headhunterke

I know exactly what you feel. I'm used to travel with friends and have no problem with it. But it's different on a ship. While most ships are big enough, you're feeling kind of obligated to spend more time together then you'd do on land. Then you can feel the relief (but nobody dares to admit it) when you got some time alone to prepare for diner or so.

You'll meet a lot of wonderful people travelling alone.

I'll never go another way, but the solo way on a cruise ship. It's totally awesome.

You meet others so easily and you do whatever you like, whenever you like.

I can't imagine sharing my cabin with someone else. Ooh, the horror :p

First of all, welcome to Cruise Critic. I'm sure you'll find loads of information here. So, please take your time to read up on both general and cruise line specific topics.

For the excursions, it all depends on what you'd like to do. But I have no experience in Disney Cruise line. Take a look at this website, and you can filter it port by port:

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/shore-excursions/search/?facetValue0=fv_ActivityType_family-adventures

Onboard, normally you do not need any cash. All will be paid for with your stateroom keycard (the only thing you ALWAYS need to keep with you). On a lot of cruise lines you can add the option to prepay the gratuities.

As for seperate tips at the end of the cruise to those who served you on your cruise, there's a lot of discussion going on. However, most people tend to give their cabin stewards and good Dining Room stewards an extra tip at the end of the cruise, if the experience was enjoyable.

Small cash however, can come in handy when you go ashore to pay for drinks & souvenirs. However, a lot of places also take credit cards.

'What type of money', I assume you're reffering to foreign currency? I've cruised both the eastern and western Carib and all places took US $

But maybe not all ports. If any other CC member can correct me on this, please do so, because I'm not a 100% sure.

If you got any further questions, please shoot! ;-)

+1 for the sunsceen tips. But also watch out when you are out in the sun and it's windy. When it's windy, you tend to burn faster, also because you don't feel your skin is heating up. Aloe vera is a very good product.

Watch out if you burn easily. I don't tan quick, but normally, I don't burn either. But in the Carib. last year in November, I got a nasty burn on my head which was close to being a first degree burn. Also watch out with very thin shirts. I literally had the logo of my t-shirt onto my chest :D

I think you mean http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1296222

Something that may be different in regards to salary/middle class in U.S. vs. other smaller countries is location.

 

Someone living in Boston or NYC, for example, earning $125K certainly is not poor but it doesn't buy nearly as much as someone who lives in some other states.

 

For the most part (with exception) in U.S., the left coast and the right coast are far more expensive places to live than some of the so-called 'fly over' states. The cost of real estate to purchase or an apartment to rent in Boston or NYC likely would shock many.

 

Perhaps there is not quite as drastic cost of living differences in smaller countries?

To pay 40% total of your income for taxes is better than many of us. By the time we pay Federal Income Tax, State Income Taxes, Real estate taxes, sales taxes, personal property taxes, auto excise taxes etc etc etc etc etc........ many of us in U.S. pay more than 40%.

 

 

That is what we pay on our checks. We already gave a substantial amount ot our 'wonderful' wellfare system. We also need to pay all of what you named but with a wage where the government automatically holds 40% of it. On that amount, we pay taxes again (the other 40 I was talking about). And on top of that, we pay all of the other taxes. The 40% I talkes about was only the tax on our wage. Our gross vs. net income will shock a lot of people. We have the third most heavy taxes in the entire world! I am very well aware of the system and prices in the U.S. I know it's nearly impossible with a 'normal' job to get a decent living in those mega cities. But same here in our country, although on a much, much smaller base ;-)

but taxes here and in the U.S. are pretty different.

While you guys in the U.S. hold a much larger nett income (pro rata), you'll have to save for your own kind of social wellfare and pension. When we go on pension, the government pays our pension. But we contributed our entire life paying the penions of others. So the part you paid is a lot(!) higher then you'll recveive. Unless you're planning to reach 100 years of age. Our social system fails tremendously. While it is a big issue in the States as well, ours is 'too social'. People with no jobs can outearn people who work every day. We even pay illegal immigrants our tax money to return to their country. Imagine that. 6 weeks later, they are back under a different name and earn another €500 (around $700) At the airport, we see the same faces returning time after time. But hey, that's our social system. If somebody comes to our country, works here 1 day and then quits, he is eligible for an entire welfare support. They never contributed, but they earn up too $1.5K, depending on how many kids they have.

Our cost of living is incredibly high. While The Netherlands (also a small country) is much cheaper in regards of cost of living. They also have high taxes, but going to the supermarket over there will save you 35%. Even our own beer, which is exported to Holland is cheaper across the border than in our own country.

Erm, I'm starting to realise this was not the purpose of the thread :p But once I get going on this, I'm hard to stop.

Wow, this thread kinda made me depressed. Where I come from, earning 125K a year is a large amount, and you can count yourself out of the middle class. People here, average about 2.2K a month. Before taxes that is. When we paid all of our beloved friends at the government, we keep about 60% of our income. I'm working 2 jobs and don't even earn 20K a year... That's just sad.

I'm Kefren from Belgium, in my young 20's and have taken 2 cruises so far. I'm kind of an semi-solo traveller, as I like travelling with friends as well. I've cruised with colleagues and did the last cruise on my own. When I am in desperate need of some rest (I always work in the crowds at the airport, so rest is welcome after a busy summer), I like to travel alone. Not alone alone, because I love meeting new people, which is harder when you've got company you know travelling along. I love Holland America for its chill atmosphere and no rush whatsoever. Smaller ships then some of those cities at sea, although I'd love to try them out as well, at some point.

Agreed. But in this case, it's TK which switches plane types around every day ;-)

Rest assured, clean undies every day :D

Age: 23

State: Outside USA; Belgium

Family: Single

Hobbies/Interests: Aviation, Travelling, Watching series and sports, cooking

What I do: Airport Supervisor at Air Malta and customer service agent (yes, busy worklife)

Next cruise: Probably the 14 day Caribbean cruise on HAL's Eurodam Feb 02, 2014

Past Cruise: 14 day Caribbean cruise on HAL's Nieuw Amsterdam Nov 25, 2012

I've considered it, but I've bought a handy cover for my smartphone with a couple of card slots on the inside of the cover. I find it a lot handier. I carry it together with a card with some money on it, together with my ID, shipcard and a small amount of cash. Very handy little thing.

And with a lot of distance between them and nr. 2 imho. Great onboard service, good OTP and on longer routes, nice aircrafts.

If there's an airline that changes aircraft as we change underwear, it's Turkish. But then again, they will always try and provide you with the same type of seat. (if possible ofc)

Hi, I'm Kefren from Belgium and I'm totally addicted to cruising. A little more then my bank account likes actually... I've been on 2 HAL cruises (Eurodam and NA), one with colleagues and one solo. I've had a blast on both of them. Also make sure you sign up for your roll-call for your booked cruise, I've met some real nice people using it.

Hoping to book my next cruise ASAP.

San Juan?! :o

My God, that's gotta be my fav port I've already visited. Next time, I'll pass on Ocho Rios. And it's a good thing HAL's HMC has got the free food, because that's one overrated island imo. Sure, the beach's great, but once you've seen it, you've seen it. And the Island's not that big to explore on foot either.

Great onboard service, their new planes are wonderful, but the planes on the European routes are a bit outdated. Also, their own ground staff (not handling staff, but TK ticketing staff) are sometimes aren't always the way they should be in terms of service.

But give me TK over any other European airline.