Internet on Cruises

[MrSquished]

Cruises are really only for the elderly or maybe with people with young kids. Otherwise I would stay away and save your money for a real vacation where you aren't trapped on the boat for 95% of the time.

I've been on one cruise ever, on a large ship with Norwegian, and based on that I wouldn't go again. Forget the days we were steaming down the Atlantic Seabord to get to Florida from New York, I won't count those as we were stuck on the boat with no port options. Suffice it to say that it was a bit boring. But even when we got to the Caribbean and went to ports, it wasn't for long enough each day. I'd rather spend the money and time on a land based vacation that is more immersive. Unless there are cruise companies that have itineraries with much more time in port.

 

[MongGrel]

The better question to ask is, have you ever been in a port city when the throngs of cruise passengers leave (or before they arrive)? It is night and day better as everyone flocks back to the ships (after being at their destination for a brief moment) and you now have a dream destination all to yourself for the next ~20 hours.

Of course I have, many options are offered where you can fly into a port city and stay for days before even boarding a ship, hitting a few spots, and stay at your destination for days as a package, if you shop for that.

There are cruises you can go on that not flocks of ships in one port also.

Depends on what you care to spend of course, where the types of package the wife's company used to specialize in when she was managing a cruise agency.

 

[dullard]

But even when we got to the Caribbean and went to ports, it wasn't for long enough each day. I'd rather spend the money and time on a land based vacation that is more immersive. Unless there are cruise companies that have itineraries with much more time in port.

There are some cruises with longer times in port, but they are rare. A 7-day cruise with 2 immersive stops just doesn't sell as well as a "7-day cruise with 6 awe-inspiring ports"! Nevermind the fact that by the time you disembark, take the smaller boat/taxi/walk to your destination (often standing in line for each), you only get a very short time there before you need to walk/taxi/boat back to the ship, then stand in line again.

When I know there will be cruise ships nearby, I specifically plan my trips around them. I'll get to the Roman ruin, Aztec temple, or whatever I want to see as the sun rises or the sun sets. You get far better photos in the golden light and when there aren't 1000 other people in your shot. Plus, it is far more relaxing, peaceful, and romantic when you are the only ones there.

 

[KMFJD]

Spoke to a Dutch guy who captains river cruises in Europe, those sound interesting, a bit more expensive but it's a true all inclusive that doesn't nickle and dime you for everything (one of my main gripes)

 

[ponyo]

You get about 8-10 hours at port. That's plenty of time for a daytrip and to see everything around the port. Most excursions are only couple hours. So I don't get the there's not enough time each day to explore. Even if you stayed at hotel instead of a cruise, you would leave the hotel in the morning to explore and return to the hotel in the evening. You're doing the same thing on the cruise ship. You're leaving the boat in the morning to explore and returning to the ship in the evening to eat and relax.

I go on cruises to relax and eat. If you like to eat, you'll get your money's worth just on food. Lodging, entertainment, and sights are free bonus.

 

[MrSquished]

You get about 8-10 hours at port. That's plenty of time for a daytrip and to see everything around the port. Most excursions are only couple hours. So I don't get the there's not enough time each day to explore. Even if you stayed at hotel instead of a cruise, you would leave the hotel in the morning to explore and return to the hotel in the evening. You're doing the same thing on the cruise ship. You're leaving the boat in the morning to explore and returning to the ship in the evening to eat and relax.

I go on cruises to relax and eat. If you like to eat, you'll get your money's worth just on food. Lodging, entertainment, and sights are free bonus.

8 hours is not enough time IMO. And as far as eating goes, part of travelling to me is trying the food at local joints. The food on the boat I was on was decent, certainly nothing amazing. I was not impressed. Drinks are insanely priced too.

Don't get me wrong when I travel we don't just go go go all day and night. We'll take some days off to lounge at the pool or beach if there is one. Like in Morocco, we spent half a day by the pool just a stones throw away from the Sahara. Spent some pool time in Casablanca also. In Cyprus the beach was on the itinerary for several days at least. But we got to really enjoy it and not worry about embarking on the boat 2 hours before sailing, for security reasons. And we got to eat so much amazing local food, which was part of the highlight of the trips.

 

[ponyo]

You have to pick the right cruise line and the right ship for food. It's not all the same. As for local food, you have 8-12 hours at port to eat local food.

Cruising is not for everyone but it's often the best bang for buck vacation if you live near driving distance of cruise departure ports.

