Do you like or dislike cruises?
May 3rd, 2004, 08:30 PM
#21
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We like cruises, but wouldn't want them to be our only travel experience. The main advantage to us is being able to see several places without having to pack and unpack a bunch of times.
Although some people go on cruises just because they enjoy the ship, we always select a cruise for the itinerary, and the length of time spent in each port.
We took one to Scandinavia and the Baltics last summer, and enjoyed spending two days in Stockholm, two days in St. Petersburg and four days in Copenhagen, along with several one day stops.
We are taking one to the eastern Med in October, and I have just gotten started researching what to do in each port.
Next year we plan to take a land based trip to the Pacific Northest, and the year after, a two week land based trip to Italy.
We don't like the large group shore excursions, so either explore a port city on our own, or hire a private guide with a small (4-6 people) group.
Although some people go on cruises just because they enjoy the ship, we always select a cruise for the itinerary, and the length of time spent in each port.
We took one to Scandinavia and the Baltics last summer, and enjoyed spending two days in Stockholm, two days in St. Petersburg and four days in Copenhagen, along with several one day stops.
We are taking one to the eastern Med in October, and I have just gotten started researching what to do in each port.
Next year we plan to take a land based trip to the Pacific Northest, and the year after, a two week land based trip to Italy.
We don't like the large group shore excursions, so either explore a port city on our own, or hire a private guide with a small (4-6 people) group.
May 3rd, 2004, 09:31 PM
#22
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I pretty much detest them. However in certain areas like Alaska, the Middle East or even the far east I would consider them for a few reasons. Safety, food choices, access to places I couldn't get to easily by land.
However I agree with the downsides of restricted time in ports, crowded on board, too structured etc etc.
I also think some cruises have ruined some people impression of countries. Jamaica and Mexico are both great places to stay and roam. But the number of people that hate it based on a 4 hour port stop and then bad mouth the whole country really do the countries more harm then good. And it isn't even a fair judgement. I know I wouldn't want the whole of California judged by San Pedro. It just wouldn't be just.
However I agree with the downsides of restricted time in ports, crowded on board, too structured etc etc.
I also think some cruises have ruined some people impression of countries. Jamaica and Mexico are both great places to stay and roam. But the number of people that hate it based on a 4 hour port stop and then bad mouth the whole country really do the countries more harm then good. And it isn't even a fair judgement. I know I wouldn't want the whole of California judged by San Pedro. It just wouldn't be just.
May 4th, 2004, 05:22 AM
#23
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We just took our first cruise a month ago. We went on Celebrity and we were in a suite with a butler, which makes a big difference in your cruise experience. We too are land travel people, as we love to travel and really explore the destinations we travel to.
From our experience, we liked the cruise, but if we were not in a suite, I do not think we would have liked it as much. IMHO, you really need a place to go to when you are at sea because the pool area is very very crowded, as is all the outdoor public areas. I do not like sitting on a lounge chair 2 inches away from other people. With a suite, you can go to your room away from everyone and lounge on your own private deck....I think people that say the room does not matter...well it does, espically on a cruise. If you do go, book the biggest room you can afford.
As for ports...we went to the Western Caribbean and were not impressed at all. When we travel to the caribbean we stay on islands that do not have cruise ship ports. IMHO, you do not get a feel of the caribbean on a cruise and everything felt like Florida! We returned to the ship early and enjoyed the empty ship.
We did enjoy the ship at night, the food was really good and we had fun. We did gain weight as you are not as active on a ship as you are on a land vacation, even though we went to the gym every day. When we go to the caribbean, we take an early morning walk, do a lot of swimming, exploring etc..On a cruise you tend to eat more and it's not the light fresh food you get on the islands. It's more 5 courses and very rich...you can choose from the light menu, but not too appealing.
I would have to agree that a cruise is for people who really do not like to travel, and really on a cruise you are not getting any sense of culture. You pull in get off the ship and you are in the middle of stores, t shirts and locals trying to sell you stuff. It's a great way however to see places like the Panama Canal, Alaska, Galapogos (sp?) and other places that can only be best viewed from a ship. I would cruise to Alaska, but not Hawaii for example.
If you think a cruise is less expensive...well that depends, like any vacation it is how you spend your money. If you want a nice stateroom, have drinks, gamble, spa treatments etc...well lets put it this way, my ship charge was almost $2000 (that's after the cruise was paid for). It's like anything else..you can get the least expensive room on the ship, not drink, not buy anything and you will not spend any money - it all depends on what is fun for you!
