Cruises Aren't Curly-Girl Friendly & 11 Other Things to Know Before Your First Cruise

I never understood the appeal and why some people seemed obsessed with hopping on a ship whenever they had a free weekend — but cruise people, I get you now. This past June I went on my first-ever cruise, spending 6 days and 5 nights on Royal Caribbean's Serenity of the Seas. I had a good time, but there were so many things I was kicking myself for doing (or not doing).

Here are 12 tips to help you avoid making the same mistakes on your cruise and keep your costs as low as possible; what aspects of the cruise you shouldn't waste your time (or money) on; plus a list of things to bring and leave behind when packing.

Your Cruise Packing Guide: What (and what not) to bring

Here's a list of things you should absolutely pack for a cruise:

• Sneakers and/or closed-toe shoes
• Shoes you can be active in (for the dancing classes and scavenger hunts)
• A watch 
• Portable phone charger
• Lanyard to hold your SeaPass
• Wine bottle opener (if you're bringing wine)
• Cash for tipping, gambling on the ship, or to use at port (exchanging currency was not necessary for Nassau)
• Sunscreen — it's not provided by the ship
•  A jacket (if you plan on sitting on the deck in the evening, it gets chilly with the breeze)

Things that aren't necessary but a good idea:

• Masks (if you plan on hitting the casino but don't like the smell of cigarette smoke) 
• Water shoes (for the icky CocoKay beach)
• A blow dryer — the ones provided in the cabin were super wimpy
• A water bottle — the opportunities to refill it are slim, but it's handy! 

Things you definitely don't need and should leave behind:

• Your fanciest heels (ain't nobody getting that dressed up)
• Sports equipment (like a basketball or a pickleball racket)
• Beach towels from home
• Perishable food — rooms only have coolers, not full-fledged mini-fridges
• Every piece of luggage you own — the standard cabins are tiny and their closets are even tinier! Mine barely accommodated 1 checked bag and two carry-ons. 

12 Cruise Tips I Wish I Knew Before Boarding

1. Your international phone plan won't work on open water

If you want to be able to browse your phone and text people, you'll need an internet plan, It's the cheapest if you purchase it before your board or you can do so on the ship, but you have to wait in line and go to a counter. 

I thought I would be able to use my phone plan's (Verizon) international option that's only $10 a day. However, it doesn't kick in when you're on open water. It only works when you're on land outside the U.S., which on this trip included when we were at port at Nassau, Bahamas, and when we were at the private island. 

If you're wondering what your entertainment options are without your streaming services...they're super limited. Our cabin included a tv but most of the channels were either from the cruise and about the cruise or news. They had Nickelodeon and some other kid channels, so pickings were super slim. Download your movies and shows beforehand. 

2. You can message people through the Royal Caribbean app

The in-app messaging system is the only option you have to text other people if you're like me and don't want to shell out $18 a day for internet (note: I didn't try using WhatsApp so cannot confirm how that works without internet connection). You can message people one-on-one or have large group chats. The one I was a part of was upwards of 20 people. 

The messaging function isn't very intuitive and has limited functionality, but it's better than being nothing if you're completely unconnected. Here's how it works:

                  

Look in the top right-hand corner of the Royal Caribbean app and you'll see a little text bubble icon. If you have messages, it will turn red, but if there aren't any, it'll be white. To start a conversation with someone, you'll need to either know their full name or their reservation number. The people in my group had unique names so we didn't have any issues trying to find them, but if you and your friends have more common last names, it might be best to go the reservation number route and share them with one another before boarding — especially if your rooms are not located near one another's. 

The messages don't refresh on their own so you will have to manually refresh the messages in order to see if there are new ones. The biggest gripe is that there's no option to get notifications about a new message. You just have to constantly refresh the app to make sure you're not missing anything. Also, note that you can only send text messages and can't send photos, gifs, money, or anything like that. Stricly words. 

3. Maintaining your curls will be challenging

Want to catch a seaside sunset from one of the deck railings? RIP to your hair. No matter where you stand on a deck, whether you're lounging on the covered 5th deck or are totally exposed to the elements on the higher 11th, 12th, or 13th, deck, your hair is going to get seriously whipped around. It wasn't windy out, it's just the nature of being on a boat that's hurtling through the ocean. 

 

The other issue that made curl upkeep more difficult was the smoke. This was pretty much only an issue in the cruise's small casino (7th deck) as smoking was prohibited in main gathering areas, but I had planned on gambling so it was inescapable in my case. This could still be an issue for a curly girl who isn't a gambler, as the ship layout requires going through these large spaces in order to get from one side of the ship to the other. So if you need to get to the other side of the 7th floor, strongly recommend taking the stairs to another floor and crossing there instead.

You might be thinking: What's the big deal? I can just wash my hair. Well, the assault on your curls doesn't end when you're in your own cabin. Unsurprisingly, Royal Caribbean doesn't supply curl-friendly shampoos or conditioners, nor do they sell any hair products onboard. Also, there was something about their treated water that made my hair feel extra brittle and prone to breakage. I tried to avoid wetting my hair if I could avoid it. This also meant I avoided all pools and hot tubs on board — and those were also insanely crowded so I didn't miss it). 

