What MAKES your cruise for you?

[crusinpsychRN]

Everything from the first ding of my S&S card to the first flush of the john to trivia games. People watching, eating, relaxing, shore excursions, meeting people. It's my hobby!

[Philly Steve]

A sound you won't hear on land...the twin tones that precede on board announcements.

 

More importantly, sunrises at sea and the anticipation of a fun day ahead. :cool:

[Yvonne]

Too many things to narrow it down to just one.

 

Having a small room service breakfast (croissant, fruit, coffee) delivered to the room about 7:00 a.m. and enjoying that out on our balcony.

 

Sitting by myself on our balcony for an hour or two in the afternoon, just enjoying a good book and watching/listening to the water flow by.

 

Dinner in the main dining room.

 

Attending the show in the evening, followed by a drink or two in a bar with live music.

 

Lounging on deck in the sun for a couple of hours in the afternoon on sea days.

 

Exploring the ports.

 

Buying souvenirs in the ship's shops.

 

Not having to cook or clean for a week! :)

[40thbdaycruz]

We like taking our family (our grown kids and their kids) on cruises and watching the delight in their eyes and hearing the excitement in their voices when they experience new foods, see exotic locations, and learn about other cultures. We want them to benefit from cruising--after all we are spending their inheritance!

Good for you guys!! Inheritance is overtaxed anyways.

[ferfoodle]

Ah yes - my balcony, the service, the ocean, etc... this all makes the cruise marvelous.

 

But what really makes a cruise a cruise for me: Pier Runners. Yep, may sound bad, but watching them at port is just one of the things that making cruising stand out from just another vacation.

[bearthug]

I am surprised... Shocked even...

 

Out of all the replies I have read here, only 2 have spoken "really" about food.

 

Me? First time going on the Carnival Cruise Pride on January 8th. But my main excitement is the FOOD BABY! And the overall experience of the cruise (Relaxation in balcony, seeing other peoples actions, service quality, burden-free, etc).

 

Food. Wondering what we will have on the formal nights, how great the experience will be in Davids Steakhouse, how good the buffet lines will be? Room service included in fare? Never had room service in my life and I would sure as heck try it out! Going on the ports and trying out their foods.

Food..... Yes...... =)

[Brudette]

My top three would have to be:

 

1- Doing new things in new places with my favorite person.

 

2- Not doing ANY diaper changing, cooking, dishes, laundry, or cleaning for a whole week!

 

and, of course...

 

3- Eating about 7 meals a day. Self-control does not apply on vacation. Anyone who thinks otherwise should just relax and have another dessert. :)

[Cmx3d]

Being able to visit multi exotic places in one trip. And being able to swim in crystal clear water!

[Warm Breezes]

While talking to some friends that will be joining us on our upcoming cruise we got talking about dinner seating. They were surprised when I mentioned that I love traditional dining and want to sit at the biggest table possible. I like being seated with the same people and getting to know them. To me this is what makes my cruise. I enjoy most everything about cruising but it would be a big disappointment to cruise with anyone who wanted to do anytime dining. I'm just curious to know what MAKES your cruise for you? What is the thing you love most about cruising and would be dissapointed if you didn't get to do?

 

Having fun with my family. We are the opposite of you. We prefer anytime dining so we can just be together with our family and not some strangers. A cruise for us is reconnection time. We all live such busy lives, that we enjoy this very special time spending it together without outside influences. Even our kids prefer hanging with us over doing the kids clubs...they prefer doing family activies and we have a great time doing them. That's what MAKES a cruise for us.

[Ti2m]

Many things "make" a cruise from me but if I had to boil it down to one thing it would be the people. Most of my best cruise memories revolve around family, staff, fellow cruisers, table mates, and people we meet in port.

 

As far as having strangers for table mates, that stopped awhile ago. After 2 or 3 bad experiences it's a 2-top for us too.

 

Timm

[evandbob]

A somewhat different perspective or opinion: I cruise for the experiences I will have at each port destination. It could be visiting a new location/island for the first time; it might be the activity I choose to participate in, whether ziplining, snorkeling, or hiking to a waterfall; it could be tasting a local food, or learning a few phrases of a new language; it could be the exposure to a new culture or way of looking at the world; or it might be getting acquainted with the history of a place or people.

 

Very often, a cruise gives me an idea if I want to return to that area/island for a more in depth land based experience, it's almost like island window shopping.

[evandbob]

A sound you won't hear on land...the twin tones that precede on board announcements.

 

More importantly, sunrises at sea and the anticipation of a fun day ahead. :cool:

 

 

I've heard that twin tone on land: prior to some racetrack announcements; in department stores; and on a few elevators - I personally prefer it on land, because I know I won't be hearing some brassy CD hawking and shilling for bucks.

