johnjrval424
New Member
Wow - didn't know that - guess we'll be checking out Royal Caribbean when we plan our next one.
Cruise
- Thread starter LusbyMom
- Start date
Wow - didn't know that - guess we'll be checking out Royal Caribbean when we plan our next one.
awpitt
Main Streeter
They started it in March on certain cruises as a trial and our cruise just happened to be one of them selected. It should be more wide spread by now.
Chasey_Lane
Salt Life
I have a cruise booked with Carnival now for January 2009. They cancelled my original embarkation date via email, about a month after I booked. I have a big party going and luckily we were all able to switch dates AND fortunately we haven't purchased airline tickets yet. We're leaving out of Orlando and probably staying an extra day or two to enjoy Disney's parks.
Keep in mind that you'll have to pay fuel charges (per day) along with gratuities. Cruise insurance is about $50/person and after my cancellation, I highly recommend it.
Bavarian
New Member
Holland America Line is the best. Royal Carribean too wild. Unfortunately, HAL is introducing as you like it. Either the normal fixed table and time, or open seating. People I talked to who had it on Princess did not like it, had long waits for a table and orders wern't taken until table full. Part of the enjoyment of the cruise is sitting with other people, making new friends. We continue to correspond with people we met aboard.
Another problem with open seating is that at the end of the cruise, who do you tip? By having same dining room stewards each day, they get to know your wants and needs. Your Ice tea, ice coffee, coke are waiting for you. Once you order cappacino vice regular coffee, you never have to ask again.
As for eating in the Lido, why, you paid for a 5 course gourmet dinner, eat it.
Just back from 114 day cruise. 10 day cruise is minimum for a good time. Took us 1 week to unpack and a week to pack.
Another problem with open seating is that at the end of the cruise, who do you tip? By having same dining room stewards each day, they get to know your wants and needs. Your Ice tea, ice coffee, coke are waiting for you. Once you order cappacino vice regular coffee, you never have to ask again.
As for eating in the Lido, why, you paid for a 5 course gourmet dinner, eat it.
Just back from 114 day cruise. 10 day cruise is minimum for a good time. Took us 1 week to unpack and a week to pack.
Last edited:
awpitt
Main Streeter
We still email back & forth with some folks, from Puerto Rico, who we met on our cruise.
GSXR_MOE
Adding Diversity to SOMD
I went on a 7 day Caribbean cruise with Carnival, and I have to say it wasn't really my cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, 7 days on a cruise ship are better then any day at work; but for me it wasn't one of my best vacations.
The food was good and seeing all the different ports (Belize, Costa Maya, Cozumel and the Cayman Island) was great; however I always felt rushed. The ship was only at most ports from like 8am - 5pm, so it was kind of like going to work. We had to get up extra early to get off the ship as soon as possible.. When I’m on vacation, I like to sleep in a little bit. If you choose to sleep in on the cruise, then you miss the ports..
Also if you were at some place and having a good time, you had to stop and make sure it wasn't time to go. I really don't like the idea of having to check my watch during vacation...One time, we were having a great time at Carlos and Charlie’s (they had the Congo line going and the tequila shots were flowing) and we had to leave right in the middle of the party.... I really didn't like that, I wanted to stay; but we couldn't because we had to get back on the boat.
As far as entertainment, well I can't speak for the other cruise lines.. but there wasn't very much for ME on the ship. They had shows and other thing for nightly entertainment, but I can do all that here. Most nights I ended up at the Cigar bar, Karaoke or the Casino... Other then that there wasn't that much for me......
When I'm on vacation I like to see the culture of the different places. On a cruise I never really had time to do that. I couldn’t really enjoy the island (culture) after my shore exertions..
When I go to resorts I usually hangout at the resort, and when I get bored I’d leave and go see the city or something. When on a cruise you are confined to the boat… I kind of felt trapped.
Having talked with a lot of people I know I’m in the minority, but for me cruising isn’t my idea of an ideal Vacation.
The food was good and seeing all the different ports (Belize, Costa Maya, Cozumel and the Cayman Island) was great; however I always felt rushed. The ship was only at most ports from like 8am - 5pm, so it was kind of like going to work. We had to get up extra early to get off the ship as soon as possible.. When I’m on vacation, I like to sleep in a little bit. If you choose to sleep in on the cruise, then you miss the ports..
Also if you were at some place and having a good time, you had to stop and make sure it wasn't time to go. I really don't like the idea of having to check my watch during vacation...One time, we were having a great time at Carlos and Charlie’s (they had the Congo line going and the tequila shots were flowing) and we had to leave right in the middle of the party.... I really didn't like that, I wanted to stay; but we couldn't because we had to get back on the boat.
As far as entertainment, well I can't speak for the other cruise lines.. but there wasn't very much for ME on the ship. They had shows and other thing for nightly entertainment, but I can do all that here. Most nights I ended up at the Cigar bar, Karaoke or the Casino... Other then that there wasn't that much for me......
When I'm on vacation I like to see the culture of the different places. On a cruise I never really had time to do that. I couldn’t really enjoy the island (culture) after my shore exertions..
When I go to resorts I usually hangout at the resort, and when I get bored I’d leave and go see the city or something. When on a cruise you are confined to the boat… I kind of felt trapped.
Having talked with a lot of people I know I’m in the minority, but for me cruising isn’t my idea of an ideal Vacation.
