First Carnival Cruise Experience

First cruise was in 1995. We were planning a special 25th Anniversary trip, so we were using a TA, as we had NEVER had a real vacation up to that point besides tent camping with our 5 children. We still didn’t have a ton of money, but we knew we wanted a week on an island AND a cruise. Our TA booked us a week in St Maarten at Mullet Bay Resort (destroyed that following September by a hurricane and never rebuilt to this day) and then we flew to San Juan where we boarded our very first cruise ship. It was on the Regent Sun, a now defunct cruise line. The ship was old school elegant, with virtually no entertainment, but as first time cruisers, we didn’t know any better. Food was excellent! But I think all meals were in a MDR, as I don’t remember even a buffet style area onboard. On day 3 of cruise we recieved a phone call in our cabin from back home from a family member telling us of an emergency back home. We quickly met with the purser, and he said he would get us home. We packed up our bags, got off the ship to a tender boat, and was taken in to the nearest island, St Kitts. A man was waiting for us when we arrived there, and drove us to a travel agency, where they already had flight tickets ready and waiting for us, thanks to a great ship crew. We took a small “puddle jumper” plane from St Kitts, touching down briefly in Nevis where someone ran out of a building, threw a suitcase on the plane only ([emoji15]) and we took off to Antigua. It was evening by then, and our next flight was not until early morning, so we settled ourselves for the night on an outdoor bench (no seating inside. Airport was open air—lol) where my hubby snooze while I desperately swatted mosquitos off of him. We finally left for Toronto around 6am. Emergency was with our 15 year old daughter. All worked out in the end, but that was our first cruise experience. You can imagine our wonder and excitement when we boarded our first Carnival ship in 1999–the Ecstasy—and have been hooked ever since.

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First cruise was in 1995. We were planning a special 25th Anniversary trip, so we were using a TA, as we had NEVER had a real vacation up to that point besides tent camping with our 5 children. We still didn’t have a ton of money, but we knew we wanted a week on an island AND a cruise. Our TA booked us a week in St Maarten at Mullet Bay Resort (destroyed that following September by a hurricane and never rebuilt to this day) and then we flew to San Juan where we boarded our very first cruise ship. It was on the Regent Sun, a now defunct cruise line. The ship was old school elegant, with virtually no entertainment, but as first time cruisers, we didn’t know any better. Food was excellent! But I think all meals were in a MDR, as I don’t remember even a buffet style area onboard. On day 3 of cruise we recieved a phone call in our cabin from back home from a family member telling us of an emergency back home. We quickly met with the purser, and he said he would get us home. We packed up our bags, got off the ship to a tender boat, and was taken in to the nearest island, St Kitts. A man was waiting for us when we arrived there, and drove us to a travel agency, where they already had flight tickets ready and waiting for us, thanks to a great ship crew. We took a small “puddle jumper” plane from St Kitts, touching down briefly in Nevis where someone ran out of a building, threw a suitcase on the plane only ([emoji15]) and we took off to Antigua. It was evening by then, and our next flight was not until early morning, so we settled ourselves for the night on an outdoor bench (no seating inside. Airport was open air—lol) where my hubby snooze while I desperately swatted mosquitos off of him. We finally left for Toronto around 6am. Emergency was with our 15 year old daughter. All worked out in the end, but that was our first cruise experience. You can imagine our wonder and excitement when we boarded our first Carnival ship in 1999–the Ecstasy—and have been hooked ever since.

 

 

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I just looked up that ship, that must have been an interesting experience! I've been fascinated lately with reading about the old ocean liners and wish I could have sailed on one!

I hate it your trip ended like that, but at least everything worked out!

I just looked up that ship, that must have been an interesting experience! I've been fascinated lately with reading about the old ocean liners and wish I could have sailed on one!

 

 

I hate it your trip ended like that, but at least everything worked out!

Thank you. It was a scary time, but all worked out. But leaving that ship early is what prompted us to schedule another because we felt we had unfinished business. That first shipmwas unique. We had bunk beds, and there was a tiny oval tub in the middle of a rather large bathroom. As I said, there was virtually no entertainment—-just an old school orchestra playing old school dance tunes, and older gentlemen hired by cruise line to dance with the single older women. That was it. Lol! There was also high tea in the afternoon. We had no idea that there was any different kind of cruise experience out there than this, until we set foot on our first fun ship. We were totally blown away when we stepped onto the Ecstasy!

