Just returned from first cruise and have questions

[ESfromaustin]

Just got back from 7 day Western Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Conquest and have mixed feelings on cruising and need some help. The ship seemed very nice and the service was very good. Our first problem was that our cabin was almost unbearable due to the overwhelming smoke smell. Although our steward worked hard to alleviate the smell, it never really went away. Should we have tried to do more to fix this? The other very negative experience was the loading and unloading at Cayman and Cozumel. We waited in line more than an hour and a half to get off the ship and what made it worse was that folks would break in line and there was no one there to prevent this. Then people had to wait in a 2 hour line to reboard at Cayman. The Celebrity and Costa (?) lines moved quickly and efficiently. I felt like Carnival did not care about us at all. So these two things really tainted our whole trip. Also, I heard that many times Carnival skips the Cayman port. I would have been very angry. Is this typical of Carnival or all other lines? Cruising may not be for us, but it is hard to know since we just have this one experience. thanks!

[CALMOM]

Sorry, you felt your first cruise wasn't what you had expected. My first cruise, was the cruise I will remember forever. Was it the most perfect cruise, no but it was so exciting, not knowing what to expect.

 

The cruise lines usually do everything in their power to clean the cabins of smoke smell and to be honest, very few non-smokers really complain because the usually do an incredible job. If the smell of smoke bothers you that much then, I would not of suggested sailing on Carnival, as they do allow smoking in the cabins & balconies. The only cruise line that I know that does not allow smoking in cabins or balconies is Celebrity. There are some of the very expensive cruise lines that do not allow smoking in the cabins or balconies also but couldn't tell you which ones, they are out of my price range.

 

As far, as disembarking the ship when you go into port, well it usually goes smooth but it depends on how many are on the ship and how many have early excursions. If you do not have excursions, then I would suggest you relax on the ship until the line goes down. I would suggest in order to avoid long lines to return to the ship, then return a few hours early, as the last minute passengers are trying to enjoy, as much time as they can, in port.

 

I really can't imagine a little smoke smell in your cabin, which you shouldn't of been in your cabin that much anyways and a long line for one port would discourage you from cruising again. However, if you are that critical about the small things, then possibly cruising is not for you. I would suggest trying it again but maybe on Celebrity Cruise Line.

[FINTUCKYFARMS]

Just got back from 7 day Western Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Conquest and have mixed feelings on cruising and need some help. The ship seemed very nice and the service was very good. Our first problem was that our cabin was almost unbearable due to the overwhelming smoke smell. Although our steward worked hard to alleviate the smell, it never really went away. Should we have tried to do more to fix this? The other very negative experience was the loading and unloading at Cayman and Cozumel. We waited in line more than an hour and a half to get off the ship and what made it worse was that folks would break in line and there was no one there to prevent this. Then people had to wait in a 2 hour line to reboard at Cayman. The Celebrity and Costa (?) lines moved quickly and efficiently. I felt like Carnival did not care about us at all. So these two things really tainted our whole trip. Also, I heard that many times Carnival skips the Cayman port. I would have been very angry. Is this typical of Carnival or all other lines? Cruising may not be for us, but it is hard to know since we just have this one experience. thanks!

I also suffer from the smoke smell, I am actually alergic to it. This last cruise on the FOS was the worst. I have since learned that on some lines, there is a designated side of the ship that allows smoking. I have also learned to check the deck plans very carefully and not get a room above or behind any designated smoking areas and that keeps the smoke out of the room. I didn't really have any issues on the HAL except when I wondered into a smoking area by accident as I was learning the ship and of course the casino's. Even on smoke free days it still smells and gives me reactions. Here's to the first brave cruise line that goes smoke free!

 

The lines were long, try Alaska next time they are not so bad.

 

I believe they only skip Cayman in bad weather when they would be unable to tender in.

[ESfromaustin]

Thanks for the reply. We usually aren't that sensitive to smells, my mom and dad smoked when I was a child, but the smell was truly overwhelming. We had all of the bedding changed and had a Glade plug in which helped, but the smell still lingered. For Cayman, we returned 2 hours prior to departure and still had to wait for almost 2 hours and there were 100's behind us. The line snaked 8 times. I couldn't understand why the line wasn't moving and there were 4 tenders waiting to load. Also, we did have plans at every port, so we wanted to get off as soon as possible to enjoy the port, fully. I guess we should try another line. We did enjoy the food and entertainment.

