1st cruise for older couple

[dawson21]

My husband and I are taking our first ever cruise June 12th. We are going on Carnival Miracle. Since we aren't part of the younger crowd, will this still be a good choice? We do like to have fun and meet new people. Will being 50 make us not fit in with the general population on this type of cruise? I am just a little concerned about this even though it's too late to change anything. Also does anyone have recommendations for what to see in the Eastern Caribbean?

[MaryLou]

dawson21: Congrats on your first cruise! Not too long ago, I heard a statistic that the average cruiser on Carnival is in their 50's. I do not know how accurate it is. If you are doing a 7-day cruise, you will not experience a "party ship" like you would if it were a shorter 3 or 4 day cruise. If you like to meet people, I am sure you will have a wonderful time.
There is so much to do in the Eastern Caribbean. If St. Thomas is one of your stops, I would suggest that you take a tour of St. John which is a beautiful island. Then you would still have time to shop in St. Thomas which is much more commercialized than St. John.
Don't worry....you will have a wonderful time.
I am curious why you chose Carnival?

[ClevelandRocks]

Will being 50 make us not fit in with the general population on this type of cruise?

Well, yah may have to wait for the others to CATCH-UP! I'll be 60 in a couple years, and we "fit in". Yer gonna love cruisin! In St Thomas, there's an excursion called "5 Star St. John + Trunk Bay". It's really great if yah enjoy swimming, snorkling, and gorgeous scenery on the trip over in an old oyster boat. Plenty of people our age on this excursion. Also, the "Skyride" is a must in St. Thomas. Try a "Bailey's Bushwacker" while yer up there. Relax, Tampa is a beautiful port and Carnival really does operate FUNSHIPS!

[skymaster]

Hello Dawson21;

RELAX! The lovely Mrs. Jones (Vita) and I have started sailing Carnival again because we have more fun, more in common with our fellow passengers, and better food than the other lines! (I'm 64 but don't tell anyone) You'll fit right in. The Eastern Carib is absolutely great, and St. Thomas one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Please post and let us know what you thought of your cruise when you return, (and how quickly you booked your next Carnival cruise)
Welcome aboard,

Ken

[lindajean]

I was excited to see your post. My husband and I will be taking our first cruise this August to celebrate my 50th birthday and our 20th wedding anniversary. Any tips while we're talking about it?? It appears there is so much to do. We are taking a 7-day cruise on the Carnival Glory to the Eastern Carribbean. Thanks for post and any feedback one can give us. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

[janettekay]

Well-being in your 50s has nothing to do with cruising! To me-it is like any vacation-doing as much, as little as you like and mixing when and if you want.....
I do like, though, to cruise during school year--and thereby usually being with an "older" crowd...
janettekay

[dawson21]

Thank you to all that have replied to my post. This board is GREAT!! I'm learning so much about cruising!

Age may not have anything to do with cruising. I guess my fear, after the fact, was being much older than everyone else and therefore not fitting in or feeling way, way out of place.

We so want to enjoy this cruise and learn everything we can about cruising. Our plan is to do Hawaii next year for our 25th anniversary. Cruising seems to be the best way to see soooo much more for a reasonable price; therefore leaving more money for site-seeing and trinkets for the family

It would be nice to take one during the school year but since I work for the schools, that isn't possible. I must admit it would be nice to get away from kids for a while. Oh well, we will take what we can and make the best of it.

Thanks again for the info and looking forward to reading more. You people are GREAT!!
dawson21

[GaryI]

dawson21;
We too are on the late 50's side of life. I know we have only been on two previous cruises, but we fit in fine with the rest of the old people on Carnival. We just did a 7 day on the Glory this last Feb. and had a ball. You can do a little, or as much as you want to do. We did not always participate in then games, but enjoyed watching all of the great people on board. It will be as much fun as you make it. Carnival provides the opportunity to have fun. You just need to grab it while it is there.
You will be fine, and have fun. You too will be Hooked on Cruising.
Enjoy
Gary

[17andacruiseaddict]

MY MOM IS IN HER 50'S AND WE CRUISE TWICE A YEAR (SUMMER-RCCL, CHRISTMAS- CARNIVAL) SHE HAS A BLAST, I NEVER KNOW WHERE SHE IS. LMAO ONE TIME I RAN INTO HER AT 3 IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS LIKE TABOO. WE WERE KINDA SHOCKED TO SEE EACH OTHER AND CAUGHT OFF GUARD. ONLY TIME WE USUALLY SEE EACH OTHER IS WHEN WE ARE SLEEP AND SOMETIMES AT DINNER. ANYWAY MY POINT IS, CARNIVAL IS FUN FOR ALL AGES. YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND THINGS TO DO AND WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE!

[GroovyDeeDee]

I'm 44 and just finished my first cruise. I was a little intimidated by the commercials and ads showing all these beautiful, affluent looking 30 somethings, but I had a BLAST!!! - as did my 40 year-old husband, and our 12 and 10 year old sons. My mother-in-law came along, and she is 68 (this was her 7th cruise, and she didn't start until after she retired, 4 years ago.) Whatever you want to do, they have it for you. I walked on the running track, read on the decks, played the trivia games and drank a lot of fruity rum drinks. (Hurray for the drink-of-the-day) My 33 year-old sister in law spent a lot of money in the spa, and went to some fitness classes. We got a pedicure together. She and her husband took a dance class. My mother-in-law sat on her balcony all day and only emerged just before dinner for the drink of the day while watching the sunset on the deck. Her boyfriend spent his afternoons in the casino. I don't really know what my kids did, we hardly saw them, as Camp Carnival kept them busy and smiling!

I am jealous of how much fun you are in for! You will LOVE it!

