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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2013 7:21:18 GMT -5
Has any of you, ladies, been on one?
If I book a week around Greek island for early June, will I end up hating every second of it?
What´s your take on this? Are holiday cruises really THAT awful?
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Post by ozziegiraffe on Apr 6, 2013 8:15:48 GMT -5
I think it would be a great way to see the Greek Islands. I did a one week Rhine cruise with a friend a couple of years ago, and we both loved it. Great food, and everything was included.
I would be a bit wary of sharing a cabin with a complete stranger, though.
For that reason, I am hoping to do an Alaska cruise next year with two other posters on here.
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Apr 6, 2013 16:26:53 GMT -5
River has done a few recently - ask her.
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yehyeh
Eating Figjam
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Post by yehyeh on Apr 8, 2013 6:35:39 GMT -5
I did one with my mum - in Russia. It's all done for you on a cruise - food, tours, entertainment. Just unpack once, turn your brain off and enjoy. It was ideal for my mother because she found some friends and got involved in all sorts of activities and tours.
What I did find difficult was interacting with new people all the time. Sometimes I just wanted quiet time and not to have to make chit-chat. Any chance I got I escaped to our cabin.
I did enjoy it but if it were just me I wouldn't do it.
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Post by riverhorse on Apr 8, 2013 8:01:32 GMT -5
Rez - got your FB message as well, will think about a few pointers and tips this evening and reply here and to your message. But basically, I'm totally sold on cruises - ultimate relaxing holiday, and as a destination, Greek islands would be perfect for your little ones - can spend the day at the beach, then you can hand them over to the babysitting service when you get back on board, and enjoy a quiet dinner with hubby!!
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Post by lillielangtry on Apr 8, 2013 9:27:19 GMT -5
We did a Nile cruise in Egypt, so not a typical cruise.
PROs: Good way of seeing lots of different places - this was the key one for us.
Stressfree, all organised for you.
Once price is sorted, you don't have many other costs (ours included everything except drinks...)
Our tours were very well organised and in a very small group (off season).
Food was good and plentiful, if a little "international".
CONs: High average age of guests led to the kind of entertainment we don't like - think crooners, ballroom dancing.
Little opportunity to go off on your own (as timings quite tight) or try local restaurants.
Environmental cost probably high - we hung up our towels but they were still changed every day and the ship seemed to be producing a lot of rubbish. And it wasn't like we avoided flying, we had to take a plane to get there!
In conclusion, it was a good choice for us for Egypt, but we're not quite sold on the idea of standard cruises in general.
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Post by tzarine on Apr 9, 2013 15:01:35 GMT -5
the inlaws gave us one they could not use
cons: many lechy old men making stupid suggestive comments. sameness of the foods, even in the nice restaurant. very vegassy entertainment. horrible waste of food. lots of leopard prints. not enough time in port
pros: lovely indonesian staff.
love boat travel. will leave cruises alone
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Post by canayangel on Apr 9, 2013 15:16:28 GMT -5
i've been on two small ship cruises,on in the Marquesas with Sophie, and one on my own in the Caribbean, taken by default when the original tall ship i was supposed to go on was cancelled. I am not crazy about it, but sometimes it is the only way. although both boats had lest than 300 people, it was really too many... and although meals were good, eating en masse is not my favorite thing. Best times often was when everyone went on shore and i had the ship to myself!!
pro? sometimes the cheapest way to get to a hard to reach place (i.e. Alaska & Marquesas)
sometimes the land tours are good... but always expensive
sometimes you get to meet interesting people you wouldn't have met otherwise. Everyone on rhw Caribbean cruise were 'coupled'... and thank god i was able to connect with a great lesbian couple. the heteros ignored me.
hmmmm hard to find more pros...
con: the food often does not reflect the region you are seeing. You couldn't even get local Carib beer on the Windstar cruise!!!!
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Post by boudicca on Apr 9, 2013 19:44:45 GMT -5
I did a cruise to Alaska. We had fun. We relaxed a lot and took a hike every day in port (for free). Food was OK, people were OK, though definitely skewed toward older. I wouldn't go for more then 7-8 days for your first cruise. I would think Greek Islands would be a good place. Check the childcare options if you're taking the kids. Some ships don't have much to offer. I've looked into cruises to take the girls on but haven't found the right one at the right time. I'd do it again under the right circumstances. Best cruises, in my opinion, leave and return from a port near where you live. If so, it's hard to beat the ease and value.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2013 3:26:53 GMT -5
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Post by ozziegiraffe on Apr 11, 2013 9:20:26 GMT -5
Our River Cruise had a mix of couples, pairs of friends, mostly female, and adult family groups. We connected well with some other pairs of women, and some couples.
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Post by riverhorse on Apr 15, 2013 8:09:02 GMT -5
Rez, I'm sure you'll have a great time. The destinations look great (a lot like the ones on my upcoming cruise in 4 weeks) and the kids will love having different beaches to play at.
