Cruises

oxat622

oxat622

Well-known member
I had never been on a cruise in my life until this past December. We took our kids on the Disney Wish for a four night trip with two stops in the Bahamas. I was skeptical I'd enjoy my time even though I knew the kids would be thrilled. I've heard one person describe cruise ships as giant floating Applebees. To my slight surprise, I actually had a wonderful time. Maybe that's the Disney brand and their high standard of hospitality, but I wasn't turned off at all about this form of vacation. We're looking to go again perhaps next year if we can find a good overall package at a certain price point, and are open to other lines besides Disney.

So, cruises. Your experiences? Likes, dislikes? Got a preferred line?
 
 
We haven't cruised post-pandemic, but have done a number of them in the past. We have generally stuck with Royal Caribbean, mostly because they have so many different things to do on the ship, including the Flowrider (wave simulator) that is where my boys spent the vast majority of their time when at sea.

With my youngest heading off to college this fall, my wife and I might try a smaller ship with someone like Celebrity (staying in the RCI family, since we have status), since we won't necessarily need as many on-ship activities without our kids.

We usually tried to look for ports we wanted to go to first, then schedules and finally, the ship itself. We've done two or three Caribbean cruises (a lot of the islands start to look the same after a while) and two in Europe, one in the Mediterranean and one in the Baltic Sea, which was probably our favorite, albeit the most expensive and longest cruise we did. The Baltic one was especially notable now, since the highlight port, St. Petersburg, is unlikely to be an option for years to come now.
 
1988 - American Hawaii Cruises, went defunct in mid-90's. 7-day trip around the islands. Loved it. They had two small vessels, 40 years old, 750 pax each. Tiny inside staterooms. My buddy and I couldn't reach the door if our luggage was on the floor. But the food, crew, and entertainment were all great. Definitely had an older 1920's Hollywood feel to it.

1993 - Carnival, anniversary trip to the Bahamas with Ms. Z. Say what you want about Carnival, but we had no complaints. I did confirm there is such a thing as a "topless sunbathing deck". Freeport excursion was forgettable; Old Nassau was memorable.

2005 - Carnival, NYC to Nova Scotia with another couple. Again, no complaints. Everything was as advertised.

Disney Cruises sound great for kids. We've talked about going again in our retirement, just haven't pulled the trigger. Would like to try a cruise to Alaska, and also try another company like Royal Carribean or Scandinavian.
 
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soccerdad72 said:
We haven't cruised post-pandemic, but have done a number of them in the past. We have generally stuck with Royal Caribbean, mostly because they have so many different things to do on the ship, including the Flowrider (wave simulator) that is where my boys spent the vast majority of their time when at sea.

With my youngest heading off to college this fall, my wife and I might try a smaller ship with someone like Celebrity (staying in the RCI family, since we have status), since we won't necessarily need as many on-ship activities without our kids.

We usually tried to look for ports we wanted to go to first, then schedules and finally, the ship itself. We've done two or three Caribbean cruises (a lot of the islands start to look the same after a while) and two in Europe, one in the Mediterranean and one in the Baltic Sea, which was probably our favorite, albeit the most expensive and longest cruise we did. The Baltic one was especially notable now, since the highlight port, St. Petersburg, is unlikely to be an option for years to come now.
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I've hit the Scandanavians by land. The Baltics are a wish list for me, particularly St. Petersburg. Choose that one, lol. Ads for the ones along the Rhine also excite. I've been on open ocean on cargo ship and navy ship but on a cruise ship the idea gives me the willies. I don't know why. I'll stck to seas, rivers and inlets.
 
I’d like to do the European city river cruise but as of now my wife’s not interested. She’s even less interested in the Carribean or Mexico destinations.🤷🏼
 
eastisbest said:
I've hit the Scandanavians by land. The Baltics are a wish list for me, particularly St. Petersburg. Choose that one, lol. Ads for the ones along the Rhine also excite. I've been on open ocean on cargo ship and navy ship but on a cruise ship the idea gives me the willies. I don't know why. I'll stck to seas, rivers and inlets.
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The old man, who traveled extensively…and who liked to take in museums and great architecture (churches, etc.), said that his two favorite places in the world were Barcelona and St Petersburg.
 