[karinad]

Just got back from 7 day Western Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Conquest and have mixed feelings on cruising and need some help. The ship seemed very nice and the service was very good. Our first problem was that our cabin was almost unbearable due to the overwhelming smoke smell. Although our steward worked hard to alleviate the smell, it never really went away. Should we have tried to do more to fix this? The other very negative experience was the loading and unloading at Cayman and Cozumel. We waited in line more than an hour and a half to get off the ship and what made it worse was that folks would break in line and there was no one there to prevent this. Then people had to wait in a 2 hour line to reboard at Cayman. The Celebrity and Costa (?) lines moved quickly and efficiently. I felt like Carnival did not care about us at all. So these two things really tainted our whole trip. Also, I heard that many times Carnival skips the Cayman port. I would have been very angry. Is this typical of Carnival or all other lines? Cruising may not be for us, but it is hard to know since we just have this one experience. thanks!

I know that the smell of smoke in our cabin would've of made us sick. When you're not used to the smell, it is really disgusting! It bothered us to just pass through the "smoking" side of the ship on our last cruise. At least we had the choice to go on the other side.

 

We always avoid the lines by not going first thing, but that's just us. I hope your next cruise is better. Maybe try a less crowded ship.

[broberts]

Did you talk to the front desk (purser) about the smoke problem in your cabin?

 

I'm surprised that the smell was so bad. Was it because of people in surrounding cabins were smoking?

 

Carnival misses Grand Cayman with the same frequency as other lines. Because it's a tender port the weather and sea conditions (not necessarily the same thing) may make tendering too dangerous. So ships have to skip the port.

 

If you are going to get upset by a missed port you may as well stop cruising right now. While it's not common, missed ports and re-arranged itineraries do happen with some frequency. Anything from a medical emergency to a hurricane can be the culprit.

 

If you want to get off the ship first thing either book an early ship excursion or expect a long wait in line. There are typically more than 2,000 people who want to get off, you have to expect this to take some time. Especially given the fact that each person has to swipe their key card. If I haven't booked an early excursion I generally have a nice leisurely breakfast before I even bother to try debarking.

 

The tendering process is by its nature slow. The fact that you saw several tenders apparently going nowhere may be because things were backed up getting aboard the ship - like a ground stop when flying. They generally don't like tenders to wait just off the ship - it's much more dangerous than waiting at the pier. At tender ports I try to be back aboard at least 1 1/2 hours before the "be aboard by" time.

 

Getting back aboard if docked can also be quite slow if you wait too long. I generally try to be back aboard about an hour before the "be aboard by" time. If you leave it much later than that then you are going to be joining the other 1,000 or so passengers that decided wait till the "last minute" to board.

 

I too have experienced the extreme rudeness of fellow passengers when waiting in line. (I recall one incident in Nassau waiting for the tram that runs between the ship and cruise terminal. My 80 year old father who was attempting to board the tram was actually pushed out of the way by someone, much younger, who wanted to get his seat.) Passengers are adults they shouldn't need the cruise line to provide prefects to police lines.

 

You noted that Celebrity and Costa "lines" seemed to move faster. There are many reasons this could be. Both Cost and Celebrity mostly sail smaller ships than Conquest, i.e. less passengers, although Celebrity's Solstice class is about the same size. The ship "be aboard by" times may well have been different. I'm not trying to excuse Carnival's actions or your experience, simply trying to suggest possible reasons for the experience.

[paul929207]

Royal and Celebrity do not allow smoking in cabins.

 

When tendering with Princess, passengers who do not have a ship tour and are not either Elite in their Captain's Circle or in a suite, have to get a ticket for the tender. These people are accommodated as space allows. It can take 60-90 minutes to get thru the initial rush, but at least you don't have to stand in line the whole time.

 

Getting back on can be a problem, especially with today large ships.

[CaptData]

One of the things I have learned over the years is Grand Cayman and other tender ports can bring out the worst in people. I use a scooter so it takes time for me to get on and off tenders (even when I use canes on good days). As above if you show up an hour before the last boat back you usually do not have the super long line ups.

 

At these ports it is sometimes best to use cruise lines tours as they reserve space for you and you do not wait as long. If you do a private tour try to get in line forthe ticket for the boats early (ask your Room Steward when and where and get ther very early). Once you have a ticket show up for your ride. Ensure that your private tour gets you back before ev eryone else and you won't have problems (ie ships tour will be back at 4 pm get back by 3:45 and you will not be in the crush.

[Krazy Kruizers]

hAL has special machines that they use to eliminate smoke in the cabins.

 

As for Grand Cayman -- if the weather is bad there, the cruise lines will skip that port.

