10 Mistakes New Cruisers Make

[@spiritualjennilou101]

New to your channel. Love it BTW comments about talking with your hands are silly... It makes you REAL. Feels like you are sitting across the desk talking directly to me.

[@helz13]

Thank you. First time cruiser here, this was helpful.

[@ProfMelissa]

Glad I could help!

[@redhoney3139]

This is awesome information to receive. I already learned NOT to overpack. Next cruise in 14 days. Hubby and I can’t wait 😊

[@Shrubbery101]

Great video! One big 'perk' of ship excursions I just noted on my recent sailing with Celebrity: If you book a ship excursion, the ship must wait for you to return in order to leave the port, no matter the length of delay. Not so with independent excursions - They will leave without you if delayed. Luckily, we were not in that position and learned just by being informed. Not sure how the other cruise lines work.

[@ProfMelissa]

It should be the same everywhere.

[@debp5983]

Great video, you are excellent. Carnival is my favorite cruise line….for now. 😊

[@rhondasmh1879]

New subbie. I loved this content. Thanks for all of the helpful tips.

[@ProfMelissa]

So nice of you to say! Thank you!

[@tiffanylbacon]

I just took my first cruise. Flew in on embarkation day. Landed at 8am, caught the cruise shuttle at 10am, was on the ship by 11:30am. It was all good.

[@ProfMelissa]

🎉 How did you enjoy your first cruise?

[@denalanham107]

Wow..glad that worked out for you but I could never. Too many times I've seen & heard flight delays resulting in people missing their cruise. The peace of mind is absolutely worth the cost of a night in a hotel. Our Alaska flight had a medical emergency and resulted in a huge detour and 14 hour delay..we would have definitely missed that cruise if we didn't have that buffer.

[@tiffanylbacon]

@@ProfMelissa I loved it! I definitely foresee my future with more cruises!

[@tiffanylbacon]

@@denalanham107 I suppose I was fortunate. It was a very early flight, hours before we needed to be on the ship, it was a direct flight, and it was a short flight (what folks call a puddle jumper). I don’t think I would do that if I had to fly across the US though.

[@hresulas4446]

As always great advice. We have only done six cruises so far and I pretty much agree with everything you’ve mentioned. As for being disciplined with ones spending and checking out ones room account daily (very important indeed), that’s my husband’s obsession. He checks the account several times a day. This last cruise he had to correct 2 different charges that were added to our room statement by mistake.😊 Oh and I carry extra cash on me to feed into the casino machine when he’s not around.🤫🤭

[@ProfMelissa]

Aw, thank you! I've got to get better about being more like your husband and watching charges. I sometimes stick my head in the sand b/c I'm scared to see my bill, but those overcharges and misallocated charges are too common! And I'm laughing at your cash trickery. 😆

[@chrissandblast5010]

I enjoy going a day early and see some of the sights.

[@bethmctv9317]

I way overpacked on my 1st cruise a few months ago. Gym clothes, swimwear, day/port outfit, dinner/show outfit, then sleepwear x5. Doink. I could barely lift my suitcase and did not wear 1/2 of what I brought. For my next cruise I will take way less. Also, I was going to fly in day of due to hotel cost but realized I won’t sleep worth a sh** at my house the night before because I’ll be stressed so I caved and got a room. 😊

[@ProfMelissa]

Good choice, you want to be rested for a fun vacay!

[@MrsZzz]

Yes! I plan on pissing myself multiple times a day! Lmao😂

[@ProfMelissa]

😆

[@sarahtrevelline2288]

LMAO!! 🤦‍♀️🤭

[@helz13]

Sneeze after pregnancy and you will 😂😂😂

[@fastfrank7328]

Last summer I screwed up, 7 day vacation only packed 2 underwear 😢​@ProfMelissa

[@sharri115]

@@helz13truth. That or a hard cough!

[@susannnicodemus9235]

Your so funny Melissa! Peeing your pants multiple times times a day😁

[@ProfMelissa]

😁

[@aggieguy93]

I still dress in black tie on both formal nights (tux on one night and white dinner jacket for the other night.) I am an old school cruiser and i will always bring my black tie on cruises. I am checking a bag to fly to San Juan, but most cruises i sail out of Galveston so i can overpack a little.

[@ProfMelissa]

Love that! I always really dig it when I see people dressed to the nines on elegant nights!

[@jessicalogsdon7154]

My first cruise is Nov 9th out of Galveston(Yay! Dr. Pepper!) For elegant night I Will Be in an evening gown, and looking Fabulous. Daily life has no reasons to dress up! We'll, I am going to play Dress Up! I dont care if I am the only one!

