Am I missing something about taking a cruise?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
AGREED! I really only go on newer ships. There's a huge difference. I've probably been on 15 cruises. |
Anonymous
+1 The ship that you go on makes a HUGE difference. I've been on 30+ cruises (most of them as part of a family trip- not by preference on my part) and I'm getting to the point where I only want to be on the newer/bigger ships. While any ship will have restaurants/pools/lounges, those tend to get overly crowded on the smaller ship because there is not much else to do. Every night you get a schedule of activities for the next day and, on the smaller ships, even on sea days, the schedule is pretty empty. When they start listing the times that the pool/restaurants *open* on the schedule, you know they are just trying to fill space! But on the bigger ships, they have *much* more going on....so much that you will have multiple things that you want to do throughout the day. |
Anonymous
|
OP here. Since we would have to go out of Norfolk or Baltimore, sounds like I'll just have to grin & bear it. My husband probably won't go (no vacation time left), my child is 13, and our usual vacations are jam-packed site-seeing & doing trips. I'm also concerned about being sea sick.
Guess I can do some damage to all-you-can-eat desserts, if I'm not tossing my cookies. |
Anonymous
Why not go out of NYC harbor? That's nearly as close as Norfolk but the better ships sail from there. |
Anonymous
My parents a couple of hours south of DC. NY wouldn't be a closer option, thanks though. |
Anonymous
With a 13 year old, I'd go to Bermuda. I wouldn't bring a younger child. Its lovely. You can probably rent a moped with a kid that age. I thought I'd get sea sick and never have. Baltimore is nice as its easy, drive up, get on. Bermuda is great as you have a few days there and plenty to do. I didn't mind the small ships in some ways as you could dine when you wanted to and it was relaxing without all the people but we were content to sit in the front of the ship relaxing and watching the waves. Bring tons of medicine and the sea bands if you are worried. |
Anonymous
No one gets sick on the new ships. They're way different than how they were 30 years ago. |
Anonymous
+1 Looks at cruises out of NYC or Cape Liberty NJ - there are bigger and newer ships at those locations and you can still drive and park pretty easily. |
Anonymous
| Fly to Florida to get on cruise.. much better destinations from there |
Anonymous
We've done Bermuda and just went on a Disney ship. It was very up/down for about 1/2 the trip. A few people did get sick and I was uncomfortable till I got used to it. The smaller ship felt more stable. |
Anonymous
|
24 hour buffets
E. coli Norovirus shuffle board https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm what's not to love? |
Anonymous
| I think it sounds fun, but I know on DCUM it's as reviled as the dreaded scented candles. Which, honestly, increases the appeal for me. |
Anonymous
| Fly to Miami and cruise from there. If you are traveling with kids, do a Disney cruise. If cruising another line, spring for the newer nicer ship. Plan to do excursions to nice beaches or whatever you like to do. |
Anonymous
|
You are more likely to get sea sick if you cruise out of Baltimore (as opposed to Miami) since you will spend days sailing rough seas and you will be on a smaller, older ship. Fact.
Are your parents afraid to fly? Is that the issue? It can't be cost since you can fly to Miami for $200 and find super cheap cruise options. Check less mainstream lines like MSC. |