My wife and I are considering going on a cruise for the first time

My wife and I are considering our first cruise and really have no idea what we need to know or what to expect. We are probably still a year away from this happening but we are just trying to gain some knowledge and get some idea of what we would be in for. Here are some of the things we already kind of know:

- It would be a Caribbean cruise and my wife would like it to stop in Cozumel (We have vacationed in Cozumel a few times and she loved it)

- We are most likely looking at a 5 to 7 day cruise

- We are thinking we would like a room with an Ocean view - wife is afraid she would be claustrophobic with an interior room

So, besides those few things we really have no idea what we are getting into. Some of the questions that we have are:

- I see that most of the cruises sail out of either Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, or Tampa. Are any of these areas cheaper to fly into (coming from Minneapolis, MN) than others or any other close by areas I should consider flying into?

- We are looking to do this on somewhat of a budget... any tips or tricks to cut down cost?

- We know that we will have the cost of the cruise and the airfare, what other expenses will we incur?

- How big / small are the casinos on the cruise ships? Do they have low limit slots (penny slots?)

- Typically, what dining options are included in the cruise price and what do you have to pay extra for? I know this varies between different cruise lines and ships but just looking at ballpark.

- What destinations in the Caribbean are your favorites and why?

- When it comes to the entertainment on ships are the different shows included in the cost of the cruise or extra?

- What cruise lines and ships are your favorites and why? Remember, we are looking to keep cost down a little.

- How in the heck do you know what good rooms vs. bad rooms are? Are certain areas of the ship better or worse?

I know that I have a lot of questions and will most likely think of more but I would really appreciate any help and advice you can provide. Thanks a lot, Dan

My wife and I are considering our first cruise and really have no idea what we need to know or what to expect. We are probably still a year away from this happening but we are just trying to gain some knowledge and get some idea of what we would be in for. Here are some of the things we already kind of know:

 

- It would be a Caribbean cruise and my wife would like it to stop in Cozumel (We have vacationed in Cozumel a few times and she loved it)

- We are most likely looking at a 5 to 7 day cruise

- We are thinking we would like a room with an Ocean view - wife is afraid she would be claustrophobic with an interior room

 

So, besides those few things we really have no idea what we are getting into. Some of the questions that we have are:

 

- I see that most of the cruises sail out of either Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, or Tampa. Are any of these areas cheaper to fly into (coming from Minneapolis, MN) than others or any other close by areas I should consider flying into?

- We are looking to do this on somewhat of a budget... any tips or tricks to cut down cost?

- We know that we will have the cost of the cruise and the airfare, what other expenses will we incur?

- How big / small are the casinos on the cruise ships? Do they have low limit slots (penny slots?)

- Typically, what dining options are included in the cruise price and what do you have to pay extra for? I know this varies between different cruise lines and ships but just looking at ballpark.

- What destinations in the Caribbean are your favorites and why?

- When it comes to the entertainment on ships are the different shows included in the cost of the cruise or extra?

- What cruise lines and ships are your favorites and why? Remember, we are looking to keep cost down a little.

- How in the heck do you know what good rooms vs. bad rooms are? Are certain areas of the ship better or worse?

 

I know that I have a lot of questions and will most likely think of more but I would really appreciate any help and advice you can provide. Thanks a lot, Dan

First tip on keeping costs down, forget the casino.

But more seriously a cruise can be the most inexpensive holiday you have or the most expensive, it's up to you.

Our lowest final bill was $8 something (we had gratuities paid)

I don't like talking about our highest, but let's just say we splashed out on a few things not just for us but for presents for our kids (adults).

Your biggest extras will be gratuities (depending who you cruise with), drinks (we don't drink booze but I put away a bit of Diet Coke), shore tours if you do them, but most ports you can have a great time just wandering around.

Most line's all entertainment is included.

Our favourite lines (so far) are Princess followed by Celebrity, and we prefer the smaller ships, but that depends on your tastes.

Cabin... midship, less movement, cabins above and below, less noise.