From our experience, we liked the cruise, but if we were not in a suite, I do not think we would have liked it as much. IMHO, you really need a place to go to when you are at sea because the pool area is very very crowded, as is all the outdoor public areas. I do not like sitting on a lounge chair 2 inches away from other people. With a suite, you can go to your room away from everyone and lounge on your own private deck....I think people that say the room does not matter...well it does, espically on a cruise. If you do go, book the biggest room you can afford.
As for ports...we went to the Western Caribbean and were not impressed at all. When we travel to the caribbean we stay on islands that do not have cruise ship ports. IMHO, you do not get a feel of the caribbean on a cruise and everything felt like Florida! We returned to the ship early and enjoyed the empty ship.
We did enjoy the ship at night, the food was really good and we had fun. We did gain weight as you are not as active on a ship as you are on a land vacation, even though we went to the gym every day. When we go to the caribbean, we take an early morning walk, do a lot of swimming, exploring etc..On a cruise you tend to eat more and it's not the light fresh food you get on the islands. It's more 5 courses and very rich...you can choose from the light menu, but not too appealing.
I would have to agree that a cruise is for people who really do not like to travel, and really on a cruise you are not getting any sense of culture. You pull in get off the ship and you are in the middle of stores, t shirts and locals trying to sell you stuff. It's a great way however to see places like the Panama Canal, Alaska, Galapogos (sp?) and other places that can only be best viewed from a ship. I would cruise to Alaska, but not Hawaii for example.
If you think a cruise is less expensive...well that depends, like any vacation it is how you spend your money. If you want a nice stateroom, have drinks, gamble, spa treatments etc...well lets put it this way, my ship charge was almost $2000 (that's after the cruise was paid for). It's like anything else..you can get the least expensive room on the ship, not drink, not buy anything and you will not spend any money - it all depends on what is fun for you!
May 4th, 2004, 08:00 AM
#24
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I have to disagree with the previous poster and whomever else said that a cruise is for people who really don't like to travel. Where does that supposition come from?
We have booked our first (and probably only) cruise in August, following many years of various types of vacations both nationally and internationally. My husband has wanted to go on a cruise for a while, but I have never had the desire - until I saw the QMII arrive into NY Harbor a couple of weeks ago.
We have friends who take a cruise or 2 every year in addition to land vacations. They have always said it is a very relaxing way to travel and also a lot of fun. We will be cruising to Bermuda, a destination we have visited twice before, but this time by ship.
Just a different way to travel!
We have booked our first (and probably only) cruise in August, following many years of various types of vacations both nationally and internationally. My husband has wanted to go on a cruise for a while, but I have never had the desire - until I saw the QMII arrive into NY Harbor a couple of weeks ago.
We have friends who take a cruise or 2 every year in addition to land vacations. They have always said it is a very relaxing way to travel and also a lot of fun. We will be cruising to Bermuda, a destination we have visited twice before, but this time by ship.
Just a different way to travel!
May 4th, 2004, 09:17 AM
#25
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Although we love to travel, there is no one kind of trip that is the only kind we'd want to take.
I adore our two to three ski weeks per winter, but wouldn't want those to be our only vacations. Our biannual theater weekends in NYC are wonderful, but I couldn't do that four times a year.
Sometimes we like to drive from place to place, spending a day or two in each place---that gives us lots of freedom, but the re-packing gets old. Planting ourselves in one city for a week, maybe with a couple of day trips is great, and I love knowing the city well enough to put the map away.
When we're on a cruise, it strikes us that everyone on the ship is on a different vacation. Some are up at 6AM to walk the promenade deck or hit the gyum, and some don't know where the gym is. Some are in the casino or disco until 3 AM, and some don't know where the disco is. Some spend a fortunre in the spa, and some don't know where the spa is.
Some don't get off the ship on port days because they want to bask in the sun by the pool, some only take ship's shore excursions.
I like to research the port and find things to see/do that suit us. We don't care for organized ship's shore excursions. In a city, we'll do a self guided walking tour, or take the hop-on/hop-off sightseeing bus, and see several museums. On an island, we'll negotiate with a cab driver/guide when we get off the ship to take us to the sights I've identified.
I adore our two to three ski weeks per winter, but wouldn't want those to be our only vacations. Our biannual theater weekends in NYC are wonderful, but I couldn't do that four times a year.
Sometimes we like to drive from place to place, spending a day or two in each place---that gives us lots of freedom, but the re-packing gets old. Planting ourselves in one city for a week, maybe with a couple of day trips is great, and I love knowing the city well enough to put the map away.
