Curious....Do you really want to cruise?

[ehfl]

We do lots of different types of vacations....cruises are just cheap and easy for us.

[PROCRUISE]

The more I thought about this question it seems to become dumber and dumber to ask but I figured whatever, I'll ask anyway. Do you who cruise multiple times year after year, vacation after vacation really want to? Even those who just started. We will be going on our first on the Victory next year and we can't wait, so I don't want to come across as knocking cruisers. But I think there is so much to do out there. Like I would love to do an entire Uk tour vacation or Scandavia, or even spend a couple weeks in Australia and New Zealand, even here in the states. Thats just to name a few. So do you guy's just do it because it's a fabulous bang for your buck vacation going to many exotic places, or do you ever want to branch out at the cost of cruising less? Like I said, no knock against cruising because I'm pretty sure I will get the bug,(and that worries me a little) but do you forsake other dream vacations to do it? I would ask the same question in reverse to people that do the same land vacation time after time.

 

This question came at an interesting time. We love to cruise and probably also like the fact that we know pretty much know what to expect. In contrast, we leave 9/16 for a 13 day land tour of Egypt. It has taken us 6 months of planning with a very good tour company (we hope). Unlike a cruise, we have three hotel stays from 1 night only to 5 nights, 5 domestic airline flights, 4 days on a passenger boat, careful luggage planning, and careful eating plans to stay healthy while we're there. It will be a trip of a lifetime and certainly not like an overnight stop in Cairo/Alexandria while on a cruise. Cruises have spoiled us in terms of the easy with which we can arrange the vacation and simply go, with few things to really plan since we often just enjoy the cruise itself. As you can see, we're back on a ship in December and will be again this coming March!

[capndinghy]

We took our first cruise about 10 years ago. Since then that is the only vacation we do. We found we really enjoy the ambiance and atmosphere. I was afraid I might get bored. Little did I know! Actually we enjoy being on board ship more than the places they visit.

[comeon530]

For us, the cruise itself is the enjoyment. My dh prefers the sea days to port days. He loves just being on the ship. I enjoy the brief taste of different ports as well as sea days. I don't see it as either/or though. Like one of the first posters said, this is a cruise forum, so people aren't going to be discussing their land vacations.

[buxfan]

While I take the occasional land vaycay, I love cruising because 1) to me nothing beats being out in the middle of the water, no land in site, sun shining, and a cold beverage in hand :D. 2) It's great to not have to drive, worry about what's for dinner, buying food, preparing it...etc., etc. 3) I always meet great people on a cruise. There's lots of people in vacinity doing the same thing you are. On many vacations, not so much. 4) It is a good value for the $$$. 5) I love the caribbean (I would probably never cruise to Alaska, I can't imagine being on the deck of a ship freezing my rear off, but that's just me).

I bet you will get "the bug" after your first cruise. Be prepared :)

[TNM]

I will be taking my first cruise in 15 days, and very excited...I've only ever gone on land vacations and as many as 6 a year sometimes. They are never week long trips though, usually 3 or 4 nights...living in Ft Lauderdale, it's only a 2 hr flight to many of the caribbean islands i love, and 30 to 50 mins to the Bahamas. I do enjoy land trips because I can spend several days exploring...but I will keep an open mind on my cruise and hope to discover all the positive aspects of it...

 

We are planning a 2 week Europe trip next year and although a Meditteranean cruise sounds SO wonderful, we are doing land...we will be doing 4 cities and want to spend as much time in each city as possible, not just 1 day if we did a cruise. The thought of the language barrier, dealing w/ train schedules, Euros, meals, constant taking cash out of my wallet, etc does stress me out a little bit, but I think it will be worth it to spend 3 nts each in Paris, Nice, Cinque Terre/Portofino and Venice. In the meantime, we will continue researching and planning...my mom is going w/ us and that gives me some comfort as she's been there a few times and knows all the trains, the deals, and a bit of the language too (italian and french).

[goofytoo]

We do both land vacations and cruises. Lately we have been concebtrating on cruises due to the fact no one has to cook. Land vacations we will either be in the motor home or saty in a hotel with a kitchen.

