Anyone Taken a Cruise?

[ramrod]

So I'm looking forward to head back to the Mainland in order to drop off the kids with my folks and hit up an Alaskan Cruise for our Wedding Anniversary. Has anyone ever taken a cruise before? Even better, if you've taken one to Alaska.

I've spent the last Seven and Half years working at Sea, so the first thing that will be odd for me is not waking up at 0300 to stand the 4-8 watch. Guess it will be pretty difficult to enjoy my time at sea without it feeling like work.

Anyone have any tips or advice for taking cruises?

 

[lyric911]

So I'm looking forward to head back to the Mainland in order to drop off the kids with my folks and hit up an Alaskan Cruise for our Wedding Anniversary. Has anyone ever taken a cruise before? Even better, if you've taken one to Alaska.

I've spent the last Seven and Half years working at Sea, so the first thing that will be odd for me is not waking up at 0300 to stand the 4-8 watch. Guess it will be pretty difficult to enjoy my time at sea without it feeling like work.

Anyone have any tips or advice for taking cruises?

I've been on several.

Stay out of your room as much as possible. They are small with nothing to do.

Eat. Often.

Booze is expensive.

Casinos are for suckers with too much money.

 

[highoctane]

Arrive back to the ship early when your in port, They wont wait for you
saw a few got left running to the ship as we pulled away.
also IMO stay away from doing anything might get you injured, such activities allthough can be fun but the last thing you want is to go to the E/R
If you drink I thinks it's worth the try to sneek on some booze I took a couple bottles of vodka no problem saved me a bunch.
lastly if you want something not on the menu just ask, I had t-bone steak allmost every night even though it wasnt on the menu
Have Fun!

 

[wa2txcory]

Agree with previous statesments-sorta. I think more have fun and dont worry about. I have been on several as well and usually done things that people said shouldnt be done-ie walking through the market in Jamaica. Just dont care a bunch of money or flashy things. I also agree on sneaking booze on-never been caught once. Although to be honest-I typically just ordered drinks and drank as often as I wanted and I think my tab for all 7 days was only like $400 which I can do 1/4 of that on 6th st in Austin on one night. Also, agreed that the rooms are small and was only in there for changing, sleeping, etc. Have fun though-been to Alaska several times. The Cook inlet near Anchorage is unlike anything else. Good luck and have fun. Ps-its Alaska do whatever you want.

 

[calscrazy]

i went on a few in the marine corps (tarawa, belluea wood, essex) but not sure those are the experiences you want to know about.

 

[Hoover]

A cruise is right at the top of my "Things to never do " list.

I cannot imagine a worse "vacation" than being stuck on a floating petri dish with screaming kids, drunk tourists and smelly old people.

 

[cpatt]

A cruise is right at the top of my "Things to never do " list.

I cannot imagine a worse "vacation" than being stuck on a floating petri dish with screaming kids, drunk tourists and smelly old people.

i did it once... it was an experience... not something i will jump right on board with again... but bermuda was great!

 

[ramrod]

A cruise is right at the top of my "Things to never do " list.

I cannot imagine a worse "vacation" than being stuck on a floating petri dish with screaming kids, drunk tourists and smelly old people.

yea, luckily were dropping the kids off... I would never take kids to a cruise.

Thanks for all the advice, is it hard to sneak in booze? I have a bottle of Christal I wanted to take w/ us to pop on our anniversary.

The stateroom is probably the last place I want to be, from what I'm reading, there are a lot of activities to do on the cruise so hopefully between that and the port calls, we should be set.

 

[FZER]

I've been on three cruises now. My first was on the Mariner of the Seas royal carib, was sort of a last minute deal on a Carnival ship which I can't even remember the name, and the last one was on the Allure of the Seas. The Carnival boat if I can remember correctly was only about 6 years old when we went on it and it was really short on all the little nice things that spoiled me on my first trip with Royal Carib. Above our seats at dinner silver duct tape was holding up a panel above us and the service during supper was terrible. The Mariner was absolutely the exact opposite of the Carnival, even though my wife and I are very middle class we felt like we were staying at one of the nicest hotels money could buy. I never thought another ship could out do the fun and unbelievable shear awesomeness of that boat, but I was totally wrong. The Allure of the Seas, largest cruise boat in the world and also a Royal Carib boat, was absolutely breath taking. You’d think with 6000 passengers would be walking into folks and everything but that wasn’t the case at all. You could stay on this boat for the entire cruise and be completely happy without getting off at any of the ports. The shows were so great words can’t describe them. You could look at the pictures of the boat all day and they just don’t do it justice. Absolutely one of my best vacations ever. I will be back on that boat again first chance I get.