Cruising Questions

[mikef65]

What's the best cruise itinerary you've personally taken?
How many days is enough?
How many days is too long?
What is your primary reason for taking a cruise?

[Michael 61]

I love the transatlantic cruises - the long, consecutive days at sea are relaxing. For me, the destination is “the ship” with the ports of call being secondary. I think you need at least 10 days aboard a ship to truly relax and get to know the ship. There would never be “too many” days in my opinion. At this time in my life, I really enjoy Holland America. Great service and good food, especially in their steak, seafood and Asian restaurants on their newer, larger ships. I also enjoy their large crows nest lounge at the top and front of their ships, with floor to ceiling windows. Great place to lounge, unwind with a latte, a good book, and watching the sea go by. I don’t want to feel I’m at an amusement park, circus, or large floating shopping mall. It’s a quiet, calm cruise line, without constant announcements on the PA, no loud “pool games” or music, and very little upselling.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Our best was our honeymoon, on the SS Norway of the Norwegian Cruise lines, back in 1990. I've heard the line isn't as good as it used to be, but back then the food was outstanding, activities galore. Service was excellent. There were no "kids programs" and we didn't see any families with young kids on board at all. There was a disco so there were some 20-somethings. The land excursions were great. It was a 7-day eastern Caribbean cruise. We had a junior suite with a balcony overlooking the stern.

We've been on a few other cruises since then but none have been as good. Also our last two were family cruises with extended families and their little kids, and arranging for everyone to do stuff together was so NOT fun it really kinda ruined it for us. We are hoping to some day afford a river cruise, and float up the Mississippi for 5 days.

[Stu from NYC]

If you like lots of sea days do a TA.

Our best itineraries were the Baltics back when we got to do to St Petersburg, Norwegian fjords up to the Arctic circle and around Iceland.

Than again cruise around British Isles was also very good.

These days we prefer at least a two week cruise.

For a first one perhaps a week to the Caribbean to see how you like cruising

[CoachKandSportsguy]

If you have never done a cruise before, which reads like that might be the case,
a good starter trip with lots of different "shoreside" activities is a winter time (Jan - Mar) Tampa departure
to the Western Caribbean, where you can go ocean snorkeling, Mayan ruin climbing, a remote beach day, and a local tour for a total of three days not at sea. Seas will be relatively calm as hurricane season is well past

That will give you a good idea of what a cruise is, not very long, some great interesting sites to see, the mayan ruins deep in the jungle was an indiana jones day, the highlight of our trip. . . and being in a foreign country, if you don't have much intl travel experience.

just do it. . now is the time to just do small, as cruising is one of the easiest ways to go see several different countries / islands and choose between many different shoreside activities, as the hotel and food go with you

[rsmurano]

Tampa has the older smaller ships which I wouldn’t go on any longer. They are boring, terrible shows, and actually more crowded with smaller people. We went on 3 cruises with these smaller ships last year and hated them, the cruises before Covid were on the largest ships.

When you are looking at the ships for your cruise, look at the ships amenities before booking. The big ships that have around 6000 cruisers or more have the best nightly/daily shows, separate rooms for music, the entertainers are more talented, and the front of the ship is usually for adults only with many hot tubs, bars, sitting areas, etc.
To prove this point, check out the shows/entertainment on the RC Mariner ship vs the RC Wonder of the seas or the Icon or the Utopia of the seas.
If you want to play pickleball, check out the RC Symphony of the seas ship, it has indoor pickleball.

[Pairadocs]

What's the best cruise itinerary you've personally taken?
How many days is enough?
How many days is too long?
What is your primary reason for taking a cruise?

Just short of 100 now.
Began when "cruising" was a rather new concept and our children LOVED it, few of their contemporaries had ever been on a ship.
Our favorite itinerary was Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc., Alaska combined north and south back to backs probably second.
We seem to find 21-23 days our max, but in the early days always felt there was no such thing as "too long".
Don't really care to bother to pack for less than 7 nights.
Hard to find, but we love 9 day cruises because you actually get a week's vacation ! On 7 day cruises, the first day is "shot" with arrival, unpacking, usually trying to make various reservations on board, getting familiar with the ship's layout, etc. And, the last day is a frantic mess of being awakened early, trying to get a quick breakfast and sill be able to return to cabin to brush teeth, clean up, do a quick double check of safe, under beds, etc., so not at all relaxing.

