Going On a Cruise

[wvkeeper(HN)]

My wife wants to go on a cruise next year for our 15th anniversary.

Neither of us have ever been on one. Any advice is welcome.

Likely it would need to be one of those 3-5 day ones that are primarily at sea or whatever.

 

[herdfan429]

Carnival sucks

 

[big_country90]

Random thoughts…

Be prepared to gain 10 pounds. The food is phenomenal…and endless. You can choose to dine at a certain hour every night, or you can choose to dine anytime you want to stop in. They give you the option. Most ships have either a 24 hour buffet or 24 hour pizza and hamburgers. Either way… You will eat a lot more than normal. Also, aside from your regular dining hall, there will be other restaurants that you can pay to eat at. I don’t see the point though.

Doing a short cruise is a good idea for the first time. Once you experience it though, you will want to do a longer cruise.

There are countless forms of entertainment on the cruise ship. You can go to musical shows, comedy shows, karaoke, game shows, and various other types of entertainment. Plenty of alcohol and gambling if that is your thing.

Don’t waste your money on an elaborate room. You will spend very little time there.

Once the ship gets into international waters, the stores will open up and allow you to buy everything tax-free.

If the water is relatively calm, the only time you will feel the ship moving is while using the bathroom or taking a shower. The ship is like a floating hotel. Your scenery will change every morning, which is very nice.

You would have to pay for Internet. Use that wisely. However, most of the islands will have a restaurant with free Wi-Fi that you can get on.

You can do anything or nothing. When the ship ports, there is a set schedule for when you have to be back on the ship. You will be left if not on the ship when you’re supposed to be.

You will absolutely love it. If you have any questions, just ask.

 

[big_country90]

And we love carnival… So there.

 

[i am herdman]

I went on a cruise and did not like it. Not for me. Felt claustrophobic. Just like i would sitting around a hotel all day. I was actually bored.

 

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

I've only been on two, so I am no expert . . .

- Don't book excursions through the cruise line. You will find far smaller crowds, better "tours," more authenticity, and far lower prices booking through an excursion company yourself. Better yet, do good research at each location, determine what you want to see, and explore the islands on your own. Most of these excursions get kickbacks from restaurants/touristy things for bringing crowds there every day. They aren't necessarily taking you to the best things to see/eat/do, but rather, who gives them the best kickbacks.

- If you rent mopeds/cars, be smart about how you pay (credit vs. debit card, cash, etc.). Be sure to take pictures all over the inside and outside of the vehicle before you get it and when you return it.

- Wake up early. Most ports take place early in the morning. If you wake up a bit late, you may face a wait getting off of the boat. Worse, you will wish you had those couple of extra hours you spent sleeping to explore more of the island.

- Do your research on tripadvisor for each location. Have a thorough idea of what you want to do/see. If not, you will spend hours asking about things and trying to find things. Have a backup plan - if you plan on spending a day on the beach, have other ideas in mind if it rains that day.

- I agree with BC and have no idea how Herdman could have felt like he was sitting around all day. If you go on a shorter cruise, you usually won't have a full day at sea. You'll board and have that night to get used to the boat (check into your room, explore the boat, have dinner, go to a show/shop). By that time, it will be later in the night and you'll want to be sleeping. The next morning, you will be at a stop. If you get off of the boat in the morning, you will have about ten hours to explore the island. If you get back on the boat around 6 pm, you guys will want to shower and go to eat. By the time you are done with that, it will be around 9 pm. If you watch a show or do anything else for an hour on the boat, you will then want to be back in your room around 10 pm or 11 pm. At that point, you will get 7 or 8 hours of sleep and want to wake up again to go explore the next port.

I really can't understand Herdman's feeling about sitting around at a hotel unless he was on a long cruise which had multiple days at sea without stops. I was on a 2 night cruise and a 3 night cruise. I think the perfect length would have been a 4 or 5 night cruise, which would probably include one day at sea without stopping (which would make for a day of "sitting around like at a hotel," which would be a nice break after having three or four stops).

 

[big_country90]

A five day cruise is actually shorter than you would think. It usually involves leaving on Monday afternoon and getting back early Friday morning. It’s a little deceiving. I have gone on a cruise as long as nine days and eight nights. That was actually my favorite one. I don’t mind the days at sea simply because there is so much to do. If you’re open to doing anything, there is no way you would be bored. I agree with rifle… Not sure how herdman can come to that conclusion.

