So, You have a cruise booked, or you are thinking about it. What to do now?
Many times I see reviews where they say, "Wow, I didn't know that would happen, or if I had only known, before I left."
How much research do you do for your vacation? Do you want to know all the details, or are you satisfied with the unknown?
Yes I am researching mine and trying to get info on a tour co. in mobay called Barretts adventures they have a tour I am interested in called mayfield falls but alas not much luck with it .Any help would be greatly appreciated
Let me check around for you. I have a contact in Mo Bay. Let me see if they also do the tour. Are you more interested in the tour, or the tour operator?
Let me check around for you. I have a contact in Mo Bay. Let me see if they also do the tour. Are you more interested in the tour, or the tour operator?
Both I did see where one of the person has worked for Carnival before so I was thinking it would be a great tour company to go with since carnival is not doing the bamboo beach and dunn river anymore
I think it's important to research your cruises. And I think the vast majority of people finding CruiseMates do so before they cruise, to use it for just that purpose. Or after returning from their first, fall in love with cruising, and come to research their next.
And even though I write feature articles and reviews for the site, I do think some folks can get into over researching their cruises, refusing to leave anything for chance or surprise.
Sometimes the adventure of the surprise is lost by overplanning. Like most things in life, the best thing to do is find a balance.... between knowing what to expect, and experiencing the unexpected.
Let me check around for you. I have a contact in Mo Bay. Let me see if they also do the tour. Are you more interested in the tour, or the tour operator?
Both I did see where one of the person has worked for Carnival before so I was thinking it would be a great tour company to go with since carnival is not doing the bamboo beach and dunn river anymore
Shirley,
I have done some research, and that is a very highly regarded company.
Let me check around for you. I have a contact in Mo Bay. Let me see if they also do the tour. Are you more interested in the tour, or the tour operator?
Both I did see where one of the person has worked for Carnival before so I was thinking it would be a great tour company to go with since carnival is not doing the bamboo beach and dunn river anymore
Shirley,
I have done some research, and that is a very highly regarded company.
Have you tried to contact them?
No but I will call them thanks Luanne I am greatful
I am researching. I don't mind suprises and adventure, but we will have our 8 year old son with us so we have to be a little more prepared.
I am seeing where too much research is a bad thing already though. When I first started reading this site I made the mistake of going to the what to wear thread hoping to find information that would help me pack more wisely. After reading there I almost thought, well a cruise isn't for me if it is going to be a ship full of petty people laughing at my capris and judging me for carrying some extra weight.
I am very self-conscious about my apperance. I was a very active person and was in an accident that crippled my left leg. I have gained weight for the first time in my life. I also may still be walking with a cane at that point too. So after reading those threads it made me rethink our vacation. I decided though, just like with people at home, if they don't like me for who I am, I don't need them anyway.
I (Phil) do 95% of the research on our trips. I have traveled alot in the past and Liz has not so I already know some things to see & do in various places all over the world. One day I will be able to show her around Rome and Sicily and also Tahiti.
I've already mapped out our few days in Vancouver with trips to Stanley Park, the Gardens, Victoria, Whistler, etc. as well as a few things in Alaska.
We've done Cozumel 5 times now so thats an easy port to do. Probably go to the east side of the island to Mr Sancho's place.
This website has been the most helpful by far for all of my planning.
Phil & Liz
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I do research a lot of things for my cruises. I tend to book my tours through Carnival. I do this for this reason. I know if there is a problem Carnival will refund my money. If it is hurricane season and the port is eliminated because of a hurricane a prepaid tour will be credited automatically back to my account. Last year I was sailing in September on Carnival Liberty. Costa Maya was one of the stops. I booked a tour, prepaid. In the time before the cruise hurricane Dean wiped out Costa Maya. When I boarded I checked my account and my payment had already been credited to my account. I research air fares for months before I book it. I have a figure in mind that I will accept to pay and when the air gets near that I will book it. Researching also helps me to pass the time until the cruise.
Laura
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I am a research maniac !!
We usually book a year ahead to get the itin. and cabin we want. That means I am constantly reading all the boards and websites.
For me, the "search" is fun. Mike just shakes his head and calls me 'twisted'.
Pat
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Luanne I will let you know how it goes I have to get with the other 7 people and see what they want to do .I research to get the most of my trip and I may just do doctors cove beach and looking around mobay but I want all options and think it out .
