Carnival ships and ports. Am i the only one?

[pspercy]

Progreso makes an excellent base from which to take excursions to Mayan sites:)

[CruisingAgain]

I am not ridiculous or sad either. Sometimes we get off in repeat ports and sometimes we don't. We enjoy the cruising experience and talking to so many different people from other countries

I love cruising to relax and get a taste of the islands. To get an "extensive" travel experience requires a lot more time than a few hours in a port and I've vacationed for weeks in Greece, Russia, Germany, Spain, Hawaii, more of europe and 1/2 the states so maybe I'm not ridiculous after all

[TEXSUN46]

To me the ports are just a sample of what a place is for the most part. I am more interested in experiencing the cultural aspects of a location and less about beaches or action adventures. When we want those things we do a land vacation. I would not cruise if I didn't enjoy the cruising itself and being on a ship. We usually get off at every port, the only ones that would tempt me not to get off the ship would be some place like Belize, it is hardly worth the effort to tender to port unless you have an excursion.

[DanvilleCruiser]

I haven’t cruised enough to get bored with any port! To each his own as that what makes the world such an interesting place.

[winddawn]

Was just wondering how many of you really don't care too much about the ports?

 

For me, My cruise is 90% about the ship. Sure I like some ports, but I don't go crazy about them. I do get off the ship and do stuff with my wife, but we don't go bizerk anymore. We been to most ports in the carribean, so sometimes we just enjoy the quietness of the ship.

 

One thing I love about cruising and cruise ships are all the options available that appeal to people with various interests. I've been cruising the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Alaska for over 20 years. I agree with you that I appreciate a quiet ship when most of the passengers are off the ship in a port of call. I personally enjoy a good balance of enjoying the ports or a quiet ship depending on the port and my mood on a particular day.

 

I'm sure it's different though for passengers of other cruise lines that cruise to other parts of the world. That's a whole different story for a very different post though.

[cathyoo]

Its not ridiculous if that's what people enjoy doing. Luckily we aren't robots who all have to follow the same ideas.

 

My idea of fun and relaxing isn't the same as someone elses, and I cruise because I like to...I like the water..i like to just listen to it and mentally get away. I like the freedom of doing whatever I want at my own pace.

 

Cruising is a unique vacation that can offer a great variety of things to do or simply nothing at all...or something in between. Its all up to you what you would like. And that is what I love about it.

I agree 100%. I never understand why people think other people have to like what they like. I work hard and I enjoy relaxing and spending time with my family and friends with no worries.

[Cruiseandswing]

I don’t like to go to the same ports so I usually don’t go on Caribbean cruises. That’s why Europe cruises are better to me. I like going to different countries. If I want to enjoy the ship I would do a transatlantic cruise. Which I do want to enjoy a mega ship but I haven’t because they don’t go anywhere different.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone wishing there were more swingers.

[bury me at sea]

I cruise because I love cruising. I could happily stay on the ship for the duration and if I ever cruise solo will probably do just that.

 

I go to shore because the adult child or grandchild I take with me wants the experience. I feel fortunate I can give them that and I get to see things through their eyes.

 

My first cruise back in the mid-sixties was 16 days, Hong Kong to San Francisco, with only one port day in Honolulu. Pure heaven.

[bingomamma19]

I cruise because I love cruising. I could happily stay on the ship for the duration and if I ever cruise solo will probably do just that.

 

I go to shore because the adult child or grandchild I take with me wants the experience. I feel fortunate I can give them that and I get to see things through their eyes.

 

My first cruise back in the mid-sixties was 16 days, Hong Kong to San Francisco, with only one port day in Honolulu. Pure heaven.

 

OMG...that would be amazing. Nothing but water everywhere for so many days :):):)

[bury me at sea]

OMG...that would be amazing. Nothing but water everywhere for so many days :):):)

 

Yes, I loved it. I love the sea. The smell and sound and motion and the mesmerizing wake created by the ship.

[JayDeeJay]

We’re VERY close to our 50 milestone - we consider the boat our all inclusive resort, and have favorite stops in most ports, Cozumel being our favorite. We’ve made friends with various wait staff and musicians (Pancho’s Backyard). So repetitive port calls is just fine, no complaints. No, wait. One complaint: sooner or later they make us get off the boat and go home!

[Lottacruises]

:rolleyes:

You made a funny ;) Let me try to answer . While the machines are shutdown a deck of cards in a roomy suite with a pocket full of cash can go a long way :D

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[GUT2407]

Depends next cruise is on a ship I’ve not sailed before, so ship, one after is to place I’ve never been so location.

[CheckersMidwest]

We choose our cruises by itinerary. I also want more than one sea day. Don't care what ship it is, don't care what port it leaves from. We like to experience new places or at least new activities in those places . If we've already been somewhere a lot and end up doing beach days, we're good with that too. We're beach people and can sit on the beach with waves lapping up for hours. We find it very relaxing. However, we don't vacation to relax. We go for fun, to get away, and do and see as much as possible.

[watermelonqueen99]

I'd say we cruise 80% for the ship experience and 20% for the ports. Personally for me, if we're not visiting the Bahamas or Montego Bay, I don't get real excited for the ports of call. Yes, my favorite ports are the ports that the majority of Carnival cruisers hate. Lol

[Towel Critter]

Was just wondering how many of you really don't care too much about the ports?

