WE ARE!!! There will be 6 of us, 4 adults and both my kids..

Starting to look at the excursions...

Ah...the ship is starting to fill up.  Finally.  The solitary confinement is ended.  Company awaits.

I'm happy to share whatever cruise wisdom I may have gained on my whopping two previous cruises.  I think I have more insight just from reading around this board and another one, plus a general travel board I've been a member of for several years.  But it definitely makes a difference once you've been on that first cruise because you can say to yourself: "Self, now you KNOW what everyone was talking about."

And no matter what everyone says about liking or hating this port or that one, until you experience it yourself, it's best to reserve judgment and just go for the experience.  Once you've been, you'll know if you want to go back.

VERY TRUE!!!

I am very excited to go to Cozumel and Progreso on the Holiday-- this will be the 1st cruise for everyone else in my group-- including my kids!!

Im looking at the all inclusives/party/relax stuff--also want to parasail, the dune buggy tour, or the underwater motor scooter looks pretty hilarious and neat-- has anyone tried it before??

Seems everything is all at Cozumel-- is there an all inclusive type at Progreso?

We were going to take our girls with us then started thinking how we have never had a vacation without the family... so the girls will be having fun with Grandma while we are sipping Pina Coladas soakin' up some sun. They are pretty upset still, lol... I told them we'd look into doing a Disney Cruise or one of the Nickelodeon Cruises they have... Glad to see more people are coming!! What level is your room on? I'm still trying to find my "neighbors" lol.

Nikki

I couldn't find ANY all inclusive excursions in Progresso... there are a few that provide lunch or a snack, but as far as alcohol goes it's pretty much beer... maybe. We're still looking forward to Progresso because of the temples and such... still Cozumel is where all of our fun will be. We're parasailing and doing a glass bottom boat/snorkel thing there and both of those are all inclusive, yay!!

Hubby went parasailing last year at Paradise Beach.  He's still talking about it.  He doesn't know we're going on the Holiday yet, but I'm planning on that he'll want to go parasailing again.

We don't bother will all-inclusive beaches because we're not drinkers.  It's cheaper for us to go and order what we want.  Paradise lets you sit on their chairs for free if you order food or drinks.  But there are several all-inclusive beaches, as I'm sure you've discovered.

I've never been to Progreso and don't know much about what's there.  We're going to Chichen Itza.  It's an all-day excursion, so they're feeding us lunch.  I don't have a lot of faith that it's going to be much beyond a sandwich and a soft apple.  Yippee.

We can sit on the bus together!! We'll be there too!!

 There is an all inclusive resort in Progreso that seems very nice. Includes all drinks and food and they have a large pool and beach access, etc. I don't know much else about it because there is very little on the internet. You can look up Autoprogreso.com and on the English site click the "tours" section and it is at the bottom under "open bar". Carnival sells this same excursion for about 60 dollars or more. But, when you get off the ship at the end of the pier, I hear that Autoprogreso is right there at the end of the dock selling tours and you can get the all inclusive for 45 dollars (and I believe that does include transportation, but I might be wrong). I wish I could find some more pictures of it, It is called Progreso Reef Club I think. 

DarlingNikki:

We were going to take our girls with us then started thinking how we have never had a vacation without the family... so the girls will be having fun with Grandma while we are sipping Pina Coladas soakin' up some sun. They are pretty upset still, lol... I told them we'd look into doing a Disney Cruise or one of the Nickelodeon Cruises they have... Glad to see more people are coming!! What level is your room on? I'm still trying to find my "neighbors" lol.

Nikki

How old are your girls? This will be my first time away from my son for such a long time. He will be 20 months when we sail. We were originally going to bring him, but there is so very little for a child under 2 to do on the ship. 

And I won't know my cabin assignment til we get there, I think. We haven't officially booked yet, but when we do it will be the cheaper option of letting them decide what cabin we get. 

My youngest will be 6 on the 12th and my oldest will be 11 on Sept 22nd. I've never been away for more than 2 days... it wil be hard, but I will be plenty busy so that will help.

try the cronna beach party it has open bar and snacks plus a restrant with a dicount if you want it and it is down town so shoping is great this is my 3rd tripon the Holliday and will be my last sence they are taking her out of service but in my oppenion it is the best fun ship they have it is small and realy makes for a lot more freindship and fun

do the underwater stuff the water down there is so clear you think your above it not belowe

Zarkarella:

How old are your girls? This will be my first time away from my son for such a long time. He will be 20 months when we sail. We were originally going to bring him, but there is so very little for a child under 2 to do on the ship. 

 

And I won't know my cabin assignment til we get there, I think. We haven't officially booked yet, but when we do it will be the cheaper option of letting them decide what cabin we get. 

From what I hear, cabin assignments for guarantee reservations like what you're talking about are usually made at some point before you leave home - anywhere from a month to a few days in advance.  So I'm sure you'll know which cabin you're stayin in before you get there.  I, personally, am afraid of where I might end up, so I pay the extra $20 or $30 and pick my specific cabin.  My fear is ending up with an obstructed view, or located under the pool deck where they're dragging chairs around in the wee hours, or worse, under one of the clubs where the music is thumping all night.  Or even the very worst:  something forward, aft, or high that will aggravate my seasickness.  Others stay in these places and do quite well.  I'm just afraid I would not.

you are right and all excurtions in Pregesso include transtortation becaust the peir is about 3 or 4 miles long and you need transportation to get to town as you go through the shops there are folks selling excrtions just make shure they are the same ones as on the ship or you could have a problem and if your late getting back to the ship be sure to take your camera the pictura of your ship leaving without you is priceless

 So, have any of the bad reviews about the Holiday made you worried any? I wouldn't say I am worried, but I do hope that we don't have the engine troubles I have heard about on other reviews. 

My husband and I like the history of the ship and he likes to say it reminds him a lot of the Love Boat, which is what he thought all cruises were like for a long time. Not to mention, I like the idea of being able to say I sailed on her before she is retired. And this is the same ship my Great-Grandmother went on back in the late 80's. She even still has her gold ship on a stick at her nursing home, says the "Holiday" right on the front. So neat.