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Topic: Going on first cruise and need imformation.

smittynf
Just Boarded
Member # 1268

posted 04-30-2000 11:35 PM

We will be going on the Carnival Triumph Sept.16-22 2000. This is our first cruise and we were wondering what to expect. How many formal nights are there? What is the quality of food? Do you advise the shore excursions? I heard the pizza is wonderful. Is this true.
Also would like to talk to anyone that is going on this cruise.

Posts: 6 | From: Newfoundland. Canada. | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 05-01-2000 02:58 PM

Hi, Smittynf, welcome abroad. I can't comment on your particular cruise - because i've not taken it! But I'm sure many of my fellow cruise-talkers will be able to.

However, I'm sure that you will have a great time. After all you will be abroad a remarkable new vessel: one of the biggest ships in the world, more than twice as big as the Titanic - a floating resort carrying upto almost 4,000 people (crew and passengers). Have a great cruise!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 05-01-2000 10:00 PM

Smittynf,

On your cruise there will be two formal nights; An evening gown or Cocktail dress for women and a tux or Jacket and tie for men is ok. Don't go out and buy a tux though if you don't have one already.

Looks like you will be cruising the Eastern Caribbean. St Thomas is great for shopping, but Magens Bay is really worthwhile. ( voted one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world ) You're in San Juan only in the evening so you are limited to shopping or going out to dinner or enjoying the nightlife. The Carnival Triumph is virtually a destination in itself, which is why there are only three ports during this cruise.

Onboard you can expect a high-energy environment. You will probably hear announcements trying to lure you into the HUGE MEGA JACKPOT BINGO, or horse-racing on deck, but my suggestion for you is to enjoy the cruise at your own pace and do what you want to do. Read your daily program every evening and pick out in advance what activities you want to participate in for the next day. (bring a highlighter) There will be more activities than you will know what to do with, so choose wisely.

Dining should be a wonderful experience! Just enjoy your cruise, be pampered,and as the NCL advertisements use to say...."Let yourself go"!

Barryboat

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 05-02-2000 04:42 AM

Hi Smittynf

You will have a wonderful cruise. We usually get a taxi and do our own sightseeing. When we were in Cartegena a couple of years ago, five of us did the same tour in a taxi that the ship tour was offering for 1/5th of the price. The beauty of this was if we wanted to stay longer in one place we could.

If you use a taxi make sure that you negotiate the price before you get in the taxi and do not pay for the trip up front.

Talk to the passengers on board. Often some of the passengers have been to the ports before and they can advise you.

Have a wonderful cruise.

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

d_jimbo
Just Boarded
Member # 1014

posted 05-11-2000 12:58 AM

We went on the Triumph in Feb. 2000, this was our first cruise. It is a very large and beautiful ship. There are 2 formal nights and many go all out. My wife and I enjoy dressing up, so I wore a tuxedo on the formal night and a suit or sports jacket on the other nights. Many men wore tuxedos,but many wore suit or jackets, it is what you are comfortable in. We did see some in short and we didn't care for that, but to each their own. We had a wonderful time the food is great, wonderful pizza, the entertainment fabulous. We did not take too many of the shore excursion, we did things on our own. Feel free to contact us with other questions.
e-mail

jrdiehl@dodgenet.com

Posts: 7 | From: Fort Dodge, Iowa, USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 05-11-2000 08:59 AM

Might be a good idea to take some dance lessons to get the most out of the evening.
If you plan on cruising frequently, it would be worth it to buy a tux and several shirts, cuffs, ties the whole bit. It's better than taking your nice suits. I hate throwing a $1000 suit into a suitcase or even a garment bag. If you plan on snorkling, buy a mask and snorkle. I don't know about you, but I hate putting a used snorkle into my mouth. I don't know who had it last and I certainly don't know if it was properly sterilized.
Food is great on all cruises. Just don't miss dinner in the dining room. You are paying for that service and food!
And go to the Captain's party. Free drinks.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 05-11-2000 10:03 AM

Ascendancy - why would you have to buy several shirts, ties and cuffs to wear with a tux. My husband had two shirts, one pair of studs and one bow tie. We cruised twice a year and he also wore it New Year's eve. After the first formal night he would send that shirt out to be cleaned and wore the second shirt. It is not necessary to spend all that money for the accessories for a tux.
I agree with you about the mask and snorkel. We always had our own. They claim that the ones you rent are disinfected, but no thanks.
smittynf - have a great cruise and stop worrying - just go and enjoy yourself. There's nothing like cruising. My husband used to take his tux, and one pair of good navy pants, one blazer and a couple of pairs of Tilly's pants.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-11-2000 10:20 AM

Take an extension cord!

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 05-11-2000 03:01 PM

Sympatico,
I will wear the same tux, but there are so many great looks with bow ties, buns and cuffs and vests and even different style shirts. Besides, I have to try to get my wife to look somewhat enthused about her date.

I don't normally use the ship cleaning services. But I have to wear a clean shirt after dancing in it the night before. I take 2 tux shirts, and 5 other french cuff shirts on a seven day cruise.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 05-11-2000 05:48 PM

Ascendancy - I sure hope your wife doesn't have to wash and iron all those shirts when you get home! If she does, she deserves a medal or another cruise.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 05-11-2000 06:14 PM

She's great and then some. I don't know what I'd do without her.

She's the best cruise partner anyone could ever have. Cruise food is awesome, but her cooking is even better. No lie!

