Anyone been on a cruise before?

[Ksandra]

So we want to go on a cruise for our honeymoon and I basically found the perfect scheduled one for us:

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Search2/...LAX&dat=082010

(leaves day after wedding and is a sunday to sunday trip)

Not too bad a price (I tried looking at discount deals, but all the good ones leave from florida, and with plane tickets, it'll end up being about the same, so rather leave from LA, since the drive is only about an hour).


Anyways,

I'm not too worried about the price. It is our honeymoon after all, and will probably be the only cruise I'll ever get around to doing in my life.

So tempted to just order the suite and go full out.

Of course though the cheapskate in my head keeps nagging me and saying "is it really worth it"

So figured I'd as bg, and see if you guys have done cruises before, and whether a suite is really necessary to enjoy it. Or is getting a balcony one even better than a suite?

[edit] and the fact the extra cash can be spent on the cruise.

I am total cruise n00b so any input would be great.

[Serif]

I am about to go on one in the beginning of March.

The thing I learned from talking to a couple of people at Carnival is that the only difference in the three types of rooms are the size. The suites, which are bigger, still only have 2 twin size beds but they are pushed together making a queen, I think. Seeing how it is your honeymoon I would imagine you would want that.

I would also like to get some more information about cruises as well, especially people who have done Carnival before and know how much bottles of alcohol or drinks cost on the boat.

[Mizango]

If you're going to Mexico why not just save the money and head to Texas?

[Ksandra]

If you're going to Mexico why not just save the money and head to Texas?

?

I don't care about the destination, so much as the cruise itself. Should it matter?

[archibaldcrane]

Getting a head start on those post-marriage pounds I see?

You'll put on 10 lbs easy - all you do on a cruise is eat and eat and eat. Enjoy your fat husband.

[Serif]

Getting a head start on those post-marriage pounds I see?

You'll put on 10 lbs easy - all you do on a cruise is eat and eat and eat. Enjoy your fat husband.

What about dranks?

[QuePsiXI]

lol. Not even going to bite.

But as far as the OP, I've been to cruises before as a youngster, and my Uncle and his church just came back from a major one. Apparently many multi-floored boat, stuff open all day and night, crazy.

My answers are vague, but for sure, no the destination doesn't really matter. Their cruise was a week so they actually got off at one point, but that's not always the case. So just get on a nice boat and see the beautiful waters. I don't know what's the best but you would win by picking something you know is the closest to all-inclusive. If you know it's $1000 when you book, that's one thing. If you think it's 750 and you spend over 600 in "gotcho ass fees," that's not what a self-proclaimed cheapskate likes.

The suite is just like the HQ craft, and shit is situational. Just go back on the website and peruse the rooms, and see if you want regular or baller. At the end of the day, most of your fun is walking around, meeting new people, drinking, partying, and fucking. And the enjoyment of your fucking should only be based on the size of the bed, not the whole room.

Enjoy.

[byebyeffxi]

went on a cruise last summer. it was mainly a party trip so we opted for the smaller room and it was extremely small. never saw a suite so can't comment on that. but yea, on the alcohol prices. we went for 5 nights and me and a friend kept a running tab. needless to say it took a few months to pay off. a bucket of 4, 18oz bud lights with ice is $22 which includes a set tip amount you have to pay. our ending balance was $1050 bucks and we took 2 handles on with us. mix drink are like $7 a pop.

[Ksandra]

Getting a head start on those post-marriage pounds I see?

You'll put on 10 lbs easy - all you do on a cruise is eat and eat and eat. Enjoy your fat husband.

that wasn't necessary



I'm kinda leaning towards if I don't get the suite, just get the ocean view, since it seems like the balcony just is that, a balcony attached, which I don't really need.

So an ocean view is almost half the price of a suite, which is money that could be spent on drinks...


But the suite has a minibar, and a spa bath which is nice for sex time...iono more I think though I'm leaning towards oceanview.

from the pics they do look hella small though.

[Maksudyst]

When I went on my honeymoon, my wife and I had an interior room. We have booked another cruise, and we're rocking another interior room. It is so not worth having an expensive room when you're only there to sleep. There's so much stuff you can do on the ship and at each stop that having a really nice room with a view becomes pointless, imo.

[Soa]

I've been on 3 cruises (Carnival, Celebrity, and Royal Carribbean) and Carnival was by far the worst one. Their rooms were smaller, the boat was more cramped, and the food was the worst of the three also. The only thing Carnival had on the others was activities, but since I wanted to relax more than play, it wasn't the best fit for me.

Like some others mentioned pay close attention to whats included and whatnot. I got hit hard by Carnival because of the drinks (which I thought were included), and God forbid you actually drink the water or soda they leave in your room, shits expensive.

Carnival honestly felt like a shitty Motel 6, while RC and Celebrity felt like a 5 star hotel.