4. The drinks are really weak

I am a frugal traveler to begin with but was especially so during my cruise since I would be departing on a week-long trip to Costa Rica the day after the cruise's end. My primary goal was to relax while spending as little out-of-pocket as possible. Mission accomplished! I had a good time despite not having a drink package or an internet package (more on that later).

And after the feedback from friends who had purchased drinks, I didn't feel that I missed out by skipping on the booze package. The drinks were incredibly weak and you'd have to ask for doubles, triples, or just straight-up shots if you wanted to get a real buzz going. (The juice was also super watered down.) 

Whether you have a drink package or are buying drinks a-la-carte, the best way to get your money's worth is to get shots or premade drinks like Hard Noons and Trulys, which they had in abundance both on the ship and on Royal Caribbean's private island, CocoKay. 

5. BYOW&W (Bring Your Own Wine and Water) 

Royal Caribbean allows two standard-sized bottles of wine per cabin — not per person. The cabins don't come with wine or bottle openers so plan ahead, I'm not sure if room service could supply them. However, they will bring you wine glasses and ice if you request it. (Use your in-cabin phone, it's super easy and they're very nice).

As for the water situation, the water they serve tastes perfectly fine (as in it has just enough 'no taste') but if you want water in your cabin, your options are much more limited. The tap water in the cabins was gross and Royal Caribbean only allows twelve 17oz cans or bottles of a non-alcoholic beverage. I'm not sure how lenient they are since I didn't try to bring more than that. 

Instead of bringing plain bottled water, I brought a 12-pack of plain Bubly and flavored water enhancers from Stur (which is the best I've ever tried. I'm not an affiliate, I'm just literally obsessed with them) make my own juices and sodas since I also opted out of the "refreshment" package which includes juice and soda.

This backfired a bit as I didn't have any regular water in the cabin and planned on refilling my personal water bottle but unfortunately, there were no water fountains on the ship. The only option to fill your own cup was on the 11th deck by the Solarium. After the second or third night, they had put up a sign that said: "No Filling Personal Water Bottles". 

Your best bet is to get cups of water from the Windjammer (the buffet) or Park Cafe, the late-night option on the 11th deck), and bring it back to your room. I didn't realize until mid-trip that you could do this with plates of food as well. Housekeeping will clear them for you the next day. Good to know if you're a fan of late-night snackies. 

6. No one really dresses up for "Formal Night" 

I way overpacked for this cruise in anticipation that I'd need to change for dinner each night. I was under the impression that eating in the Main Dining Room was a fancy affair and that they'd actively be checking for dress code. 

It's not and they didn't. 

Most days, there were people in our group who wore t-shirts and jeans. There were two formal nights held in the Main Dining Room, one on the second day and the other on the second-to-last day (which is when they had photographers and their backgrounds stationed by the stairways to take not-free pictures). 

Both nights I wore dresses that didn't cost more than $40 from TJ Maxx and was probably one of the most dressed up people during my assigned dining time (5:30 PM). To think that I legitimately considered bringing my old prom dress for the "occasion". 

Save space in your luggage and skip the uber-fancy outfits. Unless you're doing it for your own pleasure or pictures, it's not expected of you and you're just going to dirty clothes that need to be dry cleaned for no reason. 

P.S. Pack a fun tropical-themed outfit

In my extensive research preparing for my first time on a cruise reading blogs, forum posts, and watching YouTube videos, the only "themed" night I had heard about was Formal Night in the Main Dining Room. So it wasn't until boarding the ship when a more robust schedule was available that I saw that the last night had a "Tropical" theme for the dining dress code. 

7. Main Dining is where it's at. Take advantage!

Of all the complimentary dining options, Main Dining is easily the best choice. I wasn't blown away by the food, and up until the last day, the food didn't taste like much at all because it was seriously lacking salt (my companions agreed). But as far as variety and interesting flavors, their menus were the best. It was also the most vegetarian/vegan-friendly of all the ship's options. 

The best part is that each person can order up to two of everything: appetizers, entrees, and desserts! If you don't like something (very possible), send it back and they'll replace it with something else at no additional charge.  

Speaking of charges, Royal Caribbean charges a flat gratuity fee every night, regardless if you partake in being served in the Main Dining room or not or how much you order. Don't think that eating at the Windjammer buffet or just eating an appetizer will allow you to skip that cost. 

If you're not feeling up to being waited on, you can arrange for your food to be delivered to your room. Talk to your server (you'll have the same one throughout the cruise if you have an assigned table). 

8. You'll find lots of the same food items in different dining facilities

I was surprised to find that many of the same items I ate in the Main Dining Room were also available in the Windjammer buffet, usually the appetizers and desserts. The only difference was that they weren't plated as prettily (duh, it's a self-serve buffet) and didn't have any garnishes. Good news if you missed your sit-down dining time. 

