How to Cruise the RC

Just got back from a wonderful Royal Caribbean cruise to Bermuda, but there are a few things I wish I had known before I left home. Here's how to make the best of your vacation on the floating cities that they call cruise ships these days.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Dining room ***Before leaving***
   
   Request a dining table near a window, if that's your preference. Otherwise, you'll be seated in the middle of their cavernous dining facilities. If you have a preference for either the early (6:00 pm) or later (8:30 pm) dinner, request that as well.
   
   Do some homework on your port of arrival. When we got to Bermuda, the ship offered numerous package tours we could take (scuba, snorkeling, bus tours, hiking, dining, shopping, and so on). But if you want to go it on your own, it really helps to scope out in advance how to get around, where to go, and what to do during your port stay.
2. ***Getting on Board***
   
   Most people seem to arrive at the recommended two hours before departure, and things get real crowded, really fast. You can usually arrive much earlier -- about five hours prior to departure -- and begin enjoying the ship's food and facilities early. It's a wise move, so check as to the earliest time you can board, and start your vacation early.
3. Study the map ***On Board***
   
   After you've found your cabin, stop and orient yourself in terms of the whole ship. (eg, I was slightly behind (aft) the middle of the ship, on the right (starboard) side, on deck six (sixth floor). That simple step can save you a lot of aimless wandering later on.
   
   Find all the elevators. Knowing where the elevators and stairs are makes it much easier to negotiate a 15-story ship. When one elevator bank gets overly crowded (as a show lets out, for instance), you'll be glad to know how to quickly get to other options.
   
   Explore the ship. Some of the facilities on board aren't clearly indicated on maps or guides. For instance, it took us three days to stumble across a room with board games which no one seemed to know existed.
   
   Find out what's free. Cruise ships are a strange (possibly infuriating) combination of things that are free, and things you have to pay for. Juice and milk and iced tea are free; soda will cost you! Coffee is free, cappuccino is not! Don't be shy. Just ask.
   
   Bring your reading glasses. Every day, you'll receive a newsletter describing the day's activities. It's in teeny-tiny type, but really worth going over, so you can plan your day's activities.
   
   
   Try something different. It's a vacation! Go ahead an do something you wouldn't ordinarily do. We dragged my mom to the Casino, totally against her will, but when she pulled the one-armed bandit and 750 quarters began tumbling out, it was one of the highlights of her trip.
   
   Always ask. If there's something you're longing for, find a staff member who's likely to know if it's available. My son was missing his electric guitar, we asked the activities director, and lo and behold, they had guitars on board that he was able to use.
4. Can't beat the tropics ***At Port***
   
   A large ship holds thousands of passengers, and getting back on after you've toured your port is like getting on an airplane...a slow process with high security, and ID and baggage checks. Try to find an 'off-hours' time to return to ship, to beat the crowds.
5. ***Disembarking***
   
   
   If at all possible, carry off your luggage, rather than have the ship handle it. This will save you hours.
   
   Be generous in tipping the ship's staff...they work long and hard, and deserve it. The easiest way is to fill out a simple gratuities form that automatically adds tips to your overall bill.
6. See the Resource links, directly below, for more tips on making your cruise the best vacation you've ever had.

Tips & Warnings

• Dining on a cruise is different from dining in a restaurant. You can have anything you want, and as much as you want. People seem hesitant to ask, but if you want three entrees, two desserts, and five salads...go for it! The wait staff are always pleased to accommodate you.
• Save your on-board shopping for the last day, when things (especially the ship's branded merchandise) go on sale.