Cruise anyone ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

We only went on one cruise. I didn’t really care for it. Seemed boring to me. But a lot of people like them. I never thought of this aspect though. Seems kind of lame on the company’s part.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/sick-couple-claims-royal-caribbean-abandoned-mexico-didnt-want-responsibility-004430348.html

[Jess from VA]

I would not get on a cruise ship (disease, salmonella, backed up toilets, crowds, panic sink and swim Titanic syndrome) for any reason.

Just last year (I think), a pretty new one lost it's power plant, and just floated around the Caribbean for a few days.  Know what happens in a typhoon or hurricane with no power? 

Cruise ships don't have traveling hospitals. I'd be surprised if they even have an MD.  But they are big on insurance risks (and will kick you off, just like on an airplane, if you show sick enough on one).

And they probably have good lawyers too, so read the fine print on your tickets/agreement.

[Wizzard]

Went on 2. did not like them. Sleep and eat is all you do. Then if you stopped someplace you liked you had to leave in a few hours. No Cruises for me.

[Serk]

The "free" ferry in Galveston harbor is about as close to a cruise as I'm likely to get...

[Wizzard]

The free Ferry at Revelstoke/shelter bay is a fun one.

[..]

The free Ferry at Revelstoke/shelter bay is a fun one.

 

That's a great ferry system.

[Oss]

alaska cruise was great

Bermuda cruise was fun  4 days docked in dockyard at end of Island
Bermuda Triangle Brewing company story !    food was top shelf

We have done many, with extended family, but had time to ourselves if we wanted it on lonely beaches at our leasure  Norwegian is my favorite dont want the Huge ship  

Dont go during hurricane season   IMHO

[DIGGER]

Last June the wifey and I went on the Alaskan Cruise.   It was just great.   Beautifull scenery, great food, and really great entertainment on board.   Its a "I recommend"

[DIGGER]

The "free" ferry in Galveston harbor is about as close to a cruise as I'm likely to get...

Ridden the Bolivar Ferry many many times.  In 1972 I took my girlfriend on a Kawasaki H1 500cc tripple on our first date from Houston to Bolivar across the ferry.  Married her a yr later and we are still married 45 yrs later.

[Wizzard]

The ride to Alaska is better 

[Moonshot_1]

Thought the cruise line's response was adequate.

Was on our first cruise last year. Enjoyed it immensely. There is much to do on board plus shore excursions but you have to want to engage in events and programs offered. Many of them are complementary but some, like shore excursions can cost a bunch.

As to the cruise line's response. The ship is not a functioning hospital. They do, at least our's did, have basic medical services available but are not equipped for much more.

I'm not sure what this lady expected from the cruise line here. The cruise line's response would have been different if they had cause the lady's distress. But they did not.

I don't know how one can expect the cruise line to cater to or assume responsibility for such health concerns. While obviously serious it was also obviously non-life threatening at the time.

[Robert]

But when Carol’s hemoglobin levels started dropping, which can indicate different illnesses, doctors grew concerned. “They weren’t equipped if I had needed a blood transfusion, so they wanted me off the ship,” Carol tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “The doctor said he would ‘kick me off.'


So what was supposed to happen if the woman needed a transfusion or worse? On the boat she could die on land she could find a hospital and go home stabilized or at least quicker. A cruise is a fun time the woman knew she had a bleeding ulcer but could not explain the dropping hemoglobin so she knew there was something wrong. Yet she was on the cruise with a known illness, not smart. What if the woman stayed on the boat they went out to sea and had a problem with the engines and she got worse. If she had died it would have been the doctors fault in not making the correct decision. I would not want that on my head either. 

Cruises are great, usually good food, have done a few, had a blast literally when did trap and skeet shooting off the back of the boat.

One cruise off Mexico an f 16 flew by the ship, came back around on the other side, came back again and in the middle of the ship went vertical through the clouds and out of sight. It was an awesome demonstration and bit of showboating by the F 16 and when he went vertical I was right there watching him. 

[cookiedough]

it is on my bucket list cruise to Alaska for sure and do some halibit fishing as well.

An older lady at work just came back from a 2 week cruise to the Caribbean and was just horrible.  She has off and on Vertigo and was horrible having to hookup an IV to her throwing up, passing out, etc. and very, very wicked cruise with furniture (tables, etc.) flying around swaying back and forth.  Then, having to take a plane ride back as well horrible turbulence she said everyone was throwing up on the plane.   Can you imagine being locked up on an airplane with dozens of people puking with ONLY 1 bathroom, the smell alone had to be unbearable since am sure threw up in the aisles, etc.  She said non sick normal feeling fine people were throwing up due to the smell being so bad in a trapped in enclosed area.

