just wondering

[broncorckcrwlr]

Hello all. I will admit up front that I only peruse this site when we have a cruise coming up but since we are sailing on the Star 1/10/16 and there has been a lot of bad talk about the ship and service and food etc I have spent more time here in recent months than usual. Believe it or not this is not about the Star. We're locked in and paid up so it is what it is and I can't change it but while reading these pages I have began to wonder if we (my family) are a unique family. We don't drink, we don't smoke, we don't gamble, and we sail with our grandsons (14 & 10). We only eat at the free places like the MDR or buffet etc and seldom take any excursions but we always have a great time. We don't go to be entertained, we go to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of sailing and warm weather. The boys enjoy the things that the ships provide for them to do and the wife and I enjoy just doing nothing. Maybe walking around the decks eating endless ice cream cones or just sitting in a deck chair looking out over the ocean at night. We might even play a hand or two of cards on a big nite. lol So anyone else like us?

[fshagan]

From what I've seen here, some of the most prolific posters here are people who get comps and discounts through the Casinos at Sea program, and a few others are the type who behave all year and then drink like fish when they are on a cruise (not a bad plan, since you never have to worry about driving or even having to think very hard!) So the posts may be skewed toward the gambling / drinking audience.

 

The way I figure it, the people at the bars, in the casino, and at the specialty restaurants are subsidizing our vacation by spending a lot more "on board dollars" than I would spend in ten cruises. Hooray for them! They are having a great time, I am having a great time, and everyone wins.

 

We enjoy the entertainment, especially the live music that NCL still provides. The shows, well not so much, but what the heck: they are there for the taking and I never have to worry about weighing the price of admission to the show vs. the quality or enjoyment level.

 

There are many more cruisers in our class, I think, than in the profiles I described above. Maybe even here on CC. But it's easy to think that only foodies, gamblers and drunks take cruises.

[marelind]

I think DH and I are closer to you, bronco, than what fshagan said. We generally don't go to shows, gamble, drink very much, go to art shows, shop, etc. We love to relax and enjoy being pampered while looking at the ocean. I get to travel and see new places and get a massage or two. We had our first family cruise with DS and family this year.

[PyrHeaven]

We are laid back cruisers. Doesn't take much to make us happy. I'd say we are somewhere in between what you would describe your cruising style.

 

We hardly drink at home but enjoy a drink or two each night of the cruise (we will be on the Star in Feb and have the UBP, so that will probably increase a bit "because we can"), we don't plan every waking minute of the cruise but choose at least 1 or 2 excursions (usually booked outside of NCL), and we do enjoy a specialty meal a night or two. Nothing crazy, but a happy medium for us.

 

At the end of the day, we are easy to please and are just happy to be away from the real world for a week!

[DorothyB]

I don't drink, gamble or smoke. My 16 day Panama transit cruise, I think I ate at only 2 specialty restaurants. My Alaska cruise, I did maybe 3 specialty restaurants?

 

I do excursions - every port on the Alaska cruise and maybe 1/3 of the ports on the Panama transit cruise. I think I will do snorkeling at all 3 ports on my upcoming cruise.

 

I enjoy cards & dominoes, but can't always find others to play with.

[bbryan5]

OP if that's what makes you happy, than have at it! To me, one of the beautys of cruising is the many, many options that are offered. If some are into the gym, or alone time in the library, thats there for them. If some like live entertainment, or broadway type shows, that's also there. For us (younger couple) a great cruise involves lots of casino time, lots of drinking, lots of pool/pool deck time. Just because a person doesn't drink, or gamble, doesn't mean they should look down at those of us that do! (not referring to you OP, just making a general statement) Everyone is different. What makes some people happy, might disgust others. People get so caught up nowadays with what everyone ELSE is doing.. I love to follow one simple rule.. "live... and let live"

 

Enjoy your next cruise everyone.. no matter what you plan on doing once aboard! :D:D:D

[perkydebrajean]

My husband and I just got back from a 7 day cruise a few days ago. My husband doesn't drink at all and I don't drink at home but had a whopping 4 drinks on the cruise. My husband doesn't gamble and I played $10 on the penny slots. We went to 3 out of 7 shows. The first night we just sat out on our balcony for almost 5 hours. Next morning I woke up 5 hours before my husband and just relaxed and read a book on the balcony while he slept. We spent the majority of our cruise on our balcony. Though we did make a few trips to the ice cream machine!

 

Enjoy your cruise in whatever way it makes you the happiest!

[Quilting_Cruiser]

While I'm on the ship, I'm pretty laid back--I choose a cruise based on the ports and do excursions in most. If I'm not doing an excursion, then I have plans of what I'm going to do and it's never just hanging on the beach. :o On the ship, I rarely go to shows--though I'm on the Epic next and very much looking forward to seeing Priscilla--or the casino and never ever hang out by the pool. On my last cruise, I spent some time with another solo from my roll call and we went to the casino a couple times, which was far more than I generally do. I don't drink much at home, but do have a glass of wine now and then on a cruise. Usually I just look for a nice quiet spot to read a book. So, no, you're not alone. :D

 

The one thing I do really enjoy on the ship and it's why I decided to try NCL is the specialty restaurants. I love the variety and the good food. On my last cruise, which was my first NCL cruise, I purchased UDP and enjoyed a different restaurant each evening. This time, I'll likely purchase the 6-night SDP so will have a few evenings where I'll try out the MDR or the buffet.