As far as the Vegassy atmosphere goes - you still have a fair amount of control over how much you participate in this (or not...) - EGB and I generally avoid the organised things like the plague, and just enjoy the restaurants, bars, the adults-only pool (not an option in your case, I know!) and our own balcony. Having said that, the two big shows (music! singing! dancing! costume changes!) on previous cruises were actually a whole lot of fun, and very very well done - we were pleasantly surprised.
The only thing I would say about this particular cruise of yours is that I would hate not having at least one day completely "at sea" to relax between ports, but I guess you can't have it all...
Will be interesting to compare notes!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2013 9:52:49 GMT -5
Riverhorse, yeah, I was a bit disappointed that we won´t be having a full day of cruise, but we´re thinking about skipping Bari, and stay at the ship all day. Also, there´s no way in hell I´d drag the girls around Athens, so they´ll be staying on board with my Mum.
I can´t wait to do the Fira - Oia hike. Again, F and I will walk, and Mum (who isn´t terribly fit anyway) will take a taxi.
Roll on June!
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Post by riverhorse on Apr 16, 2013 2:23:47 GMT -5
Sounds like a good plan re Bari.our cruise coming up in May was chosen specifically because there are 2 full days at sea to relax.
Oia is just lovely. Although EGB and I are planning on doing the boat trip out to the little island in the middle of the caldera, where there are hot springs. I think we have a fairly long day in Santorini, too, which will be nice.
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Post by Webs on May 1, 2013 15:06:33 GMT -5
Have fun. Just think of it as a trip someone else has planned for you. Be lazy.
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Post by lizby1 on May 2, 2013 1:30:16 GMT -5
I have never fancied a cruise, but I think the destinations can make it worthwhile.
Have a wonderful time.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2013 2:27:19 GMT -5
Thanks, webs, and liz.
We´re doing the cruise specifically because of the destinations: it looks like the most efficient way to see places I´ve always wanted to visit. With minimum effort, and schlepping around with kids in tow.
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Post by romily on May 2, 2013 11:16:37 GMT -5
My idea of hell - but then I am not good in crowded places, and I get seasick like a dog, even on big ships with no waves. I've been even throwing up on the ferry between Dover and Calais on a calm day!
But as that's not an issue for you, have fun!
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2013 11:50:35 GMT -5
I´ll do my best, rom.
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Post by tinaja on May 17, 2013 15:28:50 GMT -5
Don't compare it to a real travel adventure and it will be fine. I would go on an Amazon River cruise, but that is about it. Unless it was free.
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Post by Raised_By_Wolves on May 18, 2013 13:41:24 GMT -5
Rom, i must have 'guts of steel' then. crossed the Drake Passage twice with no problem. however, being tossed about violently in my bunk bed at night was annoying though. on choppy days one could see the water at window level whilst sitting on the sofa (in the lounge) on the main deck! i made this short clip of the horizon on a perfectly calm day before crossing the Drake Passage (which was deep in the night the same day).
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Post by canayangel on May 21, 2013 18:15:29 GMT -5
Raised (or do you prefer to be called by your last name 'Wolves").... those are some amazing videos. looks like a fabulous trip.
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Post by cakemonkey on May 22, 2013 11:51:42 GMT -5
I do not have good sea legs. I puked on a half hour crossing from Montserrat to Antigua. Half an hour.
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Post by canayangel on May 22, 2013 18:36:51 GMT -5
you have to be the only person i know who has been to Montserrat besides me.... sadly theyre was no ferry, or i would have taken it. I flew.
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Post by cakemonkey on May 23, 2013 1:40:41 GMT -5
Sadly there were no planes when I went, or airport. I went post-volcano. The boat was the only means of getting between the two islands. I ended up at a funeral party on Montserrat, which was interesting!
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Post by Webs on Jun 2, 2013 18:00:28 GMT -5
After seeing the Hippo Chick's posts about her cruise I am very much warming to the idea of being floated around the Mediterranean.
I think I might need to save up the bucks and put it towards that.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 9:41:52 GMT -5
Webs, it´s not mind-blowing expensive either, if you don´t go in July or August.
If everything goes swimmingly (sic!)on this one, I´m planning on going on a UK and Ireland cruise next year.
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Post by tzarine on Jun 3, 2013 17:34:27 GMT -5
love ferries. calais to dover, surathani to koh samui, kowloon to hk
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Post by SoulCurry on Jun 7, 2013 0:13:10 GMT -5
I went on one in 2012 Singapore, Bali, Sumatra, back. This was with Royal Caribbean. Loved it because I'd had a rough 2011 and wanted a no-hassle holiday. The cruise gave me time to regroup, sleep a lot and the best part was not having to pack or unpack for a week. Can't think of any cons: the food was super, the entertainment was okay (not compulsory, so if you didn't like it, you didn't have to go), the library was small, but lovely with a super view. I dined al fresco in the day and went for formal dining at night for the fun of it. Made four lovely friends - two of whom I still meet since they live in Singapore. Sure there a lot of families and older people, but the families were usually at the swimming pool or in the special areas reserved for childrean, so it was not a nuisance at all. Also, I like hanging out with older people  I'd say go for it. Royal Caribbean is a good company. |
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