How funny! My first cruise was the Fantasy also, out of Port Canaveral in 2005.

My grandmother had passed away and my mom took my sister and I on a trip of our choice on grandma's dime! My sister, who lives in California, called and said that she wanted to go to DisneyWorld. Me, who lived in Tennessee, told her that I had done that twice and I wanted to go on a cruise. Well, she had several cruises under her belt so of course she scoffed at that. After talking more and researching more, I came to the conclusion we could do both. Mom gave us a price limit, so we did Disney for 4 days and a cruise for 3 (to make sure I liked it and didn't get too seasick). I was smitten and haven't looked back.

When I think back on that cruise, I can't tell you want impressed me most - the moment I walked onto the ship, our cabin, the food, the island, the ocean, the casino, etc..... it all impressed me. It impressed me so much, that when I got married, hubs and I went on her out of NOLA for a belated honeymoon. (We were married in NOLA 2 weeks before Katrina and had to wait a year before we could sail. We were on the first cruise out of NOLA after the hurricane.)

We have been on many, many more cruise and have 2 more planned currently. We are working on a "big" one for next year, for my 60th!

Our first cruise was on the Freedom with a western Caribbean itinerary. Prior to our 24th anniversary my wife says to me “we got married when I was 24 so I will have been married to you for half my life… we need a vacation”. Thankfully she meant together. She picked a cruise which had me a little concerned; after all I was going to be stuck on a boat for a week without a fishing rod. It turned out to be one of the most relaxing and fun vacations we have ever had. Being in construction management I was always tied to my phone or computer during our previous vacations. However being on a cruise with no cell signal and too cheap to get the internet package there were no distractions from phone calls or emails. I learned the job could survive without me for a week. We met some great people, had a lot of fun and started a cruising addiction

How funny! My first cruise was the Fantasy also, out of Port Canaveral in 2005.

 

 

My grandmother had passed away and my mom took my sister and I on a trip of our choice on grandma's dime! My sister, who lives in California, called and said that she wanted to go to DisneyWorld. Me, who lived in Tennessee, told her that I had done that twice and I wanted to go on a cruise. Well, she had several cruises under her belt so of course she scoffed at that. After talking more and researching more, I came to the conclusion we could do both. Mom gave us a price limit, so we did Disney for 4 days and a cruise for 3 (to make sure I liked it and didn't get too seasick). I was smitten and haven't looked back.

 

When I think back on that cruise, I can't tell you want impressed me most - the moment I walked onto the ship, our cabin, the food, the island, the ocean, the casino, etc..... it all impressed me. It impressed me so much, that when I got married, hubs and I went on her out of NOLA for a belated honeymoon. (We were married in NOLA 2 weeks before Katrina and had to wait a year before we could sail. We were on the first cruise out of NOLA after the hurricane.)

 

We have been on many, many more cruise and have 2 more planned currently. We are working on a "big" one for next year, for my 60th!

I'm glad y'all managed to compromise and you got your cruise and enjoyed it! :)

We've got 2 this year, and still debating about next year, thinking about risking it and doing Bermuda in Sep or Oct and pray for no hurricanes!! :D

Our first cruise was on the Freedom with a western Caribbean itinerary. Prior to our 24th anniversary my wife says to me “we got married when I was 24 so I will have been married to you for half my life… we need a vacation”. Thankfully she meant together. She picked a cruise which had me a little concerned; after all I was going to be stuck on a boat for a week without a fishing rod. It turned out to be one of the most relaxing and fun vacations we have ever had. Being in construction management I was always tied to my phone or computer during our previous vacations. However being on a cruise with no cell signal and too cheap to get the internet package there were no distractions from phone calls or emails. I learned the job could survive without me for a week. We met some great people, had a lot of fun and started a cruising addiction

After being pretty much "on call" all year, I look forward to being out of contact for a week!! :D

When we took our son on his (and our) first cruise, he had no idea we were going on a cruise. When we pulled up to the port terminal and he saw the ship (the Fascination), he asked us if it was a hotel. We explained it was kind of like a hotel.

