Cruise Advice

[gtr2x]

First, I'll say my wife loves cruises, no schlepping of suitcases every few days, eat whenever you want, just lay around and charge everything to the room, etc. Me, not so much, seems too claustrophobic/boring to me. Also, I much prefer taking my own luggage to the room and self checkout if possible, hate waiting in those lines.

If you are booking excursions, try doing it before departure and not thru the ship if possible, saves time on excursion day and usually a couple of bucks. Just dont miss the boat and dont get hurt. One of my son's friends had a scooter (guess you could call it that) wreck in Cozumel and the cruise ship wouldnt let him back on the ship until he got clearance from a local hospital....we almost missed the boat.

A cruise thru the carribbean could be fine in the summer, laying around the beach with a few drinks taking in the sights, but eventually all the straw mkts, beaches, etc start to look a like to me. Food and entertainment are typically only average imo. If you've got time, maybe fly to San Juan and take a cruise from there which would give you a little more variety than the typical Bahamas, Cayman, etc.

Kids that age probably would like a snorkeling or snuba excursion when not hanging around the pool. If you go by Jamaica, they would probably like a trip to Dunns River Falls. I would suggest a balcony room for the parents (makes a big difference to us) and a cheaper room for the kids (they dont usually care anyway and are rarely in the room).

Whatever you do, Im sure it beats work.

[Speedofsand]

I used to not like them because they dumped so much garbage in the ocean. Supposedly that has decreased the past 15 years. I still was not a fan, because you can only do what is there, and I don't like schedules during my leisure vacation. Then I heard of LRBC. I'm a big fan of live music, and Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruises are a kick ass good time. They sail twice a year and sell out before the bands are even booked because its FUN for music lovers.

Not my pics, but shows its not your ordinary cruise.



The people on the ship next door wished they were on the Blues Cruise

[cstgator]

Originally Posted by supagator

I don't understand why people want to go on cruises. When you could spend the entire time at your destination.

I love to do "real traveling" as much as possible, but sometimes it's good to just go on a little getaway on a 3 day cruise. I've never not enjoyed myself and haven't really ever run into anybody that said they had a bad time on a cruise. I mean how can you go wrong with limitless food, having tons of sex, sunbathing on the pool deck, partying with a bunch of new people, etc? And they're cheap.

When I want to visit another country and take in all the culture, food, sites, etc, I need a lot longer than 3 days. Not always practical.

[bakaduin]

Originally Posted by cstgator

I love to do "real traveling" as much as possible, but sometimes it's good to just go on a little getaway on a 3 day cruise. I've never not enjoyed myself and haven't really ever run into anybody that said they had a bad time on a cruise. I mean how can you go wrong with limitless food, having tons of sex, sunbathing on the pool deck, partying with a bunch of new people, etc? And they're cheap.

When I want to visit another country and take in all the culture, food, sites, etc, I need a lot longer than 3 days. Not always practical.

I agree completely! You don't always need an "adventure". I've been to places like India and Costa RIca and had an amazing time. Sometimes it is nice though to just have everything done for you, lay by the pool all day and drink, show up for dinner or a show, gamble some, and go to the beach.

[G8trGr8t]

http://stcroixsource.com/content/new...croix-extended

The Tourism Department’s St. Croix Fantastic Flight Promotion was extended Monday in light of anticipated increased interest in the island thanks to Monday’s airing of “The Bachelor” on ABC television.

In a press release the Department indicated that while the promotion originally expired Jan. 31, vacationers now have until March 31 to book the promotion and receive a $300 instant airfare credit on packages of six nights at participating hotels.

“We have extended the offer to encourage travel to the destination,” Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson Doty said in a press release. The travel dates were also extended through May 31.

The Fantastic Flight promotion includes the sixth night at the hotel free and a $20 Match Play Casino certificate. The package applies to new bookings only and is based on double occupancy.

Hotels participating in the promotion include The Buccaneer Hotel, Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort and Casino, The Palms at Pelican Cove, Chenay Bay Beach Resort, Hibiscus Beach Resort, Renaissance Carambola Beach Resort and Spa, Club Comanche, Club St. Croix, Holger Danske Hotel, Sandcastle on the Beach, Colony Cove, Hotel Caravelle and Tamarind Reef Resort.

you would want to stay at the Buccaneer

can't believe I am watching the bachelor but since I have spent so much time on St. Croix working, I had to watch just to see what I consider my home island on tv

[supagator]

Ask the people on that boat drifting out in the gulf if cruises are fun!

[ufbeta]

Originally Posted by supagator

Ask the people on that boat drifting out in the gulf if cruises are fun!

