I was wrong also!

302cj

Old Mossy Horns
Got off the boat around 8 this morning. 5 day cruise with Carnival. We know a couple people who have been on 15-20 times. They said first time take a small cruise on small boat and see how we liked it. My takeaways.

1. Most of the crew we dealt with sucked. I guess them barely speaking English had a little something to do with that!

2. Nassau sucked big time! I understand this is how those people earn a living but getting hollered at about a damn taxi or a damn hair braid or basket for 2 hours sucked.
Other than those two I had a hell of a time. Most of the food was decent. All alcohol was nice and cold. No hot beer or liquor. No rain til late yesterday and around 12 last night got to enjoy some 65-70 mph winds. Security told me it was time to go but trying to stand in winds that strong was hard anyway. I'm guessing he was Korean so he didn't understand why I wanted to be out there. On day 2 we went to Half Moon Cay. Water colors are crazy as you'll see in first pic.
 

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turkeyfoot

turkeyfoot

Old Mossy Horns
Glad you had fun. Did you feel the waves on small boat much my wife has entertained the idea but she gets motion sick so why wondering
 

302cj

Old Mossy Horns
turkeyfoot said:
Glad you had fun. Did you feel the waves on small boat much my wife has entertained the idea but she gets motion sick so why wondering
Click to expand...
We felt every movement of the boat but only saw 1 guy that said he was sick.
 

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Thomas270

Thomas270

Ten Pointer
Half moon cay was the highlight of the cruise we took also. We split one of the little cabanas with another couple and by far the best day of the trip. Was kinda cool relaxing in the shade of pine trees by the beach lol.
 
Tipmoose

Tipmoose

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The Bahamas are awful when it comes to cruising, for all the reasons you mentioned. Belize wasn't much fun either.

If you step up to a medium sized boat (3K passengers or so) and take a 7 day western Caribbean, I think you might like it better. The staff is better for sure and you don't feel the boat move much at all.
 
wncdeerhunter

wncdeerhunter

Old Mossy Horns
What ship were you on? We were on the ecstasy, and you definitely feel every move it makes - 60mph apparent winds were not too much fun - never got sick, but it was close one night.
 

302cj

Old Mossy Horns
Tipmoose said:
The Bahamas are awful when it comes to cruising, for all the reasons you mentioned. Belize wasn't much fun either.

If you step up to a medium sized boat (3K passengers or so) and take a 7 day western Caribbean, I think you might like it better. The staff is better for sure and you don't feel the boat move much at all.
Click to expand...
10-4 I told wife next cruise would be on biggest boat we could find.
 
Tipmoose

Tipmoose

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302cj said:
10-4 I told wife next cruise would be on biggest boat we could find.
Click to expand...

Please reconsider....don't go to the huge boats. They have problems of their own...too many people and not enough staff. You will wait in line for everything.

The medium sized boats give you a better crew to guest ratio and you can get where you're going with a minimum of fuss and wait. Trying to tender into a port on a ship with 5K passengers is painful.
 

302cj

Old Mossy Horns
Tipmoose said:
Please reconsider....don't go to the huge boats. They have problems of their own...too many people and not enough staff. You will wait in line for everything.

The medium sized boats give you a better crew to guest ratio and you can get where you're going with a minimum of fuss and wait. Trying to tender into a port on a ship with 5K passengers is painful.
Click to expand...
Ok I believe we were around 2500 on this trip. Boat was big enough to where we did not feel crowded. I guess I say bigger to have more things to do.
 
Tipmoose

Tipmoose

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Oh...and if you can get it, DEFINITELY get the Faster to the Fun offering. It makes embarkation, debarkation, and port stops/tender rides much much better. Plus you get your own line at customer services.
 
Tipmoose

Tipmoose

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Yep...the ecstasy is one of the smaller ships. We think the Legend/Miracle class are about optimal. Just a bit longer, larger and heavier with less than 100 more passengers.

