going on a cruise. thoughts?

[1s1k52]

I just talked to my wife on her lunch break. She said this cruise isn't themed and kindly reminded me she had asked me if I wanted one. I have this issue sometimes when she starts talking or asking me questions I start day dreaming. I awake and I am at walmart pushing a cart or at the in laws at dinner.

She told me the other cruise liners were a lot more and didn't fit in with the time frame we were trying to go.

There is smoking in sections on board. I smoked for years and now hypocritically can't stand to be around it much. I will check out the cruise critics site.

I now know two new temrs sybarite and hedonist lol. I fail to see the dividing line between the two though. Either way both apply apparently to myself and a box of Girl Scout Samoa cookies.

[anygunanywhere]

Having just returned from a week in Belize, I can guarantee that cruises are much safer and cheaper.

No matter what, keep in condition yellow when ashore and avoid areas you should not go. Bad areas in other countries are amazingly the same as bad areas in the US.

Always trust your spidey sense.

Anygunanywhere

[hpcatx]

Enjoy the cruise! My wife and I have on a bunch of cruises, departing from Miami, Galveston, and New Orleans, going to destinations all over the Caribbean.

I wouldn't worry about bringing your own life preserver. They're strategically positioned all over the ship and you'll have a personal one in your cabin. They'll do a safety overview right after you leave port, including showing you exactly where your muster station (life boats) are located. These enormous ships are very safe. Most recently for us, even in 50+ mph winds with the seas really rolling, it was barely noticeable aboard with the ship's stabilizers.

Regarding the smoking, since fire is one of the largest concerns aboard any ship, there are limited spaces where smoking is allowed and never, at least in my experience, in the cabins. The only place it sometimes bothers me is in the casino and Carnival (along with the other lines on which we've vacationed -- Royal Caribbean, Princess) has non-smoking tables and/or non-smoking evenings.

The one thing I don't like is being unarmed. I've never felt insecure while on board, but when used to carrying everyday it's unsettling not having your weapon. The places I miss it most are at port. Depending upon the location, you should either feel free to go and explore on your own (still keeping aware of your surroundings) or should only stick excursions through the ship; most stops in the Caribbean are just fine, but consider a tour if going to Jamaica.

[Jumping Frog]

Hypothetically speaking, what is to keep a passenger from bringing along a "little friend" when he boards ship?

[anygunanywhere]

Hypothetically speaking, what is to keep a passenger from bringing along a "little friend" when he boards ship?

Metal detectors and baggage x-ray.

I was surprised at the level of security at the Galveston cruise ship terminal.

Anygunanywhere

[TomsTXCHL]

We used to love cruises. Food and drink all day and night, and exotic ports-of-call. But we don't eat & drink like we used to, nor are we sun-worshippers any longer so I doubt we would ever do one again.

Worst problem we ever had was when our snorkel gear got pilfered out of our luggage right off-the-bat (shore, actually). No satisfaction whatsoever from the CL and staff on-board admitted this was a problem. Protect/lock your valuables.

As high profile as Cruise Line problems have been, I have to think they are even cleaner and safer then thay were when we cruised in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

[WildBill]

Regarding cruises and disease........

Thanks for your comments and link.

[WildBill]

The places I miss it most are at port. Depending upon the location, you should either feel free to go and explore on your own (still keeping aware of your surroundings) or should only stick excursions through the ship; most stops in the Caribbean are just fine, but consider a tour if going to Jamaica.

I think that [most] everyone should go on a cruise - at least once.

I did like Jamaica, but at times by wife was a little afraid of being out in the jungle with our cab driver and a group of locals. We liked Grand Cayman and wished we had more time there. Went snorkeling and had a Bahama Mama and turtle burger for lunch. I did not like Cozumel - We hired a cab to the Mayan ruins and in August the mosquitos were unbearable. YMMV.

At first I am amazed at the large size of the ship, but after a couple of days I felt like I knew every inch of it. I got to recognize every piece of the railing that had a bit of peeling paint.

The food was average but plentiful and the drinks watered down. Don't expect high-end restaurant quality food. After all, they have to serve 2000+ people in two hours and another 2000+ after that. We went Carnival, and I understand other cruise lines have better cuisine.

I suggest getting meals at the late sitting [book early]. If you can not, I would suggest waiting for another cruise. On our cruise they had a 2PM buffet. If you ate at the buffet you would be not be hungry for the 5PM dinner.

Get a cabin above the water line. Even with A/C it can get very very warm during the summer. Get a cabin far from the stern and engine room. As Chris and JAllen mentioned, a balcony cabin is the best.

They had a casino, but I had no problem walking through without partaking. The entertainment was entertaining. My favorite part was the juggler who was trying catch bowling pins one night during rough seas.

