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Extreme Newbie - Please Help!

jb456

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jb456

jb456

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hi Everyone,

 

Would like to thank you in advance for all your help!

 

-----

 

Complete newbie here! We are thinking of a 5 or 6 night cruise in February. Something that leaves Fort Lauderdale/Miami area.

 

Lots of questions to ask but will start with a few and go from there.

 

1 - It looks like "Interior" rooms are the cheapest. I presume they're the lowest level rooms at the bottom of the boat. Are they really that bad? Would it fit 3 adults? 2 on the bed and one a sofa bed?

 

It's only used to sleep in so we don't care if the confines are tight. I guess it's probably like a small hotel room at econo lodge.

 

 

2 - Regarding the price of a cruise.. I've seen some that say "interior room" for 5 nights for 299$ per person.

 

Is that all we pay?

 

Is there hidden or additional fees? Gratuity, resort fees, etc?

 

Does that include all your meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and non alcoholic drinks? Like water and Pepsi?

 

Is coffee/tea free?

 

What about port taxes and entry taxes to countries? Like if the boat stops in Jamaica do you have to pay extra money to get in the country?

 

----

 

Although budget is not really an issue since we have no experience with a cruise we don't want to receive a shocking bill at the end of the trip for a couple extra thousand dollars. We like to have everything paid in advance and simply have additional spending money for off boat visits into the towns, excursions, souvenirs.

 

We don't want to pay for a cruise, then do all kinds of shopping, excursions to only get back to port and have another big bill with charges from the cruise ship..

 

--------------------

 

How does alcohol work?

 

Are we allowed to bring beer on the cruise ship? Or a bottle of rum or something to drink?

 

We are mainly beer drinkers so how much is like a Budweiser on the boat?

 

Is there drink packages you can buy for like all you can drink? Not that were going to get completely intoxicated but for an entire day at sea, at the pool, the shows, supper, casino, I can see myself having around 10 beers. If it's 5$ a beer that's 50$.. Would a package be cheaper?

 

I read somewhere that some boats have drink packages but you have to pay for every night... I guess that is how they catch you since some days you spend most of your time off the boat?

 

Can we pay cash per alcohol drink? Rather then it accumulating to the final bill?

 

------------------------

 

How's boat life? We are in our 50s like a bit of shows and casino.. Our son might join who is in his 20s and he is not a gambler.. He likes a more lively atmosphere, drinks by the pool, people his age to talk to, and some things at night time so he is not bored at 11pm..Will he be bored?

 

Does cruise ships have a disco/nightclub?

 

---------

 

I read somewhere that there is no communal washrooms on some ships and you have to use the washroom in your room. Is that true? Seems kind of odd if someone has mobility issues and has to walk 7 floors to get to the washroom.

 

--------------

 

Whats a general day "at sea" like.... I know there is a pool, shows and a casino.. What else can we expect?

----

 

For now I will end this post with those questions and ask more as this thread moves along.

 

Thank you!

 

Holly & Bill

Edited by jb456
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lissa42886

lissa42886

Posted
Posted
Hi Everyone,

 

Would like to thank you in advance for all your help!

 

-----

 

Complete newbie here! We are thinking of a 5 or 6 night cruise in February. Something that leaves Fort Lauderdale/Miami area.

 

Lots of questions to ask but will start with a few and go from there.

 

1 - It looks like "Interior" rooms are the cheapest. I presume they're the lowest level rooms at the bottom of the boat. Are they really that bad? Would it fit 3 adults? 2 on the bed and one a sofa bed?

INTERIOR NO WINDOWS. NO OUTSIDE LIGHT.. SMALL NOT MUCH FLOOR SPACE AT ALL. I BELIEVE THEY ARE 200Sq ft OR LESS SMALLER THEN A HOTEL ROOM HONESTLY

 

It's only used to sleep in so we don't care if the confines are tight. I guess it's probably like a small hotel room at econo lodge.

 

 

2 - Regarding the price of a cruise.. I've seen some that say "interior room" for 5 nights for 299$ per person.

 

Is that all we pay?

 

Is there hidden or additional fees? Gratuity, resort fees, etc?

TAXES AND PORT FEES STILL HAVE TO BE PAID... TIPS FOR THE STAFF ( varies depending on ship usually standard is 11$ a day total )

Does that include all your meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and non alcoholic drinks? Like water and Pepsi?

FOOD IN CLUDED, SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS AREE XTRA WATER, TEA, COFFEE, APPLE JUICE LEMONADE INCLUDED. SODA EXTRA ALCOHOL & WINE EXTRA

Is coffee/tea free?

 

What about port taxes and entry taxes to countries? Like if the boat stops in Jamaica do you have to pay extra money to get in the country? NO ITS PART OF THE PORT FEES YOU PAY BEFORE SAILING

 

----

 

Although budget is not really an issue since we have no experience with a cruise we don't want to receive a shocking bill at the end of the trip for a couple extra thousand dollars. We like to have everything paid in advance and simply have additional spending money for off boat visits into the towns, excursions, souvenirs.

 

We don't want to pay for a cruise, then do all kinds of shopping, excursions to only get back to port and have another big bill with charges from the cruise ship..

 

--------------------

 

How does alcohol work?

 

Are we allowed to bring beer on the cruise ship? Or a bottle of rum or something to drink? TECHNICALLY NO BUT PEOPLE SMUGGLE IT. IF ITS FOUND ITS CONFINSCATED...

 

We are mainly beer drinkers so how much is like a Budweiser on the boat? I DONT KNOW THE COST OF BEER SORRY

 

Is there drink packages you can buy for like all you can drink? Not that were going to get completely intoxicated but for an entire day at sea, at the pool, the shows, supper, casino, I can see myself having around 10 beers. If it's 5$ a beer that's 50$.. Would a package be cheaper?

 

I read somewhere that some boats have drink packages but you have to pay for every night... I guess that is how they catch you since some days you spend most of your time off the boat?

 

Can we pay cash per alcohol drink? Rather then it accumulating to the final bill?

 

------------------------

 

How's boat life? We are in our 50s like a bit of shows and casino.. Our son might join who is in his 20s and he is not a gambler.. He likes a more lively atmosphere, drinks by the pool, people his age to talk to, and some things at night time so he is not bored at 11pm..Will he be bored?

 

Does cruise ships have a disco/nightclub? YES

 

---------

 

I read somewhere that there is no communal washrooms on some ships and you have to use the washroom in your room. Is that true? Seems kind of odd if someone has mobility issues and has to walk 7 floors to get to the washroom. NOT TRUE THERE IS COMMON BATHROOMS ON EVERY FLOOR.. SOMETIMES ITS EASIER TO GO UP OR DOWN A DECK THEN CLEAR ACROSS THE DECK TO GET TO IT THO

 

--------------

 

Whats a general day "at sea" like.... I know there is a pool, shows and a casino.. What else can we expect? DANCING MUSIC, RELAXATION, DEPENDING THE SHIHP,, ACTIVITIES LIKE GOLF SKATING ROCK CLIMBING... ETC

----

 

For now I will end this post with those questions and ask more as this thread moves along.