Enjoy cruising because of complete relaxation IF you want... no phones, no devices, street noises,sirens, cabs, catching trains and planes from one location to another, etc. However, we do miss the "old way", before dental and medical "procedures" (only massage back then), before all the NOT included restaurant, the almost street peddler like retailing/pestering, and we REALLY miss the "old" menus where you ordered each and every selection: the type of potato or starch you preferred, a LONG list of vegetables to select from, etc. Now most main stream lines have all plated. The Salmon comes with green beans and smashed potatoes, the pork chop comes with corn and baked potato, and so on.

We've found small ship cruise lines to be closer to the "old" experience, but, they come at a substantial price unfortunately !

[Pairadocs]

If you like lots of sea days do a TA.

Our best itineraries were the Baltics back when we got to do to St Petersburg, Norwegian fjords up to the Arctic circle and around Iceland.

Than again cruise around British Isles was also very good.

These days we prefer at least a two week cruise.

For a first one perhaps a week to the Caribbean to see how you like cruising

Totally agree the Baltic, North Sea, etc. St. Petersburg, and the Viking museum in Norway, and the overland we took to Lapland where we boarded our ship again (those not taking the overland trip, just stayed on board...it was one of the Holland American ships). Brought the "kids" up on cruise vacations, now one just returned with his family and called mom and dad: YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST CRUISE TO ABU DHABI.... they have been back SIX WEEKS now and still can't stop talking about how amazing it is ! !

[CoachKandSportsguy]

my best memory of how cruising is so different for the different ages, on our Alaskan cruise, one night i was near a window looking out over one of the pools.

There was a small amount of twilight left, and there was an elementary aged girl just climbing up the slide and sliding into the pool, loving it. Then her dad came out in a full on winter parka, and told her it was time to come back to the room and get changed.

I wanted my SLR camera at that moment so badly. .

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Tampa has the older smaller ships which I wouldn’t go on any longer. They are boring, terrible shows, and actually more crowded with smaller people. We went on 3 cruises with these smaller ships last year and hated them, the cruises before Covid were on the largest ships.

When you are looking at the ships for your cruise, look at the ships amenities before booking. The big ships that have around 6000 cruisers or more have the best nightly/daily shows, separate rooms for music, the entertainers are more talented, and the front of the ship is usually for adults only with many hot tubs, bars, sitting areas, etc.
To prove this point, check out the shows/entertainment on the RC Mariner ship vs the RC Wonder of the seas or the Icon or the Utopia of the seas.
If you want to play pickleball, check out the RC Symphony of the seas ship, it has indoor pickleball.

so interestingly, the original post asked about what your primary reason is for going.

You appear to be interested in the shipboard activities, which is one point of view. For us, it is seldom about what the ship offers, we don't care about the shows, or much about the entertainment on the ship, as we go for the countries and shore side excursions to visit the local areas' attractions, which we would not fly and drive to see.

The difference in our approaches is very evident with the activities we each highlighted as important for the cruise selection. . everyone is unique.

good luck to the OP on selecting what interests him/her/them

[Rainger99]

Best was a river cruise on the Danube. No driving, no packing and unpacking every night, no looking for parking in a foreign city where I can’t read the signs, and they usually drop you off in the middle of a city.

Entertainment is quite simple compared to ocean cruising but sailing by villages and castles is quite relaxing. We even biked about 10 miles one day.

[kaydee]

We will be doing our 42nd cruise soon. Most have been with Royal Caribbean however our next cruise is thru Carnival on Mardi Gras which will be our 3rd time on this particular ship. Cruising is our idea of a great vacation. We are particularly fond of St Maartin, Grand Turk, Curaçao & any private island days. When the price is right , we are not fussy … we’ll take a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more night cruise & fully enjoy it.

