Would you go on a cruise??

Senna

I would have been the exact same as many here, but I'll give anything a go once, and I'm glad I did, we've been on 3 since and its definitely my ideal holiday.
The waking up in a different island or city everyday is the best part, there is definitely places I've been that I would never go to unless via a cruise.
On the bad weather, we were on a Caribbean cruise when there was bad weather forecasted, the ship just changed its itinerary to get away from it, we just visited the islands in a different order. We also were meant to visit Athens for a cruise on the day of one of their strikes back in 2012, no point visiting when everything was closed and possibly riots, so they changed the days around and we visited Athens later in the week.
Think the last cruise we were on had 4000 people, but that means nothing, the majority of people get up as soon as the ship docks and go exploring, they come back late, eat something and go to bed.
On a day at sea, all 4000 are on board, so you will see more people, but it usually wouldn't mean a queue anywhere longer than a minute.

I wouldn't even say it's an acquired taste in holiday, it's just something you have to try out before knowing what they are actually like.

Noddyholder

RedXIV wrote: »

Just back from my honeymoon on a Caribbean cruise about a month ago. It was amazing to be honest! We went with the Norwegian Cruse line rather than the Royal Caribbean line. From what I understand, the main differences are the Royal Caribbean tend to push the formal wear in the evenings while the Norwegian ship I was on had only one restaurant that had a dress code. Similarly, I believe the Royal Caribbean has a desire to keep you in the same seats, same waiter, same times etc in the dining options, while our ship was very relaxed about food, eat when, where and with who you like.

We paid about 4200 for flights, 2 days in Orlando, and the cruise tickets with the beverage package (all alcoholic drinks <$15 free) and 3 speciality dining options (there were a bunch of places you could eat for free, and about 5 or 6 restaurants where you paid extra, and we got 3 of those included). Realistically the drinks package is expensive, we worked it out to need about 6 drinks a day to break even. In saying that, the sheer relaxation of not having to worry about the drinks or food is unreal. We ate in a bunch of different restaurants, and some we didn't even get a chance to try I think there was 22 bars and 18 restaurants in total on our ship! For us the evening shows were all free bar one which was about 30 dollars each.

If you're going on a first time cruise, I highly recommend joining cruise critic or similar to get your bearings and some first timer tips. We loved it though, we'll be going again soon!

Just on the above re Royal Caribbean , I have been on many a cruise with RC and what you have said there is totally incorrect. You sit where you wan to and the only time you need to dress up is for the Captains night, if you bother going.
Nope I don't work for them :-)

Cruise holidays are five star hotels without the hassle of taxis.

pauliebdub

They've become a big thing for older gay men, 50+ usually, and for younger guys who like older men. There's several companies that offer such cruises to different places the carribean and Mediterranean cruises being most popular. It's really taken off in the past few years.

RedXIV

Noddyholder wrote: »

Just on the above re Royal Caribbean , I have been on many a cruise with RC and what you have said there is totally incorrect. You sit where you wan to and the only time you need to dress up is for the Captains night, if you bother going.
Nope I don't work for them :-)

Cruise holidays are five star hotels without the hassle of taxis.

Ah cheers! I was going off third hand information so probably should have clarified that.

Thanks for clearing that up

wakka12

No, couldn't imagine anything more sterile and dull and unexciting

As you said, a city break would be infinitely better in every way

Your Face

Yeah, I'd love to.
There's a few good ones that travel the Mediterranean.

LynnGrace

Friends of mine have done cruises, and rave about the experience. Might try one sometime.

Glenster

If I wanted a lazy sun holiday I'd definitely do a cruise, without a seconds hesitation. It sounds great for that.

But I want a bit of an adventure, (not in a minibus excursion with some fossils) so I don't.

When I turn 35 and am tired all the time I'll do a cruise.

HeidiHeidi

Neighbours of mine go on a cruise about three or four times a year.

The thoughts of running into them (or worse, a whole boatload of thems :eek:) would make me run a mile from going on a cruise.

A small part of me would love to win one or get given one just so I could try it out. But I'm fairly sure it would be my idea of hell.

gypsylee

I am going on a Mediterranean one in September. My first one. Brand new ship only launching in June.

Have read loads of general cruise reviews online and can't wait. As they say don't knock it til you try it. Oh and I am only a young one of 49!

Lollipops23

Went on one with my old job- Miami to Nassau (Bahamas) and back to Fort Lauderdale.

One day of rough waters and sea sickness, but lovely apart from that!

