Going on a cruise

[ArchieComic Fan]

Got back today from my cruise - I missed the Fort and everyone here! Needless to say, I'm glad to be home and glad to be back reading up on what's been going on here.

I was on Carnival's Celebrity. It's an old ship, not very big, and although it's been renovated, it still shows its age. I think it's too small for a 5 day or longer cruise but a good size for a 3 day cruise. Not sure about a 4 day cruise, I guess it would be okay for that.

We got bumped to the late dinner, and while some people may prefer the later dinner, we decided next time we'll say something. I could have asked to have the dinner changed to the earlier time but we thought we'd try it out and see if it worked for us. Well, it didn't! We missed all the shows because we were just too tired!

For me, I need more choices, more entertainment, bigger shopping area, just more stuff to do! We pretty much laid around, got sun, ate, and drank but that was also enjoyable.

Key West wasn't as nice as I expected it to be (sorry to forters that live there). It seemed too touristy. Nassau was okay, but we were so tired from all the walking that we did in Key West that we didn't really get out and see much in Nassau. We went to the Atlantis hotel and saw the aquarium. I really liked that. After that we did a little shopping and just went back to the ship.

For my first cruise, it was a nice experience. I didn't need the sea-sick medicine but I saw several people with the patch behind their ear. I way overpacked (my husband kept reminding me of that when he had to lug my suitcase to the car and off the ship - we did self-disembark where we took our own luggage off the ship so we wouldn't have to wait).

Next time, I want a newer ship, more to do on the ship, and different ports of call. The food was good though and plenty to eat whenever you got hungry. My main complaint was the buffet lines moved much too slow. It shouldn't be that difficult to pick from the few things they had (not a very big choice of buffet items). I was internally yelling at how slow some of the people were. Not the elderly people, which I was surprised to see so many, but the people of relatively young age that just took way too long to pick something and move along! I guess I'm just an impatient person, especially when hungry! One of the bartenders knew my husbands name and folio number by the third day! The staff is very friendly and my stateroom was never in need of towels. They did a great job on keeping our room clean.

All in all, I'd recommend the Celebration for a 3 day cruise but not longer. But that's just me

Now I have to unpack, do laundry, catch up on the mail, go grocery shopping, and watch my tapes of Desperate Housewives, 24, CSI Miami, and Lost so I may not be back on Fort until later in the week!

[Igotalife]

Welcome Back Archiecomicfan! Sorry to hear about some of your experiences.

Next time, try Princess or Royal Caribbean...they tend to have newer ships. Like you, I had one bad port experience...Belize. It was much dirtier, poorer than I envisioned...also didn't have a safe feeling walking around.

BTW-you didn't say, how did you enjoy your ocean view room?

[ArchieComic Fan]

Thanks for reminding me Igotalife about the ocean view room (you have a good memory!)- loved it! I don't think I'll ever get an inside cabin unless I go on a very expensive cruise where the difference between ocean view and internal might be a lot. I'd pay up to $100 more for ocean view. We took lots of naps and I enjoyed having the water to look at when I woke up.

We had a bigger window, not a port hole. Our window didn't open either but that was fine with me.

[Lois Lane]

Welcome back ArchieComicFan! Sounds like you tried some new things and had a great time. Good for you! If you want to try a smaller ship with gourmet meals, give the Seven Seas Mariner or the Paul Gauguin a shot. They're pricey and not for annual trips, but they're a really nice treat for a splurge (like an anniversary trip or what not).

[bbnbama]

I've been on both a Royal Caribbean and a Carnival and there is a world of difference between the two but there are great points to both. Carnival was much more of a "party" type cruise and RC was a little more upscale. I was crazy about the cruise director, Graham Seymour, on the RC "Navigator of the Seas". He would be one of the main reasons I would go back on that ship...he was unbelievable! We've always had the late dinners and didn't have a problem with them because they usually have 2 shows and we'd catch one or the other (I'm also by nature a late eater so that's another plus for me!).
I was one of those that loved Key West...loved the homes, the colors, everything...if it wasn't so darn expensive to live there I'd move there in a heartbeat!
I loved Atlantis...it was all breathtaking to me.
I'm one of those people who will walk my fool head off, stay up till all hours of the night, see everything I possibly can see while on vacation and then crash when I get home. I'm not one of those "lay back and relax and enjoy the sun" kind of vacationers....I wanna see and do it all in case I may never get back there again...I can sleep when I get home!
ArchieComic Fan, glad you went on the cruise..hope you go on another one.