 

Thank you!

 

Holly & Bill

 

 

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

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crystalspin

crystalspin

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...

1 - It looks like "Interior" rooms are the cheapest. I presume they're the lowest level rooms at the bottom of the boat. Are they really that bad? Would it fit 3 adults? 2 on the bed and one a sofa bed? Interiors are not always on a low deck, but the cheapest probably are. The size is going to depend on the cruiseline and ship. We have cruised (twice) on the Holland America Statendam with three adults in a "large interior" -- and it was as you think (a sofa for the third) and roomy! I saw the interior on the Norwegian Star last month and it was TINY -- if there is one marked "third person" that person would either have to sleep on a pullman (bed that folds to the wall or drops out of the ceiling ABOVE the other bed which has to be arranged as two twins, or a trundle BETWEEN the two twins, making the room half bed. To get a sofa bed on NCL ships you have to book Balcony or above. So if adult son is coming with you -- the floorplan of the interior stateroom should be your FIRST CRITERION.

 

It's only used to sleep in so we don't care if the confines are tight. I guess it's probably like a small hotel room at econo lodge. All staterooms on all ships except SOME suites are smaller than any hotel/motel rooms.

 

 

2 - Regarding the price of a cruise.. I've seen some that say "interior room" for 5 nights for 299$ per person.

 

Is that all we pay? NO. There are also taxes and port fees. If you do a "dummy booking" stopping before actually paying, on the websites -- these will show up.

 

Is there hidden or additional fees? Gratuity, resort fees, etc? All or most lines now have auto-gratuity (sometimes called something else such as DSC daily service charge) -- between $12-$15 per person per day. This is distributed among staff including staff you never see behind the scenes. Bartenders/servers get their gratuity from 15% added to all orders. There are a few other people that are not "tipped" from the DSC but you probably would not be using their services. You can add more to the DSC or tip extra in person.

 

Shore trips aka excursions are extra. Some lines have private islands and I do not know about charges for use thereof -- again, ask on the particular forum board if it is not clear on the line's website.

 

Does that include all your meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and non alcoholic drinks? Like water and Pepsi? It includes your meals in the main dining room(s) and the buffet(s), as well as usually a snack-type place or two on board. Tap water, (awful) coffee, tea/iced tea, and some juice drinks from the buffet tap will be included. Soda/pop will not be included. Most or all lines also have upcharge restaurants on board.

 

Is coffee/tea free? Yes for the "regular" stuff. Most ships also have a coffee "bar" where you can pay more for real coffee... the stuff in buffet or MDR is made from a syrup and is really awful.

 

----

 

How does alcohol work? There are many bars on all ships! 15% is added to the price you see. When you narrow it down to a particular line, you can ask on their forum here and get ballpark prices. Additionally, many ships let you bring on wine, some lines the first bottle per adult is "free" if drunk in room, other lines all wine has a "corkage" fee to be paid (NCL=$15/750ml bottle). Some (most? all?) lines have "bar setup" available in the room -- it is several times what you pay for a bottle at home, but less than by-the-drink on board. You *can* pour your own drink and carry it elsewhere on the ship if you have bar setup in your room. There are also mini-bar bottles in the fridge in all or most staterooms. Nothing including the bottled water in your fridge is free!

 

Are we allowed to bring beer on the cruise ship? Or a bottle of rum or something to drink? No, only the wine as stated above. If you put a bottle of rum in your suitcase you will be called to the Naughty Room to extract it from the bag (all bags are x-rayed) and it will be held for you until the end of the cruise.

 

We are mainly beer drinkers so how much is like a Budweiser on the boat? On Norwegian a 16oz Budweiser is $5.50 + 15%. Or you can buy 6 bottles for the price of 5 and take any undrunk to your stateroom.

 

Is there drink packages you can buy for like all you can drink? Not that were going to get completely intoxicated but for an entire day at sea, at the pool, the shows, supper, casino, I can see myself having around 10 beers. If it's 5$ a beer that's 50$.. Would a package be cheaper? Some people find the Beverage Packages worth it. You have to buy them for every adult in the cabin and for every day that has a night (i.e. not the last getting-off day), including port days when you are off the ship for much of the time. On NCL it's $49+15% for Ultimate Beverage Package and I believe there is a Wine-n-Beer one for $45+15%.

 

...

 

Can we pay cash per alcohol drink? Rather then it accumulating to the final bill? No. Everything on the ship goes on your room-card (aka SAS Sign-and-Sail, or SailPass). The only cash you need is for maybe tipping for room service and for off the ship.

 

------------------------

 

How's boat life? We are in our 50s like a bit of shows and casino.. Our son might join who is in his 20s and he is not a gambler.. He likes a more lively atmosphere, drinks by the pool, people his age to talk to, and some things at night time so he is not bored at 11pm..Will he be bored? Ask on specific cruise line board(s). Different lines have different target "audiences".

 

Does cruise ships have a disco/nightclub? Yes. See above though.

 

---------

 

I read somewhere that there is no communal washrooms on some ships and you have to use the washroom in your room. Is that true? I have never seen that. Washrooms well located on HAL and NCL. Maybe some very old and small ships but they are usually super-luxury and not sailing the itineraries you are looking at.

 

--------------

 

Whats a general day "at sea" like.... I know there is a pool, shows and a casino.. What else can we expect? Google (or search Cruise Critic) for Ship Dailies.

Edited by crystalspin
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perkydebrajean

perkydebrajean

Posted
Posted

Before you choose your cabin, find the deck plans of the ship and see what's located both above and below the cabin. My brother and his wife didn't check the location of theirs before booking and theirs ended up with the galley located on the next deck. They hardly got any sleep because of the constant noise of the people in the kitchens. You also want to avoid a room right over the nightclubs too, unless you don't mind going to sleep in the early morning hours!

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wassup4565

wassup4565

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crystalspin did a great job with her answers. I'll just add a few thoughts.

 

The cabins are really small, so with three adults, it's going to be a challenge getting all your stuff into the drawers and closet. And you can't really live out of the suitcase - there's no room for it to sit around. The other challenge with three adults is bathroom use, but on some ships you can use the shower area in the fitness facility at no cost. My advice is go for three in an inside room if you really need to economize, but pack light, look for another shower facility onboard, and plan to spend almost all your waking hours out of your cabin. Fortunately, there are lots of lovely spaces to spend time on a ship, and being out of your cabin is not a hardship (pun intended).

