Cruise Liners

[paulineb]

Has anyone been on a cruise? what are they like? From what I've seen on the tv they seem to be like floating holiday camps. Eat at a certain time, sleep at a certain time. Mixing with a load of people you don't like and from whom you can't escape. Bingo in the Hawaiian room etc. Is this a fair image ?

Pxx

 

[BarryD]

I've not been on a cruise, but been on the last couple of senior IT type shindigs on Oriana. The main restuarants serve dinner between set times but you could order food as in room service at almost any time. There were also a host of smaller burger bars near each of the pools.

From the blurbs psted around I got the impression that you could eat pretty much when you liked, enjoy the organised activities or just sit around nursing a hang over. Me and SWMBO will be trying a short cruise for (Med out and back) this summer, a chance to dust off my DJ again <G>

Barry D.

IMHO & FWIW, NWGOI.

 

[paulineb]

Can't wait to see the photos !!

Pxx

 

[Guest]

Sorry but to answer this i'm gonna put my snobs hat on. Took SWMBO on Oriana last year, it was fantastic, yes you do have sittings for dinner but its all part of the experience.

However while cruising on our boat around the balearics last year we got invited on the "First Choice" cruise ship based in Barcelona. Pontins on the waves is pretty spot on. Then again the "First choice" ship is less than a quarter the price of P&O.

So like everything else to do with boats you pays your money and you takes your choice.

 

[terryw]

Pauline,
I went to New York with the wife a couple of years ago on the QE2. Before the cruise I was also worried that I might get bored, but boy was I wrong. It was the most relaxing and enjoyable holiday I have ever had, and when we arrived in New York I wanted to stay aboard and just cruise back again.
You can eat for about 22 hours a day, although if you want the full a la carte there are set times, and a dress code. There is plenty of entertainment and facilities to keep everyone happy during the day and evening, and best of all no bl***y mobile phones going off. I would fully recommend such a cruise to anyone, but be flexible and book late (8 weeks before departure) as there are some cracking deals to be had.
As an example, at the time we went the crossing was £2600 book price, with standard flight return to UK. Late booking for outside cabin, 3 nights in Waldorf Astoria hotel, city tour, Broadway show, and return on Concord £750.
Hope this helps, and if you want more information just ask.

Terry

 

[stewart]

btu why?

Why do it, you've got your own boat, or if you want med you could charter, and get the privacy and go where you want etc.....

Not done it myself but all seems a bit, well kind of dull and claustrphobic I suppose.

 

[Trevethan]

I went on a wonderful cruise about ten years ago on a vessel called the Hebridean Princess. Actually a converted ferry. There was none of the Butlin's style entertainment that I find tedious, but a lot of very interesting people and great scenery. The ship, as its name suggests plies the Hebrides. It has a sister ship now that cruises the Indian Ocean.

Its fairly pricey, but you can get very good last minute deals. My aunt has been on what she calls the sauce boat (not sure if its initials H-P or the masses of Scotch consumed that merit the name) several times and raves about it. Its not big on night life, unless you like sitting around chatting with interesting people, though I did go to a great celidh in Tobermory.

Its not really one of those happy hunting grounds for merry widows and I didn't see many gigolos on the prowl either, but all in all thorouighly recommended. Food was good and the ship carried a small sailing dinghy that I used to explore a bit. Clay pigeon shooting was fun too.

Hope this helps!

Nick

 

[SteveT]

Pauline,

I have gone on three cruises accompanied each time by my wife and two teenage daughters. They were with Princess lines and Royal Caribean, so the snob bit , these are not Thompson type cruises.
So based upon my experience cruising is fantastic, the meal sessions can be on a table of complete strangers or you can pre-book a table of your own.Or you can eat in the relaxed resturants 24x7 and eat away by yourself if you want. Bingo is available but so is the Casino. The food on PRINCESS is superb and not bad on Royal Caribean.
You visit countries for a day and sample them to see if you would want to go back. For me Mexico yes Jamaica a definite no, St Thomas yes the Caymens no
I can only sum up by saying i have two highly hormonal teenage daughters who would die of boredom if locked up with boring old farts , parents included, for two weeks. They love cruising and constantly nag at me to go again

 

[peterg]

late booking

Terry

Who did you book this deal through, are there any specialist places to look or just any travel agent/web/ceefax?

Peter

 

[traceyandsteve]

Hi P

I went on a cruise to the Bahamas back in 1996 with Royal Caribbean, and really enjoyed it.

You can eat pretty much round the clock, but silver service dinner is served at set times - although on our ship, you could eat in a buffet style self-service restaurant for dinner if you wanted.

I never got bored once because when you're in port, you're off the boat exploring, and when you're at sea, there's plenty on board to do, including swimming and sunbathing plus all the shops and other things folk on here have already mentioned.

I'd definitely go again. If you're thinking of doing anything stateside, check out some of the American websites - they offer great deals, and you just buy your own flights out to join the ship.

When I was in Florida a couple of years back, I spoke to a couple who regularly go on a boat called (I think) the big red boat (something like that). They book it a week beforehand and get a week's cruising for less than $500. Drinks are bloody expensive tho!

