Cruise ships

[NutmegCT]

I've been watching the latest "sick ship" story. Really awful for those people, especially as they were hoping for an upbeat and relaxing time.

I wonder if anyone here has been on a cruise in the last ten years or so. What's it like? I've never been - to me it seems like a gigantic floating hotel. I'm a frugal Yankee.

But I got to comparing the size of cruise ships today and those of the 1960s and 1970s. Today they are HUGE. Good grief - over 3000 passengers and 1200 crew together, all sharing food and water, etc. And the Explorer of the Seas, which just returned to port yesterday full of sick people, is heading out again today. Hard to imagine it could be really "disinfected" in that short time.

And of course, the whole issue of safety - how to safely get all those people into lifeboats if needed.

Your thoughts?
Thanks.
Tom

 

[aeronca65t]

It's probably a matter or taste and maybe age.

When my folks were in their late 70s, I sent them on a cruise to Bermuda (from NY). They loved it. But they were not very physically active at that point.

My sister-in-law and brother-in-law who are physically active, took the same cruise but they did not really enjoy all the hanging around on the ship. They would have preferred to spend more of their time in Bermuda (and less time traveling).

A good friend of ours took Cunard's Queen Mary 2 to England a few years ago. She got very bored after a few days.

Linda and I took a cruise ship to Halifax from NYC a few years back. Since it was just a short cruise we didn't get bored. We are not gamblers and the endless food was not really that appealing to either of us. In the future, if we go to Halifax, we'll drive or fly.

One thing that might be different would be the river cruises in the smaller boats. You tend to stop more and see more scenery (not just looking out on the ocean). We have two very-well traveled friends who took a river cruise up the Yangtze and also did one up the Rhine. They loved both cruises but also said they were pretty expensive. We've actually been thinking of doing a river cruise on the Mississippi.

 

[Rhodyspit75]

I'd rather have a root canal.

 

[NutmegCT]

Nail - I had some friends who took the Delta Queen up and down the Mississippi about 30 years ago. Had a great time. Lots of history onboard, as well as every "port" of call. Enjoyed the calliope concerts every afternoon.

I think that's more my style. Slow and low.

 

[DrEntropy]

I'd rather have a root canal.

Millin' about aboard a floating hotel with 3000 of my closest friends? naaah.

I love the water, wouldn't (and don't) miss a chance to go out with real friends, whether a rag boat or stink-pot. But with that I am part of the crew, more or less. There are things called aeroplanes to get you to places like Cancun or Belize. Cooped up on 'cruise ship' I'd be like a weasel on speed after the first day. gaah.

 

[PAUL161]

To each his/her own. With all the beautiful country we have in the US and Canada, I personally wouldn't give a slug nickel for a ticket on one of those ships. You could travel a lifetime here and never see everything and between our two countries, beauty abounds everywhere! Too many stupid things are happening on these ships and it seems like their only getting a slap on the hand and their back to sea. Money talks? Hmmm, makes you wonder doesn't it! :uncomfortableness: PJ

 

[NutmegCT]

"You could travel a lifetime here and never see everything and between our two countries, beauty abounds everywhere! "

Amen to that. I was lucky to enjoy some of that beauty on my trip last fall. Wow.

 

[JPSmit]

We cruise frequently and love it. We don't gamble either and are not heavy drinkers (this matters 'cause it does irk me that drinks are expensive) That said, they are masters at moving people so it rarely feels crowded. When we take cruise holidays, it is so that we can rest and not worry about where we are going to eat or what we are going to do - we just want to relax. The food is excellent, the service superb and it is lovely to be pampered. Over the years we have gravitated toward the nicer lines - we tend to Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Disney - yes Disney! - they set the bar for service and experience - and no casinos. Our winter holidays especially are one week, and we are typically tired and just wanting some quiet and warmth - and no surprises. Cruises fill that niche perfectly - and you can't beat the price!

 

[Keith_M]

"You could travel a lifetime here and never see everything and between our two countries, beauty abounds everywhere! "

Amen to that. I was lucky to enjoy some of that beauty on my trip last fall. Wow.

Wow, that Healey really is beautiful! ...or were you talking about the rocks behind it...?

Never been on a cruise and I can't see myself ever going on one, but I can see the appeal for folks who are slightly less hyper than me. :smile-new:

 

[sail]

The Delta Queen used to tie up across the street from my apartment in Davenport, IA. Never was on it but you could hear the steam calliope coming up river for a long way. Not sure of it's fate. That might be good, rivers as mentioned or the fiords of Norway are likely for me(Norwegian descent, my wife and I, both sides) More to look at than just ocean and I'd prefer not to be stuck someplace with nothing to do but drink. Plus I loaned some Norwegians my van here so after the cruise, hum, I wonder what they drive.

