Cruising Caribbean

@LukeJ I do think the prices of alcohol onboard are a bit steep, but that's like anywhere else! Any high end hotel or restaurant charges way too much for drinks but it doesn't bother anyone. If you can't afford the drinks there don't go there! Cruising can be super affordable if you do it right. For a family, you can really save on airfare, food costs, and hotels. I find cruising to be more affordable for my family, but I choose more middle-class, mediocre cruises that definitely become the ultimate vacation to me! @Seaawgs I didn't even know those facts! Both of those holidays aren't even "American" holidays, yet Americans go above and beyond to drink in excess, celebrating these holidays. I can't drink during the day anymore. It will change the trajectory of my entire day, usually leading me to a headache. Drinking permeates our cultures during holidays and special occasions, but people forget there are other ways to have fun and make good memories aside from alcohol. Alcohol consumption tends to be important to have fun in our culture!

@Emrys It looks like @Jim Lamb's itinerary was indeed altered to reflect the turmoil in Haiti. Nassau is a great replacement for Labadee, and I'm sure you will enjoy your time there instead. Did you pre-book an excursion in Labadee? If so, would you be interested in booking another excursion in Nassau instead? One thing I appreciate about RCL is that the line lets guests know what's going on as early as possible. Many other cruise lines hide facts from guests longer than necessary. I love this straightforward approach!

@LukeJ I am not surprised about this happening in a hometown, but on a cruise ship it shouldn't occur. Crowd engagement can be fun, but by no means should there be forced crowd engagement! I guess that's where we differ because I enjoy watching guests participate, but I don't be the one that actively participates, particularly if it requires stage presence. I don't enjoy stage presence. I don't like the lights or the microphones. Opting out of that type of experience is a no brainer for me, but I enjoy others happily engaging. It's true that crowd engagement isn't necessary for a really exceptional act, but not all acts onboard a cruise are exceptional. For a mediocre act, filler is sometimes needed to get me engaged. I have to ask, do you enjoy watching the guests compete onboard for certain challenges such as head-to-head challenges out by the pool? It's a hit or miss for me.

@Balmy Jones Tipping is a great tip! No pun intended. So many guests don't tip and expect exceptional service. If you aren't exceptional to the crew, why should they be exceptional to you? If someone is tipping me well, I would go above and beyond for that person. Wouldn't you? I'm so glad you have enjoyed your HAL cruises thus far. Most guests that cruise HAL fall in love. Is that your preferred cruise line? What itineraries/ships have been your favorite thus far? I haven't cruised with the line yet, but its itinerary options are unique and vast! For that reason, I think HAL stands out amongst the rest.

@LukeJ I don't understand the need to sneak alcohol onboard. If you can't afford to drink onboard, don't drink. If drinking is a must for you and you can't afford it during the cruise experience, you probably shouldn't take the cruise. You can drink on land affordably and make your own vacation out of it. The idea of sneaking alcohol onboard seems juvenile to me. I'm only going to take a cruise vacation if I feel like I can afford the experience I'm looking for. If I can't afford it I will either consider something else in my price range or wait and save until I can afford the experience I'm looking for. Do you feel the same way? Preferably, I'm cruising MSC Yacht Club or Azamara. I'm comfortable cruising a regular ocean view cabin too. I could either save and get that luxury cruise or take two ocean view cruises for the same price. The choice is mine, but either way, I'm not sneaking alcohol onboard. I will save and cruise when I can afford the experience I'm looking for. There is no need to cheat the system and cut corners!

@LukeJ The idea of talent for a free cruise sounds very naive because nothing is free. If you are extremely gifted at something and want to preform it over and over again everyday onboard, you could try out to become a performer onboard. You have to realize that performing onboard a cruise ship is not for the faint of heart. It takes dedication, commitment, and stamina. Also, you aren't performing for free cruises, you are performing to earn a living. Yes the perk is you cruise, but on the flip side the ship owns you, you are there to work, not to play. If priests are free to cruise, the I will play the part. I will even skip the alcohol package to prove my worth.

@Shanna This is such a sad story! First of all, Princess Cruises isn't known for children, but now the children that make it onboard are terrible! I have children, and they would never throw a golfball at a pelican or any animal or anything. It's upsetting to read the poor pelican had to die because of parents negligence and unruly behavior. Children make mistakes but not that the expense of a living thing! I'm curious, how old were these children? I find it unacceptable, but that kid had some aim. I can barley hit a golfball straight, let alone throw it to hit something. With this kind of strength, it sounds like a teenage perpetrator.

