Anyone been on a cruise? Kinda curious about the experience for our next vacation...

[AK907]

With the cold weather setting in, we've been talking about and day dreaming about our next vacation. We've been to Vegas twice and enjoyed every minute or it, but next year we'd like to try something new. Anyone been on a cruise? We've always wanted to, but we have no idea really what the whole experience is like. We've read all the bloated reviews and the like, which usually just tell how awesome every cruise line thinks they are or the critics who can't be pleased by anything but the ultra high dollar cruises, which as normal working class folks, we'll never get to do. We've always been under the impression that it is a lot like a Las Vegas hotel with plenty of bars, casinos, clubs, food and over crowded pools. We've been eyeing a cruise from NYC, Baltimore or Cape Liberty to the Bahamas.

So... How was your cruise? Where did you go? Was the entertainment worthwhile? How about the food? What cruise line did you take? Which would be best for adults with the fewest amount of screaming kids? How about deck roll and sea sickness? How about the claustrophobic living quarters? Is it as bad as +/- 150sq ft rooms sound? Maybe other ideas for a vacation to a warm location chock full of casinos and excessive eating?

Thanks!

[shadowsnakes]

My first cruise was on Carnival Cruise Lines departing from Miami and making stops in Key West and Mexico. While the destinations were typically very tourist-y the time spent aboard the ship was nothing short of splendid.

I shared a balcony room with two other people. Every morning was spent on the balcony with a small pastry platter delivered to our door. I loved watching the sunrises with a very delicious and flaky danish pastry that tasted like it came from Grandma's oven. Ship entertainment was spit between live stand up performances and the casino, which was appropriately small for a family-based cruise line. The dining included with my ticket was very good but seating was later than I wanted at 8:30 pm. Plenty of sunny decks for tanning, generous pools and outdoor bars, and lots of shipboard activities besides eating and lounging. No rolling or sea sickness but I was blessed with very calm weather.

Not too many screaming kids as I remember, but if you want a more adult themed sail try Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Lines. Would I do it again? Sure, but not before I take a roadtrip down Route 66!

[KMG]

In the past few years I have been on two and both went down through the Bahamas and/or Mexico.

The first was out of Miami on Royal Caribbean. The boat was nice but we chose a inner room on a lower deck. Once you put your bag down it was full. The bathroom was beyond tiny and you kinda had to stand in the shower to use the sink or in the toilet to use the sink, the bathroom was a joke. I did like the inner lower room because it was dead quiet and blacked out. I slept great.

I don't get sea sick but my wife will occasionally. We didn't have a problem but the seas were calm for our trip. The lower in the boat you are and the closer to the center line the less you will feel the rocking.

The shows were ok but not something we did every night. They had many different options for food but we found my picky wife didn't like the main dining room menu on most nights so we would try the other places around the ship. We were never hungry and really had no complaints about the food. What sucks is the drinks. Drink pricing was crazy and if you are looking to really party it is going to add up real quick but you don't find out until the last day when you pay for everything from that week.

The stops were good and each stop had plenty to choose from for off boat excursions. There was something for everybody. The boat also had a casino but it was very small but had all the games and though Im not a big gambler it never seemed to crowded.

Im a gym rat and still love to workout on vacation. The gym while Im sure it is good for most was lacking for me. The dumbbells only went to 40lbs and the number of stack weight machines was few. They did have plenty of cardio equip.

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The second was out of Galveston on Carnival. This boat seemed larger but was thinner and we could feel the rocking more and we had some rougher waters on this trip. She felt a little sick at times but the over the counter stuff worked fine for her.

On this trip we went with a suite and were glad we did. It was an upper room with a balcony. We had a queen size bed, couch with two chairs and table, flat screen, plenty of storage for clothes, mini fridge, vanity room with closet, plus a large bathroom with two sinks. Did I mention the granite counters. It was super nice. We felt it was really worth the extra. I enjoyed the balcony and watching fish and sometimes dolphins jumping along side the boat. Listening to the water at night was also nice.