Then he asked us if it was going to move...I think he was a little nervous about that, because he said, "I don't want it to move. I want it to stay right here."

When we took our son on his (and our) first cruise, he had no idea we were going on a cruise. When we pulled up to the port terminal and he saw the ship (the Fascination), he asked us if it was a hotel. We explained it was kind of like a hotel.

 

Then he asked us if it was going to move...I think he was a little nervous about that, because he said, "I don't want it to move. I want it to stay right here."

That's precious! :D

There are times I'd love to climb inside his head and walk around and see what it's like to be him, because the way he experiences the world around him is SO different than the way I or DH or any other "normal" person does.

For forty years I asked my husband to go on a cruise it was always no. Well our daughter went to him and said daddy I am getting married on a cruise in Nassau and if you want to give me away you have to go on the cruise. It was the Fantasy six years ago. We are booked for cruise number nine and ten .See I told him so.

There are times I'd love to climb inside his head and walk around and see what it's like to be him, because the way he experiences the world around him is SO different than the way I or DH or any other "normal" person does.

I know what you mean, my nieces and nephews amuse me so much when they express their point of view! :D

For forty years I asked my husband to go on a cruise it was always no. Well our daughter went to him and said daddy I am getting married on a cruise in Nassau and if you want to give me away you have to go on the cruise. It was the Fantasy six years ago. We are booked for cruise number nine and ten .See I told him so.

Some people try swatting away the cruise bug, but eventually it'll bite and there's no going back! :D

Tuesday will be the 30th anniversary of our first cruise. No clue what to expect, but I had an idea from the Love Boat, which I never really watched.

Turned out it was like stepping into a tornado, and stayed on a whirl wind ride till we got off. There was just so much to do, pulled in all different directions, dining, shows, being entertained, never intending to even step foot off the ship.

Unfortunately, it's a far cry from what they offer now. That page turned sometime in the mid 00's. We stopped at 22 CCL cruises and moved on to their competition.

To the OP - there were "hippies" back in 2004? YIKES! I came of age back in the 60's and I thought Altamont, Easy Rider and the shift to hard drugs were the nails in the hippie coffin.

Dungarees, long hair, piercings and tats that used to signify a rebellious counterculture were blended into mainstream culture where they lost any possible significance they once had. About the only non surviving custom from the 60's that didn't get adapted by the majority was the no bra look.

Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

To the OP - there were "hippies" back in 2004? YIKES! I came of age back in the 60's and I thought Altamont, Easy Rider and the shift to hard drugs were the nails in the hippie coffin.

 

Dungarees, long hair, piercings and tats that used to signify a rebellious counterculture were blended into mainstream culture where they lost any possible significance they once had. About the only non surviving custom from the 60's that didn't get adapted by the majority was the no bra look.

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

Well, Hippies is what they called us long-haired, scruffy bearded, patchouli scented, hacky sack bouncing, Frisbee golf playing, all-natural fiber wearing folks back in my youth. We weren't the textbook definition, but it's what we got branded with. :D

On 4/17/2018 at 4:17 PM, schazzy said:

With my cruise getting closer (19 days and counting!!), it got me to thinking about my first cruise. I thought it'd be fun to share a little bit about my first cruise experience and invite y'all to share yours.

 

Way back in 2004, a 24yo long-haired hippie, who was no fan of boats, was convinced to join a group of friends on a cruise to the Bahamas. I was nervous and excited all at the same time; I still remember the butterflies kicking me in the stomach when I first saw the ship. My amazement upon walking up the gangway and boarding this huge cruise ship called Fantasy and was just wowed by the multi-story atrium with glass elevators that go all the way to the top! Then to the Lido where I had my first Funship special (and my second and third! 😄 ) and then all the food! I was in love and we haven’t even set sail yet!! We went to the deck above the bridge for sail away and that became one of my favorite places on the ship, was just a bit wind and sunburned by the end of the cruise 😄

 

