How many cruises do you do a year?

[LuCruise]

We've started doing 2 cruises a year, one at March break (7 night) and one end of the summer (4 night).  This year, also throwing in a 3rd in December (DH and me only)

Edited September 15, 2019 by LuCruise

[clo]

2 hours ago, SmoothFlying said:

but hey, I'll go on as many cruises as long as I'm physically able !!

I would think going on cruises requires less physical ability than staying at home.  ?

[ilikeanswers]

I cruise less then once a year as I like the more expedition style cruising and they are not cheap, I have little savings fund for those cruises. On top of that I also do land trips so I have to prioritise what I want to do and what I can fit into my budget for the year. One day I'll give the more mainstream lines a go but for now I while I have my health I want to get some of the more adventurous holidays in my bucket list done😃.

Edited September 15, 2019 by ilikeanswers

[cruisemom42]

I am still working but fortunate enough to work for a global and fairly enlightened company and have put in enough time to have basically 6 weeks of vacation annually. I assiduously manage that time so that I am able to plan 3 vacations a year, almost always ex-US. Of those three, generally one is a cruise and two are land trips, although I sometimes flip that -- just based on what appeals to me.

 

On 8/13/2019 at 9:05 AM, navybankerteacher said:

Actually, the flight part isn’t the problem - I can sleep anywhere; it’s getting to the airport, checking in, clearing TSA and boarding/deplaning that ruins my day — little difference whether it’s a one hour or six hour flight - it’s all the rest that’s the aggravation;  and totally unacceptable if there is a connection.

 

I guess I am easy to please. I always think how lucky I am to be able to reach Europe in a mere 8-9 hours flying time. Airport hassles can be minimized -- and my home airport is usually the nation's busiest.  

 

If I had to take a ship to Europe and back, I would not be able to see and do half as much with my time....

Edited September 15, 2019 by cruisemom42

[SmoothFlying]

1 hour ago, Lois R said:

Hey Mac,  I may not want to come back. And I have no husband/partner/mate, etc......so it is all up to me how long I stay away

MS L, then the old phrase that goes, 'The world will truly be YOUR oyster' will definitely be your motto !

 

Mac

[navybankerteacher]

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

...

 

If I had to take a ship to Europe and back, I would not be able to see and do half as much with my time....

Once you rationalize your “work schedule” - to what amounts to an endless series of seven-day weekends, you might want to look at TA repositioning’s - a leisurely way of getting to the continent for tulip season in the Netherlands or returning from your October in Tuscany.

 

Sadly, they seem to be catching on, and are no longer the absurd bargains on uncrowned ships - still, they beat flying.

[beachbum53]

One cruise a year. After taking time off for a cruise, time off for a land-based vacation, and a week off at Christmas time to spend with family and friends, I don't have any more vacation time. Maybe after I retire we can cruise more than once a year.

[Lois R]

I am one of those folks that has not done a land vacation in many years.  I love cruising

[clo]

16 minutes ago, Lois R said:

I am one of those folks that has not done a land vacation in many years.  I love cruising

So have you done lots of land vacays so there's not anything left to see?  I can't imagine living that long 🙂  And having been to the Caribbean and Mexico once each, have no desire to return.  Very port inclined.

[SmoothFlying]

49 minutes ago, Lois R said:

I am one of those folks that has not done a land vacation in many years.  I love cruising

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !! I'll second that with a big YES ! 😜

 

Mac

[cruisemom42]

4 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Once you rationalize your “work schedule” - to what amounts to an endless series of seven-day weekends, you might want to look at TA repositioning’s - a leisurely way of getting to the continent for tulip season in the Netherlands or returning from your October in Tuscany.

 

Sadly, they seem to be catching on, and are no longer the absurd bargains on uncrowned ships - still, they beat flying.

 

Maybe so, but that's still distant horizon. As long as I like my work, have great medical coverage, am adding to my 401K and pension, and can take 3 nice vacations a year, I'm not in a rush...

[Lois R]

3 hours ago, clo said:

So have you done lots of land vacays so there's not anything left to see?  I can't imagine living that long 🙂  And having been to the Caribbean and Mexico once each, have no desire to return.  Very port inclined.

No, I have not done a lot of land vacations and I am not talking about the Caribbean and Mexico. Yes, I have been to both of those places multiple times on cruises but I LOVE to cruise.....and that includes Europe and there are many countries I have yet to visit. I just prefer doing it while on a cruise ship.

   I probably won't see everything I want in my life but not sure what that has to do with my choice of cruising vs a land trip.  Of course there are many, many, many places I want to visit in the future too.

[Lois R]

2 hours ago, SmoothFlying said:

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !! I'll second that with a big YES ! 😜

 

Mac

[clo]

3 minutes ago, Lois R said:

   I probably won't see everything I want in my life but not sure what that has to do with my choice of cruising vs a land trip.  Of course there are many, many, many places I want to visit in the future too.

