printingchick

Also, I think others have mentioned that longer cruises draw fewer children than longer cruises. Less than 7 days and you'll have a lot more kids than longer than 7-day cruises. REALLY long cruises and you'll be traveling primarilly with retirees, because many people can't take that much time off all at once.

In addition to time of year, you should consider the ship. My adult daughter and I recently cruised on Serenade of the Seas out of San Juan. We probably had fewer than a dozen young children on the ship. I understand that is pretty typical of that ship. I don't believe it's just because it goes out of San Juan, although that might discourage some families. I've heard that Adventure of the Seas, out of the same port, gets a lot more kids. I believe if you consider some of the older, smaller ships - the ones with fewer kid-friendly perks like the H2O Zone, ice skating, in-line skating and FlowRider - you'll see FAR fewer kids. I worried I'd miss all those bells and whistles, but I found the smaller, more intimate ship with fewer kid on board was FABULOUS! I can't wait to cruise on Serenade again!

Hey, if I could afford it, I'd go once a month!!!! My budget is the thing that restricts me to once a year!

I cruise almost exclusively during the winter months, because I live in horribly cold climate and need the escape. This is by no means scientific, but I've found the lowest winter prices for western Caribbean cruises tend to be around the last week in January. However, for the southern Caribbean, it's often the end of February through first week in March. I realize the latter goes against the spring break theory, however I doubt many spring breakers fly to San Juan to begin their vacation.

You pay only one set of port fees and taxes, so it's not exactly double the cost, but still...

I read on the CC News page that Norwegian designed it's new ships with some cabins designed specifically for singles. What a great idea!

Unfortunately, my preferred line is RCL and I can get discounts there due to using their credit card. I can get some discounts on Carnival as well, as I own stock in both companies.

I am a firm believer that if you didn't like a port then you just didn't do your homework and find the right thing for you.

 

Unless you got robbed at gunpoint during your port stop ;) there is really no real reason to skip ports. All countries have their own unique experiences. Someone that just steps off the ship in the port area (which is often not very attractive areas) and just says "I'm here. This is it. Now what?" is not going to have a very good time, no matter the port.

I agree 100%. I have so many Caribbean guide books. Amazon adores me!! Between book and on-line research, I'm familiar with every port I'm about to visit and what activities or sights would be of interest to me.

I also agree that, even if you do your homework, you can be pleasantly suprirsed by a port you expected to hate. It has happened to me twice.

Like LuckyPrincess, I tend to like more active excursions in the ports. (Although the older I get, the more I intersperse relaxing beach days into my plan!) I thought I'd hate Labadee. I wasn't going to pay $85 to do a zip line and there really were no other interesting activities. But we loved Labadee. It was quiet, relaxing and absolutely beautiful. It was a first stop and a nice way to EASE into our cruise.

For years, I avoided any cruise that visited Ochos Rios. Heard nothing but bad things about that port. Didn't have any interest in visiting. But I went there in January, because my traveling companion had an urge to climb Dunns River Falls, and we had a wonderful time. It was a beautiful place. We stayed in safe, touristy locations, but it ended up being my favorite port on the cruise!

Give every port a chance. Some may disappoint, but more may surprise you in a good way!!

I avoided visiting Ochos Rios for seven Caribbean cruises in a row. I'd heard so many negative things. In January, our cruise on Freedom of the Seas stopped there. We LOVED it. Yes, I can see why some people dislike it. However, we really loved climbing the falls and Margarittaville's was a hoot. We went down the pool slide several times!

I would not advise cruise lines to skip any port. As another poster said, we all have different tastes and sometimes you may discover you enjoy a port far more (or less) than you expected. We found we were not that impressed by Aruba, but I know it's a favorite to many.

Seeing a wide variety of ports is one of the big benefits of cruising.

If you own at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean or Carnival stock, you are entitled to on-board credits applied to your cabin when you cruise. (If you cruise with a group, only the cabins occupied by stockholders earn the OBC.)

On Royal Caribbean (including Celebrity), the OBC's are as follows:

• For sailings of 5 nights or shorter, the OBC is $50
  
• For sailings of 6-9 nights, the OBC is $100
  
• For sailings of 10-13 nights, the OBC is $200
  
• For sailings of 14 nights or longer, the OBC is $250
  

On Carnival (including Princess, Cunard, Costa and Holland America), the OBC program is similar.