[SMSACE6]

What makes my cruise, is always different, from cruise to cruise. Sometimes I cruise solo, and it has to do with who I meet on my cruise. Sometimes it has to do with the people I cruise with, when Im not going solo, and either way, sometimes, my dining room wait staff really make a difference in my cruise enjoyment. And sometimes I win some bucks in the ships casino....once 600+ bucks and another time 500+, and sometimes it just has to do with the ports of call. One time, I had a pulled muscle in my ribcage, and spent hours floating in the water off a beach in Cozumel, and whoa....pain was gone..just like that! Just so many variables...But I have never yet had a bad cruise, even a couple of them that I had some cranky cruise stateroom mates with! I always make the best of it.:)

[Almost Packed]

being wife, not mom for a week! sleeping in until i want to get up! not cooking, cleaning etc. for an entire week, dh & i get to be on our honeymoon all over again! :p

 

i love my kids but i don't call home to check on them. they are in very trustworthy hands when we leave them. we call from the pier and say "goodbye-talk to ya in a week!":eek:

[ahoys]

I've been reflecting on exactly what it is that makes me relax and say..."ahhh, I'm cruising!" It's the water. I love standing at the railing or sitting on the balcony and just staring at the water. I love sitting in a window seat on the promenade deck, listening to the sounds of the music, people, slot machines, etc. and turning the watch the water below. At night, I love sitting by the railing, enjoying a cup of hot tea and watching the water reflecting the moonlight. I love having an aft balcony so I can watch the wake. I love standing at the railing as we push away from a pier, watching the churning of the water by the bow thrusters. Finally, it's the absolutely gorgeous, vibrant blue/green colors of the Caribbean water. That's what makes my cruise.

[sparks1093]

What makes my cruise for me is the memories that I make with my family, whether I am sailing with all of us or only with DW. The ship and the destinations are only a backdrop.

[maarten288]

That's easy....WOMEN, especially women in bikinis.:D

[deborahjo]

Walking into my cabin the first time, opening the safe and putting all cell phones in it. Never to be seen again til the morning w get off the ship. AAAAHHHHHH.....I know I am on vacation then.

[terri1020]

I didn't read the previous posts, so excuse me if this is a repeat. For me, being on a cruise means seeing my dh totally relax. I love looking at him when he is watching the musicians, lounging on a chair and enjoying a meal. He has a very demanding job and to see him relax makes me feel like he is extending his life just a bit.

[Lawgrrl]

I agree with mrsbean1990 that "sea days are the best." My favorite itinerary (so far!) was last year's Western Caribbean on the Liberty--3 sea days of total relaxation. I enjoy being able to take my time doing whatever, whether it's walking on the jogging track, working out, reading. When I'm home, it seems I'm always rushing to get somewhere or get something done.

 

And finally, as a long-time "Friend of Bill W." (and Lois and Jimmy K.), I love the opportunity to meet with new friends at a meeting every day!

[Casino Player]

While talking to some friends that will be joining us on our upcoming cruise we got talking about dinner seating. They were surprised when I mentioned that I love traditional dining and want to sit at the biggest table possible. I like being seated with the same people and getting to know them. To me this is what makes my cruise. I enjoy most everything about cruising but it would be a big disappointment to cruise with anyone who wanted to do anytime dining. I'm just curious to know what MAKES your cruise for you? What is the thing you love most about cruising and would be dissapointed if you didn't get to do?

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO Mist_ynight: Basically three things could make the cruise an enjoyable experience or not: 1) Stateroom- if the stateroom is small and cramped, or there is not enough room to put your clothes in drawers and/or closet that could dampen your cruise experience. 2) Food- if the food isn't to your liking then that also could put a damper on your experience. Also service in the dining room. We went on the QM2 a few years ago and the service in the MDR was so bad. The food didn't taste all that good either. 3) Casino- If the casino isn't good, the employees that work there know what they are doing, that could be bad too.

 

[aggie1]

My favorite on a cruise is sitting on my balcony in the morning with a cup of coffee and a smoke looking at the water. Then inbetween reading a book on my balcony and looking at the water, then late in the evening with a drink and a smoke looking at the water. Can you tell I love looking at the water!!

[o2banotter]

Many things "make" a cruise from me but if I had to boil it down to one thing it would be the people. Most of my best cruise memories revolve around family, staff, fellow cruisers, table mates, and people we meet in port.

 

As far as having strangers for table mates, that stopped awhile ago. After 2 or 3 bad experiences it's a 2-top for us too.

 

Timm

 

 

What has your "bad experiences" been at the dining table?

[sshelly0525]

There is nothing more exciting than falling asleep in a comfy bed and waking up in a new place. I get up while we are docking and peek outside to see what the port looks like (it's always gorgeous!). Then, after my breakfast is delivered, I have coffee on the balcony.

My first cruise had my favorite room- 4th floor, extended aft balcony. I could sit and watch the wake all day and night :)

As far as dining goes, we would prefer a table for two, but I have to say we have heard some pretty good stories from table mates ;)

[Mist_ynight]

Casionplayer, I don't go to the casino so that wouldn't affect my cruise. I've never had bad wait staff but then again I've only been on two cruises so far.

 

Aggie1 I love watching the water as well, I spent hours my first cruise just watching the wake.