New Cruiser

I just booked a cruise to Cozumel, Belize, and Freeport that departs the first week of September. I am incredibly excited and can't wait to get underway. Is there anything that I should do in advance (booking excursions, scuba lessons, etc)? I really don't know what to expect and would appreciate any feedback on this to do and not to do. Thanks

Most important thing - Keep reading these boards - You'll get answers to questions you didn't even know you had!

Also, go to the board for your specific cruise line.

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Do you want to scuba dive? Ifso contact your cruise line and see what you have to learn first (theory part). Then go for it. For excursions, there are two ways your can book on your own (go to Ports of Call borad and see who is best and how) or book throught the cruise personlizer for booked guest to see what your cruise line offers for your cruise. You may not be able to book more then 60 days in advance.

Suggest you go to port day early if possible so that you can be early and rested for your cruise.

MS Maasdam 6 - 17 Feb 05

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Navigator of the Seas Western Crib 08/03
Dawn Princess - Eastern Carb 01/03
Dawn Princess Panamal Canal 11/02

You cannot book excursions through the cruiseline in advance, but, as Capt Data said, I would definetly start looking into what you want to do at your ports of call and book them in advance if you can.
This board is a great help, especially when the search feature is working. I would also look for reviews of your ship so you have a better idea of what to expect once on board.
I know you dont need a passport for any of your ports, but if you dont have one, get one - it will make any travel experience much easier.

Then start saving money!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Carnival Victory, here I come!
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Some cruiselines you CAN book excursions online through the cruiselines.. Roayl and Princess are two that I am aware that do this. Im not familiar with others. I know Carnival you can not--which is truly sad. Buying my excursions ahead of time allowed me to prepay my exxcursions and it was a nice feeling that most if not all my cruise was paid for before we sailed.

Going NOWHERE
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Miracle, February 13, 2005
Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

As opposed to what another poster said, you CAN pre-book excursions on many cruise lines before you cruise. Celebrity, Crystal, Princess and RCCI are among those that allow you to book your excursions on the internet.

Darcie

I am going on the RC Grandeur of the Seas and I will be celebrating my b/f birthday while there and want something special to do. I am worried b/c I have read that late dining is not good (that is what I picked). I really appreciate the suggestions

Dining is a personal choice. Do you eat dinner at home early or late?
You can always try it and if you dont like it you can change it while onboard. jsut go to the matre de and ask for a change. What was the reason you picked late?

I tried late for our first cruise. By the time we got done dinner it was 10:30 or so. Sleeping on all that heavy food was tuff. Plus wwe never got to try any of the midnight buffets as we were still full from dinner.
We now do early seating and done dinner by 7:30 or so- head to the casino, watch the show. walk the ship. So by the time the midnight buffets are around we can pick at some more food.

If you go to Royals web page you can order the room to be decorated for his birthday and it will be all decorated by the time you enter the cabin. You will even get a birthday cake in the room waiting. (to have a cake delivered at dinner will cost some money) With all the special desserts they have I cant see spending money on a birthdy cake.

Going NOWHERE
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Miracle, February 13, 2005
Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

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In addition, you can check [url="http://www.cruisecritic.com/ftc/index.cfm"]Tips For First Time Cruisers[/url] for a plethora of thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

Walt Tuthill
Cruise Board Moderator

Contact at [email]Shiptender@aol.com[/email]

Re: Late seating--my bf and I just got back from a cruise and we had 2nd seating. We preferred it because after a long day in port we wanted the extra time to nap and get ready for dinner. Plus we didn't want to eat with a bunch of children in the room--they all seem to go to 1st seating because we hardly saw any children at 2nd seating.

ALSO we liked having the pool area empty out at 5 p.m. because everyone at 1st seating was getting ready for dinner. Almost every night my bf and I relaxed in the hot tub at 6 p.m.

Also, we really got along with our tablemates and always lingered late after dinner to talk. If there had been another seating after us, we would've felt rushed.

We did end up skipping the midnight buffet, but we didn't care--we figured we'd already eaten too much! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

It's obviously a personal preference--if you eat early dinners normally you're going to want to have the 1st seating.

Just a quick clarification: Early seating/late seating only applies to the main dining room. If you choose any other dining option, you can dine when you wish, right?

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?srgb=00ff00&dd=cd&trgb=ffffff&prgb=ffd700&cdt=2005;1;29;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500&ft=5&frgb=ffd700[/img]
RCI - Serendade of the Seas (S. Carib.)

There is nothing at all stated that you must eat in the dining room. if you dont feel like a formal setting there is always the buffet or room service. Both are nice and the food is just as good.

Going NOWHERE
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Miracle, February 13, 2005
Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

One area of these message boards that I can't do without is the ports of call section. Just go to the main message board and click on ports of call. Belize, Cozumel, and all of the other ports are there.I will be going to Montego Bay, Jamaica this fall and didn't know what to expect. After looking up Jamaica in the ports of call section I know exactly what to expect. People wrote lots of reviews there on their favorite beaches, best excursions, and great places they found to shop and eat. Go there and check it out, you won't regret it! Another section I enjoyed was the money saving tips area. They really will help you to save money on your cruise. Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by serene56:
There is nothing at all stated that you must eat in the dining room.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Actually, my question was more a matter of not [I]where[/I] but rather with respect to [I]when[/I]... in other words, I'm assuming that the buffet is open (say) from 6:15 to 10:00 pm. Is that a good assumption?

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?srgb=00ff00&dd=cd&trgb=ffffff&prgb=ffd700&cdt=2005;1;29;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500&ft=5&frgb=ffd700[/img]
RCI - Serendade of the Seas (S. Carib.)