For new cruisers: Some tips & thoughts Pt. 1

Why do so many people cruise and love cruising? Simple: cruising is popular because it takes you away from the pressures and strains of contemporary life. Cruise ships are really self-contained resorts, with little or no crime, which can take you to several destinations in just a few days. Cruising offers you and your family a wide variety of fun, entertainment, destinations, and romance...even the children, and teens, yes, teens- will enjoy cruising especially if you choose the right cruise line or ship. Cruises are almost like summer camp for adults!!

Compared to most land destinations, cruises offer you much better value for your money. For a start, your initial fare includes your accommodation, main meals and all your snacks, room service, entertainment, lectures, social functions, participation events, movies AND use of the ship’s facilities, including the Gym and fitness center, casino (don’t have to be a member for either), and perhaps air tickets and transfers to get to and from your cruise ship. Have you done a land vacation lately that involves flying & going thru the numerous security checks? My last 3 trips involving flying have been disastrous- lost luggage, huge wait times, harassment on items in my pockets, VERY cramped seats on the flight, NO food unless you $$, and then you must get to your destination, do the hotel check-in ( if they haven’t messed up your reservation), and then there’s always having to find places to eat & finding entertainment or things to do after dinner…Compared to a land vacation, there is something else that is often overlooked. When you are at sea on a cruise ship, you share a bond with every other cruiser on that ship. You are sailing together on an adventure. This bond I find adds to the overall adventure of the cruise. You feel a connection with the other passengers and a love for the ship. This is one of the reasons I find why cruise lines have been very successful in creating an experience that cannot be matched by any other type of vacation.

Even before the cruise, passengers filled with excitement, will meet others who are sailing on the ship on websites like Cruise Critic ( more on that later here..). Roll Calls, Meet & Mingles, Meet & Greets will be formed, friendships will be made. Information about the ship, ports of call, dining, etc., will be shared back & forth about the cruise. Do you think people going to a Marriott or Hyatt in Orlando do this? I seriously doubt it! Once on board, cruise passengers will explore the ship with great interest & excitement, admiring it’s cleanliness and impressive features. From the grand atriums, huge theaters, shops & restaurants, bars & casinos, to the spa, pools & sports deck- it is a thing of beauty and wonder to see all of this on a ship!! Then when the massive multi-story ship begins to move ( called a “Sailaway”), cruise passengers line up along the railings of the ship and wave to those on the beaches, and those in houses, condos, and boats that pass by. People on land will line up to watch the Sailaway from several areas in various places near the ports themselves ( more on this later..)..The ship’s horn will sound, and there will be cheering and laughter. Drinks of celebration will help seal the moment..for me, this is THE time I know I’m on a cruise vacation!!

Passengers once on board are sometimes amazed by the dining choices & experience, the Broadway style shows, the live music ( like the piano music ), the singing and dancing ( British Pubs, 70’s -80’s dance parties, ice-skating shows, etc..). Many passengers participate in cooking lessons, seminars, and more. Perhaps it’s the karaoke contest where everyone becomes a star for the night ( now, who would do a silly thing like that????) . Some ships have an adult quest game where people really let go. Some participate in the marriage games and discover things about their spouses that they never knew, much to the amusement of the passengers ( but sometimes NOT to the spouse- LOL!!). For many, these games & activities give cruisers a break from the stress of life, a chance to let their hair down and just have a good time. These are some of the things that make a cruise vacation one of ( if not THE best) the best types of vacations one can take. It is an experience that cannot be matched and one reason why many that cruise become addicted to it and keep going back for more & more. In fact, cruise vacations have a satisfaction rate of 94%, higher than chocolate!! The hassles of a land based vacation are completely eliminated in one very neat package- and you only have to unpack once!

Reading reviews on Cruise Critic ( A.K.A. "CC" )

Cruise Critic is THEE bible to cruise reviews & information on cruise ships, cruise lines, ports of call, activities on board, suggestions on excursions, etc..BUT, it can over whelming!! You can read 20 reviews on cruise ship XX, and find 20 different responses or opinions…so which do you believe or use for your choice? All I can do is tell you what I do & how I use the info stated. One of the problems I find is that people have different reasons for cruising, and therefore, what’s important to them may not be important for you or me..A family of 4 with parents in their 30’s with 2 kids, say 10 & 8, are probably looking for a very different cruise than say, a couple in their 50’s or 60’s with no kids..the family should probably look at Disney, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian , and MSC..the more mature couple MAY find Celebrity, Holland American or Princess more to their liking. But not always- I am 61 & no kids married to a 60 yr. old and we went on Disney TWICE & loved it!!