We did a last minute cruise when our kids were young. Limited options due to the last minute…Tampa down to Cozumel and back…no stops…the kids had a good time (pizza/ice cream 24/7)…I thought it was OK…and would like to do a Europe river cruise.
 
Saving up for a trip to Duluth!

Great Lakes Cruises | Viking®

Discover natural wonders: from outstanding beauty to historic cities and a deep connection to nature, the Great Lakes are an undiscovered treasure, boasting stunning national parks best explored via tranquil kayaking and hiking. This area is also rich in culture, with world-class museums...
www.vikingcruises.com www.vikingcruises.com
 
Not a fan. Did one and biggest drawback to me is you are on someone else’s schedule. Having a good time at a destination and want to stay, too bad you need to be back to leave. Want to just chill and eat later, too bad you have to eat at a predetermined time. Also the up selling is out of hand.
 
oxat622 said:
I had never been on a cruise in my life until this past December. We took our kids on the Disney Wish for a four night trip with two stops in the Bahamas. I was skeptical I'd enjoy my time even though I knew the kids would be thrilled. I've heard one person describe cruise ships as giant floating Applebees. To my slight surprise, I actually had a wonderful time. Maybe that's the Disney brand and their high standard of hospitality, but I wasn't turned off at all about this form of vacation. We're looking to go again perhaps next year if we can find a good overall package at a certain price point, and are open to other lines besides Disney.

So, cruises. Your experiences? Likes, dislikes? Got a preferred line?
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We'll be cruising on the Disney Wish in July. Very much looking forward to it. The only other cruise I've been on was on the Disney Magic in 2016.
 
I've only done one Caribbean cruise on Carnival in 2013. It was really great! It exceeded all expectations and I thought the main dining was just as delicious as the 'special' steak restaurant I visited one night. BTW - they had several different time seatings for dinner. Not only that, but I could choose to sit alone or at a larger table. I was thoroughly entertained with various options of shows throughout the ship. I even went to the art auction (free champagne) and THAT was entertaining - the host was hilarious. I chose private port excursions which were all OUTSTANDING, but I believe I will choose excursions offered by the cruise line for future trips due to their policy of not leaving you behind if you are delayed on the return. It truly was one of my favorite vacations and I very much look forward to another cruise.
 
Went on a cruise to the Caribbean about 30 years ago, don't remember which company (likely Carnival) and would have enjoyed it better had we chose the 4-day or 5-day option. It was a 7-day cruise, which turned out to be too long for my liking.

Anyway, I came across this today:

thehill.com

Over 300 sickened on Princess cruise ship; company points to ‘likely’ cause

A cruise ship that recently returned to Galveston, Texas, is at the center of an investigation after over 280 people were sickened on a recent voyage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
thehill.com thehill.com
 
eastisbest said:
I've hit the Scandanavians by land. The Baltics are a wish list for me, particularly St. Petersburg. Choose that one, lol. Ads for the ones along the Rhine also excite. I've been on open ocean on cargo ship and navy ship but on a cruise ship the idea gives me the willies. I don't know why. I'll stck to seas, rivers and inlets.
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Just get on a train on either side of the Rhein/Mosel and you can stay in any of those cities for as long as you want. Way better. The stretch between Koblenz and Frankfurt is especially nice. Go in September and you'll have a wonderful time.
 
Sig Hansen said:
Just get on a train on either side of the Rhein/Mosel and you can stay in any of those cities for as long as you want. Way better. The stretch between Koblenz and Frankfurt is especially nice. Go in September and you'll have a wonderful time.
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I love trains. I like boats more in some cases, they kind of meander. That train ride sounds like a life-timer too though. Taking the boat wouldn't stop me from continuing on, maybe even taking the train back to those places. I doubt the boat does a round trip, so maybe combine the two?
 
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We have cruised Holland America prior to having kids. Much quietier, fewer kids on the ship.