Too many questions for one person to answer, but here are some answers from me.

If you are coming from Minnesota in winter for the cruise, no matter which Florida port, you should seriously consider flying into Florida the day before, and staying in a hotel overnight before the day the cruise departs. We flew in on the day of the cruise once. There were five inches of snow in the morning. And then the plane had mechanical problems. I will never forget running through Reagan airport in Washington in my bare feet (after another security check) trying to make our connecting flight to Florida. We barely made it for the cruise departure, and I will never do that again. So add to your cost, the money to stay in a hotel near your cruise port, for one night before the cruise.

You will have to pay the gratuities for staff, and you should be willing to. The staff work hard, they are not paid well, and their families depend on the money they send home. The gratuities do not show up on the quoted cruise price, but you should add them to your expected cost.

Other than that, you don't have to pay anything extra unless you decide to. If you want to order drinks, play around in the casino, get a spa treatment, order fancy wine at dinner, etc., that's your choice.

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

All mainstream cruise lines have a main dining room and a buffet where the food is included in the price of the cruise (although some have special items on the menu that have an added cost).

I did one cruise where we had an interior cabin and I felt like I was living in a closet so I agree with your wife - get an oceanview.

Casino sizes vary greatly but most lines have them (not Disney but they are not budget). The slot machines are not regulated as in casinos in the US and have terrible pay-out rates. There are, however, usually penny slots.

Most ships will have some kind of entertainment each night. They include acts brought on for part of the cruise (comedians, jugglers, acrobats, singers, etc.) as well as a group of singers and dancers that perform regularly on the ship. The entertainment is included in your cruise price.

You will often find that the older ships have less costly cruises than the very new ones that have all kinds of bells and whistles (rock climbing walls, flow riders, ice skating rinks, water slides, etc.).

Do you have a travel agent? A good cruise travel agent can help you greatly. We are not allowed to recommend agencies on Cruise Critic but you might want to ask friends/relations if you don't have one.

One caution however - cruising is highly addictive!:D

My wife and I are considering our first cruise and really have no idea what we need to know or what to expect. We are probably still a year away from this happening but we are just trying to gain some knowledge and get some idea of what we would be in for. Here are some of the things we already kind of know:

 

- It would be a Caribbean cruise and my wife would like it to stop in Cozumel (We have vacationed in Cozumel a few times and she loved it)

- We are most likely looking at a 5 to 7 day cruise

- We are thinking we would like a room with an Ocean view - wife is afraid she would be claustrophobic with an interior room

 

So, besides those few things we really have no idea what we are getting into. Some of the questions that we have are:

 

- I see that most of the cruises sail out of either Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, or Tampa. Are any of these areas cheaper to fly into (coming from Minneapolis, MN) than others or any other close by areas I should consider flying into?

- We are looking to do this on somewhat of a budget... any tips or tricks to cut down cost?

- We know that we will have the cost of the cruise and the airfare, what other expenses will we incur?

- How big / small are the casinos on the cruise ships? Do they have low limit slots (penny slots?)

- Typically, what dining options are included in the cruise price and what do you have to pay extra for? I know this varies between different cruise lines and ships but just looking at ballpark.

- What destinations in the Caribbean are your favorites and why?

- When it comes to the entertainment on ships are the different shows included in the cost of the cruise or extra?

- What cruise lines and ships are your favorites and why? Remember, we are looking to keep cost down a little.

- How in the heck do you know what good rooms vs. bad rooms are? Are certain areas of the ship better or worse?

 

I know that I have a lot of questions and will most likely think of more but I would really appreciate any help and advice you can provide. Thanks a lot, Dan

Hi Dan, and welcome to our community! I could take several pages to answer all of your questions, but most of the answers would be variations of "it depends". So I'll just select some and give it my best shot. Keep in mind that most of these answers will be from the perspective of Carnival, since that is the only cruise line I have sailed on. Do NOT interpret this as a recommendation.