When I read a review on CC, I look for 7 areas of review: pre-boarding experience, dining & food options ( the most subjective & controversial area on CC for sure!) , service, the “ship”itself ( nice? easy to navigate? public rooms? etc..) , shows & entertainment, ports of call ( not as important as the others ) , and of course, the cabins..I try & write about all these things…someone who does NOT go to shows, or does NOT try the $$ dining options, or stays in an inside cabin, or never comments on the crew & service, gets fewer points from me, and most likely that review I will not consider it “a good review”…that’s just me- don’t have a cow if you disagree..I’m not interested in seeing 5000 photos, or reading a review that takes LONGER than it took to take the cruise, LOL!! Sorry, no names here, but I don’t care about seeing your bread at dinner, or the toilet in your cabin, or a pic of your bed. A good review is balanced, with more words than pictures, and should include the 7 areas I mentioned- a cruise is a COMBINATION of various experiences ( dining, entertainment, etc..) , so if one does NOT experience them, how can you comment on it? If entertainment is important to you, why would you read a review from someone who doesn’t go to shows or walks out on most of them?

Another thing to consider is the smaller ships ( under 90,000 tons) vs. the big or MEGA ships ( over 140,000)…this is another controversial topic here on CC…some people will not cruise on Mega ships because they look at the amount of passengers on it ( 3500-6300+ ) and say, “I don’t like crowds” or “I don’t like lines”…This is NOT a valid belief because although larger ships have more passengers, they also have more SPACE…A perfect example of this are the RCI Oasis & Allure of the Seas, the 2 largest cruise ships in the world. At 225,000 tons, 1188 ft. long ( almost 4 football fields) , they are 40% larger than the next largest cruise ships…BUT RCI has designed these ships brilliantly with seven distinct “neighborhoods”, so that there are people in each neighborhood at various times..when I went on the Oasis in Jan. 2010, I was wary of how crowded it would be..I was STUNNED at how wrong I was! BIG does NOT mean crowded! I will say it again: BIG does not mean crowded…I felt more crowded on 70,000-85,000 ton ships because their public areas are smaller…so, don’t let posters who say, “I wouldn’t go on a mega ship”, or “don’t go on those huge ships”, or “those mega ships don’t interest me” type statements influence you.. . the big ships have a lot more perqs to offer IF you like action, or lots of options ( more lounges, more entertainment, more dining options, etc..)..would you tell someone not to try a restaurant you haven’t dined in? I would never tell anyone NOT to eat somewhere I haven’t dined in myself- same with cruise ships.. if you like the concepts of solitude, a quiet , more refined cruise, and don’t care about entertainment or lots of dining options, then the larger ships are probably not for you- I like big ships because I like options…

When choosing your first cruise, you should consider: WHERE you want to go - Caribbean? Alaska? Europe? Also, if the ship docks far away from you, then airfare must now be factored in..this can be $$. How long to want to be on a cruise? Seven nights is the gold standard, but now you can find 3-6 nights on most cruise lines, which can accommodate most budgets & time constraints…keep in mind the shorter the cruise, GENERALLY the smaller & older the ships are..most of the newer & bigger ships do 7+ nights..the RCI Liberty Of The Seas & the Disney Dream are a few exceptions to the rule, along with a few others. Two more things to consider when you choose your first cruise- TIME of year you cruise & cabin choice. If you remember this basic concept, you will learn quickly about the least $$ time to cruise vs the most $$ time to cruise: the least expensive time to cruise is when SCHOOL is IN!! Worst time to go is when kids are on vacation..sorry, but that’s 98% true..SO, avoid summer, X-Mas, New Year’s ( THE most $$), & Spring Break..these cruises are often 30-75% more expensive than other times..BEST deals can sometimes be found in January , 1st 2 wks of Feb, late April, May, Sept thru first 3 weeks of Nov ( till Thanksgiving & Thanksgiving not too bad, actually!) and the first 2-3 weeks of December, or the week before X-Mas…