[misskitty]

Welcome Back ArchieComicFan! It sounds like it was a good first-time experience. And you learned a bit about what you want in a cruise. We're glad you came home safe and sound!

[MRD]

We are back as well. Got in at 2 a.m. on Sun.

Royal Caribbean is definetly the way to go. We were on Radiance of the Seas. It was huge, very nice, very clean, lots to do, lots of activities and we were pampered continuously. I do not think I will ever cruise another line again. This ship was utterly amazing! We also had a balcony that I lived on when I had to be in the room. Lots of opportunities to take great pictures as we were on the coast side and I got great shots from there.

I fell in LOVE with San Francisco!!!! I'd move there in a heartbeat. We elected not to do a cruise excursion and booked a private tour guide who was with us 10 hours. We saw EVERYTHING and saw stuff most people do not get to see. It was absolutely amazing.

We left from San Diego (visited Tijuana the day before which was really fun) and then went to San Fran., Astoria, Oregon (took the Mt. St. Helen's excursion which was just awe inspiring), then on to Victoria, Canada. Beautiful city I wish I could have seen more of and then Vancouver that I basically saw only from the shoreline as we disembarked and went immediately to the airport.

Fun time. The shows were cheesy in my opinion, but hey, its not Vegas.
We had quite a few Japanese tourists who I found to be quite rude which was surprising. And a lot of older people which is apparantly common on all cruises. Someone died on the ship and they airlifted the body and spouse off. We saw the helicopter land, but didn't know why. Were told later, this happens a lot apparantly. Kind of eerie to think so.


Archie, Key West was a LOT of fun about 23 years ago when I lived there. It had not gotten all touristy and upscale, was more Jimmy Buffet, bare feet laid back and a great place to live when you are 20.

I felt the way you did about Fisherman's Wharf in San Fran like you did about Key West. That is the ONLY disappointment I had. Too touristy, too blah compared to ALL of the other fabulous areas of the city that have a "real" atmosphere as compared to what I felt was a "contrived" one at Fisherman's Wharf.

We spent 3 hours in Chinatown and it was great. Would have LOVED to spend more than 15 minutes in Haight/Ashbury, but one of the people I was with "didn't like it". She was a pill the entire time, but that's a different story.

All in all, great trip, great memories, wish I was still there. We had sweater weather (and coat weather at Mt. St. Helen's) nad I got home to 92 degrees after leaving Vancouver and it being 50.

Bought loads of stuff and took over 500 pictures!!!!!!

[ArchieComic Fan]

Welcome back myrosiedog! I was just wondering when you'd be back posting and then saw you posted! Sounds like you saw a lot.

I'm glad you had a great time. I visited Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown in SF years ago. I think I remember FW not being all that either although we did let one of the artists draw our caricature. We ate at a pricey restaurant in Chinatown and joked that the regulars probably have a different menu with different prices . While in SF we rode in a trolley car, rode down Lombard St. (the zig zaggy one), went to Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate park. I loved SF too!

I wouldn't mind giving Key West another try. I admit we got off the ship too early, most everything was closed at the time, and by the time we WALKED all the way to the Southernmost Point, I was exhausted. I had on the wrong shoes and am out of shape to begin with. I did get some great pictures though. I think if I went under different circumstances, where we didn't have to be back on the boat by 2:30 p.m., and had more time to just relax, I would have had a better experience. Maybe one day I can go back.

While on our cruise helicopters were flying around and my husband thought someone might have fallen over and he couldn't find me and thought it was me! I missed the whole thing, I think I was in the casino We never did hear why they were there. Maybe someone passed away on our cruise as well although I swear I saw the same people every day and would know if someone was missing - okay I'm exaggerating but it sure seemed that way.

Next time I'll see what Royal Caribbean is about. The one we docked by in the Bahamas was The Majesty of the Seas but someone on Cruise Critic gave it poor reviews for food.

Hope everyone else gets to go on a cruise or some other fun vacation this summer!

[bbnbama]

Myrosiedog...I'm glad to hear you had a great time. I was really concerned that you wouldn't enjoy it since the circumstances involving your going were unusual but I am so tickled to hear you enjoyed it. Isn't Royal Caribbean grand? They do spoil you on there! I've always wanted to go to San Francisco! I hope you post some pictures on here to let us see some of those beautiful sights.

Glad you made it back safe and sound!

[Viviene]

I went on a cruise to mexico with my family. it was for 7 days and it was really fun! I love the food, and the shows and everything else. it was awesome