ekajun1957

One thing I was going to suggest is make sure he tries snorkeling, as I will guarantee one or both will love it. You seemed to have picked a good spot for that. Know you may not have been asking but in Cozumel we do Nachi Cocom. With cab and all is like $75 per person.

Appetizer, soup or salad, entrée, and dessert. That's the four. If he is not into actual Mexican they always have a grouper fillet that is "Yucatan style" which has been very good the couple times we have been. There is a grilled shrimp which is not truly Mexican, sure he could find something.

Be careful with some hotels as they will shuttle you to the port but not pick you up after as that is time consuming for them.

Another alternative is here: http://www.machupicchutours.com/cruise-ship-parking Know there tour business is great and have heard good things about their parking package. $14 a day.

Fulton street lot is a good service, you unload bags and they shuttle you both ways, short quick ride.

It appears that the Dream goes into dry dock January 29th 2017. Look on their schedule no cruise for that week and the next and rumors are its that date also. So pretty likely. And yes it seems pretty public now it has propulsion issues but only affects the Grand Cayman / Cozumel portion of those itineraries.

They have the snorkeling equipment and the snorkeling is great there. As is the view and all.

Being you near Bayonne and New York we did the Canada cruise and loved it, especially being from the south was great change for us. Loved Bar Harbor also.

The one cruise we did that is really NOT about the Ship is the Pride of America that circles Hawaii. Was really about the stops on each island. Ship was fine but the time off ship was amazing at each stop. Of course the one draw back is the cost of the flight to get there but I had air miles so we were able to avoid that.

Here is a link to all port schedules

http://ports.cruisett.com/

Agreed but I'd definitely add the Dream. Beautiful ship and always a treat to sail out of New Orleans.

Dream is due for dry dock in February so although we are going in December might be good to wait until after dry dock if you have this in mine and can wait. Before someone asks or comments we are doing Dream in December because we live right outside New Orleans so that port and date are a bargain for us. Plus I really like the Dream.

You asked what are "must do's" and I would say 1. A beach day, preferably all inclusive, every trip I must have one relaxing beach day, so Little French Key in Roatan or Nachi Cocom in Cozumel are our favorites but you may want more excitement 2. Ruins somewhere, do research and pick what you think best fits you 3. An upbeat excursion in Cozumel, pub crawl, Amazing Race, city tour, Money Bar. 4. Reef Snorkeling trip at one of the three locations, many good tours in each spot. Can even combine with the beach day. 5. Some say cave tubing, never did that one yet.

There are more and obviously can't get all must do's done in one trip, but know we all have different likes so "must do" for me and you and anyone else is different.

We have been to Nachi Cocom and really like it. Never did their snorkeling as usually snorkel at another port and did a great snorkel trip in Cozumel before. Their snorkel is advertised as being a glass bottom boat, 90 minutes, NEW snorkel, and they go to Palancar Reef, 8 people per trip. $38 plus $2 park fee. That's bit high as one snorkel outfit in Cozumel is $45 for 3 stops.

Which makes the price for AI and snorkel $95.

Hard to find that perfect combination of things.

BUT I find Nachi Cocom near perfect because of the nice quiet atmosphere, limited number of people, food good, service good. Makes for a great last stop on our previous and next cruise.

Check out the The Amazing Cozumel Race and The Original Salsa and Salsa, have heard good about both, see if either is to your taste, just things kinda unique to Cozumel and not just a beach day.

When you starting brand new sorting through it all is difficult. One piece of advice is you could google for cruise discount web sites and some have very sortable pages so you can see list of cruises very quickly sorted by ports, cruise line, date, destinations and other criteria.

Like earlier someone mentioned Carnival Dream which is no longer where they said but sails out of New Orleans.

Also right now I would not recommend the Dream this December or January for a first cruise as it heads for dry dock in February. The other choice out of New Orleans is 5 day and just Cozumel and Progreso. Not what I would recommend for first cruise with young kids given the choices out of other ports if you are flying anyway.

BUT other than those reasons above I think New Orleans is other wise great, especially since it is less than an half hour from my house.

I was told that the room list on some cruise lines does exist. Don't remember which one it was but a manager/friend told me of it. It is there so that the steward can extend the courtesy of a thank those who tip by prepay as well as those who tip in cash and especially to those who do both.

This friend has worked for three different cruise lines so don't remember which one he referred to at the time.

Has anyone done the guided snorkel trip? How was it? Where is the best place to head when you first get there to put your stuff if you want some shade? Where is your favorite place to sit?

 

Thanks for any info!

Where to sit is really a matter of preference, so many spots with each a little different.

The reef they go out to is beautiful, and its been couple years but our guides both times were great and equipment the same most good places use. It is a very short ride.

We been twice and first time we did not pay the extra for snorkeling and when the owner came over he said he noticed that we did not use a lot of the equipment and that my wife really used none just swam.

