Tips for off the ship:

1.    TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING

2.    Don't go to the rum shop. Yes, the have free samples of rum cake and rum in general and you can have as much as you like, however, you aren't there all that long. If you really like rum cake, you can find really good ones in shops closer to the ship and you can buy alcohol in port. You are allowed to bring one bottle of unopened alcohol back into the US per adult. You can find really cheap alcohol prices.

3.    If you bring wine or alcohol on board in your luggage, make sure you drink it all before the end of the trip because you can't take off an opened bottle. If you have some left over, give it to your steward.

4.    YES, haggle with shop owners if you shop in ports. Everything is negotiable! (example.....this tip came from a lady who got a beautiful quilt in island decor for $20......normally $65)

5.    Swimming with stingrays is great. If you do this, remember not to wipe your hands on your suit if you feed the stingrays. They know food by smell and eat by sucking and will smell your suit and be all over you. They won't hurt you but they are big and you'll feel sort of attacked.

6.    Swimming or snorkeling with fish or coral is great! Take them some fruit loops from the ship in a little box unopened or dog biscuits from home. The fish love it

7.    Cave tubing they say is great! But be prepared for a bit of a hike and come back wet, muddy and tired........be forewarned!

8.    If you are going into a port and it's a port where the ship has to tender passengers over, be prepared to wait. It's often busy and they move people pretty quickly.  Where sneakers and pack your sandals in a bag in this case for safeness.

9.    If you are going into port, don't sit in the balcony for the port talk because they give things away and they usually never make it past the first 15 rows.

10.                       You can get a massage cheaper at your ports of call, often even on the beach

11.                       OKAY.  If you can find a seat near a bar get it.  The drunks are fuunnyyyy to watch.

12.                       You can purchase bottle water when getting off the ship for a port.

13.                       DO NOT forget your sign and sail card when getting off the ship.  We usually take a COPY of our passport as well just in case.

I personally don’t recommend purchasing excursions before your cruise because if for some reason a port is changed you may be out that money