Bad Cruise -- Off my Game, so to speak...

[sgriff17]

This is going to sound odd, but have any of you ever just had an "off" cruise? Kinda like a bad day where nothing goes your way, or you just feel kind of "off" - and you don't know why.

 

This past Triumph Cruise was like that. I can't place it - maybe it was the ship, the excursions we did, i ate too much, 86 yr old Grandparents were with us, lost at the roulette wheel (no duh), etc... It just "Fealt" different than my first two.

 

Could this be I am getting used to it? I remember remarking the first night at dinner I could totally go home now and be happy. Maybe it was being homesick, but I've never been like that before! It was just so odd.

 

I didn't even come back to CC for like 2 months!!! :eek: Now Im back and all excited again about the HM cruise in May. It's to the Mex Riviera, so maybe seeing new things will do the trick.

 

Could it have been cruise burnout??

 

Im sad b/c I want to be as EXCITED and ELATED the first two times!!

[Cotton]

It happens. When I got off the Sensation in November, I couldn't have been happier. Actually, I had asked the purser about taking the "Carnival guarantee" the second night of the cruise, before we got to the first port. Don't know why exactly, either, just didn't want to be there.

 

Maybe because I had been on a 2-night CTN in September - and the cruises were too close together?

 

I came back here to post that it wasn't my favorite cruise, for various small reasons, mostly because of my vague feelings, I think....and I decided I had 'cruise burnout'. Nothing really major wrong with the Sensation. Then I didn't post for a few weeks.

 

But - here I am again. I have no cruise currently booked, and plan a couple of land vacations before I cruise again, but I LOVE being here and answering questions from newbies.:) (It'll probably be another coupla years before I decide to cruise again.)

[judyf]

I think what you said about trying different things is the key. I always try to sail a different ship and itinerary. Most of the time we only do one cruise a year during spring break.

 

My job is real tough and long hours in the winter months so for me my cruise is the light at the end of the tunnel, it's a real break for me and I look forward to that all winter. So in saying that I also think timing of the cruise is important to keep it enjoyable.

 

Each person and or family the time would be different. I for one would not look forward to a summer cruise, unless it was to Alaska. I don't like it real hot so I sure wouldn't want to leave the NY summer weather to go where it's even hotter. But in the spring I so look forward to a little warmth cause it's really still cold/cool here in NY in March and April.

 

So think of all these things when booking your next cruise and I'm sure you will enjoy it more the next time!

[jima53]

My wife and I had an off cruise. It came about because it was an impulse buy due to the convenient location of the port, and the two ports visited. We had just come off a very good HAL cruise on the Zaandam and went onto one of Carnivals smallest and oldest ships. Although we knew we were comparing apples to oranges there was just too much of a drop off in service, food quality and ships facilities for us. Till then our only other Carnival experience was a short cruise on the almost new Miracle out of Jacksonville. We learned our lesson the hard way.

 

Jim

[bjboothman]

sgriff - do you think maybe it wasn't the cruise, but maybe it was just "you". That's not meant to be a criticism, but there is a saying, "wherever you go, there you are", i.e. you can't escape yourself, and if something is not quite right in your life, going on a cruise doesn't change that fact. Could it be that it wasn't the cruise, just that you had bigger issues on your mind? Or maybe it was just the cruise. I've only done 5 cruises and none were "earth shatteringly exciting", they were all just the R&R I needed to get away from the day-to-day grind. I love the relaxation of the ocean and fresh air and the fact that if you want to do nothing, there is nothing to do. Someone here has the signature "the worst day at sea is better than the best day at work". I buy that one!

[cmitch9999]

I do believe it is almost certain if you cruise enough you will someday encounter a 'bad cruise' For us it was a Celebrity Christmas cruise.. the entertainment was crummy, ship atmosphere stuffy, not enough to do on the ship etc. little things that all added up to a less than exciting cruise experience... I thought maybe we had reached cruise burnout and the thrill was gone... We gave it another try a few months later on just a cheap escape cruise..it was a 4 nighter on the Norwegian Sea..older ship, tiny tiny cabins, We loved it.. had a great cruise director, lots of sunshine, great entertainment, we liked the freestyle lack of formalities cruise experience..so we knew then it was more a bad 'entree' our one OFF cruise..not the entire menu!!