We enjoyed them all. 10 Day Eastern Mediterranean, 10 Day Baltic (I'll bet that doesn't stop in St Petersburg anymore), and a couple of Carribbean.

We do plan on another in the coming years. Most likely Alaska, but I would like to do the Panama Canal. We should also complete the Western Mediterranean for the heck of it.
 
oxat622 said:
I had never been on a cruise in my life until this past December. We took our kids on the Disney Wish for a four night trip with two stops in the Bahamas. I was skeptical I'd enjoy my time even though I knew the kids would be thrilled. I've heard one person describe cruise ships as giant floating Applebees. To my slight surprise, I actually had a wonderful time. Maybe that's the Disney brand and their high standard of hospitality, but I wasn't turned off at all about this form of vacation. We're looking to go again perhaps next year if we can find a good overall package at a certain price point, and are open to other lines besides Disney.

So, cruises. Your experiences? Likes, dislikes? Got a preferred line?
Click to expand...
In my youth, I was privy to an extensive cruise, that took me to a number of venues in the Orient, across the Equator to New Zealand and Australia, and a number of Pacific islands in route to and from lovely Souhern California. Exotic venues and exciting times to be sure. But the cost was very cost prohibitive, as I'm still paying for those experiences today.
 
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soccerdad72 said:
We haven't cruised post-pandemic, but have done a number of them in the past. We have generally stuck with Royal Caribbean, mostly because they have so many different things to do on the ship, including the Flowrider (wave simulator) that is where my boys spent the vast majority of their time when at sea.

With my youngest heading off to college this fall, my wife and I might try a smaller ship with someone like Celebrity (staying in the RCI family, since we have status), since we won't necessarily need as many on-ship activities without our kids.

We usually tried to look for ports we wanted to go to first, then schedules and finally, the ship itself. We've done two or three Caribbean cruises (a lot of the islands start to look the same after a while) and two in Europe, one in the Mediterranean and one in the Baltic Sea, which was probably our favorite, albeit the most expensive and longest cruise we did. The Baltic one was especially notable now, since the highlight port, St. Petersburg, is unlikely to be an option for years to come now.
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The pandemic is OVER? SOMEONE had better tell my colonoscopy prefessionals. Who will require me to have a mask on for the entire time of the procedure. (About six plus hours) PLUS, I must endure a Covid onsite testing prior to the procedure, as well. And my ride will have to stay in the parking lot for the duration of this mid-May procedure.
 
eastisbest said:
I love trains. I like boats more in some cases, they kind of meander. That train ride sounds like a life-timer too though. Taking the boat wouldn't stop me from continuing on, maybe even taking the train back to those places. I doubt the boat does a round trip, so maybe combine the two?
Click to expand...
You could easily do that. Or do the cruise on the Rhein, then get off and take the train up the Mosel valley.
 
OhioBobcatFan06 said:
Saving up for a trip to Duluth!

Great Lakes Cruises | Viking®

Discover natural wonders: from outstanding beauty to historic cities and a deep connection to nature, the Great Lakes are an undiscovered treasure, boasting stunning national parks best explored via tranquil kayaking and hiking. This area is also rich in culture, with world-class museums...
www.vikingcruises.com www.vikingcruises.com
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Doesn’t seem like a very good cruise. Where do you sail out of Milwaukee, or you taking the long one out of Detroit ?
 
My wife, me and 4 friends did the Miami, Cozumel, Caymans, and Jamaica run. Had a great time, the beaches in the Caymens, were beautiful. Shoulda had a balcony. If I ever go again I‘ll make that a must.
 
Auggie said:
Not a fan. Did one and biggest drawback to me is you are on someone else’s schedule. Having a good time at a destination and want to stay, too bad you need to be back to leave. Want to just chill and eat later, too bad you have to eat at a predetermined time. Also the up selling is out of hand.
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The only schedule you have is to be back on the ship before the ship leaves port. The only predetermined time is dinner, and if you miss that, they're plenty of other options on board that come free. Guys Burgers, Mexican, Pizza, Sub Shops and even the Buffet. Although the last couple cruises I never went near the Buffet.

