Honeymoon Discussions

Cruiseline question (port canaveral experts)

CharmedPamCharmedPam member
First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
edited February 2016 in Honeymoon Discussions

FI and I are planning our first ever cruise next year.  We'll be in Orlando with family Jan 16-22nd, so we'd like to go then.  I'm searching cruise lines right now and would love to leave from Orlando. Looking at 3 or maybe 4 nights being our first cruise and all.

The most important question to me (us really) is I have a very bad back, and most hotel beds are to hard for me.  How are the beds on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney or Norwegian? (anything else I'm missing leaving port Canaveral) 

edit - hate to single anyone out who could offer good advise but I know @CMGragain would have some insight on the beds' comfort levels.  Would going to a travel agency be the best bet?


Re: Cruiseline question (port canaveral experts)

  • CMGragainCMGragain member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    edited February 2016

    FI and I are planning our first ever cruise next year.  We'll be in Orlando with family Jan 16-22nd, so we'd like to go then.  I'm searching cruise lines right now and would love to leave from Orlando. Looking at 3 or maybe 4 nights being our first cruise and all.

    The most important question to me (us really) is I have a very bad back, and most hotel beds are to hard for me.  How are the beds on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney or Norwegian? (anything else I'm missing leaving port Canaveral) 

    edit - hate to single anyone out who could offer good advise but I know @CMGragain would have some insight on the beds' comfort levels.  Would going to a travel agency be the best bet?

    You cannot possibly leave on a cruise from Orlando.  Orlando is inland.

    I have sailed mostly on Princess and Holland America.  Both have great beds and good reputations.  I also hear great things about Royal Caribbean.

    Those short cruises are not a great representation of the cruise industry.  They attract a lot of people who just want to party hearty for a couple of days.  I would recommend a seven day Caribbean or Alaskan cruise for first timers.  You will get a better idea of what cruising is really like, and they aren't much more expensive.  DH and I prefer longer cruises.  Our last one was 15 days.

    It certainly doesn't hurt to talk to a travel agent.  The have access to the best deals, and their services are free to you.  The different lines cater to different markets.  Carnival is a budget line for young people and families.  You get a lot for your money, but some people (myself) like a quieter cruise experience.  Travel agents will want to talk to you to learn what kind of cruise experience would be best for you.  Someone who wants to dance until dawn wouldn't like a Holland America ship, which caters to an older crowd.  Someone who wants to read a book on their quiet balcony might not be happy on a ship with a lot of kids.  There is a lot to choose from.

    Florida has many cruise ship ports.  The busiest are Ft. Lauderdale and Maimi.  Others include St. Petersburg and Cape Canaveral, which are both closer to Orlando.  Some travel agents will recommend a shuttle bus from Orlando to the port city so you don't need to worry about your car and parking fees.

    If you need a travel agent, PM me and I will share mine.  He is an on line agent and works over the phone for one of the largest travel agencies.
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  • Thank you! Once our taxes come in, we'll talk to a travel agent but that advice is very helpful. I didn't even think of St. Petersburg.  That could work too now.

    FI is insisting on a balcony.   I'm OK with an oceanview to save some bucks and put them towards excursions. Does it really make that much of a difference? 


  • CMGragainCMGragain member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    edited February 2016
    The best advantage of having a balcony is that you can open the door and get some fresh air.  There have been complaints about smokers on the balconies, so some lines have banned smoking on them, but some have not.  Those balconies are very small, and not very private.  Your balcony is separated from your neighbor by a sort of room divider.  You won't get much sun there because there is usually a balcony above you.  The mini-suite cabins do have larger balconies.  I like having the balcony, but it isn't usually a deal breaker for me, except in Alaska!  There is gorgeous scenery there all the way.
    The window cabins are OK, but to see out the window you usually have to kneel on the bed, which is set up in front of the window.  I spent 45 minutes keeling on my bed, watching the northern lights on our Norway cruise!  It was great!  I do like having the natural daylight.
    Usually you want to book a cruise about six to eight months out.  There are promotions that come and go.  You can always take your chances and wait until two months out for a fill-up-the-ship sale, but you can't count on it, and you won't get as many choices of cabins.  Usually, the balcony cabins fill up first.
    I always let the cruise line choose our cabin.  You select your category and pay the lowest price.  You find out your cabin assignment about two weeks from your sailing date.  You will usually get a better cabin location than you paid for.  I only got one bad cabin assignment out of 20 cruises.  It was on the first passenger level and above a door that was very noisy.
    By the way, Royal Caribbean recently announced that it won't be discounting a lot of future cruises.  I don't know whether or not to believe that.  Empty cabins cost money.
    Most of the common complaints about cruises are more about passenger behavior than the cruise, itself.  Common complaints:

    1.  Inconsiderate smokers
    2.  Unsupervised children and teens
    3.  Pool chair hogs.
    4.  Slow/non-existant internet.
    5.  Noise from other passengers.
    6.  Cost of items in the convenience shop.  (Bring your own meds and sunblock!)

    These are all the same complaints you might see at any resort.  Seldom does anybody complain about the staff.  They are wonderful!
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  • Thank you so much!  All of that very helpful!  I think we'll take the balcony, another friend of mine said it was worth it too.

  • CMGragainCMGragain member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    edited February 2016
    Oops, I forgot to recommend http://www.cruisecritic.com.  You can find a lot of information about different cruise lines on their boards.
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  • I've only cruised on Carnival. We got married on a Carnival Ship, then went on a 7-day cruise. I have some pretty significant back problems and type of bed is critical for me.  But, I slept like a baby on that cruise and my back was fine.  I have an awesome bed at home, but I think I slept better on the cruise and woke up with less pain. And the comfortable bed, in combination of the rocking ship, just lulled me right to sleep at night.

    Just like hotels often do now, you can find a lot of information about cruise line beds online. You can even buy the beds and bedding from them now.  Most seem to have spring mattress with foam top. Disney has Sealy Posturepedic. Here are some links I found real quick talking about bedding types:

    http://www.ehow.com/about_5419237_types-used-carnival-cruise-ships.html

    http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/General_Info/Flyers/11022664_Bedding_Collection_CAS.pdf

    http://www.cruisecritic.com/v-5/news/news.cfm?ID=1770

    And like CMGragain said, check out cruisecritic.com... that site is a wealth of info.



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  • Thank you! So glad to read that.  We are on a budget, and I did read that carnival had good mattresses, but I didn't know if the older ships had them? I skimmed cruise critic for a bit on the two carnival's we had in mind and some excursions that look good. 

    Even choosing hotels are iffy to me.  I like to stick to Sheraton or Hampton Inn because most (unfortunately not all) use plush pillowtop mattresses.  I LOVE my beautyrest I have at home.


  • Like I said, talk to a good travel agent who specializes in cruises.  The cheapest may suit you fine, or you might be better off paying just a little more and getting a better experience for you.
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  • Me, again.  My husband saw this thread and wanted to add his two cents.

    Many cruise lines have optional "egg crate" foam pads that you can request on your bed to make it softer.  We prefer very firm mattresses, but this might be just the thing for you.  Your travel agent can help with this.
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  • Interesting!  Thanks and Thanks to your hubby as well!

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