 

We have also had bad times with tenders and long lines in Grand Cayman as well as a few other ports.

 

Sorry you had a bad experience on your first cruise.

[uppitycats]

I'm sorry your first cruise went badly.

 

All cruise ships miss ports from time to time, so if there is a particular port you really want to see and will be sorely disappointed if you don't, then you need to plan to go there directly and not depend on a cruise ship to get you there.

 

As for the lines, people are rude a lot of the time. Since they're adults, and not in school, cruise personnel aren't "line police" and won't do a lot to change their obnoxious behavior. Having to tender back to the ship, I'd probably not wait until the last tender of the day when all the folks are wanting to come back at the same time.

 

I'm sorry they couldn't seem to resolve the smoke smell to your satisfaction. Were you right above a public smoking area, and that smoke was drifting into your room, perhaps?

[BroncosFan2010]

Before you completely give up on cruising, I suggest trying another cruise line. Some people, myself included, are not big fans of Carinival. They may be the cheapest, but you will pay in other ways, like smoking in cabins, and poor service. I suggest Celebrity or Princess, even Royal Caribbean, just so you can experience something different and then decide if cruising is for you.

[MrsPete]

Before you completely give up on cruising, I suggest trying another cruise line. Some people, myself included, are not big fans of Carinival. They may be the cheapest, but you will pay in other ways, like smoking in cabins, and poor service. I suggest Celebrity or Princess, even Royal Caribbean, just so you can experience something different and then decide if cruising is for you.

I suspect quite a few of us were thinking the same thing. I'm sure that someone will insist we're being snobs and that Carnival is wonderful and we should all give them a chance, but I've read enough negative things -- very specific negative things -- over and over from enough posters to decide that I'm not interested in sailing with Carnival.

 

The real upshot is that they don't really seem to be cheaper. At least, they're not cheaper if you're comparing their newest, nicest ships to other line's newest, nicest ships . . . their prices are very, very close to Royal Caribbean and Princess' prices. In fact, for our upcoming cruise I did compare their prices . . . and Liberty of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) is significantly cheaper than Carnival's Dream (about $400/person cheaper). Now, if you compare one of Carnival's older, smaller ships to Liberty of the Seas, you WILL find a lower price . . . but it's also for a lesser ship with fewer amenities.

As for the lines, people are rude a lot of the time. Since they're adults, and not in school, cruise personnel aren't "line police" and won't do a lot to change their obnoxious behavior. Having to tender back to the ship, I'd probably not wait until the last tender of the day when all the folks are wanting to come back at the same time.

I can't say that I've experienced two-hour lines trying to get on/off the ship. In fact, I can't say I've ever waited even 30 minutes. My experience on Disney and Royal Caribbean has been that the halls are very full of people waiting to disembark, but once they open the doors, the line moves fast.

 

One way to avoid this is to purposefully try to come/go at times when other people aren't coming/going. If they say that you can disembark at 9:00 and you show up at 9:00, you're going to be behind a whole crowd of people. If you show up at 8:30, you'll be at the front of the line and will zoom through quickly. Also, be aware that a big ship usually has multiple doors operating at the same time. The majority of the passengers tend to congregate mid-ship . . . so if you go to the far front or back, you'll encounter smaller crowds.

 

People can be so rude about lines; some seem to feel that they're more priviledged than others, and they have a right to push and shove. You wanna get off the ship first? Get up earlier and get in line before me; if you're there first, I don't have any room to complain. After all, if we're in that scenerio, I had the option to get in line earlier, but I chose to sleep a little longer or to linger at breakfast. The worst I've seen lately was a travel group called Elder Hostel (they were all wearing badges around their necks, so I knew where they were from). They were so obnoxious that I looked them up online when I returned home and wrote them an email. The company didn't respond.

[Happy ks]

The smoking issue is pretty much the luck of the draw. I know since RCI banned cigarette smoking in their cabins, it's now a lot more pleasant than it used to be, but people can still smoke on balconies. We don't make remarks to people who do, they are within their rights, but it is certainly a problem for those of us with sensitivity to smoke (perfume is also an issue for me). The problem doesn't stop at just an annoying smell, the fumes actually make me ill for days on end.

 

Disembarking at a tender port is always lengthy. We usually just wait until the majority of people have disembarked, usually an hour or two after the posted time.

