Cruising Is Not For Me :-(
Entry Filed under: Just Because
I wanted to like it, I really did! Based on how many of you absolutely loved it, I envisioned myself going on cruise after cruise. However, until we go on an Alaskan cruise, I will not be on another cruise ship. I might consider it again if we were on a bigger ship without the kids. Let me tell you how it started. The night before we left, Logan comes in while I’m packing (I’m a late packer!) and tells me his thumb hurts. It looked like it had a mark on his nail from a green marker. However, he was really whining about how much it hurt. He took me to the playroom to show me what he had done to hurt himself. Well…he had gone to a birthday party on Saturday and got a really cheap race car in the goody bag. He decided that he wanted to take out the windshield and was picking at the metal with his thumb. You guessed it – green metal race car. A piece of the metal broke off and jammed underneath his thumbnail. It was so far under there I couldn’t even tell at first glance that was what it was. So, at 9:00 the night before we left, I was in the after hours pediatric place with him getting his thumb x-rayed (because of course the car was made in China and we’re thinking he probably now has a chip of lead paint under his thumb). They told me to just leave it and it would grow out on it’s own (it had grown out enough by yesterday that I was able to get it out). We were off with a bang! Now before I tell you about the cruise, understand that we’ve always said we weren’t cruising people. It seems to be a type of vacation that people either love or hate and we didn’t think we would love it. But when this one popped up as a special deal on TravelZoo, we thought it would be the perfect “test cruise” to see how we felt about it. It was cheap and short so it was a good trial run. We got on the ship Monday and we were all excited. We checked into our postage stamp sized cabin, set down our stuff, had our “Muster Drill” and then explored the ship deck by deck. We found a little cafe and got some pasta as a snack for the kids. We didn’t sit outside because it was absolutely freezing! We were all wearing long sleeves and jackets. We went to a “First-Time Cruisers” gathering which was basically someone telling us where everything on the ship was and to explore for ourselves. Then we went to the orientation for the kids “Adventure Ocean” program, signed them in and went to dinner by ourselves (thank goodness for the earlier pasta snack – turned into dinner!). We had the second seating and the food the first night was really good. Then it was pick up the kids and time for bed. The kids thought the berth beds coming out of the ceiling were really cool. I didn’t like it because I could barely get out of bed without climbing around the ladder. We filled out our room service breakfast order, hung it on the door and went to sleep.
Let me tell you, when you put four chronically sleep deprived people in an interior cabin with no sunlight, there is not a chance in the world of getting up before 11:00
We were relying on room service to wake us up, but they never came (we heard later that the college kids on board had removed all the room service orders hanging on doors as a prank). So, we woke up around 11:00 and everyone was starving. We then had the pleasure of trying to get ready in the smallest bathroom I have ever been in (thanks for the clothespin on the shower curtain advice – that worked wonders)! The room was so small that we couldn’t walk past each other without turning sideways. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to get us all showered, dressed and ready and the kids were on top of each other and ready to kill each other by the time we left for lunch. We walked around a bit after lunch and played a game of putt-putt golf. The kids really wanted to go swimming (even though it was only about 70 degrees), so Tony watched them in the pool while I took a yoga class. We didn’t have much else to do until dinner time, so the kids played a few games of shuffleboard. The kids had a special dinner night at the kids club and Tony and I went to Portofino – one of the specialty restaurants – for dinner.
We were in Key West the next morning. We had planned on getting up early, but there was that no sun thing again (and it just seems wrong to set the alarm clock on vacation), so by the time we got off the boat, we only had time to have lunch and walk around for awhile before we had to get back on the boat. I had forgotten what “colorful characters” are walking around Key West and thankfully I didn’t have to explain anything to the kids I wasnt’ ready to explain yet! This night was “Pirate Night” for the kids and they had a lot of fun “taking over the ship”. They came through the dining room and did a little song and dance which was really cute! Here are my pirates, Lauren and Logan:
At dinner, our table mates were telling us that you could order room service through the TV and get a late-night snack. We thought that would be fun for the kids, especially since they had eaten so early before the Pirate Night. We picked them up from the Ocean Adventure Kids Club and headed back to the room. We ordered hot chocolate and chips and dip and got ready for bed. After 1 1/2 hours of waiting, Tony was just getting ready to call room service to tell them never mind (I had already fallen asleep) when they called to say they had run out of hot chocolate. He told them not to bother since it was so late, but they said she was already on her way. When she got there, the dip was ice cold and the chips consisted of a handful of what looked like all the broken pieces from the bottom of the bag. The kids had fallen asleep by that time too, so we just left it sitting there.
