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Planning a cruise!
- Thread starter AK74U
- Start date
This. You've seen one beach, you've seen them all. Alaska is a completely different world than the lower 48. I lived and worked in Anchorage for a year and saw a lot of the state. Wouldn't trade that experience for ten trips to Jamaica.
To the OP...
You might consider Passport requirements when picking cruise destinations.
Also, Alaska cruise may be more of an advantage for your Canadian friends/relatives. There are AK cruises R/T out of Vancouver or just across the border from Seattle.
You might consider Passport requirements when picking cruise destinations.
Also, Alaska cruise may be more of an advantage for your Canadian friends/relatives. There are AK cruises R/T out of Vancouver or just across the border from Seattle.
Carnival is the bargain cruise line and tends to attract the Walmart crowd. My family of four with two teen boys fit in just fine. I've only been on R.C. once and they had more/better entertainment on board but they cost a little more. Plan on tons of kids running around the boat at all hours.
Try to get a cabin towards the middle of the ship because there will be less movement. You may want to get a sea sickness patch just in case. We LOVE balcony rooms but once again, you'll pay more. But it's really nice to have. Interior rooms are fine - we've done both - but if you're going to splurge the balcony removes any claustrophobic feelings you may get.
You can choose "my time" dining or you can go for a fixed schedule. If you're going with a big group that wants to eat together you should probably go for fixed and pick a time later in the evening.
You /may/ want to plan to arrive at whatever port you depart from the day before. If you miss the boat because of aircraft mechanical issues/weather/whatever you're gonna be sorry. So plan to fly in the day before and see the local sights.
Call and talk to one of the Carnival reps. They are VERY helpful. I don't think you need a travel agency but others may have better input because we've never used one.
Depending on what island you sail to there are some really cool excursions. Be sure to understand what the physical demands are so you don't get on one over your head.
Bring prescriptions/bathing suit/whatever you may need with you in a carry on. You may not receive your luggage the first day until well into the evening.
Bring nice clothes for the formal nights. The food is usually better like lobster or something you won't normally be offered.
Don't plan your flight back home without padding the departure time so you're not in a mad rush to not miss your flight. Cruise ships are 99% on time but our last one had an engine issue and we arrived to the port 3 hours late...it can happen. We were driving back so no big deal for us.
The drink packages are EXPENSIVE! Like $150 or so per day PER PERSON of legal drinking age in your cabin. Maybe less, don't remember. I just remember thinking I'd have to do a lot of drinking for the package to pay for itself. And the days that you are in port (unless you never leave the ship) you can't take advantage of the package.
I'm sure I'm forgetting a bazillion things but since our first cruise we're hooked! Spent Christmas day last year on the beaches of Grand Turk. It didn't suck.
Oh - and what a great idea for your mother! You are a good son!
Try to get a cabin towards the middle of the ship because there will be less movement. You may want to get a sea sickness patch just in case. We LOVE balcony rooms but once again, you'll pay more. But it's really nice to have. Interior rooms are fine - we've done both - but if you're going to splurge the balcony removes any claustrophobic feelings you may get.
You can choose "my time" dining or you can go for a fixed schedule. If you're going with a big group that wants to eat together you should probably go for fixed and pick a time later in the evening.
You /may/ want to plan to arrive at whatever port you depart from the day before. If you miss the boat because of aircraft mechanical issues/weather/whatever you're gonna be sorry. So plan to fly in the day before and see the local sights.
Call and talk to one of the Carnival reps. They are VERY helpful. I don't think you need a travel agency but others may have better input because we've never used one.
Depending on what island you sail to there are some really cool excursions. Be sure to understand what the physical demands are so you don't get on one over your head.
Bring prescriptions/bathing suit/whatever you may need with you in a carry on. You may not receive your luggage the first day until well into the evening.
Bring nice clothes for the formal nights. The food is usually better like lobster or something you won't normally be offered.
Don't plan your flight back home without padding the departure time so you're not in a mad rush to not miss your flight. Cruise ships are 99% on time but our last one had an engine issue and we arrived to the port 3 hours late...it can happen. We were driving back so no big deal for us.
The drink packages are EXPENSIVE! Like $150 or so per day PER PERSON of legal drinking age in your cabin. Maybe less, don't remember. I just remember thinking I'd have to do a lot of drinking for the package to pay for itself. And the days that you are in port (unless you never leave the ship) you can't take advantage of the package.
I'm sure I'm forgetting a bazillion things but since our first cruise we're hooked! Spent Christmas day last year on the beaches of Grand Turk. It didn't suck.
Oh - and what a great idea for your mother! You are a good son!
Pretty much spot on. You don't need a travel agency, but they can make big trips easier. Agree 100% on giving yourself time before and after the cruise. My buddy was in Galvelston and was delayed for 5 hours due to fog in the port.
cruisecritic.com Website by cruisers, for cruisers all about cruising.
Travel agents aren't really necessary unless you just don't have time to do the legwork.
Travel agents aren't really necessary unless you just don't have time to do the legwork.
Just went on an 11 day Holland America cruise that included Barbados. It was superb. Unlike some of the other Caribbean Islands, there are NO McDonalds in Barbados. We have sailed on NCL, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Carnival as well. Carnival lines is the K-Mart of cruise ships. I now avoid them like the plague.
Summer time cruises mean LOTS of unsupervised BRATS running all over the ship. They are strung out on all of the sodas and free ice cream they can eat. Pools
are overcrowded with them and they make trying to get around on the LIDO deck where the buffets are located very difficult.
Most of our cruises originated out of Ft. Lauderdale or Miami.
Happy Cruising.
Summer time cruises mean LOTS of unsupervised BRATS running all over the ship. They are strung out on all of the sodas and free ice cream they can eat. Pools
are overcrowded with them and they make trying to get around on the LIDO deck where the buffets are located very difficult.
Most of our cruises originated out of Ft. Lauderdale or Miami.
Happy Cruising.
We cruise with Disney which is expensive, Royal Caribbean which I totally enjoy out of cape Canaveral. I have also cruised norwegian to Hawaii and Alaska. Alaska is amazing. Looks like Lord of the rings. Just awesome.