• For sailings of 6 nights or shorter, the OBC is $50
  
• For sailings of 7-13 nights, the OBC is $100
  
• For sailings of 14 nights or longer, the OBC is $250
  

The down-side is that these stock-holder benefits, at least on Royal Caribbean, can no longer be combined with benefits such as loyalty status discounts or early-booking (NextCruise) discounts. They can, however, be combined with the Royal Caribbean Credit Card points.

I own stock in both companies, but have not cruised with Carnival recently, so I'm not sure about the rules they have on combining benefits.

There is another thread on this topic, started by a tour guide. You clearly know his stance on the tipping question.

At the risk of being blasted, I ONLY tip if I consider the guide to have gone above and beyond. It's not like going to a restaurant, where your BILL covers the food and your TIP covers the service. I consider it more like the purchase of any other service. Do you tip your veterinarian for your dog's rabies shot? Do you tip your exterminator for spraying for bugs? Do you tip your carpet cleaner for doing his job? No, you simply pay for the service that was provided.

Maybe if my vet made a house call, my exterminator came after hours for my convenience or my carpet cleaner got that stain out of my couch while he was there ... well, yeah, that's above and beyond.

In a restaurant, I realize that my bill is for my FOOD and my tip is for my SERVICE. When I pay for a tour - something with is pretty much all service - I would expect the salary of the tour guide to be included in the cost. That is how most service purchases work. We don't tip our physician, carpet cleaner, exterminator, etc. We pay for their services - period. A tip therefore is above and beyond, and should be necessary only if I believe the guide provided exceptional service.

I suspect a lot of people feel this way.

On Royal Caribbean it's called "MyTime Dining", but they have open seating on nearly all cruise ships now. You go any time between 6:00-9:30 and are seated just as you would be at a restaurant. I prefer to fit my meals around my activities, rather than be locked into a specific dining time every night.

I hate to say it because I'm sure I'll get flamed...But I have no intentions on ever going to Alaska...or anywhere else on vacation where the temp is below 80 degrees.

No flames here. I have heard the Alaska cruises are gorgeous, but to me, a cruise means wearing a bathing suit and drinking a tropical cocktail.

NEWER ships are better and they just happen to be larger.

I enjoyed all my cruises on Carnival, but have to admit that the condition of some of the smaller (older) ships was sometimes pretty bad. Torn up carpeting on the mini-golf course, burnt orange decor in the cabins, sewer smell in the lower decks. I would opt for either a newer ship or one that was recently overhauled. I understand the Fantasy class ships were recently gutted and redone and are very nice now.

If it is an older Carnival ship and it has not recently had a MAJOR dry-dock, steer clear.

On that note, my first cruise on Royal Caribbean was on an older ship and it seemed brand new. RCL cruises tend to be a little more expensive, but their fleet seems to be better maintained.

My last cruise on Royal was on Freedom of the Seas (biggest until their new Oasis launches) and I found it really too big for my taste. I prefer the ships that were the biggest and best ten years ago, when 3,000-3,500 passengers seemed enormous!

Royal Caribbean Freedom Class ships have fresh water pools.

Wow...you're right! It's ONLY a cruise ship phenomenon!

I saw the thread about buffet etiquette; what about elevator etiquteet? We were so annoyed on our recent Freedom of the Seas cruise by people who would force themselves into over-crowded elevators, without allowing passengers trying to get OUT of the elevator to exit first. Out before in - right??

Got this from someone on my meet & mingle boards:

"Where the Boat Leaves From" by Zac Brown Band

The lyrics are awesome!!

Makes me smile every time!

While cruising on the Freedom of the Seas, we were considering one of the clear kayak excursions (either through ShoreTrips or Royal Caribbean) for our Cozumel day. We both love kayaking and a clear kayak seemed like a cool idea. Upon doing some research, I learned that all of these excursions took passengers to the same location - Playa Uvas. I found it was less expensive and just a easy to book directly with the resort. They have a large number of packages available at a variety of prices, depending on what activities you want to do there. We were able to customize our day, which was great.

We booked the package that included lunch, open bar and the kayaking.

The taxi ride was short - maybe 10 minutes - and cost only US$10 each way per trip (not per person). When we arrived, Carmin greated us by name! How did she know who we were?? She gave us a brief tour and introduced us to Onassis, who she said would be taking care of us during our stay. Did he ever! The service was just as terrific as the royal treatment we were getting on the ship. Onassis ran to our beach chairs every time we seemed as though we MIGHT need something. The drinks were great and the frajitas were amazing! Best we've had!

