Need tips on Cruises

Old Nov 12th, 1997, 06:13 AM
  #1  
Candy Pointe
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Need tips on Cruises

We have never gone on a cruise before. Where on the ship is the best place to have our room: higher, lower, inside or out? How much money will we need. Has anyone taken a cruise for their honeymoon? Has anyone gone in mid May? Is it really hot?
 
Old Nov 12th, 1997, 09:06 AM
  #2  
Mindy Bilker
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We have been on 5 cruises, and hope to go on our 6th this New Years Eve. As far as location is concerned, it really doesn't matter, because you won't be in your cabin that much. We usually take the cheapest cabin. Depending upon the line, you might be upgraded, but don't count on it. As far as the heat, it isn't that hot in May. Although, we didn't take a cruise for our honeymoon, we know someone who did, and they enjoyed it.

As far as cruise lines are concerned, the best ones are Princess, Royal Caribbean, and NCL. Stay away from Carnival, unless you like a lot of glitz and glitter. The shows on Princess are not that great, but the food, are service fantastic. The cabins are the largest of any ship.

Choice of Cruise line also depends upon how much time and money you have. There are cruises from 3 days to 10 days. However, only three lines offer cruises of less than 8 days. They are: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and NCL. We have been on Carnival twice, and our last cruise was on Royal Caribbean's Nordic Empress. The food was delicious, but the cabin was a little small for the three of us. Your best bet is to consult a travel agent.

Good luck!!
 
Old Nov 14th, 1997, 05:07 AM
  #3  
Anne
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We've been on three cruises -- 2 Carnival, 1 Costa. Loved them all, though we thought food on Costa far superior to Carnival. Lots to do or nothing depepnding on your preference. I used a cruise broker -- MUCH cheaper than local travel agent. Try Cruise Line Inc in Miami. Have fun!
 
Old Nov 15th, 1997, 08:02 PM
  #4  
D Cox
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I completely disagree with your advise not to use a travel agent. You apparently were lucky not to have any problems. Believe me the order takers at the 800 nu. aren/t going to be there if you need help with a problem. You will be on your own. Find a good agent who is knowledgeable and will help you decide what is best for you. It may or may not be a cruise you want although cruising is a great experience. Good luck. also, if you are a young couple you probably will enjoy Carnival. Lots of things going on and they have some of the largest cabins available. It all depends on your budget and what you want.
 
Old Nov 30th, 1997, 06:49 PM
  #5  
Diane Chambers
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Cruising is a great way to get a little taste of different islands that you may want to explore further at a later date. I used to work on a cruise ship the Regent Star. Regency has 3 ships and they are reasonably priced however they dont give you all the glamor that the more expensive ships have to offer. All of our passengers had a great time, but it is an older crowd. I would reccommend Carnival for younger couples. You will be well looked after regardless of which ship you board. I offer you the following advise: as someone already mentioned you spend little time in your cabin so if cost is a concern inside will be fine. It is very romantic however if you travel during a full moon to have the moon beams shine in as you fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean. The lower you are in the ship the least amount of sea sickness you will feel. I would reccommend the middle section of the ship as you have the best emergency access between the water tight doors. If you are concerned about sea sickness take a complementary dramamine pill as soon as you board the pursers desk will give you some. also stay away from the sea sickness patches. They are extremly dangerous. In Canada you cannot get them over the counter they must be prescribed by a doctor and for good reasons. I have seen far too many people have horrible reactions. Vomitting , halucinations, memory loss etc.. The best way of combating sickness is to drink lots of water the day before boarding then refrain from drinking any liquid for the first 24 hours. If you get thirsty have small sips of something or eat an apple this will allow your body to adjust. After that initial 24 hours you should be just fine. I would advise you to take advantage of some of the excursions offered by the ship, they are usually a good deal. Let me know where you are going and if I have travelled there I can give you ideas on the cheapest and best things to do and see at the ports.

May will be hot, hot, hot in the Carribean, just wear sun screen and have a hat and you'll be fine. You can always smim in the pools, or ocean ( at port ) to cool off.

If your intent is to lounge than taking a cruise with some sea days ( day without being on port)

If your intent is to see and do alot, take advantage a cruise that stops at a lot of ports. You are only there for a few hours 9-4 p.m. and there is plenty of time to relax in the evening.

