TOT--Cruise care to share?

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Hi.

I am going on my 1st cruise leaving Oct 15th to Bahama's someone please tell me it is NOT hurricane season and does anyone wanna share their experiences?

Thnks all.

-- Consumer (shh@aol.com), September 22, 2000

Answers

Yes, it IS hurricane season (thru Jan 1st).

Nice place, lots of high-pressure sales attempts. Watch out for the jewelery stores. Good stuff, it's just so inexpensive that you can go too far.

The street vendors will NOT negotiate much at all, as they make their living from the tourists, and know that others will be along shortly, if YOU don't buy. Lots of traffic, and NO pollution controls on the vehicles. Crowded.

If you want to buy Cuban cigars, be careful of where you get them from. Many counterfeits. And coming back into the U.S., take the bands off, and mail them to yourself BEFORE you leave for home. No customs on re-entering the ship, but after disembarking in the U.S.

On a 4 day cruise, you will typically have to pay about $120.00 in tips. This is done at the very end of the voyage, so be aware. Credit- card tipping is allowed. When you first get on the ship, go IMMEDIATELY to the desk where you sign up for the side trips. These fill up within an hour. Of course, these are pay-as-you-go, on a per- trip basis.

You are rarely in your cabin. Trust me.

Stay in small groups of Americans while off the ship. Be careful, and have a great time.

-- no one here (-@-.-), September 22, 2000.


You are rarely in your cabin. Trust me.

^^^ uh oh...the hubby booked the expensive one w/balcony.

Although I have been to the bahama's before, the hubby has not. I would also like to know re: sea sickness. I got sick on a small boat going to snorkle, was soooo sick I refused to get off the boat:-(

hubby says no sea sickness on BIG boat, is that REALLY true?

Thnks for the tip on booking the lil trips, I didnt even think of that.

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), September 22, 2000.


Your hubby does have a point, the bigger the boat the more stable it is. Ditto on watching out for "bargains". I had a bad experience buying jewelry on the ship - it wasn't gold.

Enjoy!

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), September 22, 2000.


We didn't even feel the ship MOVING, let alone rolling.

That help?

-- no one here (-@-.-), September 22, 2000.


Helps a bunch, thanks again....

Ohhhh I am sooooo excited I cant wait...

Hope ALL of you have a great time in LV..

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), September 22, 2000.



Sumer,

You will be in your cabin for MANY hours, don't listen to those people.

Of course most of those hours will be spent sleeping off the effects of too much food and grog! ;-)

I too spent the extra for the big upper deck cabin and do not regret it one bit. The inside lower deck cabins are nothing more than fancy closets. You shower inside a phone booth from what I've heard. Upgrading is costly, but worth it, especially if you are married to a claustrophobic like Mrs D. Plus you get that fantastic view, order up room service the night before and enjoy the view and a cup of joe in the morning.

If you've been to the Bahamas before you know what to expect. Took me ten minutes to decide I didn't like Nassau. If you are going to Nassau find a cab and head over to Atlantis and spend some time bumming around there, it's an amazing place. The help will try to discourage you from heading out to the pool and waterslide area, but with some creative exploring you can worm your way out there. The aquariums are awesome.

HAVE FUN!!

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 22, 2000.


...most of those hours will be spent sleeping off the effects of too much food and grog!

MOST? Try ALL. We dragged ourselves back there at 2 a.m. every nite, passed out, woke up at 8, and did the whole thing over. We needed to go back to work to get some rest.

Partying is such effort...

-- no one here (-@-.-), September 22, 2000.


'Sumer-

Hey girl, have a wonderful time! I did twelve days and nearly wept when I had to get off the ship at the end-I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE. What a wonderful time: pampered within an inch of life every moment while visiting paradises in the Carribean! Lovely people, soothing ocean breezes, ocean travels under an evening's canopy of stars and moonlight uninteruppted. What more could you ask for? I'm jealous! Memories make me long to return again... Have a great time, and come back relaxed and refreshed. I'll be thinkin' of ya!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), September 22, 2000.


'Sumer,

You can get in practice by heading out to Kelly's Island or Put-in- Bay or Pelee. Hop on one of those Jet Express boats from Port Clinton or somewhere.

