Anyone go on cruises?

[Phillbo 11]

The family is taking a cruise (Eastern Carib on the Carnival Glory ) next month for my Fathers 70th B-Day. I've never been interested in a cruise due to the structured environment ( usually bare boat in the islands).. I plan to just chill and go with the flow but am looking for suggestions form experienced cruisers.

[1969912 0]

I did an Alaska trip with Holland America several years ago. Totally cool. Luggage was in our rooms when we got there. Killer food. Awesome servants (tip 'em well).

A couple years later I went down the Pacific coast of Mexico on a Carnival ship. Carnival was not nearly as nice as HA, but still fun.

I heard that Princess Line is good.

Try to sneak some booze onboard with your luggage. They tell you not too, but its cheaper that way. Also, some of the better cruise lines used to require a tux for the good dining, but it may be a thing of the past.

Don't fall off the boat like those two idiots a couple months ago.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[lilDevil 2]

Quote

I did an Alaska trip with Holland America several years ago. Totally cool. Luggage was in our rooms when we got there. Killer food. Awesome servants (tip 'em well).

A couple years later I went down the Pacific coast of Mexico on a Carnival ship. Carnival was not nearly as nice as HA, but still fun.

I heard that Princess Line is good.

All 3 are infact owned by carnival corporation, Ive worked on carnival and Holland America ships and yes the latter is nicer more up class so to speak and aimed more at older people, carnival ships are for younger people that want to party. Oh and they have larger casinos on board :-)

Try to sneak some booze onboard with your luggage. They tell you not too, but its cheaper that way. Also, some of the better cruise lines used to require a tux for the good dining, but it may be a thing of the past.

Don't fall off the boat like those two idiots a couple months ago.

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" Cant keep a good woman down "
Angels have wings, but devils can fly !

[shermanator 3]

Starve yourself starting a week in advance. just start fasting, becasue you WILL put on at least 10 pounds..

oh, and try the escargo if you have not tried them before. yumm.

CLICK HERE! new blog posted 9/21/08
CSA #720

[playgroundguy 0]

I am also going to be on the Glory next month. When are you going? We are on the week of June11th or something.

Anyhow, this is my third cruise and I love it. People are going to kiss your arse for a week. I am a small business owner who normally dislikes vacations but always happy on a cruise. The crummy thing is that I like to jump when I travel and there are no DZ's where we're going!

Good, Better, Best, never let it rest 'till your good better and your better best

[airdvr 197]

Just got back from a Western Carribean...my beer cruise. Lots of good things and some things I didn't like.

Enjoy the shore excursions. Put some Jimmy Buffett on your iPod. Pay no attention to the fat and the old. Don't let anyone talk you into seeing one of those cheesy shows in the theatre. Drink alot. At $7.50 each you'll enjoy it more. Relax and go with it. Enter the gambling tournaments....they're cheap and fun. Take movies.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Beerlight 0]

Where'd ya go in the Western Carribean?

[simplyputsi 0]

I've only been on 1, 7 day cruise, but I'd do another again in a heartbeat.

Just make sure you plan ahead if you want to do shore excursions as the good times and good ones fill up fast.

Eat as much as you want. Get one of every dessert!!!

Make friends with at least one bartender, you might get free drinks out of the deal.
And if you can sneak the booze on, more power to you.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[BillyVance 34]

Wife and I took a Carnival cruise to the western carribean a year and a half ago. We weren't really that impressed with the boat's activities, but had the most fun in an old Mayan town in Yucatan Mexico on an excursion.

If we do another cruise, it'll be with Royal Carribean. They will provide a paid interpreter whenever we need one. Carnival doesn't.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[jdthomas 0]

wife and I did the alaska cruise last year, i am not now nor will I ever going to be a good pirate as I get sea sick no matter the med intake level.
i spent the week sick and most of the time in bed.. i would feel better (not throwing up) when we hit shore.
I am one of the few that had a bad cruise I guess, but when I get in a boat bigger then my kayak I just get sick!
Having said all of that i would recomend the cruise as the service was great, the rooms where nice and alaska was just to big to describe.
Joe

www.greenboxphotography.com

[skygirlpc 0]

I have been on two small cruises with Carnival and I loved them both!