I used to say that a port was either eight hours too long or eight days too short.  And it's the latter that really bothers me.  We are definitely geared towards ports/destinations.  So if we continue to cruise, it will likely start in a city that we love or one that we're super interested to visit.  And we'll go in early and stay on at the end.  And, for instance, there are places like Great Britain that we've done by car.  And are anticipating 'doing' France/Italy/? by train.  I just am interested when people only want to cruise.  No offense.  Different strokes.

[Lois R]

7 minutes ago, clo said:

I used to say that a port was either eight hours too long or eight days too short.  And it's the latter that really bothers me.  We are definitely geared towards ports/destinations.  So if we continue to cruise, it will likely start in a city that we love or one that we're super interested to visit.  And we'll go in early and stay on at the end.  And, for instance, there are places like Great Britain that we've done by car.  And are anticipating 'doing' France/Italy/? by train.  I just am interested when people only want to cruise.  No offense.  Different strokes.

Thanks for your input on that part.  My reasons are 2 fold (well 3 fold really). I travel solo and sailing on my own is VERY easy.

Unpack once, and the rest of the time I am taken care of.  2nd part is seeing many places, and whatever time I have there is ok with me.  Yes, I love ship as much as the port and 3 fold...I realize I can travel by land by myself but It does not appeal to me as much (at all really).

  If I come across a place that  is a "must see" for multiple days? I will decide at that point if I want

to research it for a land trip.  But I love being on the water too.  Actually I am taking a river cruise next month out of Venice

[navybankerteacher]

1 hour ago, clo said:

  ...

And are anticipating 'doing' France/Italy/? by train.  ...

Definitely the way to “do” Italy.  Naples, Rome, Venice, Florence,  by train - then, car for Tuscany from base villa for two weeks near Greve in Chianti - halfway between Florence and Siena - for lazy day trips to the hill towns, then back to Rome for TA home.

[clo]

7 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

Definitely the way to “do” Italy.  Naples, Rome, Venice, Florence,  by train - then, car for Tuscany from base villa for two weeks near Greve in Chianti - halfway between Florence and Siena - for lazy day trips to the hill towns, then back to Rome for TA home.

Perfect.  We used a non-escorted trip to Tuscany which included air, hotel and rental car.  I talked to Verizon our phone company and they assured me I could use the phone for GPS so we didn't get that in our rental car.  Well, it didn't work; even talking to Verizon and they couldn't figure it out.  So we had a poor map and got lost every day 🙂  We were staying in Montepulciano and flying out of Milan.  We got lost FIVE TIMES finding our hotel near the airport.  Yes, we need to return 🙂

[ilikeanswers]

28 minutes ago, clo said:

 I talked to Verizon our phone company and they assured me I could use the phone for GPS so we didn't get that in our rental car.  Well, it didn't work; even talking to Verizon and they couldn't figure it out.  So we had a poor map and got lost every day 🙂  We were staying in Montepulciano and flying out of Milan.  We got lost FIVE TIMES finding our hotel near the airport.  Yes, we need to return 🙂

 

Download your maps to the phone, then you don't need internet for your GPS. 

[Aquahound]

On 8/11/2019 at 8:33 AM, lenquixote66 said:

How many cruises do you do a year?

 

My record was 7 in one year.  Now, it's been almost 2 years since my last cruise.  I'll reset that clock next week though. 😉

 

Man, I sure do miss living in South Florida. 

[clo]

10 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

Man, I sure do miss living in South Florida. 

You live in Seattle now?  Not sure why that slows you down.

[Aquahound]

9 minutes ago, clo said:

You live in Seattle now?  Not sure why that slows you down.

 

Seattle has about a 5 month cruise season.  

 

Also, I used to take advantage of last minute 3/4/5 night cruises out of MIA/FLL.  I remember scoring balconies for as low as $99 on Thursday before a Friday departure.  

 

Edited September 16, 2019 by Aquahound

[GUT2407]

It varies wildly this year just one, (doctors made me cancel a 35 night one) next year three (but only about 20 nights in total) 2021 only one at this stage but it is 34 nights.

 

It comes down to time, money, health and how long they each are.

[clo]

15 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

Seattle has about a 5 month cruise season.  

 

Also, I used to take advantage of last minute 3/4/5 night cruises out of MIA/FLL.  I remember scoring balconies for as low as $99 on Thursday before a Friday departure.  

 

So you don't fly to other ports?  We're in Reno and will fly RNO/SFO/IAH/GIG (Rio) to cruise to Buenos Aires.  

[clo]

13 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

2021 only one at this stage but it is 34 nights.

It just blows my mind that people can/will plan that far out.  I feel like we're stretching it that we're doing one 4/20 🙂

[GUT2407]

6 minutes ago, clo said:

It just blows my mind that people can/will plan that far out.  I feel like we're stretching it that we're doing one 4/20 🙂

Don’t get much choice when you need an accessible cabin, they normally sell out within a month or so if release of the itineraries