Cruises: Good Vacations or a Poor Mans Vacation?

[Djgb13 2,339]

What do you guys think? Nowadays you can get tickets on a cruise anywhere from $300-$600 a person depending on how long it is and where you're going.

[cyclone24 1,913]

Cruises are so hit and miss. Some people love them and some people hate them. Me personally I can't stand them. I don't like having only a set amount of time when you dock somewhere. Don't like being told a time frame when I can eat. And for me cruises there were just too many people. When I go on vacation I go to get away from people not be around a ton of them.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

Poor man's. Always has been. Too bad because it could be convenient but they pack those ships like rats.

[DankNuggs 305]

Had fun the one time I went mostly because it was with a bunch of people and we were drunk and high most the time. Being sober on one would suck

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

Well, all cruises are not created equal either. The cheap as Fock cruises? Suck (except for the fact that the boat is packed with slitty chicks).

 

But there are higher end cruises that are better.

[jerryskids 6,799]

Cruises are so hit and miss. Some people love them and some people hate them. Me personally I can't stand them. I don't like having only a set amount of time when you dock somewhere. Don't like being told a time frame when I can eat. And for me cruises there were just too many people. When I go on vacation I go to get away from people not be around a ton of them.

 

I've been on two, both in the Caribbean, and both were meh to my wife and me, largely because of the bolded part. We prefer in general to just get a map and explore on our own timeline.

 

That being said, I could see doing an Alaskan cruise or something similar where you get to see landmarks/scenery you otherwise wouldn't be exposed to.

[Frank M 181]

 

I've been on two, both in the Caribbean, and both were meh to my wife and me, largely because of the bolded part. We prefer in general to just get a map and explore on our own timeline.

 

That being said, I could see doing an Alaskan cruise or something similar where you get to see landmarks/scenery you otherwise wouldn't be exposed to.

This. I went on one to the Bahamas for my honeymoon 20 years ago and haven't felt the need to do it again.

 

My friends, on the other hand, did the Alaska cruise and they raved about it.

 

I will say that the food was focking awesome and there was tons of it. That part was good.

[Bier Meister 1,710]

We have not been on a cruise. I do not like crowds nor being hearded to someone else's place of interest. We enjoy doing our own thing to explore areas. I am, however, interested in chartering a smaller sailboat in the Caribbean or Greece.

 

I can see the benefits though:

Affordable

Someone else is doing the " driving" and planning- so easier

Able to see multiple places without unpacking

[Djgb13 2,339]

I've been on 4 cruises. However I was always too young to drink on there. I had fun but looking back I don't know if I would have as much fun as an adult. They've gotten more affordable now so it's a lot easier to pack people on there. The only cruise I would do nowadays is the Alaskan cruise. Been wanting to do that for years. However, my wife has family in Alaska so I don't know if it would be better to just visit and stay with them instead of a cruise. I prefer being able to go to the island and stay for a week than go on a cruise and only be there for 6 hours

[jerryskids 6,799]

We have not been on a cruise. I do not like crowds nor being hearded to someone else's place of interest. We enjoy doing our own thing to explore areas. I am, however, interested in chartering a smaller sailboat in the Caribbean or Greece.

 

I can see the benefits thought:

Affordable

Someone else is doing the " driving" and planning- so easier

Able to see multiple places with unpacking

 

My inlaws love cruises largely for this last reason. My MIL loves to explore and see a bunch of different places. My FIL likes to have "his" place where he can settle in, so they splurge on one of the nicer cabins.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

I've been on 4 cruises. However I was always too young to drink on there. I had fun but looking back I don't know if I would have as much fun as an adult. They've gotten more affordable now so it's a lot easier to pack people on there. The only cruise I would do nowadays is the Alaskan cruise. Been wanting to do that for years. However, my wife has family in Alaska so I don't know if it would be better to just visit and stay with them instead of a cruise. I prefer being able to go to the island and stay for a week than go on a cruise and only be there for 6 hours

 

What part of Alaska is your wife from, if you don't mind my asking?

[Djgb13 2,339]

 

What part of Alaska is your wife from, if you don't mind my asking?

She's not from there. She's from Nebraska. She's got an uncle that lives at North Pole, Alaska. She said you fly into anchorage and go from there

[IGotWorms 4,058]

She's not from there. She's from Nebraska. She's got an uncle that lives at North Pole, Alaska. She said you fly into anchorage and go from there

North Pole is basically Fairbanks. Not a great base of operations IMO. You could drive down to Denali from there but it's basically the same as driving from anchorage and it isn't really a day trip from either place. You're going to be camping or staying in a lodge there either way.

 

Best parts of Alaska, that I've seen anyway, are the Kenai peninsula and southeast Alaska (Juneau, Sitka, etc.). Now maybe Fairbanks has stuff going for it I don't know about but it's certainly not the first place I'd go on an Alaska trip.