[lawgolfer]

I love the transatlantic cruises - the long, consecutive days at sea are relaxing. For me, the destination is “the ship” with the ports of call being secondary. I think you need at least 10 days aboard a ship to truly relax and get to know the ship. There would never be “too many” days in my opinion. At this time in my life, I really enjoy Holland America. Great service and good food, especially in their steak, seafood and Asian restaurants on their newer, larger ships. I also enjoy their large crows nest lounge at the top and front of their ships, with floor to ceiling windows. Great place to lounge, unwind with a latte, a good book, and watching the sea go by. I don’t want to feel I’m at an amusement park, circus, or large floating shopping mall. It’s a quiet, calm cruise line, without constant announcements on the PA, no loud “pool games” or music, and very little upselling.
I second the Transatlantic crossing for the R&R at a bargain price. Fly to London, spend 3-4 nights shopping, sightseeing, and going to the theatre; then, return home well rested. We did many of these when I was working 60 hr/weeks to make enough to be able to retire to The Villages.

As for interesting/exciting ports: 1. Eastern Mediterranean; 2. Baltic 3; Alaska 4; River cruise on Rhine 5; River cruise on Danube

[terryf484]

What's the best cruise itinerary you've personally taken?
How many days is enough?
How many days is too long?
What is your primary reason for taking a cruise?

Viking River - 15 day - Budapest to Amsterdam - celebrating 50th anniversary year
Viking Ocean - 15 days - Scandinavian area - celebrating 60th anniversary year

Both were just right amount of time.

[NoMo50]

I think our favorite itinerary so far was an 18-day cruise that started in Sydney, and ended in Honolulu. Stops along the way included New Zealand, and French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea and Raiatea). During the cruise, we crossed the International Date Line (got to do Thursday twice!), as well as the Equator. Another favorite was a Med cruise that started in Venice (Ravenna), and ended in Barcelona. For a quick hit to see if you like cruising, try a 7-day Caribbean offering. But, I would recommend booking one that embarks in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Those cruises go deep into the southern Caribbean, and are more port intensive (fewer sea days).

For our taste, a 21-day cruise is right at the edge of being "too long." We have done that once, and probably would not do it again. 14 days is kind of the sweet spot, and can easily be done with two 7-day cruises back to back.

[dewilson58]

What's the best cruise itinerary you've personally taken?
How many days is enough?
How many days is too long?
What is your primary reason for taking a cruise?

First time??..................I would dip your toe in with a four or five night cruise out of Orlando to see if you like it. Couple days at sea and a couple ports.

[racedaygal]

We went on the Norway also. Still my favorite ship. So beautiful.

We have been on two 28+ day cruises on Princess and enjoyed them very much. One was to New Zealand/Australia and the South Pacific and the other The British Isles and Transatlantic.

New Zealand is spectacular and so much fun. We saw Hobbiton and, as Lord of the Rings fans, that was awesome, so I would say that was our favorite cruise.

The entertainment on both ships, Regal and Majestic, was top notch, and the cruise director’s staffs were superb. Met lots of lovely, friendly people and had wonderful, mostly private, excursions at the ports.

7-14 day cruises are nice also and the Southern Caribbean is a favorite including the ABC islands. I would start with one of these.

The Pacific Coastal cruises are quite beautiful and the 15 night round trip to Hawaii from either LA (San Pedro) or San Diego is quite nice.

We loved the Mediterranean cruise and have stopped in Barcelona many times. What a magnificent city! Definitely do a Med cruise.

I agree with other posters that the Baltic is a wonderful cruise. Unfortunately, St. Petersburg is off the table right now and the two days we spent there were the nightlight of the trip.

Cruising in general is just fun. A great vacation. We prefer the smaller ships, but we have been on several of Royal Caribbean’s large ships as well as NCL, Celebrity and Princess.

[dpdale]

For cruising out of Florida, our favorite itinerary is the ABC - Aruban, Curacao, Bonaire. There are usually a couple of other ports included, but these three are beautiful and have a lot of different opportunities. This is usually a longer, 9 day, itinerary and gives you a few sea days to explore the ship. We love the larger, Oasis ships of Royal Caribbean, mainly for the many different activities and shows - a diving show, ice skating, adult ( not too blue) comedy show, a Broadway type - Momma Mia on the Allure - and other diverse main theater shows. We’ve cruised on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity on over 100 cruises and have never been disappointed. Good luck and happy cruising.

