OT: Vacation cruises, Looking for been there done thats... Options

[Sparky]

First off if this needs to be in the Sandbox let me know...

OK so the wife and I celebrated our tenth ann. back in September. Our original plans where a trip someplace warm and sunny during this upcoming spring break. I contacted a travel agent (first mistake) and specified no children, adult only (second mistake). Now when the T/A sent over the first sets of email I checked everything out and was fine with untilI caught a section pretaining to escorts and how we could have our pic every 24 hours. Apparently the T/A thought I meant a "Lifestyles" vacation for my wife and I. Though I pondered it for a minute (long enough to hear the whistling sound of my wifes hand before it left a dent in the side of my head) perhaps we aren't ready to explore that aspect of our relationship.

Soo.... I've been instructed by the wife to find us a nice cruise to go on. Without Porn stars, escorts, or nudity.

Thoughts, advice, opinions?

Thanks!
Mike D.

[Rouser]

Where do you want to depart/return from/to? (Assuming you're considering air travel)

[markb]

Marcie & I took a 7 day Caribbean cruise last year, on Royal Caribbean lines & had a wonderful time. I'm not a big water person, but it was great. Flew into San Juan, Puerto Rico, boarded the ship, and hit 5 islands in 7 days.

My advice:
Always get a room with a balcony, it's well worth the extra money.
Stay out of the casino, it'll only take your money.
Go to every show you can, they're amazing (how these people can dance across a stage when the ship is rolling is beyond me).
Make friends with your room steward, and ask them where they suggest to go when in port. They can tell you some very cool (maybe not totally Cruise line sanctioned) places to go.
There's bound to be more, but that'll do for now.

[messix]

i'm rollin (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

the alaska cruise is the most scenic. starts in seattle/bellingham or b.c\. it goes up the inland passage. others here have probbley done it. not a young party cruise if that makes a diff.

[markb]

QUOTE (messix @ Dec 27 2005, 06:27 PM)

i'm rollin (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) the alaska cruise is the most scenic. starts in seattle/bellingham or b.c\. it goes up the inland passage. others here have probbley done it. not a young party cruise if that makes a diff.

I'd like to do one of those, but Marcie likes to go to warm places.

I'd really like to go on the Hawaii cruise, when we do another one. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

[bd1308]

been to bahamas, and St.John St.Croix and Cosumel....

b

[messix]

"I'd really like to go on the Hawaii cruise, when we do another one. "

old girlfriend worked on that. the stories of the ship turn around "parties".

[Rouser]

QUOTE (markb @ Dec 27 2005, 10:23 PM)

Marcie & I took a 7 day Caribbean cruise last year, on Royal Caribbean lines & had a wonderful time.

I HIGHLY recommend Royal Caribbean.

The wife & I will be taking our 3rd cruise with them for our 30th Anniversary in May 2006, and it'll be the 7-day cruise leaving out of Port of Miami. Never had ANY issues with them, and their Navigator-class ships are HUGE!

[markb]

QUOTE (Rouser @ Dec 27 2005, 06:37 PM)

QUOTE (markb @ Dec 27 2005, 10:23 PM) Marcie & I took a 7 day Caribbean cruise last year, on Royal Caribbean lines & had a wonderful time. I HIGHLY recommend Royal Caribbean. The wife & I will be taking our 3rd cruise with them for our 30th Anniversary in May 2006, and it'll be the 7-day cruise leaving out of Port of Miami. Never had ANY issues with them, and their Navigator-class ships are HUGE!

I had my birthday when on the cruise, and Marcie had asked them to put up decorations, cake, etc, before we got back from shore. They messed up & didn't have it done, so they comped the whole thing! Very cool of them.

[smooth_eddy]

QUOTE

the alaska cruise is the most scenic. starts in seattle/bellingham or b.c\. it goes up the inland passage. others here have probbley done it. not a young party cruise if that makes a diff.

Brrr. Don't do Alaska this time of year. There is only about 4 hours of daylight this time of year. Actually, they don't even cruise to Alsaska this time of year.

I have been to both Hawaii and the Caribbean. I prefer the Caribbean. We are out of tropical storm season so it is safe now. Plus, it's a lot easier from the East Coast than Hawaii. Eddy

[Allan]

QUOTE (Rouser @ Dec 27 2005, 06:37 PM)

I HIGHLY recommend Royal Caribbean.

Just stay out of the Mediteranian.

They seem to lose passengers there. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/unsure.gif)

[Sparky]

Med?! Nope I did enough of the Med while on the Saratoga... We're leaning towards the Caribbean and will probably depart out of Florida since we can fly down from Boston easy enough. I'd love to do a party cruise. More importantly I'd just like to spend some quality time alone with my wife. No kids no one elses kids no worries...


My best,
Mike D.

[Allan]

QUOTE (Sparky @ Dec 27 2005, 07:23 PM)

Nope I did enough of the Med while on the Saratoga...

That wasn't by any chance in '91 was it?

[motorhead]

My wife has been a travel agent for 15 (?) years now, so I've been all over the world.
#1- Your agent should be very clear on what you want. Adults only should not mean swingers.

#2- Your agent should be able to put you on a cruise line that suits your age. Some lines draw an older crowd, some a younger crowd. Experience is a big factor here.

#3- Do you want glitz, shows, and 5 star food, or a small ship/educational/ecotourism type trip.

We tend toward the small ship sort of thing, and I would say my personal favorites have been central america to see the myan ruins. Belize, Honduras, Cancun, etc.
Also the Sea of Cortez is pretty amazing during the whale season.

