Cruises: Beats any package holiday...

nelly_2

We did an 11 day christmas cruise this last christmas sailed out of Newyork down to the carabean It was superb, Norweigian Spirit was the ship.

It left on the 18th

The only thing I didnt like was the inflated drinks prices.

We did an excursion everyday, a couple of the better restarants had a service charge because they were posh, all in all we spent $2500 dollars on the boat.

But money is for spending and enjoying we say

john.xs

kids clubs on p+ o oriana and carnival liberty were both top notch.had to bribe the kids to spend some time with us at one point!

IvanOpinion

Did you see the pictures of Freedom of the Seas ... and I am led to believe that RCI have a 200K tonner coming out

Ivan

saveapenny

Royal Caribbean International
Liberty of the Seas (3,600 - May 2007) Kvaerner Masa (Aker Yards)
Third 'Ultra-Voyager' class ship (3,600 - Early 2008) Kvaerner Masa (Aker Yards)
Project Genesis (5,400 - Autumn 2009) Aker Yards (The contract includes an option for a similar vessel)

The project Genesis is the largest one on order with 5,400 (possibly more upto 6,500) capacity it will be HUGE!!! AT 220,000 TONS

IvanOpinion

I was just reading an article that they are about to expand the Panama canal to allow these ships to have access (supposedly to be finished by 2012 ... I think). Another great reason for going back through it

Ivan

mdean

Just read through this thread for the first time - and I can't believe that no one has said - why would you want to take your holiday in a tin boat - with noone to meet but Brits
The whole thing seems bizzare it would be claustraphobic and stiffling- and I do not think they help the places they visit at all.

I would like to see the sustainability appraisal on that awfall freedom of something or other ship - yuch

IMHO boats are for getting somewhere

IvanOpinion

mdean wrote:

Just read through this thread for the first time - and I can't believe that no one has said - why would you want to take your holiday in a tin boat - with noone to meet but Brits
The whole thing seems bizzare it would be claustraphobic and stiffling- and I do not think they help the places they visit at all.

I would like to see the sustainability appraisal on that awfall freedom of something or other ship - yuch

IMHO boats are for getting somewhere

I will field this one. The one thing you can never call a cruise ship is 'claustrophobic' .. they are massive ... a largish one is about 1000 feet long, 150feet wide and up to 17 decks. The one thing I quickly noticed was that I knew there were some 2000 people plus 1000 crew on board but had no idea where they all were. And the insides are fantastic, some are overly glitzy like Las Vegas, there are show lounges, bars, discos etc. massive atriums with glass lifts, artwork ... and totally smooth ... you very rarely even remember that you are on a ship.

As far as meeting brits is concerned I guess that all depends on how you go about it. I now have people I regularly email in UK, Canada, America, Grenada, Isla Margarita, Curacao, Mexico, Australia, Tortola, Antigua (all met on a cruise). P&O is very British (but that is its market) whereas many of the others Princess, Celebrity, RCI, Carnival etc. are more American and you will meet people from all over the world on board (probably more so than some of the Spanish resorts designed to appeal to British holiday makers).

On many of the islands we visit we are amazed at how the local children and adults alike come out to wave at the ship and the buses as we pass by. Many times on the tours the guides tell us just how important the tourist industry is to them and their economies. I have personally had a bus driver thank me because it was only through such tourism that he was able to send his children to school. I have also seen and heard people leaning out their windows shouting 'thank you for visiting our island'.

Everybody has their own idea of what is and is not beautiful .. and Freedom of the Seas is absolutely gorgeous. I personally think she is too big, but then that is a matter of preference. We have so many memories of sunsets over various islands and walking the decks late at night or just sitting in a jacuzzi with a cocktail looking up into starry skies.

Ivan

john.xs

i must admit that sustainability would be a concern for me but apparently the cruise market is on the up and up.
if it werent for the cruise ships i guess the carib islands etc would be more idyllic for the chosen few . however tourist money must make a positive impact on what would generally be third world economies. i suppose if you took that standpoint none of us should travel anywhere!
as for tin can ship mentality have you actually been on a cruise or do you tend to rainbathe in the back yard for most of your holidaytime?all holidays are personal but i don't think people should knock it until theyve experienced it.i like cruising but i wouldn't go on one every year.a) due to cost and b) because i struggle to see people wasting good food etc because they can.c) because i 'm not totally comfortable upon being waited upon but i suppose that's just me and i have payed for the privelege somewhere along the line.

rockbabe

ha s anyone cruised on the cunard ships in particular the qe2 with children? i would be grateful for any comments.

missk_ensington

rockbabe wrote:

ha s anyone cruised on the cunard ships in particular the qe2 with children? i would be grateful for any comments.

No but the brochure will have info on children, or the internet. Google 'Cruise forums QE2' and see what comes up!