FIRST TIME CRUISERS ANY SUGGESTIONS? - Travel Message Board Forums

deb + bob · #1 01-18-2002, 05:09 PM

HI THERE
THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST CRUISE TO THE WESTERN CARIBEAN . GOING TO LABADEE, OCHIOSRIOS JAMAICA, GRAND CAYMAN, AND COZUMEL MEXICO. CAN ANYONE GIVE SOME ADVICE AND I ALSO HEARD THE DRINKS ARE WATERED DOWN TOO! ANY COMMENTS

girlphoenix · #2 01-26-2002, 12:14 PM

to respond to your question on first-time cruising. Hubby and I went on our first cruise in December aboard the Majesty of the Seas to Bahamas and Key West. While I don't have any Western Carribbean advice for you, I can offer first-time cruise advice - NAP!!! If you don't take naps, you will need a post-vacation vacation. Do go snorkling, and beware of extras! Those additional on-board charges can really add up. Enjoy!!!! Hubby and I are looking forward to our next Carribbean vacation. Normally we go to the Floriday Keys, but are trying to branch out a bit....

heath · #3 04-19-2003, 11:44 AM

We just returned from Carnival Conquest Cruise to Caymans Mar.23. It was our 2nd time to cruise there. It is beautiful, but there are no bargains there(Wait for Mexico)We took the Stingray Tour(from the boat).not the city and stingray just the stingray one.It was thebest excursion we have ever taken.We had our 2 teenagers with us and they agree! You will tender in to Caymans, so if you have a tour from the boat you will get preferential tendering. We still had time to walk around after the tour.There are some nice shops, but again not a bargain.The Rum Cake is great and there are some other really nice shopping places.
Do not be intimidated if you are not a big swimmer, you can do the tour w/o even snorkeling.(The water is pretty shallow).
As for Jamaica, Be prepared . The people will harrass you to death.We have been thee 2x and it was bad. I would take a tour offered by your cuise ship.I did not feel comfortable at all.
Everyone we talked to on board agreed. We have also been to Mo Bay and it was pretty much the same. We did take a tour to Dunn's River Falls.It was good, but crowded.
Cozumel is great. Very safe. You dont need a tour unless you want one. Just take a cab to Playa San Franciso or to town.The Museo there is excellent.Have fun!!!

cheryl

Beachcombers · #4 04-25-2003, 02:32 PM

We were in Grand Cayman 20 years ago for a 3 week land holiday...it was great, relatively uncrowded and inexpensive, etc. We understand that there has been a lot of development, particularly in "touristy" things, and that now it can be very crowded and very expensive. Anybody have comments??

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clackey · #5 08-14-2005, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deb + bob

HI THERE
THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST CRUISE TO THE WESTERN CARIBEAN . GOING TO LABADEE, OCHIOSRIOS JAMAICA, GRAND CAYMAN, AND COZUMEL MEXICO. CAN ANYONE GIVE SOME ADVICE AND I ALSO HEARD THE DRINKS ARE WATERED DOWN TOO! ANY COMMENTS

Hola,

I'm not sure where you heard about the watered drinks, but then I haven"t been to Jamaica or Labadee yet. In Coz you can order a margirita and they bring it to you in a fishbowl. Two or three of these and they have to wheel you back to the ship in a wheelchair. (I've seen it done!) I seldom partake of the stuff myself, but if I was a drinker, with the goal of getting completely plastered, I would book a private beach break at an all inclusive beach club. They are easy to find with a google and they run about 30% to 50% less than the same tour with the cruise ship.

One caution!!! Beware of bars with rope swings at the bar. I had trouble sitting in one and I was sober.

P.S. I guess that you are not aware that all caps are considered yelling and rude on the internet. NOT THAT I CARE!!

Starrsa · #6 09-22-2005, 09:28 PM

Actually looking at your destination, it's like like you did the same cruise I just did this summer. We went to all of those places on the Royal Caribbean cruise line, and had an awesome time! Grand Cayman, we swam with the Sting Rays and went snorkeling, but booked the trip with the locals ourselves instead of doing it with the cruise line once we got on land, and went shopping after that, was about $30 per person. In Labadee, we went to the beach and snorkeled ourselves, and the drinks were about $6, but you can use your cruise card they give you. In Jamaica, we went to Dunn River Falls, and booked our trip with the locals, and saved a lot more again, and took us sightseeing in our private bus, and then went shopping. In Cozumel, we got our own taxi to the shops, because they have great silver shopping and its all done by bargaining the price. Overall, all the places were great! Would do it all over again!

repeatcruise · #7 09-25-2005, 11:48 AM

try the new local craft market in georgetown
look for the amazing cayman sea salt booth with the sailing ship

juliekoefoot · #8 03-23-2008, 01:31 PM

Hello,

I recently booked a cruise on the Carnival Conquest for 2009 and would appreciate any information you have about the cabins.
While we have booked we haven't locked in a cabin preference yet, we have until sept.

Thank You,

Julie

SarahS · #9 03-25-2008, 10:55 AM

Hi Julie,

You may wish to visit the Carnival Cruise Lines forum over at IndependentTraveler.com's sister site, CruiseCritic.com. The many experienced Carnival cruisers over there should be able to answer your question.

I hope that helps.

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