Now a biggie..your choice of cabins..this a big topic of debate on CC ..there are generally 4 choices of cabins: inside cabin ( no window, no balcony, no nothing, just 4 walls & bathroom) , which is usually ( but not always, surprisingly..) the cheapest & least adventurous..then comes an “outside” or “window” cabin..these have either a porthole or often now , a window similar to a hotel window..next comes the one I recommend, the balcony or verandah cabin. These cabins have their own private balcony, where you can sit outside & see the wonders of the sea. Here you can FEEL a part of the cruise experience by seeing the waves, smelling the salt air , FEELING the wind, & sun, watching sunsets & sunrises, watching other cruise ships go by, watching as you pull into your port of call, and one of my favs- having breakfast on your balcony on a beautiful morning on a sea day..it’s mesmerizing and ALL of these things I mentioned you will NEVER experience in an inside or window cabin!! Finally there are the suites..these can & usually cost a lot more $$, but you get much bigger cabins, often concierge service, access to lounges that give you free drinks & food, etc..these are sometimes called Junior Suites, Mini-suites, Grande Suites, Presidential Suites, Sky Suites, etc..if money is not an option, these are very cool to stay in..Junior suites on RCI for example are 50% bigger than standard cabins and the balcony is 40% bigger, PLUS they have walk-in closets ( comes in handy) and shower/tub combo ( regular cabins only have showers usually)..Grande Suites on RCI are 20-30% bigger than the Juniors, with much bigger balconies, etc..on cruise ships, you pretty much get what you pay for.

So this ends Part 1 of my tips & thoughts to new cruisers, also called virgin cruisers…any questions, thoughts or comments welcomed..keep in mind, these are MHO based on experience, and what others have told me…Part 2 coming soon, but I thought this was plenty to think about..

Big Al

Thank you Al...you made some good points to this virgin!! Awaiting your next segment.

Thank you Al...you made some good points to this virgin!! Awaiting your next segment.

Thanks for reading & replying...any questions? What would you like to read/ discuss that I haven't mentioned?

Big Al

Thanks for reading & replying...any questions? What would you like to read/ discuss that I haven't mentioned?

 

Big Al

I am sure it is all on this site someplace...but if you are offering...I would like a good 1 place read on the things needed to take a cruise...ie correct travel docs for caribbean for adult/child (is passports enough or do i need more..i know i need letter from dad) necessary products to bring (i usually travel with just a toothbrush and find a supermarket to buy my fluids for the bathroom when i get there) expected clothing for the ship (i know there are some formal occasions, but whats "formal" mean?) to buy insurance when booking or not to buy, to book excursions on boat or do my homework and buy elsewhere prior, are you limit on the amount of luggage to bring on a ship, are drink packages worth it, can you buy an adult drink package and a kid drink package or do you just buy 1 package for the group, do you have to make reservations for all the shows onboard, when is best time to book for a cruise (how many months in advance to get the best deals/OBC's), are transfers always included or is that a fine print thing, transfers the safest/cheapest...how long to give yourself for disembarking (thinking of flight time to go home here and i know the port distance is a factor)...

Like i said i know its all on this site, just in all different spots lol

thanks

I am sure it is all on this site someplace...but if you are offering...I would like a good 1 place read on the things needed to take a cruise...ie correct travel docs for caribbean for adult/child (is passports enough or do i need more..i know i need letter from dad) necessary products to bring (i usually travel with just a toothbrush and find a supermarket to buy my fluids for the bathroom when i get there) expected clothing for the ship (i know there are some formal occasions, but whats "formal" mean?) to buy insurance when booking or not to buy, to book excursions on boat or do my homework and buy elsewhere prior, are you limit on the amount of luggage to bring on a ship, are drink packages worth it, can you buy an adult drink package and a kid drink package or do you just buy 1 package for the group, do you have to make reservations for all the shows onboard, when is best time to book for a cruise (how many months in advance to get the best deals/OBC's), are transfers always included or is that a fine print thing, transfers the safest/cheapest...how long to give yourself for disembarking (thinking of flight time to go home here and i know the port distance is a factor)...

 

Like i said i know its all on this site, just in all different spots lol

 

thanks

Ok.here you go...you should buy insurance for these reasons ONLY:

1) You anticipate a possible death in the family and you may have to attend the funeral

2) Someone in the family has a chronic illness/ailment (arthritis,any terminal illness,heart condition,etc.) that would require immediate attention and cancellation of the cruise.

