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10th April 2007, 08:46 AM

<db> wrote in message news:nfkk13d1l54soi6kamqk216atd1rud5241@...
> Family and I may plan to take a east carribean cruise with air soon
> (less than 60 days). Any advice on which islands are best to see? Is
> the carnival cruise too wild for say 55+ old parents traveling with
> their college age kids (I mean for the parents not the kids <grin>) ?
>
> Also debating whether to save money and do the western carribean
> cruise instead (closer to our home so we don't need air) but my wife
> prefers eastern carribean cruise. Is one better than the other? Why?
> With either, one daughter wants to swim with dolphins. Can either
> cruise excursion accomodate this (in a pool not in the open seas) ?

Instead of swimming with dolphins, why not go to Stingray City in Grand
Cayman.

The stingrays are free, wild animals, though they see 3000 people a day.
They chose to come visit the people.

Dolphins on the other hand are extremely smart creatures that are being held
captive in salt water "cages". A lot of people refuse to support these
excursions because of the apparent cruelty to these animals (remember the
"Free Willie" movies?).

I personally would have loved to swim with dolphins, but have refused to
after reading about how they're kept.

> Any suggestion as to which travel agents to consider for either cruise
> on line? I know of the larger ones... Travelocity, Expedia or Orbitz
> but not sure of others.
>
> Last, anything to consider or advise that maybe might be helpful.

Yes... find a local, or internet travel agent that you can talk with, even
if only by phone or via e-mail. They'll give you a LOT more service and
assistance than the large internet sites.... and probably be cheaper in the
long run. You want someone you can talk to by phone if there's a problem.

--Tom

> Any
> good web sites to read up for this type cruising? If it matters, we
> already have done one cruise in Hawaii (would consider again but wife
> wants change).
>
> thanks.

10th April 2007, 08:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tom K Guest Posts: n/a Classified Rating: % ()	Eastern Carribean or maybe western <db> wrote in message news:nfkk13d1l54soi6kamqk216atd1rud5241@... > Family and I may plan to take a east carribean cruise with air soon > (less than 60 days). Any advice on which islands are best to see? Is > the carnival cruise too wild for say 55+ old parents traveling with > their college age kids (I mean for the parents not the kids <grin>) ? > > Also debating whether to save money and do the western carribean > cruise instead (closer to our home so we don't need air) but my wife > prefers eastern carribean cruise. Is one better than the other? Why? > With either, one daughter wants to swim with dolphins. Can either > cruise excursion accomodate this (in a pool not in the open seas) ? Instead of swimming with dolphins, why not go to Stingray City in Grand Cayman. The stingrays are free, wild animals, though they see 3000 people a day. They chose to come visit the people. Dolphins on the other hand are extremely smart creatures that are being held captive in salt water "cages". A lot of people refuse to support these excursions because of the apparent cruelty to these animals (remember the "Free Willie" movies?). I personally would have loved to swim with dolphins, but have refused to after reading about how they're kept. > Any suggestion as to which travel agents to consider for either cruise > on line? I know of the larger ones... Travelocity, Expedia or Orbitz > but not sure of others. > > Last, anything to consider or advise that maybe might be helpful. Yes... find a local, or internet travel agent that you can talk with, even if only by phone or via e-mail. They'll give you a LOT more service and assistance than the large internet sites.... and probably be cheaper in the long run. You want someone you can talk to by phone if there's a problem. --Tom > Any > good web sites to read up for this type cruising? If it matters, we > already have done one cruise in Hawaii (would consider again but wife > wants change). > > thanks.