We've sailed on cruises to Bermuda, the eastern Carib, the western Carib, the southern Carib, the Panama Canal, Alaska and the Med. By far I'd recommend Alaska (beautiful scenery), the Panama Canal (I'm an engineer) and the Med (history in the ports). It's nice to check in, unpack and have your 'hotel' move from place to place. The food and service on cruise lines has deteriorated over the past twenty years but it still beats the Super 8 motel with the greasy spoon restaurant across the parking lot. Cruising can be an acquired taste but there are some real bargains out there these days where you can see if you might like it.
Do you like to cruise?
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DeathGrip
US Veteran
Ft.Lauderdale Beach in the late 70's early 80's. Gas was high and I didn't care. Big blocks and four speeds.
I've never been on a cruise ship but have been to some really cool places.
My idea is to "See it like a native". If they have yo keep you from the general population I have no reason to be there.
Happy travels,
I've never been on a cruise ship but have been to some really cool places.
My idea is to "See it like a native". If they have yo keep you from the general population I have no reason to be there.
Happy travels,
Now I could do an Alaskan cruise I believe. That seems like a blast.
OP
Well, I can see a lot of y'all have Alaska on your mind as it pertains to cruising. That is a great choice. Our very first cruise back in '97 was aboard the Princes Regal (before Carnival took over Princess). It was the inside Alaska 7-day cruise out of Vancouver BC. 15 years and 12 or 13 cruises later it is still, in many ways, our favorite and most memorable cruise.
You know, after all this time, all those cruises and all those ports of call I am not sure which or our Alaskan ports this was at but it was awesome. If it is not our favorite it is up there in the top two or three. I'm talking about HO scale train ride up to White Pass, the location of the 1899 gold rush. Absolutely incredible and something you will never forget. I highly recommend it to all who get the opportunity.
You know, after all this time, all those cruises and all those ports of call I am not sure which or our Alaskan ports this was at but it was awesome. If it is not our favorite it is up there in the top two or three. I'm talking about HO scale train ride up to White Pass, the location of the 1899 gold rush. Absolutely incredible and something you will never forget. I highly recommend it to all who get the opportunity.
My father has a good friend and he and his wife had vacationed the world over and one of the few places they visited twice was an Alaska cruise. He said everyone needs to see it in their lifetime. He said you can rent a helicopter to see the glaciers or even go on a dogsled. I have never been interested in cruises but that is one I will do.
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We've been on a dozen or so cruises with a few good friends. We've had some really great times and do plan a few more in the years to come. Alaska - (cruise and train) is what I want to do next.
A cruise to me is the most relaxing vacation there is. Because we've gone a bunch of times and I have seen most of the Caribbean Islands multiple times the most enjoyable part to us are the days at Sea. No rushing, no schedules and after the first few cruises you realize there's always food around so no need to gorge one's self.
Chief38
A cruise to me is the most relaxing vacation there is. Because we've gone a bunch of times and I have seen most of the Caribbean Islands multiple times the most enjoyable part to us are the days at Sea. No rushing, no schedules and after the first few cruises you realize there's always food around so no need to gorge one's self.
Chief38
BarbC
Member
Alex and I took the Tallink from Tallinn to Stockholm twice. It's only an overnight ferry but it also has great entertainment and fun people. The food is so-so but the cabins are ok. The price is so cheap it makes for a nice and simple (even for us) weekend getaway.
Arik
Member
Ive been on a few. Great times! You guys are missing out if you think its being couped up with a bunch of strangers. The ships are huge and you'd be surprised at how little you see of people. I think sitting on the beach is actually more packed then the ship. Its like a small city. Some people are shopping, some are sleeping, some are swimming at a few different pools at different ends and levels of the ship, at the liberty, in the computer room, exercising, at the cosino gambling ...thats first. Second, most of the time you are at sea is at night. Early morning the ship docks and you have all day to explore the town you're in. Be back by 5ish and get ready to go have dinner, or not if you dont want to. Dinner is served on several floors and in shifts so you are not with 2k people but more like at a restaurant. Your dinner might start at 5 and the next shift is at 7. At night there are shows, night clubs, movies, casinos (again) or just go to bed.
Its not like sitting in a small room with 2k people for a week. Outside of dinner time I almost never saw the same people twice. I hit all the islands and spent the day wondering around or you could book one of several things they have in that specific city. In Cosmel i went scuba diving and saw the reefs. In Grand Cayman i went swimming with stingrays.
Point is you dont just sit on a boat.
Its not like sitting in a small room with 2k people for a week. Outside of dinner time I almost never saw the same people twice. I hit all the islands and spent the day wondering around or you could book one of several things they have in that specific city. In Cosmel i went scuba diving and saw the reefs. In Grand Cayman i went swimming with stingrays.
Point is you dont just sit on a boat.
I'd only go on a southern cruise. You can have Alaska, I want to see pretty women in almost nothing swim suits, or less. If the boat sinks in the Caribbean, you don't feeze to death 10 minutes after you hit the water.
OTOH - Once it get's dark the shallow Caribbean water FILLS with sharks
An aunt went on a Mediterranean cruise a few years ago.
Something in the air vents made a bunch of folks sick - She among them.
After about 90 days in a 3rd world hospital she finally regained enough strength to lay in an air-ambulance for her trip back to Sanibel Island, FLA.
YEP - Sounds like real fun.....
Always seemed like going to a hotel that you can't leave - Not for me.
Pete 45
US Veteran
A Return To Alaska...
In 1997 my wife and I went on a cruise from Vancouver, BC north and through the Inner Passage of Alaska. It was our first as well as lest cruise and the best time we ever had, bar none. Like Maddog I would love to return on that same venue... but I no longer fly and to drive from Delaware to Seattle would be out of the question.
Mr. Maddog if you ever return, have one for me.
Pete
In 1997 my wife and I went on a cruise from Vancouver, BC north and through the Inner Passage of Alaska. It was our first as well as lest cruise and the best time we ever had, bar none. Like Maddog I would love to return on that same venue... but I no longer fly and to drive from Delaware to Seattle would be out of the question.
Mr. Maddog if you ever return, have one for me.
Pete
Arik
Member
Sometimes stuff happens. So what!?!?! Ships sink, planes crash (sometimes planes even crash into residential houses) the resort has monsoon season. It happens.
You could say stay in the US and visit American landmarks ....BUT....there is some kind of a deadly virus going around in one of the US national parks. Several people have died. S happens.Cant just sit in a bubble!
I have a HUGE fear of flying....HUGE!! I'll drive where ever possible even if it means taking extra days off just for the drive Dont like hights one bit but thats not going to stop me from enjoying my life and seing different things and places where I cant drive to.
johnjohn
Member
Have been on several to the Carribean and one to Alaska (my favorite). But we caught the ship in Seattle and man that is one loong plane ride from down here.
Anyone else remember the plane ride to or from RVN.Talk about long; we were over water, they fed us supper, then turned out the lights so we could sleep, then hours later they turned on the lights, woke us up and we had breakfast. Several hours later we were still churning away over the Pacific. If we were going East, it was OK for me; the longer we flew the closer we were getting to home.