3) You live in a potentially volatile area for weather (I.E.-Florida for hurricanes,mid west for tornados,etc.) and 3 days before you are to leave,a hurricane coming your way threatens the area and you must cancel to stay and protect your home…

4) Any emergency such as loss of job,death of a loved one,natural disaster,chronic illness,etc…

Passports are fine ( make sure it didn't expire)..as far bathroom products, keep in mind although you can pretty much buy everything in the ship's store, it is more $$ and easier & better $ if you just bring what you need...formal wear: if going to formal night, you may want to bring a sport coat, tie, etc..no tux needed or suit ( unless you want to..) I go to the specialty dining venue on formal nights ( dining options that cost $$, instead of going to the MDR ( main dining room)..better food, better service, better ambiance.).normally, NO shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops, caps to the dining room..jeans may be allowed , BUT are frowned upon ( dockers are better)..excursions: there are 3 ways to do excursions- use the cruise line, when you get off the ship, you can often book something at the port ( better to do in advance), OR go the "ports of call" section on these message boards and click on wherever you are going ( I.E.,"caribbean"), then click on that island or port ( "Cozumel", "St. Thomas",etc..)..there you can post or look for guides for tours and find info..they are almost ALWAYS 30-50% cheaper than the cruise line, BUT make sure others have endorsed them & say good things ( example: Bernard's Tours in St. Maarten)...

Luggage- there are no limits on luggage...drink packages: these vary from line to line, but are now available on RCI, NCL for sure...RCI starts at $40 per day for beers, wine & soft drinks..figure $4.75 a beer,plus you must add gratuity, which comes to $5.46 a beer so if you drink more than say, 7 beers a day or a combo of beer & soda ( sodas are $2-2.25 each)..it might be worth it..you just have to do the math...soda package is anywhere from $5-6.50 a day unlimited sodas, so well worth it if you drink more than 3 sodas a day....

For shows, SOME shows must be reserved on line..mostly the big ships like Oasis,Allure, NCL Getaway, Epic, etc...I book ASAP whenever the shows are ready to book...as I said, this also varies from cruise line to cruise line..best time to book a cruise usually early- 9-12 months out...sometimes a month before the cruise, IF there are many cabins left, cruise lines sometimes put cabins on sale at lower prices, but generally early is best..if the price drops BEFORE you make your final payment, the cruise line usually gives you the lower price OR may give you a cabin credit ( called OBC- on board credit)...transfers are usually NOT included in the price of the cruise..only use them if you have NO WAY of getting from the airport to the port...Port Canaveral is a place where you would use transfers because Orlando is 60 miles from the port..Port Everglades ( Ft. Laud) is just a 5 min cab ride, so no need there, IMO...they are safe & easy..example, Disney would pick you up at the Orlando airport & take you right to the ship in Port Canaveral for $XX...

As far as disembarkment, there are 2 kinds; self-disembarkment, when you keep your luggage in your cabin the night before & get off as soon as the ship clears customs, or you put your luggage outside your cabin the night before & pick it up in the designed area for luggage pick up once you are thru customs..we do self..much easier..IF you have to catch an early flight, you should tell the cruise ship & they will try & get you off the ship ASAP...NEVER book a flight before 10 AM unless in Port Everglades, where the airport is 5 min away...

I think that's it...any more questions, give a shout..what ship & when are you going?

Big Al

thank you Al!!

I'm researching that part of all this as we speak. I know its going to be Aug 15'....i know i know more $ time but my kids don't get out of school till mid to late June, and July is far more $$.

I am focusing on RCL, NCL and Carnival...but leaning more to RCL simply because i did that when i was 13/14 (only cruise i have ever been on)

I need to read on here about the ships. That will help me narrow it down i think.

Thank you again!

thank you Al!!

 

I'm researching that part of all this as we speak. I know its going to be Aug 15'....i know i know more $ time but my kids don't get out of school till mid to late June, and July is far more $$.

 

I am focusing on RCL, NCL and Carnival...but leaning more to RCL simply because i did that when i was 13/14 (only cruise i have ever been on)

 

I need to read on here about the ships. That will help me narrow it down i think.

 

Thank you again!

I would also lean towards RCI or NCL..if RCI, try Freedom Of The Seas ( Port C), or the Oasis,Liberty Of The Seas, they have a lot to do for kids..also, NCL Getaway has a lot as well..for Carnival, I would try the Dream in PC, or the Breeze in Miami..how old are the kids?

