Cruising

[Ooper]

Has anybody been on cruises lasting 2 weeks or more, possibly to Europe or the South Pacific, Australia & New Zealand? How were your experiences? Is there a cruising club in TV?

[boobear51751]

There is a travel club but I have never seen a cruising club. That would be an interesting group to see get started here in TV.

[Donna]

That would be a great idea... :agree:

[chacam]

Hey Oop,

Try here:

http://www.cruisehotsheet.com/flindex.htm

[lin345]

Hey Oop,

Try here:

http://www.cruisehotsheet.com/flindex.htm


That's a nice site to bookmark. Thanks.

lin

[chelsea24]

Hi, we've been on cruises that lasted 2 weeks. Panama Canal, several times and the Mediterranean. I think a Cruise Club would be great. We love to cruise, 5 to 7 day cruises are wonderful too. How do we go about starting a Cruise Club? Any ideas? I would have thought they had one already. OK let's be the first! :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup:

[MMC24]

Been on a couple of 7 day cruises and will be taking our first 12 day cruise to the Med. in July. We would love to join a Cruising Club in TV, hope it starts soon.

[chelsea24]

Hey MMC24, How do you start a club? I'll look into it. Let me know if you know anyway.

[MMC24]

[quote=chelsea24 ]
Hey MMC24, How do you start a club? I'll look into it. Let me know if you know anyway.

Have no idea but I'll inquire at our community center and post what I find out.

[golf2140]

Hi there, we just booked a cruise from Miami. Anyone have transportation to the port of Miami?

[Sherman931]

I'm in for a Cruise Club.

[Avista]

Count me in for a Cruise Club. We leave in Dec for a 2 week cruise on Holland America out of Tampa.

Also leave for a one week on the Royal Caribbean Radiance in Oct.

Anyone else on the Cruise Critic Boards?

[BogeyBoy]

Hi there, we just booked a cruise from Miami. Anyone have transportation to the port of Miami?

Try this. I used them from Naples to Miami and they were very good.

http://www.connect2cruise.com/rates.php

I drive down, it is a pretty easy drive.

[Bonny]

We also love to cruise. Been on several long ones.
We did 2 weeks in the Baltic & 2 weeks in the Mediterranean. We did a 12 day to the caribbean last Dec on the Oasis & we will be doing 12 days this Dec. on the Allure. Probably about 5 that were 10 - 12 days.
Cruising is awesome. There should be a cruise club.

[784caroline]

Two years ago we did a 14 night cruise from Barcelona, and included ports in France, Pisa (Florence), Rome, Naples, Athens, Istanbul, Split Croatia, Myknosos (sp) and ended up in Venice. Great weather in late Oct early NOvemeber and no crowds.

Last year we did a 16 night cruise from LA down the Mexican Riveria with all appropriate stops, transited the panama canal, additional stops in Colon, South America, and Aruba while ending up in San Juan. 16 nights was a real relaxing cruise!!

We are leaving late October (2010) for Southampton Enlgland where we will pick up the new Celebrity Eclipse for a 13 night cruise with stops in Cherbourg and Le Harve France. Here we will visit the Beaches of Normandy, WWII encampments, the American Cemetery, and the French Countryside. From there we proceed to Vigo Spain and the Azores while then proceeding to do a transatlantic into Miami. IS anyone going on this cruise from TV!!

Love to Cruise especially on Celebrity!!

[memason]

I'm not sure, but I believe you just have to have a minimum of 10 interested members and you will be provided a room at one of the rec centers to hold monthly meetings. I am not in TV until next week, but I'm sure someone at the rec centers knows how it works.

We've only been on a couple cruises, but we loved it. We intend to do more cruising, once we get to TV later this year. Therefore, I would be very interested in joining a cruise club.

Interesting note.... I saw another post where someone left [or is leaving] from South Hampton. The Titanic made a stop there too... :smiley: Anyway, I was in Belfast, Ireland a couple weeks ago and one of their claims to fame is that the Titanic was built at the shipyard there. They have a t-shirt that says, "The Titanic was built in Belfast" on the front and on the back it says "It was good when it left here!" They also have a Titanic museum there ...

[golf2140]

Try this. I used them from Naples to Miami and they were very good.

http://www.connect2cruise.com/rates.php

I drive down, it is a pretty easy drive.

Thank you for your help, they have a pick-up at the Mc Donald's on 441. TOTV solves another problem / request.

[Skip2MySue]

Count me in for a Cruise Club. We leave in Dec for a 2 week cruise on Holland America out of Tampa.

Also leave for a one week on the Royal Caribbean Radiance in Oct.