We had also placed a room service order for breakfast the next morning. Since we had slept so late and missed most of our time on Key West, we had room service scheduled for 9:30. In the morning, Lauren calls down “Mommy, I can’t fall asleep. What time is it?” Tony looked at the clock and it was 10:57. We tell her it’s almost 11:00 and she says “But I can’t fall asleep”. Then we told her it was 10:57 in the morning! So much for our room service breakfast wake-up call at 9:30. They didn’t show up until 11:30. Everything that was supposed to be hot was cold and vice-versa. So, we headed off the ship to Coco Cay for lunch.
The kids had a lot of fun playing in the water and collecting shells. Tony enjoyed the breeze, but I was freezing! It’s too cold to have a bathing suit on when it’s only 70 degrees! We went back to the boat so the kids could go in the swimming pool and let Tony have an hour to himself enjoying the ocean breezes.
The kids wanted to have dinner with us in the main dining room for the last night, so they got to eat with the grown-ups. Lauren thought it was cool that she got to order whatever she wanted from the menu – she had them bring her two shrimp cocktails! (She has good taste in food)
Since we were on Deck 2, we were going to be the last ones off in the morning, so we decided to do the Express Walk-Off, where you carry your own luggage off the ship. We had to be out of our stateroom and in line to disembark by 6:30 am, which we actually accomplished. However, the majority of the ship seemed to have the same idea. There were so many people in line waiting to get off that the line wrapped all the way around the lobby. They started calling groups to get off, but no one from the Express line had really moved yet. So, people started arguing about where the end of the line were and people started getting upset about other people cutting in line and it was right then and there that I said “Okay, this experience ENSURES that I will NEVER step foot on another cruise ship again!”
The ironic part is that several people who had been on cruises told us when we got back that they didn’t think we would like it. So, now I can say “Been there, done that”, but give us a rental car with unlimited miles, a map and a state to explore and we’ll be a lot happier!
45 Comments
1. Betty Kizer&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 9:54 am
WOW! I always thought that I wanted to go on a cruise, perhaps a scrapbooking cruise, or to Alaska. But after reading about yet another cruise ship that had a quarter of the passengers ill and confined to their cabins for the entire cruise and then your experience, I think I will pass. Thanks for sharing.
Betty
2. Kat Sprouse&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 am
Julie – I hope that you won’t give up on cruising… it can be a wonderful vacation. I can only imagine 4 people in an inside cabin… too much. A larger exterior cabin will make a huge difference… in so many ways. Your photos are great… have fun scrapping them. Happy New year to all!
3. Suzanne&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:15 am
Hmmm – I think the advice we should have given you was – get an outside cabin and try for a suite or two that adjoin (interior door between the cabins) – I would hate sharing an inside cabin with one other person – forget four total (sorry – no deal is that good).
Also – even though it is vacation – i really recommend an alarm clock – you have limited time and it is way to easy to oversleep and logistics are tougher on a ship – think of all the people! We would set it for a reasonable hour and head to the buffet for breakfast – much quicker than room service – and one person can always go grab fruit or something and bring it back.
We also prefer NCL because it doesn’t have set dinner seatings – you make reservations at different resturants or just show up – but you seemed OK with that part of it.
4. Jeanne Clements&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
I hope you will not give up on cruising until you try a Disney Cruise – especially if you and your family like Disney. They’ve got split bathrooms, making it much easier to get ready. I’d also recommend an outside cabin.
We are road trip people, too, but a great cruise can be a lot of fun. I’m sorry that your trip was less than that.
5. Betsey Holzhauer&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
I think you have every right to have hated the cruise! But please don’t give up! Try an Alaskan cruise, just you and your hubby, and give it another chance. We did fine, twice, with an inside cabin, but then we are early risers. An outside cabin would be a great thing, though. But an alarm, unfortunately, is a good idea.
