What do I need to know about cruising

[wdw_girl_18]

You didn't ask about this but.....

Get the motion sickness patch from your doctor that goes behind your ear. I have never suffered from motion sickness/car sickness/sea sickness at all. The last night of the cruise we went through a huge storm and I honestly thought I was going to die I felt so sick. There were signs all over the boat saying they do not have the patches for sale. I had never even heard of them until I saw everyone wearing them on the boat and asked them what the patches were for lol!

Cruises are so much fun!!!! You'll have a blast.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Oh - I forgot the passport question. Neither of us have passports. Matter of fact, at my cruise a year ago I lost my birth certificate before we left (and posted on the Dis about it, actually!). It was GONE. Nowhere to be found. I got on the ship without any additional questioning or paperwork needed. I was shocked. Evidently even that rule is flexible *shrug*

 

[tommya60]

Regarding Shore Excursions....I do the local stuff on our own. Anything with a long travel time, I go through the ship. We went zip lining in Puerto Vallarta, it was over an hour and a half into the jungle, then the zip lining, pictures, return trip (and that trip was a real life Indiana Jones ride). I was a lot more comfortable booking through the ship. The days when we did "port" stuff I booked on our own, or we just explored on our own. Part of it was not wanting to miss the ship, part of it was the ship checking out the vendor (althought that isn't a huge guarantee).
Re the inside room, on our first cruise it was partly budget, partly so I would sleep--I am horrible at sleeping and get up when it starts to get light in the room. In Alaska---that's most of the time. So we did an inside room. We weren't bothered by the inside room so we have stuck with them.
Passports, we've all had them for years, we don't travel all that often, but except for the kids they don't expire for quite some time. It just seems easier to take them with us.

 

[ms.yt]

Thanks for all the tips! I'm definitely going to check out Cruise Critic.

I think we'll invest in a little more money & go with an outside stateroom. I think the no window room would freak me out a little.

I have another question for all you cruise fans. What would you consider the best month to go on a cruise?

 

[bookgirl]

We went in Janurary. The first day on ship was cold...brrrr, the last day on ship..brrrrrr, in mexico it was 95 degrees. Climbing around in ancient Maya stone buildings was very warm, I couldn't imagine doing it in summer. But it made for rough seas on those first and last days. We also had a minimum of children and college students.

My best friend went in March. She said there were tons of college kids and families, but it was a party party party. It was also very hot, but she is a lay out by the pool kind of girl.

Janurary is also about the least expensive time of year to go.

Fall is also very cheap...but well it's also hurricane season.

 

[tommya60]

The best time of year is the time you can go!!!! Since our DD is still in high school, we go during vacations. My BFF went to Alaska in May, we went in July (twice).

 

[Simba's Mom]

We love cruising. In fact, my DS17 wants to work on a cruise ship as a musician during college -- he's starting to get some info about doing that.Erin

Coincidently, our DS is a musician on a major cruise line. PM me if you'd like any info.

 

[Bay Hill]

On our first cruise, the bingo host said that she met a new friend at the start of the cruise...the shower curtain.

CruiseCritic has reviews from all the cruise lines, ports of call, a first time cruising section and a whole lot more.

With our family cruising more and more, we are still going to WDW, but spending less days in Lake Buena Vista.

Bring the passport, and have no worries.

 

[smilie]

We aren't big travelers and are unlikely to need a passport again anytime soon.

This will change. Cruising will become an addiction! Have fun and enjoy. Cruises are a wonderful vacation!

 

[OhMari]

Thanks for all the tips! I'm definitely going to check out Cruise Critic.

I think we'll invest in a little more money & go with an outside stateroom. I think the no window room would freak me out a little.

I have another question for all you cruise fans. What would you consider the best month to go on a cruise?[/QUOTE]Me and my dd's did our first cruise with RCCL last August. We went out of PC in Florida. We did the Western Carribean, and were told off season is a great time to go. During spring break up to 18 ships can be in ports. When we were in Jamaica we were the only ship. Jewelry stores and other stores had great bargains, or so we were told. Definately go to the show, where they teach you how to shop, and were to go and shop. The cruise line probably gets a kick-back for every person they bring into their store, but I would rather go into a reputable jewelry store, than get ripped off. Me and my dd's shared the $20 dollar coupon book, and most times, the jewelry store would give all 4 of us the free pendant or gem stone. We even made a few of the gems into necklaces and earings.

 

[PatsGirl]

How timely! Just booked a cruise this morning for my 50th next April

I personally would invest in a passport. They are good for 10 years and it comes out to less than $10/year for a sense of relief JUST IN CASE...

While I much prefer a balcony cabin, I have stayed in interior, oceanview, balcony and suite cabins. On most ships, the size of the cabin remains the same unless you have a suite. But, if you get a balcony that adds some very nice space

The biggest problem I have with an interior cabin is lack of light. Unfortunately, this is what I booked this morning but it all comes down to $$ and I want to save a bit on the cruise to spend at Disneyland after...although this ship we are sailing (Carnival Splendor) now has some type of camera at the bow that shows on your television??? Still researching this.

I have never found a cabin crowded with just two of us. There has always been plenty of storage space (other than the bathroom) for clothes, shoes, suitcases, snorkeling gear, etc. The closets are generally pretty big. We use hanging toiletry cases from LLBean and these work out pretty well. I don't have alot of makeup and that sort of stuff so it pretty much depends. I certainly wouldn't want to travel with four high maintenance women in one cabin The cabins are small, but are adequate for sleeping accomodations.

