AARP Rewards Online Community Cruise Contest 2024

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.

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.

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.

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

 I have cruised like three times and really can't say I have a tip or trick for cruising, but I am so looking forward to next year, celebrating our marriage of 50 years, retiring and taking our family with us on the cruise, which will be so exciting.  We have not all been together since 2008, so you can imagine the anticipation and especially to have our five grandchildren together as well!   Hoping a cruise will be the ticket for all of us to know each other better and enjoy each other.  By reading all others ideas and suggestions will be helpful and just make our cruising a trip of a lifetime!  The planning is in the works but with AARP articles and suggestions from all of you, looking forward with wide open eyes! 

After having been on over 25 cruises, we have learned the following:

• We purchase cruise gift cards from AARP, and our local grocery store, Meijer has discounted gift card promos sometimes, too.
• Book early saver rates so you can rebook/change if the price goes down
• Carry on 1 bottle of wine per person when allowed
• Watch for price drops on excursions because many cruise lines let you cancel and re-book, and some have price-match guarantee. 

We buy all the travel gift cards thru AARP. Not just the cruise ones to save, but also store, dining, and lodging ones for the trip there and back, and any shopping we may need to do before the trip.

Check AARP rewards for gift cards on cruises or discounts on flight and cruise packages via the travel benefits. These benefits are a great way to save on your cruise! 

Buy gift cards using AARP Rewards.  Stay in an inside room and try to upgrade with a bid instead of paying the higher price up front.  When aboard a ship, if they have a program to put an open deposit down on another cruise, make use of it, because you will probably get some extra onboard credit once you actually book.

Luckily I have a close friend who cruises frequently so when AARP notified me of having won a gift card, I immediately called her.  The survey questions also have helped, (I e. cruise etiquette) so when I finally do get a chance to be in the water, I'll be set 😉