First time cruise
Mar 20th, 2006, 02:54 PM
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First time cruise
My husband and I both mid-forties are planning our 1st cruise. We need help. We're looking to be pampered and have fun. We like comedy, most music, fine dining, cooking, fishing, exercise, exploring, and theater. We're not looking for a lot of kids or to be dressed up most of the time. What can you suggest? Thanks for all of the help. Ahoy!!
Mar 22nd, 2006, 05:25 PM
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Do you like to be with a lot of people or do you prefer smaller crowds. We just returned from Regent Paul Gauguin in Tahiti (formerly Radisson) and loved it. We prefer smaller ships as there is no waiting in line anywhere, no phonly theme nights, no formal dress, and no crowding around the pool.
have also done Windstar sailing ships which is another wonderful small ship experience. WIndstar has about 300 passendgers and the other two hold less than 200. We sailed Lisbon, Morocco, Spain last May on the Windstar.
Guess it depends on what you like - crowds or not and constant entertainment. Me NEVER again on a large ship. I don't need rock climbing walls or surfing on ship to have a good time. I also prefer to eat when I want not when I am assigned to eat and I like the option of eating with my husband or with others if I want. Both ships were open seating in main dining room.
Neither of those ships had children and neither was dress up - more resort casual - no ties, no gowns but then no jeans in the dining room either.
have also done Windstar sailing ships which is another wonderful small ship experience. WIndstar has about 300 passendgers and the other two hold less than 200. We sailed Lisbon, Morocco, Spain last May on the Windstar.
Guess it depends on what you like - crowds or not and constant entertainment. Me NEVER again on a large ship. I don't need rock climbing walls or surfing on ship to have a good time. I also prefer to eat when I want not when I am assigned to eat and I like the option of eating with my husband or with others if I want. Both ships were open seating in main dining room.
Neither of those ships had children and neither was dress up - more resort casual - no ties, no gowns but then no jeans in the dining room either.
Mar 23rd, 2006, 03:55 PM
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Thanks Shar. That sounds like what we're looking for. No crowds, dress-up or kids for us either.
We were just looking at the 12/11 chocolate cruise on Regent (Raddison). It looks great. Any other tips would be great. Did you buy insurance? Did you take one of their shore excursions? Thanks for any and all.
We were just looking at the 12/11 chocolate cruise on Regent (Raddison). It looks great. Any other tips would be great. Did you buy insurance? Did you take one of their shore excursions? Thanks for any and all.
Mar 25th, 2006, 09:11 AM
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We did buy insurance only because there was a lot going on in our family at that time and with the expense of the cruise plus the post cruise to New Zealand and Australia, we thought it was a good idea. We didn't take the insurance that Radisson offered as it was too expeive , we shopped around on line and bought something much cheaper. We took several excursions, 2 snorkeling trips, 4 x 4 adventure which included a ride up the river and my husband took a very extensive 4 x 4 in Bora Bora which didn't interest me.
What is this chocolate cruise - sounds decadent!
Tips: don't over pack. I brought too much and could have worn some of my things more than I did. It truly is casual in a "resort" fashion so no tie nor dressy clothes. You might want to bring a "steamer" that has dual voltage becuase there are no irons in the staterooms. And bring lots of power sunscreen. I'm not a "sun worshipper" and tried to stay in the shade which I did but some people got pretty red and had to really cover up the rest of the trip.
Where does this chocolate cruise go?
What is this chocolate cruise - sounds decadent!
Tips: don't over pack. I brought too much and could have worn some of my things more than I did. It truly is casual in a "resort" fashion so no tie nor dressy clothes. You might want to bring a "steamer" that has dual voltage becuase there are no irons in the staterooms. And bring lots of power sunscreen. I'm not a "sun worshipper" and tried to stay in the shade which I did but some people got pretty red and had to really cover up the rest of the trip.
Where does this chocolate cruise go?
Apr 7th, 2006, 05:26 AM
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My husband and I just returned 3/20 from our first cruise! I'm 47 and he is 52. We did a Hawaiian Island cruise on Pride of America/Norweign Cruise Lines and we loved every minute. The cruise was a total surprise to him. He was under the impression we were spending 10 days in Honolulu. A few days with a friend of ours and then a week in a hotel. He didn't have a clue until we showed up at the ship instead of a time share.
He is not much os a traveler and doesn't care for crowds, and he thought the "freestyle cruising" that NCL offers was the way to go. We never felt like we had to do anything other than what we wanted to. No pressure, but plenty to do on board if you chose to, when you chose to. The specialty resturants were nice and the buffet was quite satisfactory. The fitness room was great too! If I had spent time at the pool on board I might have been disappointed. We only used one of the four hot tubs once and thought it was nice. We went to 2 shows on board and thought they were great. The cruise director had a great sense of humor. We did all of the shore activities on our own or booked them on our own in advance. Again, allowing us more freedom to do as we pleased.
It was also our first time to Hawaii and thought it was a great way to see the islands.
Enjoy!
He is not much os a traveler and doesn't care for crowds, and he thought the "freestyle cruising" that NCL offers was the way to go. We never felt like we had to do anything other than what we wanted to. No pressure, but plenty to do on board if you chose to, when you chose to. The specialty resturants were nice and the buffet was quite satisfactory. The fitness room was great too! If I had spent time at the pool on board I might have been disappointed. We only used one of the four hot tubs once and thought it was nice. We went to 2 shows on board and thought they were great. The cruise director had a great sense of humor. We did all of the shore activities on our own or booked them on our own in advance. Again, allowing us more freedom to do as we pleased.
It was also our first time to Hawaii and thought it was a great way to see the islands.
Enjoy!
Apr 8th, 2006, 12:58 PM
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The chocolate cruise sounds fun. We were on the Regent Mariner to Alaska (some day I hope to go on Paul Gaughan too) and it was first class in everyway and no formal nights. The food was outstanding and we felt very pampered. No more mega (or even large) ships for us anymore, we got too spoiled.
Apr 14th, 2006, 10:41 AM
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I think you would enjoy the Freestyle cruising NCL has to offer. You eat, sleep, & play whenever the mood hits you. Have always found the crew to be very friendly & you feel no one pressuring you at any time. Especially enjoyed going to dinner when we felt like it, rather than assigned dinig times. Have a great cruise. To me it is the only way to vacation.
