Hot Tubs on cruises

[Bonibelle]

Hi Bill, I see you are going on a cruise...is this your first?

[wmccall]

Yes, it will be our first.  We were going to go for our 20th anniversary, but had to put it off for our 25th.  Boy how time flies and to the amazement that a beautiful woman would stay with me another 5 years!   We will be on St Thomas for our actual anniversary.  I know pools on ships use salt water. I don't know about spas. Talk about flotation problems.

[Bonibelle]

Bill you are going to have such an awsome time! A cruise, in my opinion, is the ultimate vacation! I am sure you have checked out the cruise boards. We did a
Holland America this July with the kids and I knew the ship in and out before we even packed. You can check out all the things that you HAVE to do before you get to ports.  St. Thomas, if you haven't been before, is a beautiful place. If you get to St. John, there is an underwater national park that is great snorkeling.  I get excited just talking about a cruise!! The food, the luxury,  the shows. The beautiful clear warm caribbean water! Forget my hot tub, I want to go on another cruise!!! My husband says the aniticpation is half the fun so enjoy the wait knowing you are going to have the time of your life!!! My 22nd anniversary is tomorrow and my anniversary present/Christmas present is still on a truck somewhere!!!!

[wmccall]

My husband says the aniticpation is half the fun

I've had a count down clock on my website since 400 days. Down to about 150 now I think.

[drewstar]

Congrats on your anivaersary!  That's great!

I've gotten down to the carribean once or twice and am jealous.!

I went on my first cruise a couple years ago and enjoyed it very much.  The rooms were tight, but that's ok. I didn't spend too much time in there.

I sailed with Royal Carribian and had a fantastic time.

The only advice I give folks is remeber, booze isn't included in the bill and they will not take money when serveing you. It must be charged to your cabin.   It's easy to loose track of how much you've spent until you "check out" and find you owe another $1500 in liquor  . Be carful with the "novelty/souvenair glasses too, they'll pop you $$$$ for those.

Check to see if your ship rent's tuxs.  There will be a few formal dinners and although not required, a tux will make you feel like James Bond. plus it's a hell of lot easier than lugging your suit with you.  Ships usally have a weekly rental specail ($50 a night or $100 for all week). They'll give you a several clean shirts and if it gets dirty, they will clean it.  

Plus, you'll look like a million dollars in the cruise photos.



Rent the tux.

[wmccall]

Check to see if your ship rent's tuxs.  There will be a few formal dinners and although not required, a tux will make you feel like James Bond. plus it's a hell of lot easier than lugging your suit with you.  Ships usally have a weekly rental specail ($50 a night or $100 for all week). They'll give you a several clean shirts and if it gets dirty, they will clean it.  

Plus, you'll look like a million dollars in the cruise photos.

 

Rent the tux.

Much of what you said, while apparently right on the money, I've heard before, but still appreciate.  However, nobody has mentioned the Tux rental.  If it is available I will do so.  I am Mr Casual when it comes to attire. I think the person who invented the neck tie should be executed.   It takes a wedding or a funeral to get me into a tie or suit.

Thanks for that tip.  I'll check on it right away.

[spaceguy]

We have been on 10 cruises.  In case you didn't know, Princess uses fresh water in their pools and tubs.  

You will have a great time!!

You can order a tux on line from e-bay etc much cheaper than renting so if (when) you cruise again your tux is already paid for.

 There are couple of good cruise web sites and forums as well to read up on them!!

[drewstar]

We have been on 10 cruises.  In case you didn't know, Princess uses fresh water in their pools and tubs.  

You will have a great time!!

You can order a tux on line from e-bay etc much cheaper than renting so if (when) you cruise again your tux is already paid for.

  There are couple of good cruise web sites and forums as well to read up on them!!

Yup, buying a tux is the best way, but  if you're like me, I might use it once ever few years. I never bought one from E-bay, I got mine from tux stores that were going out of business.  They are not exspensive at all.

The problem with Tux's is that if they sit unused in a closet for a while They SHRINK. It's True!  I have had 2 tux magically shrink on me over the past 6 years.  WTF?  It's inexplicable.  

Renting on the ship is a nice convience, as it will be freshly pressed, the latest sytle, and you don't have to haul it around.  

Spaceguy, have you ever done an Alaskan cruise?  I am thinking on doing one and would like to hear other's stories and opinons.

[spaceguy]

I haven't done an Alaskan cruise, but know people that have.  I have travelled to Alaska for work on occasion so perhaps that has caused me to delay the need to do an Alaska cruise.  Mrs Spaceguy wants to go however....We did a 15 day Panama Canal cruise in Sep as the ship relocated from Alasaka back to Florida.  We got on in San Francisco.

Perhaps I can answer your questions...

[drewstar]

I haven't done an Alaskan cruise, but know people that have.  I have travelled to Alaska for work on occasion so perhaps that has caused me to delay the need to do an Alaska cruise.  Mrs Spaceguy wants to go however....We did a 15 day Panama Canal cruise in Sep as the ship relocated from Alasaka back to Florida.  We got on in San Francisco.

Perhaps I can answer your questions...

I have a few friends and familly members who have done the canal cruise and they loved it.

As far as alaska goes, I was just more interested in any tips or things to avoid.

You know..."We took the "Feed the polar bear tour and 3 of the tourists were mauled!    I highly recomend it!"  

or the " Do not drink the native alskan drink they natives call "guri hoop. It is not beer, it is fermented reindeer urine."  

That kind of stuff...

[spaceguy]

  I use www.cruisecritic.com and www.cruisemates.com

 hope I can post that here.  

 Look under Alaska on ports of call for all the info on shore excursions etc.  Also the specific ship or cruise line if you book something. There is ususally a "roll call" for people that are on your particular cruise week and ship.   I know many people think it is best to do a one way cruise from Seattle or Vancouver to Anchorage (or back) as you see more in a week.  May and Sep are usually cheaper, with July and Aug being the highest cost months....We did get a last minute notice in May for a week cruis ein June on Princess.  Week was only $299 for the cruise...... But... the last minute air was over $1200 and with other taxes and fees it was quickly $1700 per person....

We have some good internet cruise sites to look for prices so e-mail me if you want those, so you can start searching!

[Bonibelle]

Spaceguy, I PM'd to Drewstar to tell him how much we enjoyed the Zuiderdam this summer. She is in Alaska now. Have you sailed on HAL before?

[spaceguy]

No, not on HAL.

 I have been on  Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Costa and Princess.  Our next cruise is in Jan on Carnival.