going2cruz

Your first cruise. Congratulations and have fun. Best suggestion is to read these boards, and get active on your roll call for your particular cruise. Get some excursions planned with your roll call that are independent from the cruise line.

 

Eat at least once in a specialty restaurant. It's just part of the cruise experience, even though there is an up charge.

 

On board, don't waste your time with the lectures and talks on the ports of call shopping. It's well known that certain stores pay the cruise lines to tout them. You can get better deals often in the non-advertised stores and that's exactly where I do my own shopping. Honestly we don't cruise to shop - and when we do it's at local stores for local handcrafted items.

 

If your ship has Bistro on Five, that's a great lunch on embarkation day. The buffet gets very crowded - Bistro is not, and is a much more relaxing atmosphere for when you first get on board. $5 charge pp and you can get as much as you want.

 

Most of all, try not to learn everything you can. There will be nothing like that first step onto a new ship and everywhere you turn something to discover. You've picked a great line to sail on. Our first was Celebrity as well, and that's all we've ever sailed.

Sorry new here, what's the up charge for Blu, this sounds like more of the food DW and I go for.

We were on board before noon. You can board and then leave the ship to explore Old San Juan. You have to be back on board by 8:30. First night dinning is open seating served from 6 to 9. Muster will be approx 9:30.

Was wondering what time the drill was.....Thanks!!

DH and I have cruised the Caribbean since 1994 from mostly October-March and it's hot no matter when you go. In all of our 30 cruises, there was one 7-day W. Caribbean NCL cruise out of Charleston,SC the week of Christmas that I will admit was cool for about half the week. But we certainly never needed gloves or a hat. Really? On one HAL cruise in January, the water was very cold on Half Moon Cay, but the air was hot. Go figure. So, 2 out of 30 are pretty bad odds for Caribbean weather going to be cold enough for gloves and a hat.

That’s what I figured...thanks for reassurance!!!

Jacket in November in the caribbean.....yikes I would have never of thought that..........guess I'll find out in a little over week......

YET......another "Cayhill" must be some how involved bright idea!!!!

The winter cruises are cheaper for a reason. If you don’t care that much for the open deck and warm weather it may be worth it. I know from talking to most people in this area that have done it not many have repeated the winter cruises. It’s also a time of the year when the Bahamas can be cool too.......just my 2 cents.....

If your in a hurry to make donation somewhere I can send you my PO Box#:D

I have been working with the same person at carnival for 10 years and they are very knowledgable and have many contacts up the latter. He had me on hold for quite some time before he came back to tell me that the list is not disclosed. He said book the cabins and IF it does pop (because we don't know if she is really on the list) he can deal with it at that point.

 

I agree that if they see 5 cabins booked and it was a minor offensive (or just a warning) they will probably allow the bookings.

 

I emailed my friend this morning to see if he booked but no response yet. I'll keep everyone updated.

Good luck...hope it works out for ya's....

Enjoying the review....that pool and pool bar at Sancho's is bringing back a lot of memories.....

WOW ...that was a great way to start my day....great job!!!!!

We had the opposite experience. Sailed on The Pride on 4/14/13. We were told not to bring our life jackets, my daughter was extremely disappointed that she couldn't wear hers! :D Our drill was one of the shortest that I've experienced. They also never gave our children their muster station bracelets. We had to go to the desk to get them.

Same here on our last cruise.....

Great review...felt like I was there with ya's............

Guess I'll have to stay on the look out for them.........

ok, I'll try this again-

 

being chased by a baracuda!

Nice to see Jake again!!!

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Awsome shot!!!

If I apply today, get a card next week can I use the credits for a cruise already booked with final payment due in January 09.

I read that they have Fish & Chips and I'm wondering if there's a Sea View Cafe on the Liberty.

We were on the Liberty in January. We have two little ones who wanted to spend all their time at the H2O zone.

 

Here's what we experienced:

• We found it difficult to find a table only one day (1st day at sea) and it was at breakfast. At times the buffet area was "crowded", but there were so many stations, we just walked to another and didn't have to wait.
  
• We used the elevators often and found the wait time manageable. We did have longer waits after performances let out and in the morning trying to get off the ship. Other than that, it really wasn't that bad.
  
• We loved the ice show. It was fantastic. Make sure to get tickets and to get to the show early to get good seats.
  
• We found the ship to be easy to navigate. The layout was sensible and I think we got turned around only once.
  
• The Pub was a disappointment. It is very small. I'm a cider drinker and they have it on the menu. However, when I asked the waitress, she said they don't carry it. I was bummed!
  
• Our cruise was very international. There were a ton of foreigners. I'd say I heard more foreign languages than English. It was really cool! I found it fascinating seeing two people whose first language is not English conversing with one another (i.e. a Russian gentleman speaking to a French waiter in English). I loved that my kids were exposed to different languages.
  
• The ship has some really neat places and activities for teens. Let me just say that I saw teens and tweens here and there, but I think they prefered hanging out with friends and the arcade.
  
• Our table for dinner was in the side section off the main dining room. It was quiet, we had excellent service, and we could go in and out with out having to go through the main dining hall.

Overall, we had a fabulous time. Our kids ask us almost everyday when we are going back on the ship.

 

Have a super time!

How do you get the tickets for the ice show?

bring back the live bands & lobster MDR....

free robes ........why should I have to pay to use a robe.