[ThirdOfFive]

Good input in these posts! We've cruised a fair amount (kinda late getting into it but are making up for lost time) and the advice from the more veteran cruisers was much appreciated.

A couple of quick points...cruise lines (and certain cruises) become known for various things that you may or may not especially enjoy. For instance we enjoy cruises that have few or no young children, so we don't cruise with Disney. Carnival rightly or wrongly has the reputation of offering cruises on the cheap to twenty- and thirty-somethings (i.e. "booze cruises"), with the accompanying party atmosphere and noisy atmosphere, so if that isn't your cup of tea it is something that you might also want to consider. In fairness both of these points are hearsay so if you consider either of these two cruise lines you'd probably want to talk to someone who has cruised with them.

Along those lines you might want to avoid the four- and five-day cruises. As another poster has already mentioned, the first and last day of any cruise is very much hassle and very little cruising: you leave port at 5:00 PM or so the first day, and arrive at dawn the last day. Also these short cruises are usually on older (and smaller) ships with service and amenities not up to the quality of the larger ships that have the longer cruises, and are favored by the "party" crowd.

I agree with others who state that an eight- or nine-day cruise is about right to get a good feel for cruising. RCCL offers a nine-day cruise to the "ABC" (Aruba-Bonaire-Curacao) islands of the coast of Venezuela, with a couple of other stops along the way that was a fun, relaxing cruise. I don't know if they still offer it or not, but you might want to check it out.

Enjoy!

[spofford]

Ports or call will drive number of days on board. Australia, Antarctica, South Pacific, all need over 30 days. Caribbean good for 7 days, maybe 14 to unwind.

[nhkim]

First time??..................I would dip your toe in with a four or five night cruise out of Orlando to see if you like it. Couple days at sea and a couple ports.

four or five night cruise out of Orlando

???

[Cuervo]

Time is important, but what is also important is that you research what you want and where you want to go. I assuming you are either retired or close to that, so you might want a cruise line that caters to adults. The first cruise I took was on Carnival, it was like being on a floating circus the crowds, the kids. I spent 3 years on a carrier and when I look back that was more pleasurable. My second cruise was a European cruise which compared to the first was day and night.

[Shelbyh]

What's the best cruise itinerary you've personally taken?
How many days is enough?
How many days is too long?
What is your primary reason for taking a cruise?

As a seasoned cruiser (over 30), this may be a hard one. Short cruises are going to be loud and full of party goers. Doesn’t matter the itinerary. Someone new to cruising may only want to take a short one but have a bad experience due to short cruise clientele. Week long cruises are better. If you are new to cruising choose a heavy itinerary. For me the stops didn’t matter much with exception of Nassau, won’t go on cruise if it stops there. Loved virgin islands.
I have sailed on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity, and Costa.

[firefighter4u]

Any place in the Caribbean; 7 days is perfect and in a different life I should have been a pirate! lol

[dewilson58]

four or five night cruise out of Orlando

???

Are you really confused??

Many cruise sites show:
Cruise from
Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida

If you need more information, send me a PM and I'll educate.

chilout

[defrey12]

four or five night cruise out of Orlando

???

Cape Canaveral = Orlando

[Rainger99]

First time??..................I would dip your toe in with a four or five night cruise out of Orlando to see if you like it. Couple days at sea and a couple ports.

Good advice. If you can avoid paying for airfare, you can save a lot of money!!

[CosmicTrucker]

I strongly support this advice.

In my experience, the longest cruise I've been on was 8 days, with 7 days being the average. Personally, I start missing home and my pets by day 5. Port Canaveral is one of the easiest ports for us Villagers to drive to, especially with a weekend embarkation. There's low traffic compared to a weekday.

In my opinion, any Caribbean cruise offers a similar experience. As previously advised, start with a 4-5-day cruise on a newer ship, if possible, for the best experience.

[aholter]

First off, decide what interests you in cruising: The sites you will see, relaxation, onboard activities. This will lead you to a decision on whether you want an ocean or river cruise, a destination cruise, or a mega ship (much more unique activities on board).

We have cruised many, many times in Asia, Europe, and the South Pacific. Our cruises are mostly ocean cruises, but 3-4 have also been on rivers. When we go, I am interested in seeing the great sites of the world and trying to immerse myself, and understand, local culture. That said….