 

For me, My cruise is 90% about the ship. Sure I like some ports, but I don't go crazy about them. I do get off the ship and do stuff with my wife, but we don't go bizerk anymore. We been to most ports in the carribean, so sometimes we just enjoy the quietness of the ship.

I feel differently. I enjoy the ports as much, if not more, than the ship. Of course, that depends on the port. Sure, once you've been to most of the main ports a few times the new wears off. Then It is a matter of finding new things to see and do there. At roughly eight hours per visit, it would take a LONG time to see and do everything there is at every port. I find that a port starts getting a little stale for me after about four visits. After that is the time to get creative. I've never once just stayed on the ship. Just how I roll. :)

[Rudyard]

I don't have nearly as many cruises as some here, yet I'm in the camp where the ship has become the destination. I do like to do excursions, but have probably only done them less than half the time I've had the opportunity. Many excursions seem to be geared towards the adventurous type, which would have been great for me twenty years ago, or include a "beach break". We're not beach people so that doesn't work for us.I hate seeing an excursion I might like then finding out it includes a couple of hours at the beach. To me that is wasted time.

 

If I do an excursion I usually like for it to be something where I'm learning about the culture and history of the people of the country I'm in. If we don't do an excursion we'll usually at least get off in the port to eat and shop for a couple of hours, but I've come to enjoy being on the ship when it's relatively empty and quiet.

[jsglow]

We're port people. And we're glad we're closing in on retirement so we can do more exotic cruises, likely with Princess. That said, Carnival does a wonderful job with the 7 day vacation.

[elcuchio24]

We love the ports, and always try to book itins that have new ones for us. That said, that gets tougher and tougher to do. So yes, if its a St.M/St.T/SJ type cruise, where we have been each place 10 times, its certainly more for the ship.

[Lovefuninthesun]

Well now, I don't think I'm ridiculous at all. I have been to most ports many, many times. I love being onboard a ship and find it very relaxing. Running off exploring places has lost some of its appeal as I've gotten a little older. Now I find being off work & relaxing to be "exciting."

 

I worked onboard cruise ships for numerous years and also travelled a lot when I was younger as my father was a career Army officer. You may think I'm "ridiculous" and "almost sad" but to each his own. I stay onboard or go into port as the mood strikes. I like to be in the casino when the ship is at sea and lounging around the pool with a drink in my hand when it's in port. So for you the day you "get on a cruise and never get off the boat tis the day I quit cruising" works for you. For me and some others, a cruise is all about being on the ship - when I want to explore, I take land based vacations.

 

Thinking someone is almost sad and ridiculous because they enjoy something different than you, is kind of sad.

 

Well said, and our sentiments exactly!

After lots of cruises, we enjoy the cruising EXPERIENCE as much, or even more than the ports or even the specific ship. We are just happy to laze the day away on the balcony, or people-watching on lido.

Of course we get off the ship in many ports, definitely when it is something new -- for example, we're going to Bermuda, where we have never been, so of course we are excited to explore.

To each his/her own! :)

[spiritkat090909]

I thought you cant gamble when ship is in port

 

If you are up until say...oh, 3am playing in the casino the night before...you sleep the next port day. DH resembles that remark. A full fledged member of the shut down the casino club.

[trippingpara]

We cruise for the ports. That's why we alternate between cruising and land vacations, it all depends on where we want to go. I couldn't imagine pulling up to some beautiful exotic location and not seeing it (even if we've been there multiple times). But that's my DW and me. I know many people that cruise to just get away and don't care much about the ports. That's not going to stop us from seeing the port. We just meet back up at the bar afterwards and share stories about what everyone did. We strongly believe in the concept of "you do you". In other words, do whatever makes you happy and doesn't impede on anyone else. We'll continue cruising for the ports and anyone that wants to enjoy the ship in our absence is more than welcome to!

[BNBR]

We cruise for the ports. That's why we alternate between cruising and land vacations, it all depends on where we want to go. I couldn't imagine pulling up to some beautiful exotic location and not seeing it (even if we've been there multiple times). But that's my DW and me. I know many people that cruise to just get away and don't care much about the ports. That's not going to stop us from seeing the port. We just meet back up at the bar afterwards and share stories about what everyone did. We strongly believe in the concept of "you do you". In other words, do whatever makes you happy and doesn't impede on anyone else. We'll continue cruising for the ports and anyone that wants to enjoy the ship in our absence is more than welcome to!

 

This is why we do land vacations, too. If I just wanted to be in one place, I can think of a lot better offerings than a cruise ship - that is until cruise ships figure out how to put a big beautiful beach on the ship. ;p

[Joebucks]

I try not to stress out too much about all of this stuff. My goal is 2 weeks of cruises per year. In that time, I'll probably see about 7ish ports. My starting point is usually the itinerary though. Maybe there's a port or 2 we'd like to see. If it doesn't work out, I'll see that port later. I'm starting to repeat islands (and believe it or not, we're actually excited to revisit Nassau).

 

I really don't understand the people who stay on the boat. I guess if you have been somewhere a ton of times, you may not want to see it. However, I've been to my cities downtown hundreds of times, and I'm not sick of it. I've been to Myrtle Beach about 25 times (for a week at a time). I don't think visiting an island 5 times, years apart, for a day at a time, is really that terrible. I can appreciate wanting to see more of the world. Even at Freeport, I'm going to find some way to maximize that day.

[asalligo]

I am also all about the ship, but ports still matter to me. I have to really want to be on a ship to put up with another trip to Trashau, Bahamas. Unfortunately, they are often the cheapest cruises.