Budget "Ghetto" Cruise - Our 1st Cruise

I used to look at the Groupon getaways deals all the time. I constantly dreamed of the cheap destinations I could purchase with a coupon. One day while doing my daily day-dreaming, I saw a deal that could actually work. It was a 2-night cruise leaving out of West Palm. After a little debating, actually there was really no debating, my boyfriend and I booked our first cruise. And man was it a surprise of what we found.

The cruise line was at that time was called Celebration Cruise Line. I believe since then it has changed names to Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. They changed their name after shockingly their one ship was damaged.

When we board our first ship, we noticed it was smaller and older. It made us feel like we were in the 80s. We know you get what you pay for but man what we found was something else. The pool was not any other ship pictures I have seen. It was an above group pool the size of a bathtub. I wondered what I got myself into. After exploring the sip for a little while, we realized we were on a "ghetto" cruise.  

Elevators were a little slow to say the least. Actually a turtle stuck in molasses describes the elevators more fitting. Plus they were the world's smallest elevators. My boyfriend and I with our two carry on suitcases barely fit causing interesting situations during embarkation and debarkation.



The food was passable for lunch and breakfast. However delicious at dinner. They had cheap Champagne if you were celebrating anything. The only cruise we have been on that we have been able to afford to buy a bottle of decent Champagne.

The cabin was small but a decent size for a small ship. I do remember laughing at the size of the bedroom. It was tiny, the size of a broom closet. We had enough room not to feel too tight and stuffy. They had overly frequent announcements. The cabins have speakers literally at the head of the bed. Our alarm clock became the captain was giving mandatory announces in the morning.

Entertainment was well assuming to say the least. The comedian was horrible. I remember sitting in the back at the bar and even four drinks couldn't get me through his act. The other acts were a juggler, a contortionist, and a guy who had bullwhips. Yes, Bullwhip. I don't feel like I need to say anymore.

The bars were also wonderful. Drinks weren't completely outrageous. Great drinks & fast service. We had a screwdriver waiting for us in the morning from our friends we made at the bar. I believe the staff and service was what made us fall in love with cruising.

Overall, it was not a great cruise. We enjoyed our selves and fell in love with cruising. Now we are about to take our 7th cruise in three years!