 

After you pay for your gratuities, you don't really need to spend another penny. You may choose to spend more, but you can find all you need to eat and drink and plenty of activities to enjoy without spending anything more. So it's up to you. Do you really need a better coffee? Do you really need a beer? If so, you pay.

 

Regarding activities and social life on the ship. There are usually people of all ages from many different places, and meeting and getting to know them is one of the best things about cruising. There are also lots of activities going on, shows, bands, contests, you name it. We love sea days, because there are plenty of scheduled activities (you get a ship newsletter announcing them every day), and you can usually eat breakfast and lunch in the Dining Room - it's a change from those meals in the buffet.

 

I think you will love this type of vacation with your son, and what a wonderful way to spend time together and still be able to do the things separately that appeal to you individually.

 

One final point, you can book excursions ($$) for your ports beforehand. Or you can get off the ship, hire a local taxi driver and have a tour of an hour or two (less $$). Or you can get off the ship, and wander around looking at things and exploring (no $$). The most expensive excursions are the ones the cruise line tries to tempt you to buy.

 

Read these CC boards. If you look long enough, there is the answer to every question you could possibly have and probably the anwers to questions you didn't even know you had.

 

Happy sails!

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kitty9

kitty9

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Unfortunately, there can be hidden charges that most newbies aren't prepared for, but can be avoided. There are photos, on board shopping, special restaurants and snack places that cost extra, beverages like soft drinks, bottled water, alcohol, juices outside the buffet area and fancy coffee and tea.

 

All your bags will be xray'd and the security personnel are really good at finding smuggled alcohol. Anything found will either be thrown out or kept until you leave the ship at the end of the cruise. Beverage packages vary by cruise line and have different rules. Some make every adult in the cabin purchase the package. Some limit how many drinks per day you can get, and all limit by price of the drink----for example, you are limited to drinks $8 or less on some packages, or higher amounts if you buy the most expensive package.

 

Putting three adults in an inside cabin will be tough. And bathrooms are tiny---think of a small closet in your house, and that will give you an idea of how big they aren't. Many cruise ship cabins can be smaller than a cheap hotel room. Plus, you're booking really late for a February cruise. Feb is a very popular time to cruise and you might not find a lot available. Most people book 9 to 12 months out. And, if you have to fly to the port, good luck getting a flight this late out where you're not paying $700 per person, or more, for your flight.

 

You say you're looking at a 4 or 5 day cruise. Just be aware that the ships used for those short cruises are the oldest in the fleet and won't have all the bells and whistles of newer ships. Not to say there aren't things to do, there will be things to keep you occupied, but the older ships won't have it all, like the newer ones.

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jb456

jb456

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I'm in "aww" from the fabulous responses. The time all of you have taken to respond is very much appreciated!

 

Crystalspin thank you for outlining everything in such great detail! I have a better understanding now. I've taken your advice and did a dummy booking however I do have a few additional questions if anyone can assist with?

 

Found one interesting cruise from Miami with the option of going Carnival Conquest or Liberty. It goes to Cozumel Mexico, Belize, Roatan, Grand Cayman.

 

Did the dummy booking and it gave the price including port charges, taxes... Then it gave the option to pay the gratuities (11.50$ per day, per person) in advance.

 

So as (Wassup) mentioned... If we pay all that... Then there is no other hidden fees?

 

Which would mean the only additional fees would be if we decide to buy soda, premium coffees, alcohol or eat at a pay restaurant? Or like Kitty9 mentioned for on board shopping, photos, etc.

 

I also read that Carnival offers an all you can drink package.. However when I went to the steps to make the dummy booking, it never gave me the option to select a drink package. Is this something you need to do over the phone?

 

-----------

 

Our minds are not made up on Carnival. It just came up in a search and seemed like an interesting route however after viewing some youtube videos it seems that it's more suitable for our sons age and not for us? Although the party videos were mostly in March which I gather was all the Spring Breakers.

 

Is there dates to avoid when cruising? If I'm not mistaken Spring Break starts around Feb 14 at some schools.

 

Maybe early Feb would be more ideal?

 

That being said is there a particular cruise lines that you would recommend that I search for?

 

The ports were able to depart from is Fort Lauderdale or Miami. It's more convenient for these ports as we have family that reside in that area as well as our vacation home..So transportation, pre-hotel accommodations, etc is not an issue for us which reduces the cost significantly.

 

Were going to be there Feb 1st to mid March but with spring break and all I think were going to have to figure out something quickly and book a cruise for around Feb 8th?

 

Kitty9 - Flights are not an issue.. We live close to the USA border. 45 min drive and were at the US airport with those cheapy airlines spirit/allegiant.. and they fly direct to Florida.. We use them 10+ times a year so were aware how they are... Anyways flights were only 79$ including tax each way that we booked a few weeks ago already.

 

-------

 

Regarding "interior" rooms. Do they all have a bed and sofa/or pull out bed?

 

I tried looking at the rooms and it's rather confusing, as it says interior, then it goes 1a, 4a, 4b, etc and each type of room seem a bit different.. One had a bunk bed on top with a small twin bed, another had two twins that turn into a king, but did not say anything about a pull out bed or sofa bed.

 

So how do you know which room to book?

 

What type of room category would you suggest for 3 adults? Maybe instead of an "Interior" there is something more suitable for the 3 of us?

 

If you leave it up to the cruise line to pick the room are they smart enough to see that there is 3 adults in the room and will put you in a room that will accommodate all 3?

 

How do families go on cruises. Like those with two children.. I can't see them all paying for suites.. So what kind of rooms do they get to accommodate everyone?

 

I apologize for all these questions. I'm just very confused about all these room types, categories, etc. The interior is fine for the wife and I but we would feel more comfortable knowing that are son has a place to lay his head down although I doubt he will care at 3am if it's the floor lol.

------------

 

As a first time cruiser would you recommend a certain amount of days? Like 5 night trip rather then a 7 night? or maybe even a shorter cruise to get the feel of things?

 

We've been on plenty of those day casino / Bahamas cruises which were rather fun and entertaining but never spent multiple nights on a ship. I'm sure it will be an enjoyable time for the wife and I but we do have concerns about our son.

 

He's used to Dominican/Cuba/Mexico at AI's or overseas gallivanting from place to place with his friends. It's been hard enough to convince him to even come on the cruise especially since he has limited time off from work and his own life. He said he does not want to be stuck in the middle of an ocean playing bingo at 10pm lol. Which I don't blame him cause I'd prefer to be in a more lively atmosphere as well.

 

What do you think? 10pm bingo in the middle of no where or will he enjoy himself?

--------------------

 

Regarding purchasing liquors at different ports. I know they hold on to them till the trip is over but is there a certain limit?... If we were to go to Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, Grand Cayman could we buy something at each port?

