Going on my first cruise on the Carnival Horizon departing 1-18/1-24

[Heartstrings]

Ports include;
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Cozumel, Mexico

This was a birthday gift from my daughter and we’ll be traveling together, then spending a few days in So. Beach.

Any experienced cruisers have any “must do or take” tips?

Thanks,
‘Strings

[snowybirdie]

1. Enjoy!

Don't listen to naysayers. Cruising is great for folks of a certain age. My advice. Wait til last day to purchase items from ship stores. They always go on sale then. P S Cozumal isn't worth getting off. Take advantage of reduced prices in spa that day.

[avebury]

8. I have done both a dolphin excursion and a manatee

encounter in Couzemel. There is also a neat site that has miniatures of a lot of the historical sites in Mexico. And there are beaches that you can take a taxi too. I wouldn’t write Couzeel off.

[snowybirdie]

11. Guess I've been influenced

by Cozumal today and the was it was in 1983. It was a small, lovely village that had the charming feel of old Mexico. Loved it! Today it's a shoppers paradise with everyone looking for a way to take your money, including stealing our credit card numbers. Better to do the cruise tours away from town.

[csziggy]

13. My husband and I went to Cozumel on our "trial" cruise to see how we like cruising

I agree with you about the town. We wanted to take one of the excursions to one of the Mayan sites, but because my mobility was limited by back problems we ended up taking the submarine tour to see the reefs. It was fun and we enjoyed seeing things that we would never be able to see otherwise.

[Heartstrings]

21. Thanks for all the info everyone!

[GP6971]

2. I'm interested to see the responses.

We're going on our first cruise on the Carnival Glory in late April...yes, the one that hit the Carnival Legend while docking in Cozumel last month.

[snowybirdie]

3. Been on 20 or so over the years

Booked for another one in April. Enjoy the pampering and get away without hassles. A balcony is great, but anywhere in the ship to watch the sea is so soothing.

[at140]

10. Yes, I never tire of watching waves washed in moonlight

and the sunsets over ocean are the best. The oceans are so vast, it blow my mind.
Earth is covered with far more water than land. Best time to walk on open top decks is after dark.
Because it is never hot and unending breezes.

[Heartstrings]

23. We have a stateroom with a private deck,

it’s going to be beautiful!

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

[at140]

29. Haha you can sun topless on your private balcony!

We usually get the inside cabins, being the cheapest. We are only there to sleep and take a shower and change clothes. There are so many large public areas on a large ship to lounge around and stay active.

One of our recent cruise was on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas ship. It actually had an area called Central Park, where they had a forest of live trees and bushes, and had birds living there! And the ship had great shows on ice skating rink the size of a 1500 SF ranch house, a place to water ski, and whole bunch of other stuff. The ship carries 6000 passengers, yet there were no lines for anything!

[LakeArenal]

4. Travel well, amigas.

Lots of folks will be waiting for you!!

Oh and don’t forget the big deposit you want to leave in the Cayman banks.

[Heartstrings]

22. Haha! You funny!

[LakeArenal]

24. I like you.

[Heartstrings]

25. I like you, too!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

5. Bon voyage... have fun!!

[Heartstrings]

20. Thank you!

[avebury]

6. Carnival has comedy clubs on their

ships so I would recommend catching a show. The later shows tend to be R rated just FYI.

Once they created the pick your own dining time I chose that for greater flexibility for shipboard activities.

In Grand Caymans swimming with the Stingrays was fun and the water was gorgeous. You will find different flavors of rum cake there as well.

If the water is rough, the turtle place is really neat. I have done a zip line tour on Jamaica and that was a blast.

Most important rule - don’t miss the ship. YouTube has lots of pier runner videos.

There is an outdoor shopping area that has a Bubba Gump Restaurant in Miami. You can also pick up a short boat tour in that area that sails around some islands pointing which houses are owned by famous people. It is fun and I have done it twice.

[Heartstrings]

19. Thanks for all the advice, avebury!

[at140]

7. Skip the extra cost restaurants!

The main dining room has lots of great food on menu. No need to pay $30 more for a meal.

Do not over pack! The ship is kept spotlessly clean, clothes do not get dirty.
The days of formal dress nights are disappearing.

Do not over-eat. It is easy to do because there is so much free food available. Be sure to pack Tums.
Do lot of walking, which burns up extra calories and then you can eat some more haha.

Coffee & Tea is free, but pop and booze are extra cost. Booze prices have gone up.

Do not miss the evening shows. Get to the theater 20-30 minutes before show time to get better seats.

5-7 day cruises are the best vacation value around. We have done around 30, we started going before kids came, took kids when they were 5 and 3 years old and they always had a great time and only time we saw them was at meals during the whole day.

[snowybirdie]

12. You are correct

A good get away vacation for the money.

[Heartstrings]

18. Thanks both of you!

I’ve packed nothing but elastic waistlines!

[madaboutharry]

9. Bring sunscreen.

And a hat that will protect you from the sun.

[Heartstrings]

17. Will do, madaboutharry!

Thanks!

[TomSlick]

14. You're going to have fun - so have fun.

Eat what you want - drink what you want. Go ashore at every port.

Catch a sunrise and a sunset from the upper deck.

Hug your daughter often.

[Heartstrings]

16. I will do that, TomSlick! Thank you!

She and I have traveled together to London for an Eric Clapton concert in Hyde Park, LA for a Clapton concert at the Forum, Phuket and Bangkok Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo just for the fun of it! We travel pretty well together.....

[Olafjoy]

15. Adore cruising

Find it very relaxing. I agree with “don’t miss the boat” If you go on your own tour or excursion, be sure to account for traffic back to ship, esp. if multiple ships in port. If you are on a cruise sponsored excursion, relax, they will never leave without you. Have a blast!! Sounds awesome!!

[Heartstrings]

26. Thanks, olafjoy!

[RandySF]

27. Have good trip.

Reminder: ‘Rose Dawson’ is already used.

[Heartstrings]

30. I still think

there was enough room on that headboard for Jack!

[EX500rider]

32. lol

[Heartstrings]

33. LOL!

Yes!

[rickford66]

28. Don't drink the water

[Heartstrings]

31. Nope!

Taking meds for that anyway! Just in case!