Carnival Cruise Line passengers share advice they wish they knew
The popular cruise line's passengers have shared the advice they wish they knew before their first cruise.
A cruise is unlike any other vacation. That makes it challenging to know what to expect for people who have never cruised before.
Cruises, for example, have rules that are close to flying on a plane than staying in a hotel. You can't bring alcohol on board (with limited exceptions) and certain items like irons, steamers, and coffeemakers are banned.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line calls out passengers for onboard theft
There are good reasons for those items being banned, but most new cruisers would not consider the fire dangers posed by any item with a heating element. That's at least partly because land-based hotels have no such bans because they don't face the same dangers should a small fire break out.
Going on your first cruise can be daunting and it's hard to know where to go for information.
Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald is sympathetic to new cruisers and tries to help. Recently, (June 11) he turned to his massive Facebook audience for help.
"If you think back to your very first cruise, is there something that you wish you had known? Is there anything you wish you could have done differently and is there any advice you can give first time Carnival Cruisers?" he asked,
Heald's followers did not let him down.
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Some Carnival cruisers offered lighter advice
"That i was going to gain 11 pounds on a five day cruise. Why put the ice cream machine between the pools and restrooms, I had to have a cone coming and going. MDR, 3-5 appetizers, 3 entrees and 2 lava cakes with 4 scoops of ice-cream, cheese plate and fruit for dessert," shared Tom Durbin.
Those may be excessive quantities, but it's a valuable warning that it's very easy to overeat on a cruise.
Another passenger shared advice on a cruise drinking problem.
"Bring a water bottle and a travel coffee mug. I tend to be an early riser while my wife sleeps in, provided that we don't need to be up early for an excursion. Trying to bring back two cups of coffee from the Lido deck on a moving ship while trying to traverse hallways, stairs, and elevators filled with fellow travelers is a challenge," posted John Palmer.
Jason McDonald shared some advice many will find hard to follow."
"Don't overpack," he wrote. "You need maybe a quarter of the amount of clothes you think, especially on a 7 day or less cruise. Even on a longer one, the option of laundry is there — as long as you don't mind someone else seeing your bloomers," he wrote.
Jaclyn Hunt Morang offered a tip that many people might otherwise not know.
"I didn't know we could eat breakfast in the main dining room. I like that breakfast better than the buffet and you don't have to deal with the crowds," she shared.
More tips from Carnival Cruise Line passengers
Airick Zoppa shared some more controversial advice.
"Get the balcony room. Everyone said 'just get the interior room, all you're going to do in your room is sleep and practice baby-making.' That was false. We enjoy just relaxing in the room but didn't much enjoy the total disconnect of being in an interior room," they posted.
Devan Odom added a tip about how to make sure you take care of the people who take care of you.
"Take pictures on your phone of all the wonderful crew members that you interact with during the cruise and make sure you can read their name tags that way when it comes survey time a week after your cruise you don't struggle to remember all the wonderful staff that you'd like to recognize," he wrote.
Linda Lee Smith had some practical clothing advice.
"I wish I had known to take a jacket, long pants, closed toe shoes (it gets cold on the ship at night)," she wrote.
Bobbi Wiggins offered up some tips for booking your cabin.
"Book your cabin on a deck that has rooms above and below you. If you dislike smelling cigarette smoke while trying to enjoy your balcony, book your cabin on the opposite side of the ship where the outdoor smoking sections are, which is typically on the starboard side of the ship," she shared.
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