Don't be surprized if you are scheduled for an island and the ship misses the island due to rough seas (eg. Grand Cayman) it is unfortunate but it can happen sometimes. Then you end up having a day at sea relaxing.

I'm not sure what you meant about how much money to bring, are you concerned about drink costs, excursions, tipping ? let me know and I can e-mail you back.



Have a wonderful time and if you would like to know more, I would be happy to write you back


Sincerely,

Diane Chambers
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
 
Old Dec 15th, 1997, 04:17 PM
  #6  
shore
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I wouldn't use an 800 number...you don't know who you're giving your credit card number to. And anyone can establish themselves in a phone directory. Use a local travel agency that specializes in cruise vacations. You can go into the office and talk to someone face to face. A voice on the end of the telephone can avoid you if you need some help and do you really know if you'll receive your tickets???
 
Old Dec 23rd, 1997, 12:55 PM
  #7  
Karen
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I have to disagree with Mindy. I went on a carnival cruise in August, 1995. The food was plentiful and excellent, never get bored with the food as they never serve the same dish twice. It was fairly hot but to be expected of the Caribbean. I went on the Sensation to the Eastern Caribbean and the ports were a lot of fun. Teh southern Caribbean offers more ports and would consider that over a three port cruise. Carnival has a wide range of ages,however, it was mostly under 40 years. Lots of honeymooners and they had special shows and nightly entertainment especially for honeymooners. There were two weddings on the cruise I was on, one in St. Thomas and one on the deck of the boat. As far as rooms go, I would also recommend the cheaper rooms, as I was never in mine. But try to get a room with a window, even if it is just a port window, because I never knew what time it was because I couldn't see outside. One more thing, if you plan on going on excursions, no matter what line you choose, don't purchase them from the cruise ship line, wait until you get off the ship and you will find locals offering the same excursions for a fraction of the price you will pay from cruise company. Hope this helps!
 
Old Dec 24th, 1997, 09:16 AM
  #8  
brenda
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I would recommend that if you can get a good deal on an outside stateroom with a window or porthole, go for it. On my last cruise we managed to get a deluxe outside stateroom (which means windows vs. portholes). It was great because in the morning we could look out and enjoy the view. Furthermore, our room was on the same level as the walking/jogging deck, so it was very convenient. It almost felt like our private deck. We only had to spend an extra $100 each for a better room, so it was worth it. Otherwise, we were not in our room that often. If you can afford the next increment up, I'd recommend it for comfort reasons - but it does depend on the ship. Sometimes the square footage of the room really differs between room classes. As for money - I hardly spent any extra money, aside from last day tips that are given. I didn't shop much, so cruises are a great deal for me. And lastly, weather...it depends where you are going, but likely it will be hot. Wear lots of sun screen! Have fun.
 
Old Dec 24th, 1997, 11:14 AM
  #9  
Carolyn
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I went on a Carnival Cruise and the food was so-so and the ship was very Vegas-ish. But, there was a lot to do on board. I agree that a cheap room is the way to go - but get a window because it's difficult to get out of bed otherwise since it won't feel like morning. Have fun!
 
Old Jan 6th, 1998, 09:47 AM
  #10  
Paul J
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An added suggestion would be to dine at the later dinner setting and ask for the table with the largest number of people. Even though you're honeymooners you'll still enjoy alll the interesting people you meet. We've been on a bunch of cruises over the years and we still communicate with some of the people we met 15 years ago.
 
Old Jan 19th, 1998, 07:15 PM
  #11  
Judy McConnell
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Has anyone ever cruised on an older, smaller ship - such as the Seawind Cruiseline - booked through Premier Cruises? My husband and I are looking at a S. Caribbean cruise - first time cruisers and we really don't care for all the glamour and glitz. We prefer a slower, more relaxing vacation with plenty of natural beauty. We want to see Aruba, Curacao and Barbados. Has anyone cruised to these islands and could share experiences with me? I would welcome any suggestions you might have in helping us chose the "right cruise for us". I also have a tendency to get sea sick and am a little frightened about this possibility. Please reply ASAP - we need to book by Friday l/23.
 
