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Hubby and I will also be in the Valoron 3/5

Can't wait!

ME too!!! We need his vacation bad. We've had a bit of awful luck lately and need to float around with cold drinks in hand!

Good to know! We sail away in 8 days on her.

Thanks everyone! I went with Belize and Roatan for my diving boys. I will be traveling with my mother who has a weak heart, I didn't want her to have to do much walking and she only requested beach chair on a beach for our excursions :) I am sure the boys will have fun no matter where they are.

For some reason, I have terrible travel anxiety.

As soon as I board, I go to the room and change into my bikini. I have to make sure that all the luggage has arrived, the extras I've ordered have arrived (water/booze), the excursions are booked correctly...then my husband will finally say, "can I get you a drink" which is code for "try to calm down now" :eek: he's a good soul. I imagine I'm quite a sight to see during this time. We head onto deck for the first drink while we explore the ship and people watch.

So, for our first cruise, I was petrified that one of us would be sick on the ship. I packed beef and chicken bouillon cubes "just in case" we couldn't keep food down, and we could ask for hot water and make broth. I had never been on a cruise before and had no idea what to expect. I have been on smaller boats before without troubles, but I didn't know how my husband or my son would do. Not that it takes up a bunch of room, but I will not be packing bouillon cubes again. I can pack another bathing suit instead :)

I know. That's why all my excursions will always be thru Carnival. I don't care to save money, I'll gladly pay more to make sure my butt is back on that ship when it sails :D

I hear that! We book through the ship too. I have much too much anxiety about not making it back to the ship. The extra money spent is worth it for a stress free excursion. :D

I made the mistake :D of getting a balcony for our first cruise, and now I don't want to cruise any other way! Although it's totally a good thing for us.

My favorite things about having a balcony are:

-being able to see the island come into view as the sun is rising

-having my first cup of coffee on my balcony watching the port activity/pilot boat (we have room service bring us a carafe) while in my pjs

-drinking a beer on the balcony after spending the day on the island while we move on to the next port

-watching the stars out on the balcony right before we turn in for the night

A balcony might not be for everybody, but for those who don't mind spending a little extra for sea breezes and a private area outdoors, it's worth it. My mom is cruising with us next month and just upgraded to a Jr suite with a larger balcony, so it's whatever floats your own boat. I wouldn't want an interior room.

Have fun!

I am so glad that you enjoyed the Valor. I am looking forward to our W. Caribbean on her in exactly 60 days and 6 hours :). I wish you could have enjoyed Costa Maya, however safety does come first.

We haven't been on a cruise since 2007 :eek: but my favorite 2015 memory was booking the next cruise. We had so much fun on our first one, and we always wanted to go on another, but we had some financial issues and nearly lost our house a few years ago making a trip impossible. I had wished for a 10 year anniversary cruise, and that's what I got. I was a little apprehensive booking Carnival due to old rumors, but I know that I will have as much fun as I want to have. I just need to get onboard with a fruity drink!

Me too!!! 64 days and counting! :)

That was hysterical! I love people who love to have fun like that.

Thank you everyone! I know Roatan was supposed to be pretty good diving, so we were pretty set on that one. It's just the second island. Toss up between Cozumel and Belize. I guess I have to ask the boys to decide since they are the ones who will be doing it. Thank you again for the help.

I am taking a cruise with my husband and son, who are both certified scuba divers (I am a beach bum ;)). We are on the Valor from 3/5-3/12 going to Cozumel, Belize, Mahoghany Bay (Roatan), and Costa Maya. I figure they can dive in 2 islands, so then we can have family fun in the other 2 islands. If anyone has experience in these islands, which 2 would you pick for the best diving? I am the "unofficial cruise director" for our trip :D and appreciate any help! Thanks!

Wash your hands and don't touch door handles (use your shirt if you must) and elevator buttons (use your shirt or knuckle). I keep a small sanitizer with me if I have to touch any commonly touched items, and I sanitize right away. Avoid touching your nose or face, in the event you've picked up the cold virus from something. I also take a super B complex at the first sign of getting sick. I have avoided being sick in over 5 years). Good luck!

Thanks, I keep telling myself that but I suffer with anxiety so this is making me worse.As long as we go somewhere and manage to board I'll be happy but as you say there Isn't anything I can do about it anyway.

I can totally empathize. I have mild anxiety too. I keep telling myself don't worry if I can't change it. My family knows my anxiety and just allows me to do what I have to do, and my DH offers me a drink ;).

