paigeTN

We've never been on a cruise before but thought we'd try it this year for my husband's birthday in October. Is it realistic to plan for Oct, Nov, or Dec of this year weather-wise? I love to get your help with the following questions please:

- Which part of the Caribbean is best for 1st timers, western, eastern, south? We'd like to see as many ports as possible. We're thinking of a 7-day cruise so the most we'd like to be at sea is two days, before and after, just to relax. We're looking at either a Costco cruise or AAA package.

- Which cruise line is the best in terms of food, service, cabin (we'd like one with a balcony), closest to shore when in port, stop in most ports, not too crowded and rowdy?

- Where to stay on the ship so we won't get seasick?

Thank you so much!

abram

The hurricane season is June 1-Nov 30, so you'll have a greater chance of bad weather in October.

There are interesting things to see/do on every island, so I don't think it matters which route you pick.

Our favorite cruise line is Oceania--they definitely have the best food of the four lines on which we've sailed. Their ships are smaller, so less rowdy and more likely to dock, rather than tender.

Cabins as low and midships as possible are best to avoid seasickness.

Dayenu

To avoid sea sickness your cabin should be in the middle. Divide the ship in 3 parts length-wise, pick a cabin in the middle.

Is balcony important for you? Those cabins are in the higher half of the ship. For sea sickness, you should be in the lower half. I don't advise the lowest level they sell as some people said they could hear or feel the engine working.

paigeTN

May be we'll find something for early November or December. Abram, I checked AAA site and Oceania doesn't go to the Caribbean. Dayenu, we love to have a balcony but might have to think about seasickness .

Eschew

For first time crusiers, Western Caribbean offers longer stops, as the disatnce is shorter between stops. Typical 7 days western Caribbean cruise will take you to Grand Cayman (tender), a private island or cay (can be tender or dock depending on cruise line), Jamica (dock), and Cozumel (dock).

I shop at Costco but I liked the servcie from AAA better, although Costco is cheaper, but not by much. AAA usually throw in a bottle of wine and a gift of soem sort.

The hurricane season should not matter as the ship will steer clear from the hurricanes and stop elsewhere. However, we find that early November offers the best price and weather, with less chance of hurricane than October as well. December is great time to travel but the price is higher due to demand is higher. After mid-Decemebr to firsts week of January, you can expect to pay even higher.

The newer ships offers the most activities and best pacakged cabins. All the mega ships have lots of balconies and you can usually get a balcony cabin for the price of outside cabins.

If this is your first cruise, and if your age is 45 plus, I would suggest Celebrity or Princess. If you are younger, I would recommend Carinval or RCCL. Carnival has a repution of a party boat (they call thenmselves the fun ships) and it is well deserving. With that said, party and rowdy is different. I have yet to see true rowdiness and drunkenness when comparing to the local watering hole.

If you are aged 60 and up, I would suggest HAL.

For all intend and purposes, the food, the services, the cabins on the 5 cruise lines mentioned above are very much alike and the differences are minor. The difference with them is the age group that they cater to and the activities.

I seldom receive bad food or services on a cruise ship and have been on many lines. Some are better than others, yes, but if this is your first time, you won't know the difference, and in all honesty, the differences are really minor.

A bad day on a crusie ship is better than a good day in the office ...

abram

paigeTN, AAA is wrong. If you go to www.oceaniacruises.com you will find the schedule of their Caribbean cruises.

diann24

My husband and I have been on about 10 cruises total. My favorite has been the Southern route, usually leaving out of San Juan Puerto Rico. I personally prefer one day at sea and the rest visiting islands. It has been my thoughts that Carnival usually offer the most days at sea. Most ships have an itinerary with only one day at sea and it seems to be the southern caribbean. I have always liked RCCL, and Celebrity. I had not been on Princess or HAL but I did hear from my 60 year old friend she wouldn't do HAL as it was to old for her! (LOL) I have done NCL twice and it has been my least favorite in terms of food quality. Just my opinion, RCCL was the best, and Carnival at the time had great food as well. I would at least opt for an Oceanview, room. At this time if you want to go with NCL they are offering a free upgrade but not sure of the rules or when you must go. I have sailed in Nov. and it was a great month as the water is very warm for swimming. smooth sailing. I would avoid sept/oct although a ship sails clear of huricanes this is true the ocean has "memory" and you can still get rough seas. Enjoy!

paigeTN

Thank you eschew, and abram, and diann24 for all the wonderful info! I don't need a travel agent, I just need to post my questions on this forum. :]

This forum is the greatest. Thank you again!!

cd

I've never met a cruise ship I didn't like. course I've not cruised on all of them so maybe there's one.....For sea sickness as has been said, chose a cabin in the middle of the boat. If you find yourself getting sick you need to look at the horizon and you would need at least an oceanview for this. We owned a sailboat on Lake Michigan and had a few sick people on board. We always told them to look at the horizon, it helps stabilize your body. We always had ginger on board also, you can chew on ginger root or simply have a ginger ale. Go for the balcony! It is the best way to cruise IMHO

Aristotle

The eastern -southern carribean is good. I would pick a cruise for its itinerary first. Some islands are fun, others not. We like Barbados, St Marten, Antigua and some others, but were not impressed by Martinique and Aruba. There others of course. HAL is not "too old." They don't run party boats, and are quiet, but you should have a good time. Don't pick a line looking for food. Except maybe for the deluxe lines, the food is B or C level compared to restaurants in most cities. We found that having a verandah adds a great deal to our enjoyment.

Eschew

If you pick the mass market ships, you won't see too many C level food except for one cruise line in particular and I did not name it on my earlier post so you can figure it out who it is on your own.

You can easily equate your on baord food similar to your local convention center banquet dinner ot buffet. The only difference is you have choices on board from a menu and it is a set dinner in the banquet hall.

With that said, you do find an occasional A level food on the premium restaurants (mostly Italian and occassioanly French) on board.