First Cruise Booked - What Do I Need To Know?

[brunner]

My wife turns 30 this year and booked a quick cruise (3 day) out of Long Beach, CA on the Carnival Imagination.

It’s our first cruise - one port in Mexico but honestly don’t even know if we’d get off the boat other than see the beach. We’ve done all the excursions type stuff in Costa Rica twice already.

We are wanting a laid back and kid free long weekend lol

Let’s hear any tips, tricks, or Do’s/Don’ts


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[glen]

Order a bottle for your room before you leave if you enjoy mixed drinks.

[Skinny]

YouTube how to smuggle.


Skinny

[Jon B]

Enjoy and don't drink too much. Wife enjoyed the comedy shows. I didn't buy the drink package and easily could have spent that much on drinks each day. 8.00-10.00 is not uncommon for mixed drink or fruity girl drinks on the boat.

[Dejashoot]

Don’t eat dinner at the buffet. Go to one of the sit down restaurants. Better food and less
Screaming kids

[glen]

Good advice on sit down meals- further I would sign up for no specific time to eat. Booze you can try and smuggle or get a drink package delivered to your room- It will be a liter and about $30 overpriced but I still aint bad. Catch the comedy shows at night- casinos are not very good. Get out early to the pools on Carnival.

[hully1029]

Cant speak for carnival, but been on 2 for royal Caribbean and I love em.. no itinerary, just relax by the pool during the day with a cold drink. Comedy shows are always fun, or just sit back in one of the studios and listen to music of your liking. I like going to the jazz studio on RC and seeing these fools wreck shop on the sax and piano.. allow yourself to be stress free. Immerse yourselves in vacation! Enjoy it!

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[DaveC]

First Cruise Booked - What Do I Need To Know?

Go to the sit down to eat breakfast in the morning instead of the Golden corral food buffet offerings.
Sit down breakfasts were top notch and much better in my opinion.

Try every desert. I guess I don’t get out much because their deserts were
Very memorable.







Go to the shows in the evenings. They don’t last terribly long and were surprisingly entertaining on Carnival.

The karokee bar is a hoot to watch people enjoying themselves. I might just drink enough on our next cruise to join in.

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[JayB]

Along with the sit down breakfast and dinner mentioned, I would say be sure to tour the boat on many levels. Sometimes you can find a secluded deck to sit and really enjoy some peace and quiet

Also, most comedy routines offer a family version and an adult version. Try both. We found the family version better entertainment for us, but your own experience may vary.

Mostly, relax. Look over the itinerary for daily activities on the boat but leave gaps of chill time. We also enjoyed drinks/meet the Captain events.

.....and God Bless America.

[captainsling]

Get "Faster to the Fun". It is like $69 for both of you and it gets you priority boarding and debarking at every port. You won't have to wait in the line when you check in for the cruise. They take you straight to the front of the line. You also get your luggage priority and have early access to your cabin. You also don't have to wait in the regular line for the Concierge or the information booths. You can purchase under the Excursions on the website. If it is not offered yet, keep looking and checking. They are limited, and only offered a little at a time.

Sign up for the Chef's table dinner. It is usually $75 per person. When we did our last one you got a tour of the kitchen and a sit down formal 14 course dinner. It was fabulous. Worth every penny.

They also have a premium steak house. Usually if you sign up the first night you will get a free bottle of Champagne. That is usually $35 per person extra.

Go to Karaoke! It is a blast to watch the drunk people that think they can sing.

[WItoTX]

Get off the boat at every stop, and get a car to show you around. Everyone I know that stayed on the boat didn't like cruising, and everyone that gets off loves it. We also brought booze back onto the boat, saving a serious amount of money. The other pointers above are good too.

[Johnny44]

Don’t ever take carnival and most especially during spring break.

Have fun

[huntandfishguy6]

Premium steak house for sure.

[Shake N' Bake]

Bring a power strip and fan to drown out ship noises.
Have a case of water delivered to your room.
Bring yeti cups for tea and coffee
Bingo is fun
Comedy shows are always good
Guys Burgers are great

[sbushee]

You’re gonna hate it; unless you like standing in line, being told where to be and when, buffet food, and paying top shelf prices for booze, and fighting for a chair at an over crowded loud pool. Other than that it’s terrible