Odyssey 2005

In St. Thomas USVI on a cruise right now. DO IT. You won't be sorry. 33c here now

Noddyholder

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

In St. Thomas USVI on a cruise right now. DO IT. You won't be sorry. 33c here now

****er

twowheelsonly

wakka12 wrote: »

No, couldn't imagine anything more sterile and dull and unexciting

As you said, a city break would be infinitely better in every way

You obviously haven't tried a cruise so. I've done both and given a choice then the City Break, much as I enjoy them, would be waaaaay down the bottom of my list.

Glenster wrote: »

If I wanted a lazy sun holiday I'd definitely do a cruise, without a seconds hesitation. It sounds great for that.

But I want a bit of an adventure, (not in a minibus excursion with some fossils) so I don't.

When I turn 35 and am tired all the time I'll do a cruise.

The thing is there's excursions of all types depending on where you go and, apart from the excursions offered by the Cruise lines, most of the ports have hawkers selling their own excursions (and usually a lot cheaper than the Ships ones).
Amongst others we've been zip-lining, diving & snorkelling, kayaking, swimming with stingrays and on a jeep safari as well as visiting historical ruins (Maya Temples etc amongst others) , general easygoing island tours and just chilling out and sunning ourselves on some incredible beaches. If a minibus tour looking at fossils is your thing then chances are that's available too on some of the stops. They really do cover everything. Back to the ship, grub in any one of a number of restaurants, a few pints in one of a dozen different bars, catch a show, enjoy some music, off to bed and wake up somewhere different in the morning and do it all again !!

Glenster

twowheelsonly wrote: »

The thing is there's excursions of all types depending on where you go and, apart from the excursions offered by the Cruise lines

Its not the excursions themselves, its the sort of people I'd be elbow to elbow with on the excursion. Cruise line people; older, less adventurous.

Glenster

Glenster wrote: »

Its not the excursions themselves, its the sort of people I'd be elbow to elbow with on the excursion. Cruise line people; older, less adventurous.

Four generations of my family went on a Caribbean cruise a few years ago, I was about 23, I think. My cousin and I went diving in four or five different locations around the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We also went abseiling, wakeboarding, jet skiing, climbing and diving.

Not a fossil among us.

Graces7

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Would rather go on the titanic

Hate to tell you , but it sank...

Graces7

The flying mouse wrote: »

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.

Sounds boring frankly and noisy and busy... ah well, each to their own.

Glenster

Candie wrote: »

Four generations of my family went on a Caribbean cruise a few years ago, I was about 23, I think. My cousin and I went diving in four or five different locations around the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We also went abseiling, wakeboarding, jet skiing, climbing and diving.

Not a fossil among us.

No offense but I don't want to hang out a 23 year old who goes on holidays with their nan.

Glenster

Glenster wrote: »

No offense but I don't want to hang out a 23 year old who goes on holidays with their nan.

None taken, it was obviously a compliment.

ScumLord

You won't know unless you go, it's worth a shot once anyway. My mother has started going on cruises for holidays, but she's in her 60s. she's tried to convince the rest of us to go but I don't like the idea. I feel like It would be like being stuck at an airport.


I'm more of a car person though, I'd be much happier lost down some backroad than lying on a deck developing skin cancer. I have no interest in sun lounging and I think I'd go stir crazy stuck on a boat when my usual holiday is to tour from city to city.

I drove down to Spain last year and had great fun stopping off at roman ruins, D-day sites, just seeing small towns that I wouldn't have normally.

NIMAN

I'd get on one right this minute.

BraveDonut

50 later this year and definitely thinking about it.
Herself is not keen, but I could get her to go because it's my birthday.

Anyone know if you could get a relatively short, Sun cruise for not outrageous money in November?

(Not looking for much )

Bambi985

i feel like signing up to a cruise is some sort of morbid recognition that the best years of your life are over and you're ready to sail into the abyss of old age and the rapid decline towards death

ScumLord

BraveDonut wrote: »

50 later this year and definitely thinking about it.
Herself is not keen, but I could get her to go because it's my birthday.

Anyone know if you could get a relatively short, Sun cruise for not outrageous money in November?

(Not looking for much )

Wife swap, problem solved.

annascott

OP why do you think there will be bland food and dingy accommodation? Most cruises have many types of cuisine on offer. Food is usually one of the plus points people talk about. If you pay the extra for a room with a balcony or at least a window, it won't feel so grim and claustrophobic. Entertainment should be varied and something for everyone and you have the variety of places to visit when you stop at each port.

The only downside is the high cost but if you can afford it, it should be fun.

DEFTLEFTHAND

I actually would love to do the Cunard sailing from Southampton to New York.

A 4 day transatlantic crossing on a beautiful ocean liner.

Cunard are an ancient line of course, they had a big rivalry with the White Star Line 100 years ago before the Titanic disater.

They bought them out in the years after.

They still present their ships to this day with the classic navy hull, and the reddish orange stacks.

The famous livery.

cocaliquid

boring as fu*k