Cruises are starting soon !!! Would you go for a 7 day Cruise this time ?

[kenny]

@kenny you're so right. I HATE CRUISES! THEY GROSS ME OUT!! Sorry, not sorry!!!

+1, except I'm not sorry, since I've offended nobody ... by merely stating I'm not similar to them.

We don't like something, and clearly many do.
So what!?!
Folks just vary.

So ... howz bout them Dodgers?!?

 

[qubitasaurus]

I have never gotten the idea of someone else controlling your itinary. Not a travel agent (although we've had to use plenty for work travel, we tell them precisely which flights and hotels to book. And even then I find it painful to have to explain what I want, review it, check they got names and frequent flier numbers etc correct (they never do), request changes to it, approve it, rebook it via travel agent if something goes wrong as the airline wants the rebooking handled via your travel agent, call the airline to attach tickets booked privately to your ittinary so you can garuantee youll be seated next to your toddler etc. I would routinely want to strangle the travel agent or the airline at least 5 times a year before covid. Honestly I think I almost murdered one last year during covid as they created the biggest god damed mess I have ever seen and were routinely busy calling me at 2 am about it.). I would not cope well dealing with a cruiseline. Id have probably just about murdered someone by the time Id finished listening to the nicely scheduled trip ittinary I needed to work arround.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I know our tourism sector want cruise ships to come back
and i absolutely love looking at them sailing past (me on the land) but id be very worried to have cruise ships start calling into my town (if that was actuallu possibly as they would never get up the bar and the river would need to be dredged)
I know my home town really missed the cruise ships this season, even living in Wellington we loved seeing them tied up at the warf and all the people visiting for the day but right now its too much of a risk for me to support them comming back
its a shame because it took years and years to become a regular destination for some of those cruises and local economies really benefited and im sure people had a lovelly time

 

[Queenie60]

Have never been on a cruise and do not intend to go on a cruise any time soon. I'm not a cruise type person.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Before covid my biggest put-off (aside from nurovirus) was plumbing issues on board
There have been some pretty horrendous stories on the news in recent years

 

[Austina]

Wow! I wonder what kind of cruises people have been on based on the comments here.

As with all thing in life, cruises vary!

We do not go on mega ships, the cruise company we go on have ships that hold 680 passengers and 1250 passengers. The larger ships could accommodate considerably more, but dont. The staff to guest ratio is 1:1.5, so the service is superb.

They consistently win Conde Nast best food at sea awards, have a huge variety of foods including heart smart, so you don’t have to sit around all day stuffing your face full of greasy, unhealthy food.

You also don’t have to sit in the sun all day cooking yourself, there are numerous activities you can get involved in if you want to, interesting lectures to attend, art & cooking classes, or you could just find a shady spot, read and chill out.

They do not use cattle prods to herd people in to doing things they don’t want to do, you’re free to do what you choose, including going ashore and exploring on your own. You also don’t have to sit with strangers and make small talk, you can chose when and where you wish to eat and with whom.

Having been on over 20 cruises, we have never been ill, caught Norovirus or had gastric upsets. The standards of cleanliness on board are second to none.

As with all things, it’s horses for courses, we choose port intensive itineraries so we can visit interesting places.

There are plenty of holidays that don’t appeal to me, but just because they’re not for me, I don’t condemn them or those who enjoy them.

 

[missy]

I have to agree with @Austina and while it has been decades since I have been on a cruise I enjoyed them.

We were fortunate enough to cruise on the QE2 and Holland America (Alaska) and a few other premier cruise lines and they were always spectacular in every way. And this is coming from an introvert. You make the experience what you want it to be. I thoroughly enjoyed cruising.

The food was Michelin worthy. The staff so attentive and amazing. The activities endless. Whatever you wanted to do it was there for you. It was a fantastic way to travel. And we never got ill from a cruise.

It has been a very long time (3 decades) since I was on a cruise but my memories are wonderful ones. We got to see places we couldn't see otherwise for example in Alaska some places were so remote you had to go by boat. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

Remember, people and cruises vary.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I would love to go cruising but my husband is one of those people who keep sending me news stories of horror cruises and this was pre-covid!!!