Ecstasy
  • 70,367GROSS
    TONNAGE
  • 2056GUEST
    CAPACITY
  • 855LENGTH
    IN FEET
  • 920ONBOARD
    CREW
Legend/Miracle
  • 88,500GROSS
    TONNAGE
  • 2124GUEST
    CAPACITY
  • 963LENGTH
    IN FEET
  • 934ONBOARD
    CREW
 

302cj

Old Mossy Horns
I haven't looked uo the #s yet when docked at Nassau we were beside these 2. Carnival Conquest and Royal Caribbean s Champion of the Sea. Both looked twice as big as us.
 

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pattersonj11

pattersonj11

Old Mossy Horns
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We haven’t done carnival yet. Royal carribean and celebrity.

Celebrity was a different experience. They make you feel like they want you on the boat. Everything seemed a step up from royal.
 
Rescue44

Rescue44

Old Mossy Horns
Valor was relatively new and large. 1st and was a blast. Legend was the 2nd. Actually preferred the Valor. Food was better 1st time . Others thought the food wasn't as good on our 2nd. Man...a scuba paradise!!! Western Caribbean that is.
 
Mike Noles aka conman

Mike Noles aka conman

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We were on the Carnival Facination. Totally refurbished in 2018. Crew to guest ratio is ~ 1/2.5. Like I've said before, we will repeat and be thrilled to be on a ship this size.
 
pattersonj11

pattersonj11

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
They are all what you make of them. You have to take advantage of the shows and amenities. I never go to shows or acts outside of that, but when on a cruise, we pretty much go every night. We also try to go to the different tastings and experiences on board. Art auctions, sushi chef/tasting, all kinds of things that I wouldn’t do.

Last cruise I attempted a rock wall climb with my niece and wife.
 
Tallpine89

Tallpine89

Four Pointer
I've been on the Fascination, Ecstasy and the Carnival Dream. Also cruised with Royal Carr. on the Oasis of the Sea, a very big boat but I agree with others that the medium sized ships give you better service and not near the people or lines. I will stick with Carnival and like to cruise. Half moon cay is very nice, Nassau I take a cab to Cabbage beach and spend the day there as it is a very nice beach, Freeport isn't worth the stop so I avoid that place. The Sunshine is coming to Charleston in August I think and that will be it's home port for awhile, I want to go on that boat also as I have heard good things about it.
 
Bailey Boat

Bailey Boat

Twelve Pointer
No thanks, I'll leave the cruising to you guys. I can't get past the "what if" aspect of that many people is such a confined space and the mayhem that would ensue if something/anything went wrong....

I'll meet you in port and we'll sit on a nice beach with cold drinks, a couple of hot chicks and even hotter wait staff and the girls walking down the beach are unbelievable, wait!!!! If all the girls are hotter than the ones we have with us, why do we have them?? Catch and release!!!
 
41magnum

41magnum

Twelve Pointer
We learned, by accident, for the Caribbean, take a Disney cruise WHILE SCHOOL IS STILL IN.
Much better service and staff/guest ratio.
We were soooooo spoiled at that time on that ship. They did everything but chew our food!
 

nekkedducker

Ten Pointer
Anyone wanting a truly great cruise experience should look into Disney cruise lines. Even if you dont have kids. I too was skeptical, but our travel agent recommeded it over all the other cruise lines. They have adult only parts of the ship, with restaraunts, bars, and pools. Plus you get to go to castaway cay their private island, which was my favorite. Also, dont get off in Nassau unless you just want to replenish your beer supply and save money.
 
Tipmoose

Tipmoose

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nekkedducker said:
Anyone wanting a truly great cruise experience should look into Disney cruise lines. Even if you dont have kids. I too was skeptical, but our travel agent recommeded it over all the other cruise lines. They have adult only parts of the ship, with restaraunts, bars, and pools. Plus you get to go to castaway cay their private island, which was my favorite. Also, dont get off in Nassau unless you just want to replenish your beer supply and save money.
Click to expand...

Agreed! Disney cruises are the top of the line, IMHO. They don't have a casino, so cigarette smoke is very rare. But the food, service and amenities are among the best.

Of course you will pay about 2x what you would pay for the same cruise on Carnival.
 

oldest school

Old Mossy Horns
I am glad to hear that on Disney. I was tricked into that by some cunning wife and daughter maneuvers.
One of the lines I haven't been on and dang sure with it not having a casino; the last one I would have booked.
 
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