Back in Aug. of last year a bunch of guys from the Fire Dept. decided to take a cruise. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Let me preface this post with I am much more at home in the mountains than I am the sea. We drove to Galveston on Sat. Mar 23rd. The drive sucked because there is absolutely NOTHING to look at on the way down or back for that matter. The first night we stayed in a hotel right by the gulf and it was real nice. It has been a while since I have been to the gulf and it was good to see it again. We ate at real good restaurant right on the beach and I finally got some good seafood (can't get that in Ar.).

We booked our cruise on Carnival Conquest. As of right now it is the biggest ship in their fleet although they have a bigger one coming out later this year for European cruises. Embarkation was pretty easy but the people there are about as rude as they can be. They worked for the port and not Carnival but there is still no reason to be as rude as they were. If you do decide to take a cruise I recommend having a passport as it makes things much easier. We got on the ship and it is big no doubt about it. We actually got to board much earlier than expected (12:00pm) but they already had the buffet line and all the bars open for business (more on that later). We got a few things from the buffet and a bucket of beer and just sat around watching the other people until our room was ready. We got to our room about 2:00pm and it was bigger than I expected (still very small though). We were lucky and our room was on deck 8 so we were only 1 deck below where everything was which was really nice. We departed about 4:00pm and the rest of the night is pretty much a blur to me since much alcohol was consumed. From what I do remember (and what others have told me) I had a GREAT time. From the pictures that I've seen I apparently did. I got in bed around 4:30 am.

All night long the night before the ship was rocking real bad. Beer helps control some of that but the next day when the ship is rocking the same; a hangover is not really a good thing. There were 14-18 ft. seas and the ship was getting it. I really didn’t feel bad until I laid out on the back of the ship and started watching the clouds and the handrail. I told my wife that I was going to go back to the room and take a nap and maybe I would feel better when I woke up. I woke up and I still had motion sickness real bad (some of it self-inflicted I know but the boat didn’t help). Finally one of the people that were with us gave me a Ginger pill to take and within 30 mins I felt great. Didn’t have a problem the rest of the cruise. That aside the wind across the deck was gusting over 50 kts. So it made it impossible to even stand up on the top of the ship (I realize this isn’t Carnivals fault but it sucked just the same). The first two days of the cruise was like this. The second day was my wife’s turn to be sick (also partly self-induced) so the first two days of the cruise was a wash for us. But even then, there really isn’t that much to do on the boat for me. Unless you like to drink (which I do) or gamble (which I really do but stayed away from) then there isn’t really much to do on the boat.

Our first port was in Jamaica. I got up in time to see the island come into view and that was pretty cool. My wife, a friend and his girlfriend, and I booked an excursion to the Sandals Resort and that was pretty nice. The ride out to it was interesting to say the least. I have never been in a poverty stricken country so it was a real eye opener. The resort was an all-inclusive resort and we tried to take them for everything that they had. I had fun there but I don’t think I would go back. I might consider a all-inclusive resort in Mexico or Grand Cayman though.

Our next port was Grand Cayman. The Cayman Islands are beautiful but unless you have a LOT of money then you might as well stay on the boat. We lost our sunscreen and had to buy some on the island and we paid $15.00 for a small bottle. We went to Margaritaville and I drank 3 beers for $24.00! What a bargain. A hamburger and fries was almost $30.00. Since our dollar against the Cayman dollar is worth about half we decided to just get back on the boat and eat there.

Our last port was Cozumel. This was the one place that I really enjoyed and would go back in a heartbeat. We bought a bunch of stuff for my daughter and the people there were ready to barter. We never came close to paying asking price for any of the items we bought. About 8 of us ended up in a out of the way bar and drank $1.00 Dos Equis the rest of the day.

The last day was actually the best day at sea because the sea was nearly calm so the boat was pretty smooth. There just isn’t anything to do on the boat besides lay around on the deck. There is almost always food available but it is just adequate. It was never outstanding but it was never bad either. Honestly my favorite food that I got on the ship was a deli that served all different types of sandwiches. I had always heard how the waiters are supposed to remember your name and what you like to drink during dinner each night. Didn’t happen with us. They were friendly but didn’t seem very interested in anything but just getting us out of the way for the next sitting.

