Tell me about cruising

[Johnie]

ok so I am not actually thinking of a Disney cruise but I AM thinking of cruising. Please tell me all the good and bad things about it. I currently have a courtesy hold on a Norwegian cruise leaving Charleston, SC on April 4th and returning April 11th. This week is a necessity since it is Alysia's spring break.

I've got a good price and the deposit is reduced in half all this week!

[Beccaberry]

hehehehe Johnie's been bitten by the buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuug......


I think she's been reading Terry's trip reports

[Johnie]

:: I have!

[Keith]

I've been looking too. Not at Disney cruises right now, but one leaving from the UK, just to get into it so to speak.

In a way, I almost think I want what I've seen in old films formal dining, elegance and something really special what I dont think I'd like is lots of time to do nothing :/

[Beccaberry]

So...let's see...I've cruised two lines, neither being Disney (unfortunately)...Norwegian and Carnival. I was skeptical of course, because I don't *do* water...but I was wonderfully surprised. We had an AMAZING time, especially on the Norwegian which offers what they term "Freestyle Cruising" (meaning you don't eat at a given time, and you aren't forced to sit with people you don't know )

I was concerned that I would get bored...well, let me tell you, if you get bored on a cruise, it's because you *want* to be bored.

Seasickness? Only the first day. Dramamine took care of that. I was fine the rest of the trip.

Food? Oh heavens...I could go on. And on. And on.

Entertainment? Cheesy for the most part...but in an entertaining way

Excursions? They had loads but we didn't do many, instead choosing to explore our ports of call on our own.

It's brilliant....and now I have to go find a cruise for Jon and I to take...

[Johnie]

Apparently there are activities all day and night just about.

[Beccaberry]

...what I dont think I'd like is lots of time to do nothing :/

There's always *something* to do...always...really.

One of my fondest memories are of Jon and I up on the "Library" deck where there was a lovely coffee bar....every afternoon we'd take up residence in front of the floor to ceiling windows watching water roll by and playing scrabble...while the coffee and Bailey's flowed....we made loads of friends that way....

[Johnie]

So...let's see...I've cruised two lines, neither being Disney (unfortunately)...Norwegian and Carnival. I was skeptical of course, because I don't *do* water...but I was wonderfully surprised. We had an AMAZING time, especially on the Norwegian which offers what they term "Freestyle Cruising" (meaning you don't eat at a given time, and you aren't forced to sit with people you don't know )

I was concerned that I would get bored...well, let me tell you, if you get bored on a cruise, it's because you *want* to be bored.

Seasickness? Only the first day. Dramamine took care of that. I was fine the rest of the trip.

Food? Oh heavens...I could go on. And on. And on.

Entertainment? Cheesy for the most part...but in an entertaining way

Excursions? They had loads but we didn't do many, instead choosing to explore our ports of call on our own.

It's brilliant....and now I have to go find a cruise for Jon and I to take...

shipboard credits and cheaper deposits.....this week only.....http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cm...TravelZooPromo

[Slowhand]

To be honest Johnie I really can`t think of any negative things about taking a cruise.
OK I have a few niggles, like what a panic it is on your last night packing and putting your bags outside your cabin by a certain time...although I can fully understand the reasons behind it [turning the ship around quickly the following day etc.]
I don`t mind tipping the folks who take care of you on the cruise like your server and the assistant server, as well as the stateroom host. However I can`t for the life of me understand what service the head waiter offers...fortunately the recommended value of tips for this crew member is not that much.

There is the potential sea sickness issue, but then again, you risk turbulence on a plane and that doesn`t deter me from flying.

There are a darn sight more positive things to say about cruising than negative ones, that`s for sure.

[Grammiepo]

Down side of cruising, you are going to gain more than a few pounds. The food, oh the food, I love the one dress up night, the captain's dinner with pictures, but you don't have to go to that if you don't want. We loved the side trips to places we had never been, so we do those too, again you don't have to. There is something going on all the time, floor shows, gambleing, shopping most ships have their own shopping mall now. Pool side with drinks, OH go, you will not be sorry.