 

I should say, as awful as cruises seem to me I actually probably would do the Alaska one. There are basically no roads in southeast Alaska. To do a trip on your own would take weeks, would require a bunch of ferry trips, and would probably end up costing a sh1t ton of money. So I think that's a scenario where it actually makes sense to cruise.

[MDC 7,428]

Alaska or I would do a cruise up through New England to Canada to whale watch. Cruise to the Bahamas? Er, no. At that point I just fly there. I'm not a fatty so the AYCE buffet isn't that appealing.

[wiffleball 4,790]

I guess its the control issue. I dont care if its a relationship or a restaurant, i always want to be able tp leave if it sucks. Thats why i cant cruise.

[BufordT 434]

Cruises are in the news way too much for my comfort level.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/missing-carnival-cruise-ship-passenger-fell-backward-off/story?id=39128702

[Mungwater 597]

You can always play the "who is going to toss their wife off" game to pass time

[Djgb13 2,339]

Cruises are in the news way too much for my comfort level.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/missing-carnival-cruise-ship-passenger-fell-backward-off/story?id=39128702

m

I'm more worried about them sinking recently, having power outages, and people having the human feces coming up from the toilets in their room

[Let Da Big Dog Eat 40]

I gamble (blackjack) on the way out and make money, pay for trip. If you gamble on the way back you are guaranteed to lose. Meh, always ends up free but great food.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,442]

They suck. Went on the seven day cruise on the dream out of New Orleans. To many reasons to list why they Fawking suck.

 

The greatest myth is that the food is great. Garbage. And you get to eat as much garbage as you want to. The shows suck ass. You get eight hours to walk off the ship and back on at whatever port you stop at. The people suck. They are run ramped by kids. People bring their kids on them and let them run wild. Where are they going to go?

 

My biggest complaint...... No internet or connection to the outside world. Some will say that's a good thing. Bullshit. Go eight days without your phone or computer dealing with a wife whose seasick and kids who hate being outside and you can't come here to the Geek Club to vent. Fawking recipe for disaster.

 

I was losing at the roulette table five days into my cruise. I went snorkeling in Roaton. Are iguana. Drank a twenty dollar shot of tequila. What was I missing? Coming in here to b!tch about it. Being without technology sucks ass when you don't have it.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

Been on 2 and have had really good vacations. Depends on the ship, your room and who you go with.

 

The food is good if you upgrade or are looking for just certain things. It also depends on the ship.

 

I don't like being packed in, but it helps to get a room with a balcony. Sneak on your own booze.

 

They can be good, but I can't imagine that going cheap will work. Some people love them. I can go every once in a great while and it will be fine. Otherwise, I would prefer to go to a particular spot like a resort.

[wiffleball 4,790]

Has anybody ever done one of those Viking River Cruises? Also I think I would really Enjoy one of those Hudson River Valley cruises.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

Has anybody ever done one of those Viking River Cruises? Also I think I would really Enjoy one of those Hudson River Valley cruises.

My parents did a really luxury cruise from st Petersburg to Moscow, and another on the Danube. They liked it, and are pretty experienced travelers.

 

I want to do the one on the Mekong. Laos, Thailand, Cambodia...

 

I found a friend who wants to go to Bangkok and Cambodia this summer. That sounds fun as Fock. I think I'll do that.

[wiffleball 4,790]

My parents did a really luxury cruise from st Petersburg to Moscow, and another on the Danube. They liked it, and are pretty experienced travelers.

 

I want to do the one on the Mekong. Laos, Thailand, Cambodia...

 

I found a friend who wants to go to Bangkok and Cambodia this summer. That sounds fun as Fock. I think I'll do that.

 

Im pretty sure Martin Sheen founded the Mekong river cruise.

[Kanil 520]

I've been on both good and bad cruises. You really get what you pay for on a cruise. If you have kids, a Disney cruise is a great one. I've been on a couple Royal Caribbean and those were good (best customer service I've ever experienced) and a couple on others cruise lines that were not so good (but super cheap).

 

Outside of Disney, I'm pretty much done with cruises to any place tropical as it's just as good/cheap to rent an amazing house at the locations I like and they come with a live-in butler/chef/tour guide. I would like to do a European river cruise at some point and my wife still wants to do Alaska so we'll probably do that eventually.

[edjr 6,592]

poor man?

 

they cost just as much if not more than a regular vacation.

 

I've never been on one, not my thing.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

poor man?

 

they cost just as much if not more than a regular vacation.

 

I've never been on one, not my thing.

Depends how you look at it.

 

Lodging + food + transportation? You'll pay a lot more on your own on most vacations.

 

But then add in the excursions, booze, gambling, etc. yeah, you could end up well behind.

