KarlK

Who have folks used to tour the local brewery? Years ago I simply booked through the Wet Lizard.

Wife and I do not have any phone, except for the old landline in the house. It has never been an issue cruising for us.

exactly! I remove then pay cash to whom I see fit though out the cruise. Some receiving only after the week. I rarely use MDR so daily tipping there is a waste. Some cruises I drink, others I do not, so bartenders may or may not receive. Plus I have had some bad room keep in the past, VERY rare, but it has happened. I like having the control who gets my hard earned money

Do people actually cruise for the food? I will admit, I am a pizza in the windjammer over MDR kinda guy. I hit great foods while in port, a true goal of mine, be it stewed cows foot in the Caymans, gibnut in Belize, Mexican seafood off the boats in Ensenada. Mass knocking out meals on a boat cannot compare to a land based restaurant. Even back in the day when I would go to the MDR, I would not say the steak or lobster was prepared spectacular. Is what it is, never horrible, but fine dining in this day an age of more people on board means more money is past history.

I am out of my room by 5:30, 6 AM at latest, and often don't return till 8 or 9PM for the evening. Even at 60, I cannot make it to 10PM anymore. Unless I have something brought back from port, do I see my room mid day. That being said, I can't recall seeing or even knowing an attendant more than once on a cruise, let alone getting familiar with him or his name. Same with MDR, rarely use it, so getting chummy with waiter is not common on my last several cruises.

Inside everytime, then again I am a notorious cheapskate. I figure I am in my room at 8 or 9PM with a book, asleep an hour later and up at 5 or 6 and out the cabin. Rarely making it back to the cabin before 8 or 9 again.

We never had an issue. Family of 4 with two young girls, we hit a local grocery store and even visited a school and a restaurant.

416 days

Make it a true vacation and escape, maybe the trick is to leave all electronics at home LOL. I don't have a phone and don't haul my laptop on a cruise, but can understand seriously why many want or need to be connected.

same here, simple, quick and easy and no formal night.

Never have and don't think I ever will. I do have certain foods I hunt for while in port though. Stewed Cowsfeet, Sea Turtle, Jerk or Saltfish Fritters in Grand Cayman, Gibnut in Belize, Seafood Cerviche in Ensenada, Plato Tipico or beleadas in Roatan...local as I can find. Food on ship is fine. I also don't bring long pants or any button up shirts on vacation, so fancy dress up places are not my thing.

I can't compare ships since I have been on neither. But,6 days is the shortest cruise I can do, anything less I feel like I just relax and it's time to come home.

I travel rarely, I used to do a vacation (cruise) every 2 years, but have not now for 9 years. But, I am booked to return to the cruising world in March 2025 on a NCL cruise. It will be my 4th. All my trips are closed loop, Europe is out of my financial realm.

Guilty as charged. I must sit in the bad boy corner of the classroom. Not only do I not have a passport (just to cheap to dish out 130.00 for something I only "may" need). I am also one who does not have a phone, just seems a bother and again, expensive.

To each there own. You described me perfect, no passport, no room cost night before, no specialty dining, no drinks on board, little to no shopping, self tip, no casino. I am not ashamed on being a cheapskate, it has afforded me to take a cruise 🙂

Where ever I find it, sometimes just a pizza. Rarely MDR. usually takes longer to get seated and wait for the waiter at the MDR than to grab a beer and a pizza

Been a good read this thread. I don't even pack socks, only sandals, I don't even own a tie, and I have not even brought long pants on my last 2 cruises. To each their own. I also don't even try to enter the Dining Room for evening meals, knowing better per rules. Your vacation, relax how you want, but rules are rules.

If the service is above and beyond, a tip might happen to a bartender or server. Not room or wait staff, usually, very rarely.

Last cruise , way back in 2012 we stopped in Belize. Was our favorite stop. We just wandered around town, had some beers with some locals, found a little open air cafe serving gibnut/paca with rice. Run down looking area but wonderful wonderful people.

2012. Been awhile, but just saved up some and heading back on board March 2025. Now the kids are old enough to enjoy and remember.

Leave from states, and return to states no passport is required. Plus they are like a hundred bucks!

We never eat at standard times. I am an early riser so like 5AM I am hunting food, and often in bed by 8. So even dinner is often at 3 for us. We only eat at ez places, never a place requiring dressing up.

If I don't have to I dont, plain and simple.