New to forum... first cruise booked!

[crazymama]

Hi everyone! I have just discovered this forum and can't wait to learn the ABC's of cruising! We have 3 kids, 12, 9 and nearly 8 and were considering a Disney Cruise for the "first time experience". The TA that we worked with also suggested Carnival and got a quote on both. Disney, as she predicted, was twice the price. Yikes! Long story short, she booked us on the Pride for the August 17th sailing from Long Beach. I am SO excited. It looks just great. Haven't told the kids yet because I don't even have my holidays approved for that time yet... too soon to know but fingers are all crossed. I think we will do 3 days of Disney first. We have been there once before so three days should suffice.
I am sure that I will have tons of questions. I actually have cruised once before when I was twenty. Lets just say that was circa 1983 (give or take ;-) Went up to Alaska on Holland America's Rotterdam, Loved the old boat and the whole atmosphere. Yes, I was the youngest person on the ship but, thanks to the casino staff, I managed to squeeze in some fun. But that's another story! HEH HEH!
Anyhoo... just wanted to say hello.

 

[Whimsy]

Welcome!

Sounds like a great vacation, hope you can get the time off. I would save the cruise and suprise the family on Christmas. Lots of creative ways to suprise them. Give them gifts like sunglasses, snorkle gear, etc. and let them look at you like you lost your mind and then have them open up a package that contains a toy cruise ship that you personalize with the ship name and date. Better yet, see if you can find a boat bank and then have everyone throw change and such in there to help with some mad cruise money!

Sorry, I get a bit carried away. Last year we had my own version of Christmas Deal or No Deal for our DD. :lol

 

[jetblue]

You made a great choice. Carnival's Spirit Class ships (which is what the Pride is part of) is by far some of the nicest ships afloat. They are smaller than the average cruise ships today but they still pack all the fun in, and I know your kids will love the twister waterslide as much as I do! :lol

Please feel free to post if you have any questions at all!

 

[crazymama]

Thanks for the kind words! I love the idea of surprising the kids at Christmas time with 'cruise gear" etc. I know that I will have tons of questions between now and August. I love these forums. Nothing better than advice directly from people who have tons of experience.

 

[Mbandy]

Welcome aboard matey :wave

You'll love the cruise and the kids will have a blast :thumb

 

[Brian J]

Welcome Aboard!!!! Everything you need to know will be found on this site and the people are wonderful!!

 

[jkmcroot]

I have two kids, ages 12 and 9 now, and when we were planning our first cruise with them I too looking into the Disney cruise but it was way too expensive. Since the hubby and I had been on a few Carnival cruises, we booked onboard the Triumph. The kids loved it, they were 9 and 6 at the time.

When it was time to plan another family vacation, there was no discussion, everyone was in agreement on a Carnival cruise.

Your kids will love the cruise.

 

[cjbee]

I have one DD, 7. When I first started thinking of bringing her, I also looked at Disney. We have since been on Carnival and Celebrity. I had to drag her out of Camp Carnival when the place was closing. She had a ball.
CJ

 

[sassy125]

booked our first cruise on carnival liberty. Leaving may 4-10 2008. There will be eight of us on this cruise. Any advice about the ship or what there is to do on the ship would be greatly appreciated. Also if anybody knows anything about our ports of call we are going to key west, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios Jamica. Our ages are between 23-63.