To top it all off, she'll light up a dance floor like you wouldn't believe.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

d_jimbo
Just Boarded
Member # 1014

posted 05-15-2000 10:19 AM

Yes take an extension cord, we took one and used it. If you are interested in buying a tux go to etuxedo.com, I bought a very nice one for $99, a shirt and all the extras for about $150 total. The staff there is very helpful, great on the phone, they even sent me an e-mail to make sure i was satisfied.
Jim

Posts: 7 | From: Fort Dodge, Iowa, USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 05-15-2000 01:58 PM

Hi Smittynf, We were on our first ever cruise during March break, as you can see by our name we really are hooked. We are going againg next year same time same cruise line. We went on a smaller ship, the Bolero, Festival cruise lines. It was awesome, I'm not sure if I would enjoy the large ships as much as I did the smaller one. We only had 895 people on board after the first evening in the dining room our waiter and busboy knew us by first names. really a special holiday, I am just counting down the days until we go again. I like the idea of bringing an extension cord we really could have used one for hairdryers and stuff.Friends told us before we went to book the excursions off the boat but we didn't. we really weren't sure what to look for. Next time we go though we will book them ourselves. We spent a lot of cash on tours $987 but they were worth every penny, but next time we will know what to look for. I worry about that story about the cruise director trying to grab the 16 year old. We had our 15 and 19 year olds with us I'm glad I didn't read that before I went or I wouldn't have let her go anywhere on her own. Does anyone else have horror stories like this one or are the ships pretty safe and this an isolated case?

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 05-15-2000 02:36 PM

Hooked on Cruising, I have heard incidences of ship rape. Several cases. They occurred on Carnival and were at odd hours of the day.
Normally it involves the crew. As it turned out, the victums had struggled to prosecute because these cases occurred at sea.

My wife used to get up before me and workout when the gym opened at 6. After she read article, she decided it was better to wait for me to get up and so we could go together.

To tell you the truth, I have always felt safe on board with our belongings. It's only after I depart to the islands I begin to think about our safety. This is why we will always stay with the tour group verses going out on our own.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

PC
First Class Passenger
Member # 1191

posted 05-16-2000 01:06 PM

Instead of bringing a black tuxedo jacket, I bring a black colored blazer, which when matched with tuxedo pants, cumberbund, tux shirt, and bowtie, serves as my tuxedo for formal evenings. It also serves double duty as a regular blazer for informal evenings. Then I bring just one extra jacket/suit for other evenings. Because of dancing every evening, I do bring about 3 tux shirts, and 7 - 8 other long sleeve dress shirts. Even with two dress shoes, and sport shoes, I am able to get by with just one 24 inch suitcase for a 16 night cruise. Anything to cut down on bringing too much.

My lady partner however needs two big suitcases for all her stuff. But some of the ladies on the RTW cruise even take out an extra cabin just to store their wardrobe for the 100 day cruise. But they are elegant, and you never see them with an outfit worn earlier.

Have a good time on your first cruise.

Posts: 102 | From: Hong Kong, SAR | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 05-16-2000 08:40 PM

Thanks Ascendancy. I think I nedded to hear that these things do happen on the ships.I believe this was the same reason we booked our tours through the ship and not off ship, even though we know we paid through the nose.We only felt unsafe once off ship and that was in Dominica. I tried to save a few bucks and decided we could walk into the town. My daughter and I were almost in tears. The locals all stood around looking at us it didn't matter that my newly bulked up hubby and 19 year old son where with us. It was here that we were also offered drugs. We never walked again I gladly paid the taxi or bus fare.

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

PC
First Class Passenger
Member # 1191

posted 05-17-2000 01:32 AM

This item is not exactly ship rape, but read on...In the site, there is a cruise review written by one Kevin Pitt, about a 3/15/00 trip aboard the S/S Norway in which he says that cruise could have been a best ever except for one fact:

Pitt, a 25 year old, had a female companion with him, not his girlfriend or romantic interest, just a travel companion. He says that the spoiler to this trip, was that she was hit on often by the crew, and she ended up sleeping 5 out of 7 nights with one of the international hosts, and so he (Pitt) ended up quite lonely on this trip.

I guess that would spoil Pitt's day, but then the compensating factor is that it probably made the host's day.

I guess shipboard romances do happen.

Posts: 102 | From: Hong Kong, SAR | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 05-17-2000 11:28 AM

On Carnival Cruise Lines,there is a rule that the staff is not allowed to fraternize with the guests. The punishment is termination.I don't know about other lines. I assume that they have the same rule. But, I think they have to have a complaint by a passenger before the staff member gets canned.

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Carol C
Just Boarded
Member # 1297

posted 05-17-2000 04:03 PM

Hello:
HAving been on many cruises and reading the responses the only thing I might add to a first time cruiser is remember about tipping, you might want to save a travelers check to cash to pay these on the last night or whenever you take care of it. I have never felt pressured to tip and we certainly in some cases very pleased to leave a tip. Secondly just a reminder to you that on the last night of the cruise you will be asked to have your luggage packed and put out in the hall by a certain time for pickup. Please dont' forget to pack thing that you will need for the next day like CLOTHES, your personal items ect. Relax and have a wonderful cruise, and enjoy all a cruise has to offer! Bon Voyage.

Posts: 8 | From: Saskatoon, SK, Canada | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

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