My husband is deployed, and we are discussing taking a vacation together when he returns. We're looking at cruises because some of his friends have gone on them and really enjoyed not having to worry about or plan anything. We'd be going in January so we want to travel to either the Caribbean, Bahamas, or Hawaii. I've also seen some advertised for Baja Mexico but they don't seem as interesting to me. We both have passports so that's not a concern. We want to go for 5-7 days. I've very excited but have no idea what to look for or expect.
Have any of you gone and have stories or suggestions to share?
If you haven't gone, where would you choose to go?
Do you think a cruise or an all inclusive resort would be better?
[question posted by celestemichelle]
responses and comments:
I personally find thr idea of going on a cruise boring. Once the novelty has died down, there's usually nothing to see for ages. And if you don't like the ship, you're a bit stuck for the rest of the time. It's just a floating holiday resort with not many places to go to and that uses up the earth's valuable resources for no particular reason. That's just my opinion - sorry if that was not what you wanted to hear! [Kenaomi]
One of my best holidays was a cruise down the Nile in Egypt. We stopped off at every site on the way. It was absolutely wonderful. My parents in law went on a cruise around the caribbean last year. They said it was superb and the liner was like a 5 start hotel. [slarkin71]
Me and my hubby went on a cruise for our honeymoom. It was great!!! We went with Carnival, I am not sure what the name of the ship was, but it was huge!! Eleven floors, tons of food!! Lots of exciting things like bingo (as cheesy as that sounds it was fun), art showings, cigar thingys, dance clubs, arcades, they had a gym and a spa!! It was wonderful!! My favorite thing was the food, all you can eat, all the time and it was all included in the prise of the cruise! The only thing you have to pay for is alcohol!! We went to the Cayman Islands (beautiful), Jamacia, which was totally scary for me! They dropped us off at a shopping mall in town and from the moment we got off the bus there were "natives" (I don't know what to call them) following us afound everywhere!! They wanted to braid my hair and sell us things, it was really creepy!! They just followed us around everywhere we went and I didn't like it at all!! And then we went to Mexico, I don't remember where, but it was nice and relaxing there =) I would never go back to Jamacia because it was so ghetto (not trying to be rude or offend anyone) and scary for me. Overall a cruise is wonderful!!! [Michele21]
My husband and I got back from an Alaskan Cruise. We went on the Holland American Line. Their ships are smaller than the others, and because of that, we were able to met so many people. They have a lot of entertainment, and what I find fun is the walk around the deck. Four times equals miles. The food is excellent, first quality, and the service superb. You get waited on and the crew is very polite. Most of them come from Indochina and the Philippines except for the Captain and the first mates, etc. There was even an art auction, we had a karoke contest, and ballroom dancing, etc. You get a specific time for supper time, the rest of the time you can go to a buffet but they have breakfast time, lunch time, and dinner time. And they are particular about cleanliness as they do not want an epidemic aboard the ship. We went ashore at Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchican. Also we went on a train ride, and to see some icebergs. You need your passport. The only thing I did not enjoy was that I did not buy leather shoes and my ankles got cut. Next time, the Caribbean! [suspenseful]
I have not personally been on one, but my sister and mother and father have. They really enjoyed it. You do get to see alot. Although you get to see many different places in one trip..a cruise is not for me. Every day when you arrive at a new port, you have anywhere from 6 to 8 hours to explore and do things. That is not enough time for me. I want the whole day! If I find sometihng intereting that I want to do, I dont want to feel rushed. So, I guess there are up's and down's with taking a cruise. But everyone I know that has been on one has loved it, I am just not sure if it is for me. [MOLTON1296]
I have been considering that I might rather pick a location and just see everything there for a week, instead of hoping on and off a bus. [celestemichelle]
Yes I have. We went on a cruise around the Europian coastline and then a little of Afica in Tunesia. It was wonderful. There is not much I can say really except to make sure you get of at every port that you can, but make sure that you get on board in time again. It is a good way to see a few places all at once, but I had to get out of the stuffy rooms as often as possible. It is also very warm in SA in the summer, but the Europian summer is a little nippy and I did not really do the swiming thing. [keda69]
I have been on several cruses and I love them there so much fun are last cruse was a feww years ago to the carabean and my favorite cruise was when we went to alaska when I was a kid I like cruses because theres so much fun stuff to do on a cruse like shuffle board explore the cruise watch the ocean and spot for whales or dolphins im trying to get my parents to book a cruse for christmas vacation. [arcidy]
the first time i was on a cruise ship was when i along with some primary school pupils were going for a long excursion on the atlantic ocean and i have not been on a cruis thing since then, it was a pleasurable ride but i was so scared because the ship was moving in a funny way up and down and attimes it looks as if its going to fall in the sea [reddevil1]
I have not been on a cruise. Sorry I am not of help for your questions, but I would like to go on cruise one day. [UDDERONES]
No, we haven't got a chance to go on a cruise yet. But we do get lots of friends' feedback saying they really enjoy the cruise with free bar; buffet and entertaining place for children and adult provided. If go on a bigger cruise there will be swimming pools and other type of activity events available. I have to admit it sounds great and hope we can have one next year. [Madona1]
yup, i went on one to all the small islands in greece. it was super because the ship moved from island to island in the night and we spent the day exploring the island and back to sleeping on the ship. far far better than those who spend the night on the island and then spend the rest of the day travelling and then not seeing anything and incurring another night's expense in a hotel! it was so beautiful seeing all those islands and their stark white homes against the blue of the sky and the blue of the sea. love the place. [squaretile]