Diamond +....getting bored with itineraries?

[sjb317]

14 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

Try a  different cruise line?

That’s what we did!😂. Once we reached 500 points, we decided to give Celebrity another try and have switched back and forth ever since.   We still love cruising but it’s just a nice change to be on a different cruise line.

 

Sherri🙂

[Joebucks]

I've been to my local big cities' downtown 100+ times. I still enjoy it without having to necessarily see something new every time. So if there's an island I repeat every year or so, I'll manage. Like my last trip to Nassau. I had been there multiple times, and lots of people complain about it mostly because of that. It has some great beaches and other spots. We laid at one after hitting the casino and had unlimited coconut rum drinks for $20. The last thing on my mind was previous visits there.

 

But I get it, that experience isn't the same vs going to somewhere new. Maybe try all kinds of vacations. New lines. Land vacations. Etc. Maybe just try new activities?

 

On a joking note (kind of) I rarely see any concerns from D+ other than free drinks. That seems to be the vacation anymore.

[BND]

14 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

I've been to my local big cities' downtown 100+ times. I still enjoy it without having to necessarily see something new every time. So if there's an island I repeat every year or so, I'll manage. Like my last trip to Nassau. I had been there multiple times, and lots of people complain about it mostly because of that. It has some great beaches and other spots. We laid at one after hitting the casino and had unlimited coconut rum drinks for $20. The last thing on my mind was previous visits there.

 

But I get it, that experience isn't the same vs going to somewhere new. Maybe try all kinds of vacations. New lines. Land vacations. Etc. Maybe just try new activities?

 

On a joking note (kind of) I rarely see any concerns from D+ other than free drinks. That seems to be the vacation anymore.

I grew up and live just outside Washington, DC.  I couldn't count the number of times I've been downtown and to the same places repeatedly.  There are still places I've never been to.  I think part of the issue with cruisers who complain about repeat visits is the excursions offered.  Sometimes you just have to go on your own.  We've done some walking tours on our own and seen things that they don't take you to on excursions.   

 

As for the "free drink" comment,  a lot of us have seen perks taken away as more and more people cruise repeatedly and hit the levels quicker.  But, as I said, we cruise for the cruise, not the ports.  And, while we enjoy the perks, it's not why we cruise. 

[snl2000]

We enjoy the ship. We live on the gulf coast so most of our cruises have been to the Caribbean. We wish RCI would rotate the ships. Been on the Liberty 5 times and we really would like a show besides Saturday Night Fever and a new ice show. There are 3 Freedom-class ships. Why not rotate them around since the shows don’t rotate? Still not bored though. We also cruise on other lines. The islands all seem to look the same after a while but we really enjoy the ship so the destinations really are secondary to us. We like big ships like the Allure and smaller ships like Vision and Enchantment and everything in between. They each seem to have a different personality. 

[bobmacliberty]

Depends on how much vacation time you have.  If you're limited to a week at a time, your options are more limited.  We've been mixing cruise and land vacations...sometimes on the same trip.  Have a 9 day Greek Isles coming up at the end of the summer.  We'll have 4 days in Rome before the cruise and then 10 days in other parts of Italy after the cruise.   That takes 3+ weeks (and more money).  I'm afraid that I would get bored if taking several Caribbean cruises a year.  Love Nachi Cocom but how may times can one continue to stop at Cozumel??

[fishbonz]

This is the first time in 10 years we didn't  book another while on board because of the itenaries  all they are pushing are 7 day 8 day for coco cay.  What ever happened to the 9/10 cruises they seen to be gone out of bayonne. 

[dodgestang]

I can understand.  We turn Diamond in April.

 

Been on Grandeur 3 times and Anthem twice...it is very easy to get on those boats for us because of where we live.

We spiced it up a bit with an Alaska cruise planned for this August.

 

At the end of the day though....we have just as much sitting on the boat, doing nothing, as we do getting off a ports and doing things....so while the ports get familiar we still go......we just booked a Dec 2020 Christmas cruise and it is going to our 4th to CocoCay and 5th time in Nassau

[mrpayroll]

18 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

Try a  different cruise line?

We have started to branch out and love it. 

[Tom47]

56 minutes ago, fishbonz said:

This is the first time in 10 years we didn't  book another while on board because of the itenaries  all they are pushing are 7 day 8 day for coco cay.  What ever happened to the 9/10 cruises they seen to be gone out of bayonne. 

You can book Celebrity or Azamara while onboard RCI

[Oceansaway17]

Well in 2021 Holland is doing two r/t cruises out of Boston that does 3 stops in Newfoundland and also 3 stops Greenland in late summer.

They have couple others that stop once in Newfoundland before going to Prince Edward Island and on to Quebec.

 

[cruiselvr04]

I wouldn't say we are bored after 40 cruises.  We do grow tired of the same ports or same ship.  We live in Texas yet didn't sail out of Galveston last year. We try to longer cruises now....7 days is too short.  But until we retire in a few years we are limited to about 10 days.  It's not worth the airfare to fly to Europe for a 7 day cruise so we'll be content to stay in the Caribbean a few more years.

 

We are trying different ships, some new ports like the DR to spice it up.  Overall we are still very happy even if we're on a ship that goes to Cozumel.  It's better then a day at work. We go to relax.