We have yet to do a transatlantic cruise. For someone who wants to relax, it should be perfect. We sailed around Cape Horn, through the Straits of Magellan and up through the Chilean Fjords. That was “too much” at sea for me, even though there were majestic vistas all around us. I am looking to try an ocean crossing, but think I want to sail from Buenos Aires or Rio, crossing through the doldrums to Africa and ending someplace in Western Europe. This should be smoother seas and less days at sea.

We have done one Caribbean cruise and that was enough. There are some, but few great historic sites, and the departure locations lead to more families. Large cruise ships abound here with plenty of on-board activities if you want them, but I don’t. Safety on some of the islands seems to be becoming a bigger issue.

The Mediterranean is wonderful. Fall asleep after seeing the pyramids one day and awake next to Roman ruins the next. There is a cultural experience everywhere, and that includes dinners with local delicacies. If we have an overnight, I search out a local restaurant with great food and a view. OK, the horse carpaccio that we had in Japan wasn’t great, but it was different, and not offered at a single Villages country club.

We’ve done a few cruises in Asia and the South Pacific – Australia to New Zealand, Perth to Singapore, circle Japan, and Singapore to Thailand to Viet Nam to Hong Kong to China to Japan to the Philippines. We loved them all. I found Viet Nam fascinating with great food and a delicate dealing with “The American War.”

So, to your specific questions:


Best Itinerary - Our best itinerary was the 26 days around SE Asia.

How long is enough - We started out enjoying a week, traveling further away, we now want 3-4 weeks, with fewer, but some, days at sea. Medium sized ships only – the small ones sometimes seem to go to ports where I can’t see something great and can’t cover as much turf at night. Super big ships offer all sorts of things I don’t want. Oh, and if you fly a long distance, allow at least one extra day to get time zone acclimated and avoid late flight risk. Friends with a close flight connection missed their departure, but fortunately could take a bus/train to catch up with their ship.

How long is too long – after 37 days in South America, we were ready to go home.

Why do you cruise – As mentioned, I go to see the great (and some almost great) sites of the world. But don’t go too long too soon - build up to it - you may hit your sweet spot earlier than we did. Also, we love having a deck – especially for days at sea, or what they sometimes call scenic cruising.

[Joe C.]

Whatever cruise you want to take, just don't take it when the high school or college kids are on vacation ........ Christmas, February or Easter vacation time. The kids are loud and annoying.

[tjdmlhw]

What's the best cruise itinerary you've personally taken?
How many days is enough?
How many days is too long?
What is your primary reason for taking a cruise?

Our favorite cruise was seeing Hawaii on Norwegian's Pride of America. This is the only ship that allows you to cruise the major islands without spending multiple days sailing on the ocean to get there. The ship itself is old and the food isn't that great, but it was worth putting up with for the convenience of flying into and out of Honolulu.

Runner ups were an Inside Passage Alaska Cruise paired with a 7 day land excursion. Our trip started in Vancouver and ended in Fairbanks. We also loved a 14 day South Caribbean Cruise out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

[DAVES]

What's the best cruise itinerary you've personally taken?
How many days is enough?
How many days is too long?
What is your primary reason for taking a cruise?

You need to find your own answers. Mom taught me to to clean my plate 5-7 means a day they would need to charge me extra for weight gain.

We went to Alaska a bit of SLIGHTLY rough water. Wife seemed to be attached to the toilet. People were heaving all over the ship. For me with no lines it was great at the buffets.

[rjm1cc]

Alaska
about 2 weeks.

[Heytubes]

Having done a number of cruises, a two week 2017 Alaskan cruise was one of the best as well as a recent May Northern Europe cruise; but then I learned about “the ship within a ship” cruises. After my first 7 day cruise on MSC in June, I did a second 4 day cruise in August and have booked another 7 day cruise the end of this month. All out of Canaveral on the Seashore. It’s called the Yacht Club, where you’re separated from the other 5000 plus people in a private part of the ship with keyed access. I’ll never go back to general population. The perks are too numerous to mention but if you want a pampered experience which includes a butler and junior butler, you’ll be hooked.

