Cruisin’ away
April 30th, 2008Tomorrow morning Sarah and I leave for an extended weekend Caribbean jaunt to Cozumel, Mexico. Blogging will not be on my mind, so don’t expect any new posts for a few days.
It’ll be our first cruise. If you have any advice for us newbies, please pass it along.
What happens down in Mexico, stays in Mexico
Have a great time! We missed you guys this past Sunday at the picnic. Maggie said that she was sad not see your sweet girl. Hope you guys have a really fun trip!
Okay, Tim, a couple things. I have been on 2 cruises and here is what I’d say:
1. Don’t be shy about the food at dinner. It is almost always amazing food and eat all you want. everyone starts out timid the first few nights and hesitates to ask for more (though if you have a good waiter, he will be encouraging you to eat your heart out). Be bold; ask for a second entree.
2. Be ready to be patient. There are a few times where there are extended periods of waiting, like when you first get there, and waiting to go on shore (depending on where you are). It certainly wont take up the whole trip (or even a big chunk of it), but just be aware you may have to do some waiting.
3. Don’t feel like you have to plan away all your time. There is plenty to do on the boat and on the island without spending money or planning excursions every day (though I would recommend 1 or 2 of the excursions they offer). You will want to have a couple days to just wander, relax by the beach/pools etc. One mistake newbies make is they plan away all of their time, and dont have time to kick back.
4. Take in some of the evening entertainment. They almost always have a magician and comedian, who are usually pretty good. It’s free and fun.
That’s all I got. What cruise line is it?
Thanks, Nick. Good advice.
We’re on Carnival. Which cruise line were you on?
We did Carnival a few years back and I second everything Nick said. Furthermore, concerning the food - bring stretchy pants. If Sarah’s still got some of her maternity wear, bring’em.
Most importantly, enjoy the time together.
My advice: watch out for icebergs. We all know how encounters with those go. By the way, I would not normally post such advice as the Caribbean is not known for its icebergs but you never know with all this uncertainty about global cooling/global warming
Also, if you are on the island and they someone tries to sell you something and they say, “this price, just for you” you can be assured that “this price” certainly is custom tailored just for you. The price goes up or down based on your attire, color and whether or not you or your wife have on anything that looks expensive. Plus, the cost is always higher due to the fact that you just got off a huge cruise ship. So, avoid the tourist traps and find places that will give you a fare shake.
I say all that never having been on a cruise, but having traveled to every continent except for Antartica and Australia. Have fun and look for opportunities to let others see your good deeds so that they may praise your Father in Heaven.
j razz
I went to Cozumel in the early 80’s. I remember eating at a restaurant by a lighthouse whose menu was comprised only of the fresh fish caught earlier that morning. If it’s still there, I’d recommend it.
I went on one with Royal Caribbean and one with Princess. Both were amazing. I don;t know much about Carnival except that I think they cater to children a little more than the others, which doesn’t apply to your situation.
Do you have any shore excursions planned?
bring some of that stuff in case you get sea sickness. And usually room service is free. I would get a PB&J every night!! It was awesome babay!!!!!!
Our only chance for excursions will be the one day we’re in Cozumel. I’ve heard there are some Mayan ruins, so we’ll probably go see those. Other than that, we’ll probably just walk around the island.
DON’T CHECK EMAIL OR TAKE YOUR CELL PHONE!
I would recommend bringing along some Dramamine if you (or Sarah) have ever, EVER had any form of motion sickness whatsoever — and make sure you take some well before the ship sets sail if there is even the slightest hint of “rough seas.”
We took a cruise ship from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas one time and experienced 6- to 10-foot swells — or, as one of the crew members called it, “the roughest water I’ve ever seen!” As if the waves and constant swaying of the boat weren’t enough: Everywhere you looked, someone was vomiting!
I spent at least two hours “below deck,” away from any of the other passengers, sitting on some steps with my head between my knees. I never threw up, but I sure wanted to. (Actually, for a while there, I felt like I wanted to DIE!)
Fortunately, it was smooth sailing a few days later when we sailed from Grand Bahama to Fort Lauderdale. I even allowed myself to drink a piña colada and a Bahama Mama on the way back!
Make sure though that you don’t over do the dramamine or sea legs or what have you as they not only solve the sea sick issue, they also slow down your respiratory process (I use it for diving as it allows you to dive longer as you don’t use as much oxygen), but if you take too much, it could slow down your breathing to a level that is unsafe. So, basically, I am saying you need to stay within the recommended dosage
j razz
women should not handle broken tablets of Propecia.
Oh yeah, Zoner is right. room service is free, you just have to tip. We ordered breakfast every day (you just fill out a card the night before and they deliver it the next morning). Definitely take advantage of that.