Beauty

[dionline]

Great tips but some of these warnings are scary, too!!!

[pepes mom]

Its been 14 years since our last cruise. We never pre-paid any gratuities.

I will say I agree about returning to the ship in a timely fashion. On our 3rd cruise, we were to depart the port at 6pm. There was a couple who wasn't back on the ship in that timely fashion. They literally had to jump onto the ship as it was pulling away. Everyone who was on deck was chanting "Jump, jump, jump". I would have been mortified.

[bonnielu]

I was led to believe that the gratuity was part of the price. I never thought of it any other way. So I am interested in the responses.

As for the excursions, I would feel safer taking the land tours set up by the cruise line. If you go off on your own and you don't get back in time... good luck! And there is a certain element of trust here, and I don't trust or don't want to take a chance.

We will take another cruise in December and plan to NOT even take the land tours. What a fiasco the last time around. We spend an hour looking at one tree. I paid for one tour per port and I am still thinking about how horrible the experiences were. I going to walk off the ship, walk around and then get back on the boat. That is my plan. I probably will change my mind but what a horrible experience. We really saw nothing, learned nothing and got back on the ship without anything memorable. (Caribbean)

[IControlMyHappiness]

Yes, gratuity is now part of the package whether you go to the dinners or NOT. For my and my husband, honestly we might go to one dinner in the rest. but on our last cruise the food was not that "great' so we did mostly buffet.

I advice everyone, prepare, plan and put money aside for your cruise. That is the best way to have a good time. As far as excursions, I go on the cruise line website and pick out my excursions before the trip and with modern technology must cruise line allow you to pay for them in advance of the cruise. So if I am on a 7 day cruise I leave the ship everyday, even if it is for a cheap 2 hour excursion...cause I know...I'm not coming back to that port again...(I don't repeat cruise locations...the WORLD is too big for that)

So say 3 months before the cruise, i start buying one excursion per check for my husband and .... I order flowers for the room....one pay check....next check...soda pass....next check...massage reservation....next check.....another excursion...."YOU GET IT NOW>>>>

I also buy at least one soda pass (it is worth it cause one soda might be 5.00 while a pass is 25.00 for the entire 7 day cruise). You don't need to buy one pass per person, but one per two people. So my husband would just get me a soda on his pass.

NOTHING MAKES A CRUISE MORE FUN...than having everything practically PAID before you go...so you can just take spending money.....

Next pay check....something else...that way you are not burdened with all the expenses and charges at ONE TIME...

On our last Alaska cruise a couple did not research and did not have enough money so they went all the way to alaska and never went on one tour. Just walked around the ship. While we planned and saw the whales, dog sledding, etc etc.

[Deadeye Daisy]

Have been cruising for 50+ years, last time in January, before that, a riverboat trip in Europe in November. Have never prepaid gratuities and often do open dining. Gratuities go on my ship tab.

Travel agents LOVE it when you prepay the gratuities, as their commission is based on the total you pay for the cruise, gratuities and prepaid shore excursions. For the most part, I don't use a TA. Am prone to doing last minute cruises, and rarely plan ahead for one. I always get travel insurance, mainly to cover medical evacuation and the like. I travel with legal paperwork authorizing direct cremation should I die while on a trip. Don't want to have my children or grands get involved with repatriation. Jokingly told them if something happens, be on the lookout for a Wedgwood urn being shipped to the states.

The few times we have had to use medical facilities while traveling in a foreign country, we just paid for it and got receipts. Our travel insurance paid our $250 deductible, and we were reimbursed for the rest through travel insurance or our MediGap coverage. Last year, I had to go to a clinic in the Caribbean for a UTI. Because I've had renal failure in the past, blood work was in order. Entire cost of the visit WITH the labs, two prescriptions and the Doctor's conference with my own doctor in the states was all of $32.

Almost always do independent shore excursions unless for some reason, we are being given them gratis. Prefer to get together with ship mates for shore trips. This way, you aren't packed like a sardine in a tour bus, which always have some stops you're not interested in.

Depending on how many bodies, we hire a limo or SUV with a driver. There is always at least one person with an ECV or walker. 4 - 6 people is a good number for a tour.

The ONLY time we ever missed a departure was on a river cruise in Europe about 9 years ago. Not a big problem - in many cases, if the weather is nice, you can ride a bike to the next stop and be there when your boat docks. Riverboats go VERY slow.

It was our fault, anyway - we got overly interested in the local attractions; lost track of time. (Unlike in the movies, the riverboats DO NOT have loud horns to warn that it's time to return to the dock). We decided to stay, have dinner and to see the market at night when all the Christmas lights are lit. No crowds that night. Hired a driver to take the four of us to the next port. Not a big deal at all.

About the only tourists who have issues with locals are those who ACT and LOOK like tourists. Leave your flashy bling at home; be polite; don't be picky about the local customs or food. I cruise alone now and still arrange independent shore excursions with other passengers.

As for the soda, Coke has the cruise market sewn up. Coming from a long line of Pepsi drinkers, we always make stops for a couple 12 packs of Pepsi or Sierra Mist Throwback. Have gotten to where I know where to have the driver stop for Pepsi before going to the ship. Have even been known to call ahead from home to make sure they have two packs put aside.

I NEVER leave home without my Sea Bands (I still get motion sickness), loperamide (generic Immodium), furosemide (generic lasix), ½ gr codeine. I have local pharmacist put the latter 2 in the tiniest labeled containers. I also have a pack (or 2) of Cottonelle Wipes. One in suitcase, one in day pack with the medications.

If you need the Immodium, you definitely WILL need the wipes. Also, helps to have a travel size container of Gold Bond powder and some plain generic hemorrhoid medication (preferably the gel type). Yes, you CAN get all of these things on a larger cruise ship. However, Murphy's law says that you WILL need them either late at night or while on a shore excursion. If you get from the ship, you WILL pay through the nose. If on some of the smaller ships like Windjammer type and the like, they generally have some meds in the first aid kit, but you may have to wait until you get to shore.

The hemmorrhoid medication WILL do wonders if you happen to get Montezuma's revenge. The gel isn't greasy. If heading out for the day, use the Gold Bond powder instead. YES, it does sting momentarily, but then it WILL feel good.

[Nancy Drew]

I have been on at least 6 cruises and have never prepaid gratuities. On the last day when they put the bill on your cabin then is when it shows up. I have left money extra for the cabin guy because we really got to know him on our 2 week Hawaiian cruise. What would be the advantage of prepaying gratuities? Our travel agent has never even asked for that.