 

[dullard]

You get about 8-10 hours at port. That's plenty of time for a daytrip and to see everything around the port. Most excursions are only couple hours. So I don't get the there's not enough time each day to explore.

The problem is that much of the world that is worth visiting is NOT exactly at a port. Take a common example of an excursion from the Cancun / Playa del Carmen / Cozumel region:
https://www.carnival.com/shore-excursions/cozumel/chichen-itza-mayan-ruins-304227

It is an 8 hour excursion, but you only get a total of 60 to 90 minutes at the destination. So your entire vacation day boils down to an hour, packed with other tourists in the heat of the day, with the worst possible photography light.

Or, if instead you take the $200 to $300 flight to any of those locations and $2 (maybe less, I forget the exact cost that I paid) bus fare to a town near the site (Valladolid) and grab a hotel ($30 goes a long way, but you can cheap out and get them for about $13/night), then you can spend an entire 10.5 hours there that the site is open the next day. Add in $30/day for gourmet meals, and you have a vacation that will rival any cruise ship in value.

I could go on and on with examples of excursions that are just not worth it from a cruise.

Yes, some cruises are great and some excursions are great. But, the vast majority of the sites worth seeing aren't right at ports. Many sites are too far to get to. Or worse, many sites are just barely reachable and you get crammed into a bus/taxi for 3 hours each way and spend no real quality time at your destination.

I applaud anyone who cruises and sees the world. But, they are missing out on so much that I am just trying to convince people to actually experience the location, rather than be there for a brief moment.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Cruises are really only for the elderly or maybe with people with young kids. Otherwise I would stay away and save your money for a real vacation where you aren't trapped on the boat for 95% of the time.

You're on the wrong type of cruises

https://www.groovecruise.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxZZK0LiPn0

 

[ponyo]

The problem is that much of the world that is worth visiting is NOT exactly at a port. Take a common example of an excursion from the Cancun / Playa del Carmen / Cozumel region:
https://www.carnival.com/shore-excursions/cozumel/chichen-itza-mayan-ruins-304227

It is an 8 hour excursion, but you only get a total of 60 to 90 minutes at the destination. So your entire vacation day boils down to an hour, packed with other tourists in the heat of the day, with the worst possible photography light.

Or, if instead you take the $200 to $300 flight to any of those locations and $2 (maybe less, I forget the exact cost that I paid) bus fare to a town near the site (Valladolid) and grab a hotel ($30 goes a long way, but you can cheap out and get them for about $13/night), then you can spend an entire 10.5 hours there that the site is open the next day. Add in $30/day for gourmet meals, and you have a vacation that will rival any cruise ship in value.

I could go on and on with examples of excursions that are just not worth it from a cruise.

Yes, some cruises are great and some excursions are great. But, the vast majority of the sites worth seeing aren't right at ports. Many sites are too far to get to. Or worse, many sites are just barely reachable and you get crammed into a bus/taxi for 3 hours each way and spend no real quality time at your destination.

I applaud anyone who cruises and sees the world. But, they are missing out on so much that I am just trying to convince people to actually experience the location, rather than be there for a brief moment.

There are many excursions you can do. You just have to use common sense. That's probably one of the worst excursion you can do at Cozumel. 7-8 hour travel time for 1 hour playtime is stupid. I visited Cozumel on Regal Princess back in November. I think it was 10am to 10pm so we had 12 hours at port. If you're at Cozumel for a day, you don't waste time and go to ruins. You do that if you're vacationing at Cancun or Playa del Carmen for a week. Cozumel is known for beautiful water and snorkeling/scuba diving so you take a taxi to the local beach or rent a car and explore on your own. There are areas close to port you can just walk to and snorkel if you wish without paying anything.

Since cruise ships stop at so many different ports, you can visit places you normally wouldn't consider or visit. Good impression can lead to future separate vacation trip to that destination.

 

[MrSquished]

You have to pick the right cruise line and the right ship for food. It's not all the same. As for local food, you have 8-12 hours at port to eat local food.

Cruising is not for everyone but it's often the best bang for buck vacation if you live near driving distance of cruise departure ports.

My girlfriend chose the cruise, it was a Norwegian one. I will never go back to Norwegian, the food was supposed to be a highlight but it was meh. I am not sure who has the best food among the cruise liners.

