First ever cruise (on a large ship)

[Flashback]

In the spirit of the thread by @serfty (Why I'm unlikely to ever "Cruise" (At least on a large ship)), we are/were very much firmly in that camp. However, sometimes needs must and in order to hit my target of visiting 100 countries by the time I hit my next round birthday an opportunity came up that was too good to pass.......... albeit some concessions had to be made But, everyone else is in the same boat (ha! see what I did there?); so it doesn't bother us too much.

We will be travelling on a pretty new P&O ship called Arvia. It looks like an absolute monster, but looks reasonable enough for spending a week travelling around the Caribbean.

Originally I thought I'd go in to the cruise with little research and just learn by mistake, but then I thought that's not very AFF-like, so I may as well reach out to this well travelled community for their tips and insights.

There's a few things on my mind:

• Health Questionnaire - does this need to be returned? It seems to indicate it is mandatory, but if you don't return it will they not let you board? Which leads onto.....
• One of the questions is regarding health insurance; we have 2 policies both with very good coverage and more than cover the evac requirements. AMEX Plat travel insurance has provided a letter as well confirming they cover cruises and the various limits etc.
• However, the questionnaire asks you to list all pre-existing conditions and confirm your TI covers them; which obviously it doesn't unless you get a specific (much more costly) TI policy.
• Would you just forget to mention the pre-existing conditions? i.e., Mrs FB having had a stroke 12 years prior. We've not had cover for that on any of our trips in the past decade, so comfortable with it. But will it cause an issue? For me, Asthma (very mild) since I was a wee lad; but never been a problem.
• Excursions - as most of you who follow our travels will know we are very DIY when it comes to travelling. Is there any reason we couldn't/shouldn't be able to simply land at a port and trundle off on our own? Do we really need to do tours? (whether that be P&O arranged - no thanks; or whether it be private tours)
• WiFi - it's likely on the 3 sea days we have I will use that to do some billable client work; is there a cost difference in pre-paying vs paying when onboard? I couldn't really work it out from their portal. 20% off currently for a Black Friday sale.
• Onboard entertainment - I've read that it is a good idea once you board to rush for the line (even if it means a few hours ... take a good book?!) to book shows etc. onboard, which are all included in the price of the cruise as I understand it. Worth it, or not? Would mainly be for evenings I guess as shore days we'll be out and about, sea days I'll be working and Mrs FB will be relaxing (work has been hectic). Interestingly I had an e-mail yesterday that says "You will be able to pre-book selected performances from 14 days before your departure.".
• We don't booze up - so happy with tea/water/coffee which I understand is included.
• Gala Evening (now called Celebration night) - do you have to attend? But if we do, do people really take suits / black tie on these mass factory ships?!
• Have I forgotten anything else of major importance that might impact of "enjoyment" of a cruise?

Given this one is very UK'ish, there's no tips (was included in the cost of the fare) and all charges onboard are GBP - nice touch. More than anything else though, we've both had an absolutely crazy November/December work wise so will be quite happy just 'doing nothing' so don't really want to overdo it, either. The main focus here is some more countries off the list, rather than getting the full cruise experience!

@VPS @love_the_life @Pushka @drron @mrs.dr.ron

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm also doing Caribbean in Dec/Jan 24/25 . Smaller ship, though.

WiFi - it's likely on the 3 sea days we have I will use that to do some billable client work; is there a cost difference in pre-paying vs paying when onboard? I couldn't really work it out from their portal. 20% off currently for a Black Friday sale.

I like your work ethic

 

[SYD]

RE shore excursions - the ship will wait for their tours to return. People doing their own thing can/will be left behind if running late. I recall watching people run for their lives to return onboard on one Caribbean port…(we were sipping Pina Coladas at the Sunset Bar while watching and cheering them on).

Many ports you can just step off and wander around. If you do a 3rd party tour allow time to get back on board (and take your passport just in case you have to MOW to next port of call).

We just did a SE Asian cruise and most of the POI are miles from port, so we bit the bullet and booked “Highlight” tours for Saigon, KL but winged it for others. The Grab app is excellent for Asia and I’d assume Uber/Lyft probably work well in the Caribbean?

RE Health declaration - perhaps provide the least info practical and then only if relevant….

Tipping: there’s usually a general daily gratuity charge up front or appears on your bill as a daily charge per person (varies from cruise line to line). There’s also usually a service charge on added to drinks and wine.

 

[Quickstatus]

• Have I forgotten anything else of major importance that might impact of "enjoyment" of a cruise?

Laundry?

 

[Flashback]

Laundry?

Only going for a week (allows us to hit 4 countries) and have 23kg of luggage so should be able to get by without - but good shout for longer cruises!

 

[Flashback]

RE shore excursions - the ship will wait for their tours to return. People doing their own thing can/will be left behind if running late. I recall watching people run for their lives to return onboard on one Caribbean port…(we were sipping Pina Coladas at the Sunset Bar while watching and cheering them on).