@kefthecruiser You are a Floridian! That is the good life. I miss the days that I lived there and would love to move back. I haven't cruised out of Tampa since I was a child but been back plenty of time. I flew from my current hometown to Fort Myers my two times previous hometown seven times last year, and I'm on my way to number two for this year, next week. I love the gulf coast and the east coat, my previous hometown. I don't discriminate but I do think Tampa deserves that title. Honestly all Florida beaches and ports are nice, but I find cruising out of wherever is conveniently located is the best. I'm in a landlocked state now. Every time I cruise I have to take a flight and it's so annoying. I was very spoiled. Do you find yourself cruising more often because you live within driving distance to some awesome ports?

@Cruising Caribbean I wonder if you could be provided with a breakdown of what would qualify you worthy of an Elite offer. CCL's secret statuses are so intriguing to me and if I was in your shoes I would be taking full advantage of them. I feel bad that your current schedule doesn't allow for you to enjoy these sailings more often. Other than the flight to the port, these cruises can be almost free to you! It may behoove you to more closer to a major port of call, like possibly Florida! I'm curious if you are flipping a return on these plays. You are certainly a high rollers and investing much more time, energy, and funds into the casino than most. I'm curious, do you have to be a winner to earn these perks or does CCL take the losers too? I would likely fall into the loose category, but there is no way I could touch what you are playing. So my next big question is, when would you be able to retire? This is quite the life of freedom and relaxation! Even if you could work semi=retired you would have so much more flexibility to enjoy these awesome cruises. I'm blown away by these offers, but I do think you stick out amongst most. When you cruise on these offered sailings, are you expected to play in the casino? It seems you wouldn't want to cruise any other way. You have cruising and casino playing down to a science!

@LukeJ I understand better now. I honestly haven't ever felt forced to participate in any event onboard a cruise ship. It's pretty rare that any cruise would be forcing guests to participate on stage unless this just hasn't happened to me. Comedy acts are usually more enjoyable to me although if the singers are talented, I can enjoy a singing performance as well. Singers and crew members that point and people and encourage them to participate can be pushy. It's their job to get the guests engaged but usually those guests are eagerly awaiting to participate. Have you been on a cruise where you felt forced to participate in an activity? If so, I'm interested to read all about it. The idea of someone being physically pulled to participate sounds very against policy and forceful.

@LukeJ More guests than you think are interested to participate in these sort of activities. I love lively activities that don't necessarily involve mediocre singers. The quiz-style activities can be so fun. Anything that requires brain power or group interaction is nice. I like to feel engaged in the activity. When the group is divided into teams and battles head-to-head, it can be very thrilling and engaging. Karaoke can feel disengaging. I will listen to it while talking with friends, but I'm not going to sit and watch these guests as if it were some sort of worthy performance.

@euroguy You are enlightening me! It's like you unlocked a secret feature. I have read your post before but I forgot, how many free cabins are you typically allowed per year? I want to rank high enough in the casino without having to bring too much money to the table. I don't think that is even possible! It's too risky for me. I am comfy here, watching you earn all of these awesome, well-deserved promotions. I can't believe you get Ultra perks and are closer to Elite. When could you reach Elite status? I'm so blown away by CCL's secret perks that I will very likely never attain. If you see an Elite offer, I hope you drop everything and go for it! This could be your real deal retirement solution. What a life!

@LukeJ I find alcohol so dangerous because it's so accessible and normalized. Don't get me wrong, I like the freedom to consume alcohol as I please, but it can be abused so easily! Those that have trouble with addiction can fall into a vicious trap pretty easily without even realizing it. Abusing the substance is very normalized too. Many cultures consider you weak if you can't keep up with consumption like your peers. So many people struggle to have a social life without it. I don't have a particular way of how it could be better regulated, I just wish cultures didn't always impose such pressures to over indulge in drinking. It's not good for your body. Using alcohol is moderation should be the societal norm. Pressuring others around you to drink gross volumes doesn't make sense to me. It's toxic for everyone. It doesn't matter how you slice it.

@Old Cruiser Thanks for clarifying Glacier Bay! You know more about glaciers that I do. You could have fooled me on that one. I will have to look into options to find which ones include Glacier Bay because it seems like a must see. I also think waiting a bit until my children get older may be a smart idea too, that way they will remember the trip and get to experience the areas' beauty more intensely. Many cruise lines don't offer enough adventure-style excursions that allow younger children. I completely understand why, they can't always keep up, but those adventurous excursions are things I don't want to miss while cruising to Alaska. I appreciate your feedback here, it seems Princess Cruises could be an option for an Alaskan cruise. I typically only cruise the Caribbean, so I don't know any better!

@LukeJ I'm right there with you. I wouldn't have always agreed with that statement, but I do now. After many hangovers ruining my day, the cost to benefit ratio doesn't equate. I can enjoy a couple of drinks casually and enjoy my evening without getting drunk or a hangover. A hangover ruins my entire day, the whole next day is just horrid for me. A few hours of fun in the evening equates to a major headache, horrid sleep, an upset stomach, and feeling awful a whole 24 hours. I will happily skip the "few hours of fun." I can have more fun without alcohol or by drinking moderately! I want to enjoy every ounce of my vacation, just like you, not get myself to a point where I don't feel well!