[ready2gonow]

Originally Posted by GroovyDeeDee

I'm 44 and just finished my first cruise. I was a little intimidated by the commercials and ads showing all these beautiful, affluent looking 30 somethings, but I had a BLAST!!! - as did my 40 year-old husband, and our 12 and 10 year old sons. My mother-in-law came along, and she is 68 (this was her 7th cruise, and she didn't start until after she retired, 4 years ago.) Whatever you want to do, they have it for you. I walked on the running track, read on the decks, played the trivia games and drank a lot of fruity rum drinks. (Hurray for the drink-of-the-day) My 33 year-old sister in law spent a lot of money in the spa, and went to some fitness classes. We got a pedicure together. She and her husband took a dance class. My mother-in-law sat on her balcony all day and only emerged just before dinner for the drink of the day while watching the sunset on the deck. Her boyfriend spent his afternoons in the casino. I don't really know what my kids did, we hardly saw them, as Camp Carnival kept them busy and smiling!

I am jealous of how much fun you are in for! You will LOVE it!

You have summed up everything that makes cruising a wonderful family vacation! Yep, your addicted, just like the rest of us.

[rosetattoo]

dawson21...not to worry, you'll fit right in. Wish I could see your faces when you first walk into the atrium. The buffet will be serving lunch, the drinks will be flowing and music playing. Take time to explore the ship, there are lots of hidden places tucked away if you would like to get away from the hustle and bustle occasionally. The other posters are correct, there is something for everyone on the ship. You can choose to participate in the activities or not. Read your Carnival Capers every morning or evening and highlight the events you would like to see. There is so much to do and so little time. The younger, party crowd usually hang out on the Lido deck during the day because that is where most of the planned activities are held, i.e., ice carving demo, men's hairy chest contest, live band, etc. Go to the aft pool for a little quieter environment. I don't know if you're into water activities or not so can't suggest excursions. Let us know what you're interested in and which ports you will be stopping at. I'm sure everyone will have useful information for you. You're going to have a great time!!!

[mehawk]

50ish here also and there are no problems fitting in.

[lhp]

As a young 52, we love Carnival. You can do as much or as little as you feel like doing every day.

We sailed on the Miracle in October and she is a beautiful ship. We love the layout and flow of the Spirit class ships.

A few tips:
1) we take about $50 in one dollar bills for tipping the free room service
$1 - 2 is fine ~~ ipping the porter ~~ requesting songs in the piano
bar. All other "tips" are automatically placed on your Sail and Sign.

2) Take a small extension cord. There is only ONE electrical outlet in the entire cabin.

3) The saunas in the spa are free. Don't be afraid to explore. The only things that cost in the spa are services that required human intervention.
Massages, manicures, aerobic classes etc. (Sadly, the men and women's are separated)

Have a great cruise!!

[hawkeye 68]

Don't let age bother you. have fun enjoy your cruise. my wife and i are over 50 and on a cruise we feel 20 again! sometimes we stay in the clubs until 2 or 3am and dance just like we used to. you are only as old as you feel!there is just something about a cruise, you just never seem to get tired and are always full of energy!

[badknees]

I will just say that you are still youngsters.
DH and I went on our first cruise together last year for our anniversary. I had been on a couple of short ones with friends. He is now hooked. We leave in 12 days on a cruise, on Carnival-Liberty, to Panama. We have a tour booked to do some of the canal locks.
There is every age group on Carnival. I'm not sure I would pick a "Spring Break" time to go though.
We ate dinner with two great couples every night. We saw them off and on while walking about on the ship. Both couples were a little older than us and they cruise all the time.
We aren't sun people and don't spend time laying out but sat in the shade a few times and watched the younger and not so younger ones get involved in some of the silliness. I couldn't talk DH into free ballroom dancing lessons even though I told him we would probably never see any of the people again after we got off of the ship.
We did a canopy line tour in Belize. The walk up the trail to where we start left me breathless but didn't bother DH a bit. If you aren't fit there are still lots of other tours to take that don't disable you. I did a Chacchoban tour by my self once. It was a lot of walking but I can do that easily. My friend I was cruising with couldn't handle that much walking. She went on a dolphin encounter tour I think.
Mainly consider your health and fitness if you decide to do something more strenuous.
You are only 50. Enjoy your trip. I wish I were 50.
I told my husband I was giving advice to a 50ish couple who were afraid they might be too old to cruise. He said they accomodate walkers and wheelchairs. He was kidding you. I'm sure they do but that didn't seem to be your problem.

[seadog2]

Cruising knows no age!!! DW and I are in our 50's also. Even though this is your first cruise, go out there and show the younger set how it's REALLY done!!! 8)

[Montycruiser]

My parents went on their first Carnival cruise on the Conquest, in May 2005. They have since been on Esctasy and Booked on the Sensation this June and Fantasy this October for my 41st birthday. Needless to say they are in their mid 60's and love cruising on Carnival. Go and enjoy yourselves, you will love it.

[popsec]

Originally Posted by dawson21

My husband and I are taking our first ever cruise June 12th. We are going on Carnival Miracle. Since we aren't part of the younger crowd, will this still be a good choice? We do like to have fun and meet new people. Will being 50 make us not fit in with the general population on this type of cruise? I am just a little concerned about this even though it's too late to change anything. Also does anyone have recommendations for what to see in the Eastern Caribbean?

A year ago my husband and I took our first cruise (he's 60 and I'm 54). Since then we've been on 6 more cruises with 3 back to backs coming up in 12 days and another booked in Sept on the Miracle out of NY. We went on the Legend out of NY last year twice and loved it (the Legend is the sister ship to the Miracle). So, my only advice is to be ready to book another soon after you get home cause you're gonna love it!

We really enjoyed Cane Garden Bay in Tortola. In St Thomas we usually just hire a cabbie to take us around.