 

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

Not sure how herdman can come to that conclusion.

Herdman saw a few blacks working in the kitchen on the cruise, so he didn't want to come out of his cabin the rest of the trip. He is also typical high-society snobbery, so he didn't want to associate with the commoners when he found out there would be other guests on the yacht.

 

[herdfan429]

And we love carnival… So there.

Of course you would. It’s the myrtle beach of cruises

 

[big_country90]

Of course you would. It’s the myrtle beach of cruises

I’ve never been to Myrtle Beach.

 

[i am herdman]

I've only been on two, so I am no expert . . .

- Don't book excursions through the cruise line. You will find far smaller crowds, better "tours," more authenticity, and far lower prices booking through an excursion company yourself. Better yet, do good research at each location, determine what you want to see, and explore the islands on your own. Most of these excursions get kickbacks from restaurants/touristy things for bringing crowds there every day. They aren't necessarily taking you to the best things to see/eat/do, but rather, who gives them the best kickbacks.

- If you rent mopeds/cars, be smart about how you pay (credit vs. debit card, cash, etc.). Be sure to take pictures all over the inside and outside of the vehicle before you get it and when you return it.

- Wake up early. Most ports take place early in the morning. If you wake up a bit late, you may face a wait getting off of the boat. Worse, you will wish you had those couple of extra hours you spent sleeping to explore more of the island.

- Do your research on tripadvisor for each location. Have a thorough idea of what you want to do/see. If not, you will spend hours asking about things and trying to find things. Have a backup plan - if you plan on spending a day on the beach, have other ideas in mind if it rains that day.

- I agree with BC and have no idea how Herdman could have felt like he was sitting around all day. If you go on a shorter cruise, you usually won't have a full day at sea. You'll board and have that night to get used to the boat (check into your room, explore the boat, have dinner, go to a show/shop). By that time, it will be later in the night and you'll want to be sleeping. The next morning, you will be at a stop. If you get off of the boat in the morning, you will have about ten hours to explore the island. If you get back on the boat around 6 pm, you guys will want to shower and go to eat. By the time you are done with that, it will be around 9 pm. If you watch a show or do anything else for an hour on the boat, you will then want to be back in your room around 10 pm or 11 pm. At that point, you will get 7 or 8 hours of sleep and want to wake up again to go explore the next port.

I really can't understand Herdman's feeling about sitting around at a hotel unless he was on a long cruise which had multiple days at sea without stops. I was on a 2 night cruise and a 3 night cruise. I think the perfect length would have been a 4 or 5 night cruise, which would probably include one day at sea without stopping (which would make for a day of "sitting around like at a hotel," which would be a nice break after having three or four stops).

Just didn't care for it. It was 3 nights I think. Went to Nassau which is a third world crap hole basically. We to an island which was fun but only one day. The rest was riding around on a big ship with pools and bars. I felt like I had no freedom.

I would do one again but there are many other things I would do first.

 

[sistersville]

I've only been on two, so I am no expert . . .

- Don't book excursions through the cruise line. You will find far smaller crowds, better "tours," more authenticity, and far lower prices booking through an excursion company yourself. Better yet, do good research at each location, determine what you want to see, and explore the islands on your own. Most of these excursions get kickbacks from restaurants/touristy things for bringing crowds there every day. They aren't necessarily taking you to the best things to see/eat/do, but rather, who gives them the best kickbacks.

- If you rent mopeds/cars, be smart about how you pay (credit vs. debit card, cash, etc.). Be sure to take pictures all over the inside and outside of the vehicle before you get it and when you return it.

- Wake up early. Most ports take place early in the morning. If you wake up a bit late, you may face a wait getting off of the boat. Worse, you will wish you had those couple of extra hours you spent sleeping to explore more of the island.

- Do your research on tripadvisor for each location. Have a thorough idea of what you want to do/see. If not, you will spend hours asking about things and trying to find things. Have a backup plan - if you plan on spending a day on the beach, have other ideas in mind if it rains that day.