* Cozumel is probably the #1 cruise stop in the Caribbean, if not the world. If you're looking at cruises in the Western Caribbean, you'd have to try hard to find cruises that don't go there.

* There are lots of 5-7 day cruises. 7 days is probably the most popular.

* I like OVs myself, but have you considered a balcony?

* No cruises actually sail from Orlando, since it's about 50 miles inland. You can fly there, and the nearest port is called Port Canaveral.

* You can get a good deal, IMHO, to any of the Florida cities you listed from MSP. I would guess Jacksonville would be a bit more expensive, but there aren't that many ships that sail from there. Tampa is also fairly limited in its selection.

* The casinos I've seen on Carnival ships have had about 200 slots (mostly the pretty penny ones), 10-15 table games, and one or two electronic poker tables. They're small by Las Vegas standards.

* On Carnival, most dining options (including most room service items) are free. The specialty restaurants, some room service items, the coffee shop, and the gift shop cost extra.

* My current favorites are Key West in the West and Sint Maarten in the East. They both have lots to do and are fun places to visit. If you have a particular interest in pristine beaches, beautiful blue water, and great snorkeling, they won't be your favorites. Other Critics can give more specific recommendations.

* The vast majority of entertainment on Carnival is free. There are some super special shows with big names (from a decade or more ago) that you would have to pay for, but only a few cruises have those.

* I'm too lazy to look it up, but throw the following key words into your favorite search engine -> best cabins (ship name). Some general tips: cabins with other cabins above and below are good (less noisy), cabins near or above or below public areas are bad (more noise), cabins near the galley are the worst, cabins low and midship are best for those with sensitive stomachs.

* A good resource is each cruise line's Web site. It will give you the company-approved spin on things. Since you have so many options, it might be good to consult with a travel agent to help you sift through your options.

I hope this has been of help to you, and good luck in your travels.

Cozumel is hard to miss: almost everyone goes there. Don't limit yourself to the FL ports, cruises also sail from Mobile and New Orleans, and Galveston. I suggest you choose a port and the dates you would prefer to go, then investigate airfare to the various ports in that time frame. Choose the one that fits your budget. That narrows it down some. Don't be afraid to sail the smaller, older ships. Especially if you choose a shorter cruise. less than 7 days. You have never cruised before, it will seem huge, strange, exotic, etc. You won't have many days t sea to explore/experience al the bells and whistles you are paying for. Don't feel pressured by anyone who simply can't sail without a balcony. It's your first cruise, you want to be out and about, exploring and sampling everything the ship has to offer, not sitting on your tiny porch looking at water.

You can do that ten cruises down the line. Don't feel you have to dine in specialty restaurants and pay extra. You have paid for three meals or more a day, the menus change every day... Every ship has a main dining room, open for breakfast and dinner every day, lunch on sea days. Also a buffet, open for three (or more) meals a day. A burger place, a pizza place. And many more food venues that vary by line and ship. You don't have to spend a penny more than your cruise fare and feel stuffed.

Water, coffee, tea iced and hot, and often lemonade are free, as well as juices at breakfast. Sodas and alcoholic drinks cost extra. The water from the faucets in the cabin is safe to drink, probably safer than in your home...but on most lines you can carry on bottled water if you prefer.

Go to the websites of all of the major cruise lines and sign up for their email specials. If you can sail on relatively short notice: a few weeks to a few months - there are some amazing deals that come into your inbox.

Don't try to plan every minute. It's a vacation, a time to escape the snow and relax. EM

Almost forgot something to aid you in your search: Go to http://www.cruisetimetables.com and from the list of departure ports, choose each one in the US that interests you and see who is sailing from there. It will also give you their itineraries. Pay not attention to the prices... It's a nifty research tool. EM

All of the mainstream lines include the buffet and dining room in your fare. Room service, too (although some lines charge a small fee after midnight). There may be other "included" eateries, depending on the ship. Drinks included are: ice water, coffee, tea (iced or hot) lemonade, milk and juice during breakfast. Only Disney includes sodas at meals. On all the other lines, you will pay for soda, alcohol and bottled water.