[Heytubes]

Having done a number of cruises, a two week 2017 Alaskan cruise was one of the best as well as a recent May Northern Europe cruise; but then I learned about “the ship within a ship” cruises. After my first 7 day cruise on MSC in June, I did a second 4 day cruise in August and have booked another 7 day cruise the end of this month. All out of Canaveral on the Seashore. It’s called the Yacht Club, where you’re separated from the other 5000 plus people in a private part of the ship with keyed access. I’ll never go back to general population. The perks are too numerous to mention but if you want a pampered experience which includes a butler and junior butler, you’ll be hooked.

[Packer Fan]

First off, decide what interests you in cruising: The sites you will see, relaxation, onboard activities. This will lead you to a decision on whether you want an ocean or river cruise, a destination cruise, or a mega ship (much more unique activities on board).

We have cruised many, many times in Asia, Europe, and the South Pacific. Our cruises are mostly ocean cruises, but 3-4 have also been on rivers. When we go, I am interested in seeing the great sites of the world and trying to immerse myself, and understand, local culture. That said….

We have yet to do a transatlantic cruise. For someone who wants to relax, it should be perfect. We sailed around Cape Horn, through the Straits of Magellan and up through the Chilean Fjords. That was “too much” at sea for me, even though there were majestic vistas all around us. I am looking to try an ocean crossing, but think I want to sail from Buenos Aires or Rio, crossing through the doldrums to Africa and ending someplace in Western Europe. This should be smoother seas and less days at sea.

We have done one Caribbean cruise and that was enough. There are some, but few great historic sites, and the departure locations lead to more families. Large cruise ships abound here with plenty of on-board activities if you want them, but I don’t. Safety on some of the islands seems to be becoming a bigger issue.

The Mediterranean is wonderful. Fall asleep after seeing the pyramids one day and awake next to Roman ruins the next. There is a cultural experience everywhere, and that includes dinners with local delicacies. If we have an overnight, I search out a local restaurant with great food and a view. OK, the horse carpaccio that we had in Japan wasn’t great, but it was different, and not offered at a single Villages country club.

We’ve done a few cruises in Asia and the South Pacific – Australia to New Zealand, Perth to Singapore, circle Japan, and Singapore to Thailand to Viet Nam to Hong Kong to China to Japan to the Philippines. We loved them all. I found Viet Nam fascinating with great food and a delicate dealing with “The American War.”

So, to your specific questions:


Best Itinerary - Our best itinerary was the 26 days around SE Asia.

How long is enough - We started out enjoying a week, traveling further away, we now want 3-4 weeks, with fewer, but some, days at sea. Medium sized ships only – the small ones sometimes seem to go to ports where I can’t see something great and can’t cover as much turf at night. Super big ships offer all sorts of things I don’t want. Oh, and if you fly a long distance, allow at least one extra day to get time zone acclimated and avoid late flight risk. Friends with a close flight connection missed their departure, but fortunately could take a bus/train to catch up with their ship.

How long is too long – after 37 days in South America, we were ready to go home.

Why do you cruise – As mentioned, I go to see the great (and some almost great) sites of the world. But don’t go too long too soon - build up to it - you may hit your sweet spot earlier than we did. Also, we love having a deck – especially for days at sea, or what they sometimes call scenic cruising.


For someone with less than 10 posts on TOTV, you sure knocked it out of the park. You need to post a LOT more. We need more posts like this - informative, interesting, and specific. I learned a lot. To be honest, you sound like you have many of the same types of travel interests as my wife and I. We tease that we will see every church and museum on the planet before we die, and at least 2/3 of the countries. You almost have to do cruises to see that many....
Thank you for sharing, and please do more of it.
:bigbow::mademyday:

[Rainger99]

For someone with less than 10 posts on TOTV, you sure knocked it out of the park. You need to post a LOT more.

Sounds like he is too busy cruising to have time to post on TOTV.

[MrChip72]

For someone with less than 10 posts on TOTV, you sure knocked it out of the park. You need to post a LOT more. We need more posts like this - informative, interesting, and specific. I learned a lot.


Are you joking and being sarcastic? Or you've never heard of ChatGPT?

