2013 Adventures, Boarded the Cruise Ship!

[wdwmom2]

I cruised out of Bayonne, back in 2006. We were on a 14 day cruise and left our car in the parking lot of the cruise terminal. When we got back, we found that our car and every car in the lot, was painted Battleship Gray, it was over spray, they had painted a ship in the dock and every car in the lot had paint all over it, it took a year, but they finally paid for the clean up of the car, 1500.00.

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your MTD experience, I am looking forward to it. I just did not like having to pick a time, so the fact that you walked up without a reservation is nice.


We both ride also, so the fact that you are getting to take your bike is awesome, I would love to hear how that works out.

We have never been to Maho Beach but our friends went last time and loved it and talked us into to going with them this time. I will take a bunch of pictures and share when I get back.

I have heard of the over-spray horror stories. Actually, we will be trailering the Harley to Staten Island. We are doing a stay/park/cruise. So truck/trailer will stay at the hotel. DH will have to ride the bike to the port. I will be taking all our luggage on a free shuttle service that the hotel offers.

I will either post a trip report or PM you about the trip. I am a picture taker too!!! Over on cruisecritic I met a lady and her DH that is taking this cruise with us. They are from Long Island. I can't wait to actually meet them in person. We keep in touch through e-mails.

 

[dgbg100106]

I have heard of the over-spray horror stories. Actually, we will be trailering the Harley to Staten Island. We are doing a stay/park/cruise. So truck/trailer will stay at the hotel. DH will have to ride the bike to the port. I will be taking all our luggage on a free shuttle service that the hotel offers.

I will either post a trip report or PM you about the trip. I am a picture taker too!!! Over on cruisecritic I met a lady and her DH that is taking this cruise with us. They are from Long Island. I can't wait to actually meet them in person. We keep in touch through e-mails.

I am on cruise critic also. I have met some great people that way.

 

[TifffanyD]

I'm on there too!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I signed up for CC also, but I just lurk. Not a single post.

 

[dgbg100106]

well if you saw me over there you would recognize me... I got the same name as here...

 

[TifffanyD]

I think my name is the same too

 

[dgbg100106]

I think my name is the same too

Great minds think alike

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

one question, How is cruising for people with seasickness? does the ship rock alot or no? I have managed to do smaller boat rides (a cataram and a 3 hour shipwreck tour) and did ok (with multiple sea bands). i would love to try a cruise with my sister sometime, they look like a wonderful way to see the world. Do you get alot of time at the places the ship stops? I would want time to get off the ship and do lots of hiking and photography. Any advice of were to look for a good cruise (gasp) down near Africa, or austraila?

 

[dgbg100106]

one question, How is cruising for people with seasickness? does the ship rock alot or no? I have managed to do smaller boat rides (a cataram and a 3 hour shipwreck tour) and did ok (with multiple sea bands). i would love to try a cruise with my sister sometime, they look like a wonderful way to see the world. Do you get alot of time at the places the ship stops? I would want time to get off the ship and do lots of hiking and photography. Any advice of were to look for a good cruise (gasp) down near Africa, or austraila?

Different times of the year and different bodies of water would give you calm seas. But everywhere can have a storm and these provide some pretty rough seas.

I have seen days smooth as glass and others we have had 25 foot swells.

Larger boats do not move as much as smaller ones so stick with a larger ship, over 85,000 tons.

Since I am not sure your level of sickness, I would not dare speculate on your ability to cruise.

Some ports we have been over night with two full days, other we have been in port only hours. You will need to check each cruise for the length of stay in the ports.

If you are interested in different ports of call or different starting and stopping ports, I would check with cruise critic, or start with some of the bigger lines, royal Caribbean, celebrity, caranaval, princess, ncl.....

I do know celerity goes to Australia.

 

[wdwmom2]

one question, How is cruising for people with seasickness? does the ship rock alot or no? I have managed to do smaller boat rides (a cataram and a 3 hour shipwreck tour) and did ok (with multiple sea bands). i would love to try a cruise with my sister sometime, they look like a wonderful way to see the world. Do you get alot of time at the places the ship stops? I would want time to get off the ship and do lots of hiking and photography. Any advice of were to look for a good cruise (gasp) down near Africa, or austraila?

DH and my BF (best friend, not boyfriend) are extremely prone to motion sickness.

DH gets his doc to prescribe the scopolamine patch. He has never had an issue on on cruise ship while wearing it. He did have it come off one night, and didn't put a new one on immediately. Within a short period of time he started to feel it. He went back to the cabin and placed a new one on. This was shortly before bedtime. By morning, he was good again!!!

My BF swears by ginger capsules. She starts taking them a day or two before the cruise, and continues through the cruise taking them twice a day. She has had no issues on the two cruises I have been on with her.

As far as where you would like to cruise to, go straight to the different cruiselines websites. Search for a cruise by choosing your destination. It will give you your options. That's where I would start.

Cruisecritic is a wonderful forum with TONS of great information!!!!

 

[TifffanyD]

I am prone to motion sickness in cars but I don't think on boats. However, I do take the ginger capsules to help. Only time I got seasick was when we took a ferry from St Thomas to St John and it was rough seas. However... I did not succumb to the illness.... unlike a lot of others.