Needless to say,  she came back after those 2 weeks off but NOT that MOnday, but missing another 3 days off work to recover from the cruise and plane ride.    She was busting a gut telling us all the horrible issues she had it was so bad it was funny, had her crying telling her horrid experiences.  I told her at least this trip would be remembered the rest of her life.

[Pappy!]

Would do a Rhine River cruise maybe or an Alaskan cruise.
As far as the normal cruises go...no thank you! More folks I know that go on them end up sick than you can imagine.

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I've been on two cruises so far, and had a blast on both of them. One to the Bahamas and one to Bermuda.

As far as cruises go, either you do or you don't. I don't think there's an in between.

[Rams]

As far as cruises go, either you do or you don't. I don't think there's an in between.

This pretty much verifies what I have been told several times.

While the "spousal unit" would love to go on one of the Alaska cruises, I really have no interest.
So, with that said, anyone with an extra ticket, let me know.   I'll do my best to get her to the boat.   

Rams 

[Hooter]

Many years back my band was booked to play on a Carnival 2 week cruise to Caribbean, plus other destinations. We were geeked up to do it. With plenty of notice I cancelled 2 area weekend bookings just to do the job. We had 120 songs in our set list so that was plenty. Roughly 3 days before we were to leave home I got a call from Carnival.

They had to cancel our 2 week outing due to illness on the previous cruise. The ship was docked in N.Y. to be completely sanitized.  Not sure what the crap was but the entertainment manager said it was not good. What a giant let down! The cancellation cost us money as well from the cancelling of area shows. When I brought that up the entertainment manager he said he would see what he could do. I also reminded him of the contract.

We got a check from Carnival for $500, along with basically a letter of apology. Better than nothing but we had lost $2,000. The deal for the cruise was: Free cruise, meals and drinks. We could bring our better halves as well. We were to play every 3rd day, twice a day for 2.5 hours each setting. The only musical gear needed was 2 guitars / basses and strings. Everything else was back staged. Our drummer was elated, he only had to take drum sticks. What band wouldn't do that!

It was a big let down and would have been a giant promotion for us. Not to mention our wives were really bummed! The entertainment manager told me there would be later communication, but I never heard from them. Could we have sued? Definitely, but why. I immediately rebooked the 2 lost weekends so we never ended up losing money. We made $500 extra but lost a great experience. There is more to this but that's it in a nutshell. Oh well!

[hubcapsc]

I'd rather get a mouthful of root canals than go to Curacao on this...



People who know me have said I'd probably enjoy going to see some icebergs in Alaska on this, though...



-Mike

[Hook#3287]

I went on a cruise a while back.

1 was enough.

3 of us got the cruise pox, me being one of them, and I spent a day and a half in my cabin jumping on and off the head.

Sucked.

[bscrive]

I have been on 7 cruises so far and I love them.  So much, in fact, that I am leaving Saturday on another one out of Puerto Rico for 7 days.  Have one booked already for next year and an Alaskan cruise in 2021.

[MAD6Gun]

 Wife is planing on a Caribbean Cruise in 2020. My first,her third. Was looking at stuff to do on the ship. I have come to the conclusion that if you get bored it's on you. Plenty to do. I don't think they do the skeet shooting thing anymore. That would be cool though.

[Jess from VA]

I was always lead to believe that eating was the number one pastime on cruises.

I realize I'm in the VRCC minority on this, but food has never been a hobby of mine.  

Another pastime I heard about was getting all dressed up and parading around.

Then there's shuffleboard.

I wonder if the pools and hot tubs have the chemicals in them that turn red when people pee in them.  If they don't, everyone pees in them.

I've been to the Caribbean islands several times (by airplane).  Wherever I went, the days all the cruise ships pulled in were the days it was just terrible to go anywhere near town, for anything.  Just wall to wall elbows and assholes.

One piece of advice for the Caribbean, the sun will murder you down there.  My wife has pigment and has never burned, but down there in a few hours, she got so badly sunburned it was skin poisoning, and I had to call a doctor for her.  He was a younger fellow and very professional, until he told me that my wife had one of the nicest asses he had ever seen (following her shot in the hiney).  I happened to agree with him, but didn't appreciate his professional opinion anyway.  Take sunblock (and hats), theirs cost a fortune.

