Going on a cruise next week
- Thread starter heyabbott
- Start date
Have done a few Bahamas cruises and have found it better to stay on boat in most ports,
especially the ones owned by the cruise lines.
Doesn't make the ports bad, it's just that I like being boat when most have left and you have the joint to yourself for hours.
especially the ones owned by the cruise lines.
Doesn't make the ports bad, it's just that I like being boat when most have left and you have the joint to yourself for hours.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2008
- Messages
- 8,013
I consider cruising the best way to vacation, and travel, and I absolutely love it. There's always lots to see and do, both on and off the ship. If I could afford it, I'd go on two or three cruises a year. As it is, I try to do one, and always feel fortunate when I can.
You can do as much, or as little, as you want. It's a viable option for almost anyone, and why they are popular with the older set (although the ability to pay also plays into the preponderance of older folks on most cruises, too).
There are many different types of cruises, and if you like traveling in general, it's a great, comfortable, luxurious way to do it, particularly if you're doing one that's longer than a weekend or long-weekend jaunt (these trips attract a younger, less financially established crowd).
Of course, I've always been an ocean enthusiast and am generally comfortable in and on the water, so that probably contributes to my love of cruising -- I actually like sea days, where you are traveling on the water and won't go into a port -- the best. But I also love going to and seeing places that I know I probably wouldn't otherwise.
And unlike Boom_70, I don't mind the cruise-owned ports -- they're tourist-y and consumer-money pits, but they're generally easy to navigate, and otherwise, who cares? You don't have to spend, and if you do want to, well, you're on vacation, right?
Just enjoy yourself and the beautiful, interesting places and people you'll see, and make some memories.
I usually travel on Holland America Line, an upper mid-level cruise line with some older and some new ships (and I've been on both types). And I've been enamored enough and am interested enough in it that I've done some cursory searching for jobs in the industry. I haven't taken that kind of plunge yet, but if an opportunity came up, I could easily see myself jumping at it -- even though I know from seeing it and asking about it that cruise personnel work hard, and have long hours/days.
You can do as much, or as little, as you want. It's a viable option for almost anyone, and why they are popular with the older set (although the ability to pay also plays into the preponderance of older folks on most cruises, too).
There are many different types of cruises, and if you like traveling in general, it's a great, comfortable, luxurious way to do it, particularly if you're doing one that's longer than a weekend or long-weekend jaunt (these trips attract a younger, less financially established crowd).
Of course, I've always been an ocean enthusiast and am generally comfortable in and on the water, so that probably contributes to my love of cruising -- I actually like sea days, where you are traveling on the water and won't go into a port -- the best. But I also love going to and seeing places that I know I probably wouldn't otherwise.
And unlike Boom_70, I don't mind the cruise-owned ports -- they're tourist-y and consumer-money pits, but they're generally easy to navigate, and otherwise, who cares? You don't have to spend, and if you do want to, well, you're on vacation, right?
Just enjoy yourself and the beautiful, interesting places and people you'll see, and make some memories.
I usually travel on Holland America Line, an upper mid-level cruise line with some older and some new ships (and I've been on both types). And I've been enamored enough and am interested enough in it that I've done some cursory searching for jobs in the industry. I haven't taken that kind of plunge yet, but if an opportunity came up, I could easily see myself jumping at it -- even though I know from seeing it and asking about it that cruise personnel work hard, and have long hours/days.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2008
- Messages
- 8,013
Vombatus said:
I've gone to the casinos, but more just to do it -- briefly, because it's too easy to lose $100 in 10 minutes -- and just to see if I happen to have some luck there. But I'm not really a gambler and it's certainly not why I go on cruises.
But I know some people who love going to the casino, spend hours there, and do often seem to win, which of course, makes them want to do it again. You can see how it can be addicting. But the only real luck I've had was once winning a lottery type contest for a watch, and I once won $630 in a bingo game, which I got as a ship credit toward my final bill, so that was nice.
I cruise for the enjoyable means of travel, and as I said, I love the ocean and am fond of natural wonders and taking in different places, people and cultures. More than anything, though, for me, there's nothing like realizing that you are, literally, in the middle of the ocean, really seeing, and understanding, how big it is, and through that, understanding your place in this world. I find it both humbling and strangely empowering, too.
I think I could live on a ship if I had to, and certainly don't think I'd mind it, if not forever, then for a year or two. Hence, the idea of a job on one.