 

I read on another thread your allowed to bring 12 bottles of water on board per person... Is that all cruise ships? If that's the case can you bring the water when you board the boat and then 2 ports later buy more water and bring that on the boat?

 

Could you bring a 12 pack of soda instead of water?

 

At lunch/dinner what does a soda generally run for? 3$ I presume?

 

The water on board that is free? If you go up to the bar and ask for a glass of water it will be tap water with ice?

 

------

 

I'm very sorry for all the questions.. Reading them some sound kind of "dumb/silly".... Your help is appreciated and I hope I can return the favor at some point.

 

Thank you!

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jb456

jb456

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Sorry another question... Do most boats have texas holdem? Cash games and tournaments?

 

Speaking of the casino, is drinks free while gambling?

 

 

I keep seeing "formal nights" does everyone have to partake in that? The wife and I will definitely be dressed to impress but think the kiddo would rather a quick bite and hang out at a bar.

 

Thanks

Edited by jb456
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kitty9

kitty9

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Once you have booked the cruise, you'll get a booking number, and once you have that, you can go online and purchase a drink package, book tours and all the rest. It's the booking number that opens all the doors for you.

 

As for the cabin, have you thought of going to a local travel agent and getting all your questions answered? You don't have to book through them, but you can get cruise brochures that will have deck plans where you can see what cabins offer what. Those deck plans will indicate which cabins accommodate three passengers and can indicate what the third bed is like, using little things like a triangle or square that will indicate what the cabin will handle----you know what I mean, like a wheelchair indicates a cabin is for a disabled person. I have to ask, how big is your son? The reason I ask is, if he's bigger/taller, those pull down bunks will not work for him, and even those pull out sofas aren't all that good for a bigger adult. Those beds are used mostly for families with young kids.

 

With alcohol, you are limited by US Customs as to how much you can bring back. Depending on where you cruise, you're limited to one or two bottles----any more than that, you'll pay Customs duty. As for water, it depends on the cruise lines. Some allow it, others don't. But, most people don't hassle with water because the water you get on the ship is cleaner and better tasting than your tap at home. Most bring a water bottle from home and just fill it up on the ship.

 

Oh, don't let the cruise line pick your cabin. They'll usually give you the left overs in the worst locations, especially this late in the game. Spring break really doesn't start until March, but President's Week, the second week in Feb, will have TONS of kids on ships. Personally, I always avoid that week.

 

Now, for your son, a lot depends on his age. To be honest, I think cruises can be tough for 20-something's when basically cruising solo, meaning he's not with friends. Unless they're with a group of similar ages, they might be a bit bored on a cruise, especially if they're used to being constantly on the go,and needing lots of partying. Yes, there's a disco and other bars, and no, he won't play bingo at 10 pm, but unless there's a lot of other solo cruisers in his age group on board, and there's no way of knowing what the passenger mix will be, he may be a little bored. That's the reason why I would recommend a ship like Oasis or Allure of the Seas with their rock climbing, flow-rider surfers and other activities that would interest a 20-something.

Edited by kitty9
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perkydebrajean

perkydebrajean

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Not sure about the other cruise lines, but on NCL you are allowed to bring as many bottles of soda and bottles of water as you want. You can bring as many bottles of wine as you want also but you pay a $15 corkage fee per bottle on the wine.

 

I've only got one cruise under my belt so I'm pretty much a newbie also but spend a lot of time on these boards reading up. You can learn a lot on these boards!

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jb456

jb456

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Not sure about the other cruise lines, but on NCL you are allowed to bring as many bottles of soda and bottles of water as you want. You can bring as many bottles of wine as you want also but you pay a $15 corkage fee per bottle on the wine.

 

I've only got one cruise under my belt so I'm pretty much a newbie also but spend a lot of time on these boards reading up. You can learn a lot on these boards!

 

 

Thank you, I'm going to look at what NCL routes are offered from Miami... Being able to bring drinks and wine on board is a great benefit.

 

I presume you can't take the soda/wine out of your room though?

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crystalspin

crystalspin

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Posted (edited)

... You have a feel for the budgeting now!

 

I also read that Carnival offers an all you can drink package.. However when I went to the steps to make the dummy booking, it never gave me the option to select a drink package. Is this something you need to do over the phone? Some lines (and Carnival is probably one of them) you can only buy the UBP once you are on the ship. ETA -- booking number may be what you need as kitty pointed out. IDK because undesirable to us.

 

-----------

 

Our minds are not made up on Carnival. It just came up in a search and seemed like an interesting route however after viewing some youtube videos it seems that it's more suitable for our sons age and not for us? Although the party videos were mostly in March which I gather was all the Spring Breakers. Carnival is known as a Party Line. But there are all ages on board -- you did want something for your son to occupy himself after 11pm, after all.

 

Is there dates to avoid when cruising? If I'm not mistaken Spring Break starts around Feb 14 at some schools. President's Day break is I think a minor blip compared to Easter-ish break. I usually tell when to avoid by the fact that the ship is selling out and at premium price.

 

Maybe early Feb would be more ideal? See above.

 

That being said is there a particular cruise lines that you would recommend that I search for? I don't, others may.

...

 

Regarding "interior" rooms. Do they all have a bed and sofa/or pull out bed?

No they do not. Looking at the Conquest, the only Interior Room with a sofa is not actually interior but PortHole (PT). And you will need to make certain that sofa makes a bed -- which will be told by whether you are "allowed" to book it for three.

 

CCL like NCL have very small true interior rooms which I don't even see shown with a bunk or trundle, except the upper/lower which is ONLY for two, and the descriptions (which pop up if you click the little red + sign lower right of photo) say things like "cozy" or "pair of cruisers".

 

I cannot link the pages I'm looking at because all the pages have the same URL:

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-conquest.aspx

 

If you click Interior tab, you can see what I see. Then click the Deckplans button upper right and you can find that PT cabins are on Decks 1&2, Riviera and Main

 

The 1a 1b numbers usually relate to pricing, based on both amenities and desirability of location.

...

 

So how do you know which room to book? See above.

 

What type of room category would you suggest for 3 adults? Maybe instead of an "Interior" there is something more suitable for the 3 of us? See above. Also ask on the Carnival board on this forum, for someone who has sailed on the same ship in an Interior (which appears quite unlikely for 3 as above) or a PortHole cabin.

 

If you leave it up to the cruise line to pick the room are they smart enough to see that there is 3 adults in the room and will put you in a room that will accommodate all 3? I wouldn't do this myself... at least not without reassurance i.e. on the phone not website. Of course not everyone on the other end of the phone has ever even been on a ship, but as I mentioned, being able to book three in a Porthole room where you can see photos...

https://www.google.com/search?q=carnival+conquest+porthole&client=firefox-a&hs=VZ2&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=eBzbUvaSB9DMsQSIhYKQBQ&ved=0CDgQsAQ&biw=1093&bih=526

 

How do families go on cruises. Like those with two children.. I can't see them all paying for suites.. So what kind of rooms do they get to accommodate everyone? Often those with children book two rooms, with one adult in each room on the booking, then switching (or not) who sleeps where once on board. There are lots of threads about the booking and sleeping arrangements

 

...

