Anyone been on a cruise?

[Anatresia]

Well, my fiance and I are thinking about taking a cruise for our honeymoon. We're looking at the Western Caribbean, because I really want to see some Mayan temples (I love history).

For those of you who have cruised, can you tell me:

Will I get seasick? (I get very motion sick on small boats and I get sick in cars & buses sometimes, too, so I know I'm suseptible).

If you've been on Carnival, is it a good cruise line?

How much spending money is a good amount to take?

How much will tipping, drinks, etc. come to, when they're charged to our credit card all week? (Just a guess is great.)

Any suggestions would be appreciated. We like the all inclusive concept and the price beats all inclusive resorts on land (like Sandals, etc.)

Thanks!

[quavec]

:bounce: Tracy :bounce: we are going on one next year! I CAN NOT WAIT!:bounce: I have never been on one neither but have been doing LOTS of research. We are going to Cozumel, Playa Del Carmen. We will also be on a Carnival ship ~ the Sensation. I have been told to take dramamine as a precaution but that you really don't feel the "waves" unless it is real rough (my luck it will be) and some have told me those bracelets work too. I was also told to make sure I had my birth cert or passport w/me, to have about $100 for tips to the waiter (the same one forthe entire trip), housekeeping and porter ($100 total for all). As for spendig $$, everything is alot cheaper (told this) in Mexico and a good est for me was $500 to include excursions, souvenirs, trinkets etc. But this was a lowball est because I told them I mainly planned to nap and eat!:D When do you go?

[blueyezz74]

I've never been on a cruise but did alot of research last year because we were going to go on one but never did. I know lots of people that have been on them.

Carnival I heard is a good cruise line. I've heard to stay away from Princess. I haven't heard anything good about them yet.

I know people that went on a cruise during a big storm and most of the ship was sick because the boat was rocking soo much.

During the day they let you go walk around the island. I heard that you can get some good jewelry on some islands like St Thomas. iw ould definitely bring as much as I could afford. if always sucks when you don't have the $$ when you want something.

With all inclusive, I beleive, the tips are included so you don't need to tip anyone.

[Anatresia]

We're hoping to get the wedding scheduled for July 10th (the banquet hall is closed for vacation until Wednesday, so I'm waiting to see if they have that date.) The cruise would be the week after- July 17th. We're getting married on a Sunday (because a sunday lunch wedding is less than half the cost of a saturday night one) so we have to wait a week to honeymoon, as cruises leave on Sundays.

[Heidismom]

on the Sun Princess, and loved it! We did not need money unless we were off the ship, so i only took about $100, plus the recommended tips for the room steward and the waiter at our table. Everything else on board can be charged to your room and paid by credit card. We did a 7 day cruise, and left the ship at each port-of-call, but we did not book any of the tours, except the Skagway one to tour the Gold Rush cemetery and the museum. We booked through a travel agent, and she fixed our reservation, so we could get "bumped" UP if anyone really wanted the deck we were on. We started out on deck 5, and got bumped UP to deck 12 - which was right below the captain's bridge, and just 3 feet from a door to the deck - we loved it! I want to do another cruise, but tropical, next time. Julia B.

[pipsqueak21]

NO!!!!! NO!!!!! NO!!!!!

Sorry, I have a very strong opinion on this! :fierce:

My husband and I went on the 5 day Carnival cruise to the Western Caribbean for our honeymoon. I hated it! He hated it! We hated it!

The room was tiny! They pushed 2 twin beds together, and that was our romantic hideaway! :yeahfine:

The pools were a joke. They weren't deep enough to swim and they were so crowded you just stood there. Kids everywhere!! If we went to sit in the hot tubs on deck in the evening, at least 3 kids would be in there with us.

The activies were boring. We slept most of the cruise because we were sooo bored!

We were supposed to go horseback riding through the Mayans, but it was pouring down rain, so the excursion was canceled.

BUT, if you do go, here are a few pointers...

Yes, I think you will get seasick if you have problems on cars and buses. I didn't get sick, but I did see a lot of people get sick. I think they have medicine to take care of that.

Carnival gives you a sail & sign card. You can use this for everything so you don't have to use cash. Off the boat, you may need cash but I don't know how much. Depends on how much touristy stuff you do. Considering most places take CC now, I wouldn't bring more than $200 in cash.

Alcoholic drinks are extra and I think we spent about $150.

I wish we had gone to an all inclusive resort rather than a cruise, but some people love them. Maybe we aren't very good cruisers. ;)

Hope that helps.

[Schnitzel's Mom]

I love traveling. I wish I could do it more....

Been on 2 cruises: one through the Greek islands (met hubby on that trip) and one to the Southern Caribbean on the Carnival Destiny. We just booked another cruise for next year--Hawaii.

We liked Carnival a lot. Fun things to do on the ship (if you like participating) and plenty of places to chill out if you don't want to participate. Decent food. My husband particularly enjoyed being able to order 2 entrees, if he wished. There will be A LOT of food.

If you and your fiance (congrats!!!) are drinkers, it can get pricey. My husband and I liked to order a bottle of wine at dinner and then go to the clubs or the casino and have a drink or two. That lasted about 3 days when we finally checked our tab. We cut out the wine at dinner. It can be very easy to lose track of expenses. Alcohol, some sodas and excusions are added to your shipboard account. If you like the idea of seeing more than just one place, then I suggest the cruise and just watch the expenses. If you just want to laze around, an all-inclusive resort may be better.