 

I just wanted to point out that I saw a lot of posters saying they are waiting until the children are gone or for retirement to enjoy traveling. Sixteen years ago we were told my husband would not last much more than 6 months, so we took a lot of trips. Thank goodness they were wrong. But just throwing it out there, if you wait too long, it may be too late. By the time I retire he will most likely not be in any shape to travel let alone still be around.

[evandbob]

The more I thought about this question it seems to become dumber and dumber to ask but I figured whatever, I'll ask anyway. Do you who cruise multiple times year after year, vacation after vacation really want to? Even those who just started. We will be going on our first on the Victory next year and we can't wait, so I don't want to come across as knocking cruisers. But I think there is so much to do out there. Like I would love to do an entire Uk tour vacation or Scandavia, or even spend a couple weeks in Australia and New Zealand, even here in the states. Thats just to name a few. So do you guy's just do it because it's a fabulous bang for your buck vacation going to many exotic places, or do you ever want to branch out at the cost of cruising less? Like I said, no knock against cruising because I'm pretty sure I will get the bug,(and that worries me a little) but do you forsake other dream vacations to do it? I would ask the same question in reverse to people that do the same land vacation time after time.

 

 

It's a good question - I've cruised as much as I have because it was good value, especially for solo cruising. I've also cruised to get a taste of a particular island, so that I could decide if I want to do a week land stay there.....Roatan, San Pedro Belize, Dominica, St Kitts come to mind. What I haven't done is vacation solely by cruising, I still get to do land stays, in fact, with Carnival raising the single supplement, land stays may soon outnumber my cruises.

I'll still be doing Disney with my twins and their children, so that'll be a family experience. At some point I'd like to do a southern itinerary inc. Tobago with Celebrity, but after that???????

[airlink diva]

The more I thought about this question it seems to become dumber and dumber to ask but I figured whatever, I'll ask anyway. Do you who cruise multiple times year after year, vacation after vacation really want to? Even those who just started. We will be going on our first on the Victory next year and we can't wait, so I don't want to come across as knocking cruisers. But I think there is so much to do out there. Like I would love to do an entire Uk tour vacation or Scandavia, or even spend a couple weeks in Australia and New Zealand, even here in the states. Thats just to name a few. So do you guy's just do it because it's a fabulous bang for your buck vacation going to many exotic places, or do you ever want to branch out at the cost of cruising less? Like I said, no knock against cruising because I'm pretty sure I will get the bug,(and that worries me a little) but do you forsake other dream vacations to do it? I would ask the same question in reverse to people that do the same land vacation time after time.

I just love the cruise!

It's something about the sailing on the sea and going to various places without have to pack again and again.

But I also love a great land trip. My earliest fave vacation memories are riding in the backseat of my parents car, windows down, and listening to the Stevie Wonder,Marvin Gaye, the O'Jays and other old school music on my parents 8 track (I'm really telling my age :D!). I work for an airline,but still love a great road trip because of this.

I'm looking at flying to Singapore next spring and using it as a base to hop around Asia.

I also love head to the Depoe Bay,OR and spend my days driving along the coast, heading to Tillmook for cheese and milk and stopping along the various parts to hang at the beach.

One of my goals is to travel from Maine to Alaksa and visit each state along the way!

I still want to cruise, but there is alot to explore also in a land trip!!

[Hunwolf]

I think having a healthy mix of cruising and land based vacations is good. Both have their advantages and their disadvantages.

[pozz]

did you say "boo?" lol! That's all it takes anymore:rolleyes:

 

Ok op as i mentioned in the other thread.......many people find it being cheaper then any other vacation.......some of us do both land and cruising because it costs pretty much the same for us:) some people are satisfied with inside cabins and only paying tips while others like us need a balcony cabin, money for casino and drinks......we spend the same on land vacations.