As a first time cruiser would you recommend a certain amount of days? Like 5 night trip rather then a 7 night? or maybe even a shorter cruise to get the feel of things? Not shorter than 5 as those are commonly called "Booze Cruises" -- 5 is even borderline if you can swing 7.

 

...

 

What do you think? 10pm bingo in the middle of no where or will he enjoy himself? Pick a couple of possible cruises/cruise lines, and get thee hie to the line-specific boards to ask age-and-activity specific questions! I am no judge as knitting was my most common activity in the evening on our last cruise and reading was my husband's (after the show sometimes).

--------------------

 

Regarding purchasing liquors at different ports. I know they hold on to them till the trip is over but is there a certain limit?... If we were to go to Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, Grand Cayman could we buy something at each port? I do not know. In fact I can't think why you would want to have to schlep all that home by air? I know there are a few rums and such that aren't available at WinesRUs, but so much is! It's not even US duty free if more than one bottle apiece...

 

I read on another thread your allowed to bring 12 bottles of water on board per person... Is that all cruise ships? If that's the case can you bring the water when you board the boat and then 2 ports later buy more water and bring that on the boat? Each line has its own policy but that is generally so.

 

Could you bring a 12 pack of soda instead of water? Most if not all ships treat soda and bottled water the same.

 

At lunch/dinner what does a soda generally run for? 3$ I presume? On Norwegian Star it was $2.10 as per the bar menu I photographed. Plus 32 cents gratuity so $2.42.

 

The water on board that is free? If you go up to the bar and ask for a glass of water it will be tap water with ice? Yes, it is desalinated/purified water which is chlorinated (as is city water, right?) and probably additionally filtered at bars and restaurants but tastes just fine to these city dwellers chilled from the tap in your room.

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crystalspin

crystalspin

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Thank you, I'm going to look at what NCL routes are offered from Miami... Being able to bring drinks and wine on board is a great benefit.

 

I presume you can't take the soda/wine out of your room though?

NCL has "Dress Up or Not" nights but does have a slight dress code of long pants and (I believe) collared shirts, no ball caps, and possibly closed toe shoes for men IN THE MAIN DINING ROOMS. Women get away with capris/culottes and (dressy) sandals -- don't hate us. Check FAQs on NCL website. Upcharge restaurants are 'smart casual' all the time with that same rule above. Other lines if you don't want to dress formal on formal nights, you can eat in the buffet not MDRs. We did this on HAL to Alaska.

 

You can bring wine and soft drinks on many of the lines. You can take all "legally brought on" beverages anywhere on the ship. Exception being the one bottle of wine per person on some lines which are for consumption in room. Wine that has had the corkage paid on it (evidenced by a sticker) -- you can not only drink in a restaurant or bar, but they will store any not drunk and magically produce it the next time you want it!

 

I know nothing of casino life, excepting reading a little on Cruise Critic that seems to indicate that free booze while gambling is either non-existent or much less than in "the good old days." I would save those questions until getting closer maybe narrowing it down to an itinerary and ship or three... then ask specific questions on the appropriate board.

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jb456

jb456

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Once you have booked the cruise, you'll get a booking number, and once you have that, you can go online and purchase a drink package, book tours and all the rest. It's the booking number that opens all the doors for you.

 

As for the cabin, have you thought of going to a local travel agent and getting all your questions answered? You don't have to book through them, but you can get cruise brochures that will have deck plans where you can see what cabins offer what. Those deck plans will indicate which cabins accommodate three passengers and can indicate what the third bed is like, using little things like a triangle or square that will indicate what the cabin will handle----you know what I mean, like a wheelchair indicates a cabin is for a disabled person. I have to ask, how big is your son? The reason I ask is, if he's bigger/taller, those pull down bunks will not work for him, and even those pull out sofas aren't all that good for a bigger adult. Those beds are used mostly for families with young kids.

 

With alcohol, you are limited by US Customs as to how much you can bring back. Depending on where you cruise, you're limited to one or two bottles----any more than that, you'll pay Customs duty. As for water, it depends on the cruise lines. Some allow it, others don't. But, most people don't hassle with water because the water you get on the ship is cleaner and better tasting than your tap at home. Most bring a water bottle from home and just fill it up on the ship.

 

Oh, don't let the cruise line pick your cabin. They'll usually give you the left overs in the worst locations, especially this late in the game. Spring break really doesn't start until March, but President's Week, the second week in Feb, will have TONS of kids on ships. Personally, I always avoid that week.

 

Now, for your son, a lot depends on his age. To be honest, I think cruises can be tough for 20-something's when basically cruising solo, meaning he's not with friends. Unless they're with a group of similar ages, they might be a bit bored on a cruise, especially if they're used to being constantly on the go,and needing lots of partying. Yes, there's a disco and other bars, and no, he won't play bingo at 10 pm, but unless there's a lot of other solo cruisers in his age group on board, and there's no way of knowing what the passenger mix will be, he may be a little bored. That's the reason why I would recommend a ship like Oasis or Allure of the Seas with their rock climbing, flow-rider surfers and other activities that would interest a 20-something.

 

Hi Kitty,

 

Thank you.

 

I thought I was doing something wrong when I could not see the drink packages... It makes sense that all those "additions" are after booking the trip.

 

Son is only 5'8 athletic build, he's not picking and wouldn't care being in a sleeping bag on the floor with a pillow if that was the case. Actually I have concerns about the bed as I'm 6'2, hope I can fit :) I tried searching for 2 rooms. Rather shocked at the single room rate!

 

Excellent idea on seeing a travel agent.. Going to do that Monday or Tuesday. First I guess I have to figure out what cruise line to take. Makes perfect sense if I have everything priced out in advance (online) and then go to them to get the room details. If they come in at the same price I'll just book with them and it will be one less step.

 

As for what cruise line to choose? I have no idea at this moment. Looking up NCL now. Seems nice!

 

Cruise line booking room and travel dates. Point taken. Thank you for that!

 

Son is mid/late 20s (26) so he's not really into the young all out parties but he's also not into gambling, more of an enjoyable social gathering with any age group young or old.

 

It would be ideal to bring someone along but there entire group is going to Punta Cana and our son decided to spend time with us rather then going to Dominican with his friends. The daytime is not an issue with pools, activities, sports, etc. Nor is the the ports an issue... and he's rather social-able so striking conversations will be easy.

