In the midst of making plans for a trip to Salzburg, a friend calls and asks if we would like to go on the Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Sea Cruise with them in the middle of August. Neither of us couples have every been on a cruise before, but there is the great deal and thought it would be fun. They have the last oceanview room and we would have an inside stateroom.

Who has been on a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas out of Port Canavaral on this line before? What has been your experience and if we are not into always swimming, or the beach scene, would we enjoy our time on this cruise?

We are wanting to celebrate our 60th Birthday and later, 65th birthday (in November ) on either vacation we decide on. We have a 10:00PM deadline tonight to reserve the rooms on the cruise with our friends.

Our Salzburg 4 night vacation would be for my husband and I alone earlier in August. (I do have reservations already at a couple of hotels). It is during the Music Festival and wondered if anyone thinks that this would be a better choice.

I'd vote for being in beautiful Salzburg in the mtns of Austria rather than being cooped up on a floating hotel with many people whose idea of a good time is how many meals and how much they can eat during a day.

No question - Salzburg!!

I've been on a couple cruises, the last one a Carnival (never again!) out of Galveston for four nights. One reviewer somewhere (not on this board) calls these the "Wal-Mart of cruises." (I hear that Royal Caribbean is slightly better than Carnival's four-day events, though.)

I took a day trip from Munich to Salzburg/Lake District in May and the whole area is just gorgeous. (I'm going back for more!) But surely you don't plan to go just for four days, do you??

Definitely Salzburg.

Austria is gorgous in Aug/Sept.

Search on "cruises" in the Carrib forum. Many, many people are very disappointed after cruising vacas (myself included). Inside stateroom, you're not into beaches and swimming. Do you like gambling? Huge portions of mediocre food? Want to be nickle and dimed to sign up for exursions and photos, and haunted to participate in silly games? Don't try it for the first time by choosing to cancel out a trip to the Music Festival.

Search in the Euro forum for Salzburg.

Easily Salzburg...in fact I would pick staying at home over one of those Caribbean cruises.

OhMyGosh! "No question" is right! Go to Salzburg and do not look back, not even for a second!!

I'm not really sure what the issue is here - definitely Salzburg!

SAnParis - LOL! I so agree.

I've tried cruising!! I'll take a great location to explore and visit over some excursions into select ports for a couple hours anytime.

I'm not a gambler plus you don't win on cruises. I'd much prefer smaller portions of food from the area that I'm visiting. I never get nickled and dimed for excursions because I'm touring myself (after much research) and enjoying all the beauty for the time period I choose and NOT the time period allowed by the cruise.

Those sound like great birthday events - make them very special and head to Salzburg.
Chiao
LN

Salzburg.

I did a 7 day higher end Princess in Feb.2005 with a huge balcony and still would pick Salzburg.

The 4 day one has to be way too hectic and crowded for your demographic.

But I would never, ever say that cruises are just drinking, food etc. as stated. There are all kinds of people, from all kinds of countries, and with all kinds of agendas on the cruiseships.

That's the main problem- too many people and too many activities for the time periods involved.

On my 7 day cruise the passengers were mostly Canadian, from various parts of the UK, and lastly USA citizens from the Northern climes of this continent.

But I would combine with something else in Europe and would never go from USA to Salzburg and back for only 4 days. It's too long a flight and there is just too much in Europe to experience.

Salzburg, Salzburg, Salzburg !! And don't miss a tour of the surrounding lake district!

Thanks for reply to my questions. Please read my subsquent Post. (I've got deadlines and decisions to meet today.)

Plus it's my birthday this Sunday, I have my son and his family coming to stay at my house and I need to seriously clean up around here. But, all these decisions have to be made!!!

Topping, but really intended this for the Europe Forum. How do I get it transferred back to it?

Salzburg, no contest.

I would have voted Austria, even if the cruise wouldn;t be at the peak of the huricane season.

Keith

To answer your last question, to post this on the Europe board you just need to post another question there. You can copy your question and paste it into another one. Are you expecting different answers on the Europe board??

Well, really I don't know. I'm just getting tired, I guess. Well here is the update. My friends canceled out on the Cruise on their own. I think that they thought the cost would be a little too much for them, especially since they will be traveling later to visit a daughter who will be moving to Hawaii with her husband who is in the military.

I have to say, that it is a relief, because I was having a time with this decision only because it is the first time all of us would be going on a cruise and it would have been fun to go with them.

Thanks to all who took time today to help me out with all of this.

I do think, to be able to swing the Salzburg trip, we may have to stay at the Chalet, a possibly, 15 minute bus ride out of town. But the price is right.

Even though you posted in the wrong place, I would like to say don't worry about the 15 minute bus ride from out on the edge of Salzburg. Last year we stayed at the Steiner Haus pension on the edge of town and loved the contrast. Veiws were fantastic. Bus ride was interesting and price was right!
Vera

I have done both and really like Sovereign but there is no comparison.

There were will way too many kids on board as school is out, it is hurricane season here in FL and it is brutally hot.

Salzburg is stunning any time of year and in summer you have the added benefit of outdoor dining.

Vera - we will be staying at the Steiner Haus pension in a couple of month's time and am glad to hear you didnt find it too inconvinient. How was the bus system to get into town ? Also, was it easy to find the place the first time (we will be arriving at the train station and am not sure how we would get to the pension from there). Any tips ?

Thanks !