Mari,
Oh you will love Royal Caribbean!!! Where are you going?? My husband and I went on a cruise to the Western Caribbean and loved it!!
My advice:
Book your shore excursions online, on the RC web site..that way you can plan your trip ahead of time..and you know that you will not have to worry about not doing a shore excursion that you really want....the Dolphin one fills up very quickly!!
If you are going to be doing a lot of excursions take the later dinner seating..that way you can enjoy all your time on shore..rather than running back to the ship for the first dinner seating. Talk to your travel agent and get advice on the shore excursions..some are great while others are ok..or just plain stink.. If you are doing any snorkeling take along a thick pair of socks to wear under the flippers(I got sores on the tops of my feet from the flippers and they hurt..plus if you get a nice pedicure the socks will keep your polish from wearing off) and it would not be a horrible idea to take along your own mask and snorkel...if you seen how they clean that stuff it will make you wish you had brought your own snorkel..trust me!! After our first snorkeling, we bought our own snorkel and mask...
If you like to drink..buy all your bottles of liquor your first night on the ship..they don't have a limit on how many you can buy..after the first night they limit it (they hold it for you until the end of the cruise) and they don't tell you that you can't take off more that 2 liters of alcohol with you when you disembark from the ship when your cruise is over...however if customs does not go through your bag they won't know..LOL.
The spa services are not that great, and they are very overpriced and they try to sell you stuff that you don't really need!!! The aerobic and spinning classes all cost money($10.00 a class, if I remember right)..I did a lot of running on the top deck in the early am 5-6 am..very early..if you wait till later in the morning the deck is super crowded and it is hard to keep a good run going, as you have to keep stopping for the people that are walking..etc....Of course you can always use their Treadmills and Elliptical machines that over look the ocean..I loved running on the treadmills...so beautiful!!
You can order room service any time, and it is free..this is esp nice for breakfast..as you won't have to fight and push to get your food and find a place to sit down to eat. We figured this out about 1/2 way through our cruise...breakfast in our room was so nice!! Plus we got our own little coffee pot, and pitcher of water.
Take a small container of laundry detergent with you and you can wash out your suits and workout clothes and let them dry out in your bathroom, or out on your balcony if you got one..the laundry service is kinda pricey...then you don't have to pack as many workout outfits and bathing suits..When you get off at the ports there will be so many cute suits and outfits that you will want to buy..make sure you buy something from each port of call with the name on it..that way you will have something from each place..we did not do this and I wish we would have.
Take along several different water cameras and a regular camera as you will want to take a lot of pictures on your vacation. Every night at dinner they have a professional photographer taking photos of everyone...the pictures are wonderful..they are about $20.00 each..we bought several pictures and I am so glad that we did!! They also offer a cruise in review video and that is a nice thing to purchase as well. Make sure you read through all the events for the day, that way you can plan your evening events..the ice shows and comedy shows are very nice.they have a lot of stuff going on in the evening. There are a few times you can get some free jewelry..read that events for the day every day..it will be on there!! They also have lots of opportunities to win free cruises and money..so pay attention!!
Make sure that you eat at the restaurants on board (you have to pay $20.00 a person, but it is well worth it)..we ate at Portifno the first night on board and it was wonderful...incredible!! I would not suggest eating at the restaurant the first night on board..you will miss out on a lot with your dinner table mates...when we went to dinner the second night we felt lost with everyone as they all knew each other already...if your ship has a Johnny Rockets..I would plan at least one meal there..their burgers and french fries and onion rings are great, and the only thing you have pay for is any ice cream drinks(shakes) that you might want with your meal..t
If you have an early flight booked to go home you will be one of the first ones off the ship..which is nice..because you have to sit in the dinning room and wait for your color to be called to disembark from the ship.
The earlier you get to the ship the sooner you can get settled in your room, and possibly upgrade your cabin...esp if you don't have a cabin assignment made in advance..The early bird always gets the worm..LOL!! Make sure you sign up for the Crown & Anchor club to get additional discounts!!
I would not waste packing space for sunscreen and such,,the ship has it for a reasonable price..plus you will want to buy some of the those water proof containers you wear around your neck to put your ID card and cash in..as you have to have your ID card every time you get on and off the ship..they sell these on the ship, in the gift shop for a reasonable price as well. The ID card is also how you purchase drinks at the bar..unless you make your own in your room and bring them with you. You have to pay for pop, but you can purchase a pop card for like $24.00...It seems like a lot but if you like mixed drinks you will spend that or more...Their tropical drinks are a rip off, as they have very little alcohol content..plus they are expensive..if you buy them..buy the ones that come in the nice glasses, as you can keep the glasses and bring them home with you...I love my glasses!!! and they will give you nice boxes for your glasses..and you can get some nice sets..many people throw their cups away or leave them sitting out around the pool.
If you are a sunbather..get to the pool ASAP in the morning as the chairs fill up quickly.. and it is hard to get a good spot in the sun. This is mostly a problem on the days that the ship is at sea..as there is nobuddy leaving the ship so everyone is at the pool.
I hope that helps..sorry so long..