@Old Cruiser Yes I have noticed that Princess Cruises does many Alaskan itineraries, but I would feel guilty bringing my family with kids along on this line. I feel think children aren't really welcome on Princess Cruises. I would love to explore the Hubbard Glacier, but I didn't know CCL doesn't cruise there. Maybe after a year of sailing, Icon of the Seas may come at a cheaper rate. I just don't see the experience as valuable enough! If the itineraries were epic, then I would think otherwise. Maybe in the next couple of years the ship will cruise to other fun destinations that would entice me.

@GeorgeF I get that the older guests may get annoyed at this but it's only for a couple of hours. Older guests are still welcome there, but let's be honest, who really goes swimming during those hours anyhow? It's like 5-7pm; that's in the middle of getting ready for/eating dinner. Celebrity Cruises caters to the older crowd anyways so maybe the line is just trying to become more well-rounded and attract a bigger crowd. All in all, the cruise line needs to keep up with its competitors.

@hi Sunshine There just has to be a better way! I don't understand why blocking emergency exits is permitted either. It should be against protocol. If a guests will be traveling with a mobility device, it needs to be kept out of the walkway. There could be an option where the stateroom attendant stores it somewhere out of the way or a cruise guests manages to store it inside of their stateroom. most staterooms should be able to accommodate a scooter inside of it. It's the courteous thing to do anyways. The hallways are tight enough without scooters in the way. @LukeJ You are spot on!

@euroguy That's awesome! What are Carnival Ultra deals? I haven't heard of that promotion before. Does that promotion apply to all 2025 CCL cruises? Maybe one of these itineraries you are looking into will be included in that promotion! I wonder if I will see those deals at one of the lower VIFP statuses I'm currently at.

@Old Cruiser The next cruise I take, I want it to be an Alaskan cruise. It would be such new territory for me and my family considering we have always cruised the Caribbean. When you cruised Alaska, which cruise line did you choose? I feel the complete same about Icon of the Seas. The prices are way too high, although people are paying them. I know better than to overspend on an unnecessary cruise experience. I could have just as much fun on another RCL ship for half the cost. Eventually, its glory days will fade away. I will enjoy the ship when those days are over.

Most people enjoy drinking to relax or socialize on vacation. Especially if you don't drink often at home, the idea of drinking on vacation is a nice way to unwind outside of the usual. I prefer wine like your wife @LukeJ, and I typically only drink in the evening. I like how conservative you and your wife drink. When on vacation I try to be adventurous and drink new things, but they always end up giving me a headache, leaving me no choice but to go back to my basics. Trying to keep up with the drink package is a headache on it's own! Like you said, I wouldn't be able to consume enough on my own.

@LukeJ Now you make me want to ask which was the most fun. I remember being 18 and the idea of drinking legally suddenly became so enticing to me. The idea of doing something new in a legal way (usually on a family vacation) seemed so exhilarating. That phase is so short lived but following the rules and keeping your integrity is always best. It's better to reduce your risks of getting in trouble.

@jeana That is such an unfortunate circumstance! It's always best to plan air travel for the day prior to embarkation. Just like any other travel type, airlines can be inconsistent and can't control weather delays. After spending so much on a cruise itinerary, it's a huge bummer to chance missing getting onboard. For the record, I think CCL, along with most other cruise lines, have the right to deny boarding for any reason of their choice. If CCL was unwilling to allow you to board in Bimini, I would assume it's a reasonable decision on behalf of the cruise line. Thanks for all of the supporting feedback @euroguy, @Old Cruiser, @RoadTravelled, and @kefthecruiser. All of you are very knowledgable on CCL's protocols!

@euroguy I love to hear it! I'm so glad you enjoyed the weather during the "cooler months." I'm so glad you barley got any rain. This time of year can be hit or miss with the rain, and rain/thunder can really ruin any vacation experience. I recommend cruising the Caribbean during this time of year, unless you are planning to be in the water most of the time. Not to mention, cruising this time of year avoids hurricane season which is also very nice. Carnival Horizon and Carnival Vista are really cool ships. Carnival Magic is a tad bit older, but it's still a lovey ship. I think you should cruise for the itinerary you are most interested in. I would cruise to St. Marten and St. Thomas if you are planning on doing something in the ocean. Those areas have lots of beautiful excursions in/near the water, and that's what they are notorious for.

@Lou I was able to enjoy Port Taino on a recent cruise, and I loved it! It was such a visitor friendly experience and I felt safe the entire time. Port Taino was clean and secure, unlike some of the other ports I stopped at during my last itinerary. I missed the lazy river when I was there, but that's something I surely would have enjoyed. Hopefully next time I'm there I take advantage of that amenity. Which excursion did you end up at?