First we are a little spoiled; we live in Florida and only have to pay for the cruise (plus the bus ride from the other side of the coast, 55 dollars round trip). We don't have to worry about airfare, motels, meals, etc. We also try to sail during hurricane season, in the month of September; schools back in session and the rates are the best. Also having been though a number of hurricanes the best place to be when Florida's getting hit is on a large ship, they move away from the storm, no matter how many times I've tried the state just doesn't seem to relocate. Sometimes we go with a few friends, sometimes with a lot, this time with four other couples. We pick trips by ports and decided we wanted to revisit Jamaica. This would be our 5th cruise on Carnival, 3rd time on the Triumph, which is fine the Triumph has always been our favorite ship, the Captain is great, he did a wonderful job getting us though hurricane Jeanne a few years ago, we ended up with 2 extra days because the port of Miami closed for the storm and they returned the booze to the rooms the night before we were turned away. The poor staff, two extra days at sea and everyone had their liquor back, it was fun for us. Back to this September. We had VIP status (last minute offer from Carnival, 100 dollars extra to go from a balcony to a suite, we took it). So boarding for us was a breeze. Waiting lounge, TV's, short cut the lines. We waved at our friends as we went by. Still we only beat them to the ship by a quarter hour, Miami's new site is much better and quicker. Room wasn't ready so off to Lido we go. Everyone in our group knew to meet at "our" table. Being this was our 3rd time on the ship everyone knew were it was. Get the first of the colored cups for the drink of the day and we were back "home" again. Life doesn't get much better. Did the whole life vest fashion show at muster and invited everyone to tour our room, about twice the size as normal, tub, big dressing area, real nice for what we paid. My wife and I aren't into statis-quo and never would pay the 70 or so extra dollars that it costs, but for the price we paid, it was well worth it. As always the room stewards were great, the bar staff great, the dining room staff wonderful. Never in need of anything. My wife and I have over 40 years of restaurant experience between us. The staff on these ships work like dogs. I would hire any of them in a heartbeat. Whatever they are paid (and I'm sure it isn't enough) they earn every penny. The food on all our trips has been great. We are more Chili's, Applebee's, Outback type of people. The food is very good, and much better in the dining room then we are custom too. I have worked for 5 star restaurants, much is on par with what they serve. You've be surprised if you knew how much of the supplies are the same between a mid level restaurant and a starred one. Presentation, and just because you are told it's better (and the cost) are much of the reasons you think it's better, sorry to say, much of what most people think is better is only in their minds. Now if I can vent. Carnival is for people that aren't into pomp. The "fun ships" are meant for "fun" (funny, maybe that's why they call them that), and more the everyday working Joe. If you shop at Wal-mart, Target, Sears, etc. you'll be set. If you're into over paying for items, highend brand names, having your butt tickled with a feather, or status symbols, book on a different line. There's a reason why there are so many cruise lines, do your research on this site and take the time to find a cruise ship that best reflects your own tastes. As far as I'm concerned if you can't have fun on a cruise you are either dead, or just a miserable person who needs to get a life, and please don't book on my ship, I'm there for fun.... Venting over. We had three ports, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. Grand Cayman is always a coin toss. Been there before, this time the sea's were to rough so we (and every other cruise line) waved bye-bye as the port faded from view. This was the third time for one couple with us to be turned away, they are starting to think it's personal. But, for as disappointing as this is for passengers, this has to be a real bummer to the staff of the ship. They get a break from all us bone heads when the ships in port, the last thing they want is a ship full of disappointed people, and then to try to entertain them. But they did a great job, I ended up with my second "ship-on-a-stick" from a "survivor" contest. This old man beat out the younger ones in the contest with the longest time keeping a hula-hoop going (I have no hips but the neck worked just fine). I have to admit it became almost embarrassing since it ran on the TV in the rooms, on their in-ship channel. I was surprised just how many people saw it. Almost embarrassing, but I lived though the fame. We had booked the deep sea fishing tour on Cozumel but the same rough seas canceled all the water related tours there also. So we went "shopping", not one of my favorite past times but I made the best of it. Now men hear me, let the wife's hit the bling shops. If the American stores took on the ports free drinks policy they would sell a lot more. Even if they don't have anything out in the open, they have it in the back room, just ask. The wifes look at the rings and we husbands just hold up the paper cups saying "hit me again". After a few shops we went to Senior Frogs, had one of their "yard Margaritas", then I finished half my wife's, too strong for her. A couple more shops looking at rings and we danced our way back to the ship at the end of the day. Mind you I'm not a big drinker, one or two beers a month. I have a job that depends on a clean driving record and does intense drug/alcohol testing, so after 