This is my first cruise and was wondering: is it a disappointment to be assigned a room that is on the upper deck but on the back of the ship? We have a chance to change it and be on outer side. I was just wondering if you are missing out or if there is even a difference? Our travel agent told us that we would see the boat waste but he also said that is where dolphins are most likely to be seen. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hello Julia, and welcome to cruise-chat.

Please provide more information. Which ship, which itinerary, and which cabin number are you currently assigned?

Boat waste? The cruise ships are not allowed to discharge anything into the ocean. Do you mean boat wake? Dave is correct, give us more information and we can certainly help you out..

Aft Deck is great for sunsets....and yes, no Ship Waste...ever....had to have meant WAKE...
To me, anywhere on the ship is fine with me..Just so I'm on it....I would give your present cabin a try and on your next cruise, and I'm sure there will be a next one, try something different....Just go and have a really smashing good time...We all do:-)....

Bob E

Oh sorry. Yes I meant boat wake. We are cruising on Carnival Inspiration on March 8, 2010. Right now we are scheduled to be in U241. This is a wedding cruise for my fiance and I. We have 16 other people going on this cruise with us, so we do have the opportunity to switch. We make stops in Grand Caymen and Cozumel. Any advice would be appreciated

Okay. Since this is the Inspiration and therefore you are not in an aft balcony cabin it's location is much less important. With a window you really aren't going to spend much (if any) time looking out at the sea. In other words there will be little real difference between your current cabin and any other standard outside cabin when it comes to the view. I wouldn't worry about changing.

Hi Julia,

Inspiration is smaller ship. If this is your first cruise, I would think you might want a cabin that is more central to avoid any motion. Considering you do not know how you will feel being your first time. In a cabin at the back of the ship, you will definitely feel more motion. You will not really be able to see the wake unless you are in a balcony cabin. I do not know if there are balcony cabins at the back of the Inspiration. On my very first cruise moons ago, I chose a balcony mid ship mid level in terms of decks and it ended up being smooth sailing on a ship called the Regal Princess which I am thinking was no more than 80,000 tons.

As I said in my earlier message, there are no balcony cabins on the aft of the Inspiration.

Motion is subjective and more a function of the sea conditions than the cabin location. Now, when seas are choppy you will feel it more in cabins all the way forward and all the way aft, because of the tendency of a ship to roll (front-to-back movement) instead of pitch (side-to-side movement), which is mitigated by the stabilizers. However felt motion for most people when seas are "normal" is not a problem. If you are worried about motion sickness and can move to a cabin on a lower deck, on the side towards the center, perhaps you should consider it.

Hi Julia, and Welcome to Cruise-Chat!

Congrats on your first cruise!

U241 should be a nice and quiet cabin location. Not much traffic in the hallway at all, and it has cabins both above and below. I personally like the mid ship cabins on that class of ships because of the convenience factor. They are also more stable in unfavorable sea conditions. If I was on a Honey Moon though, I'd prefer the quieter location, as there is virtually no difference with normal sea conditions.

Also explore and search the Caribbean Port section of the forum located here. You'll find lots of good information about Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Welcome aboard,

Dwayne

Thank you so much for all of your responses. I am so excited about my wedding cruise!

quote:

Originally posted by JuliaTroms:
Thank you so much for all of your responses. I am so excited about my wedding cruise!

Give some serious consideration to a tour of Sting Ray city. It is great fun. And get photos of the bridal party with sting rays. Then you can show your grandchildren 50 years from now that you had sting rays in your wedding party.

Since this is your first cruise....

here are a few more tips:

1. If you are into speciality coffees like expressos or cappicino....they cost at the coffee bar on the Promenade BUT you can get them for free at any meal in the Formal Dining Room. Now if you want alcohol in them...then that will cost extra...but just the coffee itself is free.

2. Cruise lines charge of soda and bottled water...BUT you can carry on as much as you like (or can handle). You can also carry it on from the different ports you visit but generally SOME ports have caught on and charge you almost as much as the ship.

3. Each adult is allowed to carry on 1 bottle of wine or champagne.

4. The gym, sauna and steam room are all free...so don't let the fact that you have to walk past the Spa desk to get there bother you.
Also lockers are free but they do hold your Sail and Sign card until they get the key back.
The Sauna and Steam room are not co-ed... guys and gals have their own...as well as changing rooms and showers.

5. You can order as many appetizers, entrees and desserts as you want. (just remember the rule your Mom taught you about not being wasteful ... LOL) IF you get something you just don't like or isn't what you thought it would be....immediately let your wait staff know. They will be glad to swap it out for something else.

6. Porters at the port when you check in expect a tip. Usually a $1 a bag....so have some $1s ready.

7. MOST IMPORTANT - RELAX. When you get to the port on Embarkation day...take your time.
I also make a PACK LIST and a LOAD LIST to make sure everything I packed gets in the car.

PORTS:

Grand Cayman is expensive. So be aware. Both ports are SAFE....

at both ports you can safely grab a taxi without an issue....so ship excursions are not required like at some ports that are not as safe.

However, some newbies like to use ship excursions so that they can relax in foreign port. So that is fine as well.

Just know that food and drinks in Grand Cayman is pricey.....

Each port has their "signature" thing to do...
Grand Cayman is swimming with the stingrays...
Cozumel is swimming with the dolphins.....

I am sure your TA has told you that tips will be added to your Sail and Sign card (if you have not prepaid them). This is the method that the cruise lines use to pay their crew. It is $10 per person per day. Personally I wish they would not call it TIPS...because it is really a Service Surcharge IMHO.

If you are driving to the pier....they will charge for parking.

Room Service is FREE...but a $1 tip is customary.

Pizza and ice cream are basically 24 hours a day.

Have a GREAT cruise....

Thank you everyone for your responses. You have all been most helpful!

LHP,

Did you say that Carnival allows a carry on of one bottle of wine per person? Please provide a link to this policy, as I have been unable to find it. This will make my wife VERY happy!!!

Thanks!!
Kevin

You'll find it here . It's number 8 of the contract.

It is also covered in the Carnival link in our Beverage Policy FAQ.

What is curious is the cruise contract just says one bottle of wine, while the beverage policy has a size limit of 750 ml.

Thanks for the info folks!!! So much small print. Maybe it is time to start reading it all...

So if the wine is consumed in the restaurant or steakhouse, there is a corkage fee. There appears to be no corkage fee if it is consumed elsewhere (i.e. Cabin). Also, no mention that I can find that it is not permitted to consume it in the cabin...

There is no corkage fee to consume the wine in your cabin. I've taken a glass of wine into the shows and the casino before from the cabin. No glass allowed on the Lido deck though.

Dwayne