Cruise planning advice?

Question

My husband and I are thinking about going on a Eastern Caribbean cruise and have never been on a cruise before. Any advice on cruiselines, times of year, ships... any reccommendations at all would be appreciated.

Answer 1

The best website devoted to cruising is cruisecritic.com.  Go to the message boards and you will find the answer to any question you might have.  If you don't find the information you are looking for, post the question to the boards there.  You will be amazed at the huge amount of information regarding cruise lines, ports, travel to and from the ships, shore excursions, countries, etc.  All are answered by very experienced cruisers who love to share what they have learned with new cruisers.

Answer 2

I have been on many cruises and can tell you that you will love it. Once you are on ship the staff caters to you, its whatever you want. There is something to do all day every day. When you arrive at the port to check in you (each passenger) will have an on board charge account set up and receive a key card which will serve as your room key, charge card for anything you buy on ship (i.e.,drinks, souvenir, tours, photos, etc) and its also your pass to get on and off ship in each port. When you first board the ship the security personnel will have you insert your key card into a scanner and then will take a photo of you that is included in the magnetic strip on the card. Each time you get off ship you will need this key card and many times also a photo ID (passport or driver's license). This card allows them to keep an accurate track of all passengers entering and/or leaving the ship.

One of the first thing that cruise ships do when all of the passengers are on board is have a mandatory safety drill, ITS CALLED A MUSTER DRILL. Every passenger MUST go to their cabin and get life vest and then go to a place that is designated in the cabin for you to report to. Then they make sure that every person is accounted for and tell everyone how to properly put on the life vest (you must put it on right there at the "muster" point) and then they explain the emergency signals, in the event of an emergency. After the muster drill is over you take your life vest back to your cabin and the ship departs the port shortly thereafter.

Each day of your cruise you will receive in your cabin a "newsletter" listing the time, place and particulars of everything happening for you on ship. There are generally activities like demonstrations of ice carvings, napkin folding and towel folding, and cooking demonstrations. Some ships may offer a galley (kitchen) tour or a tour of the bridge. There will be organized games and other activities around the pools. In the evenings there are generally shows, one show for those with an early dinner seating and another (same show) for those who eat late. There is always food available. Usually there is a place in ship where you can go get something. Or, you can always just pick up the phone in your cabin and order from the room service menu (food is free). If you want, you can order breakfast room service.

All ships, except Disney, have a casino with slots and table games. Ships have movie theaters, generally small but nice, and you can also see movies in your room. They have ATM’s and a purser’s desk where you can cash a check or exchange currency if you need to. There is a tour and activities desk so you can schedule land tours and activities.

Ships have free morning exercise programs, stretching and walking, etc, and on some you can pay for other things like Spinning. All cruise ships have gyms so you can go workout, usually any time from 6:00 AM to late at night. There is usually a walking/running track on one of the decks also. Some ships leave the gym open all night. They call the gyms Spa because they do promote getting pampered with things like wraps and massages with aroma therapy. They will also generally have a beauty salon to do hair and nails.

There are always pools. Some ships have more than one and the newer ships generally have an indoor pool as well as outdoor ones and all of these have hot tubs. There is generally a basketball court on the top deck, a place for scuffle board, and a mini-golf course. The newer Royal Caribbean ships have a rock climbing wall and the newest one has a pool for water surfing.

There are places on ships to play cards and board games, and the cards and games are provided. If you want to just sit and read, there’s a library where you can bring your books or select one from the shelf. Ships have internet cafes and some offer WIFI if you bring your prefer to use your computer in your cabin (some ships offer notebooks for rent). There are cocktail lounges that feature a variety of music. Some have a piano bar with jazz. There is usually a disco that starts after 10:00 PM each night and last until everyone leave. On certain days ships will have special activities like a chocolate lovers buffet, or a midnight deck party

The Eastern Caribbean cruises usually go to St Thomas US Virgin Islands and St Maarten and then stop at a  private island for an all day  beach party.  The cruise lines that do most cruises are Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, and Royal Caribbean.  Disney also does the Bahamas and Caribbean.  Most young folks (21 to 35 age group) and first time cruiser go on Carnival because it is the party boat and it is the budget cruise line. Norwegian, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Princess have a more mixed crowd of people 40's to 60's and families.  Holland America is the line that most older people (60 and over) go on.

All of these lines are good; I have been on NCL, RC, Princess, and Celebrity.  The best time to go to the Caribbean is outside the hurricane season which is June through October; so go November through May.  You get the best rates and cabin by booking early and that means 6, 9 months to a year in advance.  All of the lines give advance booking discounts.  

My favorite cruise line is RC and my favorite of their ships is the Brilliance, Jewel, and Radiance of the Seas.  The Brilliance does the Mediterranean/Europe and the Jewel does New England and Canada summers and the Caribbean in winters.  Royal Caribbean has launched two new ships this year and last the Freedom and the Liberty of the Seas.  I recommend Royal Caribbean and any of the ships I have mentioned.  Just book early and be sure to book a balcony cabin or suite.

Answer 3

You will definatly have a blast!!

I think cruises are so romantic and fun....

The room is cozy.... just for you and him =0)

The food is delicious... and mostly free.... because if there are other restaurants besides the buffets and the main dinner area... then you will have to pay extra... but its not that expensive in most.

The 2 cruiselines I can recommend is Carnival Cruise line and Royal Caribbean.

Carnival is sometimes more afordable than Royal Caribbean, but Carnival does have alot of fun stuff to do.

Lounges, Las Vegas style shows, Casino, shops etc...

Royal Caribbean is a little more elegant but have mostly the same stuff....

It all depends on your budget =0)

If you can afford it the balcony staterooms are so romantic.... you can just look outside whenever you want and enjoy the view....

For Royal Caribbean the ships I think they are all beautiful but on Carnival .... you do not want to go on Celebration or Holiday ship since they are the oldest and smallest ones on the line. The other ships are just fine...beautiful and fabulous!

The best time to go on a cruise on the Caribbean is Feb-May .... June through Nov its hurricane season.....but I mean mainly the month its in September.... many cruises are way discounted in this month.... Im going on my honeymoon next Sept... to Western Caribbean... and we are risking it....the price its good and well if there is a hurricane they dont cancel the trip unless its very bad or they just change the itinerary but the price its very good...

As first time cruises <<< I think you will love it!! I loved it and I still do!!

Oh and if you think you are going to get sea sick.... alot of people do for the first day or so.... think about Dramamine Motion Sickness Pills!!  I have to take them everytome I go on a cruise =0)

Answer 4

cruisereviews.com

cruisecritic.com

cruiseclues.com

they have the experience that you need to pick your cruise.