be surprised to find extra storage under the bed or
couch, inside an ottoman or behind a mirror.
Assistance for seasickness:
If you're feeling queasy, don't run out to a pharmacy before making some
calls.
Room service can bring you green apples and bland crackers (crew members swear by the apple remedy),
and often you can get seasickness meds from the purser's desk for
free.
ENTERTAINMENT SECRETS
Casino hack:
Casino frequenters can get a hole punched in their room card and a
free lanyard from the casino staff for easy play without forgetting your card
in the slot machines.
Bonus INTERNET:
Many lines offer Free Minutes
if you sign up for an internet package, on the first day of the
cruise.
Day one spa discounts:
Cruise ship
spas often offer discounts for first-day and port-day
treatments.
Stop by the spa, or check your daily newsletters to find out about
deals.
Presentation reruns:
If the port talk is at the same time as your massage, don't worry.
Presentations and audience-participation shows are often re-broadcast on
the ship's channel on your in-room TV.
You can still catch the recording if you miss the live show.
Complimentary spa showers:
Use of the showers, saunas and stream rooms not located in fancy thermal
suites is free.
Showering in the spa can often mean access to more clean towels, fancy
toiletries and bigger shower stalls -- and prevents fights over who gets cabin
bathroom access first.
Using the free saunas is also a great remedy for that inevitable
vacation head cold that stuffs you up.
Show up to sold-out shows:
If you want to see one of the big-name shows on Royal
Caribbean or Norwegian (like "Mamma
Mia" or "Rock of Ages"), but tickets are sold out, don't
fret.
Many people reserve the free tickets but don't show up, so if you get in
line prior to showtime, cruise ship staff will let you in if seats are
available.
CRUISE LINE-SPECIFIC SECRETS
Sweet treats on Celebrity:
Celebrity's buffet secrets include delicious ship-made hard-serve
ice cream (for free) in the buffet
and made-to-order waffles with a choice of toppings.
You can also order a cup of candy toppings with no ice cream if that's
your treat of choice.
Cheap lunch on HAL:
On Holland America, lunch is discounted to $10 at the Pinnacle
Grill, and free chocolate truffles make an appearance in the Explorer's Lounge
each evening.
Royal Caribbean's solid cup of joe:
Royal Caribbean's Cafe Promenade offers high-quality coffee
without the price tag.
It's no Starbuck's, but it's a step above what you'd find at the buffet
-- and it's still free.
Getting the best sea views:
The North Star on Royal Caribbean's Quantum-class ships offers
amazing views any time you go, but you'll get the best views on sea days.
That's because the enclosed, glass capsule -- which can rise to 300 feet above sea level -- is often restricted
from extending out over the side of the ship while in port.
