re: First time cruise advice.

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It's nice because you don't have to wait to get on an airplane. Just park at the parking garage, go thru security, get on the boat and get a drink.

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Unfortunately, the Port of NO is stressful getting into and out of.

Went on 7 day cruise in May on Dream so not sure how things compare to your ship and cruise length. Our cheers(alcohol) package was $450, the Bubbles(soda) was $50. For Cheers, you get 15 drinks in 24hr period(also inclused the soda package) and all adults in same room had to get it if one got it. If your wife is booked in 2nd room, then you can buy her drinks on your card but you have to wait 5 minutes between orders. I would not do the cheers one again, don't think I got my value out of it and would rather have just bought the buckets of beer(4) and drinks mixed in as needed.

For Cozumel I heard Mr. Sanchos? was really fun, don't think it is a Carnival excursion but can take a taxi there. It is like $55 each and get good food, beach, water inflatables, etc. all included.

The sit down dinners are ok, you can order as many of an item as you want, so look at the menu for that night and see if it is something special. Otherwise you can just skip as others said and eat at the other food areas.

We brought bottled water on, I would recommend this or soda.

Just waiting for the sneaking in the bottles of booze to arise.

F what everyone on this board thinks. I like cruises. Prepare to eat a whole lot. And let your teenage kids try some tequila in Mexico and watch the reactions.

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Cozumel

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Rent a jeep. Drive south. When the road does a 270 degree turn to the left go straight. Rasta's aka Freedom in Paradise Beach Bar. Great location, cheap drinks and authentic food cooked on a hot plate because there's no electricity other than a generator.

The beach and ocean behind the bar is stunning.

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First time cruise advice.

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lots of purrell. The norovirus is rampanant among cruise shits, I mean ships.

We stopped at Money Bar but the best beaches were definitely on the outside of the island

First off, Progresso sucks. There are a couple of tours of ruins if you like that thing. When you pull into port, there are a few shops and a place selling cheap beer with free wifi at the end of the port. In Progresso we walked off the boat, walked around the shops, drank some beer, and got back on the boat. There are some free shuttles that take you into the town, but there really isn't much in town, either.

We've been to Cozumel three times. First time, we did a tour that took us snorkeling, then filled us up with cheap margaritas and took us to a private beach. Second time, we took a boat ride to a private beach where food (not great food but food) and drinks were included. Last time, just a few weeks ago, we did the Salsa and Salsa thing (you learn how to make margaritas and salsa, then learn to salsa dance) and then got to swim in a nice pool.

Carnival gets a lot of crap on here but we've been three times and every time we enjoyed ourselves. We've also been on the mouse line, and yeah, the mouse is nicer... but it's also more expensive.

The alcohol plan, you are limited to 15 drinks a day, you have to wait a few minutes between each drink, and you are forbidden to share it. Not sure how they would catch you, just don't be obvious about it. If one adult in a cabin gets it, all the adults in the cabin have to get it... so if you are only adult in your cabin, it may work.

Now a friend of mine filled up two plastic canteens with vodka, packed in her carryon luggage, wrapped the canteens in clothes and then surrounded them with tampons and maxipads. Went right through the scanner with no issues.

If you try sharing your drinks on the cheers program you will get caught. The bartenders and wait staff remember names and drinking patterns. I'm guessing that would work for about an hour.

Cheers program