HMPS

Having cruised 26 times, we stop " overeating" on the third dY. Just happens !

To eat sensibly is an individual decision. My wife likes afternoon teas, but I stay way because I know I will eat there !

YVR Cockroach

In that case, cruise on Holland America. Portions are small (but decent) and desserts are frequently awful. Cruised for 15 days and ate almost every meal in the dining room (think we only skipped/missed 3) and didn't gain much weight.

747FC

What kind of travel do you like? Exploring cities or the countryside? Answering that question allows you to pick a suitable cruise destination. For example, if you like scenery, take a cruise that focuses on nature, like an Alaska or Norway cruise. If you ike cities, take a cruise that stops in ports everyday.

As formerly independent travelers, the Mrs. and I were fearful of cruising--fear of the unknown, and whether we would like being part of such a large traveling group. We started with a six-day cruise, then nine-day, 11-day, and finally doing the 14-day ones. the Mrs. really likes not having the pack/unpack experience of our former wandering experiences when we drove through Europe without an itinerary.

We have found that some larger ships offer more of a sense of privacy than smaller ships. You will just have to experiment with a variety of cruiselines, ship sizes, and room types to find out what suits you. Enjoy the adventure!

mpc7488

I love cruises. As someone else already mentioned, they're like inexpensive all-inclusive hotels (often less than $100/night per person) with food, entertainment, sports, and so on.

However, my brother hates them. He didn't like the feeling of being surrounded by other people all the time, and even the shore excursions (which can be very private if you just wander off on your own) weren't enough of an escape.

I really suggest you try an inexpensive 7 day cruise yourself to find out if it's for you!

iluvcruising2

We love to cruise too, though I recognize that cruising is not for everybody.

Our recent trip on the Celebrity Silhouette was fantastic.

http://guitar123foodandtravel.blogsp...-pictures.html

Romelle

For years I thought cruises were not for me. I'm not fond of big meals and sitting at tables for a long time. I also don't like forced socialization. I'm not real fond of having to dress up.

But for some personal reasons I took a 14 day transatlantic cruise by myself.

I learned that there are so many different things happening on a big ship that one can pick and choose and be completely happy with one's personalized selection.

My choices:

Library
Selecting food from the open buffet areas and carrying it to where I could eat outside (watching the ocean, the sky, islands, coast lines, other boats, ...)
Classes on cake decorating, and marzipan animals
Lectures on navigation and Wallis Simpson/King Edward VIII
Some earlier musical events
Hot tubs and swimming
Facials
Classes on precious gems
The daily newspaper, sudoku, crossword puzzle
Presentations on the next day's location
And of course getting off at each location and exploring it to the fullest
Shopping at the ship stores (they changed the offerings regularly)

I never set foot in the casino, bars, or dining rooms. I didn't do any late night partying, drinking and dancing.

Other people happily were having an entirely different adventure doing the things I was skipping.

I enjoyed all sorts of different foods I don't normally have. Lots of curries, and other asian things. With the buffets, I could take just a taste of many different things, then come back for more of what I liked.

Romelle

SiberianTiger

+1 ^@:-) Great price too! We are going on our 3d one, cant beat $40 per night and everything else included. I really like Blue Men Group...went twice!

xkr0p

Love crusiing. I fly on a monthly basis internationally for both work and leisure so im no stranger to travel, but cruising is a whole different ballgame. The great thing is its all inclusive asides from alcohol. If you dont drink, or sneak on your own alcohol, it is by far the cheapest vacation you can possibly take and with the right itinerary you can visit multiple countries/islands. The best aspect is not having the hassles of flying, making reservations, taking taxis... everything is a walk away on the ship and its really like a floating city, you never really feel like your stuck on a ship...

lkar

We've done a few as a family. It wouldn't have been my first choice, but actually we've gotten a fair amount out of it and are planning yet another cruise this summer for our big family trip.

If what you want is relaxation with nice views and a chance to stretch your legs and see some interesting things here and there, it's hard to beat. That is not my style at all -- way too many people and too much focus on mass-served eating. We tried a Caribbean cruise, which was focused on beaches and these sort of ship-owned islands and artificial cruise port towns, and once was definitely enough. For us, going forward, it has to be a port-intensive cruise with many interesting international city stops.

Even then, the problem is cruising does not permit very much immersion into a particular place that you might visit. You find yourself doing these 8-hour rush-throughs and barely even getting to know a place. Some cities are huge cruise destinations, yet not very well suited for cruising. Venice comes to mind -- it takes 3 days there just to feel like you're starting to get its rhythms, and with a cruise, you're there and gone in a day. You have to find ways to get a reward out of being in a place for a few hours -- some cities or locales are more amenable to it. Amsterdam, for example, is a wonderful city that is best enjoyed by getting to know its nooks and crannies, but it also is the kind of place where 3/4 of a day can still be really rewarding.

