Travel
Related: About this forumGoing on my first cruise on the Carnival Horizon departing 1-18/1-24
Ports include;
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Cozumel, Mexico
This was a birthday gift from my daughter and well be traveling together, then spending a few days in So. Beach.
Any experienced cruisers have any must do or take tips?
Thanks,
Strings
snowybirdie
(5,664 posts)Don't listen to naysayers. Cruising is great for folks of a certain age. My advice. Wait til last day to purchase items from ship stores. They always go on sale then. P S Cozumal isn't worth getting off. Take advantage of reduced prices in spa that day.
avebury
(11,076 posts)encounter in Couzemel. There is also a neat site that has miniatures of a lot of the historical sites in Mexico. And there are beaches that you can take a taxi too. I wouldnt write Couzeel off.
snowybirdie
(5,664 posts)by Cozumal today and the was it was in 1983. It was a small, lovely village that had the charming feel of old Mexico. Loved it! Today it's a shoppers paradise with everyone looking for a way to take your money, including stealing our credit card numbers. Better to do the cruise tours away from town.
csziggy
(34,189 posts)I agree with you about the town. We wanted to take one of the excursions to one of the Mayan sites, but because my mobility was limited by back problems we ended up taking the submarine tour to see the reefs. It was fun and we enjoyed seeing things that we would never be able to see otherwise.
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)GP6971
(33,280 posts)We're going on our first cruise on the Carnival Glory in late April...yes, the one that hit the Carnival Legend while docking in Cozumel last month.
snowybirdie
(5,664 posts)Booked for another one in April. Enjoy the pampering and get away without hassles. A balcony is great, but anywhere in the ship to watch the sea is so soothing.
at140
(6,136 posts)and the sunsets over ocean are the best. The oceans are so vast, it blow my mind.
Earth is covered with far more water than land. Best time to walk on open top decks is after dark.
Because it is never hot and unending breezes.
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)its going to be beautiful!
Thanks for all the advice everyone!
at140
(6,136 posts)We usually get the inside cabins, being the cheapest. We are only there to sleep and take a shower and change clothes. There are so many large public areas on a large ship to lounge around and stay active.
One of our recent cruise was on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas ship. It actually had an area called Central Park, where they had a forest of live trees and bushes, and had birds living there! And the ship had great shows on ice skating rink the size of a 1500 SF ranch house, a place to water ski, and whole bunch of other stuff. The ship carries 6000 passengers, yet there were no lines for anything!
LakeArenal
(29,842 posts)Lots of folks will be waiting for you!!
Oh and dont forget the big deposit you want to leave in the Cayman banks.
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)LakeArenal
(29,842 posts)Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,629 posts)Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)avebury
(11,076 posts)ships so I would recommend catching a show. The later shows tend to be R rated just FYI.
Once they created the pick your own dining time I chose that for greater flexibility for shipboard activities.
In Grand Caymans swimming with the Stingrays was fun and the water was gorgeous. You will find different flavors of rum cake there as well.
If the water is rough, the turtle place is really neat. I have done a zip line tour on Jamaica and that was a blast.
Most important rule - dont miss the ship. YouTube has lots of pier runner videos.
There is an outdoor shopping area that has a Bubba Gump Restaurant in Miami. You can also pick up a short boat tour in that area that sails around some islands pointing which houses are owned by famous people. It is fun and I have done it twice.
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)at140
(6,136 posts)The main dining room has lots of great food on menu. No need to pay $30 more for a meal.
Do not over pack! The ship is kept spotlessly clean, clothes do not get dirty.
The days of formal dress nights are disappearing.
Do not over-eat. It is easy to do because there is so much free food available. Be sure to pack Tums.
Do lot of walking, which burns up extra calories and then you can eat some more haha.
Coffee & Tea is free, but pop and booze are extra cost. Booze prices have gone up.
Do not miss the evening shows. Get to the theater 20-30 minutes before show time to get better seats.
5-7 day cruises are the best vacation value around. We have done around 30, we started going before kids came, took kids when they were 5 and 3 years old and they always had a great time and only time we saw them was at meals during the whole day.
snowybirdie
(5,664 posts)A good get away vacation for the money.
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)Ive packed nothing but elastic waistlines!
madaboutharry
(41,379 posts)And a hat that will protect you from the sun.
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)Thanks!
TomSlick
(11,949 posts)Eat what you want - drink what you want. Go ashore at every port.
Catch a sunrise and a sunset from the upper deck.
Hug your daughter often.
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)She and I have traveled together to London for an Eric Clapton concert in Hyde Park, LA for a Clapton concert at the Forum, Phuket and Bangkok Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo just for the fun of it! We travel pretty well together.....
Olafjoy
(937 posts)Find it very relaxing. I agree with dont miss the boat If you go on your own tour or excursion, be sure to account for traffic back to ship, esp. if multiple ships in port. If you are on a cruise sponsored excursion, relax, they will never leave without you. Have a blast!! Sounds awesome!!
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)RandySF
(70,930 posts)Reminder: Rose Dawson is already used.
Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)there was enough room on that headboard for Jack!
EX500rider
(11,507 posts)Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)Yes!
rickford66
(5,681 posts)Heartstrings
(7,349 posts)Taking meds for that anyway! Just in case!