First!

[LexK]

Hello. Planning our (love-of-my-life and I) first cruise for my 60th around October 21st. We live in Michigan and I want to take a Caribbean cruise. I've been to Jamaica and Cayman, so was thinking of flying into San Juan Puerto Rico (unfortunately there is no non-stop), 5 to 7 port stops to the south.

Where can i get detailed itineraries? I can see that there are stops, but what time of day? How long in port?

We want a balcony and I get a *little* (4 on scale of 1-10) about seasickness. I coaster at Cedar Point (best in the world) and have to take half a Dramamine. I've gone snorkeling on small boats moving alot and did the same. So, I'm thinking middle fore to aft and in the middle top to bottom?

We would likely book excursions through the cruise line to keep things simple (thought I read that if we booked through them, that they'd wait if excursion was late?).

I read that Travel Agent might help. 

Any suggestions for cruise lines? Stops? TA?

All thoughts appreciated. Thanks

[crystalspin]

1 hour ago, LexK said:

So, I'm thinking middle fore to aft and in the middle top to bottom?

Middle fore to aft and as low as you can get top to bottom. All of the passenger/cabin decks are above the true middle, top to bottom. But the lowest passenger decks probably do not have balconies, so go as low as do, and midship.

 

For the itineraries, you will need to go to each prospective cruise on the cruiseline's website OR possibly a larger agency's website. 

 

I have not yet cruised the Caribbean, so I will let others suggest. We are booked on a Holland America cruise to the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao); that is Southern Caribbean. At one time we booked Royal Caribbean Cruise Line from San Juan to the ABC's, but had to cancel.

 

Good luck deciding and Welcome to Cruise Critic!

[Host Kat]

16 hours ago, LexK said:

... Any suggestions for cruise lines? Stops? TA?...

 

Hello @LexK and welcome to Cruise Critic and the message boards!

 

For information on cruise lines, click here for a Cruise Critic article: The Ultimate List of Cruise Lines: A Roundup of Different Cruise Lines By Category

 

To research ports: Ports of Call

 

And yes, a knowledgeable cruise specialist TA should be able to help you. Here is an oldie but goody Cruise Critic article: Finding a Cruise Travel Agent

 

As for TA recommendations, they are not allowed on the message boards. Please read the Travel Agent Recommendations and Advertising is Not Allowed sections in the Guidelines we all agreed to follow when registering for our free Cruise Critic memberships.

 

The Cruise Critic website and message boards are both great resources for new as well as experienced cruisers and we are so glad you found us! Please feel free to browse the Cruise Critic Community categories list of the various forums. I suggest you put the link to the page in your browser's Favorites for quick & easy access in the future. Please read a few threads in the different forums to get a feel for what each forum is about. Make sure you read any pinned threads (aka stickies) on the top of the first page of threads in most forums. You will find very important instructions or information there.

 

Once you book your cruise, don't forget to see if there is an existing Cruise Critic Roll Call thread for your cruise. If not, feel free to start one! And don't worry about any responsibilities in starting a Roll Call thread. Roll Calls belong to everyone; there is no designated leader or owner. It does not matter who started the thread.

 

The specific Cruise Critic Roll Call thread for your ship, line, and sail date is the ONLY place on the Cruise Critic message boards where you and your fellow Roll Call thread members are allowed to post personal ads about sharing private tours, excursions or transportation with each other to save money. There is a "captive audience" there since you are all sailing together! Your fellow Roll Call thread members may have important information posted in your Roll Call thread. Especially those that may have sailed your line, ship or itinerary before. Also, they may have already posted share requests that may interest you. Roll Calls are for Cruise Critic members on the same cruise. They get to know one another online before their cruise so there will be all kinds of discussion in the Roll Call thread for their cruise!

 

Please read What is a Roll Call? Everything you Need to Know and How To: Create A New Roll Call. For more information about our famous Roll Calls, please read the Roll Calls and Our Policy Regarding Facebook and Roll Calls sections in the Guidelines. We also have the following Cruise Critic article you might enjoy: 8 Reasons to Join a Cruise Critic Roll Call

 

If you ever need technical help in regard to using the Cruise Critic message board software, go to the Need Help Using the Forums? Check Here! forum. You will see a large amount of "How to..." pinned threads toward the top of the forum's first page. Also, browse through the threads in the forum looking for threads of interest. You may find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you. 

 

So sorry this is so long, but I sincerely hope this will be helpful to someone new to posting on our message boards. We are glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic! 