Don't limit yourselves!

my statement exactly,if you take a moderate room with balcony flight,,and all other costs on board,you will come to the same price as a land trip

[Ren1216]

I don't quite fit the requirements of your question (not a multiple times per year cruiser), but I have taken several and will likely take lots more. My reason is... because I LOVE the ocean. I'm originally from MI, lots of lakes there and my favorite grandpa built his own sailboat... I was raised sailing the Great Lakes. I now live in WI, we have lakes here too, but I miss big water. So my main love for cruising is due to it giving me the ability to be out on the water again. I also very much enjoy the ports that the ships take me to.... far and away from the Midwest.

 

We take 1 major vacation each year, alternating between cruising and land vacations, since my boyfriend prefers the wilderness and the countryside. We've seen a LOT of this beautiful country (USA) in the past 8 or so years and have plans to see the few corners left on our list. But on a ship is where my heart is it's happiest. :D

[LHP]

As a family, we do it all....

 

we have been overseas to places like Poland, Italy and Israel on 2 week land tours....

we have hit every theme park in the US....

we have gone snow skiing....

we owned a motorhome and spent weeks just running around the US.....

we have gone four wheeling....

we have done a dozen Nascar races....

 

we are about the spend a week in Charlotte, NC and hit all the Nascar garages before going to the Talladega race....

 

and have still managed to do almost 40 cruises in the past 12 years.....

[Cricket63]

I was glad to see the post above about people who may be limited health wise. Thats #1 reason why I cruise. The "unknown" of traveling is part of the adventure and fun of land vacations but my body just can't handle it. Maybe someday I hope. I have a list of "dream" vacations. :)

 

If I am not well I can skip port all together while my travel companion can go (doesn't mind being alone) and enjoy while I relax by the pool or inside some lounge reading and getting my refreshments handed to me. I am so excited to go to Key West this cruise (in 3 days!!:D) as it was one port I missed last time and I was looking at how nice it was from inside the ship. :(

 

Its a great comfort for me to know my bed is not too far away from me at all times and that I will never be bored even if I can't exert myself too much.

 

I have some mobility issues. If you go to Key West, take a taxi to the farthest point and walk back from there. I did the walking the whole way and boy, it about killed me! There are plenty of places you can sit and relax on the way back which made it so much easier for me.

 

Just so many options that make it easy on me. That's why I love cruising!

[GottaLuvCruising]

I have cruised more than two dozen times, but have done far more than that number of land vacations and enjoy both. I go to Las Vegas for the shows and the beach for the waves; I go to Maine to see family and enjoy the fresh air and gorgeous landscapes. I love cruising for the opportunity to be out on the ocean, enjoy the entertainment, dining (without a check!) and socializing. For me cruising is a total escape where I don't have to think much and can just relax and enjoy it - no other vacation really offers that. I like doing other things, too, but will always want to cruise for the special experience it offers.

[Tapi]

do you forsake other dream vacations to do it?

 

My dream vacation is to visit Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Turkey.....on a CRUISE SHIP! :D

 

I'm actually already planning and saving for it...4 years from now....:eek:

[nothomeonacruise]

I love cruising, walking up that gangway and seeing the giant ship, walking onboard and exploring the ship..even if I've sailed on it previously, looking out at the ocean as we sail through the waves.. smelling the sea air, waking up and seeing our ship pulling into a new port, dressing at night and going to a lovely dinner and know that I'll be spoiled by my waiter. Oh yes, I love it..:)

 

On land my family and I will visit TN, GA, NC mountains. We rented cabins in June. We also love going to Disney.

 

My dream vacation is to cruise to Hawaii.

[oncruisecontrol]

The main reason I cruise as often as I do is that it's a fabulous value for my money. I am a budget traveler. I can take two cruises per year. But, if I took trips to London or New Zealand, I'd probably only be able to vacation every other year. Another big reason is I hate flying and I live within 10 minutes of a port and within a 45 minutes of another port. It is a win-win situation for me. I would love to go to the UK, and I believe that one day I will. My dream trip is to cruise transatlantic each way on Cunard. Expensive (especially when compared to the Caribbean trips I currently take), but it would be a trip of a lifetime for me. I also love being at sea.