We did the clear kayak trip and then did a little snorkeling on our own. We had brought along our own snorkeling gear.

The resort is lovely, the service is incredible, the food and drinks are top notch! We didn't get massages, nor did we take advantage of the pool. You can check out photos of the resort on-line at their website.

I recommend water shoes if you want to swim as it's a rocky beach. That does make for lots of interesting coral formations and fish, however, if you snorkel or go out in the clear kayaks.

The resort is smaller than I had anticipated, but I understand they limit the number of guests they accept per day. Be sure to make reservations. We were not required to pay in advance. We arrived early and got great chairs right by the water.

We had a wonderful day and would defininately consider returning on another visit.

Just got off the Freedom of the Seas and, yes, loved Richard Spacey. But MY favorite, and my BF's fave as well, is absolutely, without question, Mike Szwajkowski of Adventure of the Seas. He's as energetic as Spacey, but seems more genuine. We absolutely loved him and are seriously considering booking next year (2010) on AOS to sail with him again. (Unfortunately, Captain Tommy has changed ships! Darn!)

THE BEST!

Don't know where Spacey is going now. He reported during the farewell show on FOS that he was leaving the ship. He didn't report if he was changing ships or leave RCI. It's a MYSTERY!

What is life without cruising? I would rather have surgery than go camping. No airport hassle, no unpacking and repacking, no fighting with the kids as to where to eat, etc. Works for us and has for 30 years!!!

Ha..ha! I have to agree. I'd take surgery over camping! A trip to the dentist would be a tough call, however.

I used to cruise with my best friend. When I met my boyfriend a few years ago, I worried he might not like cruising. What if he didn't? Would I force him to go along? Would I cruise without hiim? Giving up cruising certainly was NOT an option.

Luckily, he was equally hooked after his first cruise! We're taking our third cruise this weekend. We will book our 2010 cruise while on our 2009 cruise! We're cruise junkies...just like the rest of you!

Over the course of my cruise obsession to date, I have brought along a total of seven different friends and family members at various times. (Never been more than four of us together on one cruise.) ALL have cruised again or intend to cruise again. Only one had a negative experience.

That friend is a business executive whose income FAR exceeds my own. She likes luxury vacations with the freedom to control her time. She despises standing in lines. She didn't like planning excursions in advance and having to meet at a certain place at a certain time...after standing in line to disembark. She's an "all inclusive" resort fan. Cruising was to "Disney World" for her.

Like I said, everyone else I've introduced to cruising LOVED it. I read that something like 75-85% of first time cruisers will cruise again. My experience seems to bear that out.

Ahh...the announcement chime. Wouldn't it be great to have that as a ring tone?

Among the things others have already mentioned, for me the start of the cruise means the END of my diet!! I go on Weight Watchers for the 4-6 months before each cruise to (A) fit into the bikini and (B) give myself room to SPLURGE on cruise food!!!

5 more days and I'll be cruisin'!

Aside from the more obvious:

1) Variety of medicines, just in case!

2) Outlet extender. (most cabins have only ONE single outlet and you'll have camera chargers, hair appliances, Ipod chargers, phone chargers, etc.)

3) Sunglasses

4) Snorkel gear

5) Extra camera, memory card, chargers

I agree with the general sentiment expressed here. A cruise is an all-inclusive resort at sea. Royal Caribbean has become my favorite cruise line, but it does annoy me that they nickel-and-dime their passengers to death. We walked through the Johnny Rockets on our last cruise, but couldn't see paying extra. (We may try it this time, as I expect we'll get some coupons as previous cruisers.)

I voted for priority departing at specific ports, because I can see that being advantageous at times. One of our favorite ports is St. Thomas because we like to ferry to St. John. The earlier we can get off ship, the sooner we can get to St. John. Also, if I book an independent shore excursion, particularly at a tender port, I'd like the option to buy my way onto an earlier tender to avoid the stress of possibly missing my excursion. Since independent excursions are typically less costly than cruise line excursions, it would probably balance out price-wise.

Like others have remarked here, I never buy the Ben & Jerry's ice cream or eat in the fee-based restaurants. Food is included in my cruise cost; why would I pay extra by choice??