[tanatastic 2,062]

Not sure I could even handle a cruise now. I took a trip on a catamaran on some bay trip and got the sickest I have ever been along with my wife too. I think it permanently scarred me for life and ruined my equilibrium. I fear trapped on a cruise ship I would be sick and miserable. I have never had a problem at sea til this and used to love boating.

[IGotWorms 4,058]

Not sure I could even handle a cruise now. I took a trip on a catamaran on some bay trip and got the sickest I have ever been along with my wife too. I think it permanently scarred me for life and ruined my equilibrium. I fear trapped on a cruise ship I would be sick and miserable. I have never had a problem at sea til this and used to love boating.

Could just be you're getting old. Our vestibular system tends to go downhill pretty fast.

[jerryskids 6,799]

Not sure I could even handle a cruise now. I took a trip on a catamaran on some bay trip and got the sickest I have ever been along with my wife too. I think it permanently scarred me for life and ruined my equilibrium. I fear trapped on a cruise ship I would be sick and miserable. I have never had a problem at sea til this and used to love boating.

I'm the opposite; when I was young I got motion sick all of the time; now almost never. The last time I remember getting sick was a boat off of Kauai. The motion of the waves was at my nausea resonant frequency.

[hoytdwow 202]

Floating tenement, craptastic food, crap "entertainment," likely food poisoning? Nah

[Hardcore troubadour 15,433]

I was in one in jan 06. The night of the College football championship watching in a bar. I was talking to my BIL and told him Vince Young was all legs and wouldn't make it in the pros once he got figured out. Some doosh from Texas overheard and decided to run his suck. After I informed him of my intentions to throw him overboard I was quickly sanctioned by the bartender. Apparently that's a big no-no on a cruise. He advised me to vacate that bar.

[Djgb13 2,339]

I was in one in jan 06. The night of the College football championship watching in a bar. I was talking to my BIL and told him Vince Young was all legs and wouldn't make it in the pros once he got figured out. Some doosh from Texas overheard and decided to run his suck. After I informed him of my intentions to throw him overboard I was quickly sanctioned by the bartender. Apparently that's a big no-no on a cruise. He advised me to vacate that bar.

Talk about going overboard

[tanatastic 2,062]

I'm the opposite; when I was young I got motion sick all of the time; now almost never. The last time I remember getting sick was a boat off of Kauai. The motion of the waves was at my nausea resonant frequency.

Thats where it happened. Was it captain andys?

[BunnysBastatrds 2,442]

I can go every once in a great while and it will be fine. Otherwise, I would prefer to go to a particular spot like a resort.

 

A friend of mine just got back from a nine day vacation in Punta Cana. It was all inclusive, had a butler, and didn't spend a fortune. He and everyone I've talked to love it.

[Kanil 520]

I don't like being packed in, but it helps to get a room with a balcony. Sneak on your own booze.

 

 

 

Went on a cruise for a bachelor party last year with a dozen or so guys. While we're doing the checkin process at the port in LA, we notice two guys from our party disappear. We finally see them when we get on the boat and they tell us some dude who called himself "Boozer Bobby" was outside and told them he could get booze onto the boat for them. All they had to do was leave their luggage with him and then go out to his car and pick whatever they wanted out of his trunk and all items would have a price tag. He then hands them the keys to his car and tells them to pick whatever they want. Of course all of us call scam and tell them they just paid to have their luggage stolen.

 

Two hours later, their bags are waiting in their room with all the booze they bought. On the way back we found Bobby and told him we were going to the airport (we were just going to Uber). He said " that" and told us to wait 15 minutes and he'd have a ride on a party bus for $20/person (it was a bit over an hour away). Party bus shows up and has booze included and a stripper on board. I don't know how Bobby lives, but I'm pretty sure he lives the life I dreamed of growing up.

[Mookz 1,348]

Floating tenement, craptastic food, crap "entertainment," likely food poisoning? Nah

I'm hearing good things about NoroLines Viral Cruises.

[hoytdwow 202]

Oh, I almost forgot. Let's go to some "exotic" locations and ogle the poor hard scrabble natives and pretend we're having an adventure as we sip gooey blender drinks at loosely tropical themed franchise resorts. Nah

[jerryskids 6,799]

Thats where it happened. Was it captain andys?

Really? That's weird.

 

Anyway, it was 16 years ago, fock if I remember.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

 

A friend of mine just got back from a nine day vacation in Punta Cana. It was all inclusive, had a butler, and didn't spend a fortune. He and everyone I've talked to love it.

Went to Punta Cana last year to an all inclusive . It was good, but not kick-ass. Probably doing Mexico next February. I like all inclusive resorts where I can do the pool and the beach. I don't need much else and I don't even bring my sticks.