We've found that for the kids, port-intensive international cruising actually has something to be said for it. It dovetails nicely with their attention spans. Taking a bus 2 hours to and from Florence to spend 7 hours there would have sounded awful to me if I were planning a trip for myself and the missus. But actually, with the kids, we've found it's a way to introduce them to parts of the world and broaden their horizons a bit, while not having to pack and sleeping while we move from city to city. I view it a bit like movie previews -- they get a short preview and can make a decision whether it's worth going back in depth. In the meantime, hopefully I'm broadening their horizons a bit and letting them find their wanderlust, if they are so inclined.

I'd love to drag them through India for two weeks, but I know it ain't happening -- yet. For now, having them read up on the Coliseum and the Sistine Chappel and then seeing them (even for a 2-hour blow through), teaching them how to figure out foreign currencies and metro maps in other languages, and stuff like that has, I hope, been a good start. Even if, after just a few hours, it's back on the boat.

danielonn

Taking a cruise is one of life's best ways to "get away". I first started cruising in 2012 on a Trans Atlantic from San Juan-Barcelona(14 Nights) then this past April I took one from New Orleans-Rome(15 Nights) and then this April I will take one from Sao Paulo(Santos) Brazil-Barcelona(14 Nights) on Royal Caribbean.

I can't think of any other vacation where you can enjoy a Resort/Hotel Atmoshphere and see new ports. I love being able to walk around the ship and you are not confined like on a train or in a car. On a ship you have so much to see and do.

I love the sea days when you can relax and enjoy the ship. Cruising is a way to combine an all inclusive resort with ports.

The Trans Atlantic Cruises have the best deals as you can get 2 weeks for the price of 1. I love the Oceanview Cabins as you have a window and don't mind walking upstairs to get some fresh air. Anyways I'm not in the cabin all day long. But if I could get my hands on a balcony or suite then I would go for it.

The food has been really good on Royal both in the Main Dining room and buffet.

I suggest you join Cruise Critic to learn more about cruising.

CKizer

Loved the Princess cruise/tour to Alaska. The boat was a fantastic way to see the glaciers and other sights from deck or balcony with the ability to retreat to a warm stateroom.

On the other hand, I hated the NCL Caribbean cruise (Pvt island, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel). The stops were too short to really do anything and the boat as a destination thing does not work for me.

It was a constant (bad) food fest and attempt to sell you crap (bad art, photos, tours, etc.)

I may do it again, but it will be an upscale line to a great destination (Antarctic).

mvoight

Of course this seems like an odd place for getting an unbiased view
Yes, they are worth it... in general
And safe.....

danielonn

I agree cruising is a great value for your money. I took my first cruise on Royal Caribbean in 2012 from San Juan -Barcelona, the second one last April from New Orleans-Rome and this year from Sao Paulo(Santos)-Barcelona all on Royal.

This year I wanted to be a bit more adventurous and leave out of Brazil. I found a great one way airfare from San Francisco for $474 to Sao Paulo via Mexico City with a day there.

In Sao Paulo I found a Mercure Hotel for $88 a night with Breakfast. The night before the Cruise I booked a Mercure too for $125 with Breakfast in a Superior Room. All the rooms in Santos are suites.

As for the cruise I was able to get an Oceanview Cabin on Deck 3 for $1,050 for 2. This includes all taxes. I booked a tour for my Father and I in Tenerife for $45 per person as well.

In Barcelona I found a 4 star Boutique Hotel in L'Example for $88 dollars a night. Breakfast is very expensive but we were not after included breakfast s we want to sample the local offerings.

I was able to book an Award Ticket home via Lufthansa/United from Barcelona-Munich-Vancouver on Lufthansa and United Economy Plus to San Francisco for 30,000 miles +$55 in taxes.

I also booked my Father on a separate ticket because he is visiting family and needed to conduct business for $1,200 one way.

All in all I was able to get the best deal possible. I also applied for the Visas back in October.

I love cruising especially with the new ports and shore excursions. Its fun to tour the world and then come back to the ship to have more fun partying and dancing. The food is really good and I love the entertainment.

Where else can you go for the cost of a cruise?

FireStation46

Late to the conversation as I am new to the forum. I always thought a cruise was expensive and an effort. That was based upon no actual experience and perhaps jaded by some in-laws that cruise multiple times a year and just over talk it to death.
So, last year we had cabin fever in the winter and decided to tale our first cruise on Royal Caribbean a 7 day trip.
We went on the cheap side and got an interior room.
The trip was fun. We found we hated interior room as you loose all track of time and can tend to oversleep.
So, we booked another cruise, 9 days, cabin with a balcony. Same ship, different ports of call.
It was like being in a hotel that traveled. Plenty to do or not to do. No one pushed you to do anything, so you can be as active or relaxed as you want.
Safety is good. Mandatory safety drills, don't miss it, I am not sure how they penalize you for not attending but I did not want to find out.
You don't have to swim in the pool, soak in the jacuzzi or hit the beach if you don't swim.
I went from being a skeptic to a cruiser!
Good luck with your choice!

GRALISTAIR

I agree - only been on one with another booked. Loved it.