AARP Rewards Online Community Cruise Contest 2024

The night before your excursion familiarize the highlights of the next day's tour. I will enhance your experience.

When looking for a cruise company, sometimes it is better to pay upfront for those items that can add up on the ship.  Alcohol included, all tipping, pre trip hotel(night before the cruise starts), business class flights, internet, excursions, ship board dollars.  Many cruise lines are including these items and more.  When you pay upfront there is no bill at the end to surprise you.

I've learned there were things to bring that made cruising a bit easier.

Air freshener is a must!  The bathroom always seemed a bit stinky so this helped a lot.

Small flashlights for each person in case you get up in the middle of the night.

A small first aid kit with bandaids, moleskin, tums & Tylenol. 

Earplugs if you've never slept with this room mate before.

Enjoy every new experience if you can.  Always fun to try new things and foods.

Please check twice or thrice that you packed all necessary medications, including over the counter pain medication for the occasional headache. No one wants to spend their time at sick bay.

Plan special dining arrangements for a sea day in advance. You avoid the rush and timing of an excursion.

There is alot of storage space under the beds.

Room service for meals saves time on excursion days  

We always get an inside cabin. We love the dark, quiet space versus the bright, noisier balcony rooms plus it forces us to be on the upper decks enjoying the 360 sights versus just on side view. We each bring a small rolling suitcase with the allotted amount of soft drinks allowed plus an empty 1.5 liter plastic bottle and multiple 2-quart packets of Crystal Light powder. A beach bag which I carry on board with my makeup serves many purposes such as holds the drinks when we sit pool side plus sun screen, sun hats and wraps. We limit ourselves to 2 meals a day so as not to return with extra pounds. Finally, we book our own excursions and often precook rental cars so we’re not being herded and have plenty of time to explore islands on our own.

On a budget? Get an inside cabin and enjoy all the room outside your room! Have your coffee on the beautiful decks rather than outside your room is just as wonderful. Luxury “top tier” is not necessary to enjoy that cruise.

I travel light, but always take a comfy sweater for chilly areas 

Our learned tips include traveling to the port city the day before. Avoid flight delays and rushing to get to the fun. Second tip is to always check the daily planner the night before to check out free events, not-to-be-missed shows, talks, classes and free things going on. Mark those things or highlight them on your app to keep up. 

Take some time on embarkation day to check out the ship for those areas you want to spend time, before everyone else boards and things get hectic. 

Do the muster drill as soon as you are able; do not be the one whose name is called over the ship system, delaying departure.

Always pack a third less than what you originally were going to pack. Cruise ships have laundry service on board which stops over packing and also less laundry to do when you get home.