When we're on a cruise, it strikes us that everyone on the ship is on a different vacation. Some are up at 6AM to walk the promenade deck or hit the gyum, and some don't know where the gym is. Some are in the casino or disco until 3 AM, and some don't know where the disco is. Some spend a fortunre in the spa, and some don't know where the spa is.
Some don't get off the ship on port days because they want to bask in the sun by the pool, some only take ship's shore excursions.
I like to research the port and find things to see/do that suit us. We don't care for organized ship's shore excursions. In a city, we'll do a self guided walking tour, or take the hop-on/hop-off sightseeing bus, and see several museums. On an island, we'll negotiate with a cab driver/guide when we get off the ship to take us to the sights I've identified.
May 5th, 2004, 04:11 AM
#27
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I am certainly not a cruise expert, but the type cruises that allow you one day in each of many places does not appeal to us at this point in our lives. However, we are taking family (2 adults, 2 teenagers) on Boston-Bermuda cruise this summer. We plan to use ship as floating hotel and see Bermuda again on our own. After we priced airfare, meals, hotel for a place as expensive as Bermuda, it was economical to do the trip this way.
May 5th, 2004, 04:39 AM
#28
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We like both...cruises and land vacations. Cruising gives you a chance to see a little bit of an island or country and then you have the opportunity you hope to go back and spend a week..Many years ago went to Cozumel and loved it so much we went back for a week..on the other hand.. spent a week in St. Thomas and would never get off the ship again unless to go to St. John. Both land and cruise give you an opportunity to pack and unpack once.. Like Gail...we use the ship, especially the one to Bermuda, as a floating hotel. I do not and I repeat do not.. want a cruise where every day your in another country.. Right now I am looking into a cruise for a special anniversary(50th) which would give us a chance to cruise and have day at sea..A two week plus cruise to see Rome, Barcelona, Seville, Cannes or Rio, Manaus, Chile, cruise the Amazon and both with days at sea or days just cruising.. Although my husband and I in our younger days have been to Macchu Picchu (before it was built up) and other "exotic"spots..it's time to see more and at this point in our life...the above cities still hold allure and I'm going for it.. We may not be spending a week in Manus or Barcelona but at this time in our life.. I'm filling our lives with the most important things....memories of places we've been. Gail...one of the memories fyi that always comes to me when I think of Bermuda and St. George is walking hand in hand with Parrot Pop up the cobblestoned streets on the Tuesday afternoons when we arrive, the hidden garden we found one day and in Bermuda....the people...
May 9th, 2004, 07:51 AM
#30
A couple of points that one should consider.
First, cruises can make foreign travel or travel to remote places accessible to people that might not otherwise be able to go there. Alaska, Cape Horn, the Caribbean - these are all places where independent travel is very expensive and difficult, due to lack of roads, high airfares, etc. On a week's cruise in the Caribbean, except on a cruise, how could you see more than one or two places? Many people use cruises as a sorting mechanism - I'd like to go back to Antigua, couldn't be bothered less over St. Thomas, things like that.
Cruises make travel accessible and affordable to elderly or disabled or mobility-challenged people. Okay, so you can't climb the Duomo, but you can still experience things that you won't get at home.
Cruises are affordable and open travel opportunities that many people couldn't afford otherwise. We just returned from a 10-day cruise in the Mediterranean, and let me tell you our hotel room on the boat, with three hots thrown in, was cheaper than comparable accommodation on land, by a long shot.
Beware the danger of travel elitism. Cruisers are people too.
First, cruises can make foreign travel or travel to remote places accessible to people that might not otherwise be able to go there. Alaska, Cape Horn, the Caribbean - these are all places where independent travel is very expensive and difficult, due to lack of roads, high airfares, etc. On a week's cruise in the Caribbean, except on a cruise, how could you see more than one or two places? Many people use cruises as a sorting mechanism - I'd like to go back to Antigua, couldn't be bothered less over St. Thomas, things like that.
Cruises make travel accessible and affordable to elderly or disabled or mobility-challenged people. Okay, so you can't climb the Duomo, but you can still experience things that you won't get at home.
Cruises are affordable and open travel opportunities that many people couldn't afford otherwise. We just returned from a 10-day cruise in the Mediterranean, and let me tell you our hotel room on the boat, with three hots thrown in, was cheaper than comparable accommodation on land, by a long shot.
Beware the danger of travel elitism. Cruisers are people too.
May 9th, 2004, 09:03 AM
#32
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Cruises are great. Land trips are great. I'm an equal opportunity traveler. I have enjoyed every trip and certainly am not an elitist who would look down their nose at another person's idea of an ideal vacation.
