jill wozhere

Thanks for this info, we have a similar situation... my son met a girl on our cruise and is thinking of taking her on the next cruise, in a year's time, but he's only known her a couple of weeks and it's a long distance relationship, so obvious risks in booking her on.

If you people weren't so darn helpful, I'd stop bothering you! However, your help has been much appreciated, so here's another question for you... When the times of arrival and departure are noted on the itinerary, how long does it actually take to get off the ship and onto shore? Does it take longer if the ship can't dock and you have to be ferried ashore and if so how much longer? When returning to the ship, how long before the ship is due to leave must you arrive ready to get back on board? Thank you all for your help so far. It has been really enlightening. ?

That's always a plus ?!

What are the pros and cons of booking shore tours through RC or booking privately?

In my experience with jelly fish, locally in Western Australia, they are there sometimes, in their thousands and at other times no where to be seen. I've been stung and I can tell you it's NOT NICE! Similar to being burnt. This is one thing I am worrying about for my upcoming vacation. I saw there is a product called Seasafe, a jelly fish repellent, but it has mixed reviews on it's effectiveness. I would be interested if anyone out there has tried it and can give a review? I've swam with rays at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia - (Man that is an amazing place! Like swimming in an aquarium and hardly any people to bother you : ). ) They have barbs, but I saw heaps as I snorkelled they did not bother me at all. I'd swim with a sting ray over a stinging jelly fish any day! I have nothing to add about Coco Cay. Never been anywhere even close to there.

Although not on a cruise ship and not a terrible incident, your story reminded me of when I was at the casino, watching my husband play roulette. I was standing next to a woman and another man came up and stood on the other side of her. He started some chat up conversation with her and she was happily chatting back to him, so seeing he had a warm reception, he asked her if she's like a drink... "Oh yes, thank you... I'll have a Southern Comfort and Coke?" He bought the drink and carried on chatting as she sipped on it. "Are you here on your own?" He inquired, honing in on his target. "No, she casually replied. "I'm here with my boyfriend", pointing to a man playing roulette beside my husband ?. I thought to myself that the guy must be so annoyed he bought her the drink before he asked the question of if she was with anyone and a spirit drink at casino prices! Also I thought it was very wrong of her to accept the drink and not put him straight on her situation. In her defence however, he did offer the drink with no pre-stated expectations from either party. Getting back to your situation, it's always nice to be complimented. Three drinks isn't quite enough to start seeing someone ugly as handsome, so I think you can feel confident that she really thought you cute.

Yes, I have come to that conclusion myself, thanks to all the input on the subject ?.

Looks like I got lucky... I'm not going on that ship .

Hot tubs and children reminds me of when we stayed at a local resort once. I was in the hot tub and noticed a girl of about ten rearranging her one piece bathing suit and squirming about.. Not liking the look of it, I got out and went to the gym... a little while later my sons came in roaring with laughter, telling me how they were in the hot tub and another young man with them, saw something unusual... picked it up.... looked at it with confused curiosity ? , then squeezed it between his fingers, before then realising what it was. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what it was... My sons thought it was hilarious that they had watched and seen the expression of this boy had squashed a lump of poop between his fingers! I was just glad I got out of the hot tub when I did! Needless to say no one wanted to go in the hot tub after that , even though the cleaning staff were advised.... I'd rather deal with obnoxious drunks than a turd in the pool dun dun dun dun dun dun? aaggghhhh! Shring, Shring, Shring!!!

Must have been the guy in the next cabin to ChessE4 ?!

I can't drink alcohol... if I drink even a little bit I get what I discovered are called "cocktail headaches".??

Once a drunk guy asked my husband if he would consider swapping me for a bottle of Guinness... happy to say my husband isn't big on Guinness ?! Thanks folks - one more subject I'm feeling better about. Happy drunks are not a problem.

I do ?

Hope he's not next door to me .

Wow, I bet they were annoyed! I just watched a video about a person demanding their cruise money back for being served burnt toast? I think having your prepaid drink supply withheld, or being banned from your cabin is more reason to complain! Of course they asked for it, by being drunk and disorderly.

Just to clarify, in case anyone might think I have a stick up my arse... not saying you do think that, but I can see my post could be construed in such a way. I'm pretty easy going, open minded and non judgemental. I do, however, dislike people encroaching on my space (being a pain in the arse to me) and I do dislike conflict. I have had encounters with unpleasant drunks before... one fell onto my lap as I sat on a bus, one upturned a table at a wedding I attended, I had to shelter a woman and her children in my house one day, who's drunken husband was threatening them, so people drinking socially, I don't have a problem with, but when their behaviour starts to impact me, I am not so happy. It's a bit late for me to ask the question really, because my cruise is all paid for, so I'll be going what ever the answers, but being a new cruiser I have a lot of questions in my mind as to what cruising is like and being an introvert, I am a little apprehensive about being on a ship with thousands of others... so I'm trying to get a feel of what to expect ahead of time.

Thank you for all the input that was given to my last question. It set my mind a lot more at ease. Another thing that has been on my mind is wondering what the incidence level might be of alcohol fuelled problems?.... It just seems to me... looking at the drinks package, that RC encourages excessive drinking and while some people can drink and not bother anyone, other people seem to have a short fuse when they consume too much alcohol... so I'm wondering to myself... "hmmm how much trouble is there on board, due to excessive drinking?" I suppose it's easier to move away from trouble on a ship, rather than in a plane, but still it is a more confined environment than on land. Perhaps experienced cruisers can give their opinions and experiences in this department?

Dogs are the best. I love my dogs and I already have pangs of regret at the thought of having to leave them for two weeks. It would be lovely to have your dogs with you everywhere, but sometimes it is in everyone's best interest, including their own, to leave them at home, with a reliable carer. I wouldn't consider bringing them on a cruise. I think they would be better off at home. We live on a farm, so they have lots of company and room to move about and sleep inside in their nice warm pet beds.

As I said, we are new to travelling in general, but when we went to Bali, our first overseas trip ever, a couple of years back, there were loud people and kids and running down the corridors of our hotel at all hours of the night, on most nights.. It was hard to get a good night's sleep.... Therefore I was very fearful that this all night noise, might happen on the ship also, with there being so much going on. Even though most of the hotel noise was mainly from people checking out in or out the dead of night and forgetting that not everyone is up at 3am?!

Thanks for the welcome and replies. I feel less worried about my decision now. I still have a tummy full of butterflies, about venturing into the unknown, but I'm doing my best to inform myself with good advice from kind people, such as yourselves, who know the ropes. I appreciate each of you taking the time to help.

I'm sorry to say we are quite new to travelling and this is our first ever cruise and I'm as apprehensive as can be. I picked adjoining cabins, as my grown son is coming along and wanted his own space, but he sleeps very lightly and is very sensitive to noise. I chose low and mid ship because I am afraid I might get sea sick. However I realise our cabins are quite close the the elevator, (2310 and 2312 voyager of the seas), and possibly the atrium? Noise is the main thing that I am getting ulcers worrying about. Any reassurance or advice would be appreciated. I would happily pay a bit (not a lot) more for less noise.