Quick advice for a first time cruiser?
#31
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
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On the other hand - I am looking forward to doing a TATL repositioning cruise in the future - preferably on a luxury line (repo cruises tend to have the cheapest per diem rates - might be the only way I get to try a luxury line^) Lots of time to enjoy that luxury. But we also like small ships, and TATLs on the small ships take a long time - 10 days without ports might be too much for me. We'll see!
#32
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Do these route past Somalia and Yemen or go around the tip of South Africa? For twenty days, I would assume the latter. Did it stop in any ports along the way?
#33
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,416
That doesn't appeal at the moment but a good reminder that "good deals" can pop up all over the place when you're flexible! (part of the issue for me is that a port-intensive cruise is not a relaxing vacation for me - it's why we don't cruise often - I'd prefer to go to one place and enjoy for a few days ;-) But when traveling far, that's not necessarily my "best" use of time.....)
#34
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Join Date: Jul 2010
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A friend did Windstar's repo from Aruba to Tenerife this year, and I was highly jealous. Basically the ship was at less than half capacity and the attention from crew was stellar. It was a 14 night repo I believe, and they did make an unexpected stop in Barbados due to a tropical storm popping up unexpectedly. She sent pictures showing herself as the only one on the pool deck on a sunny day at noon.
I started with a 4 night cruise, then went to 7 nights. Now, I prefer much longer cruises, but will occasionally go back for a 3-7 night just for a quick fix. I love sea days for relaxing, and even frequently turn visits to ports I've visited previously into "port day sea days."
But with everything it's going to be about personality. I have a few friends I would never recommend take a cruise. Others I would send to Carnival for a 4-5 night cruise. And yet others I'm going to recommend a longer cruise on Silver Seas. It's all about what you look for in a vacation.
I started with a 4 night cruise, then went to 7 nights. Now, I prefer much longer cruises, but will occasionally go back for a 3-7 night just for a quick fix. I love sea days for relaxing, and even frequently turn visits to ports I've visited previously into "port day sea days."
But with everything it's going to be about personality. I have a few friends I would never recommend take a cruise. Others I would send to Carnival for a 4-5 night cruise. And yet others I'm going to recommend a longer cruise on Silver Seas. It's all about what you look for in a vacation.
#35
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,416
But with everything it's going to be about personality. I have a few friends I would never recommend take a cruise. Others I would send to Carnival for a 4-5 night cruise. And yet others I'm going to recommend a longer cruise on Silver Seas. It's all about what you look for in a vacation.
#36
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
On the other hand - I am looking forward to doing a TATL repositioning cruise in the future - preferably on a luxury line (repo cruises tend to have the cheapest per diem rates - might be the only way I get to try a luxury line^) Lots of time to enjoy that luxury. But we also like small ships, and TATLs on the small ships take a long time - 10 days without ports might be too much for me. We'll see!
#37
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We just did another, more traditional transatlantic together last fall (one longer than the first one even), and she was completely fine, in fact wished it was longer, with even more sea days. Between the two she went from working full time to being retired, and the pace of her life completely changed.
#38
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
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Posts: 7,138
mine was a 20-day DXB-Monte Carlo, with stops in Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Israel and Rome. Special Forces contractors on board while cruising near Yemen and Somalia.
#39
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,416
There's a Princess (I think?) 60 day around South America that looks so interesting! I don't think I could do 100+ days of a World Cruise (never say never ;-) but I might be able to do 60 days - esp since I've never been to South America (well, except the Cartagena, Colombia on a Panama Canal cruise...) I don't really want to be on that ship (I think it's Island, so bigger than we like - we prefer to stay under 1000) but it would be more affordable than 2 months on Silversea, for sure
#40
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 509
Take a couple of highlighter pens to mark activities that interest you on the "daily ship paper'/'patter'. and in a pinch as a BINGO marker (paper game board.)
The cabin walls probably are metal and a few magnets can help keep your schedules tacked up for viewing.
Relax, enjoy your family time together & apart, pace yourselves as to how many activities to try, and enjoy food & drink in moderation.
Do a pre cruise budget plan to try to avoid extravagant impulse buying or gambling.
Happy cruising!
The cabin walls probably are metal and a few magnets can help keep your schedules tacked up for viewing.
Relax, enjoy your family time together & apart, pace yourselves as to how many activities to try, and enjoy food & drink in moderation.
Do a pre cruise budget plan to try to avoid extravagant impulse buying or gambling.
Happy cruising!
#41
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