[zeppgirl]

I would say that once you get to the point that you are bored, it's time to try a different cruise line or another type of trip.  

[legaljen1969]

21 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

Not going to get any sympathy from me😢 Just kidding! I'm jealous and hope that someday I can say that I have been on so many cruises that I'm bored😊

I too long for the day when I have been on so many cruises that I am bored with the itineraries.   Due to work schedules and budget, our options are fairly limited.  I usually change up the excursions so I get to see things I haven't experienced in the past. 

 

[3red7s]

WOW, thanks everyone for all the great ideas and remedies......and I have no problem dealing with negative comments.....my hubby & I both worked since the age of 14, got a good education & made wise decisions along the way.  Retirement has been good us......and if that means we are privileged & spoiled...….well bring it on baby!!!

[DragonOfTheSeas]

On 1/18/2020 at 6:49 PM, 3red7s said:

After 26 plus cruises, we find ourselves getting rather bored.  Anyone else there with us?  Heading out of Baltimore in February on an 8 day since Charleston SC was a port & we have never been there.  Very refreshing.  I am hoping RC continues to add new ports so us seasoned travelers will have something new to look forward to you.  How are the rest of you dealing with this boredom???

 

We cruise out of Baltimore frequently, too.  I agree the itineraries are much the same year after year.  In fact, we are doing a B2B in March and they are both the same itineraries we did last year at this time.  We just do not want to deal with flights in early March.

 

However, NJ is not that much farther for you.

 

The Canada/New England cruises are good from NJ.  The Bermuda cruises are better from there, too. [more time on the island]  We took the "Snowbird Migration" cruise this year.  We REALLY enjoyed Quebec City.  It is so different from any of the other [non-European] cruise ports we have visited. 

 

We have not tried it yet, But the Empress is sailing some different itineraries.  

 

PS--we are D+, too.

Edited January 20, 2020 by DragonOfTheSeas

[caribbeanboy]

I'm Diamond Plus and I cruise on all other Cruise Lines! Especially NCL, Princess and HAL.

[LuvCruising8]

It would definitely be nice if Royal added ports in the Caribbean.  Tend to have same western and eastern destinations.  

[JupiterTwo]

I understand the feeling, and have had this conversation with Next Cruise staff, the Concierge, and even the Hotel Director on the Enchantment.

 

My wife and I just turned Diamond after our B2B last week on Enchantment. For us, we love the convenience of sailing out of Galveston. This limits our ships and itineraries, so it comes down to a trade-off between not having to fly or traveling to take other ships/itineraries.

 

We did both Liberty routes, and now the Enchantment routes. Occasionally, the Adventure comes to Galveston to do the Coco Cay/Bahamas run (which we basically did on the Disney Wonder twice).

 

I never thought I'd try the Oasis class mega-ships, but I will when the Allure replaces the Liberty next year, despite it taking over the same two routes.

 

Personally, I'd like to see some 9-12 night itineraries from Galveston to Aruba or the Panama Canal. I don't understand why they can't restock along the way, like in Cozumel. I know it's not a fuel capacity issue. However, I do understand that the weekly runs are more accommodating for families and working cruisers,  so the odd routes would mess up regular scheduling. 

 

Oh, well.

 

Steve

[reallyhooked]

Steve have you seen the itinerary for Jewel in December from Galveston? 11 nights.

[Tatka]

We lately cruise more with RCI due to reaching D status, but still sail with other lines to due to itineraries.

Did 3 RCI cruises and NCL, Princess, Celebrity.

Check Princess, they do some nice 10 days Caribbean itins as well as NCL.

Of course Celebrity does status match. Not D+, but D.

Edited January 20, 2020 by Tatka

[lovesthebeach2]

We live in Florida close to all the ports here.  But we’re bored with Caribbean cruises and find that mostly we’re taking (and booking) TAs and European cruises mostly and probably will do some Celebrity and Viking river cruises when we get fully bored.

We also fly into Europe way before the cruises to see more of the countries. So it’s not just the cruises, which we enjoy better.

[JupiterTwo]

57 minutes ago, reallyhooked said:

Steve have you seen the itinerary for Jewel in December from Galveston? 11 nights.

I did see a 16-night repositioning to Barcelona, but I'll have to take a look at a shorter Caribbean cruise.

 

Thanks,

Steve

[eaflorida]

My wife and I both have 366 cruise nights on RCL, and 400 more on Carnival. We live in Florida, and have access to so many ports. We are both really burned out on Caribbean cruises. We have been there and done that in the Caribbean. We pretty much now only enjoy longer cruises, and generally once per year do trans-atlantic cruises. 

[depplep]

Bored here too. We cancelled our cruise last October and flew to a resort. Probably will look at another line next time. We don't care for the theme park atmosphere that Royals ships are becoming. Can't even stomach the thought of another Caribbean cruise. We're about 14 credits away from D+ by the way.

Edited January 22, 2020 by depplep
Addition

[George C]

We are Diamond plus, next cruise is #67, but we cruise for entertainment and good food and drinks and to relax. Rccl has the entertainment, also we like there suites, but prefer perks on celebrity and msc yacht club for suite perks and dinning room. Our next cruise is a music charter totally filled with great musicians like America, Jefferson starship, Steven Bishop, Rita Coolidge and many others also in a suite on celebrity. Most likely do Europe again next year.