Entertainment on most lines is included. Depending on the ship, you may need to make reservations to the show of choice....usually the HUGE ships make you do that....not the smaller ones.

We like cabins on a deck near where we will spend our DAYTIME hours, since we tend to run back and forth to the cabin more during the day. Near the elevators is very handy...and there is no added noise from those areas. Mid ship, mid deck is best for feeling less motion.

Oh..and tips....it will run (depending on cruise line) about $13 per person PER NIGHT.

On all the other lines, you will pay for soda, alcohol and bottled water.

No, Windstar provides free soda and bottled water. Paul Gauguin provides alcohol and soda at no additional charge.

Here were a couple of great tips we received.

1. Bring an empty refillable water bottle. Bottled water is super expensive, bad for the environment...etc. We just iced up and kept that going.

2. We opted out of the soft drink package, for both health and cost. We brought individual crystal light packages.

3.Bingo and slots are really tempting money pits. I'd rather spend my money on excursions. There are so many fun free programs on board that is where we spent our time.

4. Skip the extra charge dining and explore the different inclusive dining rooms. There truly is something for everything.

Welcome to Cruise Critic and cruising! :D I've responded to some of your questions below...

My wife and I are considering our first cruise and really have no idea what we need to know or what to expect. We are probably still a year away from this happening but we are just trying to gain some knowledge and get some idea of what we would be in for. Here are some of the things we already kind of know:

 

- It would be a Caribbean cruise and my wife would like it to stop in Cozumel (We have vacationed in Cozumel a few times and she loved it)

- We are most likely looking at a 5 to 7 day cruise Depending on what you're looking for, you may want to lean toward the 7-day option. Shorter cruises (especially 3- and 4-day cruises) tend to have more of a party atmosphere. But, if that's what you're looking for...

- We are thinking we would like a room with an Ocean view - wife is afraid she would be claustrophobic with an interior room I thought the same but have found that insides are fine for me--most of my cruises have been in balcony cabins, but the last few years since my youngest is now 21, I've been traveling solo so I book studios or insides. I've been surprised that I do fine in them, especially when I turn the TV on to the bow cam.

 

So, besides those few things we really have no idea what we are getting into. Some of the questions that we have are:

 

- I see that most of the cruises sail out of either Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, or Tampa. Are any of these areas cheaper to fly into (coming from Minneapolis, MN) than others or any other close by areas I should consider flying into? You need to also consider transportation to the port. I haven't cruised the Caribbean in several years so can't help you there, but I do know some airports are quite far from the ports. Also, consider flying in the day before the cruise--it's much less stressful than flying in the day of and you have a cushion in case of flight delays.

- We are looking to do this on somewhat of a budget... any tips or tricks to cut down cost? Don't buy the extras! :D Sail in the off season, etc. Same types of things you'd do for a land vacation to save.

 

- We know that we will have the cost of the cruise and the airfare, what other expenses will we incur? It depends on your travel style. You'll have the daily gratuities or service charge and others have explained that. Other than that, you don't have to spend another penny if you don't choose to.

 

- How big / small are the casinos on the cruise ships? Do they have low limit slots (penny slots?) Depends on the ship.

 

- Typically, what dining options are included in the cruise price and what do you have to pay extra for? I know this varies between different cruise lines and ships but just looking at ballpark. Others have explained this. My last few cruises have been on NCL (and I have two booked with them)--one of the things I love about NCL is the variety of dining options. I believe they have more options that most other cruise lines.

 

- What destinations in the Caribbean are your favorites and why? It's been several years, but I enjoyed Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and St. Maartin for various reasons. It's easier if you tell us what you're looking for and think you would enjoy and then we can make suggestions. You didn't tell us anything about yourselves (age, style, travel experiences, activities you like, etc.).