Anyone else on the Cruise Critic Boards?

:wave: We been Cruise Critic members for a few years. We're skip2mysue there also. We leave tomorrow from Bayonne, NJ, 1 hour from our home for a 9 day to Canada and New England on the RCCL Explorer of the Seas. We've been on the EOS a couple of times and love the ship and no flying to get there part.
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[swrinfla]

I'll join a cruisers club. I do at least two each year, usually ten nights each.

There are, however, a number of travel clubs in TV, whose members are probably mostly cruisers. There's also a 'club' which meets 3d Friday 6:15pm at Chatham (next 10/16) but it is a little too much sales talk for my taste, even tho' I usually do go.

SWR
:beer3:

[Skip2MySue]

A couple of years ago we did a Panama Canal cruise on the RCCL Jewel of the Seas out of Miami and there was a large group of Villager's on board. I would estimate there were 40+ and they ate in their own section in the dining room and all had special hats made to ID the group.
Anybody from that cruise out there?
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[cherylncliff]

:wine:We have done several cruises. Disney was expensive but a great experience. Royal is our favorite line but the Celebrity Alaska cruise was one of our favorite cruises. Our home in Buttonwood will be complete Oct 14 and we hope to become frogs sometime next year. We'd be up for a cruise club.:pepper2:

[Floridagal]

Leaving on a cruise from Ft. Lauderdale. Last time we went we stayed at a hotel for the night and left the car there. This time we may leave the same day as the cruise. Has anyone got a place that they leave the car for the length of the cruise?

[VT2TV]

We would love to join a cruise club-we have done a couple of 14 night cruises, including one going through the Panama Canal from Port Canaveral to LA. I fractured/dislocated my wrist in Acapulco which was quite an experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We stayed on the cruise(this happened about half way through), but should have come home-had to have surgery on wrist. In spite of that we love cruising. We did 1 when we were much younger that was Carnival, but all the others were Disney. Truely wonderful experiences and NEVER bothered by the kids-they had their own area, and rarely came out of them. Plenty of adult only areas!!!!! Vicki

[swrinfla]

Floridagal:

If you use Cruise Connection (from McDonald's across US441 from Wal-mart), the convenience is hampered by not being able to leave your car for more than a few hours. Try to find an early-rising neighbor (you should be there not later than 6:15 am) who'll take you there, then come back days later to pick you up!

Or, find someone who'll come along later in the day and pick up your car, then bring it back mid-afternoon of your return day. That's what I do; my brother and nephew usually do this for me! It does work!

If you do drive to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), there are parking garages there (one near Holland America's usual departure point, one near Princess'), but they're something like $15 per day now.

SWR
:beer3:

[memason]

Hello all you cruisers! I am in TV this week and stopped by the seabreeze rec center to find out how to start a club. It is really very simple and free. Someone needs to be the contact and they prefer a secondary contact too. You complete an application for the specific club you want to start and submit it for approval. Once the club is approved, it runs on the front page of the rec center news for 2 weeks, to attract prospective members. Whoever is the contact, must log every telephone call of the inquiries. Finally, you need a minimum of 12 members to start the club and receive a meeting room at one of the rec centers. Seems you can pretty much decide your meeting schedule; monthly to even weekly. They will provide the room for whatever schedule decided.

I would love to chair this club, but I will not be full-time until after the first of the year. If someone else would like to chair and get it started earlier, I would be happy to co-chair.

If anyone is interested in be in the chair or co-chair, just shoot me a PM

Cheers!
Mike

[heijaf]

Hi there, we just booked a cruise from Miami. Anyone have transportation to the port of Miami?

Not Miami, but we are going on a New Years Cruise out of Tampa lv. on 12/29 & returning on 1/3. Anyone want to share the ride & Parking?

heijaf@thevillages.net

[swrinfla]

golf2140:

Cruise Connection does operate service between Ocala & Miami. Villagers get aboard at "Lady Lake" behind the McDonald's acros 27/441 from Walmart.

Visit <www.connect2cruise.com> for details fitting your specific cruise.

I do believe that you have to make a transfer between vehicles, in Fort Lauderdale. Still, a pretty good deal.

Currently priced at $89.95 per person, round trip.

SWR
:beer3:

[Jakel]

We love to cruise, and get out about once a year...We've been on a few longer cruises, but would suggest a newer larger boat for long cruises. It mainly depends on the itinerary. Too many days at sea can become a little much, but island hopping is way fun! Many of the boats we have been on are no longer in service, and one even sunk, but with no passengers. We would love to join a cruise club, but our house sits on the market unfortunately....Is there some way the cruises can be posted on this site, so those of us who cannot attend the meetings could hear what you are up to???

