First time going on Cruise (Carnival) and have some questions?

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Julie T

Looks like you are going on the Conquest?

She is a nice ship and has a very smooth ride.

Don't park at the cruise terminal...use Lighthouse Parking instead. It is cheaper and your party does not have to split up while the driver parks the car. Be sure to make an advance reservation at http://www.lighthouseparking.org/

In Montego Bay, I recommend using a Carnival sponsored shore excursion. We met a family on a previous cruise that hired a tour guide for an agreed to price and when he got them to the other side of the island, demanded more money to return them to the ship. I don't recommen wandering around Montego Bay on your own. You have the option of going to Dunn's Falls. It is a very physical event. We have done the horseback riding on the beach but it was not really on the beach. Be cautious when shopping in MB...they can be very pushy.

Grand Cayman - you can go out on your own here...grab a cab to the beach. The stingray excursions are fun. We like the turtle farm excursion. The kids like to snorkel in the lagoon. If you want to visit Hell, don't do the excursion package. Just get a cab to take you to Hell. GC is very expensive!

Cozumel - you can go out on your own here, too. There are tons of shore excursions and tours available here. You can even ride the ferry to Playa del Carmen for some great excursions. The Cavern by Jeep tour is awesome! You can find some good deals in the open air market near downtown. Avoid the "malls" in Coz...very pricey.

Take plenty of $1, 5 and 10 in US dollars for shopping and taxis. Don't pay the posted price in Coz...negotating is part of the experience.

The benefit of taking a Carnival sponsored shore excursion is if the tour is running late, they will notify the ship. Carnival does spot check the tour operators to keep the quality good. It is like buying an insurance policy...the price seems high untill you need it. Also, in GC, Carnival booked shore excursions get priority on getting on the tender to get off of the ship.

Take along a power strip...only one power outlet in the room.

Nightlight...rooms are wicked dark.

A beach bag to carry stuff on shore excursions...you don't need towels...Carnival provides these.

Don't miss the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake in the dining room. Awesome!

Only buy the pictures you really love...there are a ton of photo opps.

Cammie

http://cruises.about.com/od/tipsforfirsttimecruises/Tips_for_FirstTime_Cruisers.htm

http://www.destination360.com/cruises/first-time-cruiser.php

http://grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com/

There are many sites out there.
Have fun.

Chris H

I've sailed with them before, your in for a treat. When you board the cruise you will want to head to your cruise brief headed by the ships cruise director. He/she will give you a run down of everything the ship has to offer as well as an example of some shore excursions. Once you get a feel for what you want to see and do at each stop I would head for their information desk. Somewhere near it is usually a desk to book excursions. If you want to be a bit risky you can book online however your cruise director will be able to explain them far better than anyone here or what you read on the website. You will also get a guide with a customer ratting of each one so you can focus on the popular ones. IF you do wait till the cruise to book than I recommend you do it ASAP after you get an idea of what you want as they will fill up fast and no one wants to be stuck on the ship all the time (granted the ship is usually a blast :D) I'd give you some suggestions myself but I haven't sailed Carnival through those areas. I use Carnival for West Coast cruises. No matter have a great time you two will LOVE it I promise. Prepared to be pampered! ;)

Garrett P

im 14 i went to grand caymen and jamaica over xmas break the shore excursions in jamaica are great do the horse back riding may sound gay but trust i hate horses but i had a great time they take you for a ride in the water the water gets so hight that it covers the horses back.
in the caymens it waz boring go on a tour of the island. There is a place called
Hell there it looks reallly wired its a rock formation or something so have fun hope i helped

Paul in San Diego

I went on that very cruise a couple years ago. My wife and I took our 3 adult kids, and her brother took his teenage son.

In Montego Bay, we went on an excursion to an all inclusive resort about 5 miles from the terminal. That was great because everyone could do what they wanted there. It was gorgeous and right on the water.

In Grand Cayman, my wife and I went on a boat ride to swim with the manta rays. They took us by boat to a canal with a bunch of boat slips. There we boarded a boat and made out way out to a sand bar in a reef-protected lagoon. The water was only a few feet deep there and it was teeming with manta rays up to 6 feet across. My wife kind of freaked out the first time one brushed against her leg and immediately got out. But, I thought it was cool and had a great time. I don't remember what everyone else did. But, there was high winds and kind of rough seas when we were there. So, they didn't allow anyone to go on snorkeling excursions.

In Cozumel, my daughter and I went on a power boat excursion to a secluded beach. They had these little 12-foot, two-man power boats that we got to drive in a pack with everyone else. It was about a 10 mile trip along the shore to the beach. When we got there, they had palapas (umbrellas) stuck in the sand to sit under, as well as hammocks (Cozumel is where they film those Corona beer commercials of people relaxing on the beach). We had a great time, especially jumping the 3 to 5 foot swells in the power boat.

A couple of people in our group went horseback riding along the beach, while others rode dune buggies out in the desert. But, everyone had a blast.

Just book your excursions when you get on the ship. You can do it from your stateroom on your TV. This is best, because some might get cancelled at the last minute (like the snorkeling trips) or you might change your mind once you get there. Just make sure you book them on the first day or two, to make sure they don't get sold out. On the first morning, the cruise director does a talk in the main showroom about shore excursions. You should definitely watch it. But, don't worry if you miss it live. They replay it for the next couple days on the ship's TV channel.

As far as shopping, the terminal at Montego Bay has pretty good shopping. If you like coffee, pick up a bag of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans (about $35 a pound). It's reknowned as the best coffee in the world, and I concur. In Grand Cayman, there's a bunch of duty-free shops just outside of the terminal. If you buy something there, they have it sent to your ship for you. They then deliver it to your room on the ship (on the last evening, if it's booze). In Cozumel, you can just wander around the streets looking for shops. In your Carnival Capers daily newsletter, they should have some recommended shops listed.

Yes you can bring your digital camera on the cruise. And, take along some nice clothes for at least one of the two formal nights. Everywhere you go (when you embark on the ship, at every port of call, in the dining room, etc.), the cruise ship people will be taking your picture. On formal night, they have dozens of photo backdrops where they take your picture. Have as many taken as you want (but don't use your own camera - that's a no-no). You can then look at them later and see if you want to buy any. They're kind of expensive. But, some of the nicest photos my wife and I have of us were taken on cruises.

You use your sail and sign card for everything on the ship, including excursions (although you make cash purchases of extra things in ports of call). Just about every place you would go takes US money or credit cards. So, there's no worries about exchanging currency. Tips for the cabin stewards are also included automatically at $10 a day per cabin. You can also tip the Maitre D' or your server in the dining room if you want. But, that's optional. You will get a bill for your purchases on the last night. And, you will be shocked and amazed at how much money you ended up spending in just one week.

Austin N

I am going on that exact cruise in June! You're going on the Conquest, correct?
Uhm, we have our excursions booked already. In Cozumel, we are doing the "Dolphin Swim & Ride" in Grand Cayman, we are doing para-sailing, and then you get to go to the beach, and in Jamaica we are doing the horseback, and swim thing. It's going to be fun! But excursions, are up to you, we don't really know what you would enjoy.

And yes, you can bring your camera.

Brian Casche

i think we are on the same cruise! Is your ship called Liberty?

In Jamaica, there are ziplines and bobsleds through the rainforests and jungle tours.

Gran Cayman has wonderful beaches and snorkeling.

Cozumel has great nightlife and beaches.

Its best to book through the Carnival Website, because if something goes wrong (lets say, its raining and you cant do your activity) they will refund you.

Yes you can bring your camera haha

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