floppyMARCO

I almost laughed the coffee out of my mouth!

Very funny people! None of us are gay, not that there's anything wrong with that!

I am trying to get a group of about 8-12 guys (some with girlfriends) to go on a 6-7 day cruise this winter and I am wondering what the best option would be. I know some will want studios and some will want interior cabins, so I am thinking either Getaway or Epic. The ship with the best bars/clubs and restaurants will suit us. Please let me know if this sounds right or there is something else we should be looking at. Thanks!

I think CCL adding a tip to a robot is all the justification anyone needs to smuggle liquor onboard.

This is so true! Why don't they charge people to use the public restrooms as well.

here is a review found if you go back to the carnival forum and then click valor on the right side of the page where all the ships are listed

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2515045&highlight=valor

I always pretip $100.

We leave tomorrow to head to Houston; we are staying at a Hobby airport hotel, then heading back to the airport to catch 9:30am shuttle through Galveston Limo Service; it was much cheaper to do this than go straight to Galveston. The hotels are much more expensive there and then you have to take a Taxi the next morning, which is extra cost. The round trip per person (if booked online) is $40.00.

How long did it take to get from the hotel to the airport and then airport to cruise terminal?

Some friends and I went on an ATV excursion in Mexico and we were the last 3 ATVs in the group so we could hang back a little and then ride faster to catch up and kind of screw around more behind the group rather than right in the middle of it. Sure the dust was probably a lot thicker but I think it was worth it. The whole excursion swam halfway thru the ride so after getting wet the dust stuck to our bodies and we ended up getting really dirty but it was a great time and I would do it again. If we had been there right after a rain I'm guessing it would have been muddy or at least no dust, but maybe more humid.

I heard that CCL is thinking about allowing 24 drinks per day rather than 15 because everyone should be allowed at least 1 drink per hour, whether or not it has alcohol in it.

when i read this post earlier today i thought this was a jeff foxworthy stand up routine.

lol

Hi Everyone,

We just got back from he 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise on he Jewell. It was a little different than I expected. So here are some things you might want to consider.

1. If you have lots of tattoos ..... you might like NCL

2. If you want to sit around and drink all day long at the pool with ....you might like NCL.

3. If you don't care about great food....you might like NCL. (To be fair the buffets had some good food, but for fancy dinners the food is awful.)

4. If you are in Risk Management and seeing kids running amok in he pool area and spa with parents lounging with drinks...you might hate NCL.

5. If you like an all inclusive ... you might hate NCL...unless you pre buy all sorts of plans.

6. If you hate being nickle and dimed, you will hate NCL.

7. If you are looking for a really laid back relaxed non pretentious time...you might like NCL.

8. The Jewell is small for a cruise ship...but really big enough.

9. The water slide is for kids. Slow, but I loved that as my kids are afraid of fast ones.

10. You don't mind your kids.....mine hated the kids program Splash academy...so they hung out with us for most of the cruise (8 and 10.)

11. If you like music.....you might like NCL. At least on Jewell there was a lot of music - ironically not Salsa or flamenco in Mexico but what ever...It was nice. Not in morning, but started afternoon and all night.

12. If you are not too uptight about cabin.......you might love NCL. (Our cabin was not always cleaned up well, only received towel animals half the time, bunk bed was not pulled down most of the time...same with my mom in other cabin.)

13. If you love to dance at night....and DONT get seasick... you might like the NCL. The main dance floor is on 13th floor in he very front...so if you are prone to sea sickness is awful.

14. Kids are okay everywhere! That is generally a good thing. Most kids where well behaved. I liked being able to bring them most places. I was bummed so many events thought were 13 and up for adult content. - So lastly. I thought there was way too much sexual innuendo - even in he kid friendly comedy shows and acts. Seriously...???

15. If you never want to dress up and want to wear shorts and t-shirts the whole time ...you found your cruise line! (Although there is opportunity to dress up if you want.)

I discovered I am more of a Princess sort of girl. I fully admit I can be sort of uptight. However, I had a great time. The first two days I was like get me off, but then I settled in. The ship was so dated! The people were .... well too casual lets say for me... It is sort of a what happens on the Jewell stays on the Jewell. There were surely really elegant couples who were super "classy", but you only saw them slow dancing piano or jazz music. I never saw them in he buffet! There are several paid for restaurants which is probably where "those types" ate. But there were all types of people. Classy to ghetto - thought mostly somewhere in between. I won't say I would never take NCL again, I might. But next time I want to try another line.

P.S. I am 40 and from Southern California, married, with 2 kids.

I dont have one tattoo and I think the NCL Jewel is great. I also found it to be one of the best ships as far as "nickel and diming" goes and as for "all inclusive" you need to do some research because all the cruise ships in this price range have basically the same inclusions and amentities. I have never had a bad meal on a cruise ship either but that's also my opinion. Sorry to hear about your disappointing cruise.

I was not aware that NCL offered the cheers program, this is the NCL board is it not? Yes keeping all the drink receipts would be a good way to keep track, but lets be honest this is supposed to be a vacation not a bean counters convention.

I usually consume so many drinks I pass out by about 3 next to the pool in a lounger and sleep til 7-8, wake up, and do it all over again til about 2 am and pass out again usually in my stateroom. It is hard to keep a tally of how many I consume because there is such a combination of beers, shots, and mixed drinks it's impossible not to lose count.

I would book one in a heartbeat

Good luck! I wonder if walkie talkies are allowed or would work? Some cruiselines let you use the onboard internet for text messaging travelmates for free..not sure about RC.

There is no cash used on the ship besides personal tips you may want to hand out to servers, housekeepers, and other staff members depending if you feel they deserve them. You might want to bring at least $200 per person per port, depending on what you plan on spending in each place.

It's not gambling when you know you're gonna win.

You're actually gonna believe what John Heald has mentioned on more than one occasion?! ROFL LMAO

I heard Holland America tolerates that sort of stuff.

If Vista is so crappy why did it get best new cruise ship? Sounds like best new cruise ship for the cruise lines not for the passengers..I have not been on it so I don't have an opinion but it would be a shame if the ship is as bad as people are saying.

how will i know which pictures are mine?

The "deck party" often times consists of a live band or DJ, games, contests, dancing, and a host walking around with a microphone in charge of all these activities trying to get people to have a fun time. As previously stated it is on the lido deck and can take place anytime from mid-morning til the evening, it will be in the daily activities sheet found in your stateroom.