[Floridagal]

Going on a cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale. Anyone have the name of a place to park a car for two weeks?

[swrinfla]

floridagal:

You might look into these sites:

www.offairportparking.com/portevg/ ...... shows a regular rate of $12/day
www.airportparking.com
www.netparkfly.com
www.porteverglades.net ..... posted at $15/day

SWR
:beer3:

[macro]

Last time we parked at Port of Miami, about 3 years ago, cost was $20/day, Cash, before we left! 9-day cruise took a big chunk out of our cash reserve for the trip. They may be taking credit cards by now. Wouldn't surprise me to find out they are up to$25/day by now. A lot of the cruise lines are offering packages with either hotel stay, pre-cruise and leave your car parked at the hotel during the cruise or transportation to the port and back from most Florida locations. Our last cruise, my sister went along, so we had her son take our car back to their house and come back for us two weeks later. Couldn't see paying nearly $300 to store the car at the port.

[bobolink46]

We cruised from Fort Lauderdale to The British Isles in April. It was 15 days and a great experience. We leave Dec 7 for a 14 day cruise out of LA to Hawaii and May 4 for a 16 day panama canal cruise leaving Fll and ending in San Fran. We are hoolked on long cruises and love Princess Cruise Lines.

WE met great people through the forums on cruise critic

[golf2140]

We are booked for April 29, 2011 for a 16 day cruise from Miami, flying back to Orlando. Does anyone have a way to get from TV to Miami. Our ship leaves on a Friday, Cruise Connections doesn't go our ship that day.

[golf2140]

bump

[kaydee]

A suggestion for anyone traveling out of Lauderdale or Miami ports is to travel down the day before and stay at a hotel near the port who offers parking while you are cruising. Even if only partial time is allowed at the hotel it may still be cheaper to pay for the additional time needed than it would to pay the port parking fees for a 2 week or more cruise.

[herbaru]

We are booked for April 29, 2011 for a 16 day cruise from Miami, flying back to Orlando. Does anyone have a way to get from TV to Miami. Our ship leaves on a Friday, Cruise Connections doesn't go our ship that day.

Have you looked into flying or maybe renting a car.

[golf2140]

Have you looked into flying or maybe renting a car.

That's our next step. Going to stop by Enterprise at Lake Sumter Landing. I didn't think it would be a real issue, but it has become one. I thought the travel agent would take care of everything, Not. I may not return to AAA.

[kaydee]

Looking for some info regarding communication while on a cruise. Has anyone used walkie/talkies or rented the two way radios available thru cruise line? If so, I would like some sugestions. We are going on a 2 week cruise and would love to be able to reach my husband and others in our traveling party. I know that verizon offers an add on for the feature of using cell to cell but it is a $5 per minute charge and that could add up fast. Appreciate any & all suggestions.

[chuckinca]

Radio Shack has a good selection of two way radios that are fairly inexpensive.

Look over radioshack.com


.

[Bonny]

Looking for some info regarding communication while on a cruise. Has anyone used walkie/talkies or rented the two way radios available thru cruise line? If so, I would like some sugestions. We are going on a 2 week cruise and would love to be able to reach my husband and others in our traveling party. I know that verizon offers an add on for the feature of using cell to cell but it is a $5 per minute charge and that could add up fast. Appreciate any & all suggestions.

We used walkie talkies once. It was great. I see alot of people using them, especially when they have kids.

[rjm1cc]

I like cruises that last at least 14 days as compared too one week. I think a 3 week cruise would be a little long. However, if I lived close to a port I might take a lot more 7 day cruises.

[ladylake1]

We just returned from a two week cruise and loved it. Seven days just did not seem enough so we did ten days and now two weeks. Would definitely do it again and would like to try even longer.

[GTTPF]

Go to Park N Go in Ft Lauderdale not park N Fly (too far away, at airport). You can find a certificate online and get the code. You will get a cheaper rate. They will also drop you off at the ship and pick you up. We have used it and it is good. They also have the best prices. Have fun:spoken:

[kit9240]

Anyone from The Villages going on HOA southern caribbean 12/2-12/12?

[donbettyr]

Been on 2 week cruise on Princess to Australia/New Zealand, 2 weeks on Princess Buenos Aires to Santiago, and 2 weeks on Holland America Lima to Ft. Lauderdale. All were interesting, do not get bored, lots of good lectures. Have signed up for another long cruise in May and next October. Is obviouly an older crowd who do not have to worry about time off from work, or $$. But really interesting people who have traveled everywhere(how we got ideas for some of our cruises).

