EastCoastlove

I'm so glad to have come across this thread. I too am claustrophobic and am planning my first cruise with my husband and kids. After reading your thread I learned that I might also have the other phobia that involves feeling trapped. I can get into an elevator if it's one I'm familiar with (like the one at my job) but I avoid other elevators. Even if I have to get into an unfamiliar elevator I can do it but am stressed until it's over. If ever got stuck I would have a major panic attack. Driving through tunnels is another trigger for me. I avoid them, if I have to I can but I am stressed the entire time. If traffic gets backed up and I'm stuck I start having physical symptoms like feeling very hot, breathing heavy, heart beating fast, etc. Last year I needed to fly to attend a work conference but I got too scared and made up a lie to get out of going. Finally I asked my doctor for a Xanax prescription, because I need to be able to fly and sometimes drive through tunnels. I'm figuing out my dosage now - so far I have tried 1 and 2 pills (lowest dosage) and that did nothing for me. My doctor told me to try three.

Sorry for the long rant... back to crusing stuff.

So, I'm researching now for a cruise in June of next year. I'll have to fly to the port. I'm also very much worried about sleeping quarters on the boat. I have been looking into a balcony room, but I don't know if looking out into the open sea knowing I can't leave the ship will make me feel trapped?? Debating if a cheaper window room will do. I'm not sure. Next I plan to look at youtube vidoes to get a better sense of the rooms.

I'd love to hear if you've gotten any further in your planning. I'm just beginning my research and only discovered this site this week so I'm just dong a lot of reading right now. I have found a specific cruise I am interested in, now just need to figure out how all this booking/perks/picking room/excursions stuff works. I'm a complete newbie to all of this.

My daughter is 12 and she did use the Circle C 'Tweens' club, and it did look like a very cool place to socialize and meet other kids, but she is a little shy with kids she does not know, so she did not spend much time there, so she met other friends in the swimming pool.

 

But I can imagine these cruises are blast for teenagers, be it Carnival or any other cruise line. A great chance to meet a whole bunch of new friends and have a great time. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to go when I was a teenager. Are your sons outgoing? I think they'll have a blast.

Yes, my kids are athletic and love anything video games. I did see this ship has an arcade and a basketball court along with many other teen friendly things. I'm getting excited!

Great review, thanks for sharing.

I'm a first timer planning a family cruise for next summer. I came across this site the other day while doing some online research. I'm a bit overwhelmed and don't even have all the cruise lingo down so sometimes I don't even know what I'm reading. :)

I see a cruise I'm interested in that goes to the eastern Caribbean in late June 2018 on the Magic. My boys will be 18 and 13 at the time of the cruise so I'm looking a ship that will have lots of fun and excitement for them. This being one of the bigger newer ships I think they will enjoy that.

I need to do a little more research on the Magic and also figure out how to get the best price/perks. I figure starting this early in my search is to my advantage.

Your review was very helpful!

I want to plan a family vacation next year after my oldest graduates from HS. My kids will be 18 and 13 at the time, it will be both boys and me and hubby.

I'm a bit claustrophobic and so far I've shied away from cruising because I am not sure if I'll be petrified or if I'll love it. I've heard so many great things though, so I'd like to give it a try. Also, it seems like a very economical way to travel and see other places.

I'm not sure where to start. We've never traveled outside of the US with the kids and typically our yearly summer vacations are within driving distance so this would be a special treat for us.

Some things I think I've figured out, I need a room with a balcony and I want to cruise the Caribbean. I'd prefer late June of 2018. It would be great to cruise out of Baltimore because we can drive there but I'm not opposed to flying to Florida either.

What cruise line/ship would you recommend? Also, which ones should we be sure to avoid? I especially want to make sure it's something that my teens will enjoy - lots of fun activities for them.

Also, do you typically book a cruise and make a full payment, or is this something you make payments on? I remember a few years a back a co-worker was going on a cruise and she said she was making payments - maybe she went through a travel agent??

I should also mention, a few years back we did whale watching boat trip in Boston. My youngest got sea sick and was miserable the entire trip. My oldest had done whale watching and already knew he wouldnt get sea sick so he was fine without the pill. Me and hubby both took the sea sick pill beforehand and we were fine. How do people avoid getting sea sick on long cruises?

I'm just now starting to research for this trip so I appreciate any advice or tips that you can share.