 

- When it comes to the entertainment on ships are the different shows included in the cost of the cruise or extra? Depends on the cruise line. Most entertainment is included in your fare. On the larger NCL ships, there may be a dinner show that would be additional

 

- What cruise lines and ships are your favorites and why? Remember, we are looking to keep cost down a little. I've cruised NCL, Princess, Carnival, and HAL. I like them all. Mainstream cruise lines are far more similar than they are different. What are you looking for? What's your travel style? When you're weighing the options, don't look at just the fare...you should also look at what's included. For example, if you're big drinkers on vacation, then it's going to be a big savings for you if you get a drink package as a perk with your booking as opposed to paying for drinks as you go.

 

- How in the heck do you know what good rooms vs. bad rooms are? Are certain areas of the ship better or worse? I always book a room that is on a deck with rooms above and below mine. I don't want to be over or under the theater or a bar. If I'm planning to purchase a spa pass and the spa is aft, then a book a cabin closer to the back of the ship. If I'm not getting a spa pass, then I'll book a cabin that's toward the same end of the ship as the buffet so it's quick to get there for a snack or breakfast.

 

I know that I have a lot of questions and will most likely think of more but I would really appreciate any help and advice you can provide. Thanks a lot, Dan

For me, the itinerary is more important than the ship or cruise line. That said, if there are a lot of sea days then the ship is important, too. When I did do Caribbean cruises then the ship was more important than on Alaska or Europe cruises.

If you tell us more about yourself, people can weigh in on which cruise line they think you might like. For example, if you're a young couple that enjoys some night life, you might try NCL, Carnival, or Royal Caribbean. If you're an older couple you might prefer HAL or Princess or Celebrity. Of course, any recommendations will be simply opinions. Personally, I'm 58 and I travel solo. I don't care about a night life, but my current cruise line of choice is NCL.

Research, research, research. :D

Mass Market cruises -- Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, NCL -- are more alike than different. They do have their differences, fans & detractors. But for your 1st cruise don't sweat it.

Since you will be on a budget, find some cruises that are going to Cozumel where you want to be (although the port is very different, more commercial & less nice than the resort areas). Next check the approximate costs of the flights to those cruises. Just pick the one that is overall the cheapest. By that I mean cruise price plus airfare & ground transportation.

Even though it has cold days we sail out of NYC the most because even though the cruise is longer & more expensive, it's still cheaper when you add in airfare & the costs of the hotel the night before.

That strategy doesn't really work for you because there are no convenient ports in driving distance from Minn.

Some people are very picky about their cabin location. DH & I never have been so we save money by always booking a guarantee (gty) cabin in our category. The ship puts you where they want you. Often it's an obstructed view room but we don't go on a cruise to sit in our cabin & look out the window. Even when we book a balcony we don't use enough to justify a large price differential. The only "bad" gty cabin we ever had was a handicapped room & that was bad because the water from the bathroom leaked into the cabin & made the carpet squishy & gross.

If you are heavy partiers, you can save money by getting the alcohol packages. If you are not big drinkers (5+) per day, it's a waste of money.

Booking tours independently or just taking a taxi to a beach are your cheapest excursions.

As someone else pointed out staying out of the casino is the best cost saving measure.

Some people love the specialty dining which costs extra. The buffet, most room service & the main dining rooms are all included in the price of your cruise. We find them a waste of money because to use they are not significantly better than what's included so why pay 2x for food? Then again living just outside of NYC we know we can always get an amazing meal. IMO there is simply no way a cruise chef preparing 3 meals per day for 2000+ people can compete with the food served on land. There are no Michelin stars handed out at sea.

Most entertainment is included. Sometimes there are for pay extra shows but we've never seen one. Again while the shows are good this is not the stage in London, Chicago or NYC. Especially for your 1st cruise, stick to what's included & worry about the extras next time.

If you want to experience the ship, pick a cruise with sea days where you can't get off. Warning the pool area gets ridiculously crowded. Personally I don't like sea days but they can't be avoided when sailing from NYC.

