One Night Cruise

[VentureForth]

Just came across a 1-nite $29 cruise from Seattle to Vancouver (9/26) on HAL. Turns out there are a bunch of these cruises, but most are $79.

 

Not much of an itinerary - leave at 5, get in at 7. Not much to sightsee in the dark. Anyone done one of these? Anyone really LOVE these 1-niters?

[luvcruisn']

People board these as early as they can, to make it a longer cruise. It's a good way to try out a ship you haven't been on before. I did a one nighter a long time ago. It was a lot of fun. Ours went from Vancouver to Seattle, and we stayed an extra night in Seattle before taking a bus back to Vancouver.

[VentureForth]

...and we stayed an extra night in Seattle before taking a bus back to Vancouver.

Was the hotel more expensive than the cruise??? LOL ;)

 

Do they even open the MDR, or do they just run buffets? Or, worse, are they "limited service" cruises? Can they even open up the Casinos?

 

Amtrak is between $35-$40 pp... another idea for a return trip.

 

Wish they had one nighters on this side of the country!

[AZNative2000]

Just came across a 1-nite $29 cruise from Seattle to Vancouver (9/26) on HAL. Turns out there are a bunch of these cruises, but most are $79.

 

Not much of an itinerary - leave at 5, get in at 7. Not much to sightsee in the dark. Anyone done one of these? Anyone really LOVE these 1-niters?

 

If we lived in Seattle or Vancouver we'd do this at least once a year. Cheaper than any local one-night getaway ... and the service and food, catch a show maybe. What a bargain.

 

Of course, as luvcruisn said, we'd get on early and add an overnight in the other city as well. And just because you arrive in port at 7am doesn't mean you have to vacate at that exact time.:)

 

Some are the first or last day of a longer cruise so I'd expect all the amenities to be available.

[califgary]

I cant imagine doing a one nite cruise from 4 to 7....

[donaldsc]

You need to figure the taxes plus port costs into that $29 before you decide if it is worth it.

 

DON

[Typhoon1]

Not a bad idea for someone who wants to see what a cruise ship is really like.

[bepsf]

I cant imagine doing a one nite cruise from 4 to 7....

 

I agree - It's pointless to even bother packing.

[bepsf]

Not a bad idea for someone who wants to see what a cruise ship is really like.

 

Except it doesn't give one much of an indication of what a cruise is like at all.

[Aunty Pat]

We did a 1 night cruise on the Norwegian Star out of San Francisco. It was an inexpensive way to treat my sister’s boyfriend a cruise experience – lunch, dinner, dancing, a show, gambling & breakfast for less than $100/person. We hit 16 foot seas & 60 mph winds outside the Golden Gate. My sister’s boyfriend has never raised the issues of joining us on a cruise again.

Aunty Pat

 

Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81

K&D German Rhine Line ‘84

NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93

RCCL - Song of America ‘89

American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98

HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, Westerdam ‘09 & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07

Carnival - Spirit ‘05

Celebrity – Summit ‘05

Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06

Princess - Golden Princess ‘07

A & K - East Queen ‘07

Cunard - QM2 ’08

Crystal – Serenity ‘09

Future Cruises:

Oasis of the Seas - December 11, 2010

Paul Gauguin – February 9, 2011

[Jacqueline]

Actually, this experience could turn a person off to cruising... Not the same experience at all. It is an opportunity to see the interior of a ship, yes. But the atmosphere is very different.

[wander]

I have been on several 1, 2 and 4 day cruises from Seattle/Vancouver with groups of friends.

 

PROS: We have had ever so much fun. They pull out all the stops to try to give folks a true taste of cruising life. Meals and meal venues are all in full swing as are evening music entertainment and great shows in the show lounges. Best for folks who live in or around Seattle or Vancouver. It is easy to get back home (Seattle or Vancouver areas) the next day by train or the bus service that runs between the Seattle and Vancouver airports and their cruise ship terminals. Even at $79 it is less than a night on the "town" with a hotel room and meals. Because of these very mini experiences, several friends became cruise addicts. In my experience, anything and everything that is available on most cruises from boarding time (noonish) and say 9 the next morning is available even on the 1 nighters.

 

CONS: For folks who love nightlife it give a distorted impression as the level of passenger partying activity far exceeds that of most cruises. In terms of packing - who sleeps on these? (Well, I do, but far fewer hours than on a normal cruise.) Needed - clean underwear, a toothbrush and something to sleep in. That's it.

[LMB01]

I would have to look at it as staying in a local hotel for the night. Hopefully the up side would be to check out a ship you might like to spend more time on.

[Maxine]

Was the hotel more expensive than the cruise??? LOL ;)

 

Do they even open the MDR, or do they just run buffets? Or, worse, are they "limited service" cruises? Can they even open up the Casinos?

 

Amtrak is between $35-$40 pp... another idea for a return trip.

 

Wish they had one nighters on this side of the country!

