In my life I've only experienced Norwegian and Carnival Cruise Lines and I can't say I was inspired to do a lot more cruising... Maybe if I could save up and go on one of the Most Expensive Cruises in the World, I would feel differently. http://www.forbestraveler.com/2007/0...001_slide.html

Let me preface this by saying that I've only taken 2 cruises in my life, but based on them, I would say that I got great value for my dollar. One was on the budget cruise line Imperial Majesty on their ship the SS Ocean Breeze. The other cruise was on the Carnival Conquest, a much better cruising experience. I had a great time on both cruises, and when you add up the total cost and factor in that it covers food, lodging, and entertainment while onboard, I think that you'll find that it is a good value.

Now, as for those expensive cruises that you mentioned, I don't quite have the dollars, lira, dinero, pounds, pesos, or yen for those cruises. But, some day, I'd love to take one and then report here on how great a trip it was.

Flygirl,

I would step up a notch to Princess or two notches to Celebrity. I think you will have a very different experience.

Mike

Personally I love Carnival, but I recognize that it's not for everyone and I think mikeef is right. Try Celebrity, Holland America, or Princess and you may find it's more your style.

So far, I've done 3. Princess, the QM2, and Disney. Disney wins by far in terms of Service and ship elegance. And they do segregate the kids so for adult only groups it great also.

I would like to take ther Antartic cruise -- Penthouse Suite is the way to go...with kids !!!!

Last "cruise" was six months duration.... Sydney-Fremantle-Diego Garcia-Muscat-Bahrain-Dubai-Dubai-Dubai-Kuwait City-Dubai-Singapore-Darwin-Brisbane-Sydney....

Too bad it was on a Guided Missile Frigate......

I will go on a cruise one day.. just so I can go to sea ONCE and not work my butt off!!!

Antarctica sounds awesome......

Antarctica is awesome. I've booked for the third time on the Orion - a great luxury ship with stabilisers that make the 9 metre seas easy to cope with.

Great food, outstanding leadership and unbelievable bird and sea life as well as views of outrageous icebergs and the polar icecap.

We have been on one cruise, and that was in 2001. We felt very rushed during the whole trip. We are planning on trying cruising again. This time on a 7 day cruise with only 3 ports. So I hope we don't feel as rushed.

We usually stay at all-inclusive hotels and love them. However, with the cruise, I feel they are nickel and diming us to death. They are charging for drinks, they are charging for their specialty restaurants, and for a burger joint.

So why are we taking a cruise? We wanted to do something different for our 10th anniversary. We hope we like it.

You could always move up to Regent. All drinks are included as well as gratuities. I love my cocktails but, unfortunately, DH can't find the paperwork to see just how much he spent on my drinks and our wine so I can't tell whether the upcost is worth it. You should only feel rushed if you make it so. If they are Caribbean ports try getting off the ship when you are in the mood and then negotiate with a taxi driver for a tour - you can go as fast or slow as you want. In St. Kitts we had the driver drop us at the Marriott to gamble for a while - we ended up seeing our casino crew there as well lol!!! - and it was a nice relaxing day. Linda

We plan on taking this cruise a little easier. There are only things we want to do at 2 ports. The 3rd we have been to on "land" vacations, so we are just doing a beach day.

I have never been able to justify the cost of a Regent cruise-all inclusive or not.

We cruise on Celebrity about twice a year-usually two weeks, South America or a repo (NEVER to the Caribbean). We always book one of the aft, corner FV rooms (2 rooms with a 250 sq ft balcony).

December, 2006-2 weeks FLL to Valparaiso, Chile. Total on board bill was $1786.00. A few t-shirts, some junk stuff, $100.00 in the casino, $100.00 internet and a couple books-$448.00. The balance of the bill was booze and gratuities.

Split the entire bill between us and our 2 week cruise was not nearly as expensive as the 12 nighter that departs FLL on Jan 4, 2008 on the Mariner. The current Mariner "sale" price is $6095pp + port. I paid just slightly less than $6000.00 for 2 in December, 2006. I can't drink THAT much booze.

To the OP-As a frequent cruiser, move up to Celebrity or HAL, even Princess for a MUCH better experience. And pick a cruise that is not so "port heavy". Sea days are heaven, IMHO, with lots of time to relax and pick and choose what to do. Maybe look into one of the "repo" cruises from Alaska, or from the West Coast through the Panama Canal. I think you will find a cruise that is a much better experience.

I agree that there's a world of difference between the mass market lines and the better ships (whether luxury or adventure). Some people just don't like being stuck on the ship no matter what, but a lot of others would love a different kind of cruise from the one they disliked.

Hi, just wanted to jump in here for a moment. Carnival Coporation is the largest Mass Market Cruise Company on the High Seas.

They own Carnival, Costa, Holland America, Princess, Cunard, and the Yachts of Seabourn.

Although each line serves a different class of traveler, and service does vary from each of these lines, they are all part of the Carnival Family.

Just thought you should know.

I couldn't agree with you more. The last cruise that I went on began with 2 days at sea. I loved that itinerary because it gave me a chance to get familiar with the ship, and to just relax before going into port.

Thanks for the advice. I actually am looking now to take a cruise through the Panama Canal. A "repo" cruise from the West Coast would be a great idea.@:-) A friend of mine took a cruise with Celebrity through the Panama Canal and gave it 2 ^^.