You can also see the ships on YouTube or the cruise line's website ( YT has great videos to see..)..

DD will be 12 for the cruise and DS will be 10...read as pre-teen all the way girl and BOY all the way lol.

I was told there better be water slides from DS and SHOPPING!!! from DD...my response was, i can take another kid! But you get what my focus points are lol.

I am looking at Carnival Breeze from Miami and RCL Freedom out of PC and NCL Getaway from Miami

DD will be 12 for the cruise and DS will be 10...read as pre-teen all the way girl and BOY all the way lol.

 

I was told there better be water slides from DS and SHOPPING!!! from DD...my response was, i can take another kid! But you get what my focus points are lol.

 

I am looking at Carnival Breeze from Miami and RCL Freedom out of PC and NCL Getaway from Miami

Three good choices!! Differences between the 3: Freedom has a Kid's pool area called H20 Fun Zone with water guns & kid's own hot tubs ..NO SLIDES..BUT there's the Flowrider, a surf simulator pool to ride the waves in...also the Freedom has an incredible ice-skating show with Russian, Canadian & U.S skaters dancing & skating to rock music..fanatastic stuff & kids LOVE that! ...Getaway has slides ( a few) and LOTS of dining options including Teppanyaki, a Japanese hibachi steakhouse where they cook the food in front of you ( kids like that)..Getaway has a dinner/ magic show called "Illusionarium" which has rave reviews...Breeze has slides but shows have been mediocre on CC..NO reggae band at the pool ( very important to me)..instead they have a DJ that plays top 40 LOUD...lots of people don't like it...also look at the ports of call...what are the choices? If you like beaches , sun & fun do Eastern Caribb ( St. Thomas, St. Maarten,etc..) ..if you like culture, Western is better..western has Sting Ray City ( Grand Cayman) which is great, and Cozumel has LOTS to do, and Falmouth is new ( mostly beaches)..shopping is best in St. Thomas & St. Maarten ( BY FAR!) and their beaches are terrific..in SM you have Maho Beach, where planes land RIGHT OVER YOUR HEAD on the beach- it is AMAZING ( look at Maho Beach on YouTube to see..wow!)...let me know what the itineraries are & I'll give my thoughts on that if you want...

Big Al

Live your take on cruise life why and how

It is very deep and basically agree in total

Took some reading though

Hope others read it especially newbies as is important for them to understand reasoning and differences

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Live your take on cruise life why and how

It is very deep and basically agree in total

Took some reading though

Hope others read it especially newbies as is important for them to understand reasoning and differences

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks..it was suppose to be thorough...

Dear Al,

Thank you for taking the time to put together your posts, they are very informative and very objective.

The only thing I would take issue with is insurance. It is protection also for any unanticipated problem. Two examples:

1. My wife came down a serious lung infection while on a cruise to a point where she was not allowed to fly home. She spent 3 days in the hospital, and then was well enough to fly home. The insurance covered the flights home and whatever our primary health insurance did not cover

2. A few years later my wife tripped and broke a small bone in her foot a week before a 30 day cruise. The insurance covered the entire cruise fare. We would have been out $$$ other wise.

Dear Al,

Thank you for taking the time to put together your posts, they are very informative and very objective.

The only thing I would take issue with is insurance. It is protection also for any unanticipated problem. Two examples:

1. My wife came down a serious lung infection while on a cruise to a point where she was not allowed to fly home. She spent 3 days in the hospital, and then was well enough to fly home. The insurance covered the flights home and whatever our primary health insurance did not cover

2. A few years later my wife tripped and broke a small bone in her foot a week before a 30 day cruise. The insurance covered the entire cruise fare. We would have been out $$$ other wise.

Good points..I will add that to my info ASAP...

Big Al

I was skimming, so I may have missed this, but I always recommend getting to your embarkation port at least a day ahead of your cruise. The only time we haven't is when we leave from the Port of LA (San Pedro) as we're just an hour drive (which is probably why many of our cruises have been from there) -- and even then, we're hitting the road around 10 am.

Also, I highly recommend going on the website for the cruise line you're going on. When we first started cruising in the mid-90s, we would get a pamphlet with our cruise docs. Now that info is in the FAQs. We always check out the latest info even if we're repeating the same ship.

I was skimming' date=' so I may have missed this, but I always recommend getting to your embarkation port at least a day ahead of your cruise. The only time we haven't is when we leave from the Port of LA (San Pedro) as we're just an hour drive (which is probably why many of our cruises have been from there) -- and even then, we're hitting the road around 10 am.