That said, I've hit buffets again with a vengeance!!!!! Sooooo good!

 

[Tonks]

Nope nope NOPE.

Have been on multiple cruises, but none since I was in college.

As an adult, my ideal vacation is a beach, a book, my husband, and a drink. No huge crowds, no buffets. And that was pre-covid. I never enjoyed the minuscule cabins on cruise ships, and the idea of being trapped in one for an indefinite period of time while the ship was not permitted to dock because of a Covid outbreak on board? HELL NO. Not worth the risk.

 

[Dancing Fire]

If you aren't afraid to fly then you shouldn't be afraid of contracting Covid.

 

[stracci2000]

I have never been on a cruise. I prefer a vacation where I can rent a car and do my own exploring, at my own pace.

That said, ANY type of vacation where I would have to wear a mask the WHOLE time doesn't not sound like any fun.
No vacations for me until the masks go away, if ever.

 

[Austina]

I never enjoyed the minuscule cabins on cruise ships

I wouldn’t enjoy a minuscule cabin either, that’s why we don’t book one.

420 sq ft, just saying

 

[elizat]

@Austina

I have been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. Only island/Caribbean destinations. I did not like them, so I was unwilling to spend more to try again. I have been on 3 or 4.

I did not like the "Las Vegas" style shows, the Newlywed or similar games, and I also did not like limited time in a place, plus the lines getting on and off. Not being able to go to local restaurants and the like also bugged me. As unhealthy as it is, I like to go on a vacation to eat local food and I like to walk and explore, sometimes with no plans. On a cruise, you may have 12 hours in port and then you are back on the boat. For the way I liked to travel, it's not a good fit. When we did the Northeast US and went to Maine, etc., part of the fun was trying all the different seafood places and different local spots. On a cruise, you don't get that, at least, I don't think you can.

I think that a cruise is just too structured for me personally and there are more things that are unappealing than appealing.

 

[stracci2000]

@Austina

I have been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. Only island/Caribbean destinations. I did not like them, so I was unwilling to spend more to try again. I have been on 3 or 4.

I did not like the "Las Vegas" style shows, the Newlywed or similar games, and I also did not like limited time in a place, plus the lines getting on and off. Not being able to go to local restaurants and the like also bugged me. As unhealthy as it is, I like to go on a vacation to eat local food and I like to walk and explore, sometimes with no plans. On a cruise, you may have 12 hours in port and then you are back on the boat. For the way I liked to travel, it's not a good fit. When we did the Northeast US and went to Maine, etc., part of the fun was trying all the different seafood places and different local spots. On a cruise, you don't get that, at least, I don't think you can.

I think that a cruise is just too structured for me personally and there are more things that are unappealing than appealing.

I fully agree. I like to explore, and local food is the way to go.
Eating fresh lobster from a lobster shack on a paper plate was a memorable experience when I visited Maine!

 

[elizat]

I have never been on a cruise. I prefer a vacation where I can rent a car and do my own exploring, at my own pace.

That said, ANY type of vacation where I would have to wear a mask the WHOLE time doesn't not sound like any fun.
No vacations for me until the masks go away, if ever.

We were talking about that yesterday. I have not been on a "large" vacation in a number of years now. Having a partner working on a masters, then a doctorate, while working full time, with 50% one week on and one week off child custody leaves well.. no time. The most we have done is go somewhere 3 nights in the last 4 years on holiday weekends and we have done that twice, I think in total.

If it ever gets to the point where we can actually take time off (I never take my vacation because he can't, so I have skipped it for years and don't even stay at home for the days, I just work them), I do not want to spend that kind of money to wear a mask everywhere. I'd rather wait.

 

[Austina]

The cruise line we go on doesn’t have Las Vegas style shows or Newleywed games either @elizat, it’s not something we’d enjoy. The big attraction for us is that it’s just a floating hotel, and we get to go to places that we just wouldn’t visit if not for a cruise. The small ship experience is very different from the large ships, we don’t have to queue to get off and on the ship when we’re in port. We’ve seen the 5000 passenger ships and the huge snaking line of people waiting to get back on, blaring music and announcements all the time, not for us.