 

 

Don't know where you live on this side of the country but I did one two years ago out of New York on Norweigan and it was fun.

[CanWeGoYet?]

It wouldn't be the same as being on a regular cruise. But if I wanted to head up to Victoria for a few days, finding a one night cruise to get me there would be great. Even better, if I could book a one night cruise to get me back later on that week.

[iamaqt2]

My 3 gf's and I are booked for the 26 on the Oosterdam. We fully intend to party and dance the night away.

 

We also plan on boarding at 11 and disembarking at 9:30 ish to give us the maximum time possible onboard. We plan on riding the Greyhound home at 7 pm as they are running a companion fare right now which puts our ride home at 18.50 each.

 

Cruise cost with taxes and port fees 60.00

Gratuities 11.00

ride home 18.50.

 

Girlfriend weekend away : 89.50

 

Add anything we drink and shopping ;) and it still looks to be a pretty cheap 2 day getaway.

[Rstamper]

I have done many of these cruise. I usually do at least 1 a year. This year I am doing 2. Is the cruise you are talking about on the Zaandam? I am on that cruise. I am combining it with another cruise - 1-night on Zaandam, 2 days in Vancouver and 2-nighter on the Island Princess. I have always had a lot of fun on these cruises. We always make a weekend of it. At these rates, you can hardly go out for a nice dinner, let alone the shows, breakfast, lunch, et cetera. The MDR has always been open on the 1-nighters I have been on, as was the buffet, of course, and all the other restaurants. There is only one time one was closed, and that was because it had just come out of drydock, and the restaurant was new. If you have any other questions about these small cruises, feel free to ask. Just as the other posters have said, get there early, and make a good day and night of it!

[Rstamper]

My 3 gf's and I are booked for the 26 on the Oosterdam. We fully intend to party and dance the night away.

 

We also plan on boarding at 11 and disembarking at 9:30 ish to give us the maximum time possible onboard. We plan on riding the Greyhound home at 7 pm as they are running a companion fare right now which puts our ride home at 18.50 each.

 

Cruise cost with taxes and port fees 60.00

Gratuities 11.00

ride home 18.50.

 

Girlfriend weekend away : 89.50

 

Add anything we drink and shopping ;) and it still looks to be a pretty cheap 2 day getaway.

 

We are also going to stay as long as we can on the ship the next morning. Until they kick us off! Heheeeeee! We have a hotel booked, and probably cannot check in until 1 or 2.

[more cruises]

We're doing the one nighter on the 25th. Even though it's a short cruise it has my favorite part of the cruise experience - the moment I step from the gangway onto the ship. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

 

It is very different from a longer cruise. There are many groups - families, friends, bachelorette parties, etc., so the common areas can be pretty crowded since everyone is hanging out together and not in their cabins.

[VentureForth]

Don't know where you live on this side of the country but I did one two years ago out of New York on Norweigan and it was fun.

Savannah, GA. Just looked on Travelocity and there are some out of NY and BOS but they are $149 and up. WAY more than the West Coasters pay.

[more cruises]

Savannah, GA. Just looked on Travelocity and there are some out of NY and BOS but they are $149 and up. WAY more than the West Coasters pay.

 

On the West Coast they are repositioning cruises and the cruiselines are just happy to get people on the ships. Those of you on the East Coast are looking to party :p and the short cruises are really popular.

[mrsltg]

I agree - It's pointless to even bother packing.

 

Not much to pack for one night!

 

I'd do it! For $30 + taxes/fees it seems like a bargain. Just a fun overnight trip. Heck, I've stayed in hotels less than an hour away to get an early jump on some sightseeing! It's fun and always an enjoyable little break. JMHO.

[FortWorthGuy]

I'm taking the Rotterdam on a one nighter from Seattle to Vancouver next week. I'm spending a day in Vancouver and then getting on Princess for a two night trip to San Francisco. It'll be a great 5 day trip and a nice getaway. All of you naysayers need to lighten up and not be so critical of those of us who enjoy both long and short cruises.

[bepsf]

We did a 1 night cruise on the Norwegian Star out of San Francisco...

...We hit 16 foot seas & 60 mph winds outside the Golden Gate. My sister’s boyfriend has never raised the issues of joining us on a cruise again.

Aunty Pat

 

If he avoids cruises due to one night at sea off the Pacific coast which consistently has some of the roughest seas anywhere - he's missing out.

 

The Caribbean is a completely different experience.

[Rstamper]

We're doing the one nighter on the 25th. Even though it's a short cruise it has my favorite part of the cruise experience - the moment I step from the gangway onto the ship. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

 

It is very different from a longer cruise. There are many groups - families, friends, bachelorette parties, etc., so the common areas can be pretty crowded since everyone is hanging out together and not in their cabins.

 

That is one of my favorite parts too. My husband loves the look of joy on my face when I get on the gangway to the ship!