Would you go on a cruise??

Bone Cancer

endacl wrote: »

I was of the same opinion when it was suggested to me. So...

1. 'Stuck on a boat' doesn't really describe it. I did a 14 day cruise and was still finding new bits of the ship on the last day.

2. Food was great. Even the buffet stuff. 'Sit down' dinners were outstanding.

3. Won't argue with the entertainment. Not really my thing anyway, and easily avoided.

4. Quarters were far from 'dingy'. As good, if not better than many a hotel I've stayed in. Pay the extra for a balcony though. Balconies are worth it.

5. You didn't ask, but I'll answer anyway. Yes. If you order a club sandwich to your room at 4am, it'll arrive about 20 minutes later. On a big ol' tray with a plate of chips and a side salad.

Well I wont lie, you're selling me quite a bit on the idea.
How was the hygiene? I read about these outbreaks of the norovirus and such and would worry.

Cake Man

Bone Cancer wrote: »

Well I wont lie, you're selling me quite a bit on the idea.
How was the hygiene? I read about these outbreaks of the norovirus and such and would worry.

They have stations located all over the ship that dispense alcohol gel that you rub into your hands and you have to do this before entering any of the buffet/eating areas.


Would recommend, just went on my first one over Christmas (Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia) and enjoyed it. Someone earlier mentioned grubby food - couldn't be further from the truth, IMO the food was the best part! The rooms are small but they're well kept with the stateroom staff cleaning it twice a day for you. Entertainment is generally quite good. Someone else also mentioned seasickness - didn't get this or even heard of anyone who did. The ship's so big you'd kinda forget after a few days you're even on one.

IvyTheTerrible

Stravos Murphy wrote: »

That sank.

WHAT?! Have you informed the newspapers?

biko

Bone Cancer wrote: »

eating bland food, watching low quality entertainment and staying in dingy quarters.

Maybe you should go on that cruise as you seem to have some pretty bad preconceived notions of what is it like.
Cruise racism like.

4976340

A very well travelled friend of mine went on a cruise three years in a row with teenagers and younger children and the two parents, they all loved it. Their typical family holiday was Florida or other places in America, always carefully planned. He had actually lived Arkansas when he was younger. I was so surprised when he told me that I really wanted to go but my husband says no. I would go but make sure you are happy with the length of it and are inquisitive enough to get off and enjoy every port.
Good luck

The flying mouse

I have been on a few cruises, At first I also had a lot of misgivings about them , When I got one as a surprise birthday present I had no choice but to go, And wow was I surprised, A floating 4star hotel with everything you want right there, Shops, casino,bars discos,singalong restaurants ,they also had outdoor sports on board, absolutely brilliant,after the first one I went on another 3 over the years, definitely recommend them. Plus most days you stop in a different port/country where you can leave the ship if you like. OP go for it.

KERSPLAT!

Have never been on one but I'd definitely be up for it

Canis Lupus

Quick question from me. What's it like in terms of crowding.

Is everywhere mobbed? Like when it's time for food are there crappy queues around the 'normal' times for dinner? Are all the pools crowded out all the time?

Odyssey 2005

Go for it. Been on three and going again very soon. Get a balcony cabin,costs extra but so worth it. Entertainment and food far from bland and 2nd rate. Cruise companies aren't spending billions on ships to provide bad experiences !

Brian?

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Quick question from me. What's it like in terms of crowding.

Is everywhere mobbed? Like when it's time for food are there crappy queues around the 'normal' times for dinner? Are all the pools crowded out all the time?

Not at all. There so many places to eat, I never had to queue. Plus it's "time for food" 24hrs a day.

I don't think I was in the pool. Left the boat everyday. It was a cruise around the med.

Never thought I'd be into it, but my wife was pregnant and we wanted a mix of relaxation and seeing places we'd never been. It was ideal.

metaoblivia

Been on one and it didn't do much for me. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't that entertaining either. I wasn't really interested in any of the boat activities; I just wanted to explore the port destinations. I would do it again because I believe in trying something at least twice before you make a decision, but it's not on the top of my list.

Irish Stones

If you go on a cruise just make sure that the captain of the ship is not Italian

padd b1975

Cruise ship passengers fall into three categories.
The newly wed, the overfed and the nearly dead.

Not for me at the moment.

razorblunt

My Dad was on a 12 day one around the Caribbean and loved it, the food is incredible, the rooms are hotel standard and there's a great selection of bars. He said he didn't bother with the entertainment shows, not his cup of tea.

It's broken up really well, so you could to see a lot of places on your journey.

He's currently looking into a Med cruise for the summer.

gumbo1

I seen an ad in one of Saturday news magazines for cruises. 120 nights for 46,000! Now that might be a cruise I'd go on!

BrokenArrows

Bone Cancer wrote: »

I turn 48 in a couple of days and the missus wants to go on a spring cruise as my present (to her..)
I'm not sold on the idea, would much prefer a city break compared to being stuck on a boat with thousands of people eating bland food, watching low quality entertainment and staying in dingy quarters.

Id go.
I see it as an easy holiday. You're limited in choice so there is no discussions of "where do you want to go for dinner" or "what will we do tonight". You eat and do whatever is on the ships menu for the night.

Crimson King

My parents first went on one (East Med) about 7 years ago and since then its been their choice of holiday, and believe me my dad is a very hard guy to please. They have done the East and west Med now and late last year they went to the Caribbean.