One of the most memorable moments was the first night’s dinner. After the sail away, my best friend Martin and I, who were thick as thieves back then, had separated from the rest of the group, went off to find more booze. Fast forward to a little after 8pm and we had found our way to the MDR (Thanks to some very helpful crew members!) So, imagine two slightly tipsy guys who could have passed for “The Dude” Lebowski’s sons wandering into the MDR. The other members of our group were already at the table, looking a just a little peeved, they had been on a cruise before and knew to get prettied up for dinner. Meanwhile, Cheech and Chong over here, looking and feeling completely out of place, decided this place was way too fancy for the likes of us and we were about to skedaddle. Our waiter Vindu, a very nice man from India, tried to convince us to stay. I’ll never forget what he said after I told him we weren’t dressed nice enough for this place, he just looked at me kinda funny and said “What? You need jacket? Here, I give you my jacket!” and he started to take off his jacket, I really think he would have let me wear it! I respectfully declined and we apologized to him and our friends and we made our way back up to the Lido and ate buffet that night.

Well, we were set straight by our friends later and had dinner every night after that in the MDR. We thought the food was good in the Lido, but the food in the MDR blew our minds!!

 

I look back on that, and just can't believe how ridiculous I was back then and how much I've matured since then.

 

Anyone else have any "memorable moments" from their first cruise?

Love this story !  Thanks for sharing it

On 4/17/2018 at 4:17 PM, schazzy said:

With my cruise getting closer (19 days and counting!!), it got me to thinking about my first cruise. I thought it'd be fun to share a little bit about my first cruise experience and invite y'all to share yours.

 

Way back in 2004, a 24yo long-haired hippie, who was no fan of boats, was convinced to join a group of friends on a cruise to the Bahamas. I was nervous and excited all at the same time; I still remember the butterflies kicking me in the stomach when I first saw the ship. My amazement upon walking up the gangway and boarding this huge cruise ship called Fantasy and was just wowed by the multi-story atrium with glass elevators that go all the way to the top! Then to the Lido where I had my first Funship special (and my second and third! 😄 ) and then all the food! I was in love and we haven’t even set sail yet!! We went to the deck above the bridge for sail away and that became one of my favorite places on the ship, was just a bit wind and sunburned by the end of the cruise 😄

 

One of the most memorable moments was the first night’s dinner. After the sail away, my best friend Martin and I, who were thick as thieves back then, had separated from the rest of the group, went off to find more booze. Fast forward to a little after 8pm and we had found our way to the MDR (Thanks to some very helpful crew members!) So, imagine two slightly tipsy guys who could have passed for “The Dude” Lebowski’s sons wandering into the MDR. The other members of our group were already at the table, looking a just a little peeved, they had been on a cruise before and knew to get prettied up for dinner. Meanwhile, Cheech and Chong over here, looking and feeling completely out of place, decided this place was way too fancy for the likes of us and we were about to skedaddle. Our waiter Vindu, a very nice man from India, tried to convince us to stay. I’ll never forget what he said after I told him we weren’t dressed nice enough for this place, he just looked at me kinda funny and said “What? You need jacket? Here, I give you my jacket!” and he started to take off his jacket, I really think he would have let me wear it! I respectfully declined and we apologized to him and our friends and we made our way back up to the Lido and ate buffet that night.

Well, we were set straight by our friends later and had dinner every night after that in the MDR. We thought the food was good in the Lido, but the food in the MDR blew our minds!!

 

I look back on that, and just can't believe how ridiculous I was back then and how much I've matured since then.

 

Anyone else have any "memorable moments" from their first cruise?

Brings back some memories, but that was a long time ago.  Our first cruise was our honeymoon in 1997 - we did 4 days disney and 3 days cruise on the Fantasy.  We had good friends that also went (they got married the week after us and we were in each others wedding).  I remember getting really dressed up for dinner, and being relaxed, but the 3 day was not long enough, and while nassau was nice, my wife was really put off by the vendors at the port.  A few years later we had kids, and never had the money to cruise, so just got back to it last year for our 20th on RCI Jewel of the seas.  The magic cruise we have booked is only our 2nd carnival cruise and only our 4th total cruise.