29 years working there, I just don't mess with it all. But on the cruises I can lighten up, no DUI's to worry about and I can always find my way back to the room. Living in Florida we great use to tourist screwing up traffic, over loading the restaurants/stores, and just getting under foot. I have to say the people in Cozumel handle the influx very well. It's a busy port with two or three ships hitting it at a time. Just imagine 4 to 6 thousand people being dropped off in your front yard for 8 hours. The people were all nice and friendly, I'm sure they have a lot to say when the ships pull out at the end of the day, but in person they do a good job making you feel welcome. One port out for the count and one had the plans changed, this left Jamaica. Just a side note on shore excursions. You will see posted a lot about not booking though the ship because it cost more. This is true it does cost more but we always book with the ship for a number of reasons. As with Cayman we got shipboard credit for the snorkeling as soon as we sailed away, same with the fishing trip, in fact our best friends were owned money after the cruise and got money back. No worry with lost money. Also when you book with the ship, the ship waits if a tour runs late. If your tour is late you can be fined if they have to wait, rightly so since you maybe shorting people of port time coming up. If your too late, and they can't find you, the ship will sail and it's up to you to make it to the next port, or home. I saw this happen once in St. Thomas when the ship waited for over two hours for a couple of teenagers who didn't get back in time. The ship left with one of the parents waiting on the dock. They did make it to the next port, how I don't know, but I bet it wasn't cheap. We had a dune buggy tour that because of an accident ran a hour over on Grand Turk. When we did make it back to the dock the whole ship was standing at the rails yelling for us to run (they had no idea why the ship was waiting). We just took our time walking back to the ship, just waving and smiling to the crowd. But because it was booked with the ship there was no repercussions. So the little extra you pay with the ship is more like insurance. Also the tour people that book with the ship don't want to lose their meal ticket so they're pretty good about giving you what you want, and what they advertise. Now back to Jamaica. Jamaica is what it is, I love it. The people do have a "don't worry be happy" type of attitude. Also Ocho Rios is a safe port, not like Kingston, which can be a little scary, and no place to be after dark. Ocho is safe. It's also hard sell. The people will follow you, and like many ports you do need to barter for the best price. Some will yell, some will follow you for blocks if you look interested, and all seem to enjoy the barter as much as they enjoy the sale. Just know this when you hit the shops, this is Jamaica, it's not K-mart. This is part of what Jamaica is, it can even be fun. Just lighten up and go with it. I'm a little bit of a sucker, yea I did pay a dollar for ten cents worth of roasted peanuts in a brown paper bag from a man with a bike/roaster. It was worth the buck just to talk with him and look over his homemade transportation/outdoor gas grill. Get a hair braid and tip the girl, remember this is their main source of income, for many this is what they feed families with, or at least how they can just get by day to day. Also there is a number of locally grown crops that are for sale that are marketed as being legal, but aren't (and I'm not talking about the Blue Mountain coffee), it's just winked at (unless your in the Bob Marley compound, then smoke on dude), don't be dumb, you can get busted. And if you haven't been to Jamaica in a while they now check your belonging before you get back on the ship at a visitor center, not a very good check, but be smart and don't risk your vacation. I've been to Jamaica before and did the falls by way of "Cool Runnings", a very good excursion if you haven't done the falls I would suggest it. This time we sign up for the zip line/canopy tour. Very nice! You now meet the tour groups in this little "visitor center/tent". While waiting in the tent looked over and it looked like there was a small Grateful dead concert. At first I thought I was having a flash back. Then came to understand that was the line for the Bob Marley tour and it all made sense. On the Canopy tour you get a informative bus ride to the site, great guides. And then a ride up the mountain side that is an excursion all by itself. Once you get up this one lane path/lane you take a walk down to the first platform, and take a number of cable drops with the last one being the longest. Never had done it before and all in the group were ready to do it all over when it was done, including one member who has a fear of heights. Once you get to the bottom you have a nice walk in a park setting and on the ride back you can get off in the shopping area if you wish, which we did. Back to looking at ear rings and of course free rum. One place in the shopping center gave us a bottle of free rum. Yea Marks and Morgan could learn something from these ports. The shows are fun. I did well on the slots, my wife not so much, so together we broke even, not bad. Allot yourself how much you're willing to lose and don't think about once it's gone. Its fine to line up what you're going to do on your cruise but don't become a slave to your agenda, things change. It's best to set up a wish list of things you would like to do and heck with it if you can't make a couple, move on. It's a vacation, don't make a job of it, relax and have fun. Getting a second cruise this year for our 30th anniversary in January, a couple of weeks from now, will report how that went.