Anyone go on a cruise ship?

[ylwjacket]

We always had balcony rooms, so I spent alot of time out there watching the ocean go by.

For me, that is a complete brain flush - got away from work and life.

Of course, I had to tell the kids that I would be drinking non-stop, but there is no problem, and I can shut it off once at home.

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[9zero1790]

Anyone ever gone on a cruise before?

We're leaving for a 5 day cruise going to costa maya and cozumel in late may and I've never done such a thing. We're going with royal Caribbean in an interior room with a virtual balcony whatever that means.

virtual balcony means no window lol. however, everyone has access to the decks for a good view. it will be a hoot! I love being on the water. esp when im not the one working lol. take lots of pics for us. esp some single ladies for me!

 

[Fordup]

virtual balcony means no window lol. however, everyone has access to the decks for a good view. it will be a hoot! I love being on the water. esp when im not the one working lol. take lots of pics for us. esp some single ladies for me!

We found the single rich ladies tend to go on the Carnival cruise line that has more singles activities ?. Royal Caribbean is more geared to couples with better food.

Inside or outside cabin doesn't matter if you're not on a honeymoon. They both have a bed and bathroom that is most likely all you will need in there with all the space and activities on the ship. We found the rocking of the ship is the same feeling everywhere and after a couple hours you should adjust. They do have patches should you need them. Just have fun and don't overbook shore excursions. Hit at least one midnight buffet and bring your camera.

 

[Crow_of_judgement]

We found the single rich ladies tend to go on the Carnival cruise line that has more singles activities ?. Royal Caribbean is more geared to couples with better food.

Inside or outside cabin doesn't matter if you're not on a honeymoon. They both have a bed and bathroom that is most likely all you will need in there with all the space and activities on the ship. We found the rocking of the ship is the same feeling everywhere and after a couple hours you should adjust. They do have patches should you need them. Just have fun and don't overbook shore excursions. Hit at least one midnight buffet and bring your camera.

That's why we picked royal Caribbean, loud obnoxious college kids do not spark joy, I'm in charge of a crew of 3 20-30 year olds at work so I do enough babysitting

 

[D Fresh]

There is nothing about a cruise that appeals to me. It gives me anxiety just thinking about being trapped in a floating hotel with a crowd of people that that I can’t get away from when I want. I prefer to pick a location and plan the stay on my terms.

This. Sounds dreadful.

But everybody who's done one says they're pretty great.

That's why we are doing 10 days on Maui starting next week!! Sun, Surf, & Booze, with some sight seeing and tourist things thrown in. This is for our 20th so the wife gets super pampered.
On topic, we took an inside passage cruise to Alaska (I was stationed there for 3 years) a few years ago, awesome scenery and generally a good time.

Great minds think alike.

My wife and I celebrate our 20th in September. We're headed to Kauai for 5 days then.

She's been to Hawaii once and always wanted to go back. I had always told her she was on her own as there was no way I'd take a flight that long. I guess I'll suffer through the flight since she suffered through 20 years.

 

[ylwjacket]

This. Sounds dreadful.

But everybody who's done one says they're pretty great.


Great minds think alike.

My wife and I celebrate our 20th in September. We're headed to Kauai for 5 days then.

She's been to Hawaii once and always wanted to go back. I had always told her she was on her own as there was no way I'd take a flight that long. I guess I'll suffer through the flight since she suffered through 20 years.

only 20? you're practically newlyweds

 

[Motorpsychology]

There is nothing about a cruise that appeals to me. It gives me anxiety just thinking about being trapped in a floating hotel with a crowd of people that that I can’t get away from when I want. I prefer to pick a location and plan the stay on my terms.
[/QUOTE

This. Sounds dreadful.

But everybody who's done one says they're pretty great.


Great minds think alike.

My wife and I celebrate our 20th in September. We're headed to Kauai for 5 days then.

She's been to Hawaii once and always wanted to go back. I had always told her she was on her own as there was no way I'd take a flight that long. I guess I'll suffer through the flight since she suffered through 20 years.

 

[Motorpsychology]

It's not like you are packed shoulder to shoulder 24/7. At 965 ft long and 105ft wide with 12 decks, I never saw the whole ship. There's plenty of uncrowded open space inside and and outside. There is no hot bunking,* you have your own room. I recommend an oceanside balcony room or a stateroom if you can manage it, for when you want some downtime. The food is 5-star, even the 24/7 buffets. There's a lot to be said for slowing life down to 17kts and being treated like royalty for a week. The shore days are a good way to try new things (never canned salmon before, probably never will again, but oh well).
It's important to choose a destination that you really would like to go to, rather than just go because of a good deal. Mrs Motorpsychology & I went on AK and New England cruises, but she has gone with her hen friends on a Bahama cruise; not for me.