Our first cruise was in 2004 on HAL.  I actually won the cruise as the big prize for my employers 25th Anniversary celebration.

We were directed to the company's travel agent to set up the cruise as she recommended HAL or Celebrity for us and for the dates that worked HAL had the better choice.  We went to Nassau, Tortola, St. Martin and HMC.

We were on the HAL Westerdam and it was brand new at the time.  I remember being shocked at how big it was pulling up to it in Ft. Lauderdale, and being further shocked that there were even larger ships there!  And walking in the ship for the first time I think we stood there with our mouths open, until someone handed us a glass of champagne as a "welcome aboard."

Some of the other things that stood out:

The "parade of ships" on the first night looking out from our balcony I could see we were but one in a long line of ships heading away from South Florida, and a few miles off there was another long line of ships heading toward South Florida.

The amount of food options was amazing at the time, but looking back can't compare to what ships have now.

How Nassau was billed as a stop in Paradise, but held no charm for us at all.  We were back on the ship within 2 hours.  Which lead to the discovery of how nice the ship is when most folks are off in a port!

How easy it would be to over indulge and be left behind.  In Tortola we had 2 too many "painkillers" at Pussers and staggered back to the ship only to have them pull up the gangway as soon as we were on board!  Mind you, we were sill there before the "all aboard" time, but we were the last ones back on the ship!

The adventure of tendering in the ship's tender / lifeboats.  We were anchored in the harbor at St. Maarten and the water was pretty choppy.  The tender ahead of us got it's propeller fouled by a line and was stuck blocking the tender pier.  We were in that tender for half an hour just bobbing in the chop until they had a diver go in and untangle the line from the other tender's prop.

How bad it sucks on the last morning when they kick you off the ship!

We have done several more cruises with HAL, Celebrity and Carnival since and have enjoyed every one.  We currently have 3 Carnival cruises booked and are looking forward to what they will bring!  Our only regret is not taking our first cruise sooner!

On ‎4‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 5:37 PM, wemjam said:

First cruise we did a 3 day because I suffer from motion sickness something awful and wanted to see how I would do. Didn't have to worry about motion sickness because by the first evening I was sick with a terrible cold and spent the rest of the cruise in our room.

 

Second cruise on the Holiday, while we were on shore (it was a tender port), the ship drifted into the reef and grounded (they were rushing to get people tendered off because we arrived late and they didn't drop anchor). We spent hours on shore waiting to get back on while they tried to get the ship unstuck using long ropes and tender boats. Never did. We got back on and the ship had a slight list. Long story from here, and a nightmare.. but needless to say they ended up emptying the ship by tender boats the next day of all passengers and busing us to the Cancun airport and flying everyone back to New Orleans.

 

Ship was on that reef for weeks.

 

We took a pause from cruising for a couple years but decided with the luck we had, not much else could go wrong and gave it ago.

 

Now getting ready to board our 31st Carnival cruise in 4 days! ;p

Are you sure that was the Holiday???  I worked on the S/S Rhapsody (Paquet Cruise Lines) in the 80's.  We went aground in Grand Cayman & were there for weeks.  I was a First Purser filling in for the Chief Purser at the time & had the nightmare of trying to book 500 plus passengers on flights - the vast majority without passports.  It was the worst experience ever!!  We finally got "loose" by using explosives to break apart the coral reefs the ship was stuck on. 

I never heard about the Holiday doing the same thing.

1 hour ago, sc4125 said:

 

Are you sure that was the Holiday???  I worked on the S/S Rhapsody (Paquet Cruise Lines) in the 80's.  We went aground in Grand Cayman & were there for weeks.  I was a First Purser filling in for the Chief Purser at the time & had the nightmare of trying to book 500 plus passengers on flights - the vast majority without passports.  It was the worst experience ever!!  We finally got "loose" by using explosives to break apart the coral reefs the ship was stuck on. 

 

I never heard about the Holiday doing the same thing.

I assure you, it was the Carnival Holiday.  I believe we were off Calica (which is where it used to go in back then in Mexico), close to Playa De Carmen I believe.  I was a teenager in the 80's lol!  Was in 2002.  