[@ProfMelissa]

I hope you have fun! You'll look amazing!

[@fastfrank7328]

We don't all have tuxes

[@ashley-n9j]

It’s definitely fun to dress up but it’s not ideal for families and people travelling long distances

[@chanej2651]

When I cruise, I always check a bag. I cannot do just a carry on. My first cruise I packed too much though. I had a carry on, checked luggage and a back pack. Now I just pack a checked bag and a personal item for the plane.

[@ProfMelissa]

Depending on the cruise I do the same😄

[@markwisner3972]

Great video. We use to, pre-pandemic, fly in the day of the cruise and were fine but... We always took the first direct flight in the morning. I mean, 5:30AM maybe 6:00AM. We never had a problem. Yes we would sit around the airport for 4hrs waiting on the shuttle to the cruise ship but we never had an issue. Now a days, we fly or drive in the day before. I can't depend on the airlines and I-95, if we are driving, can shut down at anytime.

[@ProfMelissa]

I admittedly do this, but like you ONLY when it's a short (2.5 hours or less) very early morning direct flight. So far, so good!

[@travelwithdebandnick]

great video

[@GracefullyMissJC]

Chile, your hands are fine! Y’all, just get the info & run with it so you can enjoy your next cruise. Geez!

[@chucktownvanlife4267]

One tip to not being late for the cruise is this. Whatever you do, take a watch with you or sometime peace that tells you the ships time. Always go by the ships time. A lot of places to go to the time will be different and that is a surefire way to be late for the ship

[@helz13]

Oh! Main dining room is MDR 😅

[@ProfMelissa]

😊

[@Hawkeye2001]

20 cruises so far; we use a lot of cruise ship sponsored tours. This past trip our bus died and we were 2 hours late getting back to the ship. If I'm taking a long distance tour I'll stick with the cruise lines, or in a foreign country where I can not communicate easily with the locals. Short trips, there are so many more & better options. - I used to be one of those who flew in the day of sailing. Until a flight delay had us miss sail away. Now I'm in our port city the day ahead.

[@dawnwest235]

Can you please share how YOU pack for a 2 week trip for the Caribbean? You mentioned that you only bring a carry on with each trip. I would appreciate the information 🙂

[@ProfMelissa]

I do have a post with my packing guide here profmelissa.pulse.ly/kan58xdlyx and I made a Tiktok here www.tiktok.com/@professormelissa/video/7390374867893341470

[@eddiea1973]

I was warning others. I definitely know better than to go hard day 1.

[@arosenweig]

If you don’t live near your port of embarkation, please make sure to fly in at least a day before your cruise ship is scheduled to depart to reduce your risk of missing your ship.

[@ProfMelissa]

Definitely, especially if you're a newbie. It's VERY stressful flying in same-day.

[@nancymiller950]

Omg it would be so much fun to cruise with you! Haha 😂😂❤

[@ProfMelissa]

I'm going to try to do a group cruise in 2025, so stay tuned! :)

[@michellebealle5636]

Don't forget to put your watch, tablet, etc. in airplane mode also.

[@ProfMelissa]

Yes! It's very important not to forget that!😅

[@janetb7157]

I’m doing a 6 night Carnival cruise & will be driving the day before. I plan on overpacking but I’m wondering how many suitcases/ bags they will allow me to bring. Is there a weight limit or bag limit? Also, will they allow a curling iron and flat iron for my hair? This is basically my first cruise. (Did a 2 night cruise 20 years ago & I don’t remember considering all of this stuff). Thanks!

[@jerryrivera257]

Thank you

[@vickeystevenson]

Question: family of 6 traveling royal Caribbean in July to Bahamas & cococay. We fly into Miami. What would be a smarter choice in your opinion with bags? Would packing 2 large suitcases for us all to share with a backpack each or would us each taking a carry on bag make more sense I’m trying not to over pack but really struggling with how to do our bags.

[@ProfMelissa]

How old are the kids!

[@helz13]

Is Elegant night just a fancy dinner? I need more info on Elegant night plz

[@ProfMelissa]

It is intended as the name implies; to be elegant but yes it is suppose to be fancy

[@amorales015]

Def gonna take advantage of my drink package 😝😝😝

[@ProfMelissa]

Get your money's worth. Simple economics.

[@danielcorbett1482]

On Carnival 15 is a goal, not a limit

[@Danielle.Moskal]

Explains a lot... Lol jk enjoy!​@@danielcorbett1482

[@Tanginumin]

Someone told me that check in bags are more convenient than carry on bag because you have to drag all over the Ship since we cannot leave in the Cabin until we are allowed. Is this true? What do you recommend?

