Hey!!!!<BR> The cruise experience....standing at the rail at sea with the wind and sun in your face as the ship, your floating hotel, goes from port to port...ITS PRICELESS!!!!<BR>The sunsets on the ocean...worth a million dollars!!!

It's a pretty simple proposition:<BR><BR>If you think it is too expensive, don't go. But don't get on a cruise forum and complain about the cost of a cruise compared to other vacations. If you don't find value in it, don't find fault with those who have no issue with paying for the experience. And don't try to justify your beliefs. Nobody cares.

How about this ...... Booked 4 months ago ..... early booking price ...... Nordic Empress...5 nights.... April 15th ... lowest inside cabin .... 3 in a cabin ..... Cruise only including port charges and taxes .... $672.75.<BR><BR>Three days later booked two more cabins .... triples ..... $932.75.<BR><BR>Price continues to escalate but as I stated cruising is extremely reasonable if your travel agent looks for promotions and you book the lowest inside cabin. Even if you booked the lowest outside cabin the price for promotional early booking prices are still less than a comparable land-based vacation.<BR><BR>You cannot possibly say the above prices are more than a comparable land-based vacation.<BR><BR>If you do not care for cruising, that is another debate and you are on the wrong forum.<BR><BR>Paul

In January I went on a one week southern caribbean cruise. Total cost (cruise and air fare) was approximately $5300. Comparable price to the land-based vacations we take for the same period of time.<BR><BR>When I'm on vacation, I truly enjoy luxury and don't mind paying for it. In my mind, that's what vacations are for. If someone were to give me an all expenses paid cruise in an inside cabin, I'd politely decline.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

likes luxury-<BR>good, don't go. None of the people who enjoy cruising will miss someone with that snobby attitude.

We're going on a cruise on the 31st- when and how much should be tipped? I'm a bit put off by how much $$ I'm hearing you should tip.

To Phitnessphan: Don't worry about how much to tip, most lines will take it away from you without your permission as soon as you get on the ship (from your account). And if not, they pester you with envelopes (for your convienience) at the end of the cruise and shame you into "voluntary tipping".<BR>People like "Likes Luxury" don't realize that because of people like them and others who defend this insane tactic of forced "tipping" it hurts us all...most importantly the staff (by turning off people from cruising or tipping).<BR>If everyone would stop this "so called" tipping and refuse to participate, the lines would knock it off and just charge us up front enough to pay their staff. And for all you posters who are going to go back on your old kick about how its done in restaurants, etc., just save your posts.... your argument is lame and further costs the cruise line employees when people get frustrated and take ALL tips off their accounts due to the pestering by the lines. In case your wondering what I would like? I would like the lines to charge me the real price of the cruise, UP-FRONT and then pay their staff a real living wage and then let me reward the staff with REAL tips!

To xxxxxx:<BR><BR>You raise some points in your post - where have you traveled outside of this country when not on a cruise?(your post wasn't clear as to whether you've cruised or not).<BR><BR>Thanks

Hello Mr. xxxx<BR><BR>I'll bet you're glad you got that off your chest. Now you can sleep better.<BR><BR>Paul