Anyone gone on a cruise?

[PleaseBlitz]

So, last time I asked for vacation advice on ES, I got loads of great advice that really helped that trip be legendary.

SO, the next trip is booked, and it's a cruise in early June. Neither Wife nor I have ever been on a cruise before so we really don't know what to expect other than way too much food, lots of fru-fru blender drinks, and....thats pretty much all I know at this point.

Anyways, any and all advice, tips, or thoughts are welcome. We are sailing on the Allure of the Sea to St. Thomas, St. Maartan, and Nassau. If I can answer any other questions as it relates to your thoughts, lemme know.

This is the boat, its ****ing big:



Thanks!

[Corcaigh]

There's not a lot to do on board, so put your feet up on the A/C ... etc

[Harwich Hog]

I haven't been on one myself but my parents love them. They always come back with stories about how great the people on their tables were. I think you're assigned a table for the whole trip and you get a chance to get to know the people. It's a good opportunity to "network" if that's your thing. They always come back with an offer of going to visit someone in their holiday house or the like. It's quite odd to me. They love it though.

[Heidenreich]

Went on my first this year. Had a great time until the next to last day when the gf and I got violently ill.

Not sure if its a "buffet" style cruise, but if it is I highly suggest going to the free cafes, restaurants instead of the buffet. People in general are disgusting, and the buffet took a beating. 75% of the ship got infected with a rough case of GI as they called it.

My parents? They hate buffets so they were just fine. Jerks.

Oh, and hit the casino. All night every night

[The Evil Genius]

Anyways, any and all advice, tips, or thoughts are welcome. We are sailing on the Allure of the Sea to St. Thomas, St. Maartan, and Nassau. If I can answer any other questions as it relates to your thoughts, lemme know.

Thanks!

Don't drink too much on board (it gets really expensive) and try not to gamble too much either - the odds are horrible at the games.

That said, don't be afraid to ask at the formal dinners for extra food, make sure you budget enough to tip at the end of the cruise (it ends up being a few hundred dollars) and make sure you do at least 1 off ship excursion.

[mboyd784]

The slight listing of the boat can and will amplify your hangovers, so exercise moderation. Or stay drunk the entire time.

[PleaseBlitz]

I haven't been on one myself but my parents love them. They always come back with stories about how great the people on their tables were. I think you're assigned a table for the whole trip and you get a chance to get to know the people. It's a good opportunity to "network" if that's your thing. They always come back with an offer of going to visit someone in their holiday house or the like. It's quite odd to me. They love it though.

Yea, I am a people person and tend to "make friends." My biggest fear is that people at my table will be antisocial. Or children.

Went on my first this year. Had a great time until the next to last day when the gf and I got violently ill.

Not sure if its a "buffet" style cruise, but if it is I highly suggest going to the free cafes, restaurants instead of the buffet. People in general are disgusting, and the buffet took a beating. 75% of the ship got infected with a rough case of GI as they called it.

My parents? They hate buffets so they were just fine. Jerks.

Oh, and hit the casino. All night every night

Oh, the blackjack tables will be hit. Repeatedly. And my wife is a Roulette savant, its crazy and defies statistical probability.

Don't drink too much on board (it gets really expensive) and try not to gamble too much either - the odds are horrible at the games.

That said, don't be afraid to ask at the formal dinners for extra food, make sure you budget enough to tip at the end of the cruise (it ends up being a few hundred dollars) and make sure you do at least 1 off ship excursion.

I plan on sneaking some booze on board. I play blackjack, so the odds are the same anywhere unless they play by non-standard rules for hitting. At this point we are planning to do off ship excursions at all 3 ports. Trying to get that planned soon, so if anyone has any advice on those, that would be fantastic.

The slight listing of the boat can and will amplify your hangovers, so exercise moderation. Or stay drunk the entire time.

#1, i plan on getting and staying pretty drunk. This is my "graduating from law school" trip. Also, the ship we are on is the biggest cruise ship ever built and is evidently remarkably stable.

Moderation.....PSSSHHHHH!

[The Evil Genius]

Y

I plan on sneaking some booze on board. I play blackjack, so the odds are the same anywhere unless they play by non-standard rules for hitting. At this point we are planning to do off ship excursions at all 3 ports. Trying to get that planned soon, so if anyone has any advice on those, that would be fantastic.

I think on my ship they pulled all the Q's from the deck and the dealer didn't bust on 22 or something like that. Also, on my ship the craps table didn't pay out the odds on certain prop bets, etc. like the normal casinos.

I did make $400+ on one $30 bet at 3 card poker though.

[Harwich Hog]

Yea, I am a people person and tend to "make friends." My biggest fear is that people at my table will be antisocial. Or children.

I think I can allay your fears about children, as for the antisocial people - I think it's a crapshoot. Either way - hope you have a good time.

[skinfan2k]

There is alot to do each site like excursions. Those are expensive. Take multiple swimsuits. Take multiple pairs of flip flops. There are shows each night on the ship and take advantage of those

[BigDaddyShoo]

Go check out the Cruise Critic forums. Lots of great information there and was invaluable in helping me plan my cruise a couple years back.

[The Evil Genius]

I just checked the activities on the ship..holy ****.

Zip line, nine decks in the air and 82 feet across
Two FlowRider® surf simulators
Two rock-climbing walls, each 43 feet high
Full-sized basketball court
Ice-skating rink
Mini-golf course
Hand-carved carousel

[PleaseBlitz]

I think on my ship they pulled all the Q's from the deck and the dealer didn't bust on 22 or something like that. Also, on my ship the craps table didn't pay out the odds on certain prop bets, etc. like the normal casinos.

Please tell me you are joking.

---------- Post added December-21st-2012 at 05:33 PM ----------

There is alot to do each site like excursions. Those are expensive. Take multiple swimsuits. Take multiple pairs of flip flops. There are shows each night on the ship and take advantage of those

Yea, trying to figure out the excursions. Why multiple flip flops?

As far as the shows, I dunno, im not too big into Broadway.

Go check out the Cruise Critic forums. Lots of great information there and was invaluable in helping me plan my cruise a couple years back.

Done! They even have a thread where people going on my specific cruise can chat beforehand. Thanks!

I just checked the activities on the ship..holy ****.

Zip line, nine decks in the air and 82 feet across
Two FlowRider® surf simulators
Two rock-climbing walls, each 43 feet high
Full-sized basketball court
Ice-skating rink
Mini-golf course
Hand-carved carousel

Yea, like i said, this ship is a monster.

[The Evil Genius]

Please tell me you are joking.[COLOR="Gold"]

Nope. The casino odds on cruise ships are a joke, in a lot of cases. On the plus side they did have a few blackjack tourneys, the most you can win on 10 hands or something like that. My buddy took 2nd place and made some nice $'s.

[China]

Went on my first this year. Had a great time until the next to last day when the gf and I got violently ill.

Not sure if its a "buffet" style cruise, but if it is I highly suggest going to the free cafes, restaurants instead of the buffet. People in general are disgusting, and the buffet took a beating. 75% of the ship got infected with a rough case of GI as they called it.

My parents? They hate buffets so they were just fine. Jerks.

Oh, and hit the casino. All night every night

Sounds like you got norovirus. It's not uncommon on cruise ships due to the close quarters and large numbers of people, although the incidence really isn't any higher than on land. You just hear about it more on cruise ships because they're required to report all instances of gastrointestinal illness.

You can check the history or recent outbreaks on cruise ships at the CDC:

Outbreak Updates for International Cruise Ships

I don't see any outbreaks on the Allure of the Sea listed. Just make sure to wash your hands frequently.