Naturally somewhat claustrophobic, the idea of being stuck in a tiny cabin, on a boat (albeit a very large one) full of strangers in the middle of the ocean for a week, meant that going on a cruise never made the top of my vacation destination list. So, when my sister Alice offered to fund a 7-day Carnival Conquest Cruise for her family after the wedding, I initially pondered the trip with trepidation and an onslaught of questions: Would the cabins have windows? Have you been on a cruise before and did you like it? Why? What ports are we stopping at? What would the weather be like? Her answers began to melt my fear and transform it into excitement at the opportunity to spend a week with my family on a free vacation. The cheapest cabins do not have windows and are priced at four to a room (rates very greatly depending on the season). Our cabin could be upgraded at an additional cost (We chose to get the Premium Balcony Stateroom, Verandah 8448: smaller than a suite but with a quarter of the rear ship balcony for an additional cost of aprox $1000). We liked the room and loved watching the sunset from our own (semi-)private balcony. Being first-time cruisers, my roommate and I did not realize that one of the effects of having a room at the back of the ship, is that more swaying is felt.
After taking a Dramamine the first day and passing out in my room from the drowsiness it produced, I tried wearing a pair of anti-seasick sweatbands purchased in the cruise gift shop. I cannot conclude if they assisted or not but I woke up after 5 hours of sleep with very uncomfortable band marks on my wrist from the tightness of the elastic (I would advise that if you try these, make sure that the inside of the band or bracelet is as comfortable as possible to avoid friction marks on your skin). After these two failed sea-sickness remedies, I fould that Bonine seemed to work best for me. After two days I began to become accustomed to the gentle rocking of the ship and felt no further nausea for the remainder of the trip.
After taking a Dramamine the first day and passing out in my room from the drowsiness it produced, I tried wearing a pair of anti-seasick sweatbands purchased in the cruise gift shop. I cannot conclude if they assisted or not but I woke up after 5 hours of sleep with very uncomfortable band marks on my wrist from the tightness of the elastic (I would advise that if you try these, make sure that the inside of the band or bracelet is as comfortable as possible to avoid friction marks on your skin). After these two failed sea-sickness remedies, I fould that Bonine seemed to work best for me. After two days I began to become accustomed to the gentle rocking of the ship and felt no further nausea for the remainder of the trip.
Tips to prevent motion sickness: http://www.marinemedical.com/articles/seasick.htm
Both my brother and sister had been on cruises before and enjoyed them most for the ease of offering a vacation with little necessary planning (the biggest decisions being what excursions to partake in at the ports-of-call). The options for how to spend the days and nights are endless. For day
Food is available on-board 24 hours with more limited options after 10pm. The buffet offered a variety of choices with decent food. The dining rooms offered a hit-or-miss menu of choices with a higher likelihood of improved fare on the days where mandatory dining room attire upgraded from “cruise casual” to “captain’s elegant.” On the two evenings where more formal attire was requested, the female guests’ preferred sparkles and sequins in every color and form. For a more pleasant food experience, I would highly encourage paying the $30 extra per person to dine in The Point Steakhouse. This involved an upgrade from overcooked chicken or fish in the designated dining rooms, to choices of lobster and steak for dinner and excellent dessert options. Overall I would say that my (our) experience was pleasant but the overall food offerings could have been improved, and I would have preferred the limited amount of time spend at each port of call to be increased (approx 7 hours in total to get off, explore and get back on).
Guests of the Carnival cruise that became stranded in Mexico last week may have a different opinion (see fox news link below). It will be interesting to see if THEY take up Carnival’s offer for “a free future cruise of equal value.” As for me, I enjoyed the experience with my family and think for a group excursion it made a lot of since, allowing each guest to spend their free time as they pleased, coming together as a family for the theater and dinner at night. I am grateful for the experience but will stay on land (or plane) for my next trip. In the far future, I may once again aboard a cruise but if so, it would likely be with a more luxurious line (with better different destinations and better food).
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/09/carnival-cruise-ship-loses-power-engine-room/
Details:
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| Working on my tan in my leopard bikini while playing m-golf with the fam |
Carnival Conquest: http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/ships/carnival_conques/default.aspx?shipCode=CQ
7-day Sunday-Sunday. October 3-10, 2010
Port of Embarkation: Galveston, Texas.
Nearest airports: Scholes International Airport at Galveston, Hobby and George Bush airports in Houston
Cost: (reduced rates are offered for: over 55’s, return guests, when booked in advance, in a group and during the hurricane season (when our group of 15 went). The gamble with the hurricane season is that there is a possibility of not stopping at all ports of call. The cruise the week prior to ours only embarked at one of three ports due to inclement weather.
The weekly schedule: Day 1:, Days 2 and 6: “Fun Day at Sea” , Day 3 Embark: Montego Bay, Jamaica, Day 4 Embark: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Day 5 Embark: Cozumel, Mexico, Day: 7 Depart: Galveston (8am-10:30am).
