Going on Carnival Cruise - Need some input

Sweeper · February 15th, 2007, 04:15 AM

Hey guys and gals, I'm going on a cruise for my first time in April. But I'm really nervous because I've never been on a ship and I haven't flown in 25+yrs. I don't particularly like to fly (very nervous) due to being afraid of heights and claustrophobic and as for the cruise since I've never been on a ship I am worried about getting sea sick.

I'm just looking for some advice as to what can help prevent or if these are common misconceptions about flying and going on a cruise.

We will be heading to the Keys and Bahamas (that general area) my girlfriend has it planned so she knows most of it.

Any help would be great or your fill me in on your own experiences too.

Thanks,
Sweeper

yeadon563 · February 15th, 2007, 04:37 AM

Stay away from the railings late at nite, on a ship. Many have disappeared that way! Just fell in the water and were never heard from again.

Yeadon563

no1_vern · February 15th, 2007, 05:15 AM

Dont pay for the expensive cabins above the main deck unless your claustrophobia forces you to. The cabins on the superstructure sway(move side to side and up and down) in much greater arcs than the ones lower in the ship. The best cabins to prevent motion sickness are those in the very bowels of the ship near the center, but those may be just a little to claustrphobic for you.

Bizkitkid2001 · February 15th, 2007, 05:31 AM

On a ship that large, you will hardley ever feel any swaying. However, it is true that the closer you are the the center and the lower down you are, the less the swaying will be.

Also, getting a cabin on the very end of the ship will have less swaying than one on the edge near the middle as the ship sway more from side to side than from front to back. When I went on a cruise on the Voyager of the Seas (Largest cruise ship in the World at the time) I stayed in a cabin at the very back of the ship in the middle and I could hardly feel any rocking while laying still in bed.

Most cruise ships have a large opening in the center that is like a Mall inside of a ship. You will not feel the waves there at all and it will feel as if you were inside of a giant building on land. This is the place that has most of the activities and is the place most people who get sea sick stay at. Mainly restauraunts, stores, theatres, casinos, and bars are in this area.

I know that on the Voyager of the Seas there were many vending machines on every deck that dispenced free motion sickness pills and water proof bags. You may want to scout out where they are located on your ship if any. At the very least they should have a store to where you can pick some up.

Be warned though that most outdoor activites will be on the upper decks (Pools, put put golf, rock climbing wall, Tennis, ect..) and you will notice a lot of swaying on the top decks as you will have the water line for your eyes to follow making the dips in the sea more noticable. These areas are places to avoid for people who get sea sick as the mixed physical endurance and motion will create an upset stomach very easily.

I am not one to get Sea Sick, however, when I went to the top of the Rock Climbing wall, I got a little woozy as that was the second highest point on the ship and it was almost impossible to even grab onto a rock since the motion was so bad.

The highest part on the Voyager of the Seas was surprisingly the Chapel where they hold Weddings. I wouldn't want to have to stand there for more than 15 minutes waiting to kiss the bride in fear of getting sick from the motion, hehe.

surreal · February 15th, 2007, 06:00 AM

Take plenty of Prozac?

Steve R Jones · February 15th, 2007, 06:53 AM

Being stuck on a ship will either cure your claustrophobic or kill ya.

How bad is your claustrophobia?

Sweeper · February 15th, 2007, 06:54 AM

I wish I could take Prozac Surreal.. LOL... not for me though.

I'm not REAL claustrophobic, don't like very small places. I do fish with a friend of mine on his boat for hours and hours. Never have been sick on that boat. We've been in lakes rather large and heavy waves at times esp. early spring when it's windy.

Hmm.. she's doing all the planning so I will have to see where she got us a cabin. Also, Any advice for flying? (yeah I'm paranoid)........ Since I cannot smoke while flying nor most likely on the ship, my way of breaking my nerves just vanished!

(yes I know smoking is bad) but I smoke when my nerves go crazy.

no1_vern · February 15th, 2007, 07:06 AM

If you have been on a boat, YOu should have no problems. A ship is simply bigger with the same motions done in slow motion. Its the swaying that seems to cause so many poeple problems.

This site says there are monetary penalties for smoking: http://www.cruisecritic.com/features...=us&lr=lang_enstating:

Quote:

Carnival Cruise Lines

There is no FAQ section on Carnival's Web site detailing smoking policies, but we did find this ominous note in the Contract of Carriage: "(c) Guest acknowledges that Carnival's vessels contain non-smoking sections. Guest agrees to refrain from smoking in those sections and agrees that Carnival has the right to disembark the Guest for failure to observe Carnival's non-smoking policy." Carnival's policy is similar to most cruise line policies: No smoking in the restaurants, no smoking in the theatres and no smoking around the indoor aft pool (on the newer ships) because food is served there. Smoking is permitted on one side in lounges and out on deck, and in cabins.

surreal · February 15th, 2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweeper

I wish I could take Prozac Surreal.. LOL... not for me though.

I'm not REAL claustrophobic, don't like very small places. I do fish with a friend of mine on his boat for hours and hours. Never have been sick on that boat. We've been in lakes rather large and heavy waves at times esp. early spring when it's windy.

Hmm.. she's doing all the planning so I will have to see where she got us a cabin. Also, Any advice for flying? (yeah I'm paranoid)........ Since I cannot smoke while flying nor most likely on the ship, my way of breaking my nerves just vanished!

(yes I know smoking is bad) but I smoke when my nerves go crazy.

Get some Chantix from your doctor and start taking it the week before you leave. You not only won't miss your cigarettes, you'll be a non smoker when you return. You're being selfish continuing to smoke when you have kids that are going to want you in their life for a long time.... (Or at least that's how I felt about it and my son)

draboo · February 15th, 2007, 08:52 AM

Me and Ruby went on a West Carribian cruise with Carnival a few years back. We flew from here(by Lake Superior) to Miami,where we boarded the boat.
HERE is a pic of the boat we were on,named the Triumph. We stayed in a cabin around 3/4 of the way up and on the outside of the ship. We had a small balcony that was really cool. Lounging out there in the morning with coffee was wonderful.

We had 3 ports of call: Cozumel,Mexico/Grand Caymen Island/Ocho Rios,Jamaica. We rode an ATV up a mountain in Jamaica. That was a blast. Also swimming with stingrays in Grand Caymen was cool,also. If you look at the link I provided,the Mayan ruins in Mexico were great also.

As far as the ship swaying,I never noticed anything that prevented me from sleeping,but of course,being the geezer that I am,I was pretty damn pooped by the end of the day. One time when we were eating our evening meal there was some vibration caused by cutting through some high waves.

We had an absoutley wonderful time. Theres so much happening on the ship pretty much 24/7. If you like to wager a bit,there are a few floors of casinos.

The food there was fantastic.A cruise is a wonderful thing to do if you want to gain weight.

One must not forget the cheap booze in Jamaica. Walking from the ship you are herded past many vendors selling booze and cigs at a very reasonable price. Tho by this time,hopefully(eh,surreal??

) you will have stopped smoking,anyway.

If you are going on a West Carribian cruise,disregard most of this post!