Cruise Advice - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

TimSJ · 07-11-2006, 05:42 AM

We usually do the all inclusive thing for vacations but the wife and i are maybe thinking about a cruise this year.

Saw one sailing March 3rd on the Carnival Liberty 8 night Eastern Carribean that looked good.

Any advice/reccomendations?

Thanks
tim

Cheese · 07-11-2006, 05:53 AM

Talk to de man...Sample00 LOL

icarus · 07-11-2006, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Cruise Advice

"Never go on Oprah again".

But seriously folks, I guess it depends on where you want to go and what you want your holiday to be like. The only cruise I've been on was through the Greek islands and that was pretty sweet.

TimSJ · 07-11-2006, 07:09 AM

Cheese plan to tlak to sample after i figure out what it is i want to do..

Have fun at the Sandals.. I was there for a tour before it originally opened a few years ago.. beautiful resort... one of the best beaches in the world.. Love the people in Cuba as well.. We usually stay at the Breezes Varadero..

MoneyGuy · 07-12-2006, 07:02 AM

Don't worry too much about the cruise line. There are differences but most important is the destination. Where do you want to go? You're probably very young so stay off of Holland America, which has an older crowd. I've done several cruises. PM me if you want to discuss this. Better yet, go to this site: cruisecritic.com. You can't think of a question that folks there can't answer. It's a gem. Once you book a cruise you can even set up or sign up on a roll call, where people on the same cruise sign in and, like I did on our Caribbean cruise, arrange to meet on the ship. Definitely go to that site. All kinds of tips and advice. Or contact me.

troutman · 07-12-2006, 08:27 AM

You have to pronounce it "Crooce" like George's Dad on Seinfled.

MoneyGuy · 07-12-2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Don't worry too much about the cruise line. There are differences but most important is the destination. Where do you want to go? You're probably very young so stay off of Holland America, which has an older crowd. I've done several cruises. PM me if you want to discuss this. Better yet, go to this site: cruisecritic.com. You can't think of a question that folks there can't answer. It's a gem. Once you book a cruise you can even set up or sign up on a roll call, where people on the same cruise sign in and, like I did on our Caribbean cruise, arrange to meet on the ship. Definitely go to that site. All kinds of tips and advice. Or contact me.

If you go to cruisecritic.com, go to the bulletin boards section. That's where you'll find the cruise experts. That board is so well traveled. It gets 10 times the posts than this one or any board I use does. Terrific site.

Prototype · 07-12-2006, 11:48 AM

Just finished a week long cruise on the Carnival Pride (Western Mexico). I'd easilly reccomend Carnival. It was my first cruise, and there was always something do to. I'd expect to have a long first and last day, but aside from that, you'll have a blast.

I'd say that your rooms aren't that important unless a) you have the money to blow, and b) you're a shut in, and want your own private view. My wife and I had a room right behind the emergency boats, so the view wasn't that great, but there were many places on the boat where you could go and have a section to yourself.

It's mondo busy during the day, at the pool, resturants, etc. At night it's nice and calm outside. Sure you wont be able to see anything, but you'll have the pool, and hot tub to yourself. Excursion days get pretty dead on the boat, for obvious reasons.

I also reccomend taking in the info sessions. They'll repeat them on the TV if you miss them, but I found them more interesting in person. Very informative stuff.

Hope this helps. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.

Cowperson · 07-12-2006, 11:55 AM

A few years ago, Mrs. Cowperson and I combined a swell trip to New York with a cruise from New York to the Carribean and back . . . . . Norwegian Dawn.

Did it in mid-November too.

Arrived in New York, stayed across the street from Central Park, saw Lyle Lovett at Carnegie Hall, took in some plays, walked all over, had zero lineups for anything because its off-season, got on the cruise ship, sailed out past the Statue of Liberty . . . . stops in Miami, Nassau and a little island . . . . . and then back, spent another night in New York then flew home.

A real nice combination.

This is the same ship and the same run though which ran into a monster 10 story high wave - something like that - which took out some cabins nearer the upper deck. I loved the North Atlantic in November!!!

Cowperson

OldSam · 07-12-2006, 12:03 PM

I've been on a LOT of cruises - from the Panama Canal to the Caribbean to a 30 day trip from LA to Australia to the most recent Mediterranean one. I LOVE that way of travel. Our 2007 trip is around South America.

We always book a suite on the longer cruises because there are times you just want to get away from everything and sitting on your own balcony having tea and freshly made chocolate chip cookies while watching the sea for marine animals is pretty cool.

You wake up almost every morning in a new and exciting place, the food is good, service is excellent, and you get to see a lot of the world in relative security.

Eastern Caribbean is a good trip, lots of nice stops. Lots of duty free shopping but if your wife likes jewellry, keep her away from Diamonds International and Columbian Emeralds.

Contrary to what a lot of people think, you can keep busy on a ship. They have lots of activities. If you don't like them, even walking on the deck is fun.

vanisleflamesfan · 07-12-2006, 02:03 PM

Alaskan cruise with a stopover in Victoria... NOT VANCOUVER!!

MoneyGuy · 07-12-2006, 02:11 PM

If you're into innovation, cruise through the Panama Canal.

Cruising, IMO, is actually quite economical when you consider all that you get. Prepare to be pampered.

guzzy · 07-12-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimSJ

We usually do the all inclusive thing for vacations but the wife and i are maybe thinking about a cruise this year.

Saw one sailing March 3rd on the Carnival Liberty 8 night Eastern Carribean that looked good.

Any advice/reccomendations?

Thanks
tim

Stay away from NCL. They were actually pretty good. We had a 5750 sq ft room with a butler and private concierge but the cruise was built for young families and old people. The room itself was amazing and came with 6 bottles of booze so we didn't do much socializing. Depending on your situation, get one that suits the predicament you are in.

If you go Eastern Caribean, don't take the quad trip in St. Maarten, just take the water taxi into town (dutch side) and go shopping and hit the labatt house on the beach. $1 CDn beers and good times right on the beach. Also the duty free is cheapest here. Don't buy at St Thomas (american) it is too expensive and usually sucker you in because it is the first stop

ALso, Peurto Rico looks like a hole from the boat but it is amazing. Go see the forts for sure but just take a cab directly there and catch another one back. We paid $20 each for 4 people for a tour which was worthless. We should have just gone to the forts, walked to downtown(5 mins) and then walked back to the ship.

Good luck. If you end up in tortolla, just go find a bar. Not much else there.

shane_c · 07-12-2006, 04:06 PM

How are the walls in the rooms on cruise ships? Are they paper thin like most hotels where falling asleep is almost an impossible task?

MoneyGuy · 07-12-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane_c

How are the walls in the rooms on cruise ships? Are they paper thin like most hotels where falling asleep is almost an impossible task?

Not too bad. I haven't heard much. But tell the wife to keep the noise down during the bedroom gymnastics, just in case.