They say its not at all just 'old foggies' and quite a mix of people, and its as relaxing or as hectic as you want it to be, plenty of activities to keep you occupied between ports. They also love the food. My mam has quite strict dietary needs, due to her being a Celiac plus diabetic and she was anxious at first but once she specified this requirement she was impressed at how accommodating the staff are with choices.

So all in all they say its not for everyone as some people can't take to boats at all but they love it and recommend I try it at least once.

Exiled1

Have been on two in recent years. Great experiences on both occasions. Can be expensive if you let rip with on board purchases, you have to resist the hard sell that is inevitable.
However I cannot think of any other negatives. Quality food, some great stopovers and a vast array of entertainment options.
Just be a bit cautious about some 'bargains' in the Med during the shoulder seasons as they are the poorest value. Otherwise go for it!!

biko

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Quick question from me. What's it like in terms of crowding.

Is everywhere mobbed? Like when it's time for food are there crappy queues around the 'normal' times for dinner? Are all the pools crowded out all the time?

How long is this piece of string?




You need to look at reviews
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/cruise-ships/

There are even some on yutube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7UPMSUxqhc

schemingbohemia

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Id go.
I see it as an easy holiday. You're limited in choice so there is no discussions of "where do you want to go for dinner" or "what will we do tonight". You eat and do whatever is on the ships menu for the night.

Just in relation to that, most cruises have a number of restaurants to choose from, you may have to pay extra for some of the specialty restaurants but there is a very good selection on most.

We went on a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver, was amazing, thought I'd hate it but it was superb. Lots of great activities/excursions and the ship was very comfortable with lots of options and we even found the entertainment pretty good - very funny comedian one night and a couple of the dance/musical shows were really good.

Ships are so large it never feels jammers.

jester77

Just back from one last week. Would highly recommend, especially if you have kids. No shortage of things for them to do, free food and beer in most restaurants, some really nice restaurants where you have to pay, brewery on board that brew their own beer. I drank more in the last week than over xmas.

The only downside was the stormy weather, there were force 10 winds on one of the days, impossible to stand and some people had to be taken to hospital for broken bones after we got hit by a massive wave. But apart from that it was a good week.

Vex Willems

jester77 wrote: »

Just back from one last week. Would highly recommend, especially if you have kids. No shortage of things for them to do, free food and beer in most restaurants, some really nice restaurants where you have to pay, brewery on board that brew their own beer. I drank more in the last week than over xmas.

The only downside was the stormy weather, there were force 10 winds on one of the days, impossible to stand and some people had to be taken to hospital for broken bones after we got hit by a massive wave. But apart from that it was a good week.

You had me sold until the last paragraph!

tea and coffee

jester77 wrote: »

Just back from one last week. Would highly recommend, especially if you have kids. No shortage of things for them to do, free food and beer in most restaurants, some really nice restaurants where you have to pay, brewery on board that brew their own beer. I drank more in the last week than over xmas.

The only downside was the stormy weather, there were force 10 winds on one of the days, impossible to stand and some people had to be taken to hospital for broken bones after we got hit by a massive wave. But apart from that it was a good week.

Apart from the broken bones, which is hideous obviously, did the stormy weather mean sea sickness ? I am prone to it and was planning a transatlantic cruise next year, but someone (potentially unreliable who has never been on one) said autumn was not a good time to go as I would spend the entire time with my head over a toilet bowl.

jester77

tea and coffee wrote: »

Apart from the broken bones, which is hideous obviously, did the stormy weather mean sea sickness ? I am prone to it and was planning a transatlantic cruise next year, but someone (potentially unreliable who has never been on one) said autumn was not a good time to go as I would spend the entire time with my head over a toilet bowl.

I don't get sea sick so easy, but I could hear the people in the next cabin puking. But it is not so bad on a big cruise ship, it is mainly rocking over and back. I've been on smaller ferries in roughish seas and it was much worse as you are going up and down and you feel like your stomach was still a few meters above you when you suddenly go over a wave. I didn't get that feeling at all on the cruise ship and the conditions were extremely wild out there.

zuutroy

Took an east Med cruise for honeymoon. Fantastic holiday and all the stuff about cruises being for old people is guff.

endacl

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Quick question from me. What's it like in terms of crowding.

Is everywhere mobbed? Like when it's time for food are there crappy queues around the 'normal' times for dinner? Are all the pools crowded out all the time?

Not at all. They know what they're doing.

xzanti

Went on one for my Honeymoon. Best week of my life. Did the Western Caribbean Cruise with RC.

Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it was heaven for us.

Would love to do another one. Even a Med or Norwegian Fjords would be lovely. I just love the ships.

Also, with regards queuing for food, we very rarely encountered queues. The general buffet areas are vast and very well stocked. Plus you can go feed your face at any time of the day or night. On our cruise there was also room service at no extra cost, or you could just fill your plate and head back to your room. There are so many staff members and they can't do enough for you. Felt like a Queen for the week.

endacl

padd b1975 wrote: »

Cruise ship passengers fall into three categories.
The newly wed, the overfed and the nearly dead.

No they don't. You just read that somewhere, thought it was a bit clever, and trot it out if the topic ever comes up.

Right?

kal7

wife won't go after watching a documentary on freak waves.

endacl

xzanti wrote: »

Went on one for my Honeymoon. Best week of my life. Did the Western Caribbean Cruise with RC.

Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it was heaven for us.

Would love to do another one. Even a Med or Norwegian Fjords would be lovely. I just love the ships.

Did the same one. Partner went to see the fiords the following year. I was busy and couldn't go. Reports were great though.