Cruises
- Thread starter SamSpade
- Start date
Check out Princess. At first it seems more expensive, but many extras are included. Older clientele too, more subdued, i.e., geezers.
Princess was the one we took to Alaska.
Well certainly true of the Caribbean - outside of the touristy areas, I was astonished to see how poor everything is. And having never been to the Caribbean before, I had this mistaken notion of lush palm trees and something akin to Hawaii. Nope. Mostly volcanic near desert.
I mean, some of the islands are stunningly beautiful - but the bulk of it is poor. I didn't notice that in the Bahamas - where we were, most of it looked like any barrier island on the eastern shore.
I have always wanted to do river cruises, but I really couldn't believe how expensive they are.
Found the same thing when I went to Antigua back in the early 80s. The resort areas were nice, but don't step away from there. Incredibly poor and natives would jump out looking for handouts.
Kind of squashed my desire to visit any other islands. I want to see the entire area, not be held at bay to the resort.
Do youi recommend this - plan - as a regular way to do things?
I am very much of the opinion - and my wife does not agree - get the cheapest cabin possible, since - if you're doing things right - you won't be there much. Make sure it's in a part of the ship that is quiet. I think our first cruise, we were close to where the - fins? - are - I don't know what they're called, stabilizers? They can be noisy. And we would have chosen proximity to the parts of the ship we would spend the most time.
So - "interior" - is something she would rather not have. We've never had a balcony - interior or one of those where you just get a window. Once, her parents went with us, and they had a full suite. It was like a large hotel room. I just know she is aching to try that.
I can do without it - totally - but my wife likes the casinos. Only time I favored them was late at night, where the blackjack table might only have one customer.
My brother said this about Mexico. Stay on or near the resort grounds. Outside of that is not safe or attractive at all.
People that gamble a lot get discounted cruises. Dangerous strategy if you ask me.
I haven’t been to many in my life - but mostly - I almost always come out ahead. I think it’s because I am just patient. I take my time, I set limits. In my mind, you go to a casino to have FUN and the money you LOSE is the price.
The best part of the cruise I went on - the actual cruising part - was having coffee in our room in the morning and sitting on the balcony relaxing. Interior rooms feel like a floating coffin because they're small and claustrophobic. 2A and Sharon popped for the suite and that was SUPER NICE. It was a little rich for my blood but the balcony room was worth every penny.
Monello likes to tell this story about when he was in Alaska he met a couple who balked at the whale watching tour because it was $100. So you spend all that money to go all the way to Alaska....and $100 is where you're going to cheap out? Because in 10 years you're not going to remember that $100, but you will remember the whale watching tour.
Your wife is right and you are wrong. Get the balcony.
Kinnakeet
Well-Known Member
When I got hitched we went to the Bahamas and stayed at a resort took a bus into town and then out of town a lady her child 2 chickens and a goat came on the bus the further we went the more it turned into a ghetto and the driver got scared and said we had to turn around and it was a sh!thole with people living in cardboard box huts and the whole area smelled like I think weed
never went that far again.Don't underestimate the power of the umbrella drink. Gets the female folk in the mood.
Kinnakeet
Well-Known Member
True story
Clem72
Well-Known Member
Umbrella are crucial for keeping Noro and Covid sneezes out of your drink.
I'm pretty sure it's the alcohol that does that and not the umbrella.
Yup, but I noticed over the years woman like the frills.
My weakness is the frosty beer mug!
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itsbob
I bowl overhand
It's a gamble at best.. especially if its a popular cruise. It worked for us because there were a LOT of empty cabins. One in our group got the Owner's Suite. Two Floor, full size kitchen lofted ceiling living room with Grand Piano, 3 bedrooms.. private hot tub and pool, without paying any extra from their penthouse upgrade.
Have to be sure to research the ship.. everyone told us to stay away from the back of the ship due to propeller noise, vibrations.. we were on the back of the ship, with a fairly large balcony, and being a newer ship had 4 (I think) AZIPODS.. no more huge shaft running through the boat. It was quiet, protected from the wind, and we could use our balcony the entire time, even when the decks were closed due to rough seas. It was wild watching us come into or leaving the dock.. no tugs.. and this huge ass boat could do circles around it's center axis.
Our Ship was being reflagged from a US flagged ship that cruised around Hawaii, to a Bahama (?) flagged ship.. they were stripping out the 4th floor to add a Casino when they got to Barcelona. They had one cabin with slot machines, and one with 2 black jack tables.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
We did a cruise of the Western Caribbean, older boat.. that was NOT fun. We had the same cabin as the transatlantic cruise but this wasn't a penthouse, or a read upgrade. And yes, the boat had the huge shaft and the twin props on the back.
We were the last Cruise Ship to go to Guatemala. We did the bus tour to Mayan and Aztec ruins which was cool, but our tour guide (A PhD in Mayan and Aztec culture) on the bus was busy on his cell phone trying to find a job, while were looking out the windows watching people with AKs strapped to their backs.. and then our bus broke down, and we had no security with us. We did find where all of the American Trucks, busses and cars go to die.. and all the t-shirts of the losing teams.
But nearly all the ports were the same, stay in the port area, or go to a local resort.. Guatemala was a military base, and we were told if not on a Ship Tour stay on the base. It was like a farmers market set up for the tourists.
Can't remember which port, Cozumel maybe, the first thing we see is a truck loaded with armed soldiers, then an Armored HUMVEE with advertising on it for bodyguards, armored limousines, armed security..
Belize we took a private cab tour.. what a sad place that is.. we actually hit a cop on a moped, and cab driver just waved it off.. "He's Drunk" as we ran him into a ditch. Bragged about their independence from England, and you could see signs of how awesome a place it was at one time. Only thought in my mind was, you need to ask England to come back.. fast!!
Workmate at the time was on a cruise of the Eastern Caribbean at the same time, and just loved it. Talked about the clean and safe ports.. things to do at the stops.. and the boat.