May 9th, 2004, 09:04 AM
#33
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I would never do a Caribbean cruise, but I did 2 ctuises that I thought were exactly what I wanted and needed, and they were great.
First one was right after 9/11 so it almost did not happen. It was a transatlantic 2 week cruise with many days at sea. I was holding a plane ticket from Tampa to London, leaving on 9/22, well 9/11 happened and all the airports were shut down. Finally the domestics started to fly about 5-6 days later and just about a day or 2 later they were allowing some international flights to go. Anyway, I did get to London as planned, did my business there, flew to Barcelona and on 9/28 boarded a beautiful Celebrity Cruises ship that would become my home for 2 weeks till we got to Ft.Lauderdale. For obvious reasons the ship was only about 1/2 full, but I still had one of the best vacations of my life. I did get upgraded to a great, HUGE stateroom that had a balcony the size of a small football field. It was a back corner unit, so I had great views to the side and back of the ship. We stopped at Cadiz and Madeira Islands with sea days inbetween and after, it was 5 days at sea, with stops in St.Marteen and St.Thomas, also with sea days in between. I was not looking for any discovery or history or culture on this trip. I booked this to take a very relaxing vacation, but in a twist of faith it also became the proverbial "calm before the storm" because of 9/11. Because of what I do, the following 2 years took a toll on me, especially 2002, and this was the best thing that could have happene to me at that time. The wonderful people that I've met and I'll never forget the amazing site of a US warship on it's way to the Mediterranean that passed right by us (I could swear they were oly about 200 ft. away) at about 3am one morning in the middle of Atlantic, with the US sailor on watch duty that saluted the US flag that I had hung on one of the poles on my balcony. Anyway, getting back to the subject, I would do this kind of a cruise again in a heartbeat.
The second one was the following September, as I needed a break from my job, so I figured that getting away from it all would the trick. I did another repositioning cruise on Celebrity, this time it was from Vancouver to San Diego via Alaska for 12 days. I got extremly lucky with my dinner table assignment. They were all airline employees and one was a gorgeous AC FA. The whole table ended up doing everything together from the first night on, and the 2 of us ended up being glued to each other
. I rally needed that as I knew I had some more tough assignments ahead. The cruise itself was somewhat disappointing, ONLY because I did want to see Alaska, and that's when I found out that cruises are not meant to actually allow you to discover a place, but just to give you a taste. Still, I did get to see few things and meet some wonderful people along the way. If you want to see some pictures from the Alaska cruise, I've posted few here:
http://www.cruise-forums.com/gallery/view.php?id=691. In the balcony picture, I'm the guy in the middle with the blond AC FA next to me
The point is that cruises could be a great way to spend your vacation, but it's not for everybody. I would do another transoceanic one in a heartbeat because if that's what I wanted, a total relaxtion with classy surroundings, a great cruise ship provides that. On the other hand, I would not do an island hopping or even a European port hopping cruise, because that's not my idea of seeing places, yet I don't fault anybody for doing it this way.
First one was right after 9/11 so it almost did not happen. It was a transatlantic 2 week cruise with many days at sea. I was holding a plane ticket from Tampa to London, leaving on 9/22, well 9/11 happened and all the airports were shut down. Finally the domestics started to fly about 5-6 days later and just about a day or 2 later they were allowing some international flights to go. Anyway, I did get to London as planned, did my business there, flew to Barcelona and on 9/28 boarded a beautiful Celebrity Cruises ship that would become my home for 2 weeks till we got to Ft.Lauderdale. For obvious reasons the ship was only about 1/2 full, but I still had one of the best vacations of my life. I did get upgraded to a great, HUGE stateroom that had a balcony the size of a small football field. It was a back corner unit, so I had great views to the side and back of the ship. We stopped at Cadiz and Madeira Islands with sea days inbetween and after, it was 5 days at sea, with stops in St.Marteen and St.Thomas, also with sea days in between. I was not looking for any discovery or history or culture on this trip. I booked this to take a very relaxing vacation, but in a twist of faith it also became the proverbial "calm before the storm" because of 9/11. Because of what I do, the following 2 years took a toll on me, especially 2002, and this was the best thing that could have happene to me at that time. The wonderful people that I've met and I'll never forget the amazing site of a US warship on it's way to the Mediterranean that passed right by us (I could swear they were oly about 200 ft. away) at about 3am one morning in the middle of Atlantic, with the US sailor on watch duty that saluted the US flag that I had hung on one of the poles on my balcony. Anyway, getting back to the subject, I would do this kind of a cruise again in a heartbeat.