 

[cflutist]

I wouldn’t enjoy a minuscule cabin either, that’s why we don’t book one.

420 sq ft, just saying

That looks like a PH suite on Oceania.

The largest cabin we have been in was an Owners Suite on the Pacific Princess (680 pax) that was 920 sq ft with 2 bathrooms.

We had 4 cruises canceled on us, the Russian Far East on Silversea (Medallion Suite), French Polynesia on Pacific Princess (in a Vista Suite), Alaska on Oceania (in a Vista Suite), and Greenland and the Canadian Arctic on Silversea.

Silversea announced that they are starting up with the Greek Isles in June but we shall see how it goes with vaccinations, negative Covid-19 tests, and masks being mandatory.

We have Silversea booked again to return to Antarctica with South Georgia for 18 nights in December so will just wait and see what happens.

 

[Elizabeth35]

I would be comfortable going on a cruise on a ship that requires vaccination for guests and staff. We are vaccinated and have flown during COVID. Planes don't scare me at all--we are vaccinated, wear N95 masks. The air is recirculated and the plane is sanitized, plus we wipe down our area. We board last and sit in first class.
But we, like Austina, have only cruised on small ships---under 1000 pax. It's a whole different experience. We have done transatlantics and spend lots of time on our balcony looking at the water. We do not eat on a schedule, no formal nights and we do not make vacation friends. The ships have plenty of space to allow distancing and there are no Vegas type shows or casinos.
For us, the cost of a balcony suite with gratuities and drinks was less for 15 days than a one way business class ticket to Europe. So it was a cheap way to get to Europe--with the benefit of 15 day vacation with food and drink included. Win-win.
Would we cruise on a mega-ship like NCL in the Caribbean--absolutely not. We visit the Caribbean for 10-21 nights at a time on small islands in VRBO's.

 

[Austina]

Yes it is @cflutist, we like to be midships, so they’re our cabin of choice. We did book a cruise from Istanbul to Athens for end of July, but Oceania cancelled it this week They’ll be sailing at a lot less than capacity, and all staff, crew and passengers will need to be vaccinated.

 

[Elizabeth35]

And I do get that cruising is not a way to immerse yourself in local food and culture. But in some parts of the world it is a viable way to explore. Antarctica, for example. Or the Amazon if you are so inclined. Do it on a smaller ship that lands at smaller ports.

But for the Caribbean--a big nope. You end up at the islands that you should avoid. We do not stay at any Caribbean island that has a cruise port. Instead of St. Kitts, spend time on Nevis. And avoid St. Martin/Marteen at all costs. Not a fan of an island that has legal prostitution, casinos, high crime and nude beaches. Just not the vibe we are going for. Instead--head to Anguilla via ferry from St. Martin.

 

[HollyJane]

I'm booked for a cruise this Fall. It's with my late husband's family. It was my mother-in-law's wish to take us all. It will be my first cruise.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I would love to go cruising but my husband is one of those people who keep sending me news stories of horror cruises and this was pre-covid!!!

That said, I've hit buffets again with a vengeance!!!!! Sooooo good!

Walt till i win lotto and we'll do the Tasmanian one i wanted to do with Gary
I did read its not a great one for a first time due to the sea conditions can turn a bit rough down there so we might have to get a practice one in first

 

[monarch64]

Where is the option for a “there’s no way in hell I would subject myself to a cruise?”

 

[monarch64]

The cruise line we go on doesn’t have Las Vegas style shows or Newleywed games either @elizat, it’s not something we’d enjoy. The big attraction for us is that it’s just a floating hotel, and we get to go to places that we just wouldn’t visit if not for a cruise. The small ship experience is very different from the large ships, we don’t have to queue to get off and on the ship when we’re in port. We’ve seen the 5000 passenger ships and the huge snaking line of people waiting to get back on, blaring music and announcements all the time, not for us.

Sounds like a riverboat cruise here. Gentile, but not ostentatious. Often there is gambling, wonderful food, and comradery among guests. But small ships float on small waterways. So perhaps you’re talking about rivers or some such on which your cruise boats float?