- I agree with BC and have no idea how Herdman could have felt like he was sitting around all day. If you go on a shorter cruise, you usually won't have a full day at sea. You'll board and have that night to get used to the boat (check into your room, explore the boat, have dinner, go to a show/shop). By that time, it will be later in the night and you'll want to be sleeping. The next morning, you will be at a stop. If you get off of the boat in the morning, you will have about ten hours to explore the island. If you get back on the boat around 6 pm, you guys will want to shower and go to eat. By the time you are done with that, it will be around 9 pm. If you watch a show or do anything else for an hour on the boat, you will then want to be back in your room around 10 pm or 11 pm. At that point, you will get 7 or 8 hours of sleep and want to wake up again to go explore the next port.

I really can't understand Herdman's feeling about sitting around at a hotel unless he was on a long cruise which had multiple days at sea without stops. I was on a 2 night cruise and a 3 night cruise. I think the perfect length would have been a 4 or 5 night cruise, which would probably include one day at sea without stopping (which would make for a day of "sitting around like at a hotel," which would be a nice break after having three or four stops).

No expert lol lol lol nah I don't believe that. You are being modest. Lol. No expert lol

 

[countryroads89]

I have been on one cruise and both loved it and hated it. I sailed Royal Caribbean. It was a ship they were getting ready to retire, so maybe it was small by today’s standards. I hate crowds. That is my biggest complaint. Some foreigners sailing the ship were rude and cut lines and simply just weren’t courteous.

You’ll never feel the ship “rock.” You should never actually know you are on a ship. You’ll get to see some amazing places. Like others have stated, get up early, go out and explore. Take one suit/set of dress clothes. You and your wife will want to dress up one evening for dinner. Most, if not all, ships have one “formal” dinner evening.

 

[goherd73]

I've done around a dozen cruises. Royal, Celebrity, Princess. Four of them were Transatlantics (10-13 days).

My favorite overall cruise was South America through the Panama Canal to Florida.

My favorite transatlantic was England-Norway-Iceland-Canada-NYC.
Wifi was good enough that I was able to watch the Herd beat Perdue off the coast of Norway!

If you are looking at 3 days you are looking at the Bahamas or maybe Cuba. 5 days will give you a couple more islands.

If you are willing to put more money into it...fly to Seattle and go on an Alaskan cruise.

My most unusual experience was when I was onboard a Princess cruise between Japan and Vladivostok, Russia in March, 2011 during the Japanese tsunami. Captain said a cruise ship was the safest place to be. Didn't even notice it. There were several Japanese cruisers on board that had to fly back home to Japan when we got to Russia.

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

Contrary to what BC said, the food might be endless but the big buffets are not phenomenal. Unless you are drunk, then Mexican buffet night on Carnival is the greatest thing ever. But it is serviceable and you will eat a lot. Make up for this by walking a lot, the ships are huge and you can get plenty of exercise just walking around and doing stuff.

Rifle is correct about excursions. Unless you just want the least fuss for the most money, forget the ones the cruise offers. On a Caribbean cruise I can't think of a single excursion I have actually wanted to do. I prefer to explore the area on my own, do some research before you go, find a cool little spot or restaurant, pay a local taxi if needed (cheap) and just go. You lived in the ghetto of Pittsburgh so crime shouldn't be a big concern, usual situational awareness applies.

The jewelry sales on the ship are a scam. So are the shops at the ports*. The days of bargains in the ports are long gone.

* You can find some awesome custom stuff in many ports.

There will be Russians on the cruise. Most of them are assholes and line-cutters. I'd be a asshole too if I had to live in Russia.

Only room worth splurging for: Carnival has these rooms on the stern that I really like. That have nice sized balconies which I really enjoyed late at night, and the hum there from the engines and drive helps me sleep. Also there is a bar directly above this section

Absolutely do the formal dinner.

 

[Chevy1]

Went on a cruise years ago. Thought the best part was when we docked at their private island for hanging out on the beach and snorkeling. Decided I would have been better off renting a beach house to veg for a week.

Agree with Herdman about Nassau and some of the other locations we visited. You get a block from the dock, and the poverty is pretty mind blowing.

Anyway, decided it wasn't for me and never went on another one. However, we have friends that go all the time and love it. BC is right about the food....our joke was, "Well, we better stock up; it's going to be another two hours before we eat again." AND I've heard our cruise line wasn't the best (and no it wasn't Carnival)....

It's probably worth a shot if you've never been.

