Thread: Just back from Carnival Liberty

Just back from my first cruise on the Carnival Liberty Eastern Caribbean. Since this was my first cruise I didn't really know what to expect. I had a good time, very busy alot of activiities and things to do and see. The only thing I didn't like about cruising is the schedule, like dinner at 6pm every night, I realize I didn't have to eat at the restaurant and I could go to the buffet but it would of been nice to go to dinner when I wanted or when I was ready. As for going to ports, I think we were treated like cattle, getting in line, waiting in line, and alot of rude people on board, cutting in front of you, saving lounge chairs and then accusing you of saving seats at the show, we had gotten front row seats one night at a show but we were there playing bingo before the show one night, my nephew was sitting next to me and he got up to purchase his bingo card and someone wanted his seat and I said this seat is taken and the person said there is no saving seats and I said I am not saving it he is purchasing his bingo card and he has been sitting here for the past half hour. I ran into alot of rude people on this ship who acted like this was their own personal ship. But besides that is was a fun time. I probably would not cruise again on Carnival probably another cruise line where there is alot more flexibility with dinner times and such. The crew members on the ship were awesome some of the most nicest people I have ever met. They called me by my name, how they can remember everyone is amazing. Our wait staff was great Wilfredo and U Guiste were so great, I gave them a big hug on our last night, I miss them. The shows were great, very entertaining. Our cruise director was Karl with a K, he was very fun and made the trip very enjoyable. On the last day they had a breast cancer walk that we participated in and it was great the cruise director and the captain both walked, I think there was about 300 people who walked the track 9 times which was a mile. All in all it was a great vacation. As for seeing the ports, we really didn't have time to see the islands that we visited since we were on such a timeline having to be back on the boat at such and such time. But I like the Half Moon Cay and turks where everything was right there, the shopping and beach so we didn't really have to go too far, but then again we really couldn't see the island itself. But enjoyed just hanging by the beach or pool.

If anyone has any questions let me know, I will try to answer.
Sue
Out of Miami, Half Moon Cay, St Thomas USVI, San Juan PR, Grand Turk

Welcome home and thanks for the report. So now after your first cruise, are you ready to go again? I hope so.

If you go during highly traveled times when school is out, you're normally going to find more crowded ships, which usually translates to more rude people. And this is not just a Carnival thing, you'll find it on most cruise lines. I've been on more upscale cruises and found the same thing, especially when reserving seats around the pool.

As for dining times, Carnival, like alot of other cruise lines, are implementing 'anytime' or 'personal choice' dining on their ships. You'll find this very prevelant by the end of the year on Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, just to mention a few.

As for the normal 'cattle' hearing for getting on and off ships, and going on shore excursions, this is also indicative of a more crowded ship.

Couple of things for you to consider for your next cruise; if you can, go during off-season times. You'll have less people and usually less rudeness. Try a ship that has anytime dining available. If you like Carnival, then try them again but perhaps a different ship. Or try another cruise line so you can compare your experiences.

The main thing about cruising is often you just have to realize there are alot of people and you have to go with the flow, don't let the little things bug you too much, and there's something out there to please everyone.

Pete

Thanks for taking the time to tell us about your FIRST cruise!

Great that you enjoyed cruising! Now, all you need to do is find the cruise line that is the "best fit" for you. Think Princess (anytime dining) or RCCL.

KEEP CRUISING!

I'll have a report for you'll on the Destiny in a few days, and even if it's not fun, I'll make it fun.

Originally Posted by hanna

Welcome home and thanks for the report. So now after your first cruise, are you ready to go again? I hope so.

Hanna, I am not ready, because I am so exhausted from this vacation, it was a good time but I am used to doing all-inclusive resorts in the caribbean and just staying at the resort and laying by the pool or beach with a good book and a pina colada in hand and this was a very busy go go go vacation with family so I am totally exhausted. I didn't sleep very well and besides didn't get to bed each night until after 1am and up early in the morning so when I got home I was exhausted so was my husband, I had one day to recuperate before going back to work on Monday, my husband has 3 days before having to go back to work, but he is already on the internet checking into different cruises for this Fall on different cruise lines. We met some people who have cruised different cruise lines and gave us some suggestions on different cruise lines that they think would suit us better. This one was fine since it was a "familiy cruise" my parents who are in their 70s my sister and her husband 40s and their children 18,20,23 so it did suit our family but not my husband and I individually. We will probably do another cruise this Fall since we typically take our vacations in the Fall in the off season. I am glad I found this message board it has alot of useful info.

