Where did you go and why?

Mine was maybe 6 years ago - from Los Angeles down to San Diego, up to Catalina, down to Ensenada, up to Los Angeles. I picked this 4-night cruise to check how will I feel on a ship - I get sea sick.

With a supply of medications that any pharmacy will envy, I boarded Monarch of the Seas. It was a wise decision to get a cabin with a porthole window - as I've learned later, I cannot stay in an inside cabin.

That cruise was all I hoped for, and since then went to Alaska, Panama canal, West Caribbean, Norway. Next is Greek Islands.

I remember. It was just this Spring - to the Caribbean for seven nights. We had such a great time, we came home and booked a two week TransAtlantic for three weeks later. We then went for twelve nights to Italy and the Greek Islands in Mid- November. So, first cruise this year followed by two more this year. Wish I was on one right now.

Dayenu, I was on the Monarch of the Seas in May 2004, any chace we were on the same cruise?

My first cruise was in 1987 and it was on Carnival's Jubilee. I was young and didn't have much money for travel so I did a quad share and I was sharing a room with 3 other women I had never met before. We all got along well and did a lot of partying together, as the 80's were my party girl days.

Why I took the cruise is kind of interesting. I was dating a guy who invited me to go on vacation to Wisconsin with him. I completely re-arranged my vacation schedule at work and my boss bent over backwards to help me do that. Once it was done the boss told me I had better not change my vacation time again.

About a week before this trip my boyfriend and I parted company. So here I was with the time off and no place to go. I knew I couldn't change my vacation again and I would get no time off until the next year, so in a rush I decided to take this cruise for the lack of other options. But I have no regrets, it turned out to be a great trip. I also don't regret breaking up with that guy.

Mine was in 1973 On the Pacific Princess (the original "Love Boat" on a two week cruise through the Canal from LA to San Juan.

P_M, I don't remember now the exact date of the cruise, my report posted on January 23, 2007 - almost 3 years away from your cruise!

http://www.fodors.com/community/crui...ise-report.cfm

Dating myself here but for me it was

Oceanic Independence

American Hawaii Cruise Lines late 70s eraly 80s

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Independence

one of the last actually built in the US

feature in the film "An Affair To Remember"

(Cary Grant,Deborah Kerr) 1957 or so

Truly amazing ship journey super price back then too..

1996, Western Caribbean for my parent's 50th anniversary.

Most recent cruise: 2006, also Caribbean, for their 60th anniversary. Three months later, my Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; a month after that, he died.

Dayenu, OK it looks like we weren't on the same cruise at the same time. Your OP says you went 6 years ago which is about the time I went. So we were not just 2 ships that pass in the night.

Was I 3 years off? Seems so long ago... I am ready for another one

Me too. In order to celebrate my Mom's upcoming 70th birthday we are going on the Voyager of the Seas, leaving Jan 30. I have heard it's a really nice ship so I'm looking forward to seeing it.

If you are ready for another one Dayenu, why not join us?

HUH? Since when you can go at the end of the month? New job? I still can't!

By the way, we are going in May - Venice and Greek islands. I don't know if it's financially possible to do anything earlier. The bonus is the same as last year, and if there is no significant 401K distribution, we only have enough for this one trip.

Great topic!! Ours was 2002 on the Splendour of the Seas. It was a 7 day western Med cruise. Been hooked ever since.

1980..a Windjammer cruise to some of the smaller Eastern Caribbean islands.

I assume you question as to "why?" (we went) is a joke, right?

No, not a joke! Some people go for a reason and get hooked on cruising. Like influenced by friends, or honeymoon, or...

Dayenu, no new job for me, but our busiest week is the 3rd week of the month. I wish you could go with us, we'll miss ya!!

I am actually going on my first cruise this January 13-17! It is a long weekend trip down to Cozumel where I will be doing yoga (and eating and drinking and living the awesome cruise lifestyle).

I am sooo excited!!! Any tips you can suggest?

Take lots of photos - we got lots of comments on our photos in life jackets

Take a highlighter with you to mark activities on the daily schedule.

Dayenu, stop scaring the newbie cruisers!!

TRLM, in case you are wondering why Dayenu had to put on a life jacket, it's all part of the muster drill. This drill is required by law in case you have to abandon ship. You put on life jackets and go to your muster station, then a photographer comes around to take pics.

It's possible I am wrong and Dayenu wore a life jacket when she decided to jump ship and swim out to meet at troop ship. She is a wild and crazy gal, ya know.

Oopsss... there is somebody who doesn't know about muster drill? Sorry, didn't mean to scare! It was that mandatory drill they have on the first day.

This is why I will never be on the same cruise with P_M - who knows where I will end up!

Carnival (Fantasy) March 15,1991 I won my 4 days cruise from my job and I have been cruising every since.