Planning my 1st cruise ... Any tips and\or advice. Going to the Bahamas for a few days.
Has anyone done the commute from Fort Launderdale to the Miami port? If so How is it?
Anyone ever did SNUBA before? If so is it that much better than snorkeling?
Thanks in advance
You can SNUBA back?
Have your family get the bracelet or patch or whatever it's called for motion sickness. It won't be a good trip if they are seasick.
Bring your own Alcohol (hide in suitcase). It's very expensive on the ship.
Despite the naysayers, its unlikely you'll get diarrhea, even less likely that the ship breaks down, catches fire or hits an iceberg. The biggest possible danger is sea sickness. Should that happen, the ship will provide you with meds for free, but you might want to bring something along. Also, bring something nice to wear, at least a sport jacket for the formal nights in the dining room. They will kick you out if you dress like a slob and you'll have to go to the buffet.
If you have sailed before and expect you will be seasick, it might make sense, but it may be better to bring it but not use it unless you need it.
One other recommendation for seasickness - the higher you get your room on the ship, the less the effect will be. Same is true for staying in the middle of the ship as opposed to the front/back.
Drinks were a little expensive but they pour generously both on board and ashore. Everybody wants to keep the tourists drunk.
I paid an extra $50 or so to get "first on - first off" or some such name. It got us through customs and on to the boat while most other passengers were waiting in line for over an hour. Same thing getting off when we came back to US. I think it also works getting of at the islands but I don't remember for sure.
Casino has no live poker - maybe there is no demand.
We've only taken one cruise. It was Carnival and we had a great time. Matter of fact another cruise line suffered an outbreak of some kind while we were on our cruise and they had to return to port with half the passengers and crew vomiting their guts out but no problems on ours.
Bottom line the destinations made it one of the best vacations I've ever had. Luckily we did it before their ships started breaking down.
Any way moral is if you are going to take one may be worth the extra dollars to end up on a ship whose passengers have teeth, weigh less than 300lbs and don't spread norovirus.
Simple way to get around it...never touch a doorknob, railing, elevator button or anything the public touches with your hand.
Doing Disney Parks for a week and then the cruise, I know the kids will enjoy the parks, not sure about the cruise.
Carnival is absolutely terrible, unless your into buffets and loafing around a hot tub all day with obese people.
If you MUST do a cruise, do not go with Carnival, you will regret it.
Sept 7th going on one.
Food at the dining room is very good, service excellent.
Get off the ship at and eat in a Bahamian restaurant.
The local beer Kalic is one of the best, fish and Conch are fresh but the best is desert - try Gauva Duff the BEST DESERT.
The shows on board are excellent.
Doing Disney Parks for a week and then the cruise, I know the kids will enjoy the parks, not sure about the cruise.
Just did the same last summer. Kids will like the cruise. You, not so much. But that's to be expected.
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Has anyone gone? How are they and what is different from other cruises?
Doing Disney Parks for a week and then the cruise, I know the kids will enjoy the parks, not sure about the cruise.
Just did the same last summer. Kids will like the cruise. You, not so much. But that's to be expected.
Doing Disney Parks for a week and then the cruise, I know the kids will enjoy the parks, not sure about the cruise.
A few differences:
1. Lots of things for kids of all ages to do, much more than any other cruise line, but they still manage to have more activities than adults than most other lines.
2. Lots of Disney entertainment. The production shows are Disney based. Disney characters are on deck at all hours. Disney movies are shown all day in the theatre including 3D movies.
3. You eat in a different dining room every day. This is part of the experience.
4. They have a Formal night like other cruise lines, but they also have a Pirate night. Everyone dresses like a pirate, they have a big deck party, they have fireworks, and they show Pirates of the Caribbean on the Jumbotron
5. No casino.
6. As you've already discovered they're more expensive than another mainstream cruise line by quite a lot. If memory serves me correctly at least soft drinks are free. They go for $3 a pop on other lines.
As far as the topic of sea sickness goes, you can also get a shot from the ship's doctor's office that should tie you over for the time that you are at sea. I've also used the patch a bunch of times and never suffered any ill effects.
There is stuff for adults to do on Disney lines - e.g. Mixology classes, adult only pools, wine tastings, bars at night. Yes though - no casino.