I love doing research on just about anything, but cruising is the best. I have run out of things to check out for myself, so now I research for others.
well, as everyone here knows by now, I do tons of research. Of coruse that was for my first cruise. Now that I'm a seasoned professional I'm researching what may be different on my next ship and ports. There are always things you may want to do on one cruise, that you never did before so you'll always have some questions. I like to be as prepared as I can be, but I always go with no expectations so I'm either pleasantly surprised or on the flip side, unpleasantly surprised. It's a big adventure to me, and I can't wait to cruise solo in 117 days.
I'm happy to report that I know I will have a lot of cruises in my future, due to an inheritance one day, either 1 or 2 a year, or more, so I look forward to eventually going on 7, 8, 10, 12 and even 14 days cruises. So I will be doing a lot of ship/port/excursion research for years to come.
I always book early and then check out flights for a few months, once that is done we start looking at hotels. You know you have to be there a day or two early. Waiting all that time you have to look at booking that next cruise. So once that is done you spend time looking at flights and hotels for that one hoping that time will go by fast on the first one.
I alway check reviews and post almost daily and add a few once in a while. I alway check your post, love your Conquest daily review. I spend time checking the best way to get there and back from airport.Look at Carnival gifts for wife so everything is just right when we get to room. There is so much to do and soon it will be time to pack. Thanks for all your post and making this cruise nut day go by.
__________________ 1986 USS Constitution / Hawaiian Islands 1999 Royal Caribbean / Ensenada, Mexico 2005 Carnival Paradise /Ensenada, Mexico 2006 Carnival Pride / Mexican Riviera 2008 Carnival Conquest / Western Caribbean 2009 Sapphire Princess / Mexican Riv
I always book early and then check out flights for a few months, once that is done we start looking at hotels. You know you have to be there a day or two early. Waiting all that time you have to look at booking that next cruise. So once that is done you spend time looking at flights and hotels for that one hoping that time will go by fast on the first one.
I alway check reviews and post almost daily and add a few once in a while. I alway check your post, love your Conquest daily review. I spend time checking the best way to get there and back from airport.Look at Carnival gifts for wife so everything is just right when we get to room. There is so much to do and soon it will be time to pack. Thanks for all your post and making this cruise nut day go by.
I love cruising. I pick based on the most i can get for my money...but then once i've picked i want to research all i can about excursions, such as on my own vs. through the ship....
i'm cruising the southern caribbean leaving from san juan in 2.5 weeks...any suggestions?
Hi Luanne, thanks for asking.. he's doing well, but still missing about 1 day out of day at school due to his stomach. He's able to keep up, though, and we just hold our breaths till summer, when it mysteriously vanishes for 12 weeks, just ilke it does during winter and spring break.
I think he's just allergic to school, even though he likes his teachers and has a blast with his friends - they all go off campus for lunch every day and walk part of the way home together after school, or some times he goes right to a friends house. He really isn't interested in cruising again, at least not now, so for now, we're not going to book an Alaskan cruise when he graduates high school in 3 years. That frees up more money for me to cruise solo.
Getting back to topic, when I'm not doing cruise research for myself, I also like to answer questions for newbies, that is, questions that I have answers to based on my one cruise to date!
I like to research and that's where I'm at right now. I'm leaving on the Destiny, June 8 out of Puerto Rico and I would love any hints and or excursion info for Dominicana, Barbados, Antigua, St. Thomas, St. Kitts and St. Lucia. I've sailed before ... Carnival and NCL but all info helps and we will do an excursion every port .
I have been on 2 crzes and booked, then cancelled 2 more for "crap happens" reasons. But, I AM A JUNKIE. I look at these boards until I am just burned out and don't even want to crz. then I pass the computer and the mouse is calling my name and I think "just a few minutes won't matter". you know, i'm a sicko.
I too am obssesed with planning our cruise and the excursion research.
It seem as if I have done so much research that I dont have to take the trip because I know everything there is to do at my destination
The research and looking and trying to figure everything out to make this cruise for our family to be perfect just wears you out.[
I try and research the areas I know nothing about, beyoud that I like some element of surprise. I agree with Kuki's comment. In the beginning I think I over did it. I had the deck plan set to memory and to many other details. I know enjoy getting lost. After all, how lost can you get your on a ship. Mike
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Do You Do A Lot Of Research On Your Cruise?
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