 

Like others have stated, a missed port is a drag, but if it is a tender port you must understand it is a safety issue. I've had to board a ship from a tender in rough waters, I pulled a muscle in my hip that took months to heal. People here on CC will state the ocean looks smooth, but believe the Captain when they make that call. Reading through cruise contracts is interesting (but boring) and they state they are not obliged (my words) to stop at every port on the itinerary and there is no compensation other than what the ship decides to provide. All you are really guaranteed is a ride on the ship and food.

 

While we love to cruise, we understand it's not for everyone. You might try another line, possibly a smaller ship or a different area rather than they typical crowded Caribbean cruise.

[MrsPete]

The smoking issue is pretty much the luck of the draw. I know since RCI banned cigarette smoking in their cabins, it's now a lot more pleasant than it used to be, but people can still smoke on balconies. We don't make remarks to people who do, they are within their rights, but it is certainly a problem for those of us with sensitivity to smoke (perfume is also an issue for me). The problem doesn't stop at just an annoying smell, the fumes actually make me ill for days on end.

 

Disembarking at a tender port is always lengthy. We usually just wait until the majority of people have disembarked, usually an hour or two after the posted time.

 

Like others have stated, a missed port is a drag, but if it is a tender port you must understand it is a safety issue. I've had to board a ship from a tender in rough waters, I pulled a muscle in my hip that took months to heal. People here on CC will state the ocean looks smooth, but believe the Captain when they make that call. Reading through cruise contracts is interesting (but boring) and they state they are not obliged (my words) to stop at every port on the itinerary and there is no compensation other than what the ship decides to provide. All you are really guaranteed is a ride on the ship and food.

 

While we love to cruise, we understand it's not for everyone. You might try another line, possibly a smaller ship or a different area rather than they typical crowded Caribbean cruise.

Luck of the draw is right. IF you have the bad luck to book a balcony next door to a chain smoker, it was just bad luck. He's not doing wrong by smoking on his balcony, and you're not wrong to be angry that the enjoyment of your own balcony is diminished. This is one reason we love-love-love the 10th floor aft balcony -- only one neighbor, less chance of smoke being a problem.

 

Also, you're exactly right about the captain and the port stops. He is charged with the safety of the ship and all its passengers, and he wasn't made captain because he looks good in the hat -- he KNOWS the sea better than any of us, and we are trusting him to make the right decisions for us. While I'm sure it's very disappointing to miss a port that you'd anticipated, it'd be worse to be injured because it wasn't really safe for the small tender boats -- and those little ramps that connect the ship to the tender are a little scary, even for those of us who are young and healthy.

[Happy ks]

Luck of the draw is right. IF you have the bad luck to book a balcony next door to a chain smoker, it was just bad luck. He's not doing wrong by smoking on his balcony, and you're not wrong to be angry that the enjoyment of your own balcony is diminished. This is one reason we love-love-love the 10th floor aft balcony -- only one neighbor, less chance of smoke being a problem.

.

 

We're not angry at smokers, instead I kind of pity them for their habit. It's just annoying to not be able to enjoy our balcony while they smoke. We do understand they are within their rights.

 

We enjoy aft balconies as well and book them while we can. Our favorite travel partners (sis and bil) don't care for them, so we have to "make do" at times :);)

[luddite]

Don't let taking a Carnival cruise determine if you'll cruise again. Go on another line. The smoke odor in your room should have been removable with an ionizer and they should have accommodated you. Carny tried a no-smoking ship. There isn't a market for it so it got dropped.

 

I have never smelled smoke in a cabin. I have smelled carpet-fresh and other such perfumes which DO make me ill. The smoke is desirable over those horrible air 'fresheners'.

 

Tendering at a port stop is simply a collossal PIA. Do some research to find a trip with minimal tendering. NCL Spirit out of NOLA is an example-the only tender is Belize, which everyone must tender. At a tender port, taking a ship's excursion will get you a priority tender.

[bbwex]

Another option for your next cruise might be a smaller ship. We really enjoyed Oceania, though it is a premium line, and markedly more expensive than Carnival. The ships are smaller (670 passengers), and they have a very restrictive smoking policy to boot. The cost of something like Oceania might be an issue, but other lines also have some smaller ships. That might be more enjoyable.

[silverado44]

I also suffer from the smoke smell, I am actually alergic to it. This last cruise on the FOS was the worst. I have since learned that on some lines, there is a designated side of the ship that allows smoking. I have also learned to check the deck plans very carefully and not get a room above or behind any designated smoking areas and that keeps the smoke out of the room. I didn't really have any issues on the HAL except when I wondered into a smoking area by accident as I was learning the ship and of course the casino's. Even on smoke free days it still smells and gives me reactions. Here's to the first brave cruise line that goes smoke free!