For breakfast, the Windjammer, and Park Cafe mostly had the same things. The Main Dining Room had a handful of unique breakfast items with ingredients like goat cheese or roasted squash, that you couldn't find or assemble yourself in the other two options.

Most entrees and specialty desserts from the Main Dining Room didn't show up elsewhere. But I found that the little treats from Park Cafe were superior to anything the other complimentary dining offerings anyways. While we're on the subject...

The late-night/early-morning Park Cafe had a much more limited menu but their pizza and breakfast options were solid and a highlight of the cruise. You could also help yourself to (super watered down) juice, hot tea, or cold water at all times, day or night. 

9. CocoKay isn't anything special (and you can probably skip the towels too)

To be fair, I'm a Miami native and have been spoiled by year-round access to the best beaches in the country, but Cocokay, Royal Carribean's private man-made island was kinda gross. I started off at the furthest bit of beach on Chill Island, where it was super quiet and chill. There were quite a few fish and other marine life present in the shallow which freaked me out. 

I eventually met up with friends at the much rowdier and ill-named 'Chill Beach'. The premise was great — on the beach there were snack bars, pool tables, corn hole, and more; in the water was a swim-up bar and big floaties that could accommodate up to four people — but the sand was somehow springy and mushy, similar the consistency of a pile of wet leaves. There was algae and other icky growths on those floaties. And everyone left their drink trash on the wooden stands anchored down in the water, so it piled up quickly.

My biggest craw, however, was the towels. You could rent them on the ship, but you'd be charged $25 if you didn't return them. They were a huge hassle to keep track of and were mostly unnecessary as there were plenty of lounge chairs (no one had to lay in the sand if they didn't want to) and you weren't required to be dry to access the tram or the dining area. 

My next time on a Royal Caribbean cruise I would definitely skip the towels, and likely skip CocoKay altogether.  

10. But don't skip the fitness center!

Bring those sneakers! I was very impressed that the onboard gym had a lot more than just treadmills (which had a phenomenal view overlooking the ocean). There were also weightlifting machines; a solid array of free weights; three benches; and even one of those multi-use towers with different attachments. If I had known that weights were available, I would've downloaded some workout videos so that I didn't have to just make up a workout as I went.  

As you can imagine, the gym wasn't a crowded spot. There weren't ever so many people working out that I had an issue finding a machine or a bench. However, the space in the free weights sections was pretty teeny and almost always occupied by bros. Note, the gym does not provide water and there's a water fountain hidden there somewhere. So if you have your own bottles, this is a good place to bring yours with you. 

 

Another gym of the fitness center that I didn't discover until the second-to-last day was a free sauna and steam room! Located on the floor below the gym (12th deck) and down a stairway there's a nearly hidden entrance to a locker room. If you go through a door in that locker room you'll find the steam room and sauna, along with showers and more lockers. 

When I went, I was the only one there. Both the sauna and steam room were spacious enough (similar to the size offered at my local YMCA) and were already at temperature when I stepped in. There was no waiting for either room to heat up. 

TIP: Another reason to pack sneakers? They're required for the rock climbing wall or any of the other court-based activities in the Sports Complex.

11. There are lots of freebies on the first night

I didn't discover the cruise ship's arcade (or the mini golf course, the rock climbing wall, the pickleball courts, or the free spa facilities) until the second to last day. The game choices were limited, but they had some solid options. All were pretty pricey though, costing about $1.50 per gameplay (per person). As far as I am aware, there aren't any packages or bundles to make the games cheaper. 

After talking to the manager of that section who happened to be passing by, he told us that there were free arcade and casino credits for the first night only. I scanned the schedule (via app) dozens of times before boarding and never saw any mention of it. Guess it's just one of those IYKYK situations.  

To avoid missing out on great ship amenities, like I did, use your first day to take a tour of the ship. I didn't because it felt dorky, but it sucked missing out on so much. 

12. You'll need to bring your SeaPass everywhere

You're going to receive a little piece of plastic known as your SeaPass. It's both your onboard credit card that you can use to have drinks, food, arcade games, and gambling funds (for a 5% fee) charged to your account as well as the key to your door. On port days, you'll need this to leave the ship and get back on. 

Unless you're the type to carry a purse with you everywhere or are blessed with clothes that always have pockets, you may want to consider bringing a lanyard with you that has a clear compartment for storing ID cards. Royal Caribbean sells these for what I'm sure is an insane markup. A lanyard would also have been super handy because most days I was coming back to my cruise with a bunch of plates of food and would then have to dig around in my bag for it and nearly drop everything (this happened many times).

Also, it's not the end of the world if you lose your SeaPass, but considering that it's like your cruise credit card, you'll want to let guest services know immediately and have them cancel that card and create a new one.  

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments if there's anything else you'd like to know about the Serenity of the Seas itself, what there is to do at Royal Caribbean's Nassau port or CocoKay.