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat

 

[JJK2008]

5 hours ago, Host Kat said:

 

Hello @LexK and welcome to Cruise Critic and the message boards!

 

For information on cruise lines, click here for a Cruise Critic article: The Ultimate List of Cruise Lines: A Roundup of Different Cruise Lines By Category

 

To research ports: Ports of Call

 

And yes, a knowledgeable cruise specialist TA should be able to help you. Here is an oldie but goody Cruise Critic article: Finding a Cruise Travel Agent

 

As for TA recommendations, they are not allowed on the message boards. Please read the Travel Agent Recommendations and Advertising is Not Allowed sections in the Guidelines we all agreed to follow when registering for our free Cruise Critic memberships.

 

The Cruise Critic website and message boards are both great resources for new as well as experienced cruisers and we are so glad you found us! Please feel free to browse the Cruise Critic Community categories list of the various forums. I suggest you put the link to the page in your browser's Favorites for quick & easy access in the future. Please read a few threads in the different forums to get a feel for what each forum is about. Make sure you read any pinned threads (aka stickies) on the top of the first page of threads in most forums. You will find very important instructions or information there.

 

Once you book your cruise, don't forget to see if there is an existing Cruise Critic Roll Call thread for your cruise. If not, feel free to start one! And don't worry about any responsibilities in starting a Roll Call thread. Roll Calls belong to everyone; there is no designated leader or owner. It does not matter who started the thread.

 

The specific Cruise Critic Roll Call thread for your ship, line, and sail date is the ONLY place on the Cruise Critic message boards where you and your fellow Roll Call thread members are allowed to post personal ads about sharing private tours, excursions or transportation with each other to save money. There is a "captive audience" there since you are all sailing together! Your fellow Roll Call thread members may have important information posted in your Roll Call thread. Especially those that may have sailed your line, ship or itinerary before. Also, they may have already posted share requests that may interest you. Roll Calls are for Cruise Critic members on the same cruise. They get to know one another online before their cruise so there will be all kinds of discussion in the Roll Call thread for their cruise!

 

Please read What is a Roll Call? Everything you Need to Know and How To: Create A New Roll Call. For more information about our famous Roll Calls, please read the Roll Calls and Our Policy Regarding Facebook and Roll Calls sections in the Guidelines. We also have the following Cruise Critic article you might enjoy: 8 Reasons to Join a Cruise Critic Roll Call

 

If you ever need technical help in regard to using the Cruise Critic message board software, go to the Need Help Using the Forums? Check Here! forum. You will see a large amount of "How to..." pinned threads toward the top of the forum's first page. Also, browse through the threads in the forum looking for threads of interest. You may find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you. 

 

So sorry this is so long, but I sincerely hope this will be helpful to someone new to posting on our message boards. We are glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic! 

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat

 

Good intro Kat, well done. 

[Essiesmom]

A helpful site for researching itineraries is cruisetimetables.com.  In their menu bar you can click on ‘Cruises to…’ and select a place you would like to visit on your cruise.  It will tell you who goes there, and their itineraries.  Or, since you mentioned San Juan as departure port, you could go to ‘Cruises from’, choose San Juan, dates, and it will tell you who sails and itinerary.  It might save you going to each cruise line website if you are looking for something in particular.  EM

Edited June 13 by Essiesmom

[olemissreb]

Cruising in October is still during hurricane season...towards the tail end, but just something to be aware of.

 

I love sailing out of San Juan. I'm not sure how many main stream lines sail from there during hurricane season though. I'll be on the NCL Viva in March, but then she sails to Europe in April or May. I've also sailed Celebrity and RCI, but again, they reposition those ships to Europe just before hurricane season starts. 

 

If you want a balcony mid-ship, make sure you check the deck plans. You don't want to have a venue above you (like the pool deck) where you hear a lot of chairs or whatnot being moved around (I made that mistake once). Ideally get cabins above you and below you.

 

With seasickness, start taking your dramamine at night a couple days before you sail and continue each night on the cruise. This way you sleep well at night and wake up refreshed and ready to go with the medicine already in your system.

[John Bull]

Yes a cabin mid-ships, and on a deck as low as your self-respect allows you 😏 ("the more you pay, the more you sway").

The Caribbean is usually benign, some folks still go green at the slightest movement but I get the impression that you'll be fine with Dramamine or a little ginger.

 

You need to check each cruise itinerary for hours in port, but they're generally something like 8.30 to 9.00 until around 5pm to 6pm. Do watch out for the occasional half-day call.

 

You will usually need to be back at the ship 30 minutes before the advertised sailing time.

