Cruise line question

[caseydoll]

This has been about 10 years now so things may have changed but I went on a Carnival Cruise. If you don't like the idea of formal dining with a big table full of strangers then I don't recommend it! Like everyone said, they do have a dining area that is casual but the food is definately not as good. (IMO) While the formal dining sucked the food was spectacular. And the pools were packed all day everyday. The most we could do is dip in real quick and go back to your chair. I definately had a good tan when I left though! If I was you I would go with a line like what you were originally talking about without the traditional cruise style group dining. I know that would of made me happier!

[shams]

We had to leave out of Miami, what with half the family coming from Canada and the other half coming from Jamaica Interesting planning! Let me tell you!

I think the pool deck is going to be busy no matter what ship you go on, but luckily, with stops during the day, you may not want to use the pool too much anyway! And I think most ships have several places to eat. And you don't have to be restricted to the dining room limitations. Though I'm sure if you tell the travel agent of your concerns, they will make sure you get the dinner reservation you prefer.

I think actually my mom originally wanted an 8:30 dinner, but since our travel plans were going through a third party, they got mixed up and we had the 5:30 meal. That suited us better, as we just went to the shows right after

[cb977]

Thanks Sarah and Niki

I did some further research on the Carnival line and they do have more casual dining...there's also NO WAY I'd get my husband to put on a jacket...especially on a vacation!

Found one to the Bahamas going out of Jacksonville which sounds kind of cool. One of the excursions in Nassau is to spend 5 hrs at the Atlantis Resort and I've always wanted to check that place out. The Nassau part of the trip is actually an overnight stop

Decisions, decisions

[susiep]

Sue, I've been on 3 cruises and I like RCL the best. We went on Voyager a few years back when it was new and it was nice. Carnival is for a younger crowd 20-30's. And Disney was nice but well... Disney. I think it is worth it to start the cruise as far south as possible (Miami usually) or if you can afford it to fly to San Juan and cruise out of there. Look on a map and you will see Florida is pretty far from most of the rest of the Carib. All the lines have casual dining options now. I like the formal dining. I love to get dressed up! They do a good job of matching you with people of similar interests. It is worth it to get the balcony. It is awsome sitting out there at night in the middle of the Atlantic. I used to prop the balcony door open at night so I could hear the ocean. Good thing we didn't hit an iceberg, huh?

[razka3]

Originally Posted by cb977

Do any of you know which one of the cruise lines offers the more relaxed dinner/eating orgy schedule?

Orgy schedule

[snow]

i,ve always been partial to holland american line
they useally cater to a more mature crowd;and they bend over backwards to please you.

[cb977]

Originally Posted by razka3

Orgy schedule

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by cb977

Thanks for all the information

We really don't want to be tied into a specific time to sit for dinner. If there are places to eat when we feel like eating, it's much better for us.

As for where our cabin will be...balcony or not, there will definitely be at least an oceanview. I'm not getting stuck in the bottom of the boat!
rofl:

Our plan is to hopefully take a 5 night cruise to somewhere in the Caribbean...from what I've read, I think the western Caribbean is what would interest us.

Who takes care of your babies while your gone?

[cb977]

We're all set!

5 nights to Grand Cayman and Cozumel Mexico!!!
We'll be going on Royal Caribbean and I can't wait!

June, for the short time we'll be gone, I'll have everything together inside the orchid room, watered well right before we leave and the ceiling fans will be going.

[susiep]

Sue, that's a great cruise. I went on that one. I like RC a lot. My mom went on the submarine ride in Caman Is and loved it. We went scuba diving with the sting rays one trip and on a catamaran ride on another. Awsome. From Cozumel we took the excursion to the Mayan ruins at Tulum and Xel ha (spelled wrong). Very interesting. Even without the excursions you are going to have a great time! Have fun!