Patti, I've been on three cruises and they were all fun. Which cruise line is it?
Usually you can get a list of the shore excursions before you go from the cruise line web site. Once you have that, I'd pick out a few things that really interest you to do in your ports of call. It depends on your interests - outdoor activities, cultural things, shopping. You should find a few to do. They all cost something, so you have to watch how that adds up. Pick the ones you want BEFORE you go. Once you get on the ship, immediately go sign up for them because the good ones tend to get full fast. While you're signing up, everyone else will be trying to figure out what they want to do.
Another biggie is to pack shorts and warm weather outfits in your carryon. It takes a while for your luggage to get delivered to your room and that way you can change into vacation clothes immediately when you get to your room while everyone else is still in their winter duds.....they'll think you're sooooo clever!
In addition, you'll be paying extra for all those nifty umbrella drinks you say yes to around the pool and other places onboard ship. Watch the cost of drinks in the "souvenir" glasses - very expensive! You are not allowed to bring any booze on board and they won't let you take bottles you buy at the duty free liquor store back to your room. Dirty dogs....they make sooooo much money on drinks! Usually even soda pop costs too when you are out and about on the ship and it can really add up. Our solution to that was to buy many, many, many of those little plastic booze bottles like they give you on the airplanes. They aren't allowed either, but I cleverly rolled them up individually in my socks and undies and other things packed deep in my checked luggage. Worked every time. They will xray your bags (both checked and unchecked) and pull any liquor bottles they find in there. They don't take them permanently, but "nicely" hold them until your return. Double Dirty Dogs!!! On our last trip, we thought we'd be really clever and pack Vodka in our carryon bags in Scope bottles - one tinted blue and the other green to look like the mouthwash. I even carefully cut the plastic seals on the caps with an Xacto knife, dumped the Scope, refilled with colored Vodka, and super glued the cuts I made in the seals. It looked soooooo good! Not a problem at all getting it on board. It was an old trick I learned in college to keep booze in your room....tint it and put it right on the cabinet in a mouthwash bottle. Only problem with that trick was....in college all the bottles were glass and no problem. Now, everything is PLASTIC and once we got on the ship all our Vodka was "minty fresh" if you know what I mean. The plastic retains some of that flavor even though I washed them out really well. My husband drank it anyway, but I think he was just being the typical stubborn guy....it tasted horrible in my opinion. He said he'd never do it again, which leads me to the "stubborn" idea. Anyway, I think the little bottles are best because they are looking for big ones in the xray checks and they miss those little guys. That is assuming that you drink. Now if you guys are beer drinkers, you have a problem. If you have your own booze, you can have a free drink in your room in the evening and mix drinks for poolside by buying cans of mix on board (cheaper than the booze). Take big insulated drink cups with caps and a straw for the pool - bar drinks melt too fast.
If you are inclined, the spa is really a treat. It's expensive too, though. We enjoyed attending the onboard art auctions too. Each day the ship will publish a newsletter to tell you about the ship, activities, and shore excursions....as well as information about your ports of call. Read it....it's great for helping you decide what to do. There is more to do than you'll be able to schedule, so be sure and allow for some serious goof off time around the pool.
Hope this helps a little. I know you will have a fabulous time!!!
Jamie
United States