When I do get sick... it's due to cocktails and I just blame it on the sea

 

[TifffanyD]

Oh also... try to stay midship. If you think of a seesaw... the ends move the most. The center should move the least. I also feel like lower decks move less, but I think that's just a myth with a placebo affect.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I'm on there too!

Your on CC? So am I.

 

[wdwmom2]

Oh also... try to stay midship. If you think of a seesaw... the ends move the most. The center should move the least. I also feel like lower decks move less, but I think that's just a myth with a placebo affect.

That's what we do. Mid-ship, balcony snob here

We also like to be near the stairs/elevators. Very convenient. Never had an issue with noise from people in the hallway.

 

[TifffanyD]

We stay wherever and on DCL often an inside. But our worst room ever was DCL when we booked FL res rated balcony and were right under the pool deck and right by the food places - ugh! so noisy.

 

[TyRy]

I'm in for following your adventures! Plus, we will cruise for the first time with RC this spring (only our second cruise, 1st on DCL.) Looking forward to hearing your tips, hints, etc.

And keep the hints coming about seasickness as DH got it bad on our DCL cruise. Although once we were in port and he took Bonine he was good. This time I'm bringing that and sea bands and anything else I can find since we are on the top deck.

I'm on cruise critic as well with the same name.

 

[t_daniels]

By booking while we were on board, we got OBC (On Board Credit) to use on the Feb cruise. Free money is always nice and I usually use them to pay for the tips, or part of the tips, but this year we wanted to try the My Time Dinning.

My Time Dinning, means that you go to dinner anytime you want between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm. What gets me is you must make a reservation anyway. So I can dine anytime I want as long as I know when I want to dine....

One of the draws for me was if I was sitting in a bar and was having fun, I did not want to have jump up and run off to my dinning time.

So we will have to come up with a good time for us and see if it works. But you can change it night to night, just as long as you reserve your time.

Another drawback for this is you must prepay your tips, so even though I would like to use my OBC to pay for my tips, now I must pay for my tips before leaving home.

Oh well.... Live and learn. So we will find out if we like the My Time or not...

Prepay.....tips? Doesn't make sense!

 

[t_daniels]

So I must say that I am a Celebrity person. To me they are much better than Royal. Just in treatment and food.

We are Diamond on Royal and Elite on Celebrity, so we love the extra perks.

Here are the Diamond Perks for Royal

Exclusive Onboard Booking Bonus (This is the OBC I talked about earlier)

Ultimate Value Booklet with great onboard offers (THis includes, free pictures, % off on Coffee and Ice Cream, Free Specialty coffee with dinner (Think Germ Killer), free bag of laundry, free $$ in casino, free bingo cards, since David and I both are Diamond we both get a sheet of all of these)

Exclusive invitation to Welcome Back Party (So all of the Crown and Anchor people get a party with cheap champagne and canapes)

SeaPass Card recognition (On your Cabin card it says what level you are, so those that are waiting on you can see how high up in the program you are)

Meet the Stars! (This is a backstage tour)

Priority check-in (this means we get our own line, also on a previous cruise, if there is a problem with ship and you can't board yet, they put you in a different area and give you food and drinks)

Private departure lounge with continental breakfast (This is usually in a room with the C&A Director and coffee, juice, tea and pastries) We skip this and go to the MDR and eat.

Exclusive Trivia (I have no idea what this is....)

Exclusive Top Tier Event (This is a cocktail party for Diamond and Diamond Plus people with the officers)

Robes for use onboard (These are really nice plus ones, I think everyone else gets these thin waffle types)

Signature lapel pin (This is what it says!)

Welcome Gift/Amenity including choice of beverage (They give us a Diet Coke (1 Can))

Milestone recognition (A commemorative gift will be delivered to you during the sailing on which you attain your 140, 210, 280 and 350 cruise points and on every 70 cruise points thereafter.)

Chef's Choice Gift/Amenity(last time, this was trail mix, maybe 3 oz)

Priority wait list for Shore Excursions/VitalitySM Day Spa services (we never use this)

Diamond Lounge (Breakfast is a light pastry and coffee or tea, bloody mary's, bellini's, up in the MDR; for dinner it is complimentary wine, champagne (sparkling wine) and fountain drinks, and a 'happy hour' discount of 25% off beer and drinks with liquor for 3 hours (5 to 8 pm), up in the Viking lounge)

Priority departure (just what it says, you can get off the ship first)

Entertainment Tour (Behind the Scenes Tours including the Galley, Bridge, and enhanced Entertainment Tour )

Quarterly Saving Certificates online (to use to book cruises)

Priority notice on special offers, new ships and itineraries (Email)

Set your upgrade preferences online (This is your gift, you can change from Diet Coke to Coke, or juice)

Discounts on Balcony and Suite staterooms

ChoiceAirSM Plus fee waived (we just used this as part of the Spain cruise) I will get to that later this week

Priority waitlist seating request in the main dining room

Complimentary Upgrades (when available, we have received this before)

Reduced Rate Upgrades (when available, we have never done this!)

DOUBLE Cruise Points for purchasing suite accommodations (again we have not done this on Royal)

Holy perks, Batman. That's fantastic!

 

[dgbg100106]

Holy perks, Batman. That's fantastic!

We do better with celebrity... Hopefully this week some time I can start the Spain part.

 

[dgbg100106]

I just want to say.. Way to go Ravens....