Travel going on my first cruise!!!

#16
Yay for you!! I love cruising. You can get some pretty good deals on jewelry (especially diamonds) at various Caribbean ports. Just research the retail prices before you go (BlueNile.com is a great place to check). I'm going on my 4th cruise in March (Panama Canal routing). I can't wait - we're doing a small ship again this time. :smile:
 
#17
I literally just got back late last night from my cruise to the Western Carribean... ended up packing too much and getting a bit sea sick as well during the last day at sea due to some rough seas/choppy waves. My parents and I ended up skipping out on the formal dinining option as we were sometimes a bit tired from the shore excursions and opted instead to eat at the casual dining restaurant, which was a blessing for us. Needless to say, I didn't get a chance to wear my nicer and more formal cruise wear but again, it was nice to skip out on the 2 hour long formal dining experience so that I could take a much needed nap instead :P I highly recommend that you bring along plenty of sunscreen and mosquito repellant, as well as some sea sick/motion sickness medicine as well.
 
#18
Expy00 said:
I literally just got back late last night from my cruise to the Western Carribean... ended up packing too much and getting a bit sea sick as well during the last day at sea due to some rough seas/choppy waves. [...] as well as some sea sick/motion sickness medicine as well.
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Had a similar experience on my last cruise ... but the infirmary had seasickness pills (and bandaids) galore for anyone who needed/wanted. I didn't need the pills, but those who took them said they were better than anything they brought with them ... ask the Cruise Line if they have anything available on the ship (also in case you forget to bring with you).
 
#19
macska said:
Had a similar experience on my last cruise ... but the infirmary had seasickness pills (and bandaids) galore for anyone who needed/wanted. I didn't need the pills, but those who took them said they were better than anything they brought with them ... ask the Cruise Line if they have anything available on the ship (also in case you forget to bring with you).
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Good point... I brought along some of the non-drowsy Dramamine medication but it took a few hours for it to take affect. My parents rarely get sea sick but they did this time around as well. Next time, I'm going to try the patch and bracelets, along with the Dramamine, to help out with the sea sickness effects.
 
#20
I just returned from a W. Caribbean as well.....it was just OK. I hated the sea days....so boring. Unless you drink or have kids, there weren't many activities. I read a lot and watched movies.
 
#21
dr. twiggers said:
I just returned from a W. Caribbean as well.....it was just OK. I hated the sea days....so boring. Unless you drink or have kids, there weren't many activities. I read a lot and watched movies.
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Agreed!

The sea days seem only useful for kids or newly-weds ... otherwise, snoozefest. I spent lots of time at the gym on those days, or napping. Felt like a waste of my money ... next time I leave from San Juan and spend most of my time seeing places instead of the ocean.
 
#22
Boring? maybe it depends on what cruise your are on? I went over the summer and there were a million things to do (or nothing if you wanted).

A word of advice to anyone who gets seasick. I was prescribed the motion sickness patch. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS DON'T EVER DO THE PATCH. I was fine during the cruise but 4 days after I removed the patch (cause cruise was over), I was sent to the emergency room by my doctor. Basically, it was a drug like overdose even though I used the patch correctly. It is extremely common and even Novartis' website (the company who makes the patch) discusses the problem with "some people.". I was extremely ill for 2 weeks, unable to drive, etc.

Stick with the dramamine or over the counter pills. Just my opinion. I was a very terrible experience for me
 
#23
snibor said:
A word of advice to anyone who gets seasick. I was prescribed the motion sickness patch. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS DON'T EVER DO THE PATCH. I was fine during the cruise but 4 days after I removed the patch (cause cruise was over), I was sent to the emergency room by my doctor. Basically, it was a drug like overdose even though I used the patch correctly. It is extremely common and even Novartis' website (the company who makes the patch) discusses the problem with "some people.". I was extremely ill for 2 weeks, unable to drive, etc.

Stick with the dramamine or over the counter pills. Just my opinion. I was a very terrible experience for me
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Oh my, I'm sorry to hear that you had such a severe reaction afterwards to the motion sickness patch. Looks like I'll be sticking with the dramamine and motion sickness bracelets the next time that I go on a cruise.
 
#24
For the days at sea during my recent cruise, I opted to sleep in late, walk around the open top decks of the ship, catch up on my reading, and browse the shops & casino. I also spent quite a bit of my down time chatting and relaxing with my parents. It was nice spending some quiet time with them and recalling fond memories of our previous family vacations and life in general.
 
#25
To the Op - I noticed you are from Chicago - I am in New England, and because of the uncertainty with our weather, we now fly in a day early. My Brother-in-law is a pilot, and has many horror stories of people who fly in the day of the cruise, and miss the ship due to delays.
I have cruised without my kids, I am not a newlywed - and I have never been bored on a cruise ship!
 
#26
snibor said:
Boring? maybe it depends on what cruise your are on? I went over the summer and there were a million things to do (or nothing if you wanted).
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Yup...incredibly. Too windy to be on the pool deck. Only activities were flow balloon making, martini tasting (I don't drink), some family sports activities, shopping, and a poker tournament.
I don't drink, waste my money on their overpriced jewelry, have kids, or play poker. My only option was flower balloon making....

Leaving out of San Juan is probably a better option...zero sea days!
 
#27
I actually like sea days b/c I get to work on my tan and hit the gym. It's very relaxing. I have a great time with the excursions but it's get a bit tiring if it's every day. Each cruise line is different and you really have to find the right one for you and your family.
 
#28
Are you going to Belize? If so, check out Smuggler's Run Plantation (you can google them). I went on the Western Car. cruise with my daughter and they picked us up at the pier and we went horseback riding through the jungle and then had lunch there. It was about $40 per person and took most of the day. It was absolutely wonderful! Much less expensive than horseback riding through the cruise's excursion and they were just great!
 
#29
dr. twiggers said:
Yup...incredibly. Too windy to be on the pool deck. Only activities were flow balloon making, martini tasting (I don't drink), some family sports activities, shopping, and a poker tournament.
I don't drink, waste my money on their overpriced jewelry, have kids, or play poker. My only option was flower balloon making....

Leaving out of San Juan is probably a better option...zero sea days!
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I'm curious to know what cruise line you were on? We've done RCCL, Carnival and Princess and I never felt bored or like there wasn't a lot to do. Was it an Alaskan cruise or a New England cruise or something similar- where it was too cold outside to do much? It's also possible that you just happened to be on a ship that had a lousy cruise director. :s
 
#30
It was the NCL Jewel and it was a Western Caribbean. Weather was good, except the last sea day was pretty windy.

What kinds of activities have there been on your cruises?
I'm not lying these were our activities:
there were seminars on shopping at the ports (boring)
family fun time (not part of a family)
martini tasting (don't drink)
pub crawl (don't drink and this took place on 3 nights)
slot/poker/blackjack tournament (I did one)
bingo (played twice)
art auctions (no money for that kind of art; I did check it out and I wasn't impressed with what they had)
tons of jewelry sales (I don't wear jewelry and the prices weren't that spectacular) movies in the lounges (already watched them in my room)
seminars on future cruises (already ready that online)
music on the pool deck
spa seminars (boring)
trivia (OK, this might have been fun....I think it conflicted with something else in the evening)
towel animal making (snore)
flower balloon making (really for kids)
newlywed game (in a lounge where drinking was likely to be expected)

That was really about it. I guess I was looking for more educational seminars about the ports (we went to two ports that had Mayan ruins), trivia-type games, more fun casino activities, movies still in the theaters (like hotels have).

I'm just a bit of a homebody who likes movies/TV/reading....the club/drinking scene just isn't for me.
 
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