Not sure about this....

[maywell]

 

There is a thread about cruising on the cheap, and I am the queen of that, pay for cruise, pay for tips, and now what else do I need? We have so many pics of my DH in the same shirt I told him no more pics! We don't drink, we enjoy the tea in the afternoon, and I can scarf down a burger better than anyone I know. You really don't need to spend a lot on a cruise once you separate the I wants from the I needs.:)

 

That's the beauty of cruising - can spend as little money as possible and still enjoy vacation. Cruise covers the basics (food, refillable water, coffee, tea and a place to sleep / shower) and I can spend like X amount on a glass wine or drink a day (under $9), go to beach at port stops, free entertainment to watch and that's pretty much it. :D

[angelwinks_ca]

What's the truth? Am I being fed a bunch of bs from someone who sees cruising completely different than most? I've been talking with a coworker who cruises with his wife quite a bit.

 

My husband and I LOVE to cruise. BECAUSE it can be exactly the vacation we want it to be at any given time. We can be lazy or we can be active and entertained and we get to see some wonderful locations while we do just that! Our friends we just cruised with enjoy all inclusives better. BECAUSE...they love to just lay by the beach and pool all day and basically stay in their swimsuits. To each their own! HOWEVER...When we went to an all inclusive, we got dressed up for some a la cartes!

 

Dress code....Fancy night...my husband wore a golf shirt and slacks. You don't have to participate and just eat at the buffet. Some people eat all their meals at the buffet! We like to sit down at the end of the day and be served. You can also get room service. Its included but a tip would be suggested but not required.

 

There are things on the ship that are not included in the cost. Casino, Bingo, gift store, certain restaurants and some shops like the candy store or fancy coffee bar. OH...AND the booze (and pop) unless you buy a drink package.

Carnival lets you bring on pop/water and a bottle of wine each so look into that. We don't spend more than $100 over while on board. We buy a few drinks, play a bit at the casino and get a fancy coffee but that's about it!

 

Other things that cost money...PHOTOS!! Those darn photographers! Have a sense of humour and politely decline!! $20 for one 8X10. AND they take TONS of photos while on board! You do NOT have to participate but will be asked often. LIKE DISNEY!! :)

 

PORTS - excursions cost money!! Cheaper option...a cab to a beach! So you'd need to budget this. OR stay on the ship and enjoy the quiet! Some ports....there are people that approach you for money or to sell stuff.

 

So...in addition to the cost of the cruise and for us...airfare, we expect about $100 extra for well...EXTRAS on board. We plan usually one excursion so that's another $200 approx. Because we fly...we have transfers and hotel cost for 1-2 nights and the cost of food for that transition time and the cost of pop/water/wine to bring on board. We set a budget and can easily stay in it knowing somethings can give (once we drove) and some things can't.

 

Travel preference is so personal. We talk it up as being the best experience because we love it but cruising is NOT for everyone. We like to do stuff! We like tops a few days on the beach or by the pool and other than that...we like to do stuff. We go to the shows, comedy club and play trivia and participate in the silly games (Hasbro Game show) We love to see ruins and experience the culture of the places we travel. We love to snorkel and shop at markets. Cruising provides everything we love to do!

 

You need to experience it to decide if its something you enjoy doing. Nothing anyone says pro or con will help you know. You just need to go!

[notentirelynormal]

There is no need to continue to answer the OP. It was a troll.

[navybankerteacher]

See, from my perspective a lot of people here are out of touch with reality.

 

Is there something offensive about a young man in good shape wearing a t-shirt and jeans to eat dinner? What about a young woman in good shape wearing a tank top and jeans?

 

I'm not saying any of you in particular would ACTUALLY be offended. I'm just saying that it seems like you are in a different class that isn't aware of the greater world around you.

 

Again this is just my opinion (and I know generalizing is dangerous), but I find it comical that so many people in this environment enjoy superficial decoration as an addition to the "dining experience".

 

You might just like to experience "the greater world around you" by trying a cruise to see if it could be for you. NCL certainly has no dress code you would find offensive, and all ships have plenty of opportunities for a totally informal experience.

[Crash11]

There is no need to continue to answer the OP. It was a troll.

Not a troll. Just got fed up with the whole concept. My wife was even more hesitant than me when she found out what is "expected" with regard to dress.

 

Cruise plans were cancelled. We've decided to do things more suitable to us.

 

By the way, we don't have a timeshare. I said we own a condo.

[Crash11]

So far the most pretentious and snobbish person on this thread seems to be the OP himself. He is judgmental and condescending. Based on his comments about t-shirts and being in shape I'm going to guess he and his wife go to the gym a lot and want everyone to check out their fit bodies. They also seem to feel anyone that doesn't accept that lifestyle image is a snob. OP, just because I don't have my pecs bulging doesn't mean I think more or less of you. However, no, I don't think wearing gym clothes to a nice restaurant is okay either. You surely must go to places that require you to wear a proper shirt and to cover your legs.