[@wayneevans8484]

On a cruise several years ago my wife’s “check luggage” somehow ended up on a different ship. She is a very petite woman so finding new things to wear was not easy. Last cruise (7 days) we carried everything onboard…. My next cruise is Jan of ‘25 and I plan on carrying everything again.. That will be 2 out of 7 to carry on.

[@chrissandblast5010]

😂I love the underwear comment.

[@29namnori]

I'm a 6'5" tall man, I wear a size 15, 2 pairs of shoes take up 1 bag suitcase for me! 🤣😂🤣

[@danielmenetrey6876]

it must suck being a giant lol

[@averyhebert335]

Thanks for this great information. Taking our 1st cruise next month to Cozumel on Carnival. Just realized our 21 year old daughter’s passport has our home address and she just recently moved in to her own home and her drivers license has her new home address. Will this create a problem that you know of? Do I need to contact cruise line since there is no way she can get address corrected on passport within 6 weeks? Thanks in advance.

[@3dogmom]

Shouldn’t. I just traveled to Cozumel on Carnival last week. No one asked me any questions about my address or where my passport was mailed.

[@joannadpink]

Calling the phone company and getting international added on helps.

[@amorales015]

No way can I take 3 night outfits. lol. I’m def overpacking as usual

[@ProfMelissa]

I believe in you!

[@breaker6900]

Cut sugar and calories and drink espresso. Or tanti espressi in my case.

[@alvalantine]

Which cruise line is your Favorite Melissa?

[@ProfMelissa]

Carnival, followed closely by Holland America Line (even though that one is the "old people" line lol).

[@alvalantine]

@@ProfMelissa I like Holland a lot great food, here's the issue I have with them. Their drink package of 15 drinks a day includes sodas. Most cruise lines have unlimited sodas with the drink packages and 15 or unlimited real drinks. Counting sodas as a $10 to $15 drink is wrong in so many ways. Also the entertainment on Holland is lacking. Can you believe they have zero Karaoke? I love Karaoke so much it's a game changer not to have it. In the nightmare I had they had an everyone in bed by 11pm rule.

[@jemezfun9767]

@@ProfMelissaCarnival 🤦‍♂️ The Walmart of cruise lines😂

[@MsSonia32]

Please please please remind people of gratuities. I did not know of this and felt very embarrassed when it was added on the last night of my cruise.

[@ProfMelissa]

Noted!😄

[@keithleeds]

Best to prepay gratuities if you can... just so much easier. Downside of doing this: onboard spending, that final bill on the last day, will be smaller... hence you might spend more knowing you don't have to add gratuities on. Cruise lines call it "empty wallet."

[@denalanham107]

Which cruise lines or ships do you travel on? Been on 2 cruises Alaska in May & New England/Canada in late October and was NEVER cold..I want one of those ice box morgue cruises. 😂

[@ProfMelissa]

Usually Carnival or RC.. I've done most major lines though

[@emilynordt153]

When I took the ferry up to Alaska I was cold but was camping on the deck. The mornings were a little chilly the week I was in Ketchikan and the day in Juneau was miserable because it poured rain ( and I was over carrying a heavy backpack around). Even then I just had a sweatshirt and rain jacket and was fine. ( mid June)

[@EMSmith480]

So real 1:18

[@KCPryor]

We don't need the CC

[@E-ticket562]

so hott!

[@stancawood9583]

first

[@GentlemanMcmike]

I’m impressed….not.

[@3dogmom]

And?! 🙄

[@j.mancilla8339]

I don't understand what people find appealing about cruises. So many interesting places to travel to why be forced into an itinerary or hanging out at ports? I don't get it

[@danielmenetrey6876]

Then why are you here watching this video?

[@wayneevans8484]

In one week I can see or visit many different places and enjoy many different things instead of just visiting one place for a week.

[@user-ff3ow9ym5t]

Please raisee your camera so we don't have to be distracted by your hands. Other influencers have their cameras located higher.... Thank you

[@sarahtrevelline2288]

Maybe she's Italian...let it go

[@user-ff3ow9ym5t]

@@sarahtrevelline2288 I will by not watching her. There are many others to follow....

[@kaiw522]

You commented this twice

[@user-ff3ow9ym5t]

Not to be rude, please control your hands....very distracting... maybe have the camera set higher....like influences. Just a suggestion.

[@denalanham107]

"Not to be rude" seriously - you are 100% being rude..2 comments about the hands..get a grip and if you cant..watch someone else.