T

 

[ArthurWood]

Hi Pauline- In answer to your image question, NO if you choose right; we had the same impression as you before our first one-week Carib cruise on Carnival (1800 passengers) 15 yr ago with our the teenage sons. We enjoyed it and the boys had a fab time, but we would not go on Carnival again because it has a Butlins atmos and they basically say so - they were called the 'fun ships.' Since then I've been on a couple of 1-day company cruises to Bahamas. Good fun. Then for our 30th wed anniv, we went on the Wind Song (Wind Star Cruise Line, now part of Carnival) to French Polynesia. Only 140 passengers; all one class; dine with whomever you liked; visit bridge any time of day or night; different island each day; lots going on aboard, but could take it or leave it; interesting people;tips included. Absolutely lovely.
5 yr ago went on cruise around NZ aboard Orient Lines' Marco Polo. 670 passengers, ex svc and food;lot going on. Enjoyed it so much we just went on the same ship from Santiago ,Chile, to Patagonia, around to Horn to Falklands, up to Montevideo and then Buenos Aires. (14-day cruise). Made several new friends; saw incredible scenery, listened to very interesting lectures aboard etc etc. And cost is less than chartering say 40ft boat in Carib for a week. I suggest, choose smaller boats, as above if you don't want the Butlins feel. Wouldn't want to cruise longer than 14 days and not every year, but I recommend it. Longest time at sea in any one stretch has been Falkies to Montevideo - 2 days, but lot going on on ship to cater for all tastes to pass time. Oh and check age group to expect aboard as some are v. much oriented to oldies like us.

 

[tico]

Take a look at the 'cruise critic' cant remember the URL but will post tomorrow. ive now been on about 6 cruises but SWMBO is a fanatic... up to about 20 now!!!
There are many different lines and costs all offering different choices. From the 'party boats' of Carnival ( a bit like a slightly older 18-30 club) to Silversea where each cabin (suite) has it's own butler and the minibar is stocked with your preference of fine wines and drinks.
It's a good way to get a taste of many different places without the hassle of packing and unpacking every day. Check out Norwegian cruise lines 'Freestyle' where they have no set dining times or tables, just take your pick from 7 restaurants from pizza to formal silver service and with whoever you like.
Alternatively P&O are more formal... but I guess it's whatever you like.
Destinations.... Anything from the Caribbean for hot sun to the Med to Alaska (much better that you might think) to New England (in the autumn) to The Baltic (think of all that akavit!)
Have fun

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

We went on a Carribean cruise with Cunard a few years back and I can honestly say it was the best holiday weve ever had. As others have pointed out, there are different levels of service and by and large you get what you pay for although you can get some cracking deals if you book late. Avoid Costa ships.

 

[byron]

For 13 weeks or so I was Junior Third on a Liner in the 60s. It was the most boring trip I ever did having to sit and dine with boring passengers who I feel the boring Purser had selected to put at my table because he hated me because I wa so boring.

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[ParaHandy]

Union Castle Line?

I was a passenger on the Edinburgh Castle in 1949/50 and some years later met the Chief Engineer (he retired to become refrigeration engineer at Edinburgh Cold Store Ltd). Amongst many hilarious stories was the Purser's activities. The Castle line (like the Queens, I believe) had stokers who, when dressed up, passed as exceedingly good looking women. These "blokes" were courted by unattached male passengers who were smitten and at the end of a voyage (either Southampton or Durban) the Purser's job was to acquaint the distraught passenger with the facts and the sex of his beau. On some occasions there was a need for the Purser to act more urgently after the passenger tried to get more intimately acquainted.

Modern cruise ships might not be so much fun?

 

[byron]

Re: Union Castle Line?

What a spoilsport I am. I do believe this Chief Engineer spinning a line. He loses credibility by using Stokers as the drag queens, he should have said Stewards. Secondly there ain't no way crew are allowed to mix with passengers especially in those days when social class was much more important than today. However... its a good story.

ô¿ô

 

[lanason]

I also went the States and back on the QE2 a few years ago. We went 1st class and it was ACE. The are meal times but lack of food is never an issue. I had steak for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on one day. Always something interesting going on, never any time to get bored, at this was a no stopper. A med crusie and every couple of days you can go on shore trips ---- mmm nice
My parents are always crusing - they are off in 2 weeks to the med, they have done Norway, Caribean, North Africa. They love it - if you need more details just ask.

Adrian

Don't call me "Sandra"
Cleopatra - yellow hull called Court Jester. Have you seen her ?

 

[Freebee]

We went on a carribean cruise with Carnival it was great! We did find that you can't possibly eat all the meals and attend all the social functions there simply was not time. after 7 days we needed a chill out week in florida to get over it. You find cruise liners are quite big and if you can't get along with some of the other passengers you can always avoid them.
High spot of the trip was new orleans low spot visiting Mayan ruins in mexico they are only ruins and the Mayans who favoured cross eyes built things that stood out of whack until of course you screwed your eyes up and things looked perfick. but thats Mayans for you.

 

[petem]

Pauline,
Been on Oriana twice and loved it both times. It wasn't fll of old people and the peple we met were all great fun and friendly. However, cruise ships are a bit like hotels, very variable in quality. Oriana probably 4*. First Choice, etc probably 2-3* (IMHO).

The Cruise goers bible is the Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships.

Some golden rules for you:-
1) Always go for an outside cabin, pref with Balcony
2) Never pay the brochure price. Aim for 50% off (even Oriana), 30% off ok. Book very early or very late with a specialist cruise agent (I can give you some decent numbers or look on teletext).
3) Bigger the better, especially for longer cruises.
4) Go for new ships (RCL/P&O/Princess/Disney)
5) aviod summer holidays, you'll find up to 1000 kids on Oriana.

Some of the brands for you:-

P&O: (Oriana/Aurora) Nice mixture sailing out of Southampton.
Carnival: American, party cruises full of younger americans
Royal Caribean: Some cracking nice big shops, mostly in the Carib
Cunard: Full of Coffin dodgers
Princess: Again some nice big ships. Sister comapny to P&O.

Let me know if you need any further help!

 

[ParaHandy]

Re: Union Castle Line?

You are right, of course, that it was stewards and it was my error not his. But you are quite wrong about crew mixing in the manner I describe. You might have led a more sheltered existence?