 

The lines were long, try Alaska next time they are not so bad.

 

I believe they only skip Cayman in bad weather when they would be unable to tender in.

 

Cigarette smoke is not an allergen, you can't be allergic to it. Cigarette smoke is considered an irritant.

 

If you take an antihistamine after contact with cigarette smoke, it will not give you relief.

[Moorish Idol]

We too had a miserable time getting back on the ship on our last Carnival, which was Glory 11-12/09. At one place, I think it was Roatan, there was some sort of medical emergency on the dock so an ambulance was called - understandable-but they had fed all the passengers waiting to board into one huge pile of standing mass at the exit doors of the duty-free shop with no management of later arriving people pushing in. It was close to an hour, pushed so tight you couldn't bend over.

 

We've done 3 Carnival's fairly recently, all within the last year or so and I have to say the variation is remarkable. The trip on the Valor was absolutely spectacular...great personnel, food was the best I've had on Carnival, any arraigements or snafus were handled smoothly.

 

As a smoker, I know you can't smoke in the cabins. There's really no excuse for the room to smell unless the earlier suggestions about it coming from, perhaps the lounge that allows cigars...that one's always pretty thick even for me. They allow people to smoke on the starboard side outside decks. I've always found that to be pretty thinly used because of the wind. Those of us still smoking are aware of how unwelcome it is to so many, and for myself try to keep it as far away from non-smokers as possible.

 

We're going to try our first Princess. Hope you keep cruising.

[ESfromaustin]

Thanks to all of you and all of your suggestions. I think the plan will be for us to try a different cruise line next time.

 

Just to clear up a few of the comments - I was the 2nd person to get a tender ticket, but it didn't matter - they didn't even use them.

 

In booking our excusions, since I had never done this before, I was more concerned with making sure we finished our activity and were back to the ship on time than realizing there could be a delay getting off of the ship and missing our trip. We BARELY made our Cayman trip - the guy had left with a couple of stand-bys and the people who normally stand next to him called him to let us know we were there and he came back for us. I'm SO glad since we were on a very nice catamaran with about 15 or so folks and when I saw Carnival's boat with 100's on it, I was so glad I didn't book the tour with them.

 

Thanks again to all of you! I really did enjoy the cruise as a whole.

[FINTUCKYFARMS]

Cigarette smoke is not an allergen, you can't be allergic to it. Cigarette smoke is considered an irritant.

 

If you take an antihistamine after contact with cigarette smoke, it will not give you relief.

 

 

I actually have a prescription epi pen for my anaphylaxis (Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction marked by swelling of the throat or tongue, hives, and trouble breathing) due to cigarettes,cigars and pipe smoke ;).

[silverado44]

I actually have a prescription epi pen for my anaphylaxis (Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction marked by swelling of the throat or tongue, hives, and trouble breathing) due to cigarettes,cigars and pipe smoke ;).

 

 

I call BS on this post. Again, cigarette smoke is NOT an allergen. It is an irritant.

[Tao Diva]

 

Cigarette smoke (like all smoke) is an irritant. However, cigarette smoke also contains an array of chemicals, toxic and otherwise, that can be an allergen.

 

Please see this website for details:

 

Found on

 

http://allergies.emedtv.com/cigarette-smoke-allergy/cigarette-smoke-allergy.html

 

Cigarette Smoke Allergy

 

Cigarette smoke allergy is caused by the numerous toxic chemicals and irritants found in cigarette smoke. Not only are people with a cigarette smoke allergy extra sensitive to cigarette smoke than others, but recent studies also show that smoking may actually aggravate allergies. Common cigarette smoke allergy symptoms may include: burning or watery eyes, nasal congestion, or coughing.

[MrsPete]

I call BS on this post. Again, cigarette smoke is NOT an allergen. It is an irritant.

And even if this is true, the real life difference is . . . ?

[SantaFeFan]

We're not angry at smokers, instead I kind of pity them for their habit. It's just annoying to not be able to enjoy our balcony while they smoke. We do understand they are within their rights.

 

This is exactly why we have settled on Celebrity as our cruise line of choice. They have one of the most restrictive smoking policies afloat, covering not only rooms and balconies, but most of the public spaces as well. While it's not for everyone, for non-smokers who have a strong distaste for the smell of cigarette smoke, it's an excellent alternative. Plus, with their upscale ambiance and slightly older clientelle, the occurances of rude passengers are noticably fewer.

 

I would suggest that the OP try Celebrity for their next cruise so they can experience another style of cruising to help them decide what they prefer.