Disembarkation is an absolute nightmare and would deter anyone from ever taking another cruise. There was no rhyme or reason for the order that they called each deck to leave the ship and of course we were the last to leave. We were on deck 8 and they went in this order: decks, 2,9,4,3,5,7,6, anyone with an early flight, and deck 8. Once we got off the ship we stood in line for almost 2 hours going through customs. The whole time someone is on a loudspeaker but you have know idea what she is saying because the echo is so bad. Once we made it to customs we breezed right through but once again the people at the port are absolutely the rudest people that I have ever dealt with (even worse than the DMV).

So that is pretty much my trip. I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy any of it because I did. I can finally say that I have been out of the country and have seen some things that I will never see again. But the trip as a whole wasn’t that fun. I remember telling my wife on Wednesday that I was ready to go home. I have never said that when we go to Colorado. I never want to go home from there.

Here is a link with about half of the pictures that we took: Click Here

Since this is a family site, I can’t show you the rest of the pictures but they were pretty good to say the least

Britt

 

Good read, and I have to agree on Cozumel. Many of my friends and family all say that is a great place to go.

I also had similar vacation experiences going down to Clearwater this past week. Had a great time but it's nothing I haven't seen before and for how much I spent on alcohol (easily 150 a day between my girlfriend and I), I would've been happier going to my camp in the mountains and doing something productive AND relaxing.

Feel free to PM me links to the non-conforming photos

 

Since I haven't been on one yet , saying that I do not like cruses , is not complete with having one to say I did not like , they never looked like my form of entertainment .
Just did not want you to think you were the only one .
I was never a fan of laying on the beach either .

 

Only cruise I've ever been on was to the Bahamas out of Miami. Embarkation was nothing but lines. Disembarkation was a breeze. They hauled all the big bags down to the hold we were leaving through. You found your suitcases by room number and dropped your customs form in a big barrel by the door. No one even got close or asked any questions about what you had.

The guys that burned up all their Cubans on the boat were a little upset. Had they known customs would go like that, they would have brought back all they could carry.

 

We want to see the good pictures.

 

Actually, I think you had a good cruise. You went out on Carnival and half the ship didn't come down with the raging trots and nothing caught fire. Sounds like one of their more successful voyages.

 

Sorry you didnt enjoy it.
Join the Navy and see some real beer drinking ports.

 

Next time book a trip to the Iberostar Hotel in Playa Del Carman. It's all inclusive and is absolutely the best place I've ever been. Nothing in Cancun can match it.
From there you can ride the Ferry over to Cozumel if you'ld like. Rent a Jeep, motorcycle or moped and circle the island hitting every little cabana bar you can find for a couple of cheap brews. Iberostar has a hotel in Cozumel...you can get a day pass from the one in Cancun and you can stop in there for food and drinks as well.
You're not stuck on a schedule like a cruise and you don't have to spend anything more that the initial cost once your there. I've been to several all inclusives, Iberostar had the best meals of any of them.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head right there. I hate being on a schedule and that is what you are on, on a cruise.

For those that want a few more pictures just pm me and I will send you some lol. If I put them on here I would be banned for sure

Britt

 

Oh I enjoyed it..... It just wasn't exactly what I had in mind. As far as the navy, my dad has told me plenty

Britt

 

You know... that actually crossed my mind

Britt

 

I have never been on a cruise, been thinking about it, just not sure. My brother in Texas has been going to Cozumel to an all inclusive and has had nothing but great things to say about it, so we were leaning toward that, looks like it might be the right move. Even though the cruise was not all you had hoped for, it still must have been nice just to get away for a while.


Glad your trip went safely,


Tim

 

Britt,

I need to point out you must have missed the forum rule that requires you to send ALL pictures to me that you fear may not be suitable for family viewing... So that I may...ahem.... verify your decision

Sorry you didn't have a real good time but, at least you can say you did it

 

lived in Cozumel for a month instead of doing the tourist thing. PM me and i will tell you a better family way of the vacation, for a third of the 'package' costs. still have the phone numbers/ places where we stayed....yes, that enjoyable and we had our 12 year old! you feel like you are in one big family and we always avoided the cruise ships....

we like to explore, don't drink, smoke, shop or gamble...yup exploring about leaves it. oh and best scuba diving....

enjoy Britt!

 

2 words-ROYAL CARRIBEAN. This company is ran RIGHT. I been on 2, fantastic and cheap both times.