RIvacationgirl Posted July 17, 2015 #1 Share Posted July 17, 2015 DH and I went on our first cruise a few years ago and we fell in love with the whole concept- kit and caboodle. We still find it a "bargain" when we look at the luxury we experience on a cruise. We have just returned from trying another line, enjoyed it tremendously, and we will be sailing in a week and a half on a different line. Our last NCL experience was on the Sun in Feb., and we then booked the Breakaway for next year. The Sun was a beautiful ship and trip. I love the convenience of unpacking once, the service, the food and the variety of choices while being on the ocean travelling the world. There are too much negative things to worry about in this world right now. When I think about an upcoming cruse it makes me happy- EVEN with all of the changes that may occur with policies and such. I hope we will be able to continue our love affair with cruising into our silver years. Just wanted to say something positive for those who may be trying cruising for the first time. I still get the excited feeling before a cruise and want to tell others who may have never sailed- a cruise, like any other thing in life is usually what you make it to be! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Ledouche Posted July 17, 2015 #2 Share Posted July 17, 2015 That deserves a simple and truly earned Thank You. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincicruisers Posted July 17, 2015 #3 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Nice to hear someone having a positive outlook on cruises. I still get excited for a cruise coming. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planefixer Posted July 17, 2015 #4 Share Posted July 17, 2015 God bless ya!!![emoji6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare www3traveler Posted July 17, 2015 #5 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Cruising can become addictive. I went on my first cruise in January of 2008 on The Spirit. In late May I was on the Getaway for the 5th time and my 25th cruise in total. At the moment I currently have 5 cruises booked and trying to figure out how to add a 6th. I am booked on the Sun in late September, back to back on the Getaway over Christmas, The Jewel in late January and The Pearl in late November 2016. One cruise at a time is fine. I understand that Regent has a 128 day Round The World coming in 2017. That is a little over 4 1/2 months on a very small ship. I am not so sure about that cruise, it would be fun though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demonyte Posted July 17, 2015 #6 Share Posted July 17, 2015 DH and I went on our first cruise a few years ago and we fell in love with the whole concept... Just wanted to say something positive for those who may be trying cruising for the first time. I still get the excited feeling before a cruise and want to tell others who may have never sailed- a cruise, like any other thing in life is usually what you make it to be! ;) I don't remember seeing anybody here bashing cruising, just condescending executives and their business decisions etc. Even though I've lost my faith in NCL for now, it doesn't mean that I'd stop cruising altogether. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLH Arizona Posted July 17, 2015 #7 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I started cruising some 35 plus cruises ago and I still love it. Thank you for a very positive thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maywell Posted July 17, 2015 #8 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I have to say, I like cruising - Mostly everything I want and need is cover by the fare and only thing outstanding to pay is the DSC/tips (which can be prepay before when handing boarding pass). Don't have to spend anymore money unless you want to and that refreshing when one thinks about it. Just pack once and enjoy the trip.[emoji7] Sent from my SGH-T399 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangzoom6877 Posted July 17, 2015 #9 Share Posted July 17, 2015 We are sailing in 2 days on the Breakaway and I'm as excited as I've ever been for a cruise! Actually a little more excited than I've been for a while because Bermuda is my absolute favorite place to cruise and it's been years since I've been there. This is my 16th cruise overall, but my 5th with NCL and I'm very much looking forward to eating, drinking and being merry for a week! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeterbug Posted July 17, 2015 #10 Share Posted July 17, 2015 DH and I went on our first cruise a few years ago and we fell in love with the whole concept- kit and caboodle. We still find it a "bargain" when we look at the luxury we experience on a cruise.We have just returned from trying another line, enjoyed it tremendously, and we will be sailing in a week and a half on a different line. Our last NCL experience was on the Sun in Feb., and we then booked the Breakaway for next year. The Sun was a beautiful ship and trip. I love the convenience of unpacking once, the service, the food and the variety of choices while being on the ocean travelling the world. There are too much negative things to worry about in this world right now. When I think about an upcoming cruse it makes me happy- EVEN with all of the changes that may occur with policies and such. I hope we will be able to continue our love affair with cruising into our silver years. Just wanted to say something positive for those who may be trying cruising for the first time. I still get the excited feeling before a cruise and want to tell others who may have never sailed- a cruise, like any other thing in life is usually what you make it to be! ;) Thank you for this! We just booked our first NCL cruise a couple of weeks ago having only sailed twice before on Celebrity. I must admit reading all of the posts from upset cruisers has been a bit of a downer for me and has made me wonder if we made a mistake booking with NCL. In the end I realize I am very excited about the cruise and will have fun no matter what!