Cruise vs traveling on our own
Aug 5th, 2019 | 11:48 AM
#23
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,709
Likes: 1
They do if they want to travel smart. I resisted for a while, but bought my first somewhat smart phone for a trip in (maybe?) 2011, and wouldn't be without one now. I could travel without one if I had to, but then I had a lot of practice. Someone a bit worried about a European trip will be much better off with one.
Last edited by thursdaysd; Aug 5th, 2019 at 11:51 AM.
Aug 5th, 2019 | 12:52 PM
#24
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,297
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We had been to Europe 14 times and last year took a cruise to "favorite places" -- since we had been to Venice & Rome twice previously, and to Florence, Monte Carlo, Sorrento, and Barcelona once, all on one country land trips we added Croatia and took a "back to favorite places" cruise. That was great, BUT only since we had covered major ground previously on our own. Go on your own. Start with Italy and then take a train to Germany via an open-jaw airline ticket. Best way. You see what you want when you want. Bring your smart phones, hopefully w TMobile so all data/texting is free.
Aug 5th, 2019 | 01:07 PM
#25
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,050
Likes: 0
Gardyloo, your post is great, offering a very objective opinion. I really enjoyed a cruise we did to visit some major archeological sites in Turkey and Greece. They would have been more difficult to visit by land. We did a week in Turkey first: Istanbul and Cappadocia, and ended with some time in Italy. Nice combos. Not sure what cruise would work for them though, depends on what they say when they come back to post.
Aug 5th, 2019 | 04:38 PM
#26
Original Poster
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 49
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Hi - thanks to everyone for your comments! I am thinking 10 to 12 days. My husband doesnt really have any particular destinations in mind. He was at a port with the Marines and thought the people were friendly and we do love beer 🍺 😊.
After everyones responses, I feel that going on our own is probably the right thing to do. And starting in Rome sounds like a plan. I have ordered a Fodors travel guide for Italy and will start planning. Im sure Ill be asking for more advice here! Thanks!
Aug 5th, 2019 | 08:55 PM
#27
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,751
Likes: 0
You should be able to plan a wonderful trip, Labattlovr, and by all means, come back for more advice as you plan!
Even though you've made your decision, I must admit that I was surprised and disconcerted by some of the arguments FOR cruises that I read on this thread. I understand that cruises meet some people's needs very well -- I'm not questioning that. But, for the record, I found some of the arguments offered on this thread to be misleading at best and so wanted to respond, sometimes reiterating what others have already said:
Even though you've made your decision, I must admit that I was surprised and disconcerted by some of the arguments FOR cruises that I read on this thread. I understand that cruises meet some people's needs very well -- I'm not questioning that. But, for the record, I found some of the arguments offered on this thread to be misleading at best and so wanted to respond, sometimes reiterating what others have already said:
- Some of us aren't seeking candlelit dinners at a sidewalk cafe -- but I, at least, want to taste local cuisine based on locally sourced ingredients in a place that caters more to locals than tourists.
- Rental cars aren't always necessary and sometimes pose more problems than public transportation.
- Careful research can usually limit one's exposure to hotel rooms that don't match their advertising.
- Some of us find it perfectly reasonable to wash our clothes in the sink, without ever searching (aimlessly or otherwise) for a laundry -- and if you do need a laundry, you can find one with google maps.
- Some of us have no interest in a 4-star hotel room, instead preferring a clean, comfortable, well-located room with minimal services, but perhaps with some wonderful and irreplaceable features, such as being in a centuries-old repurposed building.
- The definition of a "cultural bubble" is, I think, open to debate. To me, being with only other tourists, no matter how diverse their backgrounds, is not a substitute for being with the people in the place I am visiting. I am a tourist, and I know that -- but I want to take public transportation, in part to see local people in the course of their daily lives; I'm happy to stop for a coffee or glass or wine, but I don't want to do so where all (or even most) of the people I see are other tourists; and I don't want to sleep, eat, and play with other tourists if I have an alternative. No offense meant to my fellow travelers!
- And as at least one other poster noted, one of the joys of independent travel is being able to walk around in the evening or after dinner in places now free of day-trippers, and to see how places look in the different light and with a different level of background noise and a palbably different pace.
As for the supposed advantages of cruises: I like having memories of different lodgings and different restaurants to go with my memories of different places seen during the day -- I don't want to stay in the same place! don't find relocating difficult, and even choose to do so sometimes when it is clearly not necessary. JMO.