FWIW, cruising is my favorite vacation. I never had to worry about having a few afternoon cocktails and driving to my destination or wonder where the kids are. I don't have to search for a restaurant that everyone will like or that is affordable. I can get up in the morning, hit the beach, come back onto ship for a nap, have a cocktail or two for happy hour at the pool and pick a restaurant for dinner...Before tween age, they spent most of their time in the kids clubs by their own choice, by 11 DD had free reign of the ship with a friend, and now at 13 she'll pretty much hang around with me.

 

[crz4mm2]

How timely! Just booked a cruise this morning for my 50th next April

The biggest problem I have with an interior cabin is lack of light. Unfortunately, this is what I booked this morning but it all comes down to $$ and I want to save a bit on the cruise to spend at Disneyland after...although this ship we are sailing (Carnival Splendor) now has some type of camera at the bow that shows on your television??? Still researching this.

Last interior cabin I had was on Carnival Imagination. I set the tv to the bow camera channel on the tv. Then when daylight started, you could see it worked ALMOST as good as a window (just mute the sound).

I think we might do Interior in April too... cost is a bit less. Which cruise are you going on? and Happy 50th

 

[PatsGirl]

Hi. We'll be sailing Carnival Splendor to Mexican Riviera (Cabo/PuertoVallarta/Matzalan) and I booked a Cat 1A for the first time. It was nearly $300 less pp than an oceanview so that's my Disneyland hotel and tickets for a couple of days after. The cabin is 185 sq foot but because it's a twin with hidden wall bed I'm hoping it'll feel bigger It's just myself and DD13 going and she always fights for the top bunk if there is one so....all is good in the world. One can always wish for an upgrade too!

 

[pianogirl73]

We go on a cruise every year with our 2 kids. The first one we went on, we got an inside cabin for all 4 of us. The first time we stepped into the cabin I called my mother in a panic because it was so small that I felt claustrophobic and was wondering what I got myself into but I got used to it very quickly and was fine. That being said, we have always gone with a balcony since that cruise.

 

[crz4mm2]

Hi. We'll be sailing Carnival Splendor to Mexican Riviera (Cabo/PuertoVallarta/Matzalan) and I booked a Cat 1A for the first time. It was nearly $300 less pp than an oceanview so that's my Disneyland hotel and tickets for a couple of days after. The cabin is 185 sq foot but because it's a twin with hidden wall bed I'm hoping it'll feel bigger It's just myself and DD13 going and she always fights for the top bunk if there is one so....all is good in the world. One can always wish for an upgrade too!

We will be sailing out of Port Canaveral.
Have fun! You will I know. YOu are only in there to sleep most of the time!

 

[MrsPete]

Oh - I forgot the passport question. Neither of us have passports. Matter of fact, at my cruise a year ago I lost my birth certificate before we left (and posted on the Dis about it, actually!). It was GONE. Nowhere to be found. I got on the ship without any additional questioning or paperwork needed. I was shocked. Evidently even that rule is flexible *shrug*

I'm surprised that you were not turned away. I've read stories on cruisecritic about people being denied boarding because they had unofficial birth certificates, expired passports, whatever. I wouldn't test this one!

I have another question for all you cruise fans. What would you consider the best month to go on a cruise?

I love fall. The prices are excellent. The weather is perfect: you can wear shorts, but you won't sweat. You might need a light jacket or wrap if you walk on the deck in the evening. It is hurricane season, but as long as you can get to the port to embark, you're still going to sail. If a hurricane affects the islands you're supposed to visit, the captain can take you to alternate locations (and since it's for your own safety, who's going to complain?), but you'll still sail.

On the other hand, we sailed at Thanksgiving once, and I wouldn't do that again -- it's a little too late in the year. The first and last day of a one-week cruise tend to be "at sea" days (because you're sailing towards the Caribbean and aren't near the islands yet), and on those days it was too cold to use the pools. I tried to lie out, but it was just too cold. My daughter wanted to get in the water, but her teeth were chattering and her lips were blue. I didn't allow her stay long. I believe that year was a little colder than normal, but who knows right now what'll happen next November?

 

[PatsGirl]

I think it depends where you embark. I know I wouldn't want to go out of New York or Baltimore after October but I've never had a problem with Fort Lauderdale or Miami year round. This next cruise we'll be leaving from Los Angeles (Long Beach) and I'm not really familiar with west coast weather but from what I hear it should be 70s.

Of course, it all depends on what you are used to I started reading the cruise boards today and alot of people say the water at Puerta Vallarta and Cabo is quite cold in April But what's cold to you? We're from the NE and its not uncommon to swim in water temps of high 60s, low 70s. When I get in a pool that's 80, it's like a hot tub to me

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We really enjoy cruising--on some cruise lines, but not all.

What you really need to know:

Not everyone has the same likes and dislikes--you may end up hating what someone else loves.

Not everyone falls in love with cruising. Nothing bad about trying it once--but don't set your expectation so high based on what others say. I did that with my husband for our honeymoon. He was not happy with the result of the cruise and truth be told, neither was I. There were several issues and our TA ended up having to get it all resolved.

And not every cruise is perfect. Most cruise lines have an errant customer experience that is negative--but was an anomaly. Our honeymoon cruise was an anomaly. We finally sailed on that line again and the experience was better, though when we cruised DCL, my husband had his original expectations from our honeymoon cruise met with them. He still holds the same opinion of that other cruise line. Never plans to sail with them again.

Not everyone loves DCL. Not everyone loves Carnival. Not everyone loves RCCL.

Best to find a cruise that you feel will meet your expectations.