The food on this trip was better and we ate in the main dining room every night. They had an actual menu and you can order as much as you want. We left stuffed every night. Again though the drinks add up. There was also a steak house but it was not included in the price. It was more elegant and was a nice special night with a candle lit diner.

I also thought the shows were a bit better. We really enjoyed the comedy club and went every night. They changed out comedians so the show was always fresh. They also had two shows each night. The first was more family friendly and then the next was adults only. Each night we watched both shows and enjoyed a few drinks before turning in.

The casino on this boat seemed to take up a whole floor but I didn't gamble at all but it was much nicer than the first trip we took. This boat also had a few night clubs but we didn't really find them our thing and usually just found our own little spot to hang out.

On this trip the boat had a pretty good gym and had plenty of cardio equip and dumbbells up to 60lbs. It was a great workout in the rougher waters, really got the stabilizers. Just remember to hold on to the bar while on the cardio equip as I saw more than one person get shot off. They also had a total gym which turned out to give a good workout and was very easy to use on the ship. The gym was on an upper level on the front with windows all the way around. It was a great view while working out. We also had a running track on the very top deck so we could get in an actual run and some sun. They also had a really nice spa area and beauty shop, not that I used either but they gave us a tour and the women seemed to like it. Other activities were b-ball, put-put, and a rock wall.

This boat was just like the first in the offering of excursions, plenty and something for everyone. Just remember that these like your drinks are paid for on the last day so plan out your budget and try to keep track so your not shocked on the last day.

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We had fun on both trips but found going with another couple to be more enjoyable. This way we had people we liked and could do things together or apart if we liked. Usually in the main dining room the seats are assigned and you can be with some strange folk so having some familiar faces was nice.

Both boats had nice pool area but we didn't use them much. We had an excursion each day and watched some shows here and there not to mention a little nap before dinner. I work nights so my world gets flipped and can be hard on me.

Be aware that if you buy duty free alcohol or cigs they store them below until you leave. You can not drink it while on the boat. Many people sneak alcohol on but know that most everything is check visually and x-rayed coming on the boat. Actually each time you get back on the boat from a port your bags are scanned and checked and you walk through a metal detector. I found both boats allowed certain size knives but you should check the regs before you leave.

I really cant say that either of your trips had many kids but we usually travel after school starts back up to limit the number that are there.

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Not a cruise but last year we went to Costa Rica and I really enjoyed it. It was very clean and the people there really seemed to take pride in their home. Everybody seemed to move with a purpose to school or work and not once did I feel like I was around a undesirable. Also while on the beach the peddlers were very friendly and understood English well and were always willing to tell you the best activities to try there.

The first day there we went to the beach and I saw Cubans...cigars that is. I talked to the guy but not having money on me I told him I would catch him tomorrow, he told me to take the cigars and just pay him later. I was shocked, how trusting! I refused and walked down to the water. To my surprise his lil helper runs up and gives me a lit cigar and says "a gift for you." Again shocked! I ended up buying a good amount of cigars from two different guys and were given gift cigars from both. They also really haggled on the price and I got a stellar deal.

We also did a snorkel trip just around a point from the resort and saw plenty of fish, ells, SEA SNAKES, all kinds of stuff. Oh, and a humpback whale breaching. Now that was cool.

Even though we had a earthquake on wed(7.2), saw a tornado on thurs, and a northern volcano was spitting ash fri when we were leaving I would love to go back. It was the rainy season so each afternoon it would have a little shower but the rest of the time even the day of the earthquake was great.

[Mike41793]

I'd never go on a cruise, seen the things on the news about boats capsizing and noppeeeee, not chancing that lol.

[AK907]

Thanks yall! Nice to hear some actual first hand, unbiased reviews. We appreciate it!

We also did a snorkel trip just around a point from the resort and saw plenty of fish, ells, SEA SNAKES, all kinds of stuff. Oh, and a humpback whale breaching. Now that was cool.

Even though we had a earthquake on wed(7.2), saw a tornado on thurs, and a northern volcano was spitting ash fri when we were leaving I would love to go back. It was the rainy season so each afternoon it would have a little shower but the rest of the time even the day of the earthquake was great.

