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  #31  
Old 09-09-2024, 09:48 AM
tjdmlhw tjdmlhw is offline
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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.
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Old 09-09-2024, 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by mikef65 View Post
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.
  #33  
Old 09-09-2024, 12:21 PM
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Alaska
about 2 weeks.
  #34  
Old 09-09-2024, 02:56 PM
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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.
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Old 09-09-2024, 03:08 PM
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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.
  #36  
Old 09-09-2024, 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by aholter View Post
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.
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  #37  
Old 09-09-2024, 11:34 PM
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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.
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Old 09-10-2024, 12:32 AM
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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?
  #39  
Old 09-10-2024, 05:48 AM
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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.
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  #40  
Old 09-10-2024, 08:21 AM
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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.


Quote:
Originally Posted by mikef65 View Post
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?
  #41  
Old 09-10-2024, 01:12 PM
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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
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Old 09-10-2024, 03:16 PM
Stu from NYC Stu from NYC is offline
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Originally Posted by Rainger99 View Post
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
If food is good wonder how many pounds I would gain.
  #43  
Old 09-10-2024, 06:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikef65 View Post
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.
  #44  
Old 09-10-2024, 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Stu from NYC View Post
If food is good wonder how many pounds I would gain.
At a pound a week, it would be 39 pounds!
  #45  
Old 09-11-2024, 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby View Post
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.
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