 

Chris Mitchell

[GrannyJ]

I can't even imagine having a "bad" cruise. Some are better than others, but what could be bad about having food stuffed down my throat 17 times a day, having someone come in and clean up after me, food stuffed down my throat 17 times a day, a chaise by the pool, the sun rising out of the ocean, food stuffed down my throat 17 times a day, coming into port, entertainment, a casino within walking distance, and, oh, did I mention food stuffed down my throat 17 times a day? I read complaint after complaint about "bad" cruise food, but if I don't have to shop for it, prepare it, cook it, serve it, clean up after it and wash the dishes it was served on, then there's no such thing as "bad" food. And, yes, the cabin is about the size of my bathroom, but since I don't have to make the beds, flip the mattresses, wash the sheets, scrub the toilet, or sweep the floor, it might as well be the Presidential Suite at the Ritz as far as I'm concerned. And sometimes the entertainment is lame, but it shore-as-tootin' beats sitting at the kitchen table paying bills. As for the casino...well, everyone else takes my money, why shouldn't they? Anyway, short of a reenactment of the maiden voyage of the Titanic, I don't think I'm every going to be on a "bad" cruise. And even then, getting to share a chunk of wreckage with Leonardo DiCaprio would be a plus, don't you think?

[gsb]

But some will be better than others--tablemates, weather, ports, etc. --Our last cruise on the Spirit wasn't my favorite, mainly because of the Mexican ports, but we still had a good time.

Really looking forward to the Liberty in Sept--New, large ship, 12 nights, 3 pre cruise in Rome, great ports, great friends---

Hang in there and make each one all that they can be. You go around only once.

[phlydude]

I found that too much anticipation before the vacation kills the experience. Doing things like posting on the boards to find out too much about what you are going to experience leaves you with a sense of disappointment when things don't turn out perfect or that upgrade you wanted wasn't available or the ship wasn't what others described it to be etc.

 

While it is good to learn about excursions and such, setting yourself up by living and breathing cruising before the cruise is going to make it less than spectacular. I'm not saying not to use the boards but I am saying that time should be limited before hand to avoid the cruising overload.

 

It happened with me with Disney last summer. I wanted to learn all the out of the norm things to do while there but I overloaded myself with Disney and had a disappointing trip.

 

I personally plan on limiting my time here more so than I have already because I want a great cruise!

[kfgarrow]

I can relate to having an "off" cruise because our recent Valor cruise was it. Each of our previous cruises had been better than the last. We just came off a fabulous family cruise on the Mariner and were anxious to keep up the string of great cruises. I think what started us off on the wrong foot was the fact that we wanted to book our first southern caribbean cruise but instead booked an eastern to accomodate our cousins who decided to go with us. We had been to all the ports and were not excited about the itinerary, but I thought introducing my cousins to cruising and traveling on a new ship would be enough to make the cruise fun.

 

We had a string of bad luck getting to the ship (delayed flights, horrible service at the rental car agency, smelly hotel, cold rainy weather, etc.) that put us in somewhat of a bad mood. We were worried about my cousins having fun and that added a bit of stress. Through the luck of the draw, our dining room staff was very mediocre. Overall, our service was mediocre all week, as was the weather. I also didn't like the layout of the Valor, an idea that I think this board planted in my head as much as anything else. We just couldn't seem to get out of our funk and have a great time. We had a good time, but it was just an "off" cruise.

 

We will cruise again, but may do some land vacations first to remind us how great cruising is. I will also make sure that I do not compromise on the ship or itinerary to make someone else happy. I guess I still have hope that our next cruise will be our greatest yet.

[joyceyw]

I found that too much anticipation before the vacation kills the experience. Doing things like posting on the boards to find out too much about what you are going to experience leaves you with a sense of disappointment when things don't turn out perfect or that upgrade you wanted wasn't available or the ship wasn't what others described it to be etc.

 

While it is good to learn about excursions and such, setting yourself up by living and breathing cruising before the cruise is going to make it less than spectacular. I'm not saying not to use the boards but I am saying that time should be limited before hand to avoid the cruising overload.

