Cruise Qustions...

[CarolineM 0]

Hi all,

So I've always wanted to go on a cruise. I love beaches and warm weather, and alcohol and food, so it seemed like a good option. Last summer I finally booked on a Carnival Cruise out of Tampa to Cozumel and Grand Cayman and it got cancelled thanks to the crazy hurrican season.

I've still got the cruise bug - so all you past cruisers...What do you suggest?

* What cruise line?

* How long to go?

* Where to go?

* Other tips?

* Have you ever used a discount travel site to book (orbitz, travelocity, priceline, etc.)

I live in Florida so it's easy to leave from here. I do NOT want to go on the cruise out of Jacksonville beacuse it only goes to Key West and the Bahamas and i'd rather do one to Mexico or the Caymans or places like that.

Are cruises as much fun as I imagine them to be?

Any tips are appreciated

Edited April 13, 2006 by karo112

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I have no idea but i'd like to read the responses on this thread....

[~Jackie~ 30]

Do I have a story for you! I went on my first cruise on March 23, 2006. NEVER AGAIN as long as I live will I go on another cruise!

I have 3 older sisters and they thought it would be a great idea for the 4 of us to reunite on a cruise. They all live in different states and we hardly ever see each other.

We all get to Florida to board the Carnival Sensation. Our ports were Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas. We get to the parking lot at 1pm and were told boarding was delayed 30 minutes to sit here. Well, one hour goes by, then two hours. Then the security guards brought warm bottled water set it in the parking lot on the ground. No word yet from Carnival why we are sitting there and not on the ship unpacking in our penthouse suite with a balcony. We found 2 portable toliets and ewwwwwwwwwww they were full. So now it is 5pm and no food, water or toliets. The news crews arrived and told us that the Coast Guard had not cleared the ship to sail. Hurricane Katrina victims had been living on this ship all winter and it had 6 safety violations! This was the Sensations first cruise this year. Still no contact from Carnival.

About 7pm, it was getting dark and the elderly were shivering and the babies were crying. Still no word from Carnival. Somewhere around 9pm, 2 small shuttle busses came to move us towards the terminal. About 10 pm, they brought larger busses realizing you can't move 2,000 people in 2 small busses. We finally boarded and found our room. This was a $2,600.00 room and the ceiling was rusty and moldy. Supposed to be sleeping for 4, the one bed was a fold up army cot. At midnight, there were people sitting on the deck because their rooms had wet floors and water running down the walls.

As compensation, they gave us a coupon for 25% off the next cruise. (won't be using that) Since we were late getting to the ports at Freeport and Nassau, the excursions didn't happen. Some had paid hundreds of dollars and were told, no refunds. In fact one family was put off in Nassau and told by Carnival to find there own way home. They were complaining too much.

What I learned from this experience:

Don't use Carnival--they don't care if you are stuck in a parking lot, cold and hungry

4 nights is good, it takes 3 days to learn your way around the ship!

I wouldn't suggest Freeport. They let you off in an industrial park and you pay alot to get anywhere.

Take lots of money. Whatever you put on your sign & sail card, they take $40 off the top for tips. You will use this card for everything on the ship, drinks, lost towels, internet access. Some places in Freeport & Nassau took charge cards, but the small markets want cash.

I am sure there are alot of successful cruises, I just wasn't on it. I am looking forward to others cruise stories. I wanted to have a great time, and I can see how cruising can become addicting. The food was awesome!

Jackie

[CarolineM 0]

whoa.

That is insane! Customer service sure doesn't sound like a priority. I hope you still managed to have somef un Thanks for your input!

[Aymerlu 3]

I've been on Carnival cruises to Cozemel & Grand Cayman Islands both during March. I have never had a problem and had a total blast. I can't wait to go again.

[LaL 418]

I would say the best thing about cruising as a local is that you can just go down to the port authority and see what is available on the ship right before it leaves. (of course you need flexibility to do this!) They just want to SELL the remaining seats and you can get amazing deals doing it that way.

I have asked several friends about cruising lately and this is what I have gotten from them, so no offical experience myself.

From what I hear from other cruisers around here, some Carnival cruises are just not up to par right now, and usually cater to a "younger" crowd anyway. (depends on what you are looking for). Also cruising east carribean vs. cozumel and west carribean. Allegedly, there was less harrassment from the vendors to buy things at the ports on the east. <<<just reiterating what I have been told>>>

I hope to get on one soon!