On my cruise they had trap shooting off the back of the ship. I won a cheap plastic trophy. I was extra happy that I won [by one point] by beating a young guy who thought that he couldn't possibly lose to an old guy.

If you can find another couple to go with you that is also a good idea. That way you can be assured that you will have good neighbors at your table for meals. We were lucky to have a very nice retired couple from San Diego as our dining mates. We had a good time talking to them for the entire cruise. Others were not so fortunate.

Don't expect the Love Boat and you will be fine.

[howdy]

First, you need a passport to go on a Galveston cruise. I have cruised out of Galveston on Carnival many times. It is a blast. You can board the ship around 11am-11:30am and avoid the lines. They serve lunch during this time too. Sign up for the "behind the scenes" tour. On the last day of the cruise (enroute to Galveston) they let small groups, <50 total, people go in places no one is allowed to go (engineering, bridge, crew quarters, galleys, etc.) You get checked by security before you start the tour and they are VERY strict on the bridge. As soon as you board the ship in Galveston, get a drink with an umbrella and head direct to passenger services to sign up. It was well worth the cost. I suggest you stick with the ship sponsored tours on your first cruise. They will not depart a port if a sponsored tour has not returned. Don't try to smuggle anything on board..they have seen it all. You are allowed to bring on X # bottles of wine and other drinks. Check with the web site.

On return to Galveston, they have disembark times based on basically your cruising "frequent flyer" status and where your cabin is. BUT, Carnival lets all those that can carry EVERYTHING off the boat without help to go very early. Take one pair of slacks and one sport coat. That is as dressy as you need to get. Book the 8:30 evening dinner. Most shore excursions don't get back until the early seating has started. If your wife is like mine and packs the house, the cruise line will take your bags on the last night and place them in the terminal. They will be sniffed by a drug dog and be waiting on you when you get off in Galveston. Customs in Galveston can take a long time but get a porter to help you (worth the tip) and they and you go to the front of the line.

One last hint. If you get to the cruise terminal after 1pm, there will be a long line of cars waiting at the stop light to turn left into the terminal dropoff area. The road there is a 4 lane road (two each direction) with everyone in the left lane to turn. Get in the right lane and go past the traffic, past the place everyone is turning left and go up a ways and make a u-turn. You will then be only in line behind taxis and parking lot buses. Go on Google Earth and look at this area. It will make more sense when you see that.

[JP171]

First, you need a passport to go on a Galveston cruise. I have cruised out of Galveston on Carnival many times. It is a blast. You can board the ship around 11am-11:30am and avoid the lines. They serve lunch during this time too. Sign up for the "behind the scenes" tour. On the last day of the cruise (enroute to Galveston) they let small groups, <50 total, people go in places no one is allowed to go (engineering, bridge, crew quarters, galleys, etc.) You get checked by security before you start the tour and they are VERY strict on the bridge. As soon as you board the ship in Galveston, get a drink with an umbrella and head direct to passenger services to sign up. It was well worth the cost. I suggest you stick with the ship sponsored tours on your first cruise. They will not depart a port if a sponsored tour has not returned. Don't try to smuggle anything on board..they have seen it all. You are allowed to bring on X # bottles of wine and other drinks. Check with the web site.

On return to Galveston, they have disembark times based on basically your cruising "frequent flyer" status and where your cabin is. BUT, Carnival lets all those that can carry EVERYTHING off the boat without help to go very early. Take one pair of slacks and one sport coat. That is as dressy as you need to get. Book the 8:30 evening dinner. Most shore excursions don't get back until the early seating has started. If your wife is like mine and packs the house, the cruise line will take your bags on the last night and place them in the terminal. They will be sniffed by a drug dog and be waiting on you when you get off in Galveston. Customs in Galveston can take a long time but get a porter to help you (worth the tip) and they and you go to the front of the line.

One last hint. If you get to the cruise terminal after 1pm, there will be a long line of cars waiting at the stop light to turn left into the terminal dropoff area. The road there is a 4 lane road (two each direction) with everyone in the left lane to turn. Get in the right lane and go past the traffic, past the place everyone is turning left and go up a ways and make a u-turn. You will then be only in line behind taxis and parking lot buses. Go on Google Earth and look at this area. It will make more sense when you see that.

This is false you do NOT need a passport all you need is proof that you are a us citizen or a foreign traveler who is passing through

[SewTexas]

First, you need a passport to go on a Galveston cruise. I have cruised out of Galveston on Carnival many times. It is a blast. You can board the ship around 11am-11:30am and avoid the lines. They serve lunch during this time too. Sign up for the "behind the scenes" tour. On the last day of the cruise (enroute to Galveston) they let small groups, <50 total, people go in places no one is allowed to go (engineering, bridge, crew quarters, galleys, etc.) You get checked by security before you start the tour and they are VERY strict on the bridge. As soon as you board the ship in Galveston, get a drink with an umbrella and head direct to passenger services to sign up. It was well worth the cost. I suggest you stick with the ship sponsored tours on your first cruise. They will not depart a port if a sponsored tour has not returned. Don't try to smuggle anything on board..they have seen it all. You are allowed to bring on X # bottles of wine and other drinks. Check with the web site.

