Please help! First timer here :)

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Ksmommy07

Guest
Hey all! I am new to cruising and am trying to plan my family's first cruise together. We consist of me (23 years old), my husband (27 years old), and my son (21 months old). We want to go on a Caribbean cruise, and are having a really hard time deciding which line to go with and what part of the Caribbean to go to. I am realizing that we really cannot do much in the ports besides sit at the beach or go shopping due to my son's age, and I am fine with that. What would you all recommend as a better Caribbean cruise for us? West or South? Also, which line would you recommend for us? I know that RCCL only caters to children 3 and up as far as drop off stuff, but saw that they have babysitting available if we wanted the time to ourselves. I'm just wondering which my son would have a better time on, and which is the least of a "party" type line.

Also, as I am looking at the shore excursions, I am wondering something. Do you have to pay to do EVERYTHING? Even if we just want to go sit at the beach for the day? This is the way it seems to be as far as I can tell. And another thing. How much spending money seems to be an ample amount for a cruise? Is 1,000 too little or would it be enough?

Okay, I think these are all the questions I have so far! Please, please help me out some! Thanks in advance, your help is much appreciated!
 
A

Amunet

Guest
Hello :)

I've never cruised either but I have learned a lot from here and other sites. I can't really help on advice for children (I was going to mention the babysitting service, but I guess you found that :) )

As for paying on every excursion. No, you don't have to. Basically, you can just go off the ship at a port and roam around, not even having to pay a cent while there. This is what my husband and I are planning to do on one of the ports we go into.
For spending money, I have found that it really depends on you and your lifestyle. Alcoholic beverages as well as soda are not free and can get expensive. If you don't drink those, you don't have to worry about it. Likewise, if you dont gamble, you don't need to go to the casino.
Also, don't forget the gratuities.

That's all of just what I have learned, from what I can tell you don't have to shell out much extra money at all if you really don't want to. But most people do because, hey, it's a vacation!
 
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Ted_D

Guest
Welcome to the board and to cruising. I think RCI is a great choice for most first timers, and it has lots
of activities that might appeal to younger adults and families. Avoid lines like Celebrity and Holland
American, which cater to an older set.

With regard to which specific itinerary, I don't think it will matter a great deal for a first timer. Since you
haven't been to the Caribbean previsously, I take it, any set of islands will be new and exciting. And
almost any of them have wonderful beaches and lovely water. So, it may be more about getting a good
price, and a port you can travel to easily, than anything else.

There are more free things to do on a major curise ship than you will ever be able to actually do. And, in
every port you are able to get off the ship without taking a ship sponsored excursion. Depending on the
port you are in, there may be a beach within walking distance, and certainly any taxi can take you to
one. It does not have to cost you a bundle.

How much cash you will need is really hard to say, without knowing a lot more about you. For my wife
and I, $1000 would be fine for a 7 day cruise. Some folks will drink more than that, or gamble more than
that in the casino. You will have to pay for:

1. tips to the service personnel
2. shipboard and land purchases made while shopping
3. alcoholic drinks on board, including beer, wine, and liquor
4. bottled water consumed on board
5. sodas consumed on board
6. commenorative photographs purchased on board
7. some optional shipboard activities, like renting ice skates, participating in a wine tasting seminar,
or having your nails done in the beauty shop
6. most spa services (massages and the like)
7. meals eaten in restaurants other than the free buffet, pool grill, and main restaurant -- the so called
"specialty" restuarants
8. ship sponsored excursions
9. off ship activities like shopping, meals, taxis, etc
10. medical assistance you may have to get on board
11. some childrens activities, like baby sitting

Many of the shipboard activites that you pay for do not have to be paid for in cash. Many (most) are
charged to your room account and paid for by credit card at the end of the cruise.

I really recommend that all first timers find a good travel agent who can help them. They can help
guide you, answer a lot of questions, and lower the difficulty of getting your first cruise perfect. Look
for one with CLIA certification and you will be fine.

Good luck and welcome aboard again.

Ted
 
K

Ksmommy07

Guest
Thanks for the replies! It's good to know that you don't have to pay for things when you get off the ship unless you want to, it just seemed from the excursions that you had to pay just to sit at the beach.

Now another question (go figure)! We are looking into a Southern Caribbean cruise that leaves out of San Juan. One of the travel agents that I spoke to said that we do not need a passport to fly in and out of there from the US, is this true? I know we will for sure need our IDs and Birth Certificates.

Also, how "formal" are the formal nights? My husband is in the military, would he be able to wear his uniforms for these or should we just get some type of suit for him to wear? What about young kids? Are they very strict on how formal infants are? I cannot seem to find anything for my son that is formal.


Thanks again for the replies. They are much appreciated!
 
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suer182

Guest
Passports is one of those "hot topics". As of yesterday, you do not need a passport to fly in and out of San Juan. That might have changed as of today. (I dont have the energy to keep up with the latest, only for it to be changed 10 minutes later.-I have a passport).

HOWEVER, as far as I am aware, you need a passport to fly home in event of an emergency from any of the other places you might be sailing too. Bottom line.... GET A PASSPORT !!!!!!!

formal nights your hubby will be fine. You will see people dressed to the nines all the way down to their Sunday best. Some ships also offer buffet meal where you can dress as you please. As far as your son goes, dont worry about it. Will he really be comfortable sitting at a formal table for a few hours?

Also, some beaches, depending on where you are going, might charge for lounge chairs/umbrellas. The ship will provide towels for beach use. Make sure you bring them back or you could be charged for them.
 
K

Ksmommy07

Guest
suer182 said:
Passports is one of those "hot topics". As of yesterday, you do not need a passport to fly in and out of San Juan. That might have changed as of today. (I dont have the energy to keep up with the latest, only for it to be changed 10 minutes later.-I have a passport).

HOWEVER, as far as I am aware, you need a passport to fly home in event of an emergency from any of the other places you might be sailing too. Bottom line.... GET A PASSPORT !!!!!!!

formal nights your hubby will be fine. You will see people dressed to the nines all the way down to their Sunday best. Some ships also offer buffet meal where you can dress as you please. As far as your son goes, dont worry about it. Will he really be comfortable sitting at a formal table for a few hours?

Also, some beaches, depending on where you are going, might charge for lounge chairs/umbrellas. The ship will provide towels for beach use. Make sure you bring them back or you could be charged for them.
Click to expand...

Okay, so formal dinners are a couple hours long? Yikes, yeah my son definitely will not sit still for that long.
 
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suer182

Guest
Dinner can be 11/2-2 hours long. On one of my sailings we had 8:00 dining and never left the dining room until 10:15. That was not by choice as we always missed the 10:00 shows.
 
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suer182

Guest
Yes, for the traditional dining rooms where you are assigned a time. It will be that long every night for dinner. Or in the paid restaurants will be that long, if not longer. The buffet(lido), you serve yourself and can be in an out of there in no time, and dress how you want. Make sure the ship offers buffet for dinner time.

Some ships have an alternate dining room where you are not assigned a specific table and tablemates but the same food is served as in the traditional dining room. This too will be 11/2 hours dining experience.
 
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