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Going on a Cruise (Read 4006 times)
Neferti
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Going on a Cruise
Nov 29th, 2015 at 4:49pm
 
Have any of you been on a Cruise?

Here is some good advice.

Cruise mistakes you’re probably making


Quote:
THE best thing about cruising is that it makes everything easy: it’s easy to see lots of exotic places in one holiday; it’s easy to make friends; it’s easy to relax.

Unfortunately, it’s also easy to waste a boatload of money.

According to Cruise Lines International Association, the average cruiser spends $3058 per person on a cruise: $2272 on the fare plus another $786 for on-board costs and shore excursions (that doesn’t include the price of the airfare for those who fly to the port). The fare is supposed to be all-inclusive as the meals and lodging are taken care of.

But with all the extras the cruise lines throw at you once you’re on board — from drink packages and speciality restaurants to tourist excursions and those infernal casinos — an unsuspecting cruiser can rack up a shocking amount of extra costs.

If you’re not careful, you can very easily spend more on on-board extras and unnecessary excursions than you did for the original “all inclusive” cruise fare. The result: when you return to land and get the final bill, you find you’ve effectively doubled the cost of your holiday. Now that’s a bitter homecoming.

So it helps to be prepared.


More here:

link
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Sprintcyclist
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #1 - Nov 29th, 2015 at 5:04pm
 

I have been told 'Royal Caribbean' are good.

they are US owned, americans are good with customers.
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Neferti
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #2 - Nov 29th, 2015 at 5:16pm
 
The great thing about a Cruise is that it is (mostly) all covered and it is definitely not all Grey Nomads and there is only the occasional child.  Cheesy

A good way to spend your money and have a relaxing holiday. You don't have to do all the offshore tours if you don't feel like it.

Great Fun! Cool
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mitasol
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #3 - Dec 1st, 2015 at 8:21am
 
I have cruised many times and only got suckered into the shore excursions once. Head to "three w's dot cruisecritic dot com" and select the Boards option - thats what they call a forum.
On some cruises we hired a car at the ports we visited, other times we pre-arranged non-ship excursions and still other times we just made our own way.

It is a very enjoyable way to holiday, we don't need the fancy restaurants, just the main dining room suits us and the food race for breakfast and lunch. The drinks packages can be quite cheap if you make sure you get your money's worth Smiley
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Neferti
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #4 - Dec 1st, 2015 at 5:43pm
 
Yes. I agree., Mitasol

I have never been to Bali and have no intention of going there.  Grin
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miketrees
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #5 - Dec 1st, 2015 at 6:51pm
 
Good idea not going to Bali,,, or just about any other Asian destination.

I think a cruise is good for about the first three days,,, then they get boring
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greggerypeccary
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #6 - Dec 1st, 2015 at 8:20pm
 
miketrees wrote on Dec 1st, 2015 at 6:51pm:
Good idea not going to Bali ...


I've never seen the attraction.




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miketrees
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #7 - Dec 1st, 2015 at 8:35pm
 
I thought Bali would be terrible and I was not disappointed.
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greggerypeccary
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #8 - Dec 1st, 2015 at 8:38pm
 
miketrees wrote on Dec 1st, 2015 at 8:35pm:
I thought Bali would be terrible and I was not disappointed.


I've turned down free tickets on more than one occasion.

You literally could not pay me to go there ... ever!

I should be there right now, but I managed to get out of it by having a trip to KL booked for the same time.

(not that KL is one of my favourite places)
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Neferti
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #9 - Dec 2nd, 2015 at 4:23pm
 
I had a boss who went to KL regularly, also Jo'berg ... the stories he told put me off visiting those places.  I have a friend in Singapore and he and his friends travel to KL (and now complain about the entry tax or something).

I don't think I will be visiting Europe again for a very long time, if ever.  Might go to Scotland.  Wink
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Agnes
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #10 - Dec 10th, 2015 at 10:07am
 
greggerypeccary wrote on Dec 1st, 2015 at 8:38pm:
miketrees wrote on Dec 1st, 2015 at 8:35pm:
I thought Bali would be terrible and I was not disappointed.


I've turned down free tickets on more than one occasion.

You literally could not pay me to go there ... ever!

I should be there right now, but I managed to get out of it by having a trip to KL booked for the same time.