But for tendered ports - where the ship moors off-shore and you're taken ashore in small boats called "tenders" -  you usually have to be at the tender pier 60 minutes before the advertised sailing time. You don't have to worry about being on the ship or even on a tender 60 minutes ahead, it's 60 minutes ahead at the tender pier. If there's still a line waiting for a tender at the deadline the tenders will continue until the line has been mopped-up - I've even seen folk sheepishly join the end of the line after the deadline.

Itineraries usually say "ashore by tender" or show an anchor icon beside those ports. 

"Back on board time" or "last tender time" is mentioned in ship's daily newspaper and displayed at the gangway - it's always in "ship's time", which sometimes isn't the same as "local time". In those cases don't rely on local clocks or your not-very-smartphone. Borrow junior's wind-up Mickey Mouse watch 😏

 

Don't just jump for ships excursions at each port - they tend to be over-priced and unavoidably regimented, and some waste your time by taking you to outlets which pay them commission.

Few Caribbean sights are far from the ship, so the risk of missing the sailing are low. Those who go ashore independently and have the highest risk are those who imbibe too much at Senor Frog's or get carried away in local markets or forget the back-on-board time or how far they've wandered from the ship. There are plenty of vans at the ports who can replicate ship's tours at a fraction of the cost or offer something different. Van drivers at the port are known to each-other, they're friendly & trustworthy, and they know their island and the importance of being back in good time. Agree the price, itinerary & timescale before you get in, pay when you get back - it's the norm. And take basic beach gear with you - van tours often include some time at a beach or they can drop you off at a beach near the ship.

We take ship's excursions when timing is tight (unlikely in the Caribbean) or when there's no "Plan B"  -- for instance when it involves a ferry.

So for a first cruise take a few ship's excursions and free-wheel at other ports.

 

Read and re-read @Host Kat's post and links.

Lots of good basic advice there

 

But don't get stressed-out by information-overload

The Caribbean is the easiest place in the world for cruising, and you'll find your more-experienced ship-mates wiling to help.

 

All first cruises are great - whichever cruise you choose, have a great time

 

JB 🙂.

 

Edited June 13 by John Bull

[LexK]

Thanks to all!

 

" it's always in "ship's time", which sometimes isn't the same as "local time""

 

How do they keep time on ship? does ship display their time?

How do i know where best view from balcony with respect to cruise travel path. ie If the ship has the islands on the right, i want a room on the right. If most of the travel path has islands on the right - that's what I want.

 

Thank you again. You all ARE FABULOUS!

[Essiesmom]

3 hours ago, LexK said:

Thanks to all!

 

" it's always in "ship's time", which sometimes isn't the same as "local time""

 

How do they keep time on ship? does ship display their time?

How do i know where best view from balcony with respect to cruise travel path. ie If the ship has the islands on the right, i want a room on the right. If most of the travel path has islands on the right - that's what I want.

 

Thank you again. You all ARE FABULOUS!

Ships time starts in the departure port.  This time of year the Florida ports are on EDST.  Most of the Caribbean islands are on Atlantic standard time, an hour ahead of the US east coast…except when we are on EDST when we are the same.  The islands do not observe daylight savings time.  In the season when we are on standard time, the islands will be an hour ahead.  Most lines will change their clocks to match the time zone, but Carnival is one exception.  There may be others.  Going the other way, Mexico will be on central time.  EM

Edited June 13 by Essiesmom

[crystalspin]

4 hours ago, LexK said:

How do they keep time on ship? does ship display their time?

My experience on HAL is, yes, there is an analog clock just as you scan off the ship. Confirm on a non-smart watch -- your phone may set itself to the port's time!

[Elaine5715]

13 hours ago, LexK said:

Thanks to all!

 

" it's always in "ship's time", which sometimes isn't the same as "local time""

 

How do they keep time on ship? does ship display their time?

How do i know where best view from balcony with respect to cruise travel path. ie If the ship has the islands on the right, i want a room on the right. If most of the travel path has islands on the right - that's what I want.

 

Thank you again. You all ARE FABULOUS!

Ships never sail close enough to islands to view them.  However, you can google "cruise ship tracking" to see where ships travel, like planes, there are specific routes.  Ships have clocks all over and tvs in rooms with times.

I also live in Michigan and would suggest for a first timer, to consider ships leaving from Florida ports.  

[LexK]

9 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Ships never sail close enough to islands to view them.  However, you can google "cruise ship tracking" to see where ships travel, like planes, there are specific routes.  Ships have clocks all over and tvs in rooms with times.