Enjoyed your comments.
Betsey
6. Lara&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
Julie, your photos are adorable! We just did the cruise thing for the first time and really enjoyed it, but we had an exterior cabin with a balcony and that was a huge highlight. Still, we weren’t sure if we’d end up cruising again. I’m with you — give me a new place to explore and a rental car, and I can make more of my time.
Thanks for sharing your cute cruise pics!
~Lara
7. Rebeca B&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
We just got back from a Southern Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean, and much to our surprise, we loved it! We had warm, sunny weather. My boys (6 & 10) had a great time hanging out on the ship on their own. We are used to large 2 room suites, but managed the cabin without killing each other. We’d gotten an upgrade w/balcony, but it was still TINY. We liked to joke that you could do all your stuff from the toilet! We did set an alarm so we could take advantage of our excursions. We missed all the late night games because that’s not our style. And we had a table for just the 4 of us.
We are contemplating another cruise this year.
I look forward to checking out your cruise stuff for the scrapbook.
8. Jodi Lenhart&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
Sorry you did not enjoy your cruise. We love cruising with Royal Caribean (sp). We have been on 4 cruises so far and can’t wait to go again. An outside cabin is a must – I don’t think it’s bigger – but it feels bigger since you can see out. Also, we have always used the wakeup call service on the ships we have been on. You must try another one —- don’t give up yet……
9. Sandy MacDonald&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
I felt the exact same way as you when I cruised for the first time over New Years last year on a Carnival Cruise. It was so crowded and the line ups were ridiculous getting on the ship the first day took approximately 6 hours we were exhausted and fell asleep before midnight on New Years Eve!! I didn’t mind our inside cabin so much but we just had one child along – my 13 year old son and we didn’t try room service. The line ups to get off the ship were also incredible. We had to go through customs again once we arrived in St. Thomas and we wasted 4 hours in line waiting to deal with that even though we were there at 7:00 a.m. we could not get off the ship until close to 11:00 a.m. so we missed a good part of the day. Getting off the ship the last day is a complete other story. We were sure that if there was an emergency of any kind we would all be in big trouble. This was the most disorganized and time consuming experience I’ve ever had never mind dangerous if a fire or something broke out. Like you, I have sworn off of cruising.
10. Katharine&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:57 am
Well, your large cruise ship experience somewhat mirrored mine. Both were with Carnival and they were just too big! Of course there were lots of activities on board but just not things I cared about. Our two other cruise experiences, however, were totally different. One was on a small ship with only 100 passengers to ANtarctica! It was wonderful. WE made 10 landings, by Zodiac, and walked with penguins! Made a wonderful scrapbook. Our cruise last summer with Seabourne was all suites with windows–a major plus as no windows is too much like a cell– and 200 passengers to the Greek Isles, Adriatic sea, Turkish coast. It was 2 weeks and absolutely wonderful. That is my next scrapbook project. We had 2 restaurants, open seating, excellent room service, all inclusive food and drinks, daily shore excursions with lots of time to explore. And next summer we are going with Seabourne again to the Norwegian Fjords. These cruises are certainly not a bargain but the 1st class treatment is exquisite.
11. Barb&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:59 am
Sorry you didn’t enjoy your cruise.
I would NOT suggest an Alaska cruise if you don’t
like cool weather.
What I would suggest if you ever decide to cruise
again, it go on a seven nt cruise (preferably
Southern Caribbean ) if you want warmer weather.
And, get a good travel agent that has been on
many cruises or specializes in cruises. An ocean-
view cabin would help too. And definitely, use the
buffets for breakfast and or lunch, so you aren’t
waiting in your cabin for room-service.
Hope if you ever cruise again, you have a better
experience.
12. Jodi (AKA Scrappycruiser)&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 am
So sorry your experience had so many negatives! I’ve been cruising several times before with RCCL, and loved it – but we have always splurged on the balcony cabins; the fresh air is wonderful, and the balcony makes the smallest cabin feel bigger. The bathrooms are teeny tiny (unless you’re in a suite, ha ha) and an alarm is a must unless you want to sleep in. I’m always afraid I will miss something! lol
Loved your pictures – thanks for the blog!