[dtennent]

We cruise to get away to visit several places, have good to excellent food, and only unpack once. We are currently cruising the Nile River on Viking and having a great time.
A couple of points to consider…
1) To echo a few others, research the different lines as they all have their own atmosphere with pluses and minuses. Food age group, ship size, entertainment, casinos, etc. For us, we won’t touch a huge ship. For other folks it is paradise.
2) If you don’t have it already, get your passport . You will eventually want it if you do much cruising.
3) Are you and your wife prone to motion sickness? Then prepare before you go. You can buy Bonine is most drug stores. Or get a patch which you wear behind your ear. BTW, river cruising has virtually no motion so motion sickness isn’t a problem.
4) How much do you want to spend on your room? Booking an inside cabin 4 to 6 weeks before sailing will get you a tiny room at a very good price. Want a Veranda suite? That is quite a bit more.
5) Just be aware that cruise lines will try to get you to spend extra money during your trip. You might want to consider any alcohol packages that are offered. We often will buy a wine package for dinner. Also, going with a local vendor while in port can save you lots of money. Just realize that if you don’t take an excursion through the cruise line, you will be out of luck if you get back after the ship departs.
6) You might want to consider insurance for your trip. We never got it when we were younger but have now started to buy it. Check out what is available through the cruise line and compare it to third parties such as Allianz.

We love cruising and have been to all 7 continents on 40+ cruises (and some land tours). Hope you find something that you enjoy.

[biker1]

I am assuming you haven’t cruised before. There are numerous YouTube videos on cruising. Many will focus on the different cruise lines. There are essentially 4 “classes” of cruise lines plus river cruises and some other specialty lines. Understanding the differences is probably worth your time.


What's the best cruise itinerary you've personally taken?
How many days is enough?
How many days is too long?
What is your primary reason for taking a cruise?

[Rainger99]

Has anyone taken a world cruise?

This is an article about a 274 night cruise! It started in Miami, Florida on December 10, 2023 and ends today in Miami.

Never had more than a two week cruise - 260 more days seems like a long time!!!

'Nothing can prepare you for 9 months': Guests reflect on Royal Caribbean world cruise (https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/nothing-prepare-9-months-guests-090651437.html)

[Stu from NYC]

Has anyone taken a world cruise?

This is an article about a 274 night cruise! It started in Miami, Florida on December 10, 2023 and ends today in Miami.

Never had more than a two week cruise - 260 more days seems like a long time!!!

'Nothing can prepare you for 9 months': Guests reflect on Royal Caribbean world cruise (https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/nothing-prepare-9-months-guests-090651437.html)

If food is good wonder how many pounds I would gain.

[Smalley]

What's the best cruise itinerary you've personally taken?
How many days is enough?
How many days is too long?
What is your primary reason for taking a cruise?

We cruise to be out at sea and to experience life on these beautiful ships. We've done all our 5 cruises with Cunard but because Port Canaveral is so close...."a no-fly cruise". we're taking Celebrity for a 4 day cruise to Bahamas sailing from Port Canaveral. Basically it will be a tryout of the port and of the cruise line. The huge booze ships are to be avoided. We'd like a senior aged crowd and not too many children. As for length; the 10-14 day is our sweet spot. Please let us know what you decide to do.

[Rainger99]

If food is good wonder how many pounds I would gain.

At a pound a week, it would be 39 pounds!

[Robbb]

Our best was our honeymoon, on the SS Norway of the Norwegian Cruise lines, back in 1990. I've heard the line isn't as good as it used to be, but back then the food was outstanding, activities galore. Service was excellent. There were no "kids programs" and we didn't see any families with young kids on board at all. There was a disco so there were some 20-somethings. The land excursions were great. It was a 7-day eastern Caribbean cruise. We had a junior suite with a balcony overlooking the stern.

We've been on a few other cruises since then but none have been as good. Also our last two were family cruises with extended families and their little kids, and arranging for everyone to do stuff together was so NOT fun it really kinda ruined it for us. We are hoping to some day afford a river cruise, and float up the Mississippi for 5 days.

Back in the day, the Norway was the cruise ship. I believe it was 40,000 tons.I sailed on one of their smaller ships in 1986 it was a blast. The ship was actually smaller than the life boats on modern ships.

[Stu from NYC]

At a pound a week, it would be 39 pounds!

First few weeks I would go over.