Cruise Ships

As Bugs Bunny would say, "Bon Voyage".

One tip if you are planning to send postcards home... print mailing labels before you leave home (including ones to yourself) so you just have to pull the labels off and stick them on the postcards from each port of call. We did that on our 14 day Disney Magic Cruise in '05 through the Panama Canal from FL to CA. It was the easiet and fastest. I even printed labels with messages saying, "Love Mom and Dad" and "Wish you were here having a wonderful time", adding handwritten messages to some.

When you are back home after your fabulous vacation you will not be sorry you will have wonderful memories.

Cruise ships always have so much to do every single day on board while at sea besides the shore excursions we had no time to read a book and meeting new friends is really fun. Enjoy the bingo, tour of the galley, massage(s) in the spa and the views. You are going to have some varied weather with that much cruising I'm sure it will be exciting. I am looking forward to reading your journal and seeing the photos upon your return. This is way too cool.

Paul,

I have had 2 great experiences with cruises. The first being a 14 day from Italy to Spain to UK, To Iceland to US. The scenery was breath taking coming out of the Med into the Atlantic, then they hugged the Atlantic coast line to the UK. Then around to Ireland, then unto Iceland around the coastline there and then to NY.

You rarely felt that you were on a ship, ok except for the beautiful view out the deck of the cabin.
We did take a few of the offered tours, some times we took off on our own.
We hit the duty free shop, and stocked up on the alcohol of choice. Prices were a little higher than average for the cola and on board liquor. Our cabin stewards were very helpful, in making sure everything was good.

You might see if they offer an all inclusive plan.

My second cruise was a 12 day Hawaiian Isle cruise. We upgraded to the all inclusive plan and it was worth it. I do remember the one bartender on board who made a wicked Mai Tai, and when he found out we had upgraded, HOLY COW did those drinks have RUM In them!!

That cruise we were rarely 5 miles from the coast most of the time 1-2 miles off the coastline. Which offered some beautiful sunrises and sets.

The cabin steward were again extremely helpful, even at 2 in the AM when we broke the bed , we called and less than 10 minutes later they were there to replace it.

The laundry service on board was not too bad price wise, those durn little tags they ironed into your shirt scratched though.

Paul, I think your trip sounds like the adventure of a life time. If you are used to being in a hotel, then the cruise is not that big of thing. It's like being at one the huge places in Vegas, with all the rooms, and places to eat and things to see and do.

I am envious Paul, that is one of the things I have always wanted to do, sail around the cape. There are 6 things on my list of must things to do.

1. Cruise from England to US - DONE
2. Cruise around S America
3. Cruise the Panama canal
4. Make a 1 trip round the world journey - DONE
5. Visit the pyramids in Egypt
6. Visit the Great Wall of China


Go FOR IT PAUL !!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Fieldthistle

Hello All,
Sundancer, I love the idea!!!!
The only thing that would scare me is
that you have to pay for everything on board.
Try and see if they don't have a priced menu of the
food and other services, such as laundry. Also, do
they have a pharmacy and what are those costs. What if
you need certain health related meds? Do they even
carry them?
But I would love the idea of such a trip.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

Brother Bear

Most major cruise ships have a decent on board doctor, with the basics. When I did my cruises I made sure I had enough of my meds on hand, but I seperated them into 1/2 in my carry one and half in the packed luggage, that way if one was lost I still had the other to go on until I could get to the other.

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90

Uh......... I would be more than happy to be the quality control inspector on that trip.

Glad you are taking this trip Paul...........
I hope you enjoy it..... Just remember, there is NO roadfood on a cruise ship, but I am sure whatever you ask for, they would be more than happy to prepare it for you.
Just think of all the exotic ports of call...
Sounds like a great time..
I hope you enjoy yourself. and please remember to take photos to share with us!

Maybe not on the cruise ship, but just think of all those unique ports of call he can sample the local "roadfood"

You broke the bed at two in the morning? You really ARE the Cajun King!

quote:

Originally posted by Poverty Pete

You broke the bed at two in the morning? You really ARE the Cajun King!

I believe Conde Nast Traveller magazine has in article in the current issue (July) on how to estimate the "real" price of a cruise.

sundancer, i should have suggestedthat you take a look at elderhostel.com. they have trips of every type going everywhere. that includes cruises. i have been to a shaker museum with them, spent a week in crisfield, md, learning all about the ecology of the chesapeake bay, and in september i leave for a 3 week elderhostel trip around china by train and boat.

their prices arereasonable, and so far the staff has been highly competent.

This thread started out about a Carnival cruise. Recently, I learned that Bob Dickinson, the line's president/CEO is going to retire so that he can concentrate Miami's homeless problem. He says in Travel Trade,"Our goal is that in 10 years you will walk through Miami without seeing homeless people" He needs $88 mil and has already raised $40 mil in pledges.
Bob, who I have had the honor to meet several times, worked with the late Ted Arison to build the company from a dream, to a one ship line, to one of the world's great corporations.

Hello all,

I have organized 6 group cruises since 1999 .
Bermuda 5 times , 7 nighter 4 times on Celebrity , and one 5nighter on Royal Carribean.
Also a 10 nighter to the Caribean .
We avaeraged about 75 on each trip.
Here are my suggestions .
If this is your first cruise I would suggest a short 5 , 6 , or 7 nighter to test the waters as it were . You do not want to go on a 49 nighter and find out one week in that this is not the life for you . And it does happen.
Also you could take that money and check out a 14 day cruise on a higher quality line like Holland America and Celebrity or Crystal and still have spending money left over for all excursions and tips for staff.
Carnival is a good budget minded line but I would not want to spend 49 days on one .
If you are gonna splurge , go for a balcony on Celebrity or Holland America and be pampered . Just my thoughts .

Benzee

I love to Cruise. To give you an idea, on our last cruise, a 4 night - 5 day Princess, the cost was $1300 PP. Our "Extras" bill was about $500.00. Most ships have a Duty Free Shop onBoard where you can buy Liquor farely cheap.