 

It's the evening time that he is worried about...Although he wants to spend time with us, there's things he wants to do and things we want to do alone (casino, shows, etc). If the bars are somewhat lively, a few people to talk to or hang out with, possibly a cigar lounge and a disco then he should be fine. He's concerned that at 10/11pm things will get rather quiet with not much to do other then gambling... A poker game fine, but any other gambling related activities is not for him.

 

It's not so much having to be "extremely" lively but at the same time I can understand that someone changing travel plans to spend time with us parents still wants some fun options to do in the evening and not be in the room at midnight on facebook lol.

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crystalspin

crystalspin

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Hey I just discovered -- if you hover your mouse over a room on the Carnival deckplans, the number of guests it accommodates pops up. Only the TWO porthole rooms on the Main deck show 4 -- the four PT rooms on the Riviera deck show one two, despite the "representative" photo showing sofa.

 

Some interiors do also show 4 but the one I clicked it was pullman bunks not a sofa making the additional bedding.

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kitty9

kitty9

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Just a bit of info----be careful of Internet and cell phone use on a ship. Wifi is not free, and it's extremely slow. The per minute charge for Internet on a ship is around $.65 a minute, but can go slightly lower if you purchase a package of minutes. But connectivity is slower than the old dial up modems----downloading one page from the internet could take 2 minutes or more. And, be very careful of using cell phones or smart phones ona ship. Do not use your phone to surf the net, as the per minute charge is around $2.49 a minute. Unless you want to come home to a huge phone bill, like I did on my first cruise using a smart phone, you need to disable data roaming. Also, texting is $.50 to send and $.05 to receive----that can really add up.

 

I can understand your concern about you son having fun. Everyone wants that, and sometimes it's just a matter of going and doing. Don't restrict yourself to looking at one line. Take a look at them all, see what each provides, and go from there. You'll find that people have their favorites, and those lines they don't care for. I've been very fortunate to have cruised on nearly every line out there and while I have my favorites, I also have those I would not cruise on again, even if it were free (NCL, Costa). But everyone has to make their own decisions and realize that what's good for me might not be right for you.

 

Good luck.

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jb456

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... You have a feel for the budgeting now!

 

I also read that Carnival offers an all you can drink package.. However when I went to the steps to make the dummy booking, it never gave me the option to select a drink package. Is this something you need to do over the phone? Some lines (and Carnival is probably one of them) you can only buy the UBP once you are on the ship. ETA -- booking number may be what you need as kitty pointed out. IDK because undesirable to us.

 

-----------

 

Our minds are not made up on Carnival. It just came up in a search and seemed like an interesting route however after viewing some youtube videos it seems that it's more suitable for our sons age and not for us? Although the party videos were mostly in March which I gather was all the Spring Breakers. Carnival is known as a Party Line. But there are all ages on board -- you did want something for your son to occupy himself after 11pm, after all.

 

Is there dates to avoid when cruising? If I'm not mistaken Spring Break starts around Feb 14 at some schools. President's Day break is I think a minor blip compared to Easter-ish break. I usually tell when to avoid by the fact that the ship is selling out and at premium price.

 

Maybe early Feb would be more ideal? See above.

 

That being said is there a particular cruise lines that you would recommend that I search for? I don't, others may.

...

 

Regarding "interior" rooms. Do they all have a bed and sofa/or pull out bed?

No they do not. Looking at the Conquest, the only Interior Room with a sofa is not actually interior but PortHole (PT). And you will need to make certain that sofa makes a bed -- which will be told by whether you are "allowed" to book it for three.

 

CCL like NCL have very small true interior rooms which I don't even see shown with a bunk or trundle, except the upper/lower which is ONLY for two, and the descriptions (which pop up if you click the little red + sign lower right of photo) say things like "cozy" or "pair of cruisers".

 

I cannot link the pages I'm looking at because all the pages have the same URL:

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-conquest.aspx

 

If you click Interior tab, you can see what I see. Then click the Deckplans button upper right and you can find that PT cabins are on Decks 1&2, Riviera and Main

 

The 1a 1b numbers usually relate to pricing, based on both amenities and desirability of location.

...

 

So how do you know which room to book? See above.

 

What type of room category would you suggest for 3 adults? Maybe instead of an "Interior" there is something more suitable for the 3 of us? See above. Also ask on the Carnival board on this forum, for someone who has sailed on the same ship in an Interior (which appears quite unlikely for 3 as above) or a PortHole cabin.

 

If you leave it up to the cruise line to pick the room are they smart enough to see that there is 3 adults in the room and will put you in a room that will accommodate all 3? I wouldn't do this myself... at least not without reassurance i.e. on the phone not website. Of course not everyone on the other end of the phone has ever even been on a ship, but as I mentioned, being able to book three in a Porthole room where you can see photos...

https://www.google.com/search?q=carnival+conquest+porthole&client=firefox-a&hs=VZ2&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=eBzbUvaSB9DMsQSIhYKQBQ&ved=0CDgQsAQ&biw=1093&bih=526

 

How do families go on cruises. Like those with two children.. I can't see them all paying for suites.. So what kind of rooms do they get to accommodate everyone? Often those with children book two rooms, with one adult in each room on the booking, then switching (or not) who sleeps where once on board. There are lots of threads about the booking and sleeping arrangements

 

...

As a first time cruiser would you recommend a certain amount of days? Like 5 night trip rather then a 7 night? or maybe even a shorter cruise to get the feel of things? Not shorter than 5 as those are commonly called "Booze Cruises" -- 5 is even borderline if you can swing 7.

 

...

 

What do you think? 10pm bingo in the middle of no where or will he enjoy himself? Pick a couple of possible cruises/cruise lines, and get thee hie to the line-specific boards to ask age-and-activity specific questions! I am no judge as knitting was my most common activity in the evening on our last cruise and reading was my husband's (after the show sometimes).

--------------------

 

Regarding purchasing liquors at different ports. I know they hold on to them till the trip is over but is there a certain limit?... If we were to go to Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, Grand Cayman could we buy something at each port? I do not know. In fact I can't think why you would want to have to schlep all that home by air? I know there are a few rums and such that aren't available at WinesRUs, but so much is! It's not even US duty free if more than one bottle apiece...

 

I read on another thread your allowed to bring 12 bottles of water on board per person... Is that all cruise ships? If that's the case can you bring the water when you board the boat and then 2 ports later buy more water and bring that on the boat? Each line has its own policy but that is generally so.

 

Could you bring a 12 pack of soda instead of water? Most if not all ships treat soda and bottled water the same.

 

At lunch/dinner what does a soda generally run for? 3$ I presume? On Norwegian Star it was $2.10 as per the bar menu I photographed. Plus 32 cents gratuity so $2.42.

