cruising in the sumer
 

I am new to cruising- I have only gone once on the voyager last summer and loved it. We are planning to go again this summer and thinking of going to the carribean as we did last yr but this time one celebrity. Has anyone been on the 10 or 11 nite millenium cruise? Is is too long? which itinerary is better? We are a couple in our twenties and enjoy good food, sun and relaxation and also looking for a refined cruise experience.

You are looking for a refined experience? Then don't go to the Caribbean. <BR><BR> Go on a European cruise. You can get super deals that are very little more (or the same) as a European cruise. And WHAT a difference! I've been on five Caribbean cruises and four European cruises and I will never, ever go on a Caribbean cruise again. <BR><BR>In Europe you get so much culture...art museums, castles, theater, history, and the food, oh, the food!!! <BR><BR>In the Caribbean you get sun and sand, yes, but the poverty is unbearable.

Cherie - I think you'll find the airfare to Europe a little steeper than Florida and the itineraries are a lot busier. Its generally up at 6, eat, do your excursion, eat, see a show and go to bed. Are the ports more interesting than the Caribbean - yes; but a different kind of cruising. Relaxation? - go to the Caribbean. The Southern routes get you to more interesting places like St. Lucia, Aruba and Barbados than the Western or Eastern (IMHO).<BR><BR>On the bright side, though, if you go to Europe maybe you'll run into the refined Sandra (not Sandy).

I agree, I would not go to the Caribbean again, either.<BR><BR>I went on a Mediterranean cruise starting in Rome and ending in London and it was fabulous. Got a great deal a year ago, 10 day cruise for $799 plus $430 round trip air. Fabulous ports, leave the ship around 8:30/9 and come back around 5:30. Rented a car in some ports and in others just enjoyed the cities. <BR><BR>I consider the three Caribbean cruises that I went on as pleasant, but not exciting and enriching like the Med. trip was. Am now booked on a northern Europe cruise for two, total price, $2350. I can't wait!<BR><BR>(Peter, I can't believe you were ever on a European cruise. I can't imagine anyone having the type of reaction you are showing.) <BR><BR>

Once again I'm finding myself siding with Peter and not liking that thought. I did go on a western mediteranean cruise last June out of Barcelona with my wife and two teenage daughters. Exactly what Peter said happened with us. We hit five ports in five days; all great European cities, extremely interesting but also a very tiring process. The port cities were'nt very close to the interesting cities - Livorno was and hour from Florence; Civitaveechia was an hour+ from Rome; Capri was a 45 minute hydrofoil from Naples. The cruise was super and I wouldn't trade the experiences for anything; but - we booked a Caribbean cruise for the following October just to get back to the relaxing cruises we were used to. I've always said that the best thing about a cruise was the fact that all the decisions were already made for me - I didn't have to decide where to go, where to stay, where to eat, etc. Cruises for me are the best way to wash away the stress I get from my job.<BR><BR>Also Cherie, we are booked on the 5/31 sailing of the Millie for the 10 night southern trip. I'm looking forward to the two sea days there and the two back - we really enjoy the time on the ship. It will be our first 7+ day cruise and I think it will be great.

It's always funny to me how two people can both have such differing tastes...<BR><BR>I love to cruise, but would NEVER want to take a European cruise. In my opinion, a few hours in the major cities of Europe would be a painful tease...there's too much to see, and you would only see 1/1000th of it. Europe and its wonderful cities should be seen in weeks and days...not hours. They are cities and countries to be savored..like fine wine. I spent five days in Paris and still feel like I just scratched the surface. We spent three days in Athens and four in Rome, and could have spent weeks in either. I can't in my wildest imagination conceive of spending only a few hours on Santorini. <BR><BR>Just my opinion, but NO WAY.

<BR>Hi Cherie,<BR><BR>If you wish everything you posted you should do the Celebrity ship.<BR><BR>Europe and other countries overseas I find the following:<BR><BR>Escorted tours are extremely hectic.<BR>Touring on our own is very tiring since you spend so much time lost and driving in city traffic. Cruising is also more intense than the Caribbean if you wish to see as much as possible in a very short time.<BR><BR>I have sailed the Millennium and I enjoyed the entire cruise experience. Some people say 10 or 11 nights is too long but those that love to cruise even 14 nites is not long. Time goes so fast and the last day is always a bummer.<BR><BR>Enjoy,<BR><BR>Paul

Thanks for all the feedback; I would love to go to Europe- but not on a cruise; has anyone been on the galaxy ship of celebrity? it leaves out of maryland. it has 5 out of 11 days at sea- since it is a smaller ship is that too many?

Just decided to add my two cents. I have not sailed on the 10 to 11 night cruise, but I love the idea. I would have sailed the Millineum this summer but I am going to Europe at the end of May for 3 weeks and the Pride in July, so I couldn't fit it in. I too cannot see myself on a European cruise - there is just too much to see in Europe, whereas you can drive across a typical Caribbean island in a couple of hours. <BR><BR>Note to Sandra:The Caribbean can be extreamly refined, depending on where you go and how you go and how much money you are willing to spend. Some of the top resorts in the world are in the Caribbean. Plus there is poverty and much more crime in parts of Europe than I have experienced in the Caribbean.<BR><BR>Cherie:If you loved the 7 day cruise, the 10 day is just 3 days more vacation. I like the way they set up the cruise with 2 days of rest on either side of visiting the islands. I really like the ports of call on this cruise - a wide variety of things to do. <BR><BR>If you want to get feed back on 10 day cruises, find ships that do 10-11 day cruises in the winter and read what cruisers say about them. www.cruisecritic.com is a good website to try. Typically, the longer the cruise, the older and more affluent the passengers are and the more refined your fellow cruisers will be. I think you will enjoy the Mill.

<BR>Hi Cherie,<BR><BR>Do not fear the smaller Celebrity ships. Most say they are better for service than the mega-ships. I have been on just about all the Celebrity ships. I book suites and can not comment on the service since I do get preferencial treatment. Always had great service in the dining room and the buffets. Great food also.<BR><BR>The only drawback to the Galaxy out of Baltimore is that the port agents are temporary and it may take 5 to 7 hours to disembark the ship.<BR><BR>Paul

Anyone whose been on a Caribbean cruise and says they wouldn't go again cannot have been on the right cruise. We've just come back from 2 weeks round the Grenadines and it was amazing. We are doing a European cruise in Sept but I know before I go it will not compare but we will be on the same ship so it will be worth it.

Hi Janet,<BR><BR>I have been to the Caribbean several times on cruises and also on four cruises to Europe. I am one of those who enjoys the European cruises more. When you get back from your European cruise, will you post here and let us know what you think? What is your itinerary?<BR><BR>

Hi Laura, I think the reason we enjoy the Caribbean more is because we don't visit large ports, only beaches and very small villages and it really is beautful. In Sept we sail out of Cannes, 2 days in Corsica, 1 day Sardinia, 1 day Livarno (for Florence), 1 day Elba and 1 day Monaco and then back to Cannes. We are staying in Cannes both before and after the cruise.<BR>Janet

Janet,<BR><BR>I'd like to know which ship you were on when you cruised the Grenadines. We've spent time at resorts there and I'd love to do a 2 week cruise in those waters...