Sue (still totally exhausted, but had a great time)

Next time you might want to find a cruise that has more days at sea - gives you time to relax more.

Keep in mind that if you go to bed at 1:00am and get up early to go into port, that's not the cruise that's to blame - that's your personal preference for wanting to party! lol

And you can do on a cruise what you do at an all-inclusive; sit around the pool, eating and drinking, and just taking it easy. Nothing says you have to spend the day in port. In fact, spending a day on the ship while everyone else is in port is a wonderful way to relax. Hardly any people on the ship and no one in the pool. And they usually offer specials in the spa on days in port because no one goes for a massage on those days.

Talk to a qualified agent and they can help you find the right cruise for your needs. It'll save you time shopping around and trying to figure it out on your own.

Pete

Pete,

When I say I am totally exhausted from my cruise it means I am complementing the cruise line as I had a good time and I didn't want to go to bed and sleep I wanted to stay up and be entertained and have fun because they provided that for me. I normally am in bed by 10 or 11 even on vacation but I had so much fun on this cruise at night that I just didn't want to miss anything. I chose to go go go but now I am paying the price of exhaustion because they had so much stuff to do that was fun. Normally on my all-inclusive vacation they do not have stuff to do so I end up just lounging around and going to bed early. The night life on this cruise was really great, I think I enjoyed that more than going into ports during the day. But I guess everyone is different and enjoys different things. The night life was probably the best part of the cruise, the shows were great the disco was fun and just hanging out in the hall way outside the casino on the couches was fun just people watching and drinking. The comedian show was good, but he did get really raunchy at the midnight show, he did go a little overboard. But I really enjoyed the entertainment on the cruiseship the most of all. And I actually won $83 in the casino playing dollar slots and I only put in $10 so that made me really happy and I don't normally gamble.

Just saying the nightlife on this cruise was great and I didn't want to miss a thing.

Sue

Isn't a first cruise wonderful...even with the "burps" in it. Look back how you wrote what was wonderful and book again...you are hooked! LOL I am looking forward to my 5th cruise like it is my first.

Originally Posted by zanne

Pete,

When I say I am totally exhausted from my cruise it means I am complementing the cruise line as I had a good time and I didn't want to go to bed and sleep I wanted to stay up and be entertained and have fun because they provided that for me. I normally am in bed by 10 or 11 even on vacation but I had so much fun on this cruise at night that I just didn't want to miss anything. I chose to go go go but now I am paying the price of exhaustion because they had so much stuff to do that was fun. Normally on my all-inclusive vacation they do not have stuff to do so I end up just lounging around and going to bed early. The night life on this cruise was really great, I think I enjoyed that more than going into ports during the day. But I guess everyone is different and enjoys different things. The night life was probably the best part of the cruise, the shows were great the disco was fun and just hanging out in the hall way outside the casino on the couches was fun just people watching and drinking. The comedian show was good, but he did get really raunchy at the midnight show, he did go a little overboard. But I really enjoyed the entertainment on the cruiseship the most of all. And I actually won $83 in the casino playing dollar slots and I only put in $10 so that made me really happy and I don't normally gamble.

Just saying the nightlife on this cruise was great and I didn't want to miss a thing.

Sue

I hear that! That's the bad thing about cruising - you want to do it all. We did a 2-week cruisetour in Alaska last year and it took a week to recover after we got back. We wanted to do it all and see it all, so we went non-stop. And it was definitely different than our 2-week stay at Secrets Excellence (now called Exellence Riviera) on the Mayan Riviera where we did absolutely nothing!

Now, if we can figure out a way to do a 10-day cruise followed by 10-days at an all-inclusive resort we'd have it made!!!

Pete