So who has been on a cruise? Advice?

I think the cruise I'm going on is Carnival, but I'm not sure. I booked it through Al&Chuck because it's an event cruise. But what is so bad about Carnival? Like, what makes it so much worse than other cruise lines?

Besides the food, the cruise was not my cup of tea at all. I went into it knowing that it probably wouldn't be since I'm more of a camping-in-the-wilderness kind of person. My mom said that it was more crowded and less enjoyable than a Princess cruise that she went on before. If you don't mind crowds everywhere, nowhere to sit by the pools, waiting in line for everything, and being surrounded by nothing from nature then you may like it.

This is my vision of large-ship cruising. DH and I took Innersea Discoveries to Alaska last year but it was a 76-passenger ship, heavy on activities (you could go paddleboarding and kayaking right off a dock at the back of the ship, the excursions were mostly hiking in beautiful wilderness areas), and the food, while it was plentiful and healthy, was not the reason for the cruise. Neither was drinking although alcohol was available. It was so laid-back there were no locks on the stateroom doors. DH and I have very different levels of agility and fitness. I snorkeled in 42-degree water and went on a couple of strenuous hikes and into a cave, and DH enjoyed the level hikes and the skiff expeditions. It was exactly what we wanted.

My HS is planning a reunion cruise in 2015 on one of the mega-ships out of FL and I have really mixed feelings. I'd like to go but I think I've been spoiled, and all the aspects of a big ship (lines for everything, the hard sell on all the extras, crowded pools, ports that are mostly ripoff retail business and hucksters) would be a perpetual irritant.

Carnival: from what I read on cruisecritic (I HIGHLY recommend that site), they've whittled away a lot of niceties to cut costs. One big complaint is cutting out the live calypso band on deck and replacing them with a DJ and hiphop music. They're one of the lowest-costs lines and the bargain-seeking end tends to include a higher % of party-till-u-puke types, especially on the 3- and 4-day cruises. We own Carnival stock but I wouldn't take one of their ships.

Anyway, to the OP, some more details on cruisecritic: they have sub-boards for each cruise line, they have "roll calls" if you want to meet up with people who will be on your cruise, and they have separate boards for general and newbie-type questions and on air travel. Finally, they have a Ports of Call section so you can look up alternative excursions in the ports you're going to visit. Keep in mind, though, that if you book excursions that aren't through the cruise line, they take no responsibility if the tour operator doesn't get you back to the port in time, and that cruise lines reserve the right to change itineraries especially if the weather gets bad, so you could lose what you paid for the excursion if you never get to that port.

We've been on multiple Disney cruises. I did not catch OP kids ages but sign them up for the kids clubs online before you leave. Saves huge time. For seasickness concerns get seabands they are like wrist sweatbands with plastic nubs that put pressure on wrist works fantastic. My son got bands on first one never had another problem from that point on.
Book a breakfast with characters for the kids and/ or princesses if you have a daughter. My daughter is older now and still talks about it.
Get a reservation at adults only restaurant at least one night. Have cocktails w kids at regular dinner then drop them off at kids club.
My kids were basing what we did on what was going on w friends at kids club. For younger ones they can crash out on mats watching Disney movies while you are at the nightclub. They will page you when it's closing time.
Another item for castaway cay (private island) buy the packages early for snorkel gear inner tubes and float rafts get off early to get chairs as it is bit of hike to the beaches and fills up quickly

Been on 4 cruises, love them. Very much prefer Royal Caribbean to Carnival (especially after our last Carnival cruise - everything has really gone downhill.. and now with their latest trouble, no thank you). I hear Disney is incredible, it is just also incredibly expensive.

My biggest piece of advice for your first cruise is to not overpack. OMG, when my husband (then boyfriend) and I went on our first cruise, we had 5 pieces of luggage.. 5! Yes, this was before you had to pay. We looked like fools and didn't wear 30% of that! We basically lived in our swimsuits and dressed for nightime.

Plan on going to at least one formal night.. the menu is usually worth it and if you don't like getting really dressed up, people go kinda business casual as well.

Do not feel limited to do excursions through the cruiseline. You can book your own tour ahead of time, or do something impromptu when you come out of the port. Just know that the cruiseline exercusions do give you the insurance that if something happens and you run late, the ship will wait. They usually come with a 30% mark up though than going with an outside source. Most ports have shopping right outside the gate and a beach nearby. Do your research before you go anywhere on your own though.

Bring lots of singles for tips, cab rides and small trinkets.

bring a travel clock - there are none in your room.

If you can afford it, get a balcony room - it really is worth it to have your own little piece of the ocean without anyone around you. You also don't feel so enclosed.

Do check out the entertainment - I have seem some fantastic (and some not so fantastic) entertainment on the cruises I have been to.

Do check your daily activity schedule to see what little things are going around on the ship and you can kind of plan your day (or not) accordingly.

Bring water shoes! I never travel to the Caribbean without them.

Bring lots of sunscreen! The first cruise, we thought we would be okay with the SPF 4 & 8 we brought and would get golden tan with our italian olive complexions.. yeah... the caribbean sun (not to mention you are on a huge floating raft surrounded by all that water!) and we were so sunburn and in so much pain that we spent half a day in bed watching I huckabees about 4 times in a row. That reminds me.. bring your own aloe too or risk paying $12 for a small bottle.

Do not be a chog (chair hog) and leave your towels on loungers and then disappear for hours. If you head up to higher decks or areas away from directly around the pool, you will find chairs.

I am sure there is more I am not thinking of. Cruises are fabulous though, you will have a great time! Enjoy!!

Had to chance to read some other comments - love the post it note idea.. great way to stay in contact. I also recommend door signs to decorate your door.. all the doors look the same at one point! I joined cruisecritic.com before my last cruise and got in on my cruise roll call and met about 30 other cruisers one afternoon there and one lady was so sweet and loved scrapbooking that she made us a sign! We had an aft balcony so there wasn't too much confusion on which door was ours, but it was cute to have and a lot of people do them.

A few things I forgot:
Bring an over the door shoe organizer or hanging toiletry case. There is minimal room in the room/bathroom and this item helps to keep the counters clear and corral some of the random things that usually lay around.

I like to save things, so I always bring a folder and bring home the newsletters, post cards, etc.

Your littlest one is probably only enough not to pull things out of drawers, but I bought blue painters tape to help keep our son from going in our drawers.

If you bring wine onboard, pack a corkscrew!

bring an LED candle, nightlight or small flashlight to use in the middle of the night.

Do not bring an iron, steamer or extension cord - they will be confiscated.

Don't fall overboard.

I have been on over 40 cruises from 3 days to 17 days in length - several different cruise lines and have enjoyed them all (even the Carnival ones!).

All cruises have their pros/cons - research where you are going and the cruise line you want to take you there.

You will have a great time!