You're making a judgement based on a "guess"?

[GottaKnowWhen]

Not a troll. Just got fed up with the whole concept. My wife was even more hesitant than me when she found out what is "expected" with regard to dress.

 

Cruise plans were cancelled. We've decided to do things more suitable to us.

 

By the way, we don't have a timeshare. I said we own a condo.

 

I just found this thread or I would have commented earlier. You are obviously young, very defensive and a bit uncertain about how to behave outside of your own well-traveled locales. As you mature, you will come to learn that the whole world is not designed to suit your immediate needs. You may also learn that adapting and trying something new is actually quite enjoyable! Assuming of course that you do ever mature and get beyond the notion that your own preferences are all that is important.

[Laughing Angel]

Crash11, I've read and reread your original post and response to those trying to help answer your questions and explain the many aspects of cruising (you know--the people you've referred to as "pretentious" and "out of touch with reality") and I think you may be right to have doubts about cruising as an option for your family.

 

It's not just that every question seems to have been posed with skepticism, or every answer met with thinly veiled contempt. It just sounds like you've got your mind made up, and nothing anyone says will change your view. And you know what? That's okay. You and your family prefer a certain type of vacation, and that doesn't make you wrong...but those of us who enjoy cruising aren't wrong either. It's a terrific vacation option for some, and does not make one a pretentious member of a "secret society".

 

So yes--I think you are correct. Cruising is probably not for you.

[teecee60]

I just found this thread or I would have commented earlier. You are obviously young, very defensive and a bit uncertain about how to behave outside of your own well-traveled locales. As you mature, you will come to learn that the whole world is not designed to suit your immediate needs. You may also learn that adapting and trying something new is actually quite enjoyable! Assuming of course that you do ever mature and get beyond the notion that your own preferences are all that is important.

 

 

I just found this thread or I would have commented earlier You are obviously old and SET IN YOUR ways, very defensive and a bit uncertain about how to behave outside of your own well-traveled locales. As you MATURE, you will come to learn that the whole world is not designed to conform to YOUR preferred standards. You may also learn that ADAPTING and trying something NEW and not just the way YOU have done so for so many years, is actually quite enjoyable! Assuming of course that YOU do ever mature and get beyond the notion that YOUR OWN preferences are all that is important. :rolleyes:

Edited May 21, 2015 by teecee60

[CheckersMidwest]

We do indeed enjoy dressing up for dinner. Our kids do too. We do dress up every night, then a little more on elegant night. My husband wears a uniform to work everyday and enjoys being able to wear something else. It's not any different than going to a nice restaurant at home, they have dress codes too. When we go on land vacations, we usually dress up some for dinner too because we go to the nicer places. Cruising isn't any different.

 

Part of the problem is when newbies ask if they have to follow dress code and people respond telling them no because everyone does what they want. Giving that particular advice is causing part of the problem.

 

You can wear whatever you want to the buffett. The regular nights in the dining room, just wear something clean/nice....you don't have to wear suit & tie or anything fancy. Elegant night is when people dress up the most.

 

We were very skeptical of cruising too. However, we really like it. When we stay at condos, I end up doing a lot of cleaning up....some laundry....some cooking....lots of things I have to do every day at home. It is not a vacation for me. Everyone else has a good time and I take care of them. It got to the point I'd rather stay home. On the cruise, I don't have to do any of that. We also started out with a 5 day out of Tampa on the Paradise to try it. I think it's a good way to sample cruising and see if it's for you. And if it's not, that's ok. Not everyone enjoys the same things. Some people hate Disney while others love it, for example. There are also people who can't stand the beach. (shudder :) ) You won't know until you try it.

[Winnigirl]

I don't think I've ever seen the words "Carnival" and "pretentious" in the same sentence....:cool:

 

I'm wondering if your reluctance is because you're a little intimidated by the whole idea of cruising as some ultra-classy Titanic-before-it-sank experience. Maybe you're worried you'll feel "out of place". Or that everyone will be wandering around like Thurston and Lovey Howell; hence your rather confrontational comments. My sister calls this "reverse snobbery". I'm not getting into the whole "what to wear in the dining room thing". Others have made in perfectly clear that there are many options. As well, most have re-affirmed that you will not be bombarded with "special deals" designed to part you from your money. Can't say anything more about that either. If you are sailing on Carnival, Norwegian or Royal Caribbean, you need have no fear of pretention. Stay away from Celebrity, Holland-America and Cunard and you'll be fine. Those are the lines for us "pretentious" folk.;)

 

5 days is not an eternity, but it's totally your choice. I've found, though, that when you open yourself up to new experiences and stop worrying about who or what people are, and putting importance on totally unimportant things (ie, your "ripped" body) you will discover things you never dreamed of. Your choice.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Winnigirl