Would You Take a Seven Day "Stationary" Cruise?

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Although it sounds like an oxymoron if there ever was one, a well known budget travel writer Arthur Frommer is suggesting that the new behemoth cruise ships loaded with amenities would do well just to remain in port. They could then offer seven day "stationary cruises" and never go anywhere, but guests would stay on board as in a traditional cruise, but never leave the dock. This would save foreign port fees and, most advantagious of all, costly fuel.

 

Would any of you be interested in such an arrangement or are there other benefits to traditional cruising at sea that you would miss, even if traditional cruising would cost substantially more than a "stationary cruise"?

[JWestShuh]

I personally wouldn't be interested in something like this. It is all about the places I can go and see for me!

[ancldaca]

Seems to me that if a company wanted to do that, they could just build a hotel which would probably be cheaper too. Sorta defeats the purpose...

 

On the other hand, cruise ships have often been used as temporary hotels at big events.

[jerseygirl3]

While I love sea days, I wouldn't want to be docked for 7 days. Part of the enjoyment is sitting out on the balcony watching the sea go by.

[Grandpaul]

Nooooooo.

[megr1125]

So...the ship stays put and the islands change?????? I thought that's what happened anyway! you get on the ship....and everything ELSE moves....

(sorry......i need more coffee! very strange sense of humor today!):D

[sultan_sfo]

We enjoyed our 7-night Bermuda Cruise -- two stops 2 hours apart both in Bermuda. Two nights in Hamilton and one night in St. George. 2 sea days to go and 2 sea days to come back! I loved the overnight stays -- so few on cruises. /Sultan

[yellowbird23]

If I wanted to remain stationary on vacation on water, I'll stay home and float in my tub. No thank you....:mad:

[cruzinnluvinit]

So...the ship stays put and the islands change?????? I thought that's what happened anyway! you get on the ship....and everything ELSE moves....

(sorry......i need more coffee! very strange sense of humor today!):D

I wouldn't like a 7 day stationary "cruise" but I would like to stay in some ports for 2 days. You just can't see everything in one day. I know that situation causes more returns to that island but I can't afford to keep taking cruises to see the same islands many times so I can see what one really interesting island has to offer.

 

Linda

[megr1125]

actually...our 5 night bermuda cruise was fun since we did overnight in Hamilton......so we were able to see more.....7 days in one spot though....well.....if i wanted to spend 7 days in one spot, i would stick with a land vacation.

 

if it's on a ship..SOMETHING better move, preferably the ship!;)

[cruisemom42]

I don't think Frommer is taking into account the fact that if the ship doesn't leave port, they lose their captive audience. Ships make a fair amount of revenue on things like liquor, duty-free shopping, gambling -- all of which they couldn't offer if they were docked in port (well, maybe the liquor but people would leave the ship to drink).

 

I certainly wouldn't be interested. Lately the cruises I'm most interested in have to do with the itinerary, not with the ship itself.

[GottaLuvCruising]

Ships have provided accommodation in ports for numerous reasons including Hurricane Katrina recovery and Super Bowl. It makes sense that they could be a floating resort in one place under some circumstances. If that was a resort option during the Olympics, for example, I might be interested.

 

But otherwise, I'd always take seven days at sea over seven days in port.

[MonaCK]

Nope. If I wanted to stay on a cruise ship in one port for 7 days, I'd book a hotel room at the port of call. As much as I tend to stay on the ship during port days, it's still the actual "cruise" part that I enjoy..

[Bassnote_1]

:p Heck no. Better to get a room and a car

[LHP]

Depends on "where" it was docked. I could see doing something like this at a pier that was fun like Tampa or New Orleans where there is lots to do right at the pier. Not in Miami where you dock in an industrial port area. And not for a 7 day...maybe a 4 day!!

[Mydnite]

Nope, I would get boarded, at least on sea days you get to see different landscapes out of the window.

 

A crusie that did not go far might be OK, as long as it did move and go somewhere!

[Cruzin is me]

Nope --- gotta have the motion of the ocean. :D AND, don't forget that the casino wouldn't open if "docked" for 7 days! :eek: I wouldn't mind just being at sea for the whole time and not stopping at any ports but that hum of the engines is a necessary part of the experience for it to be a cruise and not just an all-inclusive resort.

[momofmeg]

Although it sounds like an oxymoron if there ever was one, a well known budget travel writer Arthur Frommer is suggesting that the new behemoth cruise ships loaded with amenities would do well just to remain in port. They could then offer seven day "stationary cruises" and never go anywhere, but guests would stay on board as in a traditional cruise, but never leave the dock. This would save foreign port fees and, most advantagious of all, costly fuel.

 

Would any of you be interested in such an arrangement or are there other benefits to traditional cruising at sea that you would miss, even if traditional cruising would cost substantially more than a "stationary cruise"?

 

Many took longer then that I guess after Katrina, but no I wouldn't-why? My favorite thing about crusing is being out on my balcony or up on deck watching the water roll by. I prefer that to anything else a cruiseship offers.

 

 

I have always said, some of these old cruise ships would make great hotels. That was done with the original Queen Mary. I hope one day to spend the night on her.

 

I really wished that had been done with the old Pacific Princess of "love Boat" fame, granted the staterooms were dinky but she could have been remodeled to make them larger, possibly taking two rooms and making one-the biggest draw would be the pool and other areas that looked just like what was seen on TV.

[momofmeg]

We enjoyed our 7-night Bermuda Cruise -- two stops 2 hours apart both in Bermuda. Two nights in Hamilton and one night in St. George. 2 sea days to go and 2 sea days to come back! I loved the overnight stays -- so few on cruises. /Sultan

 

That was great about Bermuda. That is the cruise we did on the original Pacific Princess. We actually went to all 3 ports there and on one my hubby at Hamiliton had left to scuba dive, and he returned to the ship at the royal dockyard! He did say though it sure gave him an eirie feeling when he saw the ship move out and he was on that motor boat going to the diving spot! He felt like he was being left!

[luvscruising2007]

No. I like the actual sailing on the ocean; it is part of the mystique and romance of the cruise. I wouldn't mind staying in a port for an overnight, however. But the sea is the draw of a cruise. Jane

[KAWS]

No, that sounds boring as all get out. If that were the case, I'd rather go to an AI.

[Grandpaul]

They are called "Cruise" ships, not "Port" ships.

[Creeks]

No, we wouldn't want to stay a week on a ship docked all the time

in one place! That would just be an inconvenient hotel.

 

However, my DH would LOVE a cruise that just went out to sea

and stayed there for two or more weeks! He cruises to CRUISE!

 

Most ships pay a great deal for docking, and would rather spend

hours going in circles off shore instead of tied up at the dock.

Meanwhile, they can have the casino open and a captive

audience for drinks.;)

 

We also enjoy the smaller ships, but that is not the direction

the cruise industry is going.

[firefly333]

Iv taken what is called Cruises To Nowhere the ship goes out into the ocean and puts down the anchor.

 

So, Id be a yes. 7 days though, Id prefer to go somewhere.

[cb at sea]

For less money, I can fly to Vegas, stay in a huge, luxuious room and have MUCH better food than on a cruise ship! No--I wouldn't pay to fly to a port and sit in a small room on a ship!