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

I would love the life experience of going on a cruise.... but Im too scared!

Mix and match your clothes so you can wear bottoms with different tops and vice versa, to cut down on excess baggage fees - there is also very limited hanging space in some of the wardrobes!

take some travel sickness pills, juts in case

Cruise from Southampton means no worries about excess baggage!

Yes, that''s a major attraction for us (we live fairly near Southampton) but it really restricts choices of where you can go, especially when you are limited to the school holidays as well.

Cruising for families is great fun. The children are well entertained and there's endless activities for them but be warned this is an expensive holiday. You have to remember that once you're on board, they have you where they want you and will bleed you dry. There's always loads of food and drink so make the most of what you've paid for in advance and try not to think about the bill until you get home or it will ruin your time away.

I've never been on a cruise. What appeals to me is being able to see more than one place and having a lovely sea view and all that fresh air.

I absolutely loved our family cruise!! My mum and dad persuaded us to try one with them and I still can't believe how well entertained the kids (and us) were. I loved being full board too so much easier for keeping the kids happy. We also found November such a great time to go. We would love to go again. Next I would love a Disney Cruise.

1. Be prepared to socialise-cruising's not for the anti-social.
2. Be prepared to go on a diet once you get back onto dry land-it's eating, eating and more eating allthe way (with a little drinking too).

It's great to arrive at the dock, hand in your suitcases, be directed to your cabin, and go exploring.

The best time to book for is when there are lots of vacant cabins. My brother and sister in law sailed the Caribbean a couple of weeks before Christmas, at less than half the price this cruise would usually cost.

The food and drink is available all day, and we find that little and often is best. Children become bored during long, formal meals, they would sooner be enjoying the kids clubs, swimming, etc.

My top tip for cruising is to keep checking prices, and as they come down, book then. You can save lots of money.

would love to go on a cruise and thinking about it for our next holiday! Love the idea of everything being under one roof! xx

I have`t been on a cruise yet ,But my mum and partner are always going on them and I have found the best thing to do is shop around and try and stick to one cruise company as you get bonuses for cruising with them

When booking take a look at the layout of the ship online and book a cabin that’s likely to be easier to locate e.g: near a lift or near the main dining area - makes it easier to find your cabin when you arrive and if any of your party get lost on board they are able to locate the cabin easier - for the younger ones, think about getting some ID bracelets and remind them what to do if they become separated from the party.

Speak with a cruise agent prior to booking to ensure you book onto a cruise that has an itinerary that caters for a family holiday i.e.: customers with like-minded interests.

One tip for Evening Ball Clothes; is to visit local charity shops, there are so much cheaper and you are contributing to some-kind of good cause :)

Take binoculars for whale and dolphin spotting.

I've never cruised but I've always heard it's best to take some form of entertainment along.

My top tip is to take a high-lighter pen and then use it to mark what you are interested to doing on the 'daily information' sheet. That way you will enjoy the maximum 'fun' on board, what ever it is.

Try to minimise the bulkier items, so no buggy but a sling or other type of baby carrier if you can, Make sure you know the dress the code for all the restaurants and check if they have and evening crèche facility so you and OH can have a nice evening meal without the kids

Some ships are more family friendly than others, the larger and newer the ship the better we've found! The great pools are always a major draw for my family, and the childrens' clubs and activities have always been excellent, especially on the Royal Caribbean cruise we took 2 years ago.

My tips would be that for a family cruise a balcony works well (supervised of course) because it means you have that bit more space in your cabin. Although if you're making the most of your cruise you won't be spending too much time in there hopefully! Personally I like to be able to see out in the morning too, check the weather (sunny obviously!) take in the location and watch the port activity.

The buffet is perfect for the whole family, we can eat as much as we want pretty much when we want. Cruising can get expensive when you include tipping (factor this into your costs before you go) and extras, so don't spend extra on food and drink when you really don't have to.

Often the cruise excursions make for a really long, tiring day, and they are expensive, so research beforehand and see if they're actually going to work for your family. The last cruise we took offered a minibus for a small fee which took you into the city so you could explore at your own pace. And make sure you drink lots and sample plenty of ice cream while out and about!

I have cruised pre-children but never been as a family. I do want to but want to wait until the youngest is a bit older (and we have more money!)

I love the idea of being able to see new places but not having to keep repacking! Plus with everything on board and plenty to kids entertained. Also being all inclusive, means not adding on price of meals every day.

I would try to book quite far in advance to get a good deal so we can plan for it. Not too fussed about room - outside cabin would be nice but depends on price, would rather pay less for inside cabin and save the money for more excursions - cabin is really just for sleeping. Some excursions are worth it but depends on ports as can be just as easy to go off board and arrange things ourselves. An all day excursion may not be best suited to our family due to the age range of children - can make for a very long day. For any holiday, we tend to check all entertainment and work out what each person really wants to do and make sure that happens (circle/star on entertainment planner thingy) then the rest of the time, we just play it by ear.

Tips would be: pack things that match with everything else so you can mix and match everything. Check if ship has washing facilities, I have been on a few which have a self service laundry room on each level - means you can take less and do a quick wash (or do the washing on the last day and means you don't need to do it when you get home!)
Remember that although the food is available all day, you don't need to eat all day (easier said than done!)

To avoid the check-out queues, ask for a printout of your bill the day before disembarking. If there are any discrepancies, you can resolve them early and totally relax on your last day at sea

i love cruising , if booking now be aware of some of the good deals they have to off all inclusive packages etc, most of the food is free(part of the price of the cruise ) but some restuarnts require a suppliment , which isnt expensive as such , i always take onboard with me ginger biscuits as these help if you suffer from sea sickness, which fortunatly i have never suffered from , but family and friends have, i always take my gratuities off at the beginning of the cruise and tip who needs tipping at the end of the cruise hope these little tips are helpful ! and remeber enjoy wherever you go

Definitely take travel sickness pills with you. I cost me £80 in injections whilst I was on my cruise.

I would say, if you haven't been on a cruise befor really do some research before you book. Talk to friends or family about their experiences, look for customer feedback comments on cruise companies websites, check there will be something onboard to keep you entertained ect. Cruising isn't for everyone, so make sure you won't get bored when your at sea hundreds of miles away from anything.

get a balcony cabin .... little ones can sleep inside and you can sit with a glass of wine (which some cruises lines will allow you to buy on land and take back on, so you can keep in the fridge) and watch the sea and world pass you by.
anything that you really want to do, excursions, restuarant bookings, baby sitters etc book first day to ensure you get what you want.
get to know the staff they will make your holiday