 

[Austina]

@monarch64, we’ve been on river cruises, the Nile, the Yangtze and the Rhine. I enjoyed the Nile and the Yangtze, but didn’t particularly enjoy the Rhine. The cruise company we sail with are very port intensive, and because of the size can often get in to the smaller ports the large ships cant. We sailed right into the heart of Shanghai, whereas the bigger ships had to dock outside. I found the river cruises a bit tame, and there was definitely less choice of food. We’ve made some really good friends on the cruises we’ve been on, and they’ve come and stayed with us here in England and we’ve been able to show them around.

We really like being about to visit places that we wouldn’t normally make a trip to for a holiday. We like meeting new people, and I can honestly say we’ve only ever met one couple who we didn’t particularly care for on our cruises.

I find it interesting that people who’ve never been on a cruise have such preconceived ideas of what it’s like. The cruising industry was huge before the pandemic, if it was really that awful, would people return again and again?

There are cruise lines out there to suit every taste, it’s just a question of finding one that suits yours.

 

[dk168]

Cruising is my holiday hell even before the pandemic, and I cannot see myself going on a cruise anytime soon.

Just been away for a nearly a week in my campervan with just my dog for company, and it was bliss!

DK

 

[seaurchin]

I like different types of vacations and to me, a cruise vs. a road trip vs. flying somewhere or etc. are like comparing apples to oranges. And has been mentioned, even the different types of cruises are apples to oranges too.

I don't do the top luxury cruises but I do enjoy an economical Caribbean "booze cruise" now and then. I get a kick out of all the action and craziness, even the stupid parts lol. However, after the three or four day tour is over, I'm also ready to not do it again for a few years. To me, it's mostly an all-inclusive stay on a fun, floating resort.

I don't think I'd want to go on a cruise until the pandemic restrictions are over, though. I don't even like going out for long right now because the mask starts to bug me. Also, a lot of what makes the cruise fun to me is the people watching. If the ship was only half full, it would be like going to a party where hardly anyone showed up.

I doubt getting trapped on a ship for days on end over Covid exposure would happen again, though. The world has gotten a lot more used to Covid. That said, it has made me more aware that sometimes people do get quarantined on cruises. I hate the thought of getting stuck in one of those closet-sized rooms, so I might check out the cost of a room with a balcony next time.

 

[wildcat03]

No. I am so appalled by how the cruise industry treated their employees at the start of the pandemic that I can't support them financially. So many were stranded on ships and unable to get home. Also, cruises are gross. And given what happened to passengers who were quarantined at the start of the pandemic I'd be afraid it would happen again.

 

[Austina]

Also, cruises are gross. And given what happened to passengers who were quarantined at the start of the pandemic I'd be afraid it would happen again.

What a sweeping generalisation that cruises are gross!

I know the cruise company we use will be ensuring that all crew, staff and passengers will need to be vaccinated and tested before embarking, it’s unlikely that passengers would be quarantined on board like at the start of the pandemic. All the a/c has been upgraded, cleaning protocols are even further enhanced, lower passenger numbers initially, and every possible precaution taken to ensure the safety of everyone on board. What exactly is gross about that?

 

[wildcat03]

What a sweeping generalisation that cruises are gross!

I know the cruise company we use will be ensuring that all crew, staff and passengers will need to be vaccinated and tested before embarking, it’s unlikely that passengers would be quarantined on board like at the start of the pandemic. All the a/c has been upgraded, cleaning protocols are even further enhanced, lower passenger numbers initially, and every possible precaution taken to ensure the safety of everyone on board. What exactly is gross about that?

It's not a sweeping generalization, it's FACT. Even pre-pandemic, cruises had HUGE outbreaks of norovirus (so much so that one friend who works in the medical field for a cruise line showed me the ship's "Norovirus tracker"). And don't forget that cruise ships were anchored offshore with sewage issues and very limited supplies for days (weeks?) when they got taken out by COVID. I give it a month before there's a cruise ship quarantined with an outbreak somewhere.

As someone who has worked through this entire pandemic saving people, I'm really not looking forward to the "COVID transfers" from the cruise ships as they dock in my city (actually I hope they will refuse them from docking).