Cruise essentials for first timers

[mybathistoohot]

I’m cruising on P&O Iona at the end of August, Spain and France. It’s my first cruise and apparently there’s a lot of hacks for cruising to make things easier and more enjoyable - regular cruisers please hit me with your tips and tricks! Iona specific stuff is cool too. It’s me, my parents (early 50’s) and DD6.

if you’re not a cruise goer or have strong opinions against them, here isn’t where you need to voice them thanks 🥰

Get a multi-USB plug. There aren't a huge number of plug sockets in the cabins and these make life much easier if you have multiple phones and tablets etc.

If you have your swimming costume in your hand luggage you can head straight to the pools if that's your wont - you don't have to wait for your suitcases to arrive.

I ent on my first cruise to Norway last year

i took 4 bottles of wine in mine and friends luggage, this was allowed. Then we had a pre dinner glass each evening whilst getting ready for dinner & occasionally on deck late after. Glasses and fridge in our cabin

we went to the popular events on board when we were in port, as less people on board. Joined in the quizzes and games etc

I borrowed dresses for evening wear rather than buy new.

we ordered room service breakfast, but just coffee and a croissant or juice so we got coffee in bed. Then went for breakfast later

Redbull eSIM was £15 for the week and was enough for email, WhatsApp and facebook- didn’t pay cruise ship fees for eifi

Are you sharing a cabin? If so, it’ll be tight on space!
Iona is a lovely, spacious ship and there’s lots to do, plus your DD will enjoy it too.
My tips
have breakfast in the MDRs, much more civilised than the buffet.
take a bottle of cordial / cans of pop for your DD if she drinks a lot - take a water bottle she can carry round.
take a good amount of treats for her (sweets etc) as it’s expensive on board
don’t attempt to embark earlier than the time you’re given - you’ll just end up in a long queue
take some laundry sheets so you can use the washing machines and don’t end up bringing home a load of dirty washing (the machines are free)
Enjoy!

You’re only allowed 1 bottle of wine per person now.

Yeah, I guess different companies have different rules - fortunately the company we sailed with it was 2 bottles each - not that anyone checked

Ahh thanks so much everyone! Fab tips and a lot of things I hadn’t even thought of!

When you select your arrival time, I would choose the earliest available time. Take advantage of the time to explore the public spaces and grab a bite to eat for lunch.
Wear comfy shoes & something that you don't mind having your picture on to arrive in because the photographers start taking pictures as you embark on ship.
Your bags won’t arrive at your cabin until a few hours after boarding so take things you’ll need with you for the afternoon- swimwear, sunscreen.
It's worth bringing lanyards with a clear plastic card holder so you can carry your cruise cards easily as these are needed quite often on the ship.
Be careful with extension leads as the cruise companies have strict rules about electrical items. Do take plug adapters.
Look for a facebook page for your specific cruise, make friends, ask for advice. Or there might be a page just for your ship if there isn't one for the actual cruise.

They do thick toast on those ships in the MDR but you have to ask for it, if you don’t ask for it you get bog standard thin bread 🤣

The ship's organised excursions can be poor value for money. If you want to do something in particular, look on Viator. We usually go into the local town and explore, maybe take a local harbour or canal tour (you're always in a town on the water!). But be scrupulous about respecting the all-aboard time. Take your passports with you whenever you go ashore, partly because you may need it to get back on the boat and partly because you will look silly otherwise if you miss the boat — which can happen for loads of reasons such as a medical emergency or the bus breaking down on the way back to the port.

Definitely pack a couple bottles of rose or fizz! P&O allow you to take 1 litre per person and soft drinks. There is a fridge in your cabin and it was nice to have a cold glass of something on the balcony pre dinner.

And pre-book a couple of the speciality restaurants if budget allows. The buffet can be a bit of a bun fight on the Iona in school holidays but we really enjoyed the speciality restaurants - the Indian and steakhouse are excellent.

Thank you everyone!

so we are sharing a cabin however we are creating a ‘rota’
for getting ready to give each other space, so it doesn’t become to hectic. DD and I will go first then we’ll head out and parents will catch up 30 mins or so later! We don’t plan to be stuck as a group 24/7 so this works nicely.

we’ve booked some of the payable restaurants already, which were very excited for!

i will register and book DD into the kids club as soon as it opens for registration as she’s keen on this.

we’ve not booked any excursions as yet, with the itinerary we have port wise I think we will stick to casual wandering/beaches/restaurants. If we were visiting the Fjords we would absolutely book but as recommended above, likely through an independent company

we’ll definitely have swimwear/towels/sun cream to hand for embarkation day so we can get stuck in even before cases arrive

keep tips coming!!

We went on.a different p&o ship last year ans whilst the rule was only one litre of alcohol on embarcation, they totally turned an blind eye to everyone bringing another bottle of wine on in each port (they'd probably have stopped it if the amount was excessive).
The room attendant will bring you wine glasses for your room. Plus extra coat hangers if you need them.
Empty your suitcase and shove it under rhe bed.