 

[Boink]

I travel a lot (for fun), and cruise ships aren't my thing. However, they can be for many. One interesting use was published in a new Rick Steves book (and he's definitely not a cruising guy). His strategy is to use the ships as floating hotels and is only on them for overnight passages in the area of Europe (which is his specialty). He advises on leaving the ship all day in the various ports of call and NOT to use the official (sometimes expensive) side-tours that cruise companies offer. This book (new last year) is really very good on how to strategize using cruising.

All that written, I know of some very nice cruises (small ones) that do the Panama Canal area or the inside passage up to Alaska. That is something I'd like to do when I get around to it.

 

[John Turney]

In 2012 we took a river cruise up the Rhine. The only other "cruises" I've been on were courtesy of Uncle Sam and the view was terrible. My wife has been on sea cruises and always got sea sick. We much prefer the river cruises: much smaller (200 passengers), more sightseeing and if it sinks, it's short swim to shore.

 

[Guest]

Kelly and I did a "clay" cruise. She was in class all day and I roamed alone. I got bored real quick. The only thing to do was drink and chase women, so that left me out completely. The reason why they call it Carnival is it's a bunch of floating gypsies, they nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING. They offer you things like it's included with the cruise and you don't find out till AFTER you've consumed it that it'll cost you extra. Ditto on the sanctioned ports, you're herded into "buying zones".

It doesn't surprise me they are a floating petri dish, saw that after being on board only a few minutes. Everyone touches everything and sometimes you don't have a choice (like hand rails).

 

[Gliderman8]

Nothankyouverymuch.... been on one and never again. It's an eating orgy on a slow boat. To me the destination is the vacation rather than the trip being the vacation.
Some people like cruise's but I don't get it.

 

[LarryK]

It's like taking a boat ride with your Village. My community is pop. 4000, and when you go to ball games or diner, someone will be sick and spread it around. Now do the same thing in a confined area where you cannot escape and it magnifies. Maybe a 3 day cruise would not let germs attach or you would not notice till you get home.

 

[59diamond]

My wife and I and another couple went on a cruise to Alaska about ten years ago. I enjoyed getting off at different ports.
My problem with cruise ships is where they store all the sewage. Our ship had waterless toilets and unlike airplanes they carry that stuff around for days and weeks until the ship gets back to port. I played blackjack the first night and there was a guy at the table who obviously was sick. I saw him with his wife the first night at dinner and then he never showed up for dinner again. When we got back from the cruise I was sick for weeks and vowed to never go on another cruise. I didn't win any money either.

 

[sail]

Buddy went to a small Italian village on Rick Steves advice, asked for directions and annoyed local said ask Rick Steves. Didn't appreciate being found.

 

[Boink]

In 2012 we took a river cruise up the Rhine. The only other "cruises" I've been on were courtesy of Uncle Sam and the view was terrible. My wife has been on sea cruises and always got sea sick. We much prefer the river cruises: much smaller (200 passengers), more sightseeing and if it sinks, it's short swim to shore.

This would interest me. I know folks that have done a number of the various European river cruises and really enjoyed them.

 

[JPSmit]

I travel a lot (for fun), and cruise ships aren't my thing. However, they can be for many. One interesting use was published in a new Rick Steves book (and he's definitely not a cruising guy). His strategy is to use the ships as floating hotels and is only on them for overnight passages in the area of Europe (which is his specialty). He advises on leaving the ship all day in the various ports of call and NOT to use the official (sometimes expensive) side-tours that cruise companies offer. This book (new last year) is really very good on how to strategize using cruising.

All that written, I know of some very nice cruises (small ones) that do the Panama Canal area or the inside passage up to Alaska. That is something I'd like to do when I get around to it.

I would say a cruise ship is the only way to see Bermuda for that reason - hotels on shore are very expensive, the onshore food somewhat mediocre and expensive and they roll up the sidewalks at 6pm.

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Millin' about aboard a floating hotel with 3000 of my closest friends? naaah.

I love the water, wouldn't (and don't) miss a chance to go out with real friends, whether a rag boat or stink-pot. But with that I am part of the crew, more or less. There are things called aeroplanes to get you to places like Cancun or Belize. Cooped up on 'cruise ship' I'd be like a weasel on speed after the first day. gaah.

Submarine Veterans had a convention on one several years ago. Seattle to Alaska.
0600 the main announcing system announced "reveille", and it was the only time anyone knows of the engineering spaces were ON limits.
Full run of engineering spaces.
THAT would have been fun!