Just went to my Carnival Cruises to see what date:

Just found an old Cruise Critic link on it too:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=710

Though, I will say that this "candy coats" it for sure as we were there and it was much worse then this lets on.  Also, we heard it was grounded for quite a bit longer than what this says, but maybe they got it off sooner than we heard.

46 minutes ago, wemjam said:

I assure you, it was the Carnival Holiday.  I believe we were off Calica (which is where it used to go in back then in Mexico), close to Playa De Carmen I believe.  I was a teenager in the 80's lol!  Was in 2002.

I looked up Calica out of curiosity, such a lovely port!

Docking in a limestone quarry, almost makes Freeport look fabulous!

I barely remember the minute details of my first cruise because I was a college student.  my parents had won a cruise in 1996 and my mom desperately wanted me to tag along with them because she knew we'd have more fun than if she were just hanging out with my dad.   I believe that was actually the last legit vacation he went on before he passed away in 2006, so he wasn't much for vacations. anyway... what I DO remember is that it was on the Carnival Ecstasy and went to Cozumel & Key west.  it lasted for 5 glorious days.

We had an inside cabin at the time and I'm really glad that I didn't know the joys of the balcony because I would surely have been depressed in comparing the darkness to the joys of drinking wine on my own private sunlit balcony ( I was under 21 though, so it would have been my parent's wine..but I digress)

I remember stepping into the atrium for the 1st time and just being in awe of how something that big and fancy could actually float

I remember that initial feeling of laying in bed that first night and feeling the ocean gently rock me to sleep.  such a peaceful sleep that I cannot replicate on shore :(

I remember singing karaoke for the 1st time in my life which  led me down a whole 'nother path in my real life, and I found such a love for karaoke after that sailing that I still do it whenever possible.

I remember doing the guest talent show where I sang "On My Own" from Les Miz for hundreds of people. 

I remember feeling so special when we ate in the MDR, which might have been the only dining room at that time besides the buffet.  I had never had such an experience of being waited on and having my crumbs brushed away from me in between slices of bread.   I felt like a princess.  I really, really did. I grew up spending vacations in a tent with my grandparents, camping all summer long or taking a week out of each year, driving to panama city beach, florida and spending the week in a MOTEL, not even a hotel.   This cruising stuff was amazing.

I didn't cruise again for  12 years, though I thought about it often.  Once I was married and had built up the courage to book a cruise ON MY OWN  teeheee, I went big and booked us a balcony room and I haven't looked back.  Of course life happened and now we have 2 kids and a bunch of bills that we have to pay, but in my off years of not cruising (or vacationing), I have been able to save money to put toward my next two cruises.   we are on the Sunrise in august 2019 and the Radiance in August of 2020, and going reallllly big by booking us suites.  This time, there will be 4 of us, and while my kiddos are still young (they will be 5 & 2 when we sail), I hope they come to love it just as much as I do.  It really is my happy place and I hope that I can sail at least once a year (or more??????) in the near future.  

....incidentally, for this cruise, in order to get to the port (which IIRC was out of Miami) I took my very first flight in my life...ever. very exciting.

15 hours ago, wemjam said:

I assure you, it was the Carnival Holiday.  I believe we were off Calica (which is where it used to go in back then in Mexico), close to Playa De Carmen I believe.  I was a teenager in the 80's lol!  Was in 2002.  

 

Just went to my Carnival Cruises to see what date:

11/23/2002

Holiday

WESTERN CARIBBEAN

QD1719

› Details

+ 5.00

 

 

Just found an old Cruise Critic link on it too:

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=710

 

Though, I will say that this "candy coats" it for sure as we were there and it was much worse then this lets on.  Also, we heard it was grounded for quite a bit longer than what this says, but maybe they got it off sooner than we heard.

 

 

 

Sorry about that - if I would have taken the time to research before answering I would have seen it.  I really thank you for bringing it up though.  I went back through and researched the S/S Rhapsody disaster - can you believe we were "stuck" for 72 days.  I also worked on CCL ships (Carnivale, Mardi Gras & Festivale) right before signing on the Rhapsody.  Those were the days - it was great going back over all of that - I even found old CC entries from one of the guys who was a Purser with me on the Rhapsody.  Great Memories!!