Thread: First tiime cruiser - help!

Hi All -

My name is Kim and I've wanted to try cruising for decades. Well, now's my chance! My extended family is cruising the Western Caribbean in May as a group of 12, ages 6 to 91. I'd love any suggestions and tips you could offer - this is a once in a lifetime opportunity with this part of our family and I want to take advantage of every bit of it!

Our cabin will house our family of 5; our 16 & 19 yr old kids, a 19 yr old friend, and my husband & I. We're cruising the Carnival Inspiration. Our ports are Grand Cayman & Cozumel.

I'm as cluless as they come! Feel free to give any tips, no matter how obvious or rudimentary. I'm a fist timer in hopes of making this the first of many!

Thanks so much,
Kim

The first thing would be NOT to book a cabin for 5 unless it's a suite. The Inspiration is a smaller older ship and the cabins are very small, and with 5 full-size people, one bathroom, and one TV, you will find it extremely crowded. Two will be sleeping in trundle beds (twin beds that pop down from the ceiling) and a single sleeper sofa - and we all know how comfortable those things are. Yes, it is cheaper than buying two cabins, but sometimes sanity is worth the extra money. As I always tell people who want to put 5 in a small cabin; if you're not really good friends when you go in there, you'll be really good enemies when you come out.

Other than that, enjoy all the experiences, let the small things roll off your back so they don't upset the enjoyment, and do as much or as little as you want - after all, it's your vacation.

Pete

My major piece of advice is do not fly into your embarkation city the same day as your cruise. If you arrive a day or night before, you're there and can just relax. With flights the same day, any delay will cause stress. We like to do a little sightseeing the night before, maybe do a little shopping for items we didn't bring with (that bottle of wine, etc.).

(The only time we don't do this is when we're leaving from the Port of LA, which we live an hour's drive from. But just days after we got home for our most recent cruise, my hubby said the next time he would like to stay overnight in San Pedro (where the port is) at a hotel where you can see the cruise ships arrive at dawn.)

If you are booking airfare through the cruiseline (which IMO you don't need to do), you can get stuck with undesirable flights such as red eye or ones that get you there with just a few hours to spare. We prefer to have more control over our arrangements.

Other than that, here's some tidbits:

1) every night, you'll get a copy of the ship's newsletter, The Caper, which will list activities and other helpful info. Some people will bring a highlighter with so they can mark it up with what they want to do.
2) when you leave the ship for a port visit, double, triple check your watches against the ship's clock. Don't assume you'll be on "local time." I would bring the Caper with as it will tell you the time to be back onboard (which is usually AN HALF HOUR to AN HOUR before the scheduled sailaway time). The ship doesn't have to wait for passengers who don't heed this warning.
3) if you have any problems, don't hesitate to go to the purser's desk or other crew to get help. Most problems are fixable. We've rarely had any major problems in the ten cruises I've been on, but generally the cruiseline wants you to be happy.
4) food, except for specialty restaurants, are included in your fare. Some beverages (tea, lemonade, regular coffee, milk, juice at breakfast) are free. Most of the time, there's a charge for booze (at a few functions, there may be a free watered down drink, but if they ask for your sign and sail, it's not -- you can decide if you still want to pay for a drink if you wish, or just say no thanks).
5) I think Carnival may now be on autotips (which I find very convenient). You can also give additional tips if you wish. The kids' counselors aren't included in the tipping pool, so I get a tipping envelope and hand to them on the last night of the program to those taking care of my daughter. If you get room service, tip the server.

" every night, you'll get a copy of the ship's newsletter, The Caper "

Just for info, I just got back from carnival and they changed the name of the Caper to FUN TIMES.

you are going to like it here at clf

i have to agree -- 5 people in a tiny cabin - bad idea

Hi Kim

Welcome to CruiseLineFans!

I agree with everyone else, 5 people in one cabin is going to be too cramped. I'm not even thinking of the sleeping, my concern would be 5 people sharing a bathroom, shower, etc.

welcome to CLF

5 peoplein one cabin seem bad idea.

Welcome to
CruiseLineFans

Reggie

welcome to cfl kim!!

you will b hooked once u go. 2 rooms might make it a little more enjoyable for ya so your not ready to kill the kids by the end of the trip