*On submarines, where space is prioritized for the mission, not the crew, the enlisted crew rotate duty every 18 hours: 6, on 12 off. While you are on duty another crew member is off duty but elsewhere on board, and yet another is sleeping in "your" bunk, and you three rotate every 6 hours, hence the term.

Happy 20th Anniversary, Doug. Here's hoping that there will be a 21st after your round trip flight!

 

[ppfd]

I hated the thought of going on a cruise, I about cried when it was over I couldn't believe the week was over.
Also the first time I had ever flown in my 50 some years alive. I've now flown at least 20 -25 times in the last 3 years.
Haggling, you can haggle on excursions. The shops on the ship are just like going to a wal mart or CVS. Price is the price.
Now heres the thing, the prices get lower on many things each day your on the ship. Our last drink package was buy one, get one half off. So each day longer your cruising they want you to buy a drink package, same with internet, so they lower it each day. Each person drinking has to have a package, they really enforce that one. If you drink soda, its in the package, or you buy a soda package.
There are jewelry sales, watch sales, art sales, all kinds of things to buy.
If you buy alcohol or smokes on the ship, they hold them until you get off the boat.
You get water, tea, coffee, lemonade or ice tea on Royal Caribbean for free.
I hate crowds and people as much as anyone, out last ship had around 7,000 total people on it, customers and workers. I could always find a place to get away from people on the boat.
Book your excursions through the cruise ship, they will not leave with out you when you book through them.

Get off the damn boat and enjoy the culture. Usually 3 countries in a week, for a few grand, not a bad deal.
Been to
Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, the Bahamas, Aruba, and Curacao.
The Haitians and Jamaicans were super cool. Drank more rum punch than I should have in Hati and had real Red Stripes and went to a Caribbean jerk BBQ in Jamaica.

 

[Megawatt]

Almost forgot. You have to try to smuggle alcohol in your bags. You drop off your bags when you first board and a couple hrs later your bags are delivered at your room you don’t carry them on.

If they find your liquor they will confiscate it and leave paper in your bag that says they found it and at the end of the trip you get the EMPTY container. But that’s as bad as it gets.

If you successfully smuggled it onboard then just buy the soft drink free refill package and save buku bucks. My wife and I live a comfortable living and we are not poor but it’s kinda a fun thing we do.

Only once did they catch one bag with the booty. They have a couple hrs to go thru a bazillion suitcases before the ship sails. They can’t get it all.

 

[Dynawide]

Wife and I went on an Alaskan cruise with Carnival last July, I won't say I will never go on another but it's not my favorite thing to do. We loved Alaska but didn't get to spend much time on land and way too much time being bored on the ship where we just wandered around eating and drinking and going to the comedy clubs which were pretty good. I despise being on someone else timetable and you had better be back to the ship on time because they don't wait for you.

 

[Synfulz]

Wife and I went on an Alaskan cruise with Carnival last July, I won't say I will never go on another but it's not my favorite thing to do. We loved Alaska but didn't get to spend much time on land and way too much time being bored on the ship where we just wandered around eating and drinking and going to the comedy clubs which were pretty good. I despise being on someone else timetable and you had better be back to the ship on time because they don't wait for you.

Great pictures.

 

[KJRR]

Wife and I went on an Alaskan cruise with Carnival last July, I won't say I will never go on another but it's not my favorite thing to do. We loved Alaska but didn't get to spend much time on land and way too much time being bored on the ship where we just wandered around eating and drinking and going to the comedy clubs which were pretty good. I despise being on someone else timetable and you had better be back to the ship on time because they don't wait for you.

You would be correct. If you want to spend time on land exploring, don't take a cruise where you spend most of your time on the ship. That would be obvious to me and it's your choice to be bored on a ship. There is plenty to do.
Same with Hawaii, if you want to spend time on land, don't take a cruise, you will only get a short chance to visit places.

 

[Motorpsychology]

The more I'm reading about other cruise lines, the more I appreciate Norwegian: A wide selection of excursions to fit almost any interest and generous shore time to enjoy them, good on board entertainment, prompt room service, no assigned dining. Their ships we were on were equipped with radar/sonar computer controlled stabilizers, so that the ship anticipates the sea state ahead of it and counteracts the effects of swells and waves. I went out on our balcony during a storm on our Alaskan cruise to get some video of the 3-5M/10-16ft high seas. The ship had a low rumble and very slight roll, and it would crash through some waves big enough to throw spray up 8 stories to our balcony!
Enjoyable as our Alaskan and New England & Maritime Provinces cruises were, it was good to get off the boat after 5-7 days; we both agree that we'd never go on a longer cruise.

 

[Dynawide]

it's your choice to be bored on a ship. There is plenty to do.

If your idea of fun is sitting around listening and playing various musical games that all revolved around either Billy Joel or Elton John, then sure it's a blast. I'm dead serious too, every single one we went to they had songs from those 2 and that was it. They even had a musical in the main theater and it was music from those 2 singers.

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