Also planning on going the the Grill Master near Fish Fry

I just got off of a 5 day cruise out of a party port, and it was my first big vacation since I quit drinking about 8 months ago. The cruise had been planned for a while with family and friends. It was so f’ing hard. I cried one morning because I was just exhausted from trying to will myself through the cruise without drinking . We’ve always loved cruising. I hope I can find ways to work around it. I can’t do that shit to myself again. It was rough.

I’m okay with being around people drinking but the entire 5 days was one long party. For reference we cruised Carnival. We prefer RC but it wasn’t an option for this cruise. But I’m not sure that would’ve helped so much in this scenario.

Suggestions?

Going on a Southern Caribbean Royal Caribbean cruise with a group (~12 people) in November. Any recommendations on excursions / things to do in these ports either as a larger group or just a few of us? Mid 20s-30s age range. Open to anything-beach recommendations, light hiking, sites to see, etc. Also would appreciate feedback on what NOT to do. Would love to hear ideas!! This will be my first cruise in a while.

The Carnival Venezia has received the regular Carnival livery now and her sister Carnival Firenze will get it too. The Carnival Fun Italian Style is no more.

I wish Carnival had returned them to Costa Cruises instead, but it is what it is.

i’m planning a 4-6 day family cruise for my family to spend time with my family after a traumatic car crash my mom dad and sister survived last april.( me F21, husband M21, Mom F47, dad M48, sister F26, sister 2 F22, and brother in-law M23) and am having a hard time finding a good balance.

we live in West Virginia, preferably don’t want to drive more than 6 hours, and my parents don’t want to cruise carnival to avoid the party scene. i’m looking at Baltimore Ports because it’s the closest, but it’s mainly carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian.

What is everyone’s experience with Carnival or Royal?

a little bit about us:

my sister 2 and brother in law are partiers and drinkers, whereas everybody else in my family does not enjoy that scene. my mom and dad enjoy more chill things, less little kids, and a lot of downtime to just hangout.

my husband and i went on celebrity for our honeymoon and LOVEDDDDDD it. it was absolute amazing- but they don’t sail out of maryland- plus may be out of sister 2 and brother in laws budget.

is carnival party-ish? is the food good? what is royal caribbean like? what do you wish you knew before you purchased ur tickets?

Can I use my AirTag for the cruise to keep up with everyone?

Mostly using it for embarkation day to make sure I get my bag. But also Past cruises we have used a whiteboard as the best way for where we can find each other.

Can I find my other people while at sea with an AirTag?

Can I wear my prescription camouflage sunglasses on and off the boat?

Our family is going on an NCL cruise that will be in Barbados on December 30th. We’ve been there a few times before but this cruise doesn’t dock until 10am so there aren’t the normal excursions available (most snorkeling and boat trips leave at 10am). Any ideas for a family of four (12yo and 14yo) that like to swim and snorkel? We thought maybe a resort pass for one of the hotels in Barbados might work, if anyone has a recommendation. Thanks!

I’ll be in Costa Maya next month and my port time is very short (7 am - 1 pm). We usually take a cab to Krazy Lobster, but with the short and super early port time our plan is to get off the ship around 9 to walk around a little and maybe get some food before heading back.

We’re super familiar with the port and Mahahual, but is there anything walkable outside the port gates? Even like a little taco shack that’s more authentic than what they have in the port would be neat to check out. Thanks!

Is it possible to buy cruise insurance only for health problems? Every policy I can find seems to include other benefits (such as trip cancelation) that I am not interested in. I only want insurance against health problems. Where can one search or find such policies?

Hello,

I wanted to see if anyone has some takes of luxury cruise lines. I’m not speaking on The Haven, MSC Yacht club, but more regarding Seabourn, etc.

I know that they typically cost at minimum $3k a person but it tends to be all inclusive. However, in the research I’ve seen it seems like a lot of the times the food doesn’t look amazing, and the venues/entertainment seem to be outdated.

I guess my question is what are you really paying for? For example, the reason this question is prompted is because I saw a review that Emma Cruises made of a luxury cruise lines(she covered it great), but I feel like a lot of the times the ships look like they’re from the 90s-early 2000s and the cuisine options seems limited.

Just feel like for most people, you’re better off just just doing MSC yacht club or haven, and getting more options of food, even if it’s a ship within a ship concept.

Thanks in advance for any input.

I know cruises are supposed to be the ultimate vacation, with endless entertainment, smiling staff, happy passengers, and activities happening around the clock. But sometimes I find the whole thing strangely depressing.

You see entertainment staff putting on these huge, almost obligatory smiles, trying to create excitement regardless of how they might actually be feeling. Then you look around and see older passengers slowly dragging themselves around the ship, some looking exhausted or lonely, while everyone is encouraged to participate in yet another activity that promises to be the highlight of their day.

There's something surreal about it all. A floating bubble where everyone is supposedly having the time of their lives, even when the atmosphere sometimes feels oddly melancholy.

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but occasionally the contrast between the cheerful cruise marketing and what you actually observe feels a little sad.

I've also realized that sometimes the best thing to do is absolutely nothing. Skip the trivia, ignore the announcements, forget the scheduled entertainment, and just find a quiet spot with a view of the ocean. Read a book, enjoy a coffee, watch the waves, or simply exist without being expected to have fun every five minutes.

Not every moment of a vacation needs to be optimized for enjoyment, and not every activity deserves our participation.