[soozles]

For me, cruising is vacation. I don't need to think about anything. I've been on enough cruises that I don't have to plan, I can just show up and I know I'll have a great time. I don't need to worry about where to eat, what to see. I just show up and relax.

 

But I also love to travel. And for me, travel is exhausting. I need a vacation after I travel. When I travel, I may not stay in the nicest places, but I eat the local food, take my time to see the sites and learn about the culture. I spent 3 summers traveling in Europe, and 1 summer traveling in Israel, and the experiences I had there is one of the reasons I probably won't be doing a Med. cruise anytime soon. I spent days in each place and didn't see everything, I can't imagine cramming it all into a few short hours.

 

So for me, if I'm looking for a vacation, a time to unwind and relax, then I want to cruise. If I want to experience something new, and have a little adventure, then I will land travel.

[jbanana1]

I'm not a cruise lover, I'm a cruise liker. Going on my 2nd cruise next year but other than cruising to Alaska (sometime in the distant future) I don't plan on going on another cruise. My preferred vacation is Vegas baby! I'll go there anytime.

[Ginnyfyr]

I'm not a cruise lover, I'm a cruise liker. Going on my 2nd cruise next year but other than cruising to Alaska (sometime in the distant future) I don't plan on going on another cruise. My preferred vacation is Vegas baby! I'll go there anytime.

 

I'm a cruise liker too. Hubby and I have been on over 15 all inclusive vacations in the Caribbean and for us, they are far better value for our dollar than going on a cruise. We'll be on the Victory in October and the cruise + flight is costing us almost $2000. Add in our bar bill and money for shopping in the ports and we're probably looking at $3000-4000. In comparison, when we travel AI we book a trip for about $2000 total and that includes our airfare, hotel, and ALL food and drinks (unless we decide to go off the resort). Add in maybe another $300 in tips and that's a pretty big difference. We definitely find our land vacations to be cheaper and more relaxing than cruising...BUT, cruising offers us the chance to see many different islands and hopefully find some places that we'd like to further explore in the future, so they both have their benefits. For now we do one or two all inclusive holidays & one cruise each year and that works for us.

[Quampapetet]

I'm not a serial cruiser - my next cruise is only my third (first was '08, second was this year, next is next year) - and I do also take land vacations, which I enjoy more. I cruise because that's what my best friend does and I want to be with her (we live in different states now) and some of our other friends and other people in the group who go on the cruises.

 

I definitely like land trips better, especially since you can do more and go more places on them, but I still take them, too, despite the cruises.

 

The cruises are enjoyable 'cause anywhere my friends are is enjoyable - even just talking in parking lots - but I wouldn't do one alone/without them.

[mouche]

Before I started cruising which I love and have become an addict, I would always do all inclusive land base vacations. So now I love both, did a family trip in May with daughter and grands to Myrtle beach. Cruised in June with FI, went to Atlanta for a few days with FI, did an all inclusive to Cancun a couple a weeks ago with best friend and lastly cruising again with co-worker in Oct. So I know what you mean, I love variety too.:D

[Synthetic]

I am a well traveled man but prefer cruising as the way to spend my vacation days. I have traveled abroad in numerous countries and that was fine for the experience, but cruising is where it is at for me.

 

I cruise from various ports to experience various types of people. I cruise B2B often to get a 'change of scenery' when it comes to my fellow passengers.

 

Cruising offers me everything I need to fully enjoy myself... Entertainment, libations, socialization, gambling, fitness, good (often great) food, and a variety of options...

 

I also love the anonymity of cruising as well...

[LynneL]

I'd love to branch out & do land vacations, specifically a lot of Europe, but my husband does not want to go & cruising is easier with the family. I also feel like it gives a lot of bang for the buck.

 

I do plan on doing a European cruise in the future, but will do that with a friend. It is easy planning but I feel like we won't get much time in each place nor a true flavor of it. I did the ideal vacation prior to being married - 1 week in Greece touring, then a 1 week cruise to Turkey & the Greek islands. Best of both worlds!