On return to Galveston, they have disembark times based on basically your cruising "frequent flyer" status and where your cabin is. BUT, Carnival lets all those that can carry EVERYTHING off the boat without help to go very early. Take one pair of slacks and one sport coat. That is as dressy as you need to get. Book the 8:30 evening dinner. Most shore excursions don't get back until the early seating has started. If your wife is like mine and packs the house, the cruise line will take your bags on the last night and place them in the terminal. They will be sniffed by a drug dog and be waiting on you when you get off in Galveston. Customs in Galveston can take a long time but get a porter to help you (worth the tip) and they and you go to the front of the line.

One last hint. If you get to the cruise terminal after 1pm, there will be a long line of cars waiting at the stop light to turn left into the terminal dropoff area. The road there is a 4 lane road (two each direction) with everyone in the left lane to turn. Get in the right lane and go past the traffic, past the place everyone is turning left and go up a ways and make a u-turn. You will then be only in line behind taxis and parking lot buses. Go on Google Earth and look at this area. It will make more sense when you see that.

This is false you do NOT need a passport all you need is proof that you are a us citizen or a foreign traveler who is passing through

If you are going get off that ship during the port stops, you need a passport.

[howdy]

First, you need a passport to go on a Galveston cruise. I have cruised out of Galveston on Carnival many times. It is a blast. You can board the ship around 11am-11:30am and avoid the lines. They serve lunch during this time too. Sign up for the "behind the scenes" tour. On the last day of the cruise (enroute to Galveston) they let small groups, <50 total, people go in places no one is allowed to go (engineering, bridge, crew quarters, galleys, etc.) You get checked by security before you start the tour and they are VERY strict on the bridge. As soon as you board the ship in Galveston, get a drink with an umbrella and head direct to passenger services to sign up. It was well worth the cost. I suggest you stick with the ship sponsored tours on your first cruise. They will not depart a port if a sponsored tour has not returned. Don't try to smuggle anything on board..they have seen it all. You are allowed to bring on X # bottles of wine and other drinks. Check with the web site.

On return to Galveston, they have disembark times based on basically your cruising "frequent flyer" status and where your cabin is. BUT, Carnival lets all those that can carry EVERYTHING off the boat without help to go very early. Take one pair of slacks and one sport coat. That is as dressy as you need to get. Book the 8:30 evening dinner. Most shore excursions don't get back until the early seating has started. If your wife is like mine and packs the house, the cruise line will take your bags on the last night and place them in the terminal. They will be sniffed by a drug dog and be waiting on you when you get off in Galveston. Customs in Galveston can take a long time but get a porter to help you (worth the tip) and they and you go to the front of the line.

One last hint. If you get to the cruise terminal after 1pm, there will be a long line of cars waiting at the stop light to turn left into the terminal dropoff area. The road there is a 4 lane road (two each direction) with everyone in the left lane to turn. Get in the right lane and go past the traffic, past the place everyone is turning left and go up a ways and make a u-turn. You will then be only in line behind taxis and parking lot buses. Go on Google Earth and look at this area. It will make more sense when you see that.

This is false you do NOT need a passport all you need is proof that you are a us citizen or a foreign traveler who is passing through

If you are going get off that ship during the port stops, you need a passport.

Let me restate...get a passport to cruise out of Galveston. From the Carnival web site:


CRUISE TRAVEL

U.S. Citizens

Carnival highly recommends all guests travel with a passport. Although a passport is not required for U.S. citizens taking cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port, travelling with a passport may help to expedite your CBP clearance upon return to the U.S. Additionally, passports are required in the event you need to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port should you miss your scheduled port of embarkation, or need to fly back to the U.S. for emergency reasons.

[Oldgringo]

First, you need a passport to go on a Galveston cruise. I have cruised out of Galveston on Carnival many times. It is a blast. You can board the ship around 11am-11:30am and avoid the lines. They serve lunch during this time too. Sign up for the "behind the scenes" tour. On the last day of the cruise (enroute to Galveston) they let small groups, <50 total, people go in places no one is allowed to go (engineering, bridge, crew quarters, galleys, etc.) You get checked by security before you start the tour and they are VERY strict on the bridge. As soon as you board the ship in Galveston, get a drink with an umbrella and head direct to passenger services to sign up. It was well worth the cost. I suggest you stick with the ship sponsored tours on your first cruise. They will not depart a port if a sponsored tour has not returned. Don't try to smuggle anything on board..they have seen it all. You are allowed to bring on X # bottles of wine and other drinks. Check with the web site.