Also, walking around the islands, I was offered some smoke or blow a number of times (for sale, not for free).  I said are you crazy, in a foreign country (with no AC in the jails and prisons)?  He said, don't worry, they leave the tourists alone.   Thanks anyway, I'll just stick with beer and margaritas.  In the islands, you must presume all police forces are corrupt (even the USVI), and act accordingly.

If your cruise will be to any islands down there, I recommend you to to the US State Dept website and click on the Country Studies, for each one you will visit.  Copping them off and taking them with you is not a bad idea either.  They often give an idea of crime and the scams most often being run on tourists.  Places that are completely safe in daylight, can become mush less so at night.

[Rams]

I was always lead to believe that eating was the number one pastime on cruises.

I realize I'm in the VRCC minority on this, but food has never been a hobby of mine.  

Another pastime I heard about was getting all dressed up and parading around.

Then there's shuffleboard.

I wonder if the pools and hot tubs have the chemicals in them that turn red when people pee in them.  If they don't, everyone pees in them.

I've been to the Caribbean islands several times (by airplane).  Wherever I went, the days all the cruise ships pulled in were the days it was just terrible to go anywhere near town, for anything.  Just wall to wall elbows and assholes.

One piece of advice for the Caribbean, the sun will murder you down there.  My wife has pigment and has never burned, but down there in a few hours, she got so badly sunburned it was skin poisoning, and I had to call a doctor for her.  He was a younger fellow and very professional, until he told me that my wife had one of the nicest asses he had ever seen (following her shot in the hiney).  I happened to agree with him, but didn't appreciate his professional opinion anyway.  Take sunblock (and hats), theirs cost a fortune.

Also, walking around the islands, I was offered some smoke or blow a number of times (for sale, not for free).  I said are you crazy, in a foreign country (with no AC in the jails and prisons)?  He said, don't worry, they leave the tourists alone.   Thanks anyway, I'll just stick with beer and margaritas.  In the islands, you must presume all police forces are corrupt (even the USVI), and act accordingly.

If your cruise will be to any islands down there, I recommend you to to the US State Dept website and click on the Country Studies, for each one you will visit.  Copping them off and taking them with you is not a bad idea either.  They often give an idea of crime and the scams most often being run on tourists.  Places that are completely safe in daylight, can become mush less so at night.

Advice noted.   Most assuredly, won't be an issue for me.   The only other country I have a desire to visit is New Zealand.    Doubt that will ever happen but, it's on my bucket list.

Rams

[markymark640]

Been on many. Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian.  Wife and I Like Royal Caribbean the best. NEVER had a problem. Plenty to do, lots of fun excursions to choose from. Friendly people and best of all it's a floating hotel that goes where you go.

Crown and Anchor Club on Royal Caribbean gets a couple extra perks although not really needed. We like the smaller ships even thought they are older.  The newer ones have too many passengers for our taste.

Going on another one during Spring Break !  Looking forward to the clear waters and the frozen rum drinks in the Caribbean

[fudgie]

A friend found a cruise where they let you take your bike. When you stop you can ride around the island.

[Jess from VA]

I've been down to several Caribbean islands.  Most are not very large, so there's not far to go.

All the driving is on the wrong side of the road.  Not bad in straightaways, but gets tricky in turns, roundabouts and even entering and leaving driveways.

Like all of the third world, you apparently get a drivers license down there in your cornflakes.

The roads beyond extremely crowded bumper to bumper towns are poor and potholed everywhere.

You can rent scooters down there (they all look to have hard use and minor crashes).

If you have a real death wish, take your own bike and enjoy the excitement.  

I rented a car once, and even that was not a pleasant experience.

Finally, the last thing you ever want to do in the third world is get involved in an accident, with local cops and the third world system treating tourists as a source of revenue.  Cash can often solve anything, if you have enough.  

[RainMaker]

Been on 7, the last one in January.  For a family event, it's great - when can you have your grown children and your mom with you for a week to have fun, share meals and be away from cell phones?  The cruise is great for that.  Always have fun, eat too much and the shows are pretty good. 

We go on one every 2 years.  Next one is Alaska. 

If you can relax (lock your smartphone up in the safe, don't get internet access) and just enjoy the ones your with, it can't be beat. If your mind is still back at work, you don't like sitting in hot tubs, snorkeling, dancing, going to shows, gambling, etc., then it's not going to work for you.

RainMaker

[Jess from VA]

This is probably more my style.