BDC99
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2011
- Messages
- 8,078
Vombatus said:
Yes. But that is also one of the best parts of the cruise. You have so many options for food, and you can order another of anything you like. And it's usually all included. But you have to pace yourself.
As for the ports, you HAVE to get on the boat and look around, but don't get scammed into spending too much. If it's a place you've been before, then stay on the boat and enjoy the extra room to move around.
Have been to the Bahamas and Key West/Cozumel. It is a beautiful and relaxing way to travel. Wish I could afford it more often.
DanOregon
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2007
- Messages
- 49,410
Figure whatever you paid for the cruise, you'll end up spending on board in drinks, tips and excursions. Less if you don't do excursions. When I went to Alaska I got a "deal" on board of about $60 for a case of beer (I guess it saved on the tips) that I could keep in my berth. When we hit Juneau I bought a case of Alaskan from the brewery for about $30 and finished it up (with some help) before the end of the cruise.
If you like the service, tip the staff well. They don't get paid much at all and most send it all back home.
Try and do a bit of everything. Get a map of the ship and a daily schedule and plan out your day, but be sure to save some time to chill out around sunset.
Don't know if what kind of camera you have, but you can never have enough film or memory cards. For that matter, be sure you know if or how your phone use will be affected and what kind of adapters you should bring.
If you like the service, tip the staff well. They don't get paid much at all and most send it all back home.
Try and do a bit of everything. Get a map of the ship and a daily schedule and plan out your day, but be sure to save some time to chill out around sunset.
Don't know if what kind of camera you have, but you can never have enough film or memory cards. For that matter, be sure you know if or how your phone use will be affected and what kind of adapters you should bring.
BDC99
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2011
- Messages
- 8,078
Didn't do any of the excursions. Probably would only do that if you could go see the Mayan ruins or something like that. And on Carnival, I found the drinks to be pretty reasonable. I want to say a bucket of beer was 12 bucks. And I drank a ****-ton of them. But yes, I spent about the same for the drinks/gambling/etc as I paid for the cruise itself.
I love cruising. On our last cruise, I had a couple of books I wanted to read in downtime. We were on Carnival and the Serenity (adult) deck and the pool area were jammed. I found a lower deck that had deck chairs, my wife and I relaxed there and there were no crowds at all.
Baron Scicluna
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2007
- Messages
- 44,885
I did it once and had a fun time. I'll echo what others say about the eating, although also, leave plenty of time if it's buffet-style. The lines are super-long.
I did a bit of gambling, but nothing major, maybe lost $30 or so. I'm not much of a gambler, though. I did hear that the best time to gamble is usually the first night or the last night of the cruise, because it's a little easier to win. The first night is to entice people to gamble, and the last night is to make them feel a little better leaving the ship.
The nightly shows were very good, professional quality. They even had a Ship Idol event in which passengers signed up for. They were able to practice for the week with the ship's band, and performed on the final night. Some very talented people.
We did some port excursions, but nothing too expensive. Just to get off the ship and see another part of the world.
I also did enter several contests, and won a little trophy (no orange slices, though).
All in all, it was fun, and I'd do it again.
I did a bit of gambling, but nothing major, maybe lost $30 or so. I'm not much of a gambler, though. I did hear that the best time to gamble is usually the first night or the last night of the cruise, because it's a little easier to win. The first night is to entice people to gamble, and the last night is to make them feel a little better leaving the ship.
The nightly shows were very good, professional quality. They even had a Ship Idol event in which passengers signed up for. They were able to practice for the week with the ship's band, and performed on the final night. Some very talented people.
We did some port excursions, but nothing too expensive. Just to get off the ship and see another part of the world.
I also did enter several contests, and won a little trophy (no orange slices, though).
All in all, it was fun, and I'd do it again.
Hank_Scorpio
Active Member
One thing I've heard from several people is to pay the extra money to get a room with a balcony instead of an inside room.
Obviously you probably won't be in either room a whole lot but the balcony is likely worth it.
Obviously you probably won't be in either room a whole lot but the balcony is likely worth it.
Vombatus
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2012
- Messages
- 16,108
I entered a putt putt contest. Was the only person to show up on time. So hung out with the cute cruise director assistant. Then an elderly couple showed up to play, with gold, silver and bronze medals on the line. I said ok, you're ON old ****ers.
Won by two strokes. Old ******* made me work for it.
No orange slices.
Won by two strokes. Old ******* made me work for it.
No orange slices.