 

The water on board that is free? If you go up to the bar and ask for a glass of water it will be tap water with ice? Yes, it is desalinated/purified water which is chlorinated (as is city water, right?) and probably additionally filtered at bars and restaurants but tastes just fine to these city dwellers chilled from the tap in your room.

 

Thank you very much Crystal!

 

We have a much better understanding of "budget" now.. It's good to know all those things cause I can see a "newbie" like myself getting caught off guard. I already know the liquor bill is going to be pretty high, so with all the other things to factor in it gives us a better idea how to plan everything out.

 

Regarding the liquor question we like to have different alcohols from different countries. Not so much to drink (some yes) but some as a souvenir. Like those that collect keychains/post cards. We would not be trucking it all back to Canada we would leave it at our vacation home in Florida. I thought that maybe the alcohol limits via port/sea were different compared to flying into the US where your limited to a certain amount of liters. Figured being in International waters and so forth might make a difference but I gather not... It's not a big deal just something that would have been nice.

 

You right Carnival looks like it would be perfect for our son. Might not be ideal for us young ones at heart though :)

 

Do you think there would be quiet places on board the Carnival? For instance was looking at the youtube videos of the pool. They seemed very over crowded with young people having a good time. If there is some places a tad less crowded for us to read and tan and not be packed in like sardines then I think Carnival will be our choice... Then again not knowing anything about the different cruise lines there might be something better with Princess, Royal, NCL or something?

 

Ideal situation would be a decent mixture of both and not one thing outweighing the other (party vs relax).. I know it's all dependent on who else is on the cruise but usually from previous travelers you can get a general idea of the overall atmosphere.

 

The dress codes sound reasonable - thank you for that!

 

Regarding "main dining room" and "buffet" if you have some time to explain but of the difference on them please?

 

LOL that sounds funny I know what a buffet is hehe just trying to figure out what benefits there would be going to the main dinning room as opposed to just the buffet.

 

I'm going to assume that main dining room is likely a sit down where you can order from a menu, need a reservation time to get into it and somewhat a formal dress... Maybe similar to an "Ala Carte" at an All Inclusive resort?

 

Thank you!

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jb456

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Hey I just discovered -- if you hover your mouse over a room on the Carnival deckplans, the number of guests it accommodates pops up. Only the TWO porthole rooms on the Main deck show 4 -- the four PT rooms on the Riviera deck show one two, despite the "representative" photo showing sofa.

 

Some interiors do also show 4 but the one I clicked it was pullman bunks not a sofa making the additional bedding.

 

Great discovery Crystal! This helps more then you know :) Thank you

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jb456

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Just a bit of info----be careful of Internet and cell phone use on a ship. Wifi is not free, and it's extremely slow. The per minute charge for Internet on a ship is around $.65 a minute, but can go slightly lower if you purchase a package of minutes. But connectivity is slower than the old dial up modems----downloading one page from the internet could take 2 minutes or more. And, be very careful of using cell phones or smart phones ona ship. Do not use your phone to surf the net, as the per minute charge is around $2.49 a minute. Unless you want to come home to a huge phone bill, like I did on my first cruise using a smart phone, you need to disable data roaming. Also, texting is $.50 to send and $.05 to receive----that can really add up.

 

I can understand your concern about you son having fun. Everyone wants that, and sometimes it's just a matter of going and doing. Don't restrict yourself to looking at one line. Take a look at them all, see what each provides, and go from there. You'll find that people have their favorites, and those lines they don't care for. I've been very fortunate to have cruised on nearly every line out there and while I have my favorites, I also have those I would not cruise on again, even if it were free (NCL, Costa). But everyone has to make their own decisions and realize that what's good for me might not be right for you.

 

Good luck.

 

 

Kitty your reading my mind now as my next question was internet.

 

Understand the connection is very slow... Do you think it would be good enough to use the Magic Jack app on smartphone to make free calls back to US and Canada?

 

If it's not fast enough for voice calls then I guess we can us the textme app to send texts for free.

 

Is there a premium internet (high speed) that you can order for a higher price?

 

---

 

As you have been an all the cruise lines, could you rate the top 3 that I should look at...I'm sure you have been on some very nice cruises, I'm not talking about those cruise lines, but a middle of the road cruise line for a few days in the Caribbean.

 

Thank you very much!

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crystalspin

crystalspin

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OIC about the liquor from different places. Well there is still the declaration -- I do not believe there is a limit -- also there may be some local 'imports' in the ship's DutyFree (IDK).

 

The Main Dining Room on ships with what is called Traditional Dining have an early and a late seating which you are assigned (sometimes according to your request!) and you always eat at the same table with the same other people and the same waitstaff. Some people like it that way.

 

Some lines are trying to please everyone and have both Traditional and "Anytime" Dining.

 

NCL is Freestyle ® all the way -- you decide at any time where you want to eat. You can make reservations at upcharge restaurants OR for a large party in MDR(s), or you can take your chances even at the upcharges. On the Norwegian Star (and most of their ships) there were two MDRs with different decor and slightly different full-time menus, with the daily specials being the same in both. One was supposedly "dressier" than the other (it had a traditional or European decor, with the less-dressy kind of Art Deco in style). I would have preferred the buffet (which had your average Denny's decor) but my DH has a tendency to overeat with so many choices and he was trying NOT to come home weighing more than at the start! So we dined mostly at the MDRs. I think NCL's megaships may have three MDRs but not sure of that. The website can fill in the gaps.

 

Seems like you are narrowing it down, perhaps it's time to go to the Carnival board and ask about people's experience with age ranges and also Liberty/Conquest ship-specific questions about public areas. I've been reading on there too, but I haven't sailed with CCL so need to limit my answers to what I know!

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

 

Prior Cruises

1995 Marco Polo, Cape Town to Buenos Aires

2000? Statendam, Ensenada to Hawaii and back

June 2009 Statendam, Vancouver to Seward, Alaska

June 2011 MS Russ, St.Peterburg to Moscow

Sept/Oct 2012 MS Russ, Astrakhan to Moscow

Dec 2013 Norwegian Star, Panama Canal & Mexican Riviera

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jb456

jb456

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OIC about the liquor from different places. Well there is still the declaration -- I do not believe there is a limit -- also there may be some local 'imports' in the ship's DutyFree (IDK).

 

The Main Dining Room on ships with what is called Traditional Dining have an early and a late seating which you are assigned (sometimes according to your request!) and you always eat at the same table with the same other people and the same waitstaff. Some people like it that way.

 

Some lines are trying to please everyone and have both Traditional and "Anytime" Dining.