It's a blast! I chill and drink Pina coladas in the Serenity area if there are a lot of undisciplined kids on board. If not, the Lido deck.
Love the Punch Liner (Carnival's Comedy Club) and Piano Bar are one of my favorite places to hang out. I play at the Casino and then get great deals on future cruises. I've paid for a few cruises just from my casino winnings.

For around $55 a day per person (That includes your room, prepaid gratuities & port fees as well as I get $100 per person of On Board Credit, plus free drinks in the Casino!) You can't beat that with a stick!

You can do what ever you desire. Read a book, go to a show or events they have planned. They even have movies on the Lido deck in the evenings and have movies on your tv. I watched the Green Book while on one cruise just chillin in my room with a 7/7. They also have a library if you have run out of books. If you can't enjoy a cruise, all don't know what to tell you.

The only thing you have to be aware of is gaining weight. LOL! The first few cruises I went on I gained 10 pounds or more each cruise. Now what I do is I get up in the morning and head to the fitness center and workout, hit the sauna or steam room and take a shower there as well. The showers are a lot bigger than your room shower. The las few cruises I only gained a few compared to 10 pounds! If you try and take the stairs instead of the elevator, that helps too.
 
buckeye53 said:
My wife, me and 4 friends did the Miami, Cozumel, Caymans, and Jamaica run. Had a great time, the beaches in the Caymens, were beautiful. Shoulda had a balcony. If I ever go again I‘ll make that a must.
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I think Balconies are over rated. You're never in you room but to sleep. I had one before and it was ok, but not worth the extra money to me. Interior cabins are just fine with me. You can take a nap during the day if needed and it's pitch black. At night before you go to sleep, turn on the TV to the front on the ships camera to know when the sun rises to get up and enjoy your cruise.
 
I liked having a balcony and would not enjoy the trip nearly as much without one. Nice place to have some quiet moments if I needed or slowly slip into the morning instead of waking and being on the move immediately.

You can do what ever you desire. Read a book, go to a show or events they have planned. They even have movies on the Lido deck in the evenings and have movies on your tv. I watched the Green Book while on one cruise just chillin in my room with a 7/7. They also have a library if you have run out of books. If you can't enjoy a cruise, all don't know what to tell you.
Click to expand...

One nice thing Disney did was the first night at sea was a Monday. Up on the deck where they usually showed Disney movies throughout the day on a big screen, they had a Monday Night Football watch party.
 
oxat622 said:
I liked having a balcony and would not enjoy the trip nearly as much without one. Nice place to have some quiet moments if I needed or slowly slip into the morning instead of waking and being on the move immediately.



One nice thing Disney did was the first night at sea was a Monday. Up on the deck where they usually showed Disney movies throughout the day on a big screen, they had a Monday Night Football watch party.
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Disney is very expensive and has a lot more kids. I stick with Carnival and go to the Serenity if too many kids. LOL!
 
I was one of those people who swore I’d never go on a cruise..Didn’t want to be trapped on a boat and small room for an extended period

My wife became a travel agent and she talked me into going because she wanted to be able to give feedback to clients….Glad we did, it was the most relaxing vacation we’ve ever been on and can’t wait to do another. We did the Disney Dream out of Miami and went to their private island in the Bahamas and Cozumel
 
buckeye53 said:
My wife, me and 4 friends did the Miami, Cozumel, Caymans, and Jamaica run. Had a great time, the beaches in the Caymens, were beautiful. Shoulda had a balcony. If I ever go again I‘ll make that a must.
Click to expand...
Did that one over 30 years ago. Had an enjoyable time, but not my cup of tea.
 
oxat622 said:
I liked having a balcony and would not enjoy the trip nearly as much without one. Nice place to have some quiet moments if I needed or slowly slip into the morning instead of waking and being on the move immediately.



One nice thing Disney did was the first night at sea was a Monday. Up on the deck where they usually showed Disney movies throughout the day on a big screen, they had a Monday Night Football watch party.
Click to expand...
I'll bet the kids never forget.
 
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