Share your top tips for taking a cruise with Royal Caribbean - you could win a £200 Love2Shop voucher NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Following the event day we ran last year on Oasis of the Seas, We have been asked by the team at Royal Caribbean to find out your top tips for cruising - whether this is with the family or without.

So whether you have been on one cruise, or a seasoned cruise lovers - please share your top tips for any MNer who may be contemplating their first family cruise this year.

For example:
~ What appeals to you and your family about a cruise holiday?
~ When's the best time to book?
~ Do you always book the same kind of State Room? What's best for you?
~ What about food and drink? What do you make a beeline for once on board?
~ And entertainment - what's the plan for you and for the DC on a typical day on board?
~ Excursions - do you do your own or go with the ones arranged by the cruise ship? What's the best place you have visited?
~ What is your top tip for cruising?

Please share your tips and thoughts on this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £200 Love2Shop voucher. Please add your comment by 06-02-2015. Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Ring all the small print. Info about tipping/ service charges. What food and drink you actually get and what you can and can't take on board

Always research online to get a better deal and get all inclusive - extras are expensive.

do your research about the ports before you go

dont necessairly book all excursions with the cruise

cancel the pre paid tips pay each server yourself

Our prepaid tips were included in the price so not sure we can cancel them. Does it make a big difference? (Not just to us but to the staff)

Unlike some, we find the choice and location of your cabin is really important. Yes, you don't spend a lot of time there but it needs to be large enough to store your belongings, to move around comfortably, and to be a place to relax. We go for the biggest we can afford and avoid noisy areas like outer doors used for cargo when docked, near engines or transmission or immediately adjacent to public areas.

Don't eat for a week before & ditch the diet as soon as you get on board! The food is yummy & in vast supply so make the most of it :) Went on a short cruise to Brussels in December & it was a great experience for me & the friends I went with! Go for a short break first to see if a cruise is for you - you also get a change to test your sea legs that way too! :) x

Just go with the flow and relax

I would take tablets with you if like me you get seasick.

Select the cruise that suits the whole family best, there are so many to chose from & so many wonderful destinations & stop offs, that its easy to just 'pick one' and then wish you had considered other choices EG Choosing a Mediterranean cruise when you might have preferred the Norwegian Fjords. :)

Interested by this thread, had a look to see how much it would be (if we were already in florida, brought our own travel sickness pills etc)
But there is only a drop down box for 2 children? What if you have more?!??!

My cruise tip would be to do your research on which cruise line is best for you!

I genuinely believe that there is a cruise company out there for everyone because different companies have completely different target audiences and there are so many different types of ship within each company's fleet too.

Personally, as someone a bit younger, something like Royal Caribbean with it's wide choice of activities, the bigger 'more American' ship thing suits me, whereas my Grandparents love P&O for their more traditional approach.

In short, don't rule out cruising, because I'm sure there is something for everyone!

If you're on a med cruise a visit to Barcelona is a must...but beware of pick pockets, we spent half the day in the police station instead of seeing the sites!!

Get up early - see the sunrise then go on shore and make the most of the time you have in each of the amazing cities

After boarding, it can take quite a while for your luggage to be delivered to your cabin. Be prepared & take everything to keep your family comfortable & entertained for a few hours in your hand luggage, until your belongings arrived. Swimming clothes, camera, sunglasses etc. That way you can start your holiday straight away!

If your child isn’t potty trained yet, they won't be allowed in the swimming pools on most cruise ships. When we took a cruise, I brought an inflatable kiddie's pool for my son to play in so he could splash about.

I have only taken one cruise, that was in 1978 when after working in Zambia for four years I was returning from Cape Town on the S.A.Vaal. My tips are 1) Have a cabin with a porthole if you can afford it.
2) If you are travelling by yourself or with your partner, try to join a group of similar travellers.
3) Join in with as many of the communal activities as possible, this will facilitate 2).

Make sure you pack all your medication and painkillers. Travel Insurance doesn't cover everything and usually has an excess

I prefer a fly cruise so you start at the first interesting port. 2 days getting there and back via the bay of Biscay is not a great start or finish.

Even if you can't afford a balcony cabin, book something with a small window. I had an indoor cabin once and I found it claustrophobic and I hated waking up and not knowing if it was dark or light outside.

If there are trips you really want to go on, pre-book. Sometimes you can queue jump the general public if you are on an organised tour. Don't feel you have to do something organised at every port, sometimes just explore on your own.

Surprisingly even on huge ships, we still found there were quiet areas, have a really good walk about the first day to find the best places.

Research the ships to find what suits you with regard to size, formality, activities, meal arrangements (same people/time every night or varies) and age range

Tipping is only a guide!

We've never been on a cruise but I love the idea of being on holiday relaxing whilst being transported to different countries or islands.

I absolutely love cruising, they cater for all ages & it's a fantastic way to spend your holidays. We always book early to get the best deals such as onboard credit, where we want our cabin etc etc. My tips would be if you have children get straight to the childrens clubs they're brilliant, dont buy juice, take those concentrated tiny squirt things with you & hey ho instant juice, dont bother with a balcony, the inside cabins are sufficient for your needs, & pre book all your trips - dont buy the ships as you'll have a nasty bill at the end, theres loads of sites to visit online to help you pick & choose. with smaller children it would be ideal to sail from Southampton as you can take onboard what you want - no luggage restrictions, but if your fly cruising be prepared for a long flight, but it's easy peasy until you get to the docks in Barbados be prepared for quite a queue - not good when you have tired little ones. But cruising is just so much fun, the kids will love it x

buy the best cabin you can afford and plan any excursions before hand

Cruising is like a holiday resort at sea, if you wanted to you could not leave the ship for the duration of your holiday and you still wouldn't be bored. The most appealing thing is the fact that there is something for everyone whether that's to do with age or interest. You can see different shows, attend educational seminars or just relax.

The best time I would say to book is early or late. Early bird offers are really good as companies want to fill up their ships while booking last minute means you might get a bargain.

What appeals to you and your family about a cruise holiday?
My 5yo hates flying, so we combine a cruise with a week at a good destination.

When's the best time to book? I often find good deals on Bank Holidays. No idea why.

Do you always book the same kind of State Room? What's best for you? We book an inside room as my 5yo is not keen on the view!

What about food and drink? What do you make a beeline for once on board? Oh my word, everything. I think we all love the desserts best though.

And entertainment - what's the plan for you and for the DC on a typical day on board? We don't have a typical day. Every day is different!

Excursions - do you do your own or go with the ones arranged by the cruise ship? What's the best place you have visited? We go with the arranged trips, I feel safer.

What is your top tip for cruising? The anti sickness injection is better than the tablets. Even if it is via your bum!

Take travel sickness tablets with you, I didnt take any and really wish i had!

Take your best lingerie. Socks for when you want to go bowling. Complain in the restaurants that you've found a beetle in your food and you'll get loads of freebies. When an officer says he's left something in your room don't get exited it won't be him. It will be a basket of fruit and a bottle of wine. So maybe the lingerie is a bit of a waste