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*~ Cruising (travel by Waterways) megathread ~*

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    #842
    Mitch Connor
    Registered Users Posts: 45,230 ✭✭✭✭Mitch Connor


    gozunda wrote: »
    Don't wish to be a wet squib but keep in mind hurricane season in the Caribbean occurs from June 1 to November 30, peaking from late August through September...

    I went in October. Got amazing weather every day.

    The week after was rough though apparently.

    It's luck of the draw I suppose.


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    #843
    Stanford
    Registered Users Posts: 1,178 ✭✭✭Stanford


    Can anyone advise as to what is the story regarding medical facilities aboard these ships?


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    #844
    Mitch Connor
    Registered Users Posts: 45,230 ✭✭✭✭Mitch Connor


    riemann wrote: »
    One thing I would have liked to have known beforehand is the dining etiquette.

    We were put at a table of 8 with 3 other couples for the week. Was nice to get to know a few people and hear stories from around the world.

    On the last night we were supposed to bring an envelope with cash as a tip for the waiter serving our table.

    He didn't appreciate this and I did begrudgingly leave him 100quid in the cabin. This would have been a small amount, several hundred would be the norm or so I was told.

    There is one night where everyone gets dressed up to the 9s, possibly the last night. Again I didn't know this and would have brought one nice outfit if I had.

    Was two nights on my cruise. Second and fifth I think. You don't have to dress up though. Didn't bother the first time round and got my days mixed up for the second.


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    #845
    Homer
    Registered Users Posts: 4,267 ✭✭✭Homer


    Stanford wrote: »
    Can anyone advise as to what is the story regarding medical facilities aboard these ships?

    With usually thousands of passengers on board they have a well equipped and staffed medical facility on board.


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    #846
    riemann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,063 ✭✭✭riemann


    Fann Linn wrote: »
    What would happen if ye left nothing?

    Nothing, it was optional. Instead of leaving a tip everynight its just one lump sum at the end.


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    #847
    Davy
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 19,340 CMod ✭✭✭✭Davy


    Stanford wrote: »
    Can anyone advise as to what is the story regarding medical facilities aboard these ships?
    Homer wrote: »
    With usually thousands of passengers on board they have a well equipped and staffed medical facility on board.

    I have heard it can be very costly so if you have specific medical needs it would be worth contacting them directly before you book/went and checking if covered under your insurance.


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    #848
    Mitch Connor
    Registered Users Posts: 45,230 ✭✭✭✭Mitch Connor


    riemann wrote: »
    Nothing, it was optional. Instead of leaving a tip everynight its just one lump sum at the end.

    You pay (or can) pay gratuities as part of your booking. That would be the usual way of dealing with it on a cruise.

    We left some money for the room attendant guy, that was it.


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    #849
    roosky
    Registered Users Posts: 999 ✭✭✭roosky


    gozunda wrote: »
    Don't wish to be a wet squib but keep in mind hurricane season in the Caribbean occurs from June 1 to November 30, peaking from late August through September...

    to be honest after such a long hot summer we are hoping for a good shower of rain !:D


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    #850
    Caranica
    Registered Users Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭Caranica


    roosky wrote: »
    to be honest after such a long hot summer we are hoping for a good shower of rain !:D

    It's not the rain that's the problem, it's the wind.

    Make sure you have good travel insurance, was a thread on here quite recently about a guy who got injured on a cruise and didn't have insurance.


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    #851
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,362 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Davy wrote: »
    I have heard it can be very costly so if you have specific medical needs it would be worth contacting them directly before you book/went and checking if covered under your insurance.

    Declaring 'specific medical needs' can get your booking cancelled if they decide that you'd be more trouble than you were worth.

    Realistically, you shoudn't be on a cruise ship if you have a high level of dependency or have an ailment that may necessitate medical assistance at short notice.


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    #852
    riemann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,063 ✭✭✭riemann


    Mitch Connor wrote: »
    You pay (or can) pay gratuities as part of your booking. That would be the usual way of dealing with it on a cruise.