Ha. Heard the report today. "Both food and bathrooms were very scarce"

[gatormoe1]

On the bright side, most of them can say this is the first vacation they lost weight.

[halsgator]

A few suggestions:
1 - since you are taking youngsters take a three day cruise to Nassau. You will experience the open ocean, dining and the facilities and it will be short and sweet.

2 - If you are serious about a cruise that you would fully appreciate look into traveling on Holland-American. The ships are somewhat smaller and more lush. The cruise ships carry around 2,500 to 3,500 passengers. The ships are steeped as traditional cruisers. You might say old school cursing. My wife and I spent 17 days in the Med two years ago. We flew to Athens, visited Turkey, Malta, Crete, Rome (or Tuscany), Monte Carlo (dull), Barcelona (fantastic), Seville, and ended in Lisbon (step back in time). Accept for a a couple of days, boat movement was done at night. At each port day tours were offered (vans) to see landmarks and the surrounding areas (Tuscany was the best).

3 - Carnival is primarily attuned to younger folks (college and high school in the summer). The other major lines are getting bigger and bigger. More and more people. Our trip to Hawaii was a disaster since we were on the open Pacific for 8 days going and coming. 6 days in Hawaii visiting several islands (that was worth the trip). The day trips were great. You will be walking a good bit to see the more lush areas.

Of course cruising varies by individual. I found I did not like open ocean cruising. The four days coming back to LA was a bore. I was tired of the ship, done everything umpteen times and the weather was not so good. Could not use the pool etc.

Choosing the right time of the year is very important. I love the Spring and Fall.

Good luck with your choices and enjoy.

[bovinagator]

My wife and I have been on eight cruises and will go on our ninth in late April. It will be a repositioning cruise on the Norwegian Star from New Orleans to Copenhagen Denmark. 16 days! The last cruise was last month on Royal Carribean's Oasis of the Seas. It was a theme cruise called Legends of Rock II. Over 25 bands which included such names as Paul Rodgers, Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, Marshall Tucker, .38 Special, Molly Hatchet and many others. We had a blast, it sailed from Ft. Lauderdale to Labadee Haiti and back. Embarcation is a pain at all the ports we have sailed from with the one exception of Port Canaveral.

[akaGatorhoops]

I have been on many curises. . . Alaska was BY FAR the best.

[rburnett]

Originally Posted by manigordo

This.

We just returned (Sunday) from a cruise to Roatan, Belize, Costa Maya and Cozumel. Each destination was great, but offered little opportunity to be spontaneous or locate great local spots. Cruising is for tourists; not travelers. I know Spanish and had been to each of the countries except Honduras and just wanted to try what friends had suggested. Never again.

Oh, and while the trip was cheap, they nickle and dime you to death. I get much more bang for the buck on my own.

we went on this exact cruise last spring break... Roatan was really cool. The reefs and diving there was the best I've ever seen.

[ovillegator]

We love to cruise -- but not for the ports. I consider it 7 days away from phones, emails, everything.

I even prefer cruises with more 'At Sea' days. Kids will be entertained well on all the major cruise lines. Disney cruises are 2-3 times more expensive -- but for kids, fantastic.

Do not go during hurricane season -- too much chance for storms and possible delays or cancellations -- always hard to get your money back, if you even can.

You can always get very cheap interior room -- but my wife and I splurged on a balcony once, and fell in love with it. Being able to sit outside on your own balcony and watch the flying fish, listen to the water crash by -- watch sunrises and sunsets in privacy... pretty sweet. Prices aren't bad -- we like the Carnival Dream, usually pay about 800/each ($1600 room) for a 7-day cruise. With all taxes, tips, photos (gotta get ONE), and a few excursions, we figure total price when done is about $2,100, or $300/day total -- not bad for all-inclusive fun and relaxation. So we budget each year for that.

If you want to drink a lot, they're pretty expensive. But we just have a glass of wine with dinner, maybeone during the day. Some lines offer all-you-can-drink packages, but they are ridiculously expensive.

I find three day cruises a bit too short -- it takes me til about the fourth day just to get settled into the relaxation part.

If you book on the Dream, and you want a most relaxing experience, add the Serenity Spa package -- costs about $159/couple, which allows you and your spouse to go into the 6 special sauna / steam / therapy pool / warm tile beds / relaxation rooms that don't allow kids, and only allow those in who have paid the extra fee. They limit the total number, so it's never too crowded. You can also book a Serenity Spa room, which is a balcony room on the Spa level, meaning you can put on your robe and walk a few feet from your room right into all those special spa facilities... and you can go upstairs onto the adults-only deck, meaning if you really want a children-free experience for most of your cruise, this gets you pretty close!

