I'm topping my own old post to thank those of you who responded about a month ago. I suppose I wanted input from other Fodorites who favor Europe because I always feel the collective wisdom here is worth the read and because you all share my enthusiasm for seeing Europe. I booked the cruise yesterday, mainly for the reason many of you helped me sort through: I want to be with my daughter whom I do see with some regularity but rarely for more than a day every other month. The good news is that I will probably not have to put off my next trip to Europe just because I have opted for this alternative vacation. Thanks to all for the input, and my apologies to those who consider this an unfair use of the European board. My next post will be with questions about Venice or Rome or Paris or Munich or Prague....Regards, PJK

Good choice, PJK. I, too, would have chosen to go with my daughter - for your exact reasons. (I don't care for cruises either.)

Have a wonderful time making memories!

I think you made the right decision. Have a great time...maybe you will, more than you expect to!

You made the right decision to spend some time with your daughter.

I have to agree that this is a private decision that we can't help with. We can give our opinion, but that's it.
We have never had a desire to take a cruise. We really don't get the riding around on a boat SOOOOO big that you're hardly aware you are on one, and then the mad dashes at each port of call for a few hours of the most touristy things you can imagine.
Oh, and the food and the food and the food and the food, not to mention the Norwalk virus.
I guess I'm a little old fashioned; I like my hotel rooms to hold still and I'll move around!

I suspect that you sort of decided already if you are asking a bunch of Euro-philes what to decide.

We are dyed in the wool independent European travelers but we took a cruise to Alaska in early July. It was fun and they feed you enormous food every time you turn around but it is really a different experience from our trips to Europe. I think it was nice to do once but now we will be back to our European trips in the future. We did decide that a cruise would be a great way to have a family reunion where you could spend a lot of time with the relatives ... or not and noone would have to do the dishes.