Cruising 101

Despite the fact that it was my third time on Royal Caribbean Cruises (and my second on “Voyager of the Seas”), there were still things that I missed out so it is always good to have a once-over for every cruise. After all, it is not every year that we go on a cruise…for most of us, that is!

On my first cruise ever – when my sons just graduated from high school – it was onboard “Royal Viking Sun” on its first spring voyage to Alaska’s Inner Passage from Vancouver, British Columbia. The ethereal blue of the floating icebergs that we passed through mysterious fjords was breath taking. So were the scenery and the wildlife – sea lions, humpback whales, grizzly bears fishing for salmon, mountain goats, bald eagles, etc. We ate seven – count that – times a day for a whole week! No wonder our cruise director warned: At the start, you traipse into the ship; then, we roll you out at the end of the cruise.

Rule #1: Mind your food intake. Especially since food is free, except for a couple of outlets. (Food is inclusive of cruise cost.)

In most cruise ships, the buffet spread is available from 6am until 10pm. for casual dining. Then, in the Voyager, the Café Promenade is open 24/7 or you can call for room service and pay for a minimal service charge, between 1am & 3am dawn. Food is available all the time! Hence, it is best to be meticulous with your choices and eat moderately. You can always get something when you feel like it. Have a hearty breakfast, though, as you will never know when is lunch, during shore excursions. (We were able to get lunch at close to 2pm in Phuket, Thailand. And we started lining up for immigration at 7am!).

TIP: If you prefer soda drinks, buy the soda package at the start of the cruise. (It is not offered after that.) Then you only show the soda sticker on your charge card each time you get your drink. Value for money.

As I wanted to interview the captain for The Freeman Magazine on that first cruise, I was always following the daily newsletter supplied in each cabin. I was trying to fit my free time for an appointment. I eventually interviewed Capt. Faevelin and he gave me a tour of the bridge.

Rule #2: Read the newsletter carefully, every day, from the start of the cruise.

A number of passengers failed to watch a beautiful show – there are nightly performances in the ship’s main theater – or missed a party, a contest or an auction because they did not bother to go over the newsletter delivered to the cabin every night, and on the day of departure. Everything happening onboard is in there. During my Alaska cruise, there were seminars on jewelry appreciation, cooking sessions, cultural lectures on the Inuit tribes before we went out to meet them. And it is important to check the time for safety drill on the day of departure, so you won’t be embarrassed by reporting late among waiting co-passengers.

Tip: Store sales are announced in the newsletter you get the night before. The prices are really cheaper than on land. No taxes levied on the items.

We skipped the magic act as we are not into the magician’s tricks. But the Broadway style revue and the Las Vegas type acrobatic ballets were entertaining. The Chinese concert pianist who performed with the London Philharmonic really deserved that standing ovation, despite the swaying ship. And we did not miss the ice skating revue – fantastic! Yes, Voyager has an ice skating rink that turns into a dance floor.

Rule #3: Be aware of the dress code. There is at least one formal evening and maybe one theme party, depending on the cruise line and the destination.

When I sailed on the Voyager to the Caribbean in 2004, it was still the biggest cruise ship in the world. Cocktail with the captain was strictly a formal affair. (I brought a a couple of long skirts with glittering tops.) We had a theme night, just like the Roman Night on the Princess Cruise I took to the Mediterranean. Join in the fun of things. Live! Laugh!

TIP: If you don’t feel like going formal for some reasons, escape the whole thing and take dinner in the casual buffet outlet. Don’t go into the Main Dining Room as your fellow diners will be well dressed there.

Rule #4: Lastly, you are the ultimate arbiter of your time onboard.

You may want to go slumming in the outdoor Jacuzzi or spend a luxurious time in the spa where various massages and treatments await you. You can even have a haircut or a manicure done by their (usually) London-trained staff. My British hair stylist started cutting hair when she was just 15! She looked like in her mid-20s. But then she is blonde and they can look younger. She is really good!

TIP: If you want to join shore excursions, it is best to book your tours online. You will have the time to go over your choices and you avoid the queue onboard which will diminish your enjoyment time.

Oh, by the way, I learned my lesson in my last cruise on Carnival Cruises to the Caribbean last year. We were 60 strong in our group. We opted not to prepay the tips for the staff. It turned out to be such a chore at the end of the cruise: how much to pay for whom and who else did we forget…better to prepay the tips. (I got printouts for the tips of staff members I prepaid, which I placed in envelops and distributed among them.)You don’t get stressed for not having the right denominations, or running low on cash, or overlooking some people.

TIP: Everything is in US dollars.

Happy cruising! Your choices are enticing and they start right next door – in Singapore or in Hong Kong!