 

[ThunderCat98]

Took a 4 day cruise last year on a whim. Worst vacation I've ever had. I'm ADD and hate crowds though, so a confined area is not my ideal getaway. Although I didn't feel like I was stuck in a hotel - more like a sh*tty shopping mall with a hotel in it. Food was meh. Entertainment was meh. Best part were the excursions, when you aren't on the boat. That being the case, I recommend going to a tropical island for a week instead. Better accommodations, better food, and way more to do. If you do go, make sure you purchase an alcohol package. If not for the booze, I would have jumped overboard the first day.

 

[i am herdman]

Took a 4 day cruise last year on a whim. Worst vacation I've ever had. I'm ADD and hate crowds though, so a confined area is not my ideal getaway. Although I didn't feel like I was stuck in a hotel - more like a sh*tty shopping mall with a hotel in it. Food was meh. Entertainment was meh. Best part were the excursions, when you aren't on the boat. That being the case, is recommend going to a tropical island for a week instead. Better accommodations, better food, and way more to do. If you do go, make sure you purchase an alcohol package. If not for the booze, I would have jumped overboard the first day.

haha, I couldn't wait for the damn thing to get back. I was bored to death half the time. I was like ok we are in a floating hotel room with vegas buffets and 24 hour hot dogs going around the ocean. Oh and the formal dinner. Great I get to eat with a bunch of strangers and get served shitty fancy hotel type food.

I would rather just go to the beach or something.

 

[Y.A.G Si Ye Nots]

haha, I couldn't wait for the damn thing to get back. I was bored to death half the time. I was like ok we are in a floating hotel room with vegas buffets and 24 hour hot dogs going around the ocean. Oh and the formal dinner. Great I get to eat with a bunch of strangers and get served shitty fancy hotel type food.

I would rather just go to the beach or something.

I don't understand how you had time to be bored. If you got back to the ship at 6 pm, you each showered and then ate, you wouldn't be done until 8 - 9 pm.

At that point, you'd have two hours to do something before you'd want to get in bed, fvck, and go to sleep before awaking in 7 or 8 hours. How did you have any time to be bored? I am not saying you weren't, but I just can't understand what your schedule was like to possibly be bored?

Both times I have gone, I'd get up later than I wanted. I'd be up at 8 am, get a quick workout in, then eat. We'd be back in the room by 9:15 am, shower, then off of the boat at about 10 am. We'd then spend the day on the beach (proper research can lead you to private beaches where you can fvck and sunbathe nude in the middle of the day - pictures upon request), get an authentic local lunch, explore. We'd be back on the boat by 6 pm, at which point, we'd be a bit tired from being gone all day at the beach and exploring. We'd shower and finish dinner no earlier than 8 pm, at which point, we'd have a couple of hours to kill before wanting to get back in bed.

What was your schedule like that gave you more than two hours on the boat to have to find time to do something?

 

[ThunderCat98]

Not sure about Herdman, but we were at sea for 2 of the 4 days. That's 48-hours of being bored. Hell, I don't even gamble, but found myself in the casino more than I care to mention just to have something to do.

 

[GK4Herd]

Some people just enjoy their curmudgeon personality more than they do life. Life’s too short. Quit looking for reasons to grump about things and you might find you can enjoy this ride before you have to get off.

 

[WV-FAN]

Not sure about Herdman, but we were at sea for 2 of the 4 days. That's 48-hours of being bored. Hell, I don't even gamble, but found myself in the casino more than I care to mention just to have something to do.

yeah. i won like $2400 in two nights and lost it all on the last night after skipping a night. wife & kids would crash around 9 or 10 and i'd hit the casino until midnight or 2.

i wouldn't say the food is spectacular, but it's good enough that, as has been indicated, there's hells to eat. shows are great. islands, great.

fvcking on the beach and sunbathing in the nude will get you a red ass and sore pecker if not careful.

herdman is starting to remind me of greed . . .

 

[Marine03]

My wife wants to go on a cruise next year for our 15th anniversary.

Neither of us have ever been on one. Any advice is welcome.

Likely it would need to be one of those 3-5 day ones that are primarily at sea or whatever.

Yes, tip all the illegal immigrants serving you and be sure to wear your MAGA hat with pride wherever you port

 

[Dreh_Nagi_HC_IM]

That is my biggest complaint. Some foreigners sailing the ship were rude and cut lines and simply just weren’t courteous.

But yet, your liberal heart bleeds for all the illegals to come swarming into the country. No wall for you. Just let them all in. You're cool with it, as long as they're not in your yard.