Many ports you can just step off and wander around. If you do a 3rd party tour allow time to get back on board (and take your passport just in case you have to MOW to next port of call).

We just did a SE Asian cruise and most of the POI are miles from port, so we bit the bullet and booked “Highlight” tours for Saigon, KL but winged it for others. The Grab app is excellent for Asia and I’d assume Uber/Lyft probably work well in the Caribbean?

RE Health declaration - perhaps provide the least info practical and then only if relevant….

Tipping: there’s usually a general daily gratuity charge up front or appears on your bill as a daily charge per person (varies from cruise line to line). There’s also usually a service charge on added to drinks and wine.

Useful to note - thanks. I was aware of it, but for other newbies reading the thread it's a really good point to call out. Didn't think of the passport thing, but guess we'd have it anyway in order to be able the country.

I have free global roaming at most of the countries we're visiting, so that will help too.

For the tips, it said no extra tips are required - the daily gratuity etc. is all included in the AI cost.

 

[SYD]

Oh, “water”. Don’t buy a water package! The ships have desalination plants that make perfectly acceptable potable water.

 

[Flashback]

Oh, “water”. Don’t buy a water package! The ships have desalination plants that make perfectly acceptable potable water.

From what I've read for this ship, water/tea/coffee is all included. It's only if you want to add on softies or booze etc. that it costs more.

 

[Quickstatus]

Don’t buy a water package!

Why buy a water package when there is a booze package?

 

[SYD]

Why buy a water package when there is a booze package?

The cruise I just did, Americans bought literally gallons of water… Surprise, surprise they didn’t drink it all. TBH, I reckon the ship bottles their own desal water and resells them!

But yes, drinks packages can be a good deal if you like being permanently pickled! They are handy if they include wine: pre-dinner coughtail, white wine for entree, red or three for main and sticky with desert. Post dinner coughtail or three. Breakfast mimosas, lunch beer/coughtail, sunset coughtail, rinse and repeat!

 

[Flashback]

Why buy a water package when there is a booze package?

Isn't booze just dirty water?

 

[SYD]

Isn't booze just dirty water?

Disinfected!

That’s why the French drink champagne and Brits drink beer (and Meade before it) - safer than water!

 

[Quickstatus]

Isn't booze just dirty water

No it's Piss

 

[Flashback]

Given the WiFi is standard pricing it seems looking at the P&O website, it looks like it will be best to buy now while I can get the whole cruise package for 20% off.

 

[VPS]

Personally I'm very cautious with TI especially as you're probably going to end up in the USA if anything goes pear shaped. Although it may not be directly related to the stroke if you don't mention it then TI have some wiggle room. You may just have to pay a higher copayment to cover any stroke repercussions.

For me the entertainment nights are not what I cruise for and I've never found one that has been one that I would have paid to see. I'm much more comfortable reading a book.

You don't have to go to any of the gala nights and don't need to dress up if you don't want to - it's likely there will be other restaurants you can eat in that night.

Check if you can have room service and if that costs extra

Sound great - enjoy

 

[RooFlyer]

very cautious with TI especially as you're probably going to end up in the USA if anything goes pear shaped

Oh! Thanks for that! I probably won't have a ( required, for me) US visa but I guess in extremis they would still take me there, so I should get a policy including USA next year.

 

[Flashback]

Oh! Thanks for that! I probably won't have a ( required, for me) US visa but I guess in extremis they would still take me there, so I should get a policy including USA next year.

Oh, that's a good point re: VWP. I have a new passport, so should probably get mine in place "just in case".

 

[Pushka]

I'd never disclose much health information to a cruise line unless it was an Antarctica one. But I'd make sure my TI covered any health issues.

We rarely go to the shows. After a busy port day it's nice to chill in the quiet lounges having a drink. The best night on a cruise I can remember was leaving Juneau. The ship had to travel very slowly due to local speed restrictions, the scenery was simply stunning as we were surrounded by snow covered mountains, being in a channel. It was warm outside and not windy and we just stood and watched. Even the crew were out there taking photos as there were so few of us they didn't have work to do. We were all quiet, just watching. Then the show goers returned, the crowd got noisy and the time had passed. They never knew what they had missed.

We usually DIY unless it's not possible to replicate the ship excursion where they may have special access (we had to do this on the Egypt cruise to get to the Valley of the Queens). Otherwise it's on our own and usually a far superior experience. I'm just obsessive about getting back early. You don't have to wait for the toilet queues yada yada. And there's always one extra demanding person......

Things are usually a bit cheaper to purchase pre cruise. Weve topped up our wifi package for a July cruise.

P&O UK are beautiful ships and they seem quite formal but we don't do the dress up. Have room service or buffet if you don't want to dress up and it's a requirement for the main dining room. Usually MrP has a jacket and for women it's easy.

A cruise experience is what you want it to be.