OT..Anyone been on a cruise?

Holly, congrats and I know you will love the cruise.  It's the best vacation I have ever taken.  I am currently planning my fourth.  The main things to know is that a cruise is as fun as you want to make it.  If you prefer fewer kids around go on NCL.  If you dont mind kids and want to have a slightly fancier environment, RCL.  If you like the fun loving party atmosphere and the down to earth kind of crowd... Carnival is the best.  I consider my family the Walmart kind of down to earth bunch.  We love Carnival.  I have never felt like the food is less than wonderful and the crew is amazing.  You feel like royalty.  RCL cost us quite a bit more and had less included in the fee.  We loved it but felt a bit out of place because of the "snooty people" onboard.  It's not to say that everyone on the ship was that way .... but alot of them gave off the attitude that they looked down on people with kids.  And I was nearly 300 pounds so buffets were not a good scene for me... I felt like I was being watched by all the bikini babes.  You won't have that problem :)

Carnival Valor makes 4 stops in amazing countries.  We went in April to Grand Cayman, Belize, Honduras, and Cozumel.  All the ports were amazing but Honduras was simply breath taking.  

No matter where you go... you will have an amazing time. 

enjoy