    We left some money for the room attendant guy, that was it.

    No it wouldn't.


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    #853
    RunRoryRun
    Registered Users Posts: 476 ✭✭RunRoryRun


    riemann wrote:
    No it wouldn't.


    We went with Celebrity a couple of years back (same company) and we got a free add-on of all gratuities included in the booking. Tipping all the time would do my head in and adds up. So while it may not be the way it's always done, it's certainly a very common approach.


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    #854
    Thoie
    Registered Users Posts: 6,344 ✭✭✭Thoie


    Stanford wrote: »
    Can anyone advise as to what is the story regarding medical facilities aboard these ships?

    They have a doctor (or two) and nurses. They can look after general ailments, and deal with accidents. If you have a heart attack or something serious, they'll care for you as best they can until they can get you to a hospital ashore. They're very well equipped, but think of it more like A&E - they'll patch you up, but may need to pass you on to a specialist, and the specialist will be in a hospital on land.

    They charge through the nose for anything, so avoid them as much as you can. Don't go there with a paper cut looking for a plaster :)

    If, for example, you're diabetic and need a fridge and sharps box, that will be supplied in your cabin - no need for medical centre. There's a "special needs" email address you can mail in advance to request that kind of thing.


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    #855
    Mitch Connor
    Registered Users Posts: 45,230 ✭✭✭✭Mitch Connor


    riemann wrote: »
    No it wouldn't.

    any RC cruise I have read about indicates that it is the common practice, and why it is included in the booking process.


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    #856
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,362 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    riemann wrote: »
    On the last night we were supposed to bring an envelope with cash as a tip for the waiter serving our table.

    He didn't appreciate this and I did begrudgingly leave him 100quid in the cabin. This would have been a small amount, several hundred would be the norm or so I was told.

    You left cash in the cabin ..... for your waiter? Do you mean you put it in an envelope and wrote on it to give it to Alfredo who was serving table 14 in the main dining room?

    Fat chance he ever saw a cent of it.


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    #857
    dingding
    Registered Users Posts: 4,931 ✭✭✭dingding


    Mitch Connor wrote: »
    any RC cruise I have read about indicates that it is the common practice, and why it is included in the booking process.

    The gratuity is factored into the staff pay, by not paying the gratuity you are denying someone of their pay. Not a great system but it works if everyone follows the rules.


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    #858
    Zimmerframe
    Registered Users Posts: 1,661 ✭✭✭Zimmerframe


    Mitch Connor wrote: »
    You pay (or can) pay gratuities as part of your booking. That would be the usual way of dealing with it on a cruise.

    We left some money for the room attendant guy, that was it.
    riemann wrote: »
    No it wouldn't.

    Well that's exactly how we did it.
    Gratuities prepaid, and an envelope with a few quid for the room attendant.


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    #859
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    Has anyone booked a cruise close to the departing date? Are there deals to be had or is it expensive? Is it even possible?

    The wife and I would like to go on a cruise next year but we wouldn't be able to book it until March. We would like to go late summer or early September on a 7 - 10 day cruise.

    Is it doable? Or should we plan for 2020 instead?


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    #860
    k123456
    Registered Users Posts: 2,181 ✭✭✭k123456


    Costa can ge good for late deals, directly thru the Costa website


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    #861
    Thoie
    Registered Users Posts: 6,344 ✭✭✭Thoie


    Atomic Pineapple wrote: »
    Has anyone booked a cruise close to the departing date? Are there deals to be had or is it expensive? Is it even possible?

    The wife and I would like to go on a cruise next year but we wouldn't be able to book it until March. We would like to go late summer or early September on a 7 - 10 day cruise.

    Is it doable? Or should we plan for 2020 instead?

    A lot of the cruise lines have a "final payment date" 45-60 days before the cruise sails. The US often have refundable deposits, so people book a cruise, then cancel at the final payment date and use their deposit for something else. So you can get good deals at that stage if there are cabins available.

    I've never tried it, because generally flight prices start creeping up around that time though.