The gyms are great on the cruise ships, too. You CAN actually come back in better shape than you left.

Again, don't go on a cruise to explore exotic lands -- you won't. Go to relax, have fun, and enjoy being 'away' from phones, texts, emails et al.

It can also be quite romantic.

Enjoy!

[GCMightygator]

A few other suggestions.

1. This link takes you to Gator Country for cruise junkie site. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/

2. Disney Ships generally seem to be twice as expensive as most Royal Carribean, NCL, and Carnival cruises for the same itenerary. (Exceptions would be for the brand new super ships like Oasis and Allure). Also I do not believe Disney ships have casinos.

3. For Royal Carribean, the kids program on the 3 day cruise out of Miami may not be as good as the longer cruise due to smaller older ship. A newer remodeled ship with the same itenary sailing will replace the older ship from Port Canaveral starting in April so consider that ship over the Miami one. I have not tried the NCL and Carnival version 3 day weekend trips.

4. If your work vacation schedules are flexible and you are not set on a particular ship you can save a lot of money booking about 2 weeks before sail date. Of course kids school schedules may not allow this. Also summer rates are higher due kids out of school so a price drop may not occur. Late April and May have really good rates though and no risk of hurricanes.

[G8trGr8t]

Originally Posted by akaGatorhoops

I have been on many curises. . . Alaska was BY FAR the best.

if you ever feel like seeing the real Alaska, pm me and I'll offer some suggestions but you need to book almost a year in advance to get best rates and premiuim times for camping at Brooks Falls. Cruise route for Alaska is like going to Orlando and saying you went to Florida. So commercialized and controlled so much by the cruise lines. Although I am sure the cruise is great, Alaska has so much more to offer than you will ever get from the cruise route.

[mamag8ter]

Good luck whatever you do Deeb and Mrs Deeb. We did seven big cruises in a row in the eighties, had a ball.

[Spurffelbow833]

Originally Posted by supagator

Ask the people on that boat drifting out in the gulf if cruises are fun!

This should inspire some ideas. It's better for everyone to lose a little dignity than for everyone to choke on the smell of the feces of hundreds for a week.

[swampbabe]

Originally Posted by ovillegator

We love to cruise -- but not for the ports. I consider it 7 days away from phones, emails, everything.

I even prefer cruises with more 'At Sea' days. Kids will be entertained well on all the major cruise lines. Disney cruises are 2-3 times more expensive -- but for kids, fantastic.

Do not go during hurricane season -- too much chance for storms and possible delays or cancellations -- always hard to get your money back, if you even can.

You can always get very cheap interior room -- but my wife and I splurged on a balcony once, and fell in love with it. Being able to sit outside on your own balcony and watch the flying fish, listen to the water crash by -- watch sunrises and sunsets in privacy... pretty sweet. Prices aren't bad -- we like the Carnival Dream, usually pay about 800/each ($1600 room) for a 7-day cruise. With all taxes, tips, photos (gotta get ONE), and a few excursions, we figure total price when done is about $2,100, or $300/day total -- not bad for all-inclusive fun and relaxation. So we budget each year for that.

If you want to drink a lot, they're pretty expensive. But we just have a glass of wine with dinner, maybeone during the day. Some lines offer all-you-can-drink packages, but they are ridiculously expensive.

I find three day cruises a bit too short -- it takes me til about the fourth day just to get settled into the relaxation part.

If you book on the Dream, and you want a most relaxing experience, add the Serenity Spa package -- costs about $159/couple, which allows you and your spouse to go into the 6 special sauna / steam / therapy pool / warm tile beds / relaxation rooms that don't allow kids, and only allow those in who have paid the extra fee. They limit the total number, so it's never too crowded. You can also book a Serenity Spa room, which is a balcony room on the Spa level, meaning you can put on your robe and walk a few feet from your room right into all those special spa facilities... and you can go upstairs onto the adults-only deck, meaning if you really want a children-free experience for most of your cruise, this gets you pretty close!

The gyms are great on the cruise ships, too. You CAN actually come back in better shape than you left.

Again, don't go on a cruise to explore exotic lands -- you won't. Go to relax, have fun, and enjoy being 'away' from phones, texts, emails et al.

It can also be quite romantic.

Enjoy!

Glad to hear that you liked it. My husband and I are doing this cruise in June and we also booked a balcony. Love to have my own "space" Unfortunately, because I teach school we are limited to the more crowded, more expensive times of the year.