Old Jan 20th, 1998, 06:36 AM
  #12  
Nina
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I was on a small older ship last year with regent
holidays - approx. 23,000 tons - I wouldn't do it
again. This was my 3rd cruise - first 2 on Carnival. I was sick 3 times during the week - wore the sea-bands, don't know if they worked, was
too scared to take them off just in case i got worse. The ship was very rocky and noisy - everyone
on the boat kept saying it didn't have a good stabilizer. When the boat left a port it would
vibrate like crazy - it was so bad that the tables
and chairs outside would fall over. I think the best bet would be to go on a mid-size ship around
40 - 50,000 tons; stay away from the mega ships.
I'll be planning my next cruise soon for year 2000.
Good luck on your decision!
 
Old Jan 20th, 1998, 06:44 PM
  #13  
Lynn
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Where your room is on a ship most times doesn't matter, but there are a few things to consider. When you are booking with a cruise/travel agent, he or she should be able to specifically tell you the Cabin No. upon booking. Ours does. He's able to tell us what cabins are available on the deck we choose, and we pick our cabin from there. Look at the ship's deck layout in the cruise line brochure while you and your TA are discussing arrangements. Usually the room itself isn't the problem--the location is. One time, we had a cabin right next to the galley. With the midnight buffet and early morning breakfasts, workers were in and out of the doors making noise early in the morning and late at night. On another cruise, the show room floor was above our cabin--can you imagine what those dancers sound like from above when you are in your cabin and not in the show room. My opinion is that your best bet might be a room in the middle of the ship, cabins on the deck above and on both sides of yours, and my preference is a porthole. It's great to have to see where you're going when coming in or leaving port. I've been on five cruises--three to the caribbean, one through the Panama Canal to Mexico and South America and one to Europe. We are taking one to Tahiti/Hawaii next October. I definitely would not recommend Carnival based on my personal poor experience cruising on their line and my exceptional experience on lines such as Princess, Costa and Holland America. There is a better class of service on these lines. Remember--in the end you get what you pay for. Carnival may be slightly less, but my experience has been that paying for a higher level of treatment is worth it.
 
Old Jan 21st, 1998, 01:50 PM
  #14  
Leta Wilbanks
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My family (husband and two sons, age 14 & 16) will be cruising the Norway Dec. 26-Jan 2. This will be our first cruise. I would appreciate any tips or comments you may have about this ship or cruising eastern caribbean islands of St. Thomas, St. Marten & St. John. Any neat shore excursions you have taken? Also has anyone been on a New Year's cruise before....just wondering if they do anything special that night. Also what type of clothing to take for a late December cruise....is the weather hot then? Oh, and is anyone out there going to be on this ship at that date? I would love to hear from you.
 
Old Jan 21st, 1998, 01:50 PM
  #15  
Leta Wilbanks
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My family (husband and two sons, age 14 & 16) will be cruising the Norway Dec. 26-Jan 2. This will be our first cruise. I would appreciate any tips or comments you may have about this ship or cruising eastern caribbean islands of St. Thomas, St. Marten & St. John. Any neat shore excursions you have taken? Also has anyone been on a New Year's cruise before....just wondering if they do anything special that night. Also what type of clothing to take for a late December cruise....is the weather hot then? Oh, and is anyone out there going to be on this ship at that date? I would love to hear from you.
 
Old Jan 21st, 1998, 05:41 PM
  #16  
shari
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My husband and I have been on dozens of cruises, South America, central America, Nile, Amazon, Greece and Medit. and lots to the caribbean and Bermuda. We highly recommend the Panama Canal Cruises. RCCL and Celebrity cruises are our favorites. Can't say Carnival was our favorite. We're 40 somethings. We've never been on Costa and are taking one this spring to italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece etc. Any comments on Costa? We usually book a cheap room since we're out all the time. Smaller ships have an intamacy bigger ones don't, but if there are rough seas, heed what writers before me have said. Especially info from Alberta. (We took 2 on the Regent Sea & 1 on Regent star). Have fun. Remember people in the cheapest rooms can have just as much fun as those in the penthouse suites.
 