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    #862
    LiamaDelta
    Registered Users Posts: 799 ✭✭✭LiamaDelta


    Atomic Pineapple wrote: »
    Has anyone booked a cruise close to the departing date? Are there deals to be had or is it expensive? Is it even possible?

    The wife and I would like to go on a cruise next year but we wouldn't be able to book it until March. We would like to go late summer or early September on a 7 - 10 day cruise.

    Is it doable? Or should we plan for 2020 instead?

    depends on where. The Caribbean has a lot of operators and so has a lot more availability. I booked one last month for November coming. For September though I'd imagine you're looking at Mediterranean, which tends to have less availability.


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    #863
    Mf310
    Registered Users Posts: 321 ✭✭Mf310


    Hi. 6 adults average age 50 along with 7 children average age 18-20 planning holiday around End December/ Early January perhaps over the new year after christmas...
    Ideally looking as cheap as we can although dont mind paying for a good holiday.
    Options so far seem to be 1.Dubai as its a place none of us have been.
    Mainly what we are looking for in a holiday is good nightlife and good shops .. also activities such as dune buggying would be liked also.
    2. Cruise - as it has so much variation for different ages and we are travelling to different places
    3. Bali - Heard its a really nice spot to go on holiday and also very cheap compared to Dubai ... Main con is the flight is so long that 2 days of our trip would be more or less gone just travelling

    Max stay is 7 days.
    Open to any suggestions for a holiday ... have been skiing before so not really interested in that.
    Thanks in advance


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    #864
    roosky
    Registered Users Posts: 999 ✭✭✭roosky


    Travelling on cruise from orlando to haiti, to jamacia to mexico and back to orlando.......is there need for any vaccinations??


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    #865
    fitzparker
    Registered Users Posts: 1,170 ✭✭✭fitzparker


    roosky wrote: »
    Travelling on cruise from orlando to haiti, to jamacia to mexico and back to orlando.......is there need for any vaccinations??

    That's crazy was just coming on to post that. we are doing western Caribbean, are vaccinations needed?


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    #866
    LiamaDelta
    Registered Users Posts: 799 ✭✭✭LiamaDelta


    Tropical medical bureau website www.tmb.ie is very handy to find out what's needed where. Just select your countries from the drop down menu. Remember though, you won't be staying in the country and you're not really going to be exposed to the diseases as you're in resorts, so it's really up to yourself whether you think you need them or not.


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    #867
    roosky
    Registered Users Posts: 999 ✭✭✭roosky


    ya so only staying in each country for 8 to 12 hours so should be fine


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    #868
    RunRoryRun
    Registered Users Posts: 476 ✭✭RunRoryRun


    roosky wrote: »
    Travelling on cruise from orlando to haiti, to jamacia to mexico and back to orlando.......is there need for any vaccinations??

    We did a similar one and didn't get any vaccinations.


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    #869
    Duck Soup
    Registered Users Posts: 3,996 ✭✭✭Duck Soup


    Is there a list anywhere of all the different cruises that take on passengers at Dublin? I'd like to go on a cruise but don't want to have to fly there and back for embarkation/disembarkation.


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    #870
    Davy
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 19,340 CMod ✭✭✭✭Davy


    Duck Soup wrote: »
    Is there a list anywhere of all the different cruises that take on passengers at Dublin? I'd like to go on a cruise but don't want to have to fly there and back for embarkation/disembarkation.

    Very few options I would say about from Celebrity

    https://www.celebritycruises.ie/packages-and-cruises/search/?type=all&port=sth&offersfirst=yes&multidate=yes&filtersonly=false&pagenumber=1&pagesize=9&sort=date


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    #871
    Ludo
    Registered Users Posts: 5,015 ✭✭✭Ludo


    Duck Soup wrote: »
    Is there a list anywhere of all the different cruises that take on passengers at Dublin? I'd like to go on a cruise but don't want to have to fly there and back for embarkation/disembarkation.

    https://www.seascanner.com/cruises-from-dublin-t97


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