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

If you do go, make sure you purchase an alcohol package. If not for the booze, I would have jumped overboard the first day.

Any cruise review from me is clouded by alcohol. You know how Carnival's drink package has a 15 drink per day limit? Yeah, I see that as a goal.

 

[countryroads89]

But yet, your liberal heart bleeds for all the illegals to come swarming into the country. No wall for you. Just let them all in. You're cool with it, as long as they're not in your yard.

Those seeking asylum to this country aren't the same assholes taking cruises.

LMAO!

 

[Dreh_Nagi_HC_IM]

Those seeking asylum to this country aren't the same assholes taking cruises.

LMAO!

Sure they are...

 

[-CarlHungus-]

I've only been on two, so I am no expert . . .

- Don't book excursions through the cruise line. You will find far smaller crowds, better "tours," more authenticity, and far lower prices booking through an excursion company yourself. Better yet, do good research at each location, determine what you want to see, and explore the islands on your own. Most of these excursions get kickbacks from restaurants/touristy things for bringing crowds there every day. They aren't necessarily taking you to the best things to see/eat/do, but rather, who gives them the best kickbacks.

- If you rent mopeds/cars, be smart about how you pay (credit vs. debit card, cash, etc.). Be sure to take pictures all over the inside and outside of the vehicle before you get it and when you return it.

- Wake up early. Most ports take place early in the morning. If you wake up a bit late, you may face a wait getting off of the boat. Worse, you will wish you had those couple of extra hours you spent sleeping to explore more of the island.

- Do your research on tripadvisor for each location. Have a thorough idea of what you want to do/see. If not, you will spend hours asking about things and trying to find things. Have a backup plan - if you plan on spending a day on the beach, have other ideas in mind if it rains that day.

This is fantastic advice, not only for cruise but for travel in general.

Spend time to plan ahead. Tripadvisor I think is so-so for domestic US travel, but have served me extremely well for non-US travel (mostly Europe).

If you don't have a plan or a general idea of good restaurants or sites, you end up in a tourist trap and/or debating or what to do and losing time.

 

[Tim Hensley]

Alaskan Inner Passage is great: Along Puget Sound aboard Amtrak's Cascade service from Seattle; Vancouver (a world class city); Ketchikan (described by Coast Guarders as "a drinking village with a fishing problem"), Skagway (spectacular White Pass & Yukon RR and "Oregon Mare" occupying brothel in gold camp reincarnation) ; Hoonah (an old cannery in a Russian Orthodox village and world's longest zip line -- cleanest air I've ever breathed); Juneau (capitol city); Hubbard Glacier (so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes) and Seward/Anchorage. Be sure to consume lots of Ranier and Kokenny (the best beer I've ever had).

Also was on the Marshall Alumni Carribean cruise that coincided with the Miami football game, back during the last year of the Orange Bowl.

Both were with Royal Carribean. Food is great. I enjoyed walking it off on the track around the top deck as we sailed the open seas.

 

[i am herdman]

Not sure about Herdman, but we were at sea for 2 of the 4 days. That's 48-hours of being bored. Hell, I don't even gamble, but found myself in the casino more than I care to mention just to have something to do.

Same here. Ours was either a 3 day or 4 day. But half the time was on the ship.

 

[i am herdman]

Some people just enjoy their curmudgeon personality more than they do life. Life’s too short. Quit looking for reasons to grump about things and you might find you can enjoy this ride before you have to get off.

I am not being a curmudgeon. I can't say that I enjoyed a cruise all that much. Can't say that I hated it, but it wasn't exactly my thing. I have never been back on one. I like my freedom. If I want to walk down the street or road or get in my car then, that is what I want. I don't want to be on a boat with 3,000 other people and have to go eat at a super deluxe golden corral.

Some people love them. I didn't care for it when ranked among 1,000 other things I can do. I am like like the other gentleman, I was bored.

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

I don't want to be on a boat with 3,000 other people and have to go eat at a super deluxe golden corral.

.

That about sums up the food. Except it didn't give me the shits like Golden Corral does. Thank God, because that would have been horrifying in the tiny bathroom in the cabin.

 

[herdfan06]

There will be Russians on the cruise. Most of them are assholes and line-cutters. I'd be a asshole too if I had to live in Russia.

Do any of them look like this?