Swampy, (may I call you Swampy?) If you own a Tuxedo, take it, if you don’t rent one for the week on land and have it fitted as well as possible. Suits are fine for formal nights, but tuxs turn heads, and its so much fun playing dress-up. If you don’t already know how to tie a formal bow tie, take a clip-on, although you butler will be able to tie it for you. The tied ones also draw glances.
Over pack, by all means. My fireman and I take 6 bags on a 10 day. You’ll just unpack once, and the butler will put it away. You don’t want to be caught short. We often end up changing 5 times a day.
Take more than one swim suit. Nothing worse than pulling on a cold wet suit. they don’t dry fast on board.
Remember room service. There’s nothing better than a BLT and freshly baked cookies at 3 am. The midnight buffets are ok, but you can’t go there nekid.
Don’t try to do everything or go everywhere. If your doing the Eastern Caribbean, you have ports everyday. they run together and you wear yourself out. Western isn’t so bad, but there’s always one morning you just don’t feel like dragging your tail out of bed to see more black corral jewelry.
You have, by the way, ruined yourself for subsequent cruises. your next will be a disappointment if it doesn’t live up to the first. You’ll have to choose Radisson’s or Crystal’s owner’s suite next! (Crystal’s brochure comes leather bound)
Take any medicines you might need even OTCs. They are very expensive on board. The sick bay is safe it has a doctor and at least 2 RN’s, but not from the US (usually) and insurance doesn’t cover it. In other words, don’t get sick or hurt.
Schedule your massage as soon as you get on board, they go fast.
Don’t sign-up for the shore excursions. They are way over priced. We had much better tours by choosing a likely looking cabby, and telling him to take where he’d take his family. In Jamica, we went to an arboretum no one else had ever heard of, that had been the summer home of some actor from the 40’s (sorry, can’t remember the name.) We drove part way up Mick Jager’s driveway, but we were told he wasn’t home 
Oh! Liquor form the Duty Free shops on board is Cheap!! a liter of Bailey’s was less than $20.00. If you talk nice, sometimes they’ll let you take it to your room, so you don’t have to pay the high prices in the bar.
Gambling: Even if you never gamble it can be worth it on a cruise. The slots are loose at the beginning and end of the cruise. I won $480 on one a dollar machine using One dollar. On RCL I won $300 on the last night.
If you’ve never played Craps or Blackjack, the ship is the place to learn. The dealers are all learning too. (Aside: An old pit boss in 'Vegas once told us, the closer to you, physically, a number is, the worse the odds, so play the far away ones. Hubby’s found that to be very profitable)
I’ve gotten some very nice pieces of art work at the Art Auctions. You have to know what you’re looking at though. Even if you don’t buy anything, you get free champagne.
So, if anyother cruiser have hints, here’s the place.
Swamp Bear Have a great time!