 

Also, I highly recommend going on the website for the cruise line you're going on. When we first started cruising in the mid-90s, we would get a pamphlet with our cruise docs. Now that info is in the FAQs. We always check out the latest info even if we're repeating the same ship.[/quote']

 

Two good points..like you said, many people live within a few hours of their port, so they can drive..and ditto on the cruise pamphlets...most cruise lines now just do the E-docs...always loved getting the ol' fashioned little cruise doc with PAGES in it...yes, people go to your cruise line's website & check out the latest info...

 

Big Al

I was skimming' date=' so I may have missed this, but I always recommend getting to your embarkation port at least a day ahead of your cruise. The only time we haven't is when we leave from the Port of LA (San Pedro) as we're just an hour drive (which is probably why many of our cruises have been from there) -- and even then, we're hitting the road around 10 am.

 

Also, I highly recommend going on the website for the cruise line you're going on. When we first started cruising in the mid-90s, we would get a pamphlet with our cruise docs. Now that info is in the FAQs. We always check out the latest info even if we're repeating the same ship.[/quote']

 

 

Could you give me reasoning on this? I will have to fly to a port and with 2 kids in tow...i saw most all ships leave in the afternoon and say a minimum of 2 hrs lead-time to get on the ship...i read that as a minimum of 3 hours lead-time. You however state a day...I assume not for sightseeing.

 

thanks!

OK Al,

I have a few itineraries and ships I'm pondering...cant figure out what would be best and maybe it will just come down to bargain.

RCL - Freedom Of Seas ant west caribbean - Port Canaveral; Haiti; Jamaica; Cayman; Cozumel - Aug 16-23

Oddly the Independence Of Seas has same itin ports but out of Ft Lauderdale for Aug 9-16 - this ship is cheaper by about $300 for same cabin number.

NCL - Getaway 7 nt East Caribbean - Miami; St Thomas; Tortola; Nassau - Aug 22-29

(the site is showing something about OBC based on stateroom right now)

Carnival I am confused on...there are many options that I would consider so I am trying to figure out the ships...and if the cost for a ship is worth the extra. Then I can focus on the tins based on the ships i would consider...

Could you give me reasoning on this? I will have to fly to a port and with 2 kids in tow...i saw most all ships leave in the afternoon and say a minimum of 2 hrs lead-time to get on the ship...i read that as a minimum of 3 hours lead-time. You however state a day...I assume not for sightseeing.

 

thanks!

We have heard too many stories from people who have had delayed, or cancelled, flights and missed their cruise as a result! Far less stressful to arrive the day before. If this is not possible you should try and schedule a non-stop flight very early in the day - and keep your fingers crossed.

I loved your post! Very helpful. Also read your Ode to a Cruise Ship Balcony! Loved it! When I booked our Panama Canal cruise DH couldn't talk due to work. He just texted for me to get what I wanted but be sure there's a balcony, lol.

Al do you know anything about the uncovered balconies on Coral Princess? That's all I could get.

Sapphiregem we loved Freedom. My niece was 13 at the time.

Al, I am a newbie to cruising and this board.

DH and I booked Freedom of the Seas, balcony cabin on deck 8, leaving the end of October for western Caribbean. Flying to Orlando the night before.

Reading your post is informative. I take all reviews "with a grain of salt." Sometimes reading too much makes me anxious that i have made a wrong choice. Hopefully I will love cruising as much as everyone here.

I would go Indy out of Fort Lauderdale

Prefer it as main port is all

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OK Al,

 

I have a few itineraries and ships I'm pondering...cant figure out what would be best and maybe it will just come down to bargain.

 

RCL - Freedom Of Seas ant west caribbean - Port Canaveral; Haiti; Jamaica; Cayman; Cozumel - Aug 16-23

 

Oddly the Independence Of Seas has same itin ports but out of Ft Lauderdale for Aug 9-16 - this ship is cheaper by about $300 for same cabin number.

 

NCL - Getaway 7 nt East Caribbean - Miami; St Thomas; Tortola; Nassau - Aug 22-29

(the site is showing something about OBC based on stateroom right now)

 

Carnival I am confused on...there are many options that I would consider so I am trying to figure out the ships...and if the cost for a ship is worth the extra. Then I can focus on the tins based on the ships i would consider...