I'm teasing a bit. But as someone wrote above, you really shouldn't have problems with sea sickness on such a big boat. Just go a little easy on the alcohol: you won't do yourself any favors by drinking too much.

-- (kb8um8@yahoo.com), September 22, 2000.


No One Here, you made it sound like an exhausting and frustrating adventure. I've never been on a cruise ship, but the tourism part sounded very familiar.

Aunt Bee on the other hand, you painted a wonderful dreamy picture of stars at sea and romance.

Heck with the sightseeing and shoping, Consumer! Ship or no ship, you'll be fleeced by everyone. Stay on the ship and enjoy your upper deck cabin and make it a dreamy adventure! :)

Bingo and FS should call up a special "pray/meditate/send-good-vibes- night in Bok's room to make sure the hurricanes won't act up on your vacation. Some energy is already flowing your way with all the jealousy of those of us not going with you! ;)

So enjoy the enticipation of going, and don't waste any time worrying about anything going wrong :)

-- (smarty@wannabe.one), September 22, 2000.



Consumer: Cruises are fabulous! Ever hear of a modern day cruiseliner going down in recent history? RELAX! I've been on 4 Caribbean cruises and 1 Mexican Riveria Cruise. I have one scheduled for January aboard the Carnival Cruise Line "Elation" in January. It's fabulous! Went on a cruise on "Elation" last May and liked it so well that we booked again. Go and have a good time - bring your own booze, it's VERY EXPENSIVE otherwise!

-- cruznbabe (cruznbsabe@cruznbabeee.xcom), September 23, 2000.

Yes, there was that Italian liner that went down a couple of years ago. You remember, the one that the captain left before the passengers got off?

Other than that one, well, don't fixate on that ship 'sumer, I said, don't fixate on it! Stop it! Don't think about it, you'll be fine....I think.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 23, 2000.


Hey Sumer-

Good news-

If the ship has a problem-INSIST on replacement tickets - even if you spent almost all 4 days having the time of your life, and an engine dies off florida. They will happily replace your trip for a troublefree one!! Again, I AM SO JEALOUS-ya sure you wouldn't like to swap places for a few,,,,

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), September 23, 2000.


My daughter went on one of those cruises for her honeymoon a year and a half ago. Loved it! They called a week or so before the cruise was to leave, and told her they were comping her and hubby one of the best suite on the ship, since it had not been reserved and they were on their honeymoon!

If your cruise allows you to go on a little jaunt where you can wade amongst huge stingrays, go for it. They have underwater pictures of the experience. Roxi say it was terrifying and also exhilarating. The stingrays even let you pet them! Water was only about three feet deep.

JOJ

-- jumpoffjoe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), September 23, 2000.


Uncle Deedah, I remember that! Did you hear about the BIG RED BOAT being foreclosed on in Mexico last week? They went bankrupt and the bank seized the boat. They told everyone to get their bags and get off the ship. They had to find their own way home! Consumer, you may want to check the financial status of the cruise line before you go.

-- cruzn babe (cruznbabe@cruznbabeee.xcom), September 23, 2000.


Thanks to ALL of you. I am having a great time seeing your experiences and thanks for the sharing of good vibes and memories. I dont drink much no more, hate the effects. I'll do the nada stuff except for perhaps a tropical drink to celebrate.

Looking sooo forward to the R&R....I went shopping over the weekend, and got lotsa cruise clothes. Saw grandson,,,ta daaa he has 2 teeth.

As for the lines, it is Carnaval, I believe they are pretty well set financially. We also bought the insurance.

Ahoy all and thanks for the well wishes...Dee Dah, I do enjoy the bahama's and will check out Atlantis, but BTW, what is 'it'?

xoxo,sumer

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), September 25, 2000.


Atlantis is a kick-ass resort and casino near Nassau. A cab ride from the dock should cost you $4 per person, plus a buck for the bridge. It is an amazing place to explore.

For more pics and info go HERE

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 25, 2000.


try again

Link

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 25, 2000.


One other thing, if you are leaving from Port Canaveral you will see the boat we went on, and also the new Disney boat, which plays "When you wish upon a star" on the ship's horn as it leaves port. Kinda cool.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 25, 2000.

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