Don't try to do everything. There is simply too much.

Full disclosure. I am 49 DH is 60 kids are all 20 somethings. While we have cruised HAL, Carnival, RCI and NCL, our preference is Princess, thus my comments are from that perspective.

Our last cruise we had to "cash out" some remaining on board credit at the end of our cruise...our bill was less than zero. We normally dine one night in a specialty restaurant ($29 ea) and drink as we please (2 - 3 per day). We utilize the free eats and also bring the crystal light (or other) packets to add to water.

We go cheap on short excursions and hardly ever book through the ship, however, if you are nervous about going out on your own, the ship excursions are a great choice.

We are never at a loss for entertainment. We never nap at home, but find the sea day afternoon nap a "do not miss". There are interactive activities, such as trivia games, and also theater and lounge entertainment.

Personally, I prefer balconies, but will take whatever the budget allows. Taking (aka paying) for three cabins to take the kids to the Caribbean, so had to book an ocean view for Alaska. Oh well...they all go the same place.

Whatever you choose...ENJOY. It most likely will not be your last.

Not sure about other lines but bottled water is pretty cheap on Carnival. You can have a 12pk delivered to your room for about the same price you can buy it at Walmart. Not sure why others think it's expensive.

Not sure about other lines but bottled water is pretty cheap on Carnival. You can have a 12pk delivered to your room for about the same price you can buy it at Walmart. Not sure why others think it's expensive.

I've never sailed Carnival. Bottled water is about $3 - $5 per bottle on NCL. I don't buy water at home unless it's less than $5 per case. The desalinated tap water is just fine, often better than tap water at home.

I've never sailed Carnival. Bottled water is about $3 - $5 per bottle on NCL. I don't buy water at home unless it's less than $5 per case. The desalinated tap water is just fine, often better than tap water at home.

Oh wow! Yea on Carnival it's $4.50 for a 12pk

My husband and I love cruising. In fact, we are fixing to go on another cruise at the end of this month, so I wrote a blog for first time cruisers. You can look at it here and I hope it helps. I even have a free packing checklist download.

http://www.kineappleunderpants.com/single-post/2017/01/15/50-Cruise-TipsHacksSecrets-for-First-Time-Cruisers

I hope I can do links in responses. If not, I think my blog site is listed in my signature. Good luck in choosing a cruise!

Thanks everyone for all of the information so far. My wife and I are both on the younger side (32 and 28) but neither of us are partiers or drinkers. If drinks were free I would have a couple over the course of the cruise but it's unlikely that I will actually pay for any. We are looking for a relaxing time, enjoying the pools, seeing the sights, having some good entertainment, and eating some good food. Picking a cruise ship we like won't be to tough but I think the hardest part for us will be finding reasonably priced airfare.... to early to get prices on that. I have been checking cruise prices so far and it seems like the only cruise lines that will be in our price range are Carnival and Royal Caribbean.... maybe that will change with specials that show up. If I missed any information that people need to give me advice, please let me know. Thanks again, Dan

- We are looking to do this on somewhat of a budget... any tips or tricks to cut down cost?

- We know that we will have the cost of the cruise and the airfare, what other expenses will we incur?

- Typically, what dining options are included in the cruise price and what do you have to pay extra for? I know this varies between different cruise lines and ships but just looking at ballpark.

A lot of questions about cost and what's included so here's a rundown of everything that's included in a Carnival cruise...

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As others have mentioned, make sure you also look at hotels and transfer costs before booking. RCL's Liberty out of Galveston goes to Cozumel, but you have to fly in to Houston and the transfers and hotels can cost a great deal. We got a great rate on our cruise, but when I began researching the cost of transfers from the airport (Hobby) to Galveston and the cost of hotels, we almost cancelled. Ended up flying in the same day as the cruise but will never do that again. Friends of ours missed the ship when their flight was delayed. Trip insurance - another cost - can be a good idea, too.