LusbyMom
You're a LOON :)
What I have been looking at shows exactly what you are saying the 8-5 thing rubs me the wrong way. I want to stay late or overnight. And like you I would like to sleep in some.
punchbuggy
New Member
I enjoyed our cruise on Carnival and have only taken one. It was great but I felt the same way.....you're stuck on the ship with little time in port and I like the culture part of traveling. We don't gamble but everyone was in the casino at night. They had several bars which were nice to check out but we covered those in the first night. All inclusive resorts are the way to go. You can schedule excursions and they have them for couples only or families. I've done several of those and highly recommend them! Not as confining with time restraints. The cruise was really nice but I think if I ever take another one - it will be to Alaska. (I don't like to fly any more)
Anyone ever done that or just go to Alaska? Might need to start a new thread....
Anyone ever done that or just go to Alaska? Might need to start a new thread....
GSXR_MOE
Adding Diversity to SOMD
Sounds like you are like me, I love All-Inclusive resorts... Everytime I travel I try and stay at an All-Inclusive. Hell I even got married at one "Beaches Negril".. I'd have to say, Beaches was one of the best vacations I had.. Its great for the family; the kids will love it.. and everything is paid for....
oh and Hedo is just a short taxi ride away and it cost 85 dollar to get in (and play) for the day...... Don't ask me how I know...
punchbuggy
New Member
The resorts are awesome....never have taken the kids because we did the couples only at MoonPalace in Mexico and Sandles in Nassau. See, if you were on a cruise, you never would have gotten to try those side trips.....
itsbob
I bowl overhand
I like their freestyle dining. No cattle calls to dinner
Sounds like your trip was amazing BG
It was..
Even though this was the first Trans-Atlantic for this ship, they did a pretty good job. A little light on the level of activities.
On the way across they were demolishing most of the 6th deck, so when they got to Spain they could finish the re-flaggin and putting in the Casino and other amenities.
We met a LOT of great people on the boat, met them all online, then had dinner with a group of about 20 the night before we left. Made the trip a LOT more fun, seeing how we had 6 days straight on the boat before we hit our first port.
We REALLY want to do it again, but do it backwards. Get on the boat in Europe, do the Med and Northern Africa, then the 6 days coming across to relax.
Oh, and we got REALLY spoiled.. but that's for another thread.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Hands down - sold on Norwegian. We also liked the fact that there was so set time for dinner and we could sit by ourselves. Most of time, though, we ate the buffet or the burger joint because hubby is not an eccentric person when it comes to dinner (meat, potatoes, vegetable - no seasonings/nothing fancy). We made out just fine.
Our itinerary was Eastern Caribbean out of Miami - Puerto Rico (hated it), Antigua (hated it), St. Thomas (loved it!), private island (couldn't tender due to rough seas so the captain had rum punch on the house all afternoon!)
We really enjoyed ourselves again and would do it in a heartbeat. We would probably choose to do the Southern Caribbean next time but we will always do 7-day! My sister has done the 11 and 14 day and she said it was too long - 7 seemed just right!
We actually had a concierge.. and on the first night BG made ALL of the dinner reservations for the entire cruise through her.
We were first off at all the ports, and had a very easy embark and debark. Took us right to the airport, no luggage worries..
C
CalvertNewbie
Guest
I can understand why you feel that way. I've never been on a real cruise (just a 5 hour cruise from FL to the Bahamas, during a storm, which was less than fabulous). I've always thought about going on a cruise because I love the water and I think the entertainment would be great. We thought about cruising for our honeymoon but decided to go to a Sandals resort instead. Everyone I know raves about cruises if they've been. I would love to see a bunch of different places but I feel like I'd probably not want to get back on the boat at night.
I'm all for the all inclusive resorts. To me, it's the only way to travel if you enjoy having many adult beverages.
You're never rushed, your drinks are already paid for, you're sleeping in a nice comfy large room (not that I spend much time on the room anyway), and you can do whatever you want whenever you want. I'm more of a beach gal, than a pool gal. So a carribean vacation is my idea of a great getaway. I think that if I went on a cruise, I'd miss laying in the sand, listening to the waves hit the shore and swimming in the beautiful waters. Let's face it.....our east coast ocean doesn't really compare to the Carribean sea!
LusbyMom
You're a LOON :)
So it looks like a cruise may not happen. I was seconds away from booking a cruise this morning and was going over the details with DH and he wants to know if he can smoke on the cruise. It never crossed my mind to check, so I did and the answer was basically no. Smoking was allowed in certain areas. He isn't having that. 
J
jaybeeztoo
Guest
So it looks like a cruise may not happen. I was seconds away from booking a cruise this morning and was going over the details with DH and he wants to know if he can smoke on the cruise. It never crossed my mind to check, so I did and the answer was basically no. Smoking was allowed in certain areas. He isn't having that.
I wonder when that changed. I smoked while on my cruise.
So it looks like a cruise may not happen. I was seconds away from booking a cruise this morning and was going over the details with DH and he wants to know if he can smoke on the cruise. It never crossed my mind to check, so I did and the answer was basically no. Smoking was allowed in certain areas. He isn't having that.
We went on a 5 day Western Carribean cruise with Carnival. We had a really great time... We went in November and it was about 80-85 degrees at all of our stops.
I really enjoyed Carnival but I've heard that Royal Carribean is one of the best.
My aunt and uncle are regular cruisers now. They went on one 4 years ago and met a great group of people, from NY, who they meet up with 2 times a year now and cruise with. Really neat.
I'd love to go on another someday soon... Take the kids as well...