The captain knows what he's doing, and they get better forecast data than we could as far as potential storm paths. Worst case scenario (my favorite way to calm down) you may have to skip a port. I say have an extra cocktail, try to relax, and most importantly...have fun! :)

Let us know how your trip went.

I have been on two cruises with ports cancelled due to weather, and one where a port was cancelled due to mechanical issues. The main thing to remember is that nothing is set in stone until the Captain says so, whether it be the weather, a port cancellation/rearrangement, etc. I once packed raincoats and jeans for a cruise of the weather report 3 days before departure for the cruise, and it ended up being 95-100 degrees, no clouds. I've also had it the opposite. I know they will do the best they can to make sure you hit all of your ports, even if it's not in the originally planned order. They do not want to cancel, a boat of upset passengers is not fun. But I know whatever happens, you will have a great cruise :D

Exactly! What kills me is that people will complain about a change of port when it is a change due to safety issues such as severe weather conditions or an inability to stop at a certain port. Relax, people! Have fun no matter where you are, and you won't be all bunged up when there's a change in port. This is coming from a person who is a bit of a planner, but I can have fun anywhere.

Although I am a rookie, my favorite part of the cruise is pulling into port. I wake up (I am an early riser) and open the balcony door while it's still dark, and watch the sun rise as the island comes into view. Slowly, you pull into port and you get to watch the pilot boat and the hustle and bustle of the port (cabs lining up, people getting into place for the tourists). I love watching the ship ease into the dock, because I get super excited about my plans for this day at this port. I am like a little kid on Christmas day. It happens again the next port day, and the next...

I hope that is something I will not lose as I go on more cruises, or as I get older. It's pure joy for me.

Thank you! We sail on the ole girl in March and I am so glad to see that she is not a dump. I look forward to seeing her in all her patriotic glory before she goes into drydock.

People just need to relax. It's like spending a week at the beach. You will get sand in places that you don't want it. You will see wear and tear on the buildings (it's wind whipped and hurricane beaten here in NC), but it's expected!!! I'm by no means a seasoned cruiser, but I had a blast on our first one on Princess.

I know we will have fun. I am cruising with my BFF from work and her sister (first time cruisers), my hubs, my son, and my mother. We make the fun, not expect it to land in our laps.

Best. Thread. Ever. :)

I love my pvp and never have had such a problem. But how about you just don't answer your phone? I never, ever pick mine up unless I know it is a personal call from a friend or family. It goes to voicemail and I can call back or not, my choice.

My PVP (who I have never booked with) still calls three times a week and leaves messages and then also sends emails too. I have yet to respond to any communication. It's now to the point of no return. I wouldn't book with her no matter what.

I bet the beer consumption on pool deck would increase if nachos were served....mine would :)

The first few cruises we went on, we shared a table with total strangers and really, it wasn't that bad. It was fun listening to some of the crazy things people got up to in port.

 

The last two cruises, however, we've had YTD, which we found just works better for us.

We only went to the dining room once on our first cruise--and we weren't seated with anyone, but the "port stories" sounds interesting! How about a port stories thread?!?!

Should be applied IN the cabin, 30 mins. prior to going in the sun, anyway. And, it's still supposed to be rubbed in....

Exactly. I always put lotion on first (SPF 50!), then put on my swimsuit. I never miss a spot when I apply it nude--I avoid those "stripes" you may have had from time to time. I need the spray for spots getting too much sun, and I am always careful when spraying, even at the beach. I also travel with a hat and long sleeved shirt and cotton pants. This Irish girl can't be too careful!

We had to fly to get to San Juan (go figure :eek:), and we flew in the day of the departure. I was frantic. First, it was my first cruise and I had no idea what I was doing or what to expect. Secondly, I get anxious traveling to destinations with a time crunch of any kind. We got transfers to the ship with about an hour or two before scheduled boarding. We had plenty of time to board since the ship didn't leave port until 11 pm (I think that is what saved me from totally going off the deep end).

For our second cruise in March, I think we are driving to Port Canaveral from NC (you bet that I will wake this family up super early to make it there with several hours to spare--my poor family). I just get too anxious. My DH knows it and once on ship his code for "how about you relax, darling" is the phrase, "can I get you a beer now?". :)

It's definitely 3/5/16 timeframe. We were booked on her for a cruise 3/5/16 and we were told we had to rebook on another ship because of the dry dock. Now, we are on Valor...and that is scheduled for dry dock next Spring too :confused: I hope we don't have to rebook again.