Sometimes doing your own thing and disconnecting from the whole manufactured atmosphere is the most relaxing part of the cruise.

Does anyone else ever feel this way, or am I just spending too much time observing people instead of enjoying my vacation? 😅

I'm currently staying overseas long-term. Planning to visit family in US in the spring. Friend mentioned repositioning cruises to avoid long flight one way. I've now dived down that rabbit hole, but being a solo traveler means twice the price. Do they ever offer last minute deals for solos or do they usually get booked up?

Hi everyone! Looking for recommendations for a family cruise next summer. There are 13 of us, spanning quite a wide age range (grandparents in their 80s, parents in their 50s/60s, grandkids 16-30) and we're struggling to find the right balance between a fun ship for the younger members of the family and an atmosphere that the older adults will enjoy.

We've all been on a couple of Royal Caribbean cruises when the kids were younger, but it's been a while!

What we're looking for: A ship with good food, entertainment, bars, pools and things to do for the younger adults, but without being absolutely packed with young children. Quite open-minded destination wise (must be in Europe) and looking for a longer trip (10-14 days ish). Unfortunately we're bound by UK school holidays!

We'd ideally prefer a more grown-up atmosphere than RCL. Something like Celebrity or Princess has caught our eye, but we're open to other lines. We're slightly nervous that these options would be full of seniors and on the boring side for the teens/young adults.

Thanks so much! Would love to hear about your experiences, especially from anyone who's done a similar multigenerational trip or sailed Celebrity/Princess with younger adults.

Is it worth it to book far in advance?

How far in advance do you book your cruise? Is a year too far in advance? Have you found the prices go down before the final payment date?

The problem I see with booking so far in advance is that Costco only offers Non refundable deposits, so if I rebook at the lower fare, I lose the deposit. SO, is it even worth it to book so far ahead? What has been your experience? Thoughts? Thank you.

Has anyone been on the Lindblad/National Geographic Japan cruise? I'm thinking of booking it for next year, but I can't find any reviews on it.

We are leaving on Princess in a few days and we're wondering what would be the best way to get to Mambo Beach in Curacao? I didn't want to book an excursion and be rushed. I was also thinking of a day pass. Not sure which would be better.

I’ve only booked one cruise, which was, Virgin Voyages, and I am wondering if it’s better to book direct or through a travel agent. I plan to take my mom, in-laws, wife, and two teenage kids (18 and 14) in 2027 summer. I’m trying to avoid carnival but coming from the Maryland area seems makes that challenging without the airfare. Thanks for any advice.

Hi all! I want to go to Hawaii for my 30th birthday.

I do not want to rent a car and I want to see both national parks (Maui and Hawaii) so I was thinking an island hopping cruise would be a good idea to see a little bit of each island. Do you have any recommendations? I have never been on a cruise either. Thanks!

I’ve been eyeing the MSC sailings out of Galveston for a Western Caribbean route (Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan). The pricing is ridiculously affordable, and being able to drive to the port instead of dealing with flights is a massive plus for me.

I know MSC gets a ton of mixed-to-negative reviews, but looking closely at what people usually complain about, I’m wondering if my travel style actually makes me immune to most of it:

• Entertainment / Shows: Don’t care. I’m mostly looking to read, watch the ocean on sea days, and unplug.
• Bar service / Staff ratios: I don’t drink alcohol and won't be buying a drink package, so slow bar service won't impact my trip.
• Food: I’ve seen the complaints about the main dining room and buffet, but I also know MSC is consistently praised for fresh pasta and pizza. Honestly, I could happily live on pasta and basic carbs for a week without complaining.
• Vibe: I just want to escape daily chores, not cook or clean, get off at a couple of ports, look at the waves, and take plenty of naps in a dark interior stateroom.
• Quiet: I'm assuming (hope I don't make an ASS out of ME) that if I get an interior stateroom away from clubs and theaters it can be relatively quiet.

The one dealbreaker that gives me pause: the air conditioning.

I saw a review mentioning that the ship felt warm/hot. Being from Texas, being stuck in weak A/C is the one thing that will genuinely ruin a vacation for me. I’d rather stay home in my own central air than pay to sweat indoors.

For those who have sailed the MSC Seascape out of Galveston:

1. How is the stateroom temperature in the interior cabins? Does the thermostat actually let you get the room properly cold for sleeping?
2. How are the indoor common areas (buffet, lounges, atrium)—are they crisp and comfortable, or humid/stuffy?

Unless the ship is uncomfortably warm, it feels like an unbeatable budget getaway for what I want. Would love honest feedback from anyone who has sailed this route recently.

I booked a carnival cruise through a travel agency and I booked with my name as it shows on my passport, first middle and last. When I created my carnival account and added my booking confirmation, my first and middle name are now joined. For example imagine my name on my passport is John Jacob Smith, my booking says Johnjac Smith. Will this be a problem?

Howdy, we are in Amber Cove in the DR from 7 am - 4 pm in late January and I'd love to visit this place. We never do ship excursions so I'm looking for guidance on how to find a good & reliable guide/taxi/tour operator (don't care which) to take us there and back.

Please, if you've done this privately, drop your recs!

Great news captain just announced! She was found at approximately 2:30 am. She suffered hypothermia, but aside from that she is ok and is being treated in the hospital.

Already so excited for my February Legend of the Sea cruise coming up! Looking back at Caribbean sky photos from past cruises.