Usually you have to pack your case and hand it over before 11pm on your last night. So take a folding hold-all for PJs, essential toiletries, and last minute items. I usually wear for dinner what I’m going to disembark in the next morning (Remember to hold back a clean pair of knickers from your main case)

cabin walls tend to be made of metal. Amazon sell fantastic magnetic hooks and clips which are great for holding charging cords, paperwork, even coats if you buy the heavy duty ones. This really helps to keep the cabin tidy, and maximises storage.

also: the bathroom light is on the outside. Anyone turning it on if going for a wee in the night will wake anyone else in the room, usually. I take a rechargeable mini light I can carry to the bathroom on a very low setting, to show me the way, which can be made brighter once I’m in the bathroom with the door shut

some ships have a safety light that comes on in the dark when anyone approaches the bathroom, because there is usually a lintel. We take blu tac to muffle the sensor, or it will wake everyone else up

Totally jealous! The Iona is amazing! Our fave!

Take reusable water bottles as they have water machines on several floors.
Take concentrated squash - it stops water being boring and saves £££.
Fizzy water with squash is a treat.
Take washing sheets for the laundry - plus you can use them to hand wash undies.
The Main Dining Rooms serve lunch as well - although Iona has a good range of other venues.
I put AirTags in my suitcases so I can track them.
It’s not compulsory to get off the ship in each port and you can find pools etc. are much quieter.
get to theatre venues early (30 mins) and take a kindle/book
Buy an e-Sim they are much cheaper than the wifi. Make sure phones are in airplane mode/data off.

I recommend one of these (or similar) that you can hang up in the bathroom, saves valuable space.
www.amazon.co.uk/BAGSMART-Toiletry-Hanging-Cosmetic-Container/dp/B07RMVTX28/ref=asc_df_B07RMVTX28?mcid=32278899c5ad3f2489b3ece56db95cf1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697274200522&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3393660871689291248&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006621&hvtargid=pla-848291999517&hvocijid=3393660871689291248-B07RMVTX28-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1

Also these as the luggage labels provided are so flimsy: www.amazon.co.uk/Containing-Airtight-Waterproof-Stainless-Transparent/dp/B0BKKL2VB2/ref=asc_df_B0BKKL2VB2?mcid=d92a740ff0ca302d81d3046836d2de35&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696450748718&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1795560992792526269&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006621&hvtargid=pla-2054171412878&hvocijid=1795560992792526269-B0BKKL2VB2-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1

Take meds: eg, Nurofen, cystitis powders, thrush medication, blister plasters, Imodium.

using the ship’s doctor is v pricey, and if you’re on a sea day you won’t be able to get to a pharmacy until you hit a port

Take water bottles to take water ashore. In Norway, in particular, everything was very expensive and we were pleased we had taken water to drink from the ship.

Reseaech the ports before you go and decide what you can do under your own steam.

At captains night, we had free drinks provided in the theatre before dinner, meeting the captain on the way in. We sat on an end of aisle seat.....and got offered many more drinks as they were always walking past us!

You don't have to do this though? You can keep your luggage with you and take it off yourself.

The plug sockets on P&O ships take uk three plugs, and also if you have a two pin shaver or toothbrush it won’t fit in the socket in the bathroom, because that is continental size not uk bathroom two pin size. They have formal nights, one per week I think on Iona. When we’ve been virtually everybody dresses up. The ones who didn’t were the outliers. Obviously do what you prefer, but just be aware.

You can indeed! But we tend to cruise from Southampton (live near) so pack v generously. And also, getting a lift is hard on disembarkation morning - I’m old and I don’t want to carry both my cases down all those stairs

We always travel the day before and stay in a hotel. We have a nosey round Southampton (there is always something we've forgotten , like tights )

Formal Nights are worth the effort to dress up , some people go very smart Black Tie . On other nights I wear smart trousers or skirt and top. My Formal Night dresses are very sequinned
Metal magnetic hooks for the wall.

We're going for 3 weeks (Arora which is a smaller ship) I'm planning my wardrobe everything has to match a couple of ther things , I don't mind a peaceful hour in the laundrette with my kindle .

Allow for add on like
WiFi/ trips/ drink package
Don't flush anything down the loo except the ship toilet paper (and waste obvs) you don't want to be the one who blocks the system.
Your Cabin Crew will be happy to assist you if you ask for things.

Sail-Away everyone up on the deck .
Comfy shoes , secure handbag (I have an ugly but safe Travelon bag) and a tote bag ( I usually end up carrying Kindles and charger packs round the ship)

Handwashing is encouraged , demanded m for passenger safety .

If there's any discrepancies on your on board credit go to Customer Services straight away not at the end or when you get home .

Enjoy