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My wife and I will be doing our first cruise in May. Leaving from Tampa and heading to Cozumel. Any tips or hints? Is the drink package worth it?
We have been looking at doing the Jeep shore excursion. Drive a Jeep around the area, go to a Mayan ruin, snorkel, etc. My only concern is it will just be the two of us and the Jeeps are 4 seaters. There is a chance we could get paired with another couple we can't stand. I get annoyed by people easily. Also, I WILL be driving, so what happens if the other couple wants to drive. I'm not comfortable allowing someone I just met to drive myself and my wife around. Should I worry about that?
Thanks for any info you guys can give.
We have been looking at doing the Jeep shore excursion. Drive a Jeep around the area, go to a Mayan ruin, snorkel, etc. My only concern is it will just be the two of us and the Jeeps are 4 seaters. There is a chance we could get paired with another couple we can't stand. I get annoyed by people easily. Also, I WILL be driving, so what happens if the other couple wants to drive. I'm not comfortable allowing someone I just met to drive myself and my wife around. Should I worry about that?
Thanks for any info you guys can give.
Also leave a $20 or a $50 for house keepers on day 1. pays off ten fold.
In Jamaica I did this....and I only had paid for the mid shelf booze. But after the tipping dollar here, there and the $50 on the bed there was top shelf shit stocked all week. By Wednesday of our 7 day stay they had drinks in our hand before our toes hit the sand! They would see us coming.....
The people that work on these ships and and resorts really bust their ass. you’re gonna have a great time !!!
The Shop
My biggest tip is to just go with the flow. Don't let anything bother you.
I have seen too many people get pissed off at the smallest of things on a vacation. You just know they are miserable people and I wonder why they are even taking a vacation to begin with.
We usually sneak on a couple bottles of vodka and/or crown. And you can bring on your own wine bottles on board.
Also, dress up for Formal night. It's fun and you can get some really great photos taken. Also, order as many entrees as you want. You are not limited on what you order. I order multiple appetizers and multiple different entrees. Fuck it, I paid for the ticket and want to try what I want.
Have fun!
There is no money on the ship except for the casino. Your ship to shore card is around your neck. It would be a pain in the ass walking around with dollars to hand out. That is the whole point. It is one less thing you have to deal with. I could almost go as far that if that is not the service you regularly received than maybe it is because it is not on your ship to shore card that you have already paid your tips...?
If you buy a drink with your ship to shore card, the receipt comes back without a place to tip. You have already paid it. If your interest is drinks, then you need to pay the $57 a day for your drink pass. But if you are going to drink $57 worth everyday, it isn't going to be long before you don't care what shelve it came from. I'm just saying.
The best thing is to make sure you do your homework and fill out all the forms, questions, schedules before getting on the ship. Most importantly, linking your ship to shore card to your credit card you want it billed to. If you do this ahead of time, you will be sitting on the top floor in air conditioning eating cookies and taking in the views while others are standing in a long long line.
I'm leaning towards the drink package because we like to drink liquor. Seems like it wouldn't take too long to hit $57 in rum/vodka/etc.
WHITE Listerine bottle for liqour smugglin
Roulette- bet on the middle row
Have someone in your group snag seats on the lido deck
Splurge the extra cash to eat at the Italian/steakhouse (worth it)
When in Cozumel WET WENDYS is awesome, burrito king is sweet too
Avoid tourist traps like margaritaville at all cost unless you are 18 year old chasing poone
Cant go wrong with an all inclusive beach, but I have always wanted to do the jeep tour too
Show up early for the comedy show, avoid eating dinner at the back of the boat if you are seasick prone
Participate in the activities on the boat (i.e. bean bag tournaments, trivia, drink contest, deck party, etc)
I spend a ton of time at the red frog
Most important: its okay to join one of those pre-cruise facebook groups to meet people, but do not let some control freak organize your cruise
Just check the itinerary that comes to your room every morning, it will keep you informed
P.S. room service is EPIC! hot sandwiches!
Side note: YOU CAN waive your tip at the end of the trip, otherwise i think some ~55-60% goes exclusively to maitre 'd, that way you can allocate tips to whoever you please, i.e. the people cleaning your dirty laundry etc.
Dramamine, Bomine or some other form of motion sickness aid is your friend. My wife and I didn't catch onto that until the 2nd day of our honeymoon trip. I was feeling sick for 4 days and my wife felt crappy until we got home. Alcohol made it worse.
Tipping definately gets you better everything. My friends always say I am a crazy tipper then the next question is why do I get taken care of basically everywhere I go? Duh. Example, They hand you champagne or a well drink as you board, any size tip and they lead you around a false wall and you get shots that are lined up or use for floaters, non tippers are not aware of said wall. Ha just the start. They know who to take care of first thing.
Relaxing, that's what cruises are for, Relaxing. The staff and crew are always amazing and 1st class service each time. Caribbean promises that the staff working with you will always know your name.
24/7 Unlimited food and drink. Bar hopping 24/7 is fun and the comedy show is always hilarious and have had to make sure I wasn't making a scene crying laughing so hard many times. I only like real dealers at casinos, no digital crap and probably why I prefer Caribbean. My friends call me David Blaine in the casinos. I do have uncanny luck but horrible timing, need both really. Always have poker tournaments you can pre register for before casino even opens offshore.
The destinations are fun but the ships are slot full of entertainment. If you do bring alcohol and they find it they actually leave a note saying you can have it back the last night of your excursion to enjoy so no worries. Have a great time.
Lifes a game, play it well. Good times.
P.s. for the jokesters, it doesnt mean the earth is flat. just huge. Lol
Pit Row
Don’t buy cigars off the boat and smoke them on the boat. You’ll have a panic attack and think the boat is rolling over. Ask me how I know. (I’ll
Never do that again) lol wonder if it was laced. No idea. But....yikes. Pretty unlimited jack and cokes. As Coca Cola is everywhere on The Who and free.
Also buy breast milk bags from Walmart. Fill them up with booze of your choice. Fold them into your clothes. They might go through your luggage but won’t mess with the inside of your pant legs in the luggage. If ya know what I mean. .....Pretty much unlimited jack and cokes because coke is free everywhere on the ship.
Pay the tipping in advance.
Buy the drink package. (If you party on vacation trust me it will save you money)
A lot of room service is free. Use it.
Go to some shows and do some activities on the boat. A lot of the shows are a pretty good laugh.
Try the comedy clubs. A lot better than I anticipated.
Don't be a tightwad with tipping, it DOES help service.
Be prepared for the chickens and other critters on the beach in Cozumel...
Also. . . Check the prices of any drinks you order on the beach....they are stupid expensive.
We did our first one last year and are going again next. We got the booze package and was worth it....lol.
No kids=booze cruise.
I experienced NO seasickness. I slept very well. (Could be the booze, lol).
Very nice to wake up to a light rain out in my.balconey....
Balconeys....are awesome.....get some intimate time.out there. (Wink, wink)
And go to senor frogs in cozumel!!
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