 

NCL is Freestyle ® all the way -- you decide at any time where you want to eat. You can make reservations at upcharge restaurants OR for a large party in MDR(s), or you can take your chances even at the upcharges. On the Norwegian Star (and most of their ships) there were two MDRs with different decor and slightly different full-time menus, with the daily specials being the same in both. One was supposedly "dressier" than the other (it had a traditional or European decor, with the less-dressy kind of Art Deco in style). I would have preferred the buffet (which had your average Denny's decor) but my DH has a tendency to overeat with so many choices and he was trying NOT to come home weighing more than at the start! So we dined mostly at the MDRs. I think NCL's megaships may have three MDRs but not sure of that. The website can fill in the gaps.

 

Seems like you are narrowing it down, perhaps it's time to go to the Carnival board and ask about people's experience with age ranges and also Liberty/Conquest ship-specific questions about public areas. I've been reading on there too, but I haven't sailed with CCL so need to limit my answers to what I know!

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

 

Prior Cruises

1995 Marco Polo, Cape Town to Buenos Aires

2000? Statendam, Ensenada to Hawaii and back

June 2009 Statendam, Vancouver to Seward, Alaska

June 2011 MS Russ, St.Peterburg to Moscow

Sept/Oct 2012 MS Russ, Astrakhan to Moscow

Dec 2013 Norwegian Star, Panama Canal & Mexican Riviera

 

 

Yes narrowing it down a bit but that is only thanks to you and the other very kind forum members.. Without the assistance of you folks I'd still be a hot mess bouncing from place to place :)

 

Thank you very much for everything. It's greatly appreciated!

 

We've decided to pick a date around Feb 8th to avoid anything with spring break and any other holidays in late Feb/March.

 

Going to look and each cruise line again and see what is still be offered around Feb 8th from FLL/MIA and see what ports each stop at.. From there going to research each boat to see what appeals to us more.. When I get the boats down to 2 or 3, coming back to the forums to read all the great info and ask specific question.

 

If I can't figure out the "rooms" by Monday going to the travel agent to let them do the work lol.

 

I think as a 1st time cruiser our choice of opting for a middle of the road boat for a few nights in the Caribbean is ideal as opposed to jumping straight to the glamorous luxury cruises. This way any future cruises we will be able to make some decent comparisons between the boats to hopefully finding one that suits our needs and we can make multiple trips on.

 

I have to say I think we are going to become part of the cruising family :)

 

Thank you all again for your great assistance!

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crystalspin

crystalspin

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@ jb

 

Cruise Critic provides a way to search to save you going from lines' website to website, starting from scratch. Here's February out of Fort Lauderdale, 3-5 and 6-9 days and out of Miami 3-5 and 6-9 days:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?sort=date&port=121&depcity=79&cl=&length=3-5&startDate=2/1/2014&endDate=2/1/2014&portofcall=&shipID=&lifestyle=

http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?sort=date&port=121&depcity=79&cl=&length=6-9&startDate=2/1/2014&endDate=2/1/2014&portofcall=&shipID=&lifestyle=

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?sort=date&port=121&depcity=148&cl=&length=3-5&startDate=2/1/2014&endDate=2/1/2014&portofcall=&shipID=&lifestyle=

http://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?sort=date&port=121&depcity=148&cl=&length=6-9&startDate=2/1/2014&endDate=2/1/2014&portofcall=&shipID=&lifestyle=

 

A quick glance shows that we didn't talk about Celebrity or Royal Caribbean. I *think* they might be worth your looking into. The general and not proven 100% opinion (as gleaned from random posts I've been reading) that CCL and NCL are the most casual, Celebrity (which for some reason is abbreviated "X" on these boards) and RCI are somewhere in-between, and Princess and HAL tend to be more formal and stodgy. I'm sure there are other opinions!

 

The other large factor that hasn't come up in this thread is LARGE-NESS of ship. My own humble opinion based on four ocean cruises (see tagline tickers) is that a 2000-2500 passenger ship of about the dimensions of the NCL Star is just right as far as having a SMOOTH (no-seasickness-inducing) ride, but not difficult to get around or too crowded. But I haven't sailed on any of the 4000 pax ships... nor do I want to!

 

However, there is the real possibility that a mega-ship might be the answer to your AND your son's different interests and desired activities. This will be a question for those that have sailed on one, if you narrow it down to one or more shiny new (BIG) ship(s).

 

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8c6d697705f80a87f46b336f5a717085.png

132c04ec73a292f40a8fd493eef0c0af.png

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perkydebrajean

perkydebrajean

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The main reason my daughter (age 18 at the time) and I chose NCL for our first cruise is because of their freestyle dining. I had no desire to be told that I had to eat at the same time every day and with the same people every day. I know a lot of people say they prefer the set dining time because they have the same wait staff every night and the staff learns of their likes and dislikes. But I'm one of these people that really doesn't know what sounds good to me until I sit down and think about it for a bit. So didn't matter to me whether or not I had the same wait staff each night.

 

I wanted to plan my dining around my day and not my day around my dining. So freestyle was perfect for us. We ate at a different time each night. We also enjoyed the Blue Lagoon on our ship which is open 23 hours a day. So several times we would head there after a late show for some hot wings or chicken strips as a late night snack. And since NCL doesn't have a set formal night you are not banned from the MDR on "Dress up or not night". On dress up or not night you can dress formal or not but still be able to eat in the MDR if you chose to. I believe on most of the cruise lines on formal night you are forced to eat the buffet or room service if you are not formally dressed. My daughter and I had to fly into NYC from Atlanta for our cruise and didn't feel like dragging formal clothes along with us.

 

I know other cruise lines have what they consider to be "my time" or "any time" dining but from what I've heard, NCL does it best since they are the ones that I believe started the concept of it.

 

Finally talked my husband into going on a cruise and we'll be going on the NCL Pearl in December on an 11 Day Southern Caribbean cruise.

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wassup4565

wassup4565

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jb456 I think the regulations for bringing alcohol back to the US might be different from Canada. For Canada, as you know, we can only bring a 26-er each back. But I think it's not the same for bringing booze back to the US. Probably US customs has a website, or maybe a US citizen can chime in on this???

 

You know, I wouldn't worry too much about the young lad being able to amuse himself. There is always something going on on a ship until the wee small hours - bars, shows, performers, dancing. You say he's a sociable guy, and if so, trust that he will be fine. One of the things I love about cruising is that everybody on board quickly becomes very sociable - it's very easy to meet people. Stop worrying Dad, he won't be playing bingo unless he chooses that. Actually, I think the bingo stops after the afternoon. After that it's all shows and bars and clubs.

 

No, no, don't even think about a sleeping bag on the floor - you have a misunderstanding about how much floor there is in these cabins. Pretty much none, except the path from the bed to the bathroom. So you must nail down a cabin that will give each person a bed. That's deal-breaker.

 

I encourage you to make this cruise happen with you and your son. The best vacations and times I've had have been cruising with my adult daughter. Unforgettable!

 

But everybody has to have their own bed - listen to me on this!!!!!

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