Asked if we might be interested in snorkeling and said we were deciding whether to pay extra there and go and he called the guy over and had him take us out for free, three of us went and wife stayed back and he brought her a free drink while we were gone.

So next time we included the snorkeling with the package.

Plan to go back in December on our next cruise there.

I do know someone who supports the belief that prepaying yields better service. He contends that the staff get the list and that statistically those who prepay are more likely to increase the amount at the end or give them an additional cash tip either at beginning or end thus resulting in the staff giving better service to achieve the additional tip.

Don't know if his belief has any basis in fact.

If you google "New Orleans Cruise Hotel Shuttle package" you can find them.

One warning, make sure it is drop off and pick up. There are many that if you stay the night before they will drop you off at the port but pick up on return is not included in the package.

I live in the New Orleans area and Machu Picchu mentioned by someone else has a very good reputation. I have not used them for port transportation though.

If you google "New Orleans Cruise Hotel shuttle package" there will come up with some hotels that do provide shuttle service as part of a package but be sure to call and confirm that. Also many offer to take you to the port the morning after your stay but will not pick you up on return. Some are not "in" New Orleans but on outskirts so check that too.

My advice would be contact Victor Bodden tours and see what they can set up for you. You don't mention if you are going to be alone when in Roatan which if you with others price per person goes down with Bodden.

http://www.boddentours.com/

Don't know if it makes a difference but the Dream out of New Orleans goes to dry dock before next summer so it "should" have the new upgrades and be spiffed up a bit. We have sailed out of New Orleans because we live close by and have both parked and been dropped off and find going and returning quite easy. But let me say we have done a few cruises other than New Orleans and never can say we have had a embarkation or debarkation worth complaining about.

A lot of people don't put Cozumel on their list of favorites but if going with a varied group it does offer choices for everyone if you don't plan on everyone doing the same excursion.

Also each port usually has some real good place to go if you do some research. The ships do go there for a reason.

For instance I am not a huge fan of Cozumel as a whole but have found couple great things to do for one day when on a cruise. Primarily Nachi Cocom. never had bad experience there. Love it.

Also seen where one poster didn't care for Roatan as it has no private beaches but it has Little French Key which is a small private island with plenty beach space.

So yes deciding where, when, and what ship is difficult.

I look at it this way, all the ships, ports and itineraries keep us cruisers coming back time after time so none are really bad or they would fix it.

Are you joking? What a condescending remark. The OP didn't mention a "handout" nor complain about not getting one. It is the cruise line responsibility to provide clean bedding. It is a reasonable expectation. One should not have to be the health inspector when boarding. Stained sheets is downright disgusting. The room steward should be put off at the next port.

WAIT!! the person who made the point about the handout was talking about the viewpoint the desk services person may have had. Think about this from the clerks perspective, you come 3 days into a cruise and say you have found body fluid stains???? What is more likely? The sheets never got changed between cruises?? The person complaining or the suite mate caused them? This is someone who caused this on purpose hoping for a "handout"??.

PLUS let's put this into further perspective. The stewards biggest income comes from the tips. Do you think they intentionally and routinely skip changing sheets and risk losing a tip or two or three or ten? Do you know how difficult and important it is for them to get that job? Do you think they intentionally risk it by skipping changing sheets?

I will assume most people on here are from the US and may have lost sight of the fact that whole families are depending on that one person who is cleaning your room for their support.

Condemning a whole cruise line for that single incident is ridiculous. And the thing about seeing people cleaning, ever think that they try to clean when you don't see them to avoid invading into your nice relaxed vacation? DUH!

You have a balcony this time. Do you like wine? You know you and your mom can each bring a bottle in your carry on. So wine and a balcony and maybe either daughter off with your mom or at kids activity, it's balcony , book, and a glass or two. I think taking advantage of the balcony may help you. Get some fruit and cheese during buffet time or go get a snack and retreat to the balcony. Wake early to see ship arrive into port and get back early to ship and watch for the last people getting back. Watch as ship leaves. All from your own nice quiet spot.

I was wondering if anyone can tell me if they sell Carnival labelled little chocolates in the shops on the Dream? Going in December and thought would try to buy the chocolates and give to our steward to put on pillows each night for our group. Just an idea.

They do have a 15% charge if you use credit card at Nachi Cocom. I

Have been to Little French Key twice and was very pleased both times. If you worried about bad reviews go check Tripadvisor and see LFK gets some top reviews. Spring break and certain other times of year are tough on any spot geared to less than huge crowds so kind of take that into account regardless of where you pick. Many things depend on time of year. Part of reason we very careful to pick when we cruise to the Caribbean.

Yes , need to know what you have in mind, Coz has lots to offer. Beach, shopping, partying, snorkel, fish. Give us an idea to start with