WOW! We're going on a Cruise!

[2angelsinheaven]

At Christmas we were told we would be going somewhere in March as a family (Mom and mom's partner, lil sis and bro, myself and dfiance) well it was going to be a surprise but mom couldn't wait anymore and told us tonight...

A 7 night Eastern Caribean Cruise on the Carnival Paradise...yahoo! Here is where we are going!!!

Monday Nassau, Bahamas
Tuesday Fun Day At Sea
Wednesday La Romana, Dominican Republic
Thursday St. Thomas, Usvi
Friday Fun Day At Sea
Saturday Fun Day At Sea
Sunday Miami, Fl

I have never been on a cruise before and dfiance and I are so very excited!! Any tips for a more enjoyable time from past cruisers, anyone been on the Paradise before? Which excursions are a no miss?? One last ?, anyone been cruisin who gets sea sick, how was it, what helped you? THANKS!

I'm off to celebrate!

 

[Samandmom]

How exciting!!!
I would love to go on a cruise again. We went for our honeymoon in 1997. We were scheduled to go on one in August of 2000 but had to cancel since DS was in due in July. The food is the BEST on a cruise. Have a great time!!

BTW: the other day you posted about your DF's shirt getting bleached. I saw the t-shirt at The Disney Store on sale for $12.99.

 

[Beauty]

We are seriously considering taking the Carnival Conquest from New Orleans in the next few months...it has stops in Jamaica, The Caymans and then Cozumel....we are so excited about the possibility!

I would love to see any answers to your questions too!!

 

[Kteacher]

congrats-you will be hooked after your first cruise I can help with some of your questions. When you get to St. Thomas, take the ferry over to St John- the beaches there are much quieter and nicer than St. Thomas. Maegen's Bay is beautiful, but if there are a lot of ships in port that day it will be really crowded. In Nassau you can take a water taxi over to Paradise Island for the casino, shopping, and the aquarium. The original straw market burned down a few years ago in Nassau, and the temporary set up is just too crowded- I would avoid it and plan on shopping in St. Thomas. As far as sea sickness, Bonine makes a non-drowsy formula that works really well. You shouldn't have much of a problem with rough seas in the Eastern Caribbean in March, though. Have a wonderful time

 

[WDWAurora]

YAY! Congratulations!! You are going to have the best time!! I've only been to St. Thomas out of those islands, but it's great! I have to second the suggestion to take a ferry over to St. John's, and I'd definitely visit Trunk Bay. It is the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. EVER. Make sure to plan to eat a lot and really appreciate being waited on hand and foot 24/7. You know you need to take nice clothes, right? 2 super nice nights (I think, that's how most 7 day Carnivals are) and all the others you can't wear shorts/tshirts/etc in the dining room at night. You probably know that.

As for seasickness-we went on two, and none of us had any trouble, including my prone-to-any-and-all-motion-sickness-unless-it's-a-rollercoaster father. We took medicine in case, but we were all fine.

Have the best time! I'm so happy, it's just such a nice time to escape to the Carribbean!

(I also saw the Grumpy shirt on sale for $12.99 at the disney store)

 

[aprilgail2]

In St Thomas I loved going to Coki beach (its a free public beach) and its right next to coral world, you can rent snorkle equipment and snorkle right there on the beach.
In Nassau if you are not going to go over to Atlantis then stay on the ship, its a real dump there. You get off the ship and have to walk past all the hairbraiders "Lady can I braid your hair" then past the horse and buggy things "lady want ride, lady want ride" then you are in the town,if you want to shop its good, but the straw market is a joke, aisle after aisle with pushy vendors all selling the same crap.
Try going over to cruisecritic.com and you can see the carnival boards over there, maybe they can give you some more info,,,
http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=frm&s=927093444&f=969097554

 

[Chattyaholic]

How exciting for you!!! I hope you have a GREAT time!!!

DH and I have taken 4 cruises (2 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean on the Disney Magic, a 4-night Disney Wonder, and a 4-night Carnival Fantasy) and we've loved each one and are already looking forward to taking another just as soon as we possibly can.

I know others are telling you to not to shop downtown in Nassau, but I actually enjoyed it. Yes, people will constantly ask you if you want your hair braided, if you want a taxi, etc. as you walk but just a polite "no thanks" and keep on walking works. I enjoyed seeing the town, seeing a different culture. The first time we were there we just shopped, but this last time we did take a horse and buggy ride and it was nice seeing some of the "back streets" of town. What amazed me was the lack of traffic lights through the town. People just drove, and if you were on a side street and wanted out on to the main street you just keep edging out, horns are constantly honking, it is so "different." I think I saw one traffic light in the whole town. None of the other streets had them.

 

[Jeafl]

We just went on a Carnival cruise over Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time.

I second going over to Trunk Bay on St. John's. I've been on just about every Caribbean Island, and St. John's is my hands-down favorite. If you do stay on St. Thomas though, there is a great locals-type restaurant called Cuzzins. It's about a 3 block walk from where the tender lets you off. The lunches are great, and the drinks are STRONG!

I'm not a huge fan of Nassau, but there are some pretty beaches there. See if you can take an excursion over to see the Atlantis on Paradise Island. It's absolutely unbelievable!

The Paradise is a nice ship because it is a non-smoking. If someone is caught smoking, they boot them off and charge a fine, so they do take it pretty seriously. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

By the way, www.cruisecritic.com has discussion boards specific to a cruise line, and the Carnival one is particular is always hoppping! Lots of fun, helpful people over there!