[kaydee]

donbettyr, you mentioned in your post that you are sailing another long cruise in May & next October..... what cruise line might that be? We've been on many cruises but only 1 14 nighter and would love to do another without it being a back to back 7 night. I have not been able to find and such trips. The 14 nighter we did last year on Princess but that line has since stopped sailing for a straight 14 nites. Would appreciat any info from you regarding your upcoming trips.

[Tickled_pink]

Looking for some info regarding communication while on a cruise. Has anyone used walkie/talkies or rented the two way radios available thru cruise line? If so, I would like some sugestions. We are going on a 2 week cruise and would love to be able to reach my husband and others in our traveling party. I know that verizon offers an add on for the feature of using cell to cell but it is a $5 per minute charge and that could add up fast. Appreciate any & all suggestions.

Kaydee, we are taking Uniden 2-way radios on our Nov 6th cruise. The packaging says it works up to 12 miles. I'll let you know if it works.

[Bavarian]

We have been on a 114 day Grand World Voyage in 2008, round the World. A 70 day Grand Asia-Australia cruise in Fall 2010, an 18 day South America cruise in 2001, and some shorter ones. Mostly all on HAL.

[GTTPF]

Celebrity has a 14 day cruise out of Ft lauderdale. Princess has a 10 day out of Ft Lauderdale. Most of the rest are seven days out of Flordia. We also like the longer cruises.

[784caroline]

We are doing a 15 night cruise from San Diego to hawaii and return later ths month////we enjoy the 13-15 night cruises

Celebrity is the Best!

[dsned]

Has anyone had any dealings with Anchors away cruises in Clearwater? Got a brochure from them in the mail. Also I would like to join a cruise club --have you started it yet?? dsned

[Skip2MySue]

Has anyone had any dealings with Anchors away cruises in Clearwater? Got a brochure from them in the mail. Also I would like to join a cruise club --have you started it yet?? dsned

It looks like the great idea about forming a cruise club has faded into the sunset. There seemed to be a lot of interest but nobody picked up the ball. There was even talk of one fellow offering to be the chairman of the club. I think it would be a neat idea to meet once a month and share cruise stories. We just booked a short 6 night cruise on Independence of the Seas for Jan. 2013. I've never heard of Anchors Away Cruises. We have booked 10 of our cruises using Direct Line Cruises which buys blocks of cabins for a sailing so you always have a large selection to choose from.
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[Pat_and_Al]

Is Clearwater the closest travel agent? My wife and I cruise all the time we are currently booked on a 8 Canadian cruise next fall. Our travel agent got a $225 cabin discount that we were not aware of plus a shipboard credit. A good Travel is hard to find.

[sarah19]

We are cruising the Polynesion Islands in January - 10 nights, so not quite 2 weeks. I hope someone starts a cruise club - I think it would be fun.

[Lbmb24101]

We love cruising also
The length that is comfortable for someone would depend on one's budget, health and quality of the cruiseline We did Alaska and the Mediterranean, those 2 only so far Looking forward to other cruises, God willing
The idea of a cruise club sounds great!![SIZE="5"]

[donbettyr]

Been on numerous 10-15 day cruises. My wife will not go on a 7 day any more, just get unpacked and time to disembark. Obviously an older crowd when get over 7 days both from a time off and cost perspective Going on a13 day cruise in October

[donbettyr]

donbettyr, you mentioned in your post that you are sailing another long cruise in May & next October..... what cruise line might that be? We've been on many cruises but only 1 14 nighter and would love to do another without it being a back to back 7 night. I have not been able to find and such trips. The 14 nighter we did last year on Princess but that line has since stopped sailing for a straight 14 nites. Would appreciat any info from you regarding your upcoming trips.

Done long cruises on Princess, Holland America and Celebrity

[Madelaine Amee]

Is there a cruising club in TV?

About two years ago there was a very successful Cruise Club in TV run by a guy called Tom Ford (I think that was his name). He had been a travel agent in his real life and he got the various cruise lines to come and talk to us and tell us about their cruises. It was a really great club - nothing was sold at the meeting - in fact you absolutely could not buy a cruise at the club, but there was a lot of cruising information available.

The Villages came in one night while we were all having a meeting and shut him down! Before getting too deeply involved in starting a cruise club someone should do some research on the club they closed down so that they don't make the same mistakes! This is Tom Ford's website and I am sure he would be more than happy to fill in my blanks. Travel Depot & The Villages Cruise Club Travel Depot <tford@thevillages.net>

There was an unsubstantiated rumor floating around that a local travel agent had complained about the club; something to the effect that it was hurting local travel agents.