Again, I understand that some people find that their personal needs are better met by cruises than independent travel. I just wanted to offer some counterarguments to some of the statements that have been offered on this thread as though they are facts, when it seems to me that they are statements of personal perspective.
Again, I understand that some people find that their personal needs are better met by cruises than independent travel. I just wanted to offer some counterarguments to some of the statements that have been offered on this thread as though they are facts, when it seems to me that they are statements of personal perspective.
Last edited by kja; Aug 5th, 2019 at 08:57 PM.
Aug 5th, 2019 | 09:25 PM
#28
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,050
Likes: 0
Kia also makes many good points.
I am the one who thinks evenings are often the best part of the day when traveling. I can go to a museum while on or off a cruise, but those evenings strolling down cobbled streets, gazing out over the bay of Naples from a terrace, seeing wonderful architecture all lit up at night or just sitting in a park, square or plaza at night watching people walking and families and children playing are my favorite memories.
We mix it up because one DD lives in the Caribbean and the rest of the family loves beaches, swimming, sand, snorkeling and islands. They also like the bands and shows on the ships. Though it can be real travel, most of our cruises are just easy time with family.
I am the one who thinks evenings are often the best part of the day when traveling. I can go to a museum while on or off a cruise, but those evenings strolling down cobbled streets, gazing out over the bay of Naples from a terrace, seeing wonderful architecture all lit up at night or just sitting in a park, square or plaza at night watching people walking and families and children playing are my favorite memories.
We mix it up because one DD lives in the Caribbean and the rest of the family loves beaches, swimming, sand, snorkeling and islands. They also like the bands and shows on the ships. Though it can be real travel, most of our cruises are just easy time with family.
Aug 6th, 2019 | 02:20 AM
#30
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,666
Likes: 0
You should be able to plan a wonderful trip, Labattlovr, and by all means, come back for more advice as you plan!
Even though you've made your decision, I must admit that I was surprised and disconcerted by some of the arguments FOR cruises that I read on this thread. I understand that cruises meet some people's needs very well -- I'm not questioning that. But, for the record, I found some of the arguments offered on this thread to be misleading at best and so wanted to respond, sometimes reiterating what others have already said:
Even though you've made your decision, I must admit that I was surprised and disconcerted by some of the arguments FOR cruises that I read on this thread. I understand that cruises meet some people's needs very well -- I'm not questioning that. But, for the record, I found some of the arguments offered on this thread to be misleading at best and so wanted to respond, sometimes reiterating what others have already said:
- Some of us aren't seeking candlelit dinners at a sidewalk cafe -- but I, at least, want to taste local cuisine based on locally sourced ingredients in a place that caters more to locals than tourists.
- Rental cars aren't always necessary and sometimes pose more problems than public transportation.
- Careful research can usually limit one's exposure to hotel rooms that don't match their advertising.
- Some of us find it perfectly reasonable to wash our clothes in the sink, without ever searching (aimlessly or otherwise) for a laundry -- and if you do need a laundry, you can find one with google maps.
- Some of us have no interest in a 4-star hotel room, instead preferring a clean, comfortable, well-located room with minimal services, but perhaps with some wonderful and irreplaceable features, such as being in a centuries-old repurposed building.
- The definition of a "cultural bubble" is, I think, open to debate. To me, being with only other tourists, no matter how diverse their backgrounds, is not a substitute for being with the people in the place I am visiting. I am a tourist, and I know that -- but I want to take public transportation, in part to see local people in the course of their daily lives; I'm happy to stop for a coffee or glass or wine, but I don't want to do so where all (or even most) of the people I see are other tourists; and I don't want to sleep, eat, and play with other tourists if I have an alternative. No offense meant to my fellow travelers!
- And as at least one other poster noted, one of the joys of independent travel is being able to walk around in the evening or after dinner in places now free of day-trippers, and to see how places look in the different light and with a different level of background noise and a palbably different pace.
As for the supposed advantages of cruises: I like having memories of different lodgings and different restaurants to go with my memories of different places seen during the day -- I don't want to stay in the same place! don't find relocating difficult, and even choose to do so sometimes when it is clearly not necessary. JMO.
Again, I understand that some people find that their personal needs are better met by cruises than independent travel. I just wanted to offer some counterarguments to some of the statements that have been offered on this thread as though they are facts, when it seems to me that they are statements of personal perspective.
Again, I understand that some people find that their personal needs are better met by cruises than independent travel. I just wanted to offer some counterarguments to some of the statements that have been offered on this thread as though they are facts, when it seems to me that they are statements of personal perspective.