(not that KL is one of my favourite places)

  Me either- sounds like hell hole.
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x=^..^= x <o((((>< ~~~ x=^..^=x~~~x=^..^=x<o((((><~~~x=^..^=x


farewell to days of wild abandon and freedom in the adriatic
 
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Mortdooley
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #11 - Dec 15th, 2015 at 1:55pm
 
Last June we took an Alaskan Cruise out of Seattle and the only thing I would do differently was bring instant Starbucks Coffee pouches! We lived over a week with no Internet or TV and didn't miss it. There was always something to do day or night. We managed a call home at least every other day, signals were hit or miss.
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The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. ~Ecc. 10:2
 
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Sophia
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #12 - Apr 17th, 2016 at 12:00am
 
Going on a bus tour through Canada then an Alaskan cruise after. Then back to USA to see Disneyland, and then, meet up with long lost relies
To tell you the truth, I feel nervous and some apprehension going for some reason. Has anyone else felt that way before a big trip? I think as I get older, I am becoming too much of a home body. Its all the planning of transport and accommodation once we are on our own in LA that takes the shine off it
But I am amazed at how there is transport and motels open
24/7. I wanted to sort out cash cards and phone, what have some of the savvy travellers here have to advice? I'm all ears!
 
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Sophia
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #13 - Jun 14th, 2016 at 10:17pm
 
So we did it, the bus tour in Canada going through the Rocky Mountains, and to the Columbian Icefield.
The bus tour, something I have never done before, for 6 nights, 7 days, was actually tiring, although we saw much of Canada, but would have loved to have had longer stops and really take in the places visited, for instance, Banff.
It made the hubby and I think, we would love to go see some of these places again, but stay a couple of days at least at those destinations.

We then got to Seattle, and boarded the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship, and it was an awesome week! Best cruise we have been on so far.
Because of the Aussie crew on the bus tour, we all bonded, and then it was like family, meeting up for a drink, or coffee and cake, or lunch or dinner.

The ship sailed to the inside passage of Alaska, stopping at Junea, Ketchikan, Skagway, and then Victoria, British Columbia.

I did purchase some shore excursions whilst at home before we left, and although they were good (the sea plane flying over the Misty Fjords and landing on the water), the Mushers camp and dog slegs, the trip to the Menendall Glacier, and the Buchart Gardens, the only thing, is, it doesn't leave much time to do any shopping, or basically exploring the township and townspeople.

Only don't know, which excursion in which area to do, and not to do. I wish I had more time to explore Ketchikan, (Alaska's salmon capital), and actually taste their salmon, but best to get the shuttle back to the ship to board, as it leaves early.

Whilst we left Junea (Capital City of Alaska), we were sitting in the dining area, having an afternoon cuppa and snack, looking out the window, as the ship started sailing away from the dock, we see a taxi roar to the gangway, and 2 people missed the boat!

What happened (I find out)....they have all their stuff packed from their room, into their suitcases, the safe is opened, so their passports and valuables are also packed, and they get to find their way back to Seattle, where the cruise ends, to collect their stuff. Meaning at their expense, and accomodation, and no refund from the cruiseline.

These people missed a lot of port stops along the way, and I wonder, if they chose to meet the ship at Seattle and not board the ship anymore, or if they had a choice to find a way to the next port of call, Skagway from Junea via light plane?

Anyway, after all that, we had a few days free to meet the long lost rellies in California (and so we also did Disneyland)...which totally blew our minds, alas, we only gave it one day, and wish we did at least 2 days to see more.
We also did the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

So much to see, in such a short time, it was more of a sampler, and I want to go back and stay longer to see more, for instance, Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica etc.

Having free time to plan our own stuff isn't as scary as I thought it would be, in fact, they have shuttles and motels open and running 24 hours a day, which makes it easier time wise.

LA airport I don't like at all! Rushing between planes because of their tight schedules, and the slow lines going through customs (and with blue gloves they frisk everyone!)

The long flight times we dread. From Melbourne to Sydney domestic, then a long bus trip to Sydney International. Then a 14 hour flight to LAX. Lucky for the TV on the back of the seats, and ear plugs, and heaps of movies.
Coffee in USA and Canada is bloody awful!!
BYO COFFEE!!

I had a backpack, cross(camera)bag, and a bumbag, running through that busy LA airport, I said to the hubby "I look like a Ninja Turtle!!" Grin Grin
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« Last Edit: Jun 14th, 2016 at 10:24pm by Sophia »  
 
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President Elect, The Mechanic
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Re: Going on a Cruise
Reply #14 - Jun 19th, 2016 at 8:39pm
 
thanks for that lols..

a good read.. and some good tips..

I plan to get noise cancelling earphones on our next long plane trip...

also "smart" suitcases that I see on indigogo.. that will charge phones etc and can track the case from your phone etc..

your trip seem to sound a bit rushed.... but you don't know theses things until you first go...

the mrs wants to see Bears fishing so one day we'll head that way ourselves... Glass top Trains etc...

one day...
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