Things that I learned are that the rooms are very small be prepared for that!

The rooms usually only have one outlet so if you need to plug in a blowdryer or curling iron or anything like that it is a good idea to bring a power strip.

The formal dining room meals you can usually try as many of the options as you want so if you can't decide between two or if you are just hungry get one of each!

Good luck and have a great trip!

"Life is either a great adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller

[BelskyBlueEyes 0]

Someone mentioned dont go to the shows. Go try everything. If you dont like it, you can always leave. We had comedians, and they were great!! The dance show- it was good. Maybe cheesy for some, but they were very talented. If they have a class or something, go! If you are bored, leave. No one forces you to do anything.

I did excursions, wandering around town in Grand Caymen and Cozumel was very touristy, I did not see any big deals. That bored me But I did not venture far. I did the party booze cruise to Senor Frogs, that was fun, and made for a fun night when I got back on the ship. Not sure I have ever been that drunk. hee.

I smuggled in rum in water bottles. Worked like a charm. You are allowed to bring a six pack of water with you. I bought the alcohol in Tampa before boarding the ship, did not carry it on the plane.

The food was ok, I was on Carnival Inspiration. However, I used to be a chef and worked in Atlantic City, and I know 5 star food. However, for the average person, they were impressed with most of it. Take advantage of trying foods you never have. If you dont like it, that's ok. At least you tried it! The escargot was yummy! Try it!

If you have any questions, PM me if you like.

[airdvr 197]

Quote

Where'd ya go in the Western Carribean?

Caymans, Costa Maya, Belize and Cozumel. I like the Caymans the best. Belize was the most "foreign" port if ya know what I mean.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[ACMESkydiver 0]

My hubby surprised me with one -Royal Caribbean 3 days to the Bahamas. He chose 3 days to see if we'd like being on a boat for the trip...

It was SO COOL!! We loved the shows. They were fun. And excursions were awesome...

We didn't feel claustrophobic at all on a 'boat'...plenty of open air and shops, restaurants, bars, dance clubs...pools, etc. MUCH fun!
I haven't seen the rooms that are on the lower floors, but I heard, as some mentioned here, that they are pretty 'tight' and might have a little portal to peek out of. Joe spent some extra dough (worth it if it's something you are into) for one of those rooms with a blacony and deck, and we liked hanging out on that in the evening. You could certainly relax on the upper decks in the loungers by the pool and still see the ocean somewhat without a balcony suite; again, it's whatever you choose.
You'll have a BLAST!

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[PLFXpert 0]

I've been on a billion cruises. I love them! I haven't been on one since I met BZ. We've been together seven years this year. He has never been. He's quite skeptical.

We will go on one together w/ friends soon.

There is no "structured" environment. There are a lot of things going on at all times and then there are special events; you get a schedule and you go or don't. It's like anything else. You don't have to do anything at all. Or you can do EVERYTHING.

I played Bingo on my Alaskan cruise--my first time playing Bingo for money. I won $100! I never win! Alaska was also my favorite cruise b/c our boat was the same boat they use in the Caribbean in the fall-season so the crew was also the very same. The bar outside manned by the Jamaican bartenders was always empty (keep in mind this was Alaska--not a lot of people outside unless near land) except for me. Oh my gosh, did they teach me a thing or two. SO much fun! Weren't a lot of other teens so the crew on the ship was the closet thing.

Anywho...I've thoroughly enjoyed every cruise I've been on. I even got certified to scuba on my first Caribbean cruise. We spent the first two days at sea and so the first day we did the classwork, second day in the pool, and by the third day (our first day near land) I was scuba-diving all day in Jamaica!

Yea, I love cruises.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.