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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Why do you cruise?

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Topic: Why do you cruise?

M.S.Grumple
First Class Passenger
Member # 1340

posted 01-23-2001 10:10 AM

I have the idea from a number of posts that many people judge a destination by the quality of the shopping (ugh!).

Personally my favourite days are those spent at sea.

Interesting ports of historical signifance
run a close second = and the only 'shopping' I enjoy is that done in a 'straw market' or the like.

Shopping I can do at home and probably cheaper.

Why do most people cruise?

[This message has been edited by M.S.Grumple (edited 01-23-2001).]

Posts: 280 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 01-23-2001 10:46 AM

My late husband and I cruised because he loved the life on board the ship and also being at sea - came from a Navy family. We used to go to Florida, but then it was always, where do we eat tonight? and I still had to make breakfast & lunch and do the dishes - no thank you. On a ship you know where you are going to have eat, I never have to do a thing, you see different ports, don't have to pack & unpack and meet a lot of very nice people, some of whom I still keep in touch with and see on the ships.
Love the sea days - couldn't care less about the islands in the Carib (been there too many times), and yes, probably can get things cheaper at home especially with our Cdn $.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Terri Lee
First Class Passenger
Member # 942

posted 01-23-2001 06:48 PM

I am with you,Sympatico! The Caribbean ports don't mean a thing to me...much rather stay on board and enjoy the ship.I love sea days and everything that goes on all day.
Sure,there are some ports in Europe which are very interesting but give me the TransAtlantic run any time.In fact,the sea days between Lisbon and Ft.Lauderdale are the main attraction for me on the last segment of the World Cruise that I will be sailing on in April!!

Anyway,I always wanted to be a sailor and this is the closest I will ever get to fulfilling that ambition. Guess it comes from being a member for over 30 years of a great sea-going nation...a small island known as England!
Ain't that the truth,Malcolm!!

Terri

Posts: 292 | From: Burlington Ontario Canada | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 01-24-2001 07:12 PM

I love the sea days also. They are relaxing. Sympatico took the words out of my mouth with "Where do we eat tonight". I have always hated that conversation. With my hubby it always goes back and forth with "I don't know, where do you want to eat?" and ends up "I don't care just pick a place". I have gone so far as to reading the yellow pages phone book looking for a place to eat.
I do like the ports but I seldom spend all day off the ship. I like to pick something I want to see, get a taxi, see a little of the island, then back to the ship. I usually pick 1 tour per cruise. My upcoming cruise I decided to take a 3 1/2 hr catamaran and snorkle off St. Kitts.
I love the night life also. I can see a show, lisen to music, and even go to bed early if I choose. There is no problems with hubby's "I really don't feel like going to a show". If we were on land and had to drive this would be issue, but on a ship I can go to a show then meet him later for coffee or a drink.

[This message has been edited by gizmo (edited 01-24-2001).]

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Blizzard54
First Class Passenger
Member # 1824

posted 02-26-2001 11:05 PM

We cruise to cruise. We are not concerned with where the ship goes. We have done the Carib many times but haven'd been there in quite a while. Since "air included" is not what it used to be the cost is higher to go there. We have done the Mexico out of LA annualy for several years. When the rates are right, we go to Alaska.
In Nov RCL announced real cheap rates for the Viking Seranade for Jan. Since it had been quite a few years since our last drip to Disney I decided to do the 4 day cruise and 3 days at Disney. About a week later I thought 4 days is not enough, so I booked the next 4 days. So we did the first cruise then went to Disney. Reality set in.."where do you want to eat?". We did have a good time and got to see the new California Adventure Park. Then it was back to the ship for another 4 day "fix". It was also a chance to say good-bye to another ship that is soon to leave RCL. Our next cruise has the makings of the perfect cruise. (a few more days would be better) We will be sailing 7 days from Ensenada to Seattle on the Radiance, with a balcony. There is nothing better than sailing into your home city. (I always hate flying home)

Posts: 118 | From: Seattle,WA | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

hhornblower
First Class Passenger
Member # 1047

posted 02-27-2001 10:15 AM

I guess I am in the minority in this post, but I am one of those cruisers who is interested in the ports of call as well. Although I love the see and enjoy the cruise experience, I don't consider myself a cruiser and cruising is not my primary form of traveling. I consider myself a traveler and I love exploring different areas of the world.

I like Caribbean cruising because I like to island hop and snorkle, and cruising is the cheapest way to travel the caribbean. Plus it is relatively hassle free.

As far as shopping, depends on what you are shopping for. I know some people who go to an island and eat at McDonald's!! I don't shop for what I can get or experience in the US - unless I can get it at a great price! I have gotten some fabulous deals on jewlery in St. Thomas that would have cost me 4 times more in the States. I have had the jewlery appraised at home.
I also enjoy shopping for crafts on the various islands/ports - they make great, inexpensive Christmas presents.
Most of all, I love the opportunity to lay on a beach or snorkle during the day and enjoy the ships amenities at night.

