Hi Alley,
Will try to help with some of your questions, and if you continue browsing this board I think you will get a good deal of helpful information. The prepaid tips that you see mentioned cover your waiter, asst waiter, cabin attendant and sometimes your head waiter. Having a quantity of one dollar bills available will assure that you can tip the waiter that delivers your room service order (usually not your cabin att.), baggage handlers etc, and pay for small items like taxis, shuttles or other incidentals during port calls.
Bathrobes are sometimes supplied with suites, or to those that have made a number of cruise on a particular cruise line. If it is not mentioned on your documents you can expect to supply your own. Drink cards are not usually a very good buy, and I would recommend that you wait and check it out on board if you interested. You might get away with sharing a card but that is not the intent of the issuer.
If you bring alchohol in your carry on bag, the bag will be xrayed and your booze could be confiscated and returned at the completion of your cruise. If your carefully pack (to prevent breakage/spilling) a bottle or two in your checked baggage, you will probably have no problem. Even in your carry on most cruise lines allow a bottle or two of wine or champaign for a special occasion, however, if you take it into the dining room you may be charged a corkage fee of about $10.
Excursions are a very personal choice and you have to decide what is important to you. The advantage of preordering on line is that an excursion that you really want will not be sold out when you get aboard. Most excursions purchased from the cruise line will be more expensive than you might find ashore, but will give you confidence that your return to the ship before sailing will be assured and that you will get know what to expect. at some ports of call you may want to do your own exploring (check out the ports section of this board). For your last request I would recommend that you continue your interaction on this board, and ask when you have a specific question. Hope that you have a great first cruise experience.
Peter
