first cruise help!

norva · February 1, 2009

Hello, everyone Thank you all for that warm welcome. I really appreciate all the advice and information you all have given me. Thank you all so much. This is really great to be able to share and get great advice and tips from such wonderful caring people. I have never been a member of a forum before, so I hope I am doing this right. Like I stated earlier this is my family's first vacation. So, I need all the help I can receive. I will speak to the travel agent very soon. Could you please help me by telling me the questions I should ask the agent. And Please if there is anything else I should know Please, Please tell me. I have been seaching different web site trying to gather as much information as I can. So if anyone knows of a great site please let me know.

Thanks, Norva

coloradocruisers · February 1, 2009

Norva: I noticed in your other post, that you were considering Carnival. Carnival has a great website, which I'm sure you've located; but there's so much there it takes a little time to find all the information.

Your kids will enjoy the kids programs that Carnival has. Princess and Disney also have excellent kids programs, if your still undecided.

If you're sailing to the Caribbean, one thing to look into is the excursions available. I know that we were wary of taking our young daughter to the beach at some of the Eastern Caribbean ports, because so many beaches we read about were "clothing optional".

Western Caribbean is a good first cruise for a family.

Somebody posted a really good website awhile back about the ships. I've bookmarked it on my computer:

http://www.shipparade.com/

JoeyandDavid · February 1, 2009

Hello, everyone Thank you all for that warm welcome. I really appreciate all the advice and information you all have given me. Thank you all so much. This is really great to be able to share and get great advice and tips from such wonderful caring people. I have never been a member of a forum before, so I hope I am doing this right. Like I stated earlier this is my family's first vacation. So, I need all the help I can receive. I will speak to the travel agent very soon. Could you please help me by telling me the questions I should ask the agent. And Please if there is anything else I should know Please, Please tell me. I have been seaching different web site trying to gather as much information as I can. So if anyone knows of a great site please let me know.
Thanks, Norva

Norva as i see it.. you should ask any and every question you can think of to your TA.. then come back here ask the same questions... and hope you get the same answers...most likely you will(it also becomes a test also for your TA to see if they are working for you or the commission) .. but in the mean time you are picking up valuable information.. As i like to say there are no silly questions just questions you don't have the answers too yet..

Have fun with the planning!

coloradocruisers · February 1, 2009

Norva, there's also some good guidebooks out there. One that I've found very informative is Frommer's Caribbean Ports of Call. I have the 5th edition. In addition to discussing the ports, the book also gives a good rundown on the various cruiselines.

zebra · February 2, 2009

Norva, for our first cruise I went to our travel agent and asked her for ALL the cruise line brochures for the Caribbean and then hubby and I sat and choose our price range, itinerary and ship from the books. They are awesome books and really help. I mush prefer them to the website because you can sit down and compare one against the other. Enjoy planning your first cruise. Come back whenever you have more questions... we'll be happy to help.

TheSkipper · February 2, 2009

Norva,

I'm sure you already know this, but if not:

Never, pay brochure prices. They are inflated and IMHO bogus. Select your ship, where and when you want to go and shop the cruise website for the best pricing.

Longboysfan · February 2, 2009

Yes. Shop around for TA's. That is the place to start.

TA's can do some things to help smooth out the vacation.

Everyone here has one they work with all the time. Booking directly with the line you are kind of on your own in regards to getting things right in advance.

And they are right about the price.

The TA can get a better one and apply any price drops to the cabin.

What would you like to do in the way of family things on the ship - group going age spread.

This would go into the line to choose.

Carnival is nice for younger aged cruisers.

Each line has a specialty they cater too. So tell us what you are looking for.

elfed · February 2, 2009

Hello Norva,

My wife and I have done 14 cruises and we can remember our first one like it was yesterday. It was on the then Nordic Empress-now Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas. The ship was fairly small at 46,000 tons and held under 2000 passengers. It was a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas. I had previously been on a 7 day cruise with my son, but this was Donna's first. She was really worried about getting seasick! To her astonishment and great pleasure she found she loved the experience. I'm sure you and yours will feel the same. Although I would not advise taking one of the mega ships as they can be rather intimidating for a first time cruiser. Perhaps one of Carnival's 77,000 Fantasy class ships would be a super introduction to cruising. We have travelled on Carnival 5 times and they are great value for money.

Regards,

James.

55ChevyLady · February 2, 2009

Hello, everyone Thank you all for that warm welcome. I really appreciate all the advice and information you all have given me. Thank you all so much. This is really great to be able to share and get great advice and tips from such wonderful caring people. I have never been a member of a forum before, so I hope I am doing this right. Like I stated earlier this is my family's first vacation. So, I need all the help I can receive. I will speak to the travel agent very soon. Could you please help me by telling me the questions I should ask the agent. And Please if there is anything else I should know Please, Please tell me. I have been seaching different web site trying to gather as much information as I can. So if anyone knows of a great site please let me know.
Thanks, Norva

Welcome Norva! I am so glad you found CruiseCrazies. This place was the first forum I found and the only one I stayed with. I hope you like it as much as I do. :smile:

Like James said, Carnival offers great value for your money and if you picked one of their Fantasy class ships you wouldn't be overwhelmed by the size of it...that is what my family has cruised on and loved it.

I also have the Frommer's book and Cruising for Dummies Book, (or it might be Cruise Ships for Dummies) Both books are good and the Dummies book gives you a lot of practical advice.

I went with a PVP for my last Carnival cruise. PVP - Personal Vacation Planner, they work for Carnival.

Welcome aboard,

Andrea

hazelson · February 3, 2009

Hey Norva - welcome!

We love Carnival. I read everything I could find on cruising before our fisrt cruise - and I still do. I start a binder and put everything in it like brochures and deckplans - all the receipts, travel insurance forms etc. That way it is all in one place. I put it all in thse clear plastic sleeves - with extras for the cruise ships photos so they dont get crushed ont he way home.

You can never ask too many questions - but be warned - we may give you too many answers.

Enjoy the anticipation!