Carnival's ships are large, so you probably won't feel anything. But, as a precaution, bring some Dramamine. I've only gotten sea-sick once: San Francisco Bay.

[alfina]

We went on 3 cruises ( Hawaii, Northen Europe and Meditteranian) on Celebrity Cruises. It's owned by Royal Carribean line and is their top of the line. We liked it a lot. I did get sick on Hawaian cruise ( was Christmas time and seas were rough). July should be ok to travel. I would recommend either dramamine or else sea patches. Patches are available by prescription and one last 3-4 days. I find that if you travel in a group, it is a great way to travel. You unpack only one time and then get to see few different places without having to lag your suitcases around. It doesn't give you much time at one stop, but lets you sample different stops and next time you can go back and stay there longer.

Tipping depends on a cruiseline. They probably should have that info on their web site.

[ShewShew]

We're going on a cruise for my birthday in October, we're going Royal Carribean, though. My parents go on a cruise every year, and they said Carnival was the worst. The service was terrible, the offshore excursions were terrible, even the food was bad. They are sticking with RC from now on. We're going Western Carribean this year, too. It's just a girl's trip, so it's me, my mom, and my sister in law.

Take about $1,000. By the time you have all the drinks charged to your room, it'll be around $500. Also, if they have a soft drink card, it's cheaper that way. And pay for the offshore excursions before you go, that way you'll not have to pay for anything like that. You'll also need some of the money to pay for on ship things, like wine tasting or cigars (if you like em). You can have things from the ship's stores charged to your rooms. Just be careful if you do that, and don't overspend. You may be able to check your balance as the cruise goes on.

Yes, you'll get seasick. Just make sure at dinner to face AWAY from the windows. And take your dramamine with you, or one of those bracelets. I was seasick the first night, so I slept most of the time.

As for tips, you should tip all the help in cash, not on the credit card. You can do some research on the tipping protocol online, I don't remember, but seems like with the wine steward, the cabin man, and the other help, it came to about $100. Don't forget the crew that takes care of your dinner, and the guy at the pool that knows what you want to drink.

I was totally impressed with the staff on the RC cruise I went on in 97. Things might have changed since then, though. The staff knew what I wanted to drink at dinner, what I wanted to drink by the pool, and how cute I thought my robe looked when they made it dressed like a swan. The rooms are small, yes, but if you like the cruise, you won't be spending much time in them. The showers are horrible, and you can forget about showering together, there's hardly enough room for one person, let alone two adults nekkid together. And yes, the twin beds are shoved together to make a queen, not ideal, but they have a little piece of cushion between the beds so they don't fall apart in the middle of the night. You can also have special items brought to your cabin, such as roses, chocolate covered straweberries, wine, etc. delivered as a surprise to your other half. You can have the room decorated for anniversaries, birthdays, etc, too. Look online for the special stuff the travel agent may not know about.

If you have any more questions, let me know.

[Me&DappledDuo]

I haven't been on a real cruise- but I've been on the ships MANY times (being that I grew up so close to Port Canaveral). The ships vary a HUGE amount. I'd do a lot, lot, lot of research on the ships before picking a date or cruiseline.

My recently got rid of her loser fiance girlfriend and I are going to treat ourselves to cruises or an AI this November- I'm more excited about THIS trip than I ever was about the destination wedding MY ex and I were planning. :D

I personally would MUCH prefer an AI for my honeymoon. Cruises are NEVER truly private- and if you're envisioning THAT type of a honeymoon... you'll be disappointed with any of the less expensive cruises. Besides- by the time you add up room upgrades (you'll probably want a balcony upgrade for a honeymoon- most cruises will serve you private meals in these rooms- VERY romantic!), the tips, the drinks and excursions- you're looking at several thousand dollars for per person for a 7 day cruise!

While Sandals has never really been a place that draws ME in... a very similar resort chain in Jamaica that I feel in love with is actually QUITE affordable if you shop around the discount sites, gives special treatment to honeymooners, includes all sorts of excursions for free (horseback riding to scuba diving- they'll certify you!), is VERY private and romantic (they definitely cater to weddings, anniversaries and honeymoons... NO KIDS ALLOWED!!), get excellent reviews (for FOOD and DRINKS- only the $$$ cruises get those!), and really IS all inclusive (you can get away with bringing NOTHING- but most people bring a few hundred in small bills for tips- which aren't really allowed... but you know... ) is... Couples Resorts (http://www.couples.com/) !

Check them out- they a great message board for questions, reviews, and pictures- and know that you can save LOTS by NOT booking through their website.

Cruises are a fun vacation, IMHO- but I personally wouldn't want to be sharing a tiny pool with screaming kids on my honeymoon. Of course- MANY, MANY people are more tolerant of wild children than I am- but as a teacher... you might want a break, huh? ;)

Mexico has some very affordable AI's, too- if Jamaica isn't your thing.

But- there ARE some excellent ships that I would definitely consider for a romantic trip- they'd just end up more expensive than an AI.

And oooooh... I think the Alaska trips sound incredible. :D

[feofil]

Well, I have been on several cruises. Cruises in the North Sea in December aboard a US Destroyer I was conducting tests on. We had 90 foot seas! Took some hardware right off the main mast!

I have also been on Holland America, and I highly recommend them. They are somewhat relaxed and laid back, and they let you do what you want to do instead of trying to hard sell you guided trips on the mainland.

Stay away from Princess and Carnival, and the Disney line. Holland America did have that incident last year on one of its newest ships with food poisoning, but they all do. Just make sure you eat food that is well cooked, or at least prepared properly.

Patrick