After spending months reading reviews and blogs after booking our first cruise, I decided I would take time to write one for other first timers.
After many years of taking vacations to Disney we decided to do something a little different, what better than a cruise to fill the wants of two teenage boys, mom and dad. We chose Carnival, honestly, for the price tag. Cruising for about $750 per person after gratuities for a 7 day vacation seemed like a good deal.
I must admit, after booking the cruise I was a little leery about dining and service based on the reviews I was reading. After reading a little more and experiencing our first cruise I learned two important things: many people only write a review after a bad experience and many "professional cruisers" do not adjust well to change. While our experience cruising experience had its highs and lows, overall it was a great time that we will be doing again.
The port is easy to navigate for a first timer. Parking is expensive ($20/day) but it is very convenient.
I was very unimpressed. There does not seem to be anything to do without purchasing a excursion.
We rented a car ($50/day) and traveled to West Bay (southern tip of the island). While there we went to Fosters Beach. The boys snorkeled (rented the gear for $10/person), husband and I sunbathed for free. We were able to get internet access on the beach for $5. The negative: the beach peddlers are insistent and constant.
The weather was not so good, so we ended up making it a ship day.