The second one was the following September, as I needed a break from my job, so I figured that getting away from it all would the trick. I did another repositioning cruise on Celebrity, this time it was from Vancouver to San Diego via Alaska for 12 days. I got extremly lucky with my dinner table assignment. They were all airline employees and one was a gorgeous AC FA. The whole table ended up doing everything together from the first night on, and the 2 of us ended up being glued to each other
. I rally needed that as I knew I had some more tough assignments ahead. The cruise itself was somewhat disappointing, ONLY because I did want to see Alaska, and that's when I found out that cruises are not meant to actually allow you to discover a place, but just to give you a taste. Still, I did get to see few things and meet some wonderful people along the way. If you want to see some pictures from the Alaska cruise, I've posted few here:http://www.cruise-forums.com/gallery/view.php?id=691. In the balcony picture, I'm the guy in the middle with the blond AC FA next to me
The point is that cruises could be a great way to spend your vacation, but it's not for everybody. I would do another transoceanic one in a heartbeat because if that's what I wanted, a total relaxtion with classy surroundings, a great cruise ship provides that. On the other hand, I would not do an island hopping or even a European port hopping cruise, because that's not my idea of seeing places, yet I don't fault anybody for doing it this way.
May 9th, 2004, 10:00 AM
#35
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I guess overall I'd say we prefer land-based vacations. That said, we're taking our two teens on their first cruise in June--7 days in the eastern Caribbean. It's been 13 years since DH and I cruised and I really haven't missed it but we want our kids to experience as many types of vacations as possible. Last year we spent a week in the Montana mountains--very low key and super but decided to glitz things up a little this year.
We've booked two balcony rooms--decided that 1 week in 1 cabin was a little too much togetherness
but look forward to vacations as a time when we can spend time together as a family without MSN, the telephone, school and work interfering. We'll be on the Mariner--huge ship with rock climbing, ice skating, yada yada...the kids will think it's a hoot.
I agree with the posters who say you can't get the flavor of a country through short ports-of-call on a cruise. We'll use the ports as an excuse to hit the beach and call it good. Maybe one market in Nassau and I'm sure the shopping thrill will be worn off for us all.
Am already thinking about next year's trip--thinking a good old-fashioned car trip to LA/San Diego would be fun--PROVIDING gas goes down a little before then. Eek!
We've booked two balcony rooms--decided that 1 week in 1 cabin was a little too much togetherness
but look forward to vacations as a time when we can spend time together as a family without MSN, the telephone, school and work interfering. We'll be on the Mariner--huge ship with rock climbing, ice skating, yada yada...the kids will think it's a hoot.I agree with the posters who say you can't get the flavor of a country through short ports-of-call on a cruise. We'll use the ports as an excuse to hit the beach and call it good. Maybe one market in Nassau and I'm sure the shopping thrill will be worn off for us all.
Am already thinking about next year's trip--thinking a good old-fashioned car trip to LA/San Diego would be fun--PROVIDING gas goes down a little before then. Eek!
May 9th, 2004, 05:44 PM
#38
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Travelinwifey,
I just uploaded pictures from the Sep. 2001 transatlantic cruise.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286921601
Hope you enjoy! I was not kidding about the beautiful Red White and Blue hanging on my balcony Don't forget, the ship's flag looked very similar to the US flag but since the ship was registered in Liberia, it was flying that countries flag, so when the US sailor saw my flag he actually stood up and saluted. I'll never forget that!
Liberia flag
http://flagspot.net/flags/lr.html
I just uploaded pictures from the Sep. 2001 transatlantic cruise.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286921601
Hope you enjoy! I was not kidding about the beautiful Red White and Blue hanging on my balcony
Don't forget, the ship's flag looked very similar to the US flag but since the ship was registered in Liberia, it was flying that countries flag, so when the US sailor saw my flag he actually stood up and saluted. I'll never forget that!Liberia flag
http://flagspot.net/flags/lr.html
May 9th, 2004, 05:52 PM
#39
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Ugh! Cruises make me feel trapped! The fact that there are intercoms in the rooms announcing itineraries is so invasive. AND being told where and when to eat... Ugh! Give me a lanai in Hawaii anytime - and NO schedule.
May 9th, 2004, 06:00 PM
#40
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crazy4Hawaii, that's why I like Celebrity. There are no announcements in the stateroom or anywhere else on the ship. They pass out a scheduled itinerary for the following day, and you never hear things like" "bingo in 5 minutes" or "wet t-shirt contest held by the pool in 10 minutes."
I was upset that I missed the wet t-shirt contest on my last cruise (just kidding).
I was upset that I missed the wet t-shirt contest on my last cruise (just kidding).