 

It happened with me with Disney last summer. I wanted to learn all the out of the norm things to do while there but I overloaded myself with Disney and had a disappointing trip.

 

I personally plan on limiting my time here more so than I have already because I want a great cruise!

 

I couldn't agree with you more on this. I think this board has a lot of useful info. but too much info. can lead to unrealistic expectations. I pretty much read info on which ship I want to take read a few reviews and leave it at that. I don't need to know every intricate detail of every other person's cruise. But I felt a little like the OP did after our recent cruise on the Mariner, which is why I'm here on the Carnival boards researching our 2007 cruise which will more than likely be on Carnival, while we love RCCL, it's time for a change of pace. Something different from what we've done before. We have the Sapphire coming up in Oct. and then we want to try Carnival, after that we may go back to RCCL or we may try Princess or Carnival again.

[bonniemari]

Gosh I know the feeling-we went on a cruise in January spent 5 days in Las Vegas last week and are leaving for 4 days in Cancun a week from today.

 

And I just don't even want to go to Cancun. And the trip to Cancun I didn't even have to pay for. My business did so much advertising with our local paper that they are taking a large group of their advertisers to the Adventura Palace all expenses paid.

 

I think if someone called me and said I had won an all expense paid cruise I would have to say no way-Gosh I must me sick!!

[sgriff17]

BJBoothman - You may be on to something!

 

I think it was because it was over the Christmas holiday and I was away from all of "My" family, but was with all of my fiances. Im one of those people who look forward to Christmas all year long, especially the weeks leading up to it. So, being in sunny 85 degree weather on Christmas Eve was kind of a bummer for me! I think also, maybe that's why I fealt homesick or whatever it was that first night at dinner.

 

Our first two cruises were 2 weeks AFTER Christmas - by golly, I think i figured it out!!!:eek:

[momofmeg]

Nothing is ever going to be the same as that first cruise. But that is how addiction works- guys. You have that "high" that was so great the first time and it never quite makes it again.

 

The closest I have came to the first cruise high is when we took my sister. it was our fifth and nothing great just a 3 day to Nassau on Sovereign of the Seas but it was her first. She was so excited. It was just like it was our first again and we had already cruised that ship once before.

 

We treated her to this cruise which seemed to make it more special too that she loved it so much-so if you want that first cruise high take a loved one that has never cruised-you are bound to have it again.

 

Like Cotton I sort of have "cruise burnout". We do have a cruise booked this coming fall but I think after that I will take a cruising break. I will still come to these boards though as I enjoy all you guys.

 

Cotton are you stilll going to Hawaii? Watch out you may start a whole new addiction (lol) have a good time.

[jled]

My husband and I always did all-inclusive resorts- Sandals, Beaches, Club Med- and I had that same experience in Cancun this past summer. I wasn't sure what it was- the resort, cancun- or just me. So, now we tried a cruise last week- RCCL- enchantment of the seas- 2/19/05 and we loved it and had a great time. This was our 4th cruise and have never really liked cruising in the past- always preferring the all inclusives- but now we can't wait to go on another cruise- sometimes I really think its just where your mind is at the moment...

[halos]

sgriff..you may never know what caused your feeling low this time around. It may have had nothing to do with the cruise...that 'off' feeling isn't pleasant at all, I'm sorry the timing sucked and it happened to occur on your vacation.

I can actually 'feel' how sad you are right now...

Being bummed on the ship and then coming home just to be bummed because you were bummed....not fun. :(

Do yourself a favor. Put it past you...what's done is done and try to feel some appreciation for the things around you now..once you get in that mode of apppreciation, your spirits will lift and you'll be able to start looking forward to your next vacation. Give it a try. ;)

[JrMafia90]

I never felt like that. And I hope I don't feel like that!

[sgriff17]

Halos - I already am! As this next cruise gets closer and closer it's getting more and more exciting. Of course, I think that's how it always goes. Usually about 3 months out is when i REALLY start thinking about it. :D

[halos]

Halos - I already am! As this next cruise gets closer and closer it's getting more and more exciting. Of course, I think that's how it always goes. Usually about 3 months out is when i REALLY start thinking about it. :D

 

 

Awesome!!! I just know this next time things will feel better!!!! :D