Expert: Linda - 2/1/2008

Question
QUESTION: My husband and i are going on a cruise for our first time on september 7, 2008 leaving from miami going to cozumel, oho rios, and grand cayman. a 7 day cruise. my first question is: What is the weather like? can you take alcohol on the ship? How early can we board? our cruise leaves at 4pm. do you suggest travelers insurance? any advice you can give to a first time cruiser?

ANSWER: The weather in Sept is generally nice and warm, remembering though it is still hurricane season.  If a hurricane approaches, they just change the ports, but you may experience some rain.  You can usually board around 11:30.  there are those that get there earlier,  but you just wait in a line.  We've finally decided after 27 cruises, we get there around 1:00.We usually encounter very little lines, unless a bus drops off a load, but even then, the wait is minimal.

As for the alcohol, we've never been stopped.  We pack seagrams in the plastic bottle in our regular luggage and I drink wine, so we buy the boxed wine. we've never had an issue.  

Travelers insurance...now that's a tough one.  For our first 20 cruises, we did NOT have cruise insurance and didn't need it; the last 7 we did have it and used it twice.  Remember though, we live in Fl, so we weren't dependent on planes.  We only lived an hour from Miami and 30 min from the port in Ft Lauderdale.  It's really a personal thing and how much tolerance you have and how much money you may be risking. If we had it to do over, when we were yung, we probably still wouldn't take it, remember though....we weren't flying.

Some hints.  Get on the ship, go to your cabin, pick up all the "stuff" on your bed, then head for the buffet if you've been flying all morning.  After lunch, go to your closest outside bar, order a drink, then read all the stuff from your bed. Be sure you get a plastic glass, do NOT leave it at the bar, put it in your bag (you'll use this for the week to make drinks in your room and bring them on deck).  (I REALLY suggest you just order another drink), then start from the top of the ship, down to deck 3, walk all of the decks except those that are cabin only.  Go to the restaurant and see where your table is and how many people will be at the same table.  If you drink wine, you can order the nights wine ahead of time.  Once you've finished your tour, head to your cabin, your luggage should be there.  Unpack, put the luggage under the bed,  only NOW are you REALLY ready to cruise!  You may have a little time left before the required drill.  You'll need to get your life jackets from your cabin and head to your pre assigned wait station.  After the drill, return your life vests to the cabin and now you're on your own....you can do what you want, when you want for the next week.  In the back of the ship, ALL the way back, you'll find a small pool on most Carnival ships and an area to sit.  for some reason, it's usually only used by seasoned cruisers; everyone else heads for the main pool!  We're not water people, but we play games back there and there is alway a bar :).  Do take note of where the little hideaways are that offer pizza etc.  You really must LOOK to find everything, that's why we suggest walking every deck, both port and starboard to find out where everything is.

In grand caymen, you MUST swim with the stingrays, but don't do it thru the ship, just google CAPTAIN MARVIN.  Private boats, small group, you get to snorkle at 2 places in addition to the stingrays, he takes a video, less expensive.  We've used him and recommended him to MANY people and never had any complaints.  We just don't like crowds, so do this one if no other one.  Ocho Rios depends on what you like.  Climbing Dunns River is a great experience, but COLD, also a big challenging.  If you do this, take old tennis shoes to wear on the climb the throw them out after.  You can take different trips, read them and decide which you like.  Cozumel, you can't go wrong with any of the tours, just choose what you'd like to see.  There are no real shopping bargains at these ports other than t shirts and things like that, or if you want to pick up rum cakes in Grand Caymen.  Still not cheap though.  There are some good bars in Grand Caymen and Cozumel, they change popularity all the time; just ask the crew....they'll tell you their favorites!

For on the ship, do take a sweater or light jacket, inside the ship and the public rooms tend to be COLD.  Non slip shoes for walking on deck and comfortable shoes for walking on side trips.  Pack 1/2 of what you think you'll need and you'll still end up with too much ;)

formal nights, jacket and tie for guys is fine, don't need a tux unless you want to.  Ladies, that little old black dress is fine, wear different jewelry for the different nights, or long black skirt and a few tops.  Rest of the nights, slack and shirts are fine.

Don't need a lot of cash as everything goes on your sign and sail card.  $1.00 per bag for porter at the dock, cash for stuff you buy off the ship, everywhere takes credit cards on shore.

At dinner, if you want more of something....ask for it.  If you don't like something, tell  your waiter and order something else.  There is no charge, so eat what you want.  3 desserts...if that's what hubby wants....let him...big salad and soup and nothing else...ok, that's fine too.

Tip for ordering cabin service.  If you want your breakfast delivered, just fill out the little form, but if you want something else in addition to it, just write it in.

Want coffee on a day you're in port...DO NOT order it the night before, they may run late, just pick up the phone when you wake up and order it that morning.  Service is faster that way.

Ask away if I've missed anything, have a wonderful cruise!  You're gonna be hooked like so many others.

Linda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We have changed our cruise to a 5 day going from tampa. have you every been from tampa? how far is the port from hotels? thank you so much for your help in my last questions. I'm sure there is something else i will need to be asking! Thanks again

Answer
Tampa is a beautiful city.  There is a large aquarium not far from the port.  The hotels are a little piece away from the port, but not really a big deal.  In September, prices are good if you want to come down ahead of time and stay a few days.  The best way to get a good deal is to go to priceline.com for your final choice.  Be sure to look on hotels.com and calling the hotels directly.  If you do book with priceline though you can't change or cancel your room, you book it, you pay for it and that's it, no refunds etc, but you can save a few $.

The airport at Tampa is also great.  I truly hate Miami airport!  But Tampa is great, convenient to everything.  Good choice.

Ask away with more questions

Linda