I posted this to travel, but this place gets more traffic.
Has anyone had a great experience on a cruise? We want to go somewhere warm this winter. I want to do an AI with private pool, but H tells me he can't sit on a beach for a week straight, he needs 'stuff'! We have never been on a cruise before, we are thinking Royal Caribbean probably the Independence. Any thoughts?
I went on one a LONG time ago. But a CW just went on one recently and holy crap, those boats have gotten fancy! Tons of shops, food/restaurants, gambling, outdoor stuff. I think it sounds like fun. But I'd also bring a roll of trash bags and protein bars in case of power failure. The thought of being out to sea without power for several days is horrifying.
Post by rosiebear on Sept 16, 2014 15:32:26 GMT -5
I've been on two (Alaska and Caribbean) and I had a fabulous time. It was like date night every night: you dress for dinner, have a lovely restaurant experience, go dancing, drinking, gambling, trivia, whatever. We chose to be pretty active on our cruises, with some kind of excursion at every stop, but you don't have to do that.
We cruised Celebrity both times and have only excellent things to say about that line. One thing I don't like about cruising is that you only get to spend a short time (like, a workday) at each place, so you could really only choose one thing to do. I think, for that reason, we're looking to an AI next time we go to the Caribbean.
We enjoy cruising. It's a great way to see a few islands in a short span, while getting a tan and drinking. We've had 2 great Princess cruises (although one was Alaska, so not much tanning going on), but the other was the Caribbean.
We joined in on a family cruise with DH's side on Carnival and it wasn't the same level of service, but still a decent vacation since we were with a large group.
I've also done RC, but it was years ago and an older ship. I know their newer ships are basically travelling cities.
Post by shoeaholic on Sept 16, 2014 15:34:05 GMT -5
We cruise regularly and love them. They really are a great way to travel and usually you can get some great deals. I recommend Royal Caribbean or Celebrity. Royal (especially the newer ships ) have great activities to participate in and large pool areas for those days at sea. Celebrity has promotions going on right now where you can pick a perk which is either a cabin credit, prepaid tips or drink package. The drinks package is the best value. You can buy a drink package on Royal but it is not currently included as a promotion. I would recommend Royal though based on your husbands desire to keep busy. Celebrity is more low key and a bit more formal.
Food is generally very good and there are lots of dining choices and if you can travel outside of school holidays you won't have a ton of kids (if your just traveling as a couple that matters to many).
milosh where are you guys thinking of cruising to?
I've been on Carnival as well as Royal Caribbean and feel that the level of service and the quality of food was higher on Royal.
The Caribbean! We don't have any set place we want to go to, and I think between 5-7 days would be my limit.
Our cruise was 5 nights. One day at sea, one day at Grand Turk, one day at some island the cruiseline owned, one day at Nassau then home on day 5. We found it to be the right amount of time to be on a boat. We spent the rest of that weekend putzing around Miami beach. We really loved it.
I'm just sayin'. I'd rather not be trapped on a ship if people start bazooka-barfing.
I know! This is one of the reasons why I'm hesitant. That, and the fact that some husband throws his wife overboard a few times a year (at least from CNN's pov). But for real, I would take vitamins and my shots beforehand. Hopefully, that would help in case something like this does actually happen.
Post by nonsensetomfoolery on Sept 16, 2014 15:43:57 GMT -5
We did a carnival cruise with a large group of extended family. It was fine, maybe even fun. It was not fancy but it was more than good enough for what it was (a free trip with my loud and crazy family).
Post by VeryViolet on Sept 16, 2014 15:48:54 GMT -5
We have been on three cruises and love them. I like being able to disconnect and like your DH mine cannot sit still. I can sit by the pool and he can do a million and one things while I spend my day doing nothing. It is just a fun and relaxing vacation.
I have done Carnival twice and RC once. We actually preferred Carnival especially for the price. I know it gets hate but I didn't think RC was so much nicer. The food was about the same and the activities were geared at a slightly older crowd on RC.
My recommendation is to get a balcony room. It is so nice to sit out there with coffee first thing in the morning.
Post by yourmother on Sept 16, 2014 15:51:25 GMT -5
I went on a 3 or 4 night cruise about ten years ago out of TX. My bar tab was about as much as the cost of the cruise itself. I didn't care for the experience. It could have been due to the crowd I was with.