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcdogwalker Posted July 17, 2015 #11 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I know what you mean about cruising. In my opinion there is no better vacation for the money. There are lots of comments about the changes that NCL has made recently but everything has gone up in price these days. Even a short drive costs more money. No one says we have to go to the pay restaurants, no one says we have to buy anything. I've always loved the main dining room and the buffet. We are platinum now and get a few perks like dinners in the pay restaurants. I think that's good but I would still cruise without them. I'm so glad you love cruising and I hope we get to meet someday on a great cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maywell Posted July 17, 2015 #12 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Thank you for this! We just booked our first NCL cruise a couple of weeks ago having only sailed twice before on Celebrity. I must admit reading all of the posts from upset cruisers has been a bit of a downer for me and has made me wonder if we made a mistake booking with NCL. In the end I realize I am very excited about the cruise and will have fun no matter what!:D You're going to discover as soon as you board the ship that CC NCL forum doesn't speak for the majority of NCL passengers. If anything the CC forum in general is extremely small population compare to the actual cruising public. What's ironic is although there's alot claiming to suite / Haven on this forum, on the actual ships its a small group sailing on the ship compare to the number of passengers in the mini-suites, balconies, oceanviews, interiors. You're going to enjoy your trip and have fun - Trust me. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIvacationgirl Posted July 17, 2015 Author #13 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Thank you for this! We just booked our first NCL cruise a couple of weeks ago having only sailed twice before on Celebrity. I must admit reading all of the posts from upset cruisers has been a bit of a downer for me and has made me wonder if we made a mistake booking with NCL. In the end I realize I am very excited about the cruise and will have fun no matter what!:D I hope you have a wonderful sailing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwsster Posted July 18, 2015 #14 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Just wanted to say something positive for those who may be trying cruising for the first time. I still get the excited feeling before a cruise and want to tell others who may have never sailed- a cruise, like any other thing in life is usually what you make it to be! ;) I totally get the same feeling whenever I am on a cruise ship...JOY! I feel so blessed to be able to enjoy a special time with my DH and we love to cruise. I look for new itineraries that are affordable across all lines before booking a cruise. We have good luck with NCL and have always been treated well on board. I still feel I get good value and have a great time on my NCL cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseFun56 Posted July 18, 2015 #15 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Thank you for this positive posting. Only 2 NCL sailing under my belt (but hope for many more, sooner rather than later). STAR balcony & EPIC Studio. Very different experiences, but LOVED them equally. I am excited for the next NCL adventure. And happy to have CC friends to help guide as needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mush71 Posted July 18, 2015 #16 Share Posted July 18, 2015 nicely said :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heatherdw Posted July 18, 2015 #17 Share Posted July 18, 2015 My first cruise was on the Norwegian Sun in 2003 and I fell in love with it. The Sun is my favorite ship to date. My now-ex wasn't crazy about NCL so our next 2 cruises were on Carnival--no real complaints about either. :) Since the last cruise, we split up. The desire to continue cruising remained, though. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago...the vacation plans I had originally made for week after next fell through. What's a girl to do? Go on a cruise, of course! Only downside to it--the dreaded single supplement for those of us who wish to go solo. NCL to the rescue! Whoever came up with the Studio cabin idea is a genius! Besides it being the most affordable option, it also provides opportunities to meet other solo travelers. Between it and the CC roll call group, I expect to make a good many new friends. :) As others have said, cruising is really the easiest way to travel. The fact that I live in Florida puts me within reasonable driving distance of several cruise ports, making it all the easier. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIvacationgirl Posted July 18, 2015 Author #18 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Thanks HEATHERDW. You are fortunate to be able to conveniently cruise from Florida, there are so many options and the prices can be so good. When we sailed in Feb. the cost of the airfare was almost as much as our cruise. I wish you a cruise full of fun and good memories- Happy Sailing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kayaktom Posted July 18, 2015 #19 Share Posted July 18, 2015 For all of us that can afford to cruise, whether it be one time in an inside cabin or numerous times in a suite, consider yourself very fortunate. There are many in this country/world that simply can't afford to even consider a vacation of any sort, yet alone the expenses associated with a cruise. My wife and I are taking My sister on her first cruise ever in February of 2017. She is one that can't afford a cruise as she struggles to make ends meet. Yes, we are paying her expenses. She broke down in tears when we told her. As so many do on this forum, they bitch about the smallest of things. As you know, it's important to step back and count our blessings that we are very fortunate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Laszlo Posted July 18, 2015 #20 Share Posted July 18, 2015 You're going to discover as soon as you board the ship that CC NCL forum doesn't speak for the majority of NCL passengers. If anything the CC forum in general is extremely small population compare to the actual cruising public. What's ironic is although there's alot claiming to suite / Haven on this forum, on the actual ships its a small group sailing on the ship compare to the number of passengers in the mini-suites, balconies, oceanviews, interiors. You're going to enjoy your trip and have fun - Trust me. :) Ditto This forum is tiny, I mean really tiny compared to the 30K plus who sail NCL every week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ctrinh225 Posted July 18, 2015 #21 Share Posted July 18, 2015 OMG. I know what u mean OP. I started on RCCL like 2 years ago on Liberty of the Seas. IT was the best vacay I've ever had. And I travel a lot! Cruising never appealed to me...bc I'm not a drinker and all my friends say it's a booze cruise. We had a free cruise thru a land based casino so I took my sister to go with me......Love the all the food I can eat ad naseuam. The entertainment just like Vegas shows. The best service with a smile. And I literally stood on my balcony just looking at the water for hours.......no noise...no traffic....no work....no STRESS! I just got off the Getaway in February and have an Escape cruise planned for March. I get soooooo excited that I read all reviews(the good and bad) and I'm constantly on tapatalk. So OP......I get what ya saying! [emoji5]️[emoji5]️[emoji5]️[emoji5]️ Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovetotravel1977 Posted July 18, 2015 #22 Share Posted July 18, 2015 My DH and I are hooked as well! For us to travel to a land-based all inclusive of our choosing, plus our DD7, it would cost us closer to $5000. It's crazy how much they charge kids, who don't drink any alcohol and hardly eat any food, but I digress. Cruising allows us to pay as we go. NCL has the KSF sailings, they charge a better exchange rate than the banks, and their entertainment on board and food are LOADS better than a resort in Jamaica/Cuba/DR. Oh, and the water slides also help :) Cruising has checked all of the boxes on our vacation must-have list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heatherdw Posted July 18, 2015 #23 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Having the means to afford to go on cruises is a blessing. I have a few friends who can't afford to go and I feel for them. With that in mind, I just don't get those who nitpick their cruise experiences to death. It's a VACATION, folks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ctrinh225 Posted July 18, 2015 #24 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Having the means to afford to go on cruises is a blessing. I have a few friends who can't afford to go and I feel for them. With that in mind, I just don't get those who nitpick their cruise experiences to death. It's a VACATION, folks! All my friends now say.....you're going on a cruise AGAIN! Gosh....you're so lucky. [emoji4] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted July 18, 2015 #25 Share Posted July 18, 2015 (edited) I've sailed on 14 cruises in six years and I have six more booked. I did a long run exclusively on Norwegian, now I'm doing a little exploring. Count me as a true cruise lover. As I repeatedly say, it's the closest to Downton Abbey you can get on a vacation. Excellent service, great atmosphere, lively entertainment, great food and drink, and a different exotic port every day. I think it is because folks love cruising so much that there is a lot of anxiety about the constant drip of change lately, especially from NCL. Folks are just hoping that Frank and Andy don't throw the baby out with the bath water and turn cruising into something they no longer recognize. But as so many have said, cruising is still a value proposition. So long as it remains so, I will continue to cruise frequently. I'm paying less than $525 for my 7-night cruise on Epic in October, including taxes and port fees. And that's in a Studio! Compared to the amount I'm paying for six nights lodging in London, Barcelona and Madrid, the cruise is a bargain! In fact, the cruise will ultimately be the cheapest element of the total cost of my vacation. So, how can I not keep cruising? Edited July 18, 2015 by Cruiser Bruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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