tru-blue 442

If you have never 'cruised' before, it's quite an experience.
This was my 1st trip. We took the Carnival Breeze out of Galveston.
We sailed to the Caribbean to Jamaica and did a bus tour through Montego Bay. Those guys drive like maniacs, everyone uses their horns and with good reason.

The next port of call was the Grand Caymans, with a Submarine dive.
That was cool, we went to a dept of 108 feet. Lots of coral, sponges
and tropical fish.

The final POC was to Cozumel a 40 minute tender ride on a rough sea.
Many people got sick and I broke out in a heavy sweat about 20 minutes into
the ride. So glad to get out of that damn thing, ugg.
Another hour bus ride to Tulma to visit some Aztec ruins. That was pretty nifty but it rained all day and we were soaked by the time we got back to the bus.

The wife had taken a lot more pics than I did, mine were mostly of the ships around us and some horizon shots. I will try to get some more pics up of the trip if Ya'll would like to see a few more. Sure was nice to get away from it all for a week and go somewhere I have never been.

m371961

I did my first cruise when I was in my early 40s. Newly divorced and it was spring break! All the young dudes just wanted to drink. The young ladies wanted to dance and talk all night. Was great for my ego and had a ball. The crew kisses your butt to please you. Best vacation bang for the buck. Carlos and Charlies in Cozumel was a riot with 3 cruise ships in port at the same time.

Olds64

Very cool! Were you on the Carnival Breeze?

My wife and I did Carnival twice. Once out of Galveston, TX and once out of New Orleans, LA. It was the same ship both times. I want to say it was the Carnival Conquest.

We also cruised out of Orlando, FL on a Disney cruise. It was a blast too, a little bit more pricey than Carnival but worth the extra money.

When I returned from Afghanistan on leave we stayed at the Sandals resort in Ochos Rios, Jamaica. It was fun and had a free bar, I think I prefer cruising though.

Jamesbo

I always gain 5 lbs

droptopron

I've taken two cruises in my life. I'd do another one sometime but its not imminent. We did Norwegian out of NY to Bahamas. Part of the itinerary was to park in the middle of the ocean and sit there for two & a half days. That kind of freaked me out. I kept thinking that WW3 could have broken out & we'd have no idea.

tru-blue 442

Yes, the Carnival Breeze. I only gained 4 lbs. The food was incredible.
The whole thing was a little pricey but you only go round once. the drinks were like $11 apiece! I think our drink bill was like $800. They say you can buy a drink package for
$350 a person and have 15 per day or something like that. It was defiantly a blast.

Olds64

x2

The drinks are quite expensive. The first time my wife and I cruised we were trying to watch our spending. It's really unrealistic to do that. So, the next time we cruised we just got drinks whenever we had the feeling. Of course we spent a bit more but it wasn't too significant.

FWIW, Disney allows you to carry on sodas and spirits as long as it fits in a carry on bag. At least they did when we cruised with them. I brought a 5th of Jack Daniels and my wife brought some rum.

m371961

The second one I did was 7 day, went into the Panama canal to the lake that feeds the whole system then back out. Interesting, but I actually thought it was too long. 4-5 days is my max for all that food, drink and merriment.
It was cheaper to get ripped in ports then on the ship. Those trips were 15-20 years ago and my bar bills were around 350.
But you have to do it at least once.

lshlsh2

Done 2 first was princess out of Seattle to Alaska. Then Royal Caribbean out of Baltimore to the Caribbean for our 25th Anniversary. Looking at doing another towards Canada in a year or two.

gs72

When I made Ford Senior Master Technician, Ford Motor Company took all of the technicians that made SMT that year ( I think is was 2004) on a Bahamas cruise. My wife and I purposely made friends with several of the Ford execs. That were on the cruise with us and didn't hardly pay for any drinks. It was the best 5 day vacation we have ever had. When we came back into port we didn't want to get off the ship. I'm afraid any cruise after that will be a let down.

Ozzie

The world is full of cruises. I've been on many and have enjoyed all of them. If you've got the money and the time and don't get seasick it's a nice way to pass the time. There's one in Europe that will accommodate anyone that would like to be a perpetual passenger.

Jamesbo

The only way to see Alaska

Tedd Thompson

Don't know about that. My dad and a friend and I took a 26 foot cabin cruiser from Prince Rupert Canada to a little Island near Glaser Bay Alaska on a fishing trip. Best time ever on the water. Saw every critter and fish God put in the North West. Some to much up close and personal....Tedd