I also live in Michigan and would suggest for a first timer, to consider ships leaving from Florida ports.  

Hello, fellow Michigander! The reason we thought of Puerto Rico is that we didn't want too much on ship time as we've never really done it. Can you elaborate why you would leave from Florida?

Thank you so much

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, LexK said:

Hello, fellow Michigander! The reason we thought of Puerto Rico is that we didn't want too much on ship time as we've never really done it. Can you elaborate why you would leave from Florida?

Thank you so much

You will LOVE ship time...

Florida homeports will offer you many more flight options (with better pricing) both to and from your cruise.  Experienced cruisers will always recommend flying in at least a day early and Florida home ports will give you many more options.  If you are planning a cruise between December and March two day head start is better given our weather. Direct flights from Detroit are far better than any connecting but if like me, your local airport requires connections in Detroit or Chicago, choose Detroit.  

I got caught in last year's ice storm, with a cancelled flight on Thursday, an extremely delayed flight on Friday, finally arriving late Friday night for a Saturday cruise. Due to the other cancelled flights that week, another flight was not an option for me or the other 150 people on board, so this year, I flew down on Wednesday and the weather was so mild, didn't even de-ice.

Puerto Rico can also pose some language barriers for inexperienced travelers.  It will also have far fewer cruise options.

Edited June 14 by Elaine5715

[SoloAlaska]

11 hours ago, LexK said:

Hello, fellow Michigander! The reason we thought of Puerto Rico is that we didn't want too much on ship time as we've never really done it. Can you elaborate why you would leave from Florida?

Thank you so much

Ship time is when you finally feel like you can just relax. There is so much to do onboard you’ll never be bored if you don’t want to be. 
 

if there are flight cancellations and your flying into let’s say Miami you can always fly into Fort Lauderdale. 

[mjkacmom]

One thing I didn’t do for our first cruise, because I was clueless, was get travel insurance. Not only are cruises non refundable closer to sailing, but most US health insurance doesn’t work out of the country, which could be potentially financially devastating, especially if a medical flight is necessary. Just seeing a doctor on the ship is costly.

[John Bull]

2 hours ago, mjkacmom said:

One thing I didn’t do for our first cruise, because I was clueless, was get travel insurance. Not only are cruises non refundable closer to sailing, but most US health insurance doesn’t work out of the country, which could be potentially financially devastating, especially if a medical flight is necessary. Just seeing a doctor on the ship is costly.

 

 

In the UK and much of Europe, and (I think), Aus., deposits are non-refundable from the moment that they're booked.

For those who don't have an annual travel policy, that makes it even more important to take out insurance when you book. 

Can also apply to car hire, hotels, independent excursions etc.

 

Most common travel insurance claims are for cancelation due to illness etc of the cruiser or their travel companion/s or close family.

 

JB 🙂

[Mum2Mercury]

On 6/12/2024 at 8:00 PM, LexK said:

Where can i get detailed itineraries? I can see that there are stops, but what time of day? How long in port?

This information is available before you book.  Click through a fake booking, and you'll see it at some point on the left side of the screen.  

On 6/12/2024 at 8:00 PM, LexK said:

We want a balcony and I get a *little* (4 on scale of 1-10) about seasickness. I coaster at Cedar Point (best in the world) and have to take half a Dramamine. I've gone snorkeling on small boats moving alot and did the same. So, I'm thinking middle fore to aft and in the middle top to bottom?

4 out of 10 is pretty strong.  I'd consider seeing the doctor ahead of time for something stronger than over-the-counter.  

Lots of people get sick on small boats but are FINE on full-fledged cruise ship.  

On 6/13/2024 at 5:16 AM, olemissreb said:

Cruising in October is still during hurricane season...towards the tail end, but just something to be aware of.

We only cruise in the fall.  Prices tend to be at their lowest, and the Caribbean weather is perfect -- you can wear shorts and not be sweaty.  I don't need a wrap for evening but not everyone's temperature is set at the same level.  

On 6/13/2024 at 5:33 AM, John Bull said:

But for tendered ports - where the ship moors off-shore and you're taken ashore in small boats called "tenders"

Few islands still use tenders -- check yours.  

On 6/13/2024 at 5:33 AM, John Bull said:

Don't just jump for ships excursions at each port - they tend to be over-priced and unavoidably regimented, and some waste your time by taking you to outlets which pay them commission.

Definitely.  Independent tours are smaller, give you more choices and are a superior experience.  That they're cheaper is just a bonus.  Choose the morning excursion and don't worry about the getting back part -- whoever thought up that scare tactic did the cruise line a good deed.