For what it's worth, if you've already experienced Cozumel why not experience some place new? Just a thought

Thanks everyone for all of the information so far. My wife and I are both on the younger side (32 and 28) but neither of us are partiers or drinkers. If drinks were free I would have a couple over the course of the cruise but it's unlikely that I will actually pay for any. We are looking for a relaxing time, enjoying the pools, seeing the sights, having some good entertainment, and eating some good food. Picking a cruise ship we like won't be to tough but I think the hardest part for us will be finding reasonably priced airfare.... to early to get prices on that. I have been checking cruise prices so far and it seems like the only cruise lines that will be in our price range are Carnival and Royal Caribbean.... maybe that will change with specials that show up. If I missed any information that people need to give me advice, please let me know. Thanks again, Dan

Based on this post, I recommend Royal Caribbean over Carnival.

Another vote for Royal Caribbean, we have done all the major lines and RCCL is our favorite , Cozumel is also one of our favorite ports we been there about 20 times on cruises, St Maarten is another great port, with great beach's. I would pick one of the RCCL larger ships just for entertainment, get one that has a Ice show which will be Voyager glass or above . We are doing Cozumel in April again on Liberty of the seas out of Galveston, if you can afford it get a balcony, but not that big of a deal, we did lots of inside rooms when we started cruising and we normally have suites. Good luck picking the cruise. One cauction is they are addictive my next cruise will be my 61st.

Based on this post, I recommend Royal Caribbean over Carnival.

Thanks for the recommendation, can I ask,why you think that though?

Thanks for the recommendation, can I ask,why you think that though?

No problem. From what I experienced on Carnival, the theme is pretty much the same throughout the entire ship. They really push the "fun" thing. Translation...party. Plus, the interior designs tend to be very dark and festive. It's good if that's what you're looking for, but it doesn't seem to fit well with your criteria.

On RCI, on the other hand, it's easier to get away from the partying. The adults-only Solarium pools are very relaxing. Plus, no one compares to the entertainment on RCI's newer ships.

If you go through a travel agent, make sure they are experienced with cruises. Ours was not and we suffer consequences.

Yes, do go a day ahead because as we have witnesses, our weather in Iowa can be perfectly fine but the weather in different areas state wide can effect our flights. We have only cruised twice. First time snow and ice in Texas delayed us. 2nd time, high winds delayed us. Need to plan for the unexpected. Thankfully the 2nd time, we had enough of a layover between flights at ohare which allowed us to still make it to that connecting flight.

Miami airport is close to port and you could use free shuttle from airport to hotel and then from hotel to port. If you were to fly to Orlando, airport is an hour from port and you have to pay for shuttle which adds to cost.

We really like old San Juan. Great port to walk on foot and explore or take free trolley. We enjoyed the two forts for $5 per person to explore. Free beach right at port in grand Turk and half moon cay. ST Thomas is another easy port to explore on foot with lots of shops.

From what I have observed, the earlier you book your cruise, the cheaper it will be with possibly the exception being if you could do a last minute booking. I have only sailed carnival and we do the early saver which allows for price matches along the way if you see a sale price lower than yours and call.

We go through a pvp through carnival now and feel she does a great job.

We are not party people. We are in bed by ten. We don't drink. We don't do the specialty restaurants . In our opinion, there is no reason to do so. So many foods to choose from that are free. We don't pay for spa. What we do do is attend the production shows, an occasional comedy show, trivia gatherings, hot tub and saunas, mini golf, use the track and free exercise equipment, soak up the sun, visit serenity adult only deck, - you get the picture.

We have had ocean view and interior. We enjoyed both. Interior doesn't bother us at all. I actually thought the bathroom seemed bigger. Plenty of room for two people who were hardly in the room.

Tipping: we are nice tippers and always bring extra cash to hand out at end of cruise to those staff that directly made our trip even better. This is on top of the added gratuities on your acct.

If you do go a day early, look for a hotel that has restaurants within walking distance.

Return airfare, book for afternoon to allow extra time for any unexpected delays.

Hope this helps!