Maybe the definition of 'authentic' is just what something is. Maybe it's more 'authentic' to just visit Rome or Paris and not worry about what's 'authentic' and what's not 'authentic'. Ironically, maybe it's less 'authentic' to obsess about engineering some notion of an 'authentic' experience. Almost everyone is aiming at the same thing - some kind of 'authentic' experience. Nobody thinks of themselves as one of those tourists who goes where tourists go. Every tourist goes where no tourists go. Maybe we want a zoo-like experience where we walk around other countries observing 'natives' going about their daily lives. Feeling sad for places being 'ruined' by English (really just sad for the people for whom hearing English devalues their European fantasies) - "When I'm in France I don't want to hear English!"
It's like the best thing possible that anyone can say about a restaurant when traveling is "there were no tourists there"!
Last edited by walkinaround; Aug 6th, 2019 at 02:48 AM.
Aug 6th, 2019 | 02:47 AM
#32
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,666
Likes: 0
For example, I think authenticity seeking Americans will 'forgive' hearing English in the UK and Ireland as long as it's with the proper accent
And on the Continent, I suspect that English with a non-American accent is incrementally less bristling than American English for the American authenticity seeker.
Last edited by walkinaround; Aug 6th, 2019 at 02:49 AM.
Aug 6th, 2019 | 03:05 AM
#33
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
We have taken one cruise and we had a specific purpose for doing so. We much prefer independent travel but knew that we'd likely never dedicate a trip to many of the stops on this Mediterranean cruise......we were in our sixties and usually spend a month or so in Europe each year but prefer longer stays in fewer locations. We'd been to many of these countries but never saw certain locations, like Ephesus, Corfu, Korcula, and Ljubljana. (an excursion) It was very worthwhile to have a day or two in each of these locations to decide if we wanted to return.
Aug 6th, 2019 | 04:55 AM
#34
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,709
Likes: 1
kja is perfectly capable of speaking for herself, but I note that she did not use the word "authentic", which walkingaround used ten times. She said that she preferred restaurants with fewer tourists, which seems to be a perfectly reasonable position. Restaurants catering to tourists tend to be overpriced and to offer food designed for tourists rather than locals. I have a somewhat congruent issue here in the US, it usually takes a couple of visits before an Indian restaurant actually believes me when I say I want my food spicy. (The last time I told a restaurant "eight on a scale of one to ten" it was, maybe, a two!).
Last edited by thursdaysd; Aug 6th, 2019 at 04:59 AM.
Aug 6th, 2019 | 05:34 AM
#35
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Hi
So many different opinions! Cruising is nice, you see many places without packing/unpacking. But you will only be in port a day or two. So why not take a week cruise, relax and enjoy and then after (or before) your cruise travel to Germany.
Also, I think some places are nice to sail into. You can see the places from a different angle. Take Sorrento...... gorgeous to see from the seaside.
But whatever you do, enjoy!
So many different opinions! Cruising is nice, you see many places without packing/unpacking. But you will only be in port a day or two. So why not take a week cruise, relax and enjoy and then after (or before) your cruise travel to Germany.
Also, I think some places are nice to sail into. You can see the places from a different angle. Take Sorrento...... gorgeous to see from the seaside.
But whatever you do, enjoy!
Last edited by JessicaBr; Aug 6th, 2019 at 05:36 AM. Reason: missing
Aug 6th, 2019 | 06:21 AM
#36
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,080
Likes: 50
walkinaround can only post his/her screeds after first denigrating other Fodorites' opinions/information.
It is always slams and belittling . . . . followed by "Now listen to me because I'm the master of everything". Personally his/her advice/comments would be more palatable if they didn't always include personal attacks.
It is always slams and belittling . . . . followed by "Now listen to me because I'm the master of everything". Personally his/her advice/comments would be more palatable if they didn't always include personal attacks.
Aug 6th, 2019 | 05:07 PM
#37
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,751
Likes: 0
Aug 7th, 2019 | 12:04 AM
#38
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,666
Likes: 0
In fairness, you did invite debate:
<<<The definition of a "cultural bubble" is, I think, open to debate.>>>
Aug 7th, 2019 | 06:17 AM
#39
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 22
It is your choice how you wish to travel and many would not see any of Europe if they didnt cruise.
The most difficult part for me would having to return to the ship for dinner instead of eating in a small local place. Each to their own.
The most difficult part for me would having to return to the ship for dinner instead of eating in a small local place. Each to their own.
Aug 7th, 2019 | 07:03 AM
#40
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,709
Likes: 1
many would not see any of Europe if they didn’t cruise.
