Thread: Newlyweds, Hubby deployed to Afghanistan

Hi all! Gordon Green here, wife Jessica. We are newlyweds, dated for years, got married but missed the honeymoon due to a surprise deployment to Afghanistan. We are seriously considering a cruise when I get back in the fall.

We are in our mid 20's and are looking for some advice on good tropical cruises that you have been on or know about through your time as a travel agent. Some advice on which cruise line might cater better to a younger more vibrant crowd, clubs, bars, snorkeling, jet skis, spas, etc. No shuffleboard! LOL

I appreciate your feedback and cannot wait to book our first cruise!

Welcome to Cruise Line Fans.

Check out Royal Caribbean cruises.

Definitely RCCL or Carnival. Itineraries that you might enjoy would be your Carribean cruises or there are a few from California down to Mexico.

Originally Posted by thegreenfam

Hi all! Gordon Green here, wife Jessica. We are newlyweds, dated for years, got married but missed the honeymoon due to a surprise deployment to Afghanistan. We are seriously considering a cruise when I get back in the fall.

We are in our mid 20's and are looking for some advice on good tropical cruises that you have been on or know about through your time as a travel agent. Some advice on which cruise line might cater better to a younger more vibrant crowd, clubs, bars, snorkeling, jet skis, spas, etc. No shuffleboard! LOL

I appreciate your feedback and cannot wait to book our first cruise!

Firstly, welcome to CruiseLineFans. We're so glad you found us. I hope you find the site fun, friendly and informative.

Secondly, many thanks to you and your wife and family for your military service and sacrifice. We're so honored to have you here.

I think the advice you've received so far is spot on. Royal Caribbean can provide the experience you're looking for at a small premium over Carnival. Their Oasis and Allure ships do Caribbean sailings that you should definitely take a peek at.

There are a couple of handpicked Oasis of the Seas offers along with reviews and ship pics/info here: Oasis of The Seas Cruises | cruiselinefans.com

Also, check out the Allure profile page here: Allure of the Seas Cruises | cruiselinefans.com

You will pay a premium for these two sister flagships, but if you search through the Oasis and Allure forums, you'll see they warrant the added costs based upon members comments.

This shouldn't discourage you from considering other Royal Caribbean ships, especially if they're sailing a great itinerary or departing from a port that's close to you home.

Let us know if you have any questions about the site or future cruise planning. Post away! Welcome!

I agree with Tim - THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!

As a Vietnam vet, I know what sacrifices you've made and appreciate what you are doing for our country.

As for your cruise, you really need to discuss this with a reputable agent - one who will provide you with as much information as you can handle so you can decide on what best fits your needs.

Keep in mind that everyone will have an opinion, but we're all different, so what one person finds great, another will not find so good. So it's important to gather as much information as possible and not be overly persuaded by what others have found to be good or bad.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Pete

It sounds like you were given some good suggestions. A "cruise specialist" (a travel agent who specializes in cruises) should be able to help steer you to a good choice and help you book the cruise that will be a great way to reward yourself for a job well done.

Welcome aboard and thank you for your service. Stay safe, come home and talk to a good travel agent about your wants, likes and dislikes. The suggestions made so far are on target and most of the lines offer military discounts which should help save some additional cash.

Wow! Thank you everyone! What a warm welcome and great advice from the top down! With so many cruise lines to pick from and so mainy sailing options, it's tough to choose what would be best. I'v heard so many good things about cruises over the years, but have never truly considered the option.

If any one has advice on the 'details' that would be great! For example:

• What is a good cruise length? If I have 7 days, an the budget, should we go that far? Or is a 4 or 5 day cruise a better option?
• Should I get an inside cabin, suite with a window view? Cost v. benefit.
• Is food part of the price? What about drinks, entertainment?
• If we want to go snorkeling, jet skiing, etc.. Whats the cost?
• For the seasoned cruisers out there: How do YOU maximize your cruise?

Thanks so much everyone!

Welcome to cruiselinefans! And I echo the sentiments of all the previous posters "thank you for your service to our country".

Also, the suggestion that you talk with a cruise specialist is a very sound one. When you talk to any agency be sure to ask for an agent who has taken many cruises and knows firsthand about the line that you choose.

Choosing a cabin would depend on your preferences. Keep in mind that there are varying categories within categories dependent on where on the ship the cabins are located. The more desirable locations carry a bigger price tag.

About cost...the least expensive cabins are inside cabins with no view to the outside. Some folks love them for the darkness at night which makes it easier to sleep. Some folks don't like the feeling of being in a space where they can't see the outside world.

Oceanview cabins are cabins with a window or porthole (portholes are smaller than windows) These are a little more expensive, but allow the sun to shine in and you have a view of what's outside. Personally, I would prefer this category cabin over the inside with no sunlight.

Then you have the balcony cabins. Not only do you have a view of the outside, but you can step outside and enjoy the sea breeze and the ocean. All balconies are not created equal. Some are larger than others...this is where a good agent can help you as well as folks on cruiselinefans who have sailed on the ship(s) you may be considering. Those folks have firsthand knowledge of cabin size and where it is located on the ship. Balconies (verandas) are our favorite type of cabin because it gives us our own private deck space. We love to sit outside before going to bed and enjoy the quiet serenity of the ocean. The ocean and sky can be quite amazing when you are out at sea.

Then you have the suites. These are the most expensive type of cabin. As with all cabins, there several choices within the suite category. Suites are larger in size and the balcony space is bigger. There are varying perks that come with a suite, depending on the particular cruiseline.

About food...you will not go hungry on a cruise!! Breakfast, lunch, dinner and all manner of snacks and goodies are available at no charge. There are venues that will have a charge, such as the specialty restaurants. These are optional. You don't have to spend a penny for food unless you choose to.

Alcoholic beverages always carry a price tag. Soda (soft drinks) are also extra. Bottled water is also extra, however, the ships water is just fine. Coffee, tea, milk, fruit punch and other juice items are available at no charge.

My choice would be a 7 day cruise to start out. You won't feel rushed to see and do everything! Those 7 days will be over in a flash!

Do ask all the questions you want...we are happy to give you our thoughts and experiences.

I too, think that a seven day is the best cruise for a first timer. It gives you a chance to settle in and experience everything a ship has to offer. On a shorter cruise, you have just unpacked when you have to pack to leave!

The ships offer shore excursions at an additional cost. Quite often you can get a private cab to go to the beach or book with an independent tour operator. The price is quite often significantly less BUT for a first timer, I would reduce your stress and uncertainty levels and just go with ship sponsored events. There are several tour operators who post here, just go to the various destinations to see the details.

BTW, some times you don't want to maximize your time, you just want to revel in the pure relaxation element. My wife loves to lounge by the pool and just do nothing but read a book!