Since I don't take vacations much a cruise just won't be in the cards for awhile unless I get rich quick + get tons of vacation time.

I could see the allure of being on a cruise ship maybe in Alaska, due to the icebergs and glaciers and all. And possibly the Mediterranean for the views from sea. But most of the time when there is light in the Mediterranean, you aren't at sea so you will see shit. And in the Med, if there are any amazing things to do by boat, you can just take a daytrip from land if you are there already.

I just compare the shit I got done and got to see on my trips abroad vs what I got to do on my days off of the cruise ship I was on and it doesn't compare.

 

[esquared]

How about a Blues Cruise?


http://bluescruise.com/lrbc-29-oct-2017-southern-caribbean/

Passed already:
http://bluescruise.com/lrbc-28-jan-2017-eastern-caribbean/

 

[ViRGE]

How about a Blues Cruise?


http://bluescruise.com/lrbc-29-oct-2017-southern-caribbean/

Passed already:
http://bluescruise.com/lrbc-28-jan-2017-eastern-caribbean/

Don't be silly. This is a geek forum. If we're going on a cruise, it's going to be Star Trek: The Cruise!

 

[MongGrel]

Spoke to a Dutch guy who captains river cruises in Europe, those sound interesting, a bit more expensive but it's a true all inclusive that doesn't nickle and dime you for everything (one of my main gripes)

I have always wanted to go on one of the river cruises there, one of the things we have never done.

They vary also of course.

 

[MongGrel]

There are many excursions you can do. You just have to use common sense. That's probably one of the worst excursion you can do at Cozumel. 7-8 hour travel time for 1 hour playtime is stupid. I visited Cozumel on Regal Princess back in November. I think it was 10am to 10pm so we had 12 hours at port. If you're at Cozumel for a day, you don't waste time and go to ruins. You do that if you're vacationing at Cancun or Playa del Carmen for a week. Cozumel is known for beautiful water and snorkeling/scuba diving so you take a taxi to the local beach or rent a car and explore on your own. There are areas close to port you can just walk to and snorkel if you wish without paying anything.

Since cruise ships stop at so many different ports, you can visit places you normally wouldn't consider or visit. Good impression can lead to future separate vacation trip to that destination.

I hope you tried out the restaurant on the top deck for cheap while you were there, is just an added benefit and above the dining room already great food to a large degree.

Nothing like having a chef making a 7 course meal right beside you with treats while you are dining.

 

[KMFJD]

The prices that the cruise ships ask for their excursions are criminal....for what they want for 1 person we can do the same itinerary for 4 when we bargain with a local taxi..

 

[MongGrel]

The prices that the cruise ships ask for their excursions are criminal....for what they want for 1 person we can do the same itinerary for 4 when we bargain with a local taxi..

Depends on the type of excursion of course, some are contracts with the cruise line.

I was a bit bummed out I could not do the Americas Cup racing yacht a second time because the weather was bad last time we were in St Maarten.

We did it on our Honeymoon, the wife didn't care a lot for being a winch wench, but I had a blast on the
main grinder, even if we didn't hit the low gears.

 

[Exterous]

My girlfriend chose the cruise, it was a Norwegian one. I will never go back to Norwegian, the food was supposed to be a highlight but it was meh. I am not sure who has the best food among the cruise liners.

Food is tricky now. The problem is that cruising has become much like a lot of other experiences in travel. The consumer is extremely price conscious when it comes to travel so for the same reason Spirit is a hugely successful airline is the same reason food quality has declined. If you do it again I'd recommend looking at one of the more expensive cruise lines since their food hasn't seemed to have declined as much. Another alternative is paying for the 'specialty dining' package. I was annoyed at my wife for buying it at first as I didn't see the point compared to the included food (and I dislike extraneous spending of most kinds) but the difference was significant. The food was a huge improvement as was the atmosphere of the restaurants. Instead of the more crowded Main Dining room we were in a largely empty restaurant which made it much easier to see the dolphins swim by.

The prices that the cruise ships ask for their excursions are criminal....for what they want for 1 person we can do the same itinerary for 4 when we bargain with a local taxi..

Agreed. I don't think I've ever taken a cruise line offered excursion and thats one of the big reasons. They also like to pack people in - especially boat related ones. One of my best vacation experiences ever was a 10 passenger catamaran in Barbados that sailed between snorkeling areas. Far better than the floating sardine cans used by the cruise line. It cost less too.