Laura

[Aleidayn 0]

I went on a 7 night cruise a few years back to the South Pacific and I can honestly still say it's one of the best experiences I've ever had. The atmosphere is amazing. I was fascinated by the fact that you had so many options. That you could be on a ship and yet you could spend the day lazing around by the pool sipping cocktails, shopping and catching a drink at the bar, watch a show, watch a movie, dance, grab a pizza at 3am if you so wanted it . I loved every second of it. The meals on board were really nice also and you got the option of casual buffet style or a full sit down 3 to 5 course at every meal.

The staff and people were great. The only negative thing I'd have to say about it is my first couple of days getting used to the motion of being on the water, felt a little green for a bit but everyone is different. I still remember how romantic it was to be standing on deck at sunset with all that fresh air, watching the water change colours over the pacific. For me it was great, I guess everyone has their own different experience with cruising but I definitely recommend it

[LenJayUS 0]

I'm watching this topic because for the past year or so, I've wanted to take a cruise with Jay... a chance for her and I to get away...

With our situation, we could probably actually do a cruise, just the two of us, during the summer months (not this summer unfortunately). We both have kids, and the other parent of them get them during part of the summer... if we can get it scheduled just right, we can enjoy part of our summer with just the two of us.

How expensive is it to do excursions and what not.. I take it it's not part of the cruise fee.. what about food onboard the ship.. is that part of the fee?

[MandR 0]

Celebrity, Princess and Royal Cribbean are all great cruise lines. I have done 7 day cruises to the Caribbean and really enjoyed it. Carnival it great if you want a much younger crowd of party people

[broma25 2]

I sailed from the UK to the US on the Queen Mary 2..........excellent experience!!!

[Kajikit 65]

Sounds like your cruise really sucked Jackie! If I was you I would have demanded a full refund or another cruise free, not a measly 25% off...

I still want to go on a short cruise from Miami/Fort Lauderdale, and if I ever get to do it I'll let you know how it turned out I'm tempted by the day cruises to the Grand Bahamas - that way I don't have to sleep on the ship (I get seasick)...

[ChristinaM 0]

I worked on a Carnival cruiseship, and the majority of people seemed to enjoy themselves. We did have a pretty lousy run (Galveston TX, Progresso Mexico, Cozumel and Belize), so make sure you are happy with where you're going!! I would personally recommend staying away from the Gulf area, but that's as someone who was there every week for two and a half months

Obviously the higher up your cabin is on th e ship, the closer you are to the action! If you've a little money to spare (so to speak!) it's worth looking at outside cabins - either with a window or a balcony if you're so inclined.

Unless the purpose of your cruise is to get cheap "stuff", don't bother with the SuperShopper talks. If you want to know where the quieter, less touristy places are to go at the ports, ask a member of the cruise staff (social hosts, showband, casino dealers) where they go. It's no good asking the waitstaff, because they generally have much less free time and don't get to go as far from the ship.

Don't b1tch at the waitstaff!! They work extremely long hours, live in tiny shared cabins and share a bathroom between about 8 or 10 of them, and believe me, they're trying.

As a passenger, I had a great cruise. As a member of the staff, it was awesome. I'd do it again, but with a somewhat different view now!

[raphael7546 0]

Been on Tons of Cruises. I usually go on one once a year. My favs are Princess Cruise lines and Royal Carribean cruiselines. I've never gone on carnival simply becuase our travel agent told us they're the cheapest cruiseline and you get what ya pay for.

save your money if ya wanna have Spa treatments on board cuz they are about 3 times the price of a regular Spa. So is Hairstyling. . $35.00 shampoo & blowdry.

Many ppl complain about the price of drinks on cruises but the drinks are huge ! On my last cruise Royal Carribean, I asked for a Pina Coloda and they gave me a drink the size of a Lage &-11 Slurpee. It was around 6 bucks.

I really loved the Art Auctions the cruise ship had. They were alot of fun. There's tons to do, and make sure ya sign up for a tour of the control room.

I can't wait to go on another cruise.

[CarolineM 0]

Thanks you all! This is all great stuff!!! I still want to cruise

[jkb919 0]

My fiance works on a Celebrity cruise ship and I actually met him while I was a guest on a cruise.

I live in Florida also and Celebrity has a 7 night cruise out of Ft Lauderdale that does the eastern caribbean or the western caribbean...it is the Celebrity Century, I have been on both the Eastern and Western on the Century and loved both of them. I booked both my cruises through Priceline.com I found the best deals there. I think we paid about $700 per person for the 7 night cruise. Not sure if you want to go on a cruise for that long but I loved it...there is also a 3 and 4 night cruise to the Bahamas on the Soughvern (sp?) of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) out of Port Canaveral...but personally I did not like the Bahamas that much..