Posts: 84 | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 02-27-2001 10:58 AM

quote:
Originally posted by hhornblower:
I guess I am in the minority in this post, but I am one of those cruisers who is interested in the ports of call as well.

I'm with you, I like the Ports too! Cruisers fall into two catorgories, either 'ports of call' or 'Sea days' people.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 02-27-2001 12:03 PM

Why do We cruise!!!! If we did not have our cruise to look forward to, I would have gone stark raving bonkers. It is snowing here today and I have had more than enough of it. The only good thing about this weather so late in February is that maybe March will come in like a lion and go out like a lamb, giving us a nice early spring... one can always hope

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

jmfleser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1141

posted 02-28-2001 10:02 AM

At this point in my cruising career I like to combine the choice of ports with the choice of ships. Since there is so much to choose from I like to try new ports and new ships each time. I also love the days at sea. After running around like a lunatic trying to see everything while we're in port I need the days at sea to rest. We have a great itinerary coming up in April. The first two days are at sea. I'll need that just to decompress from the traveling(we're taking 3 grandparents). The we basically alternate between days at sea and days in port which includes the Panama Canal. 40 more days to go. I can't wait :d.

Posts: 183 | From: Esperance, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

cruisernh1
First Class Passenger
Member # 1864

posted 03-23-2001 11:08 AM

Coffee with my husband early before most people wake up. Sitting there on deck with a warm breeze.yehhhhhh! 28 days to go

Posts: 35 | From: Tilton,NH,USA | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-23-2001 01:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Terri Lee:
I am with you,Sympatico! The Caribbean ports don't mean a thing to me...

He guys, maybe you have been cruising and visiting ports in the wrong part of the world?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 03-23-2001 01:31 PM

We could go either way. Make circles with the ship or go to an island every day. We have used cruising to check possible land vacations. We have gone on a cruise and then the next year fly into the island(s) we saw the year before and vacationed on land for a while. We try to pick an itenerary with at least one new port. we still love the caribbean and its ports.

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

bubbles
First Class Passenger
Member # 1415

posted 03-23-2001 01:44 PM

We take cruise and land lubber hols and they both have their advantages. Our cruise experience is a fun filled completely protected holiday. We quite like ports of call but you can not really seem them properly (apart from Gibraltar that is) in the time you are there so if you really want to see the world you are going to have to stay awhile in a place. We love the entertainment on the cruise we love dancing in the disco. Land based holiday resort discos all seem to be aimed at my children's age group and I don't particularly want to be stranded in the middle of a dance floor full of people young enough to be my son or daughter all of whom are thinner than me! On a cruise the mix of people of all ages is one of the best things about it, that and the way you are looked after with no effort required on your part at all must be one of the main reasons many people cruise. Whatever you want whenever you want it who could ask for more?

Posts: 133 | From: England | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

Blizzard54
First Class Passenger
Member # 1824

posted 03-24-2001 02:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm:
He guys, maybe you have been cruising and visiting ports in the wrong part of the world?

You have a point there. At some point (probably after I retire) we will take a long European cruise to see the ports. For now we cruise North and Central America. Since we have been to most of the ports we don't always get off the ship. It depends on if there is something in particular we want to see. Last year when we to back to back cruises out of our home city. (Seattle) we spent the day in port "playing tourist" at home. We enjoyed it. We went to several places that we had not been to in years. At the end of the day we got back on the ship. It would not have been the same to visit those places and then go home...

Posts: 118 | From: Seattle,WA | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

ybobbi
First Class Passenger
Member # 1786

posted 03-24-2001 07:54 PM

We like to cruise first for the destination then for the ship. We enjoy traveling to different areas which we would probably never go to unless we took a cruise. Also we do like the cruise ship for the romance and togetherness I feel it brings to our relation (without all the stress of the real world). For whatever reason you cruise, I feel there is nothing to compare!!!!

Posts: 24 | From: ca | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 03-25-2001 09:03 PM

gizmo - no point in my saying it again - we cruise for all your reasons - you can each do your own thing and not feel guilty - hubby loves movies - I love the slots or just curling up with a good book - and meals - it's so great just having to get dressed and head to the dining room - no hassles.
Just what a vacation is all about.

Happy cruisin'

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 09-19-2003 09:22 AM

I love being on the ocean and seeing water all around. The smell and sound of the ship, ocean is mesmorizing to me. The beauty and quirks, plus the beautiful woods [sans Norway] are endearing.

A psychiatrist friend informed me that the sound of the ocean is like that of the womb.

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

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