Earthquakes. Tornados. Volcanos. Snakes. THAT is a vacation, my friend!

So you were able to feel the roll of the ship enough sometimes that stumbling could be an issue sometimes? That is my wife's main concern. We can barely drive to Wooster (40 minutes away) without her getting car sick. Me, on the other hand, like a rock. I've done a lot of halibut and ling cod fishing when we lived in Alaska and I always hoped for choppy seas. I loved catching some air on the ride out in the little 30-40 foot boats we'd use. It made me feel like I was on Deadliest Catch!

I'd never go on a cruise, seen the things on the news about boats capsizing and noppeeeee, not chancing that lol.

Mike... I love ya, man! You always know just what to say! Haha!

Did you see the deal when they righted and salvaged the Concordia? So cool!

[jclaiborne]

I have been on two. Both were Carnival Cruise Lines. One was to the Caribbean and the second was to Mexico. Both were a lot of fun, I don't remember a lot of screaming kids, they seem to do a pretty good job, they had a kids club and activities to keep them occupied. The rooms aren't bad, we barley spent any time in them, slept a few hours a night and thats it. Plenty of food, bars, shows, and gambling to keep you up. As far as the ports, they can be touristy if you book an "excursion" through the cruise lines, we went out on our own which was nice because we got away from the crowds. Both trips were fun, I don't get sea sick so that wasn't an issue, the ships don't have that much roll. I enjoyed the cruise to the Caribbean the most.

[jgras]

Ummm i though this was about snakes not cruises

[dgring]

Ya but this is in the general chatroom so it dosent matter what its about. I see your point though

[anatess]

Been on a lot of them. I love boats so I'm happy doing nothing all day but sitting on a deck chair gazing out at the water. So, my opinion on cruises is probably not gonna be helpful for ya.

Just some tips:
If you want to try out a cruise, go for the 4-5 day cruise. It is long enough for if you end up liking the cruise, and it is short enough for if you end up hating it. If you're an active person, you can just get the cheapest room available. There are so many things going on in the ship that you're probably end up only using the room to sleep in and use the bathroom. Everything is going to be small, but the rooms is not what is nice about ship. All the fun stuff on the ship is what is nice about the ship. If you're more sedentary, get the room with a balcony. I can spend all day doing nothing but sitting at the balcony reading a book. The decks can get really crowded and sometimes you won't find an available chair. With your own balcony you can just wind down without any distractions.

Most cruises give you a daily itinerary at night in your cabin. The itinerary usually doesn't give you a lot of information about the shows and activities so, what I always do is google the cruise on the internet to get reviews on their on-board shows and activities and off-ship excursions and have a tentative plan already in mind. Then when the itinerary comes, I have a good idea of what to try the next day. The fun of the cruise is mainly in the activities you participate in. So, this is what I pay attention to the most.

Make sure you have all travel documents with you before you leave your house. Get a passport. Even if the cruise doesn't require it. A cruise that starts and stops inside the US doesn't need passports. But, there is always the possibility that you get stranded in a foreign port! A friend of mine went on an excursion and didn't go back to the port in time for boarding! He had to hire a speed boat and board out to sea. He was lucky. It could be worse and he has to fly a plane to get back home or catch another cruise liner... all these would have required a passport...

It's really fun. I love it. Even the really short ones (2-3 days) and the really long ones (14 days). But, it's not for everyone, that's for sure.

[KMG]

Ummm i though this was about snakes not cruises

As my dad would say, thats what you get for thinking.

Its called "off topic cafe" because it contains things off topic.

We regularly discuss things other than snakes. We have different sections for all kinds of animals but we also discuss things like vehicles, smoking, guns, hunting and fishing, and vacactions(including but not limited to cruises.) Just to name a few.


Now to get back on topic in the off topic.

I never had a problem walking around with the roll of the boat. Most of the rough water was traveled at night so it just rocked me asleep. Trying to run during the earthquake was harder, but still very manageable.

I fish regularly so the roll of the boat has no effect on me but my land loving wife didn't have any issues either. Even the other couple we were with did ok and she was on prescribed sea sick meds and could get sea sick by just talking about it.