The FOS cruise is typical Western..Labadee ( Haiti) is their private island & basically a beach day..Falmouth brand new port built by RCI..mostly beaches, shopping I hear ( never been yet)..Grand Cayman is always nice & Top 5 IMO in Caribbean..Cozumel lots to do always..

IOS is same ship as Freedom...NCL Getaway I LOVE ST & Tortola ( go to The Baths- fantastic!) Nassau is Nassau..BUT OBC is nice to have- usually $150-200 per cabin ...

Carnival is up to you -Stick with the Breeze ( MIAMI) or the Dream ( PC) or the Magic ( Texas)..I would go with Freedom or Getaway..you must decide which ports interest you & difference in $$ /OBC....those are my thoughts...

Big Al

I loved your post! Very helpful. Also read your Ode to a Cruise Ship Balcony! Loved it! When I booked our Panama Canal cruise DH couldn't talk due to work. He just texted for me to get what I wanted but be sure there's a balcony, lol.

 

Al do you know anything about the uncovered balconies on Coral Princess? That's all I could get.

 

Sapphiregem we loved Freedom. My niece was 13 at the time.

Thank you for the kind words, glad you liked my threads...the uncovered balconies on the Coral Princess are just that- very open & little privacy...you should ask about this on the Princess thread here on CC..put a post up asking,"question about uncovered balconies on Coral Princess", or similar...just scroll down on the message boards page till you see Princess Cruises & go...any more help, give a shout...

Big Al

Al, I am a newbie to cruising and this board.

 

DH and I booked Freedom of the Seas, balcony cabin on deck 8, leaving the end of October for western Caribbean. Flying to Orlando the night before.

 

Reading your post is informative. I take all reviews "with a grain of salt." Sometimes reading too much makes me anxious that i have made a wrong choice. Hopefully I will love cruising as much as everyone here.

Congrats on your first cruise Carol!! You will LOVE the Freedom...make sure you:

1) Try Chops one night for a great steak dinner & fantastic appetizers & side dishes- get a table by the window over-looking the sea..VERY ROMANTIC & well worth $35 PP IMO..

2) Don't miss the ice-skating show ,deck 3 Studio B...

3) Make sure you sit in the canti-levered hot tubs in the Adult Solarium pool area ON A SEA DAY!!

4) Go to the Retro 70's disco night in the Royal Promenade

5) Go to Schooners Lounge deck 4 for sing-along with piano guy or trivia

6) Go To British Pub, deck 5 & sit OUTSIDE on the Promenade & people watch ( BTW, always good singers in there)

7) Go to the Viking Crown Lounge for drinks & listen to music, deck 14..very romantic & great atmosphere..

Finally, to MAXIMIZE you balcony experience, read & either print ( 4-5 pages) OR jot down notes on the balcony experience here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1947393

DON'T MISS BREAKFAST ON YOUR BALCONY AS I MENTIONED!!

Any comments, questions, let me know- I know the Freedom class ships very well- have done 3 cruises on them...

Big Al

Could you give me reasoning on this? I will have to fly to a port and with 2 kids in tow...i saw most all ships leave in the afternoon and say a minimum of 2 hrs lead-time to get on the ship...i read that as a minimum of 3 hours lead-time. You however state a day...I assume not for sightseeing.

 

thanks!

With all the things that can delay or cancel a flight...I think that's reason enough.

And with kids...if your flight doesn't take off on time and is sitting on the tarmac, and then you have luggage to get and land transportation to get you to the port, you'll just be stressing yourself out even more.

You have to be at the terminal checking in at least a couple of hours early as the ship has to turn over a final manifest to Homeland Security.

And once on board, wouldn't you like time to get lunch and explore the ship before the mandatory muster drill?

As an example of planning in an extra ay, we took Amtrak up the west coast for our Alaskan cruise ten years ago. Our cruise was on Sunday, but I booked the train that was scheduled to arrive Friday evening. With all the side tracking, we ended up arriving near midnight, grabbed a taxi to our hotel. The next day, we picked up our rental car, went to the closest Target and Safeway to get soda, wine, laundry detergent and a few other things. We also did get some sightseeing in, but as we were staying a few days post-cruise, it wasn't a major priority that night. Sunday, we returned our rental and grabbed a taxi to the port, my hubby, my 7-year-old and I all very relaxed and ready to enjoy the cruise.