comparing cruise lines....??
- Thread starter robint
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Shugrnutz
Registered
Have been with several cruise lines, and this will be just my opinion. When the kids have moved out of the house, and it is just wifey and I, we have vowed to ONLY cruise with Disney. The food, service, entertainment, cleanliness, and amenities are equalled by none. It is typical Disney, where they are over the top on everything they do.
A year or so ago I managed to book a seven day cruise for about $300 that went to Cozumel, Roatan and one other place (maybe Jamaica).. I went single and dove at all three destinations. The Vacations To Go website makes searching for single fares really easy. Yes, I felt a little strange being on a cruise as a single, but it was certainly an economical way to dive in the Caribbean for three days.
If I wasn't married and tied to being home, I'd consider moving to a cruise ship. I could live on a cruise ship for much less than the money I spend each month here in N. Texas.
If I wasn't married and tied to being home, I'd consider moving to a cruise ship. I could live on a cruise ship for much less than the money I spend each month here in N. Texas.
OP
robint
Contributor
well, we have booked the cruise! Ron's hip is still giving him discomfort so we will not be diving. We are planning to snorkel so I will hopefully get some snorkeling video as well as video topside of destinations. No, it is not the same thing as a dive trip, but I think we will both have fun and we really need it.
drrich2
Contributor
You will have fun. I've not done Carnival. I suspect the basic cruise work flow will be similar, so here's how I'd suggest thinking about a Royal cruise:
1.) Lower rear of the ship has the main diving room. You'll eat supper there.
2.) Front of the ship, down low, has the theater. You'll watch free shows in the evening there.
3.) On a large upper deck, on the back 3rd of the ship, is the big free buffet. You'll likely eat breakfast and lunch there.
4.) There will be art displays by stair cases and along stateroom hallways; good for photos, as some of the art is quite weird.
5.) There will be pools and hot tubes on a topside deck, perhaps the one with the buffet.
6.) There are onboard shops; nice to look at. Take over-the-counter med.s you like with you, as the ship can be expensive. There's a casino. There are bar areas (on Royal, the Schooner Bar, the Martini Bar) and big themed lounges to hang out in if so inclined.
I didn't get into excursions, just the very basics of a cruise ship day.
Richard.
1.) Lower rear of the ship has the main diving room. You'll eat supper there.
2.) Front of the ship, down low, has the theater. You'll watch free shows in the evening there.
3.) On a large upper deck, on the back 3rd of the ship, is the big free buffet. You'll likely eat breakfast and lunch there.
4.) There will be art displays by stair cases and along stateroom hallways; good for photos, as some of the art is quite weird.
5.) There will be pools and hot tubes on a topside deck, perhaps the one with the buffet.
6.) There are onboard shops; nice to look at. Take over-the-counter med.s you like with you, as the ship can be expensive. There's a casino. There are bar areas (on Royal, the Schooner Bar, the Martini Bar) and big themed lounges to hang out in if so inclined.
I didn't get into excursions, just the very basics of a cruise ship day.
Richard.
Mike
Contributor
Sounds like a perfect fun time for you. Enjoy it, try to only eat 6 or 7 times a day from the normal 10.
When you get back, if you liked it, you'll be in withdrawl from being waited on hand and foot, after you get home you'll be like "dang, I have to make my own bed?, what, nobody put a towel animal on my bed?, I have to cook my own meals????"
fire_diver
Contributor
I don't remember if it's been mentioned already, but you CAN NOT use cash on the ship for anything but tips. Everything you buy will be charged to the credit card you pair to your "sign and sail" card. Shopping, specialty restaurants, spa, alcohol, portrait pics..... they all go on your ship card and then onto the credit card after you get from the trip. It can all add up VERY fast if you aren't watching it closely.
About the portraits.... You can get some very good ones. They lots of fun costume pics you can have taken, along with the formal night photos. It's free to have as many pics taken as you like. If you don't like them, you don't have to buy. But we get our yearly family portraits on our cruises. Just something to think about.
About the portraits.... You can get some very good ones. They lots of fun costume pics you can have taken, along with the formal night photos. It's free to have as many pics taken as you like. If you don't like them, you don't have to buy. But we get our yearly family portraits on our cruises. Just something to think about.
drrich2
Contributor
Some cruises include an option for getting a CD with digital files of your shots and a limited copy right release, which I use to get reprints made for family and to include some of their professional photos in Blurb books I make on some favored vacations. I think the last couple of cruises I did a roughly $300 package that let me get all the prints they put out from all the pics they took of us, and a CD, too.
So, when it was an evening when they had photography stations setup outside the dining rooms, we'd hit 2 or 3. That means a 2 or 3 8x10 photos at each. Getting off the ship at a port stop? Get your pic made with the costumed character there; a 5x7 print will be made. Pirate or some such comes to the dining room and makes photos at your table with him? Another 5x7. And so on. Put your mind to it and you can come home with a lot of quality professional prints and a CD with limited copyright release.
Richard.
So, when it was an evening when they had photography stations setup outside the dining rooms, we'd hit 2 or 3. That means a 2 or 3 8x10 photos at each. Getting off the ship at a port stop? Get your pic made with the costumed character there; a 5x7 print will be made. Pirate or some such comes to the dining room and makes photos at your table with him? Another 5x7. And so on. Put your mind to it and you can come home with a lot of quality professional prints and a CD with limited copyright release.
Richard.
The only cruise ships I have been on were the smaller, more intimate eco-cruise ships operated by Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic. I was the marine biologist and underwater videographer on staff for those years. Even though I have never been on a larger cruise ship with stuff like gambling and all-you-can-eat buffet meals, I greatly prefer the small ship comraderie. My only experience with the larger cruise ships is as an observer on shore when they visit my town of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island. Based on that alone, I would never take a Carnival Cruise based on the behavior of some of the passengers when they are on shore.
fire_diver
Contributor
If that is your criteria you should never drive a car because some people drive drunk, or ever scuba dive because some people are idiots and tear up the reefs and harass the wildlife. Should probably stay away from all human activities in general if you are going to condemn an entire activity based on the actions of some.
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