On return to Galveston, they have disembark times based on basically your cruising "frequent flyer" status and where your cabin is. BUT, Carnival lets all those that can carry EVERYTHING off the boat without help to go very early. Take one pair of slacks and one sport coat. That is as dressy as you need to get. Book the 8:30 evening dinner. Most shore excursions don't get back until the early seating has started. If your wife is like mine and packs the house, the cruise line will take your bags on the last night and place them in the terminal. They will be sniffed by a drug dog and be waiting on you when you get off in Galveston. Customs in Galveston can take a long time but get a porter to help you (worth the tip) and they and you go to the front of the line.

One last hint. If you get to the cruise terminal after 1pm, there will be a long line of cars waiting at the stop light to turn left into the terminal dropoff area. The road there is a 4 lane road (two each direction) with everyone in the left lane to turn. Get in the right lane and go past the traffic, past the place everyone is turning left and go up a ways and make a u-turn. You will then be only in line behind taxis and parking lot buses. Go on Google Earth and look at this area. It will make more sense when you see that.

This is false you do NOT need a passport all you need is proof that you are a us citizen or a foreign traveler who is passing through

If you are going get off that ship during the port stops, you need a passport.

If you get sick/injured and have to be flown back, you need a passport. Anytime you're leaving the U.S. you should have a Passport or at a minimum, a Passport Card. That includes visits to Canada as well as Mexico.

[Oldgringo]

We've done both sides of the Caribbean and on into the Panama Canal. The one cruise that we might be interested in taking again is the Alaskan cruise. We went in September of '98 while I was working in Houston. It was the last Alaskan cruise of the season. After suffering the Houston summer, I stood on the deck in the 50° drizzle and just grinned.

FWIW, our first cruise on the NORWAY 30 years ago was the Love Boat. I doubt the NORWAY is still in service. Martha pulls out the photos every now and then to just see us grinning....at each other.

[jimlongley]

First, you need a passport to go on a Galveston cruise. I have cruised out of Galveston on Carnival many times. It is a blast. You can board the ship around 11am-11:30am and avoid the lines. They serve lunch during this time too. Sign up for the "behind the scenes" tour. On the last day of the cruise (enroute to Galveston) they let small groups, <50 total, people go in places no one is allowed to go (engineering, bridge, crew quarters, galleys, etc.) You get checked by security before you start the tour and they are VERY strict on the bridge. As soon as you board the ship in Galveston, get a drink with an umbrella and head direct to passenger services to sign up. It was well worth the cost. I suggest you stick with the ship sponsored tours on your first cruise. They will not depart a port if a sponsored tour has not returned. Don't try to smuggle anything on board..they have seen it all. You are allowed to bring on X # bottles of wine and other drinks. Check with the web site.

On return to Galveston, they have disembark times based on basically your cruising "frequent flyer" status and where your cabin is. BUT, Carnival lets all those that can carry EVERYTHING off the boat without help to go very early. Take one pair of slacks and one sport coat. That is as dressy as you need to get. Book the 8:30 evening dinner. Most shore excursions don't get back until the early seating has started. If your wife is like mine and packs the house, the cruise line will take your bags on the last night and place them in the terminal. They will be sniffed by a drug dog and be waiting on you when you get off in Galveston. Customs in Galveston can take a long time but get a porter to help you (worth the tip) and they and you go to the front of the line.

One last hint. If you get to the cruise terminal after 1pm, there will be a long line of cars waiting at the stop light to turn left into the terminal dropoff area. The road there is a 4 lane road (two each direction) with everyone in the left lane to turn. Get in the right lane and go past the traffic, past the place everyone is turning left and go up a ways and make a u-turn. You will then be only in line behind taxis and parking lot buses. Go on Google Earth and look at this area. It will make more sense when you see that.

This is false you do NOT need a passport all you need is proof that you are a us citizen or a foreign traveler who is passing through

If you are going get off that ship during the port stops, you need a passport.

If you get sick/injured and have to be flown back, you need a passport. Anytime you're leaving the U.S. you should have a Passport or at a minimum, a Passport Card. That includes visits to Canada as well as Mexico.

Our last cruise, just this past Christmas, we left our passport behind in the stateroom in every port, we used our shipboard ID cards and that was it. We are, much to my chagrin, becoming veteran cruisers and I tease my wife horribly about having spent 3 year, 25 days, 16 hours, and 37 minutes on sea duty in the Navy and she keeps taking me back to sea.

This year we are doing a two week Alaska cruise, which my wife made the reservations for, and unknown to her what she did was book two back to back one week cruises. I tease her about that too.