Don't worry about Noro. Of course people get it on cruise ships, but people also get it everyday at work, school or other public places.
H and I went on a cruise and loved it! Royal Caribbean is an awesome cruise line, we sailed on the Liberty which is identical to the ship you were looking at.
I vote you should try it! If you end up not liking it at least you gave it a shot. My guess is that you'll like it though.
We have been on three cruises and love them. I like being able to disconnect and like your DH mine cannot sit still. I can sit by the pool and he can do a million and one things while I spend my day doing nothing. It is just a fun and relaxing vacation.
I have done Carnival twice and RC once. We actually preferred Carnival especially for the price. I know it gets hate but I didn't think RC was so much nicer. The food was about the same and the activities were geared at a slightly older crowd on RC.
My recommendation is to get a balcony room. It is so nice to sit out there with coffee first thing in the morning.
And much less claustrophobic. I couldn't do a room without one, I don't think.
I've cruised twice and had a great experience both times. There is a ton of stuff to do, and we really enjoyed the ports we stopped at. We're hoping to do another cruise out of Galveston this winter or next spring.
Lurker but I have gone on both carnival and royal and prefer royal. I worked at the terminal for royal in glaveston for awhile. Tip don't go on the cruise that goes to Belize (there are two different iternaries for that ship they alternate weeks). Coming back through customs is awful after you get off. The terminal was built to accomadate a cruise ship that holds 2500 passengers. The cruise ship that goes out holds just over 4000. If you do go on the belize iternary once you get back do the self-assist (take your own luggage off) so that you will be one of the first ones off because the custom line gets really long and you can be waiting an hour or more in it the later you get off (and that is on a day where there are no other problems)
Post by cheeseandcrackers on Sept 16, 2014 16:05:45 GMT -5
i've cruised about 5 times now.. love them. I try to go around January because cruises are dirt cheap at that time. I cruised with Carnival and Norwegian.
Post by cutecloud on Sept 16, 2014 16:09:51 GMT -5
I've cruised on Royal Caribbean and Norwegian and had a great time each time. The ships are soooo clean too. I wouldn't worry about norovirus. Just wash your hands and use the hand sanitizer they have everywhere on board. I will say I thought the food was better on Norwegian but RC's ships are so nice and it's not like the food is bad, anyway.
Post by Champagne Supernova on Sept 16, 2014 16:17:08 GMT -5
I love cruises because I can only take off from work for two weeks tops and with cruises, I can cover many cities in those two weeks.
We usually go with Norwegian because we already racked up enough sea days with them so we get all the perks. Nothing but awesome experience with them and we prefer the "freestyle cruising". And yeah, once you get a balcony or a suite, it majorly SUCKS to go back to an inside cabin with no windows.
I heard many good raves about Royal Caribbean. Their massive ships are lots of fun. The only issue I have with them is the itinerary because I've been to all those places so many times. It's really all about enjoying the ship instead of the ports.
Post by birdistheword on Sept 16, 2014 16:22:22 GMT -5
I LOVE cruises. I have been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. Carnival has the best prices, RC has the nicest ships, but Norwegian has been my favorite so far. They had awesome drink prices and two for one deals, and any time dining, which I really like. Cruises are by far my favorite type of vacation.
LOVE Cruising! We've been gosh...6-7 times now. FINALLY M is big enough to have fun with the kids program and fun with US at ports! So we're going next year on Freedom from Royal. I'M SO EXCITED. I've already started buying items for our cruise......
I've only done one- a Disney cruise. It's not on any of the lists from that cdc link (no reported virus outbreaks).
It was amazing, and there's lots of adults only type things to do. There were a lot of adults there without children at all.
It's not in your face Disney either, and the food was amazing! It's $$ though.
Yes! We've been on 3 Disney cruises and have another booked for June. They are excellent-food, service, amenities, everything except the price. If you can go in the off season, it's much cheaper. We're limited to June and July due to DH's job so we never get the good deals.
Post by rageragerage on Sept 16, 2014 16:51:01 GMT -5
I've been on one, it was a Princess to Alaska and it really wasn't my thing. I didn't love the food, I didn't love the entertainment, and I was bored on the days at sea. I did enjoy all of the ports though.