Old Jan 21st, 1998, 06:00 PM
  #17  
Lynn
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In response to most recent questions. St. Thomas, St. John and St. Martin are great islands, especially going there for the first time. St. Thomas has exceptional shopping. If you have a choice between the beaches of St. John or St. Thomas, by all means choose St. John. Megan's Bay, in my opinion, is the most overrated beach I've ever seen. It is labeled as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world--NOT! For a 20-minute ferry ride to St. John, you will see what true paradise is. If you can take an island tour by open air bus, there are great vantage points to see on the island. Trunk Bay is a gorgeous beach and there is decent snorkeling there as well. St. Martin is one of my all time favorite islands. There is good shopping in the port town of Phillipsburg as well. If you are interested in the quaint, take the excursion to Marigot (the French side) to the villages for shopping/eating. If you are interested in more beaches, stay on the Dutch side. I've been to Dawn Beach and Orient Bay and would recommend both. There are watersports available at Orient Bay, and if you are daring--try the parasailing--what a ride!! They also rent jetskis, innertubes, etc., there. There is also a great restaurant on the beach at Orient Bay--Contiki. And, in December, yes it will be warm, probably 80's.
Regarding Costa cruises, we took a 7-day caribbean cruise with them and enjoyed it immensely. They are one of a few cruise lines that offer a pasta course before the main entree due to their Mediterranean heritage--very good. The last night of the cruise, they have a toga party. Everyone dresses in togas for dinner (they provide the sheets). At first, I didn't want to participate, but at the last minute, we dressed in the sheets for the party and were glad we did. It was a blast.
 
Old Jan 24th, 1998, 11:59 AM
  #18  
Lori
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Diane C. had lots of good and true advice. I have been on Princess 3 times and would highly recommend them. Avoid older ships, because they can be less stable and the newer ones are so wonderful, with all kinds of amenities and well thought-out deck plans, etc. I always buy cheapest available, on a "guarantee", which means that the exact cabin isn't selected until late. I have always had an upgrade on Princess, but could not guarantee anyone would get one. Windows and private balconies are wonderful, but I wouldn't pay a great deal for one-they've been given to me when I paid for inside and low. Dine at 2nd seating-you want to see the sunset and when you've been running around an island all day, take a shower and relax before dinner. I don't take cruises with lots of sea days. Go to the southern caribbean rather than the usual St Thomas-St. Martin-private island route, too commercial and not the prettiest. Take no denim, take the coolest cottons you've got, and have elastic waists, you'll need it after all that food. Sign up for snorkeling/diving excoursions on the ship, but find the rest of transportation etc. on each island when you get there-you can't necessarily arrange the ships to get to snorkeling destinations but the taxis/vans are easy. Call Cruises of Distinction (800#) for their "wish book" and for pricing-I've used them at least twice. Last time I used Costco (membership club store). If you don't want to go the big cruise ship route, which means dressing for dinner (formal twice usually on a 7 day), I recommend Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. They are tall sailing ships. Not for those afraid of the water or extremely prone to seasickness (did you know the patch is back?). Take lots of sunscreen, lots of swimsuits, and if you can, go for more than 7 days. It goes by so fast you can't believe it! I highly recommend cruising the Caribbean, because you can get to so many places without ever re-packing.
 
Old Jan 25th, 1998, 09:17 AM
  #19  
Mary Ann Accardi
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Saw your question when I posted mine. I am going on my third Carnival Cruise in Oct. You will find that there is so much to do when you go on a cruise, you will need help as I asked for! Not enough time to do it all, but, you will have a wonderful time. I never had a problem on Carnival. The rooms we booked were on level 9 (we did experience noise at night because we found out we were under the kitchen), so avoid those rooms.The food is great, as much as you want, all types of variety from gourmet to a hot dog by the pool. The casino and entertainment will keep you up late. We did not experience motion sickness. A few times, the boat sort of rolled, felt like when you're laying in bed and someone sits down on it. I have a fear of flying and was very nervous about cruising. Once on the ship, you will feel like your in a huge hotel. Hope this information helps. If you need more information, email me at [email protected].
 
Old Jan 28th, 1998, 12:17 AM
  #20  
MICHELE
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I'M GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE FOR ROYAL CARRIBEAN. HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL OF THEIR CRUISES AND LOVED THEM ALL. THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THE CARRIBEAN BAR STAFF.... AS FAR AS THE ROOM, GO FOR THE CHEAPEST. THE WINDOW IS NICE TO CHECK THE WEATHER BUT NO WINDOW IS GREAT FOR SLEEPING. WE DIDN'T GET MUCH SLEEPING TIME CAUSE WE WERE TOO BUSY HAVING A GOOD TIME!! SO SAVE THE EXTRA HUNDRED A PERSON.
 

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