IMO the Hawaii cruise is pricey, only Norweigien does it, and there is too much to see to see it on a cruise. A good agent can get you a land package, 2 islands, 3 islands, 7 days, 10 days.........you name it. My wife tends toward Pleasant Holidays, but there are several good wholesalers out there that specialize in tour packages. Maybe you need a better agent, or be a bit more specific with the one you have.

The western carribean itinerary is nice. If memory serves, it hits Jamaica, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and.....I forget.

Almost forgot. I don't know if it's still nice, but we spent one anniversary at Sandals in Jamaica. Very nice place when we were there. Souples only. All inclusive pricing is pretty painless too.

That's my $.02
BTW If you have triple A (you must, you own a 914) use thier agents. I think they tend to be pretty good. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beerchug.gif)

[Sparky]

Nope '85 and '86. I was on "permanent" leave after blowing out both of my knee's in '91 after spending the last quarter of '89 and a portion of '90 attached to the hospital in Portsmouth. Back then it tool awhile to rehab both knee's at the same time.

[Sparky]

QUOTE (motorhead @ Dec 27 2005, 10:35 PM)

My wife has been a travel agent for 15 (?) years now, so I've been all over the world. #1- Your agent should be very clear on what you want. Adults only should not mean swingers. #2- Your agent should be able to put you on a cruise line that suits your age. Some lines draw an older crowd, some a younger crowd. Experience is a big factor here. #3- Do you want glitz, shows, and 5 star food, or a small ship/educational/ecotourism type trip. We tend toward the small ship sort of thing, and I would say my personal favorites have been central america to see the myan ruins. Belize, Honduras, Cancun, etc. Also the Sea of Cortez is pretty amazing during the whale season. IMO the Hawaii cruise is pricey, only Norweigien does it, and there is too much to see to see it on a cruise. A good agent can get you a land package, 2 islands, 3 islands, 7 days, 10 days.........you name it. My wife tends toward Pleasant Holidays, but there are several good wholesalers out there that specialize in tour packages. Maybe you need a better agent, or be a bit more specific with the one you have. The western carribean itinerary is nice. If memory serves, it hits Jamaica, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and.....I forget. Almost forgot. I don't know if it's still nice, but we spent one anniversary at Sandals in Jamaica. Very nice place when we were there. Souples only. All inclusive pricing is pretty painless too. That's my $.02 BTW If you have triple A (you must, you own a 914) use thier agents. I think they tend to be pretty good. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beerchug.gif)

The agent was an agent a friend has used in the past. Now I undersand why his trips are always on the hush hush. I'm going to call AAA in the morning and see that they have to offer. I like the all inclusive idea also lets see what they've got.

My best,
Mike

[Carlitos Way]

I recently went on a cruise to Alaska (July 2005). It was absolutely, by far, the BEST vacation I have ever had. One week of being catered to, waited on hand and foot. We saw some nice shows, had a chance to gamble, take a few excursions, take dance/language classes, lay out by the pool... it as an absolutely wonderful time.

We did take a "freestyle" cruise through Norwegian. I would recommend it as it is less structured and relaxed. The idea of "seating times" didn't appeal to me. Our ship was the Spirt... it should be going from L.A. to the MExican riviera right now.

We had all ages... but we never saw the "kids" except around dinner time, if we chose to go to one of the dining rooms. Or if we got lost and somehow ended up in the "children's domain" area. The ship was big enough to get lost.

I will say it again. This was BY FAR the best vacation I have ever had.

check them out!

[Rouser]

QUOTE (Carlitos Way @ Dec 27 2005, 11:51 PM)

We had all ages... but we never saw the "kids" except around dinner time, if we chose to go to one of the dining rooms.

Yep, best thing to do to avoid EEK's (Everybody Else's Kids) is to book your reservation with "2nd Seating" dining, and/or make reservations in any of the various kid-uninterested restaurants peppered about the ship.

[brp914]

Maybe I'm the lone dissenter here, but I took a royal carribean cruise and didn't like it:

1. you are stuck on a boat and there is not much to do but lay around, drink, and gamble. Well, ok, it is a vacation, but you dont need a boat for these things.

2. the rooms are tiny.

3. you constantly feel the vibration of the ship engine which is kind of annoying during the day and makes it difficult to sleep.

4. the view of being out in the ocean is interesting for about 5 minutes.

If you've never been on a cruise before, maybe try a short one, 3 days or so, to see if you like it

[Hawktel]

I went on a cruise on 2000. I used Royal Carribean, and went on a 7 day cruise down the Mexican Riviara (Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puorta Viarta).

I was on the Rhaspody of the Sea's.

It was the best vacation I've had.

My recommendations, are take the later dinner. We dined at the 8:00 meal. Lots less kids than the 5:00 meal.

My day was get up at 10:00 shower, go hit the deck, where I read my book for a couple hours, About 1:00- 2:00 get some lunch, Go back to the cabin, and by this time the Cabin guy had been there and swapped out the towels and sheet, Get in my trunks, hit the hot tub, and pool, about 5ish, hit the room, shower, hit the lounge, ussualy watched some sports, swapped lies with the crowd I ran with, drank some tequila, 8:00 dinner was semi formal so I'd be dressed up, have some excellent dining, 10, I'd hit the late show of what ever was entertainment the ship had, (ussualy a second rate commedian although I did see some suprising acts) about 11:, hit the room, srpuce up, and go hit the shipps night club, and dance till I was to drunk, or some female had enough beer goggles on, and called it a night.

On the suprising act, Charro. She is like this older woman in her 50's maybe, who was some kind of sex icon of the 60's? Came out and put on a lame ass show for 30 minutes. Then she went back, changed into a conservative outfit, and played some amazing spanish guitar for 1/2 hour. Amazing.

I'm taking my GF on a Cruise later in 06. I can't wait.