[Serif]

I had the sizes down for the suites in a file but I deleted them once I booked our cruise.

If I remember correctly. the size of the suites is no more than 400 sq foot and the largest desk is like 70 sq foot.

Does Carnival allow for you to bring your own liquor on or do you have to sneak it in?

[The Stig]

I vote going all out or close to it. The cruise company we went with (Royal Carribean), the cheap rooms have no windows, or a tiny one, with an all out suite you at least get a view which will be more romantic. Not really an issue if you plan to only use your room to sleep, but if you wish to stay in more then a fuller suite is worth it. Waking up or staring outside in the "endless" sea is amazing.

I can't comment on the Carnival one as I have no idea of it, but on RC the onboard entertainment is amazing, lots of activity and such to do, shows and even a cinema. It's fun to just literally turn up and watch a stage show or comedian, basically it's everything enclosed in one area, making it fun and easy to access everything.

The stops the cruise ship makes are just a side dish in my opinion since they don't stay for long. However if you're not used to going on a ship you may feel shit for the first 2 days, but the medical stuff onboard usually are very good at helping out and they give you these tablets which help you cope, so once you adjust it's not too bad.

Alcohol wise, I doubt you'll need to worry about that unless you both like getting completely KOed, but what's the point of doing that on a cruise? Unless it's with friends, so honeymoon wise I doubt you have that in mind.

EDIT:

Carnival honestly felt like a shitty Motel 6, while RC and Celebrity felt like a 5 star hotel.

I was afraid someone will say this. That's what I thought when I saw the word "carnival".

[Ksandra]

I've been on 3 cruises (Carnival, Celebrity, and Royal Carribbean) and Carnival was by far the worst one. Their rooms were smaller, the boat was more cramped, and the food was the worst of the three also. The only thing Carnival had on the others was activities, but since I wanted to relax more than play, it wasn't the best fit for me.

Like some others mentioned pay close attention to whats included and whatnot. I got hit hard by Carnival because of the drinks (which I thought were included), and God forbid you actually drink the water or soda they leave in your room, shits expensive.

Carnival honestly felt like a shitty Motel 6, while RC and Celebrity felt like a 5 star hotel.

which was better celebrity or royal? or were they both really good?

[Ksandra]

double post sorry but if carriban is that bad oddly enough royal has the same cruise, but more expensive:

http://cruises.orbitz.com/sc.do?d=08...atecode=&dsc=y

same dates n' everything (which is weird but w/e)

For sure if I went with royal I'd have to settle for an ocean view or interior because of the price increase.

not sure if it's worth it though .XD

[Quixon]

I wouldn't worry about the room size to much. You will only be sleeping and fucking in there, like someone else mentioned previously. I would probably go for the first upgrade room wise. Check with your cruise line also, many of them offer free upgrades just for going on the cruise with them. People who don't cruise often don't know to ask for this kind of thing.

I would also recommend getting a PREPAID drink card. That way you will have an idea of how much you spent, before you get a $1000+ bill for alcohol a month after wards.

You can sneak shit on the boat, but it was never easy for me by any means. My friend put vodka in a mouthwash bottle, and they some how found out it wasn't mouthwash.

[Kilhart]

Interior rooms suck. They're pretty small and cramped, which isn't that big of a deal for most cruises, but if it's a honeymoon and you want it to be special, at least go for a room with a view.

I would personally go for the Balcony or Suite. Two twin beds pushed together is a little ghetto for a honeymoon.

[Abandon]

If you're going to Mexico why not just save the money and head to Texas?

eat a dick, asshole

[kuronosan]

From my experience on a cruise all I can say is save up money for excursions and don't ever go with any on-island tour guides. Only go with the tour guides the cruise people set you up with.

Also, go to the dinners. Most fun I've had at a dinner in ages and I also found that having good service makes or breaks a cruise. We had an awesome waiter and an awesome time.

Bring lotion and lots of it. You'll be in the sun alot. If you want internet access be prepared to pay money for their wifi (that should be free but isn't). Other things I could recommend are to try to partake in as many of the ship's activities as you can so that you have the best experience possible.

And be prepared for a lot of late-night dancing. Cruises go nuts for newly married couples and will throw parties for you.

Lastly, the room can also break the experience pretty rapidly. You'll want a window suite. Anything else just ruins the experience and makes you feel like you're sleeping in a box. Plus, if the boat sinks or is in danger of capsizing, you have an easy out!

Not much else I can say about cruises. Everyone's experience is a little different. Depending on where you're going I can even tell you the places you should definitely visit.

[willriker]

And the enjoyment of your fucking should only be based on the size of the bed, not the whole room.

I disagree, the enjoyment of your fucking should not be limited to your bed at all!

get the bigger room!!!!!!

more importantly, splurge on the all inclusive drinks if they offer it.