would you recommend a cruise?

Question

what was your best and worst experience on a cruise

Answer 1

Most definitely, yes.

Cruises can be a lot of fun, but it is a trip that requires some planning and research. Lots of people do have bad experiences, for a variety of reasons, but let's face it: sometimes on vacation, stuff goes wrong. You're in a strange place, you don't have access to all your things, and sometimes things beyond your control can put a damper on your plans.

The best advice I could give you: do your homework! Research potential ports of call you would like to visit based on your vacation style (active vs. laid back and relaxed, tropical vs. cold climate, sightseeing and tourist attractions vs. unstructured days). Once you decide where, shop around for the best deal; cruise lines offer some great incentives to book in advance or during their 'off' season, typically September/October due to hurricane season.

We have taken 12 cruises (we're in our mid-30's) and have loved them all. Cruise lines vary in terms of ship size / number of passengers / activities on board / dining options, so be sure to try and choose the cruise line that would seem to best fit your expectations. Check out cruisecritic.com for hundreds of passenger reviews from all the different cruise lines as well--the best advice we have gotten about cruising has come from fellow vacationers.

Worst experience on a cruise: rough seas. It happens from time to time, and there's not much you can do about it. My husband and I do not suffer from seasickness (thankfully!), but when 3/4 of the passengers were suffering in their cabins due to rough seas, we were hard-pressed to find something fun to do. All the shows were cancelled (because the dancers couldn't keep up with the waves!), so we ended up in the casino. We had the place to ourselves, so it was fun anyway, but that is probably the least fun moment we've had on a ship.

Just a note: I definitely disagree with the poster who feels that paying more $$$ equals a better cruise experience. The price of a cruise has more to do with when you book (early vs. late) and the itinerary (Hawaiian and Alaskan cruises, for example, are far more expensive than Caribbean cruises). We look to spend around $500 per person for a cruise--sometimes that will buy you a lovely cabin with a balcony, and sometimes an inside room, but for 7 days, $500 per person is a great price.

Feel free to email if you have specific questions. Good luck!

Answer 2

Cruising is the Best Vacation Value for your money. You have all your needs taken care of.

We recommend that First Time Cruisers go on the 3 to 4 night Cruises. Many of these are a lot of fun and your not on the Ship for long so this gives you the chance to experience a bit of what cruising has to offer.

Feel free to book with me... [e-mail]

Answer 3

September (after Labor Day) is a great time to go price-wise, but be sure to buy travel insurance in case there's a hurricane. Most lines will re-reoute around the storms, but it's well worth it just in case. As for the cruise line, that depends on your age, temperament, and type of activities you like. Some of the ships are great for people wanting to party and others are better for older folks. I said temperament because my husband and I, while not that old, are curmudgeons on a cruise, ha ha! We don't want a lot of kids around, so we tend to go at times when school is in. Mexican Riviera is supposed to be nice, Antigua was beautiful and so was St. Thomas. I didn't personally care for Nassau, but that's because I don't really like wearing a bathing suit. If you like parties and after-hours, try Carnival or something like that. Royal Caribbean is a nice in-between. Celebrity was a little more mature. They still had all the parties, but that wasn't the main focus and the dining room was a lot nicer and a little more formal than Royal Caribbean. Those are the only two we've been on, so I don't know about the others. ENJOY it! Cruising is the best way to go!

Answer 4

Cruising is a great value as you can visit many different places and only unpack once. It's also relaxing just to be on the open sea.

The best experiences have been meeting new people, taking part in all sorts of activities, eating food that I didn't have to prepare (and don't have to clean up afterwards), and being with my husband in a romantic setting.

The worst experience was probably being on a cruiseship with about 1800 bingo players (turned out to be a "world tourney of bingo").

I would recommend trying out a short cruise just to see if you like it. There are three and four day cruises out of many ports such as Los Angeles, Galveston and Miami. Read up about possible cruises and ports at cruiselinefans.com and ask many questions. You'll find that after one cruise, you'll be hooked!

Answer 5

I LOVE TO CRUISE!!!! I would go 4-6 times a year if I could.
Best experience: Carnival Sensation 7 day cruise in 2001. Everything was absolutely perfect! We loved everything!!!
Worst experience: Last week on Carnival Valor. Poor food, entertainment, and hospitality. We were greatly disappointed.

I think the smaller the ship, the better the cruise.

Answer 6

You know it's funny, I was in my 50's before I ever set foot on a cruise ship. I thought they would be too confining. Was I ever wrong! I was on Holland American's Amsterdam to Alaksa. What a beautiful ship. And how I loved getting up in the morning, looking out to a wide expanse of sea, and watching the ports come to me. I thought, now this is a good idea!

The thing about cruising that is important is, research your cruise line. You need to know what are priorities to you. Size of the ship? Things to do onboard? Cost? Cabin? Itineraries? There are so many variables, and so many different lines that cater to different tastes.

I have settled on Seabourn, which is a smaller, luxury line that is all inclusive. It caters more to an older crowd (that's me), who aren't interested in noise, partying and nightlife, just great service, food and a generally perfect cruise experience!

Answer 7

Yes & Yes. I have been on 22 cruises & loved every one. The cost. Once you take everything into account they are actually less than most other vacations.
The best - meeting new people, trying new foods (buffet), the sites & just knowing once on the ship they drive, feed, board & take care of your every need for 1 price.

Worst = that I do not have the money to go more often.

Go Enjoy.

Answer 8

My wife and I went on a 3-night Carnival cruise to the Bahamas and it was beautiful. It was our first cruise and I'd have to say it was perfect. Not too long and not too short. We landed in Miami and shuttled down to Port Canaveral to board the cruise. Alot of activities to do..swimming, dancing, karaoke, game shows, casino, bars, and best of all....all you can eat food for FREE! After dancing all night at the various kinds of bars and dance clubs, we'd order room service for FREE! Nassau, Bahamas was beautiful too! We spend the whole day there, jet skiing, swimming in the ocean and shopping. Very friendly people. I'd recommend a 3-4 night cruise for your first time. It's worth it. If you're scared to motion sickness, you don't even notice your moving except for when the ship stops or begins moving. STRONGLY RECOMMEND A CRUISE!

Answer 9

I would definately recommend a cruise. It's like a floating hotel. You go to a place one day board your hotel and float to the next place. You have many activities to keep you occupied and more food then you ever want to see in your life. Plus it's all included in your price. You don't have to pay for each meal. Don't have to pack up and go to the next destination. You unpack once and go. Meet new people, experience cool things, and see great places. You should go at least once.

Answer 10

Heck yeah! I would definiteley recomend a cruise. Once your on the boat you dont have to do anything. Everything is taken care of for you! But the best part has got to be the scenery and the FOOD yummm!