13. Cel&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Maybe it was just THAT cruise line? We did one on Holland America. We did the alarm clock route and had no problems. And the food was UNBELIEVABLE! Try again and skip the room service! The stewards were fabulous on our cruise too.
Sorry it wasnt what you’d hoped for!
14. Judy aka scrapylady&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Julie, First the lower the deck number the worst the room service. You never had a chance on deck 2. Also the lower the deck usually the smaller the room. When you get a “good” deal it is going to be for cabins they haven’t already sold for a reason.
I agree with Jeanne, comment #4. Before you give up completely try Disney! When they sale from west coast once a year it sells out in a few HOURS for the whole 5 months of cruises. They are that much better.
Also agree if you don’t like cold do not do Alaska. I live in Seattle, have family in Florida and went to high school and college in Louisiana. If you do not like cold you will NOT like cruising to Alaska. I love cruising, rain and clouds and it is not my favorite one to go on at all.
Scrapylady
15. Liz Lowe&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I am so sorry you had a bad experience. We LOVE cruising !! To us it is so relaxing and yet you get to go to a lot of the Caribbean islands without flying and constant unpacking. OUTSIDE cabin is a MUST for the claustrophobia factor alone !! MUST set alarm clock to take full advantage of daylight hours and optional shore excursions !! You can sleep at home…
We like NCL because of the freedom of eating = no set time or table or restaurant. Regarding getting off boat, be it every day for shore excursions or last day leaving, each man to their own !! It is amazing to me how stressed people get on vacation = Once a type “A” always a type “A”.
Try a small Greek Islands cruise next time. Ships are small and there is always scenery to look at !!
16. TristanzNina&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Hi Julie, I’m sorry that this was not the cruise that you had waited for. Some of the experience reminds me of our cruise to Greece. We had an outside cabin with a porthole and bunk beds – I wish I had decided on a room for 2 since everytime I got up, I always seemed to hit my head on the corner of the bed and was seeing stars.
Holland America is a little more spendier but worth it! I live in Vancouver WA with family in AL and FL and we all loved our Alaskan cruise. It is true that some people from FL wear heavy coats when they see the Glaciers, it is a little chilly, we went during the last two weeks of the Alaskan cruises in Sept and I wore my nylon Adidas jacket and adidas sweat pants at Glacier bay and other areas and did not freeze.
I think the best time to cruise is the “off” season and not when everyone is on vacation.
In October 07, we spent 3 glorious weeks cruising the Panama Canal on Norwegian and I paid for a mini suite (disabled mother, daughter, grandson, & I). We had a private balcony, a walkin closet to store everything (car seat included) and full bath. We ordered room service for breakfast every morning and had it delivered at 6:30 AM. We had brought an alarm clock to make sure that we were up. The interesting thing, room service always called us in the morning.
We did meet people on both coasts who were on the Disney ships and they were enjoying theirs.
I heard that Carnival and Princess were the worse ships to cruise on from friends and family.
I hope your next cruise is more enjoyable.
17. Sheila&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Hi! Sorry you didn’t enjoy your cruise. We cruised possibly the same one you just did and did not like it either. BUT – we’ve cruised about 9 times and have LOVED all the other cruises, they were on Carnival and Princess. Food, service, kids club, etc have all been excellent on the other 2 cruise lines.
Don’t give up on cruising, you just need to try a better itinerary (go where it’s sure to be warm) and a better cruise line. You can go to cruisecritic.com and read reviews on other cruises.
Good luck!
18. Jennifer&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy cruising. We were just on our 7th cruise and did the four people in an inside cabin thing, so I can empathize. Never again. The balconies and half the oceanviews are up to 50% bigger and with the light and view feel even bigger. The longer cruises tend to have the bigger, nicer ships with more to do for kids. I would try the Voyager class ships…those are by far my favorite. Anyway, try to separate the actual cruise experience with the weather (which obviously varies), the kids stealing the room service cards (I have never in 7 cruises not had them there when they said they were going to be there), etc. Cruising still may not be the trip for you but a lot of what wasn’t great, wasn’t necessarily indicative of cruising, just of that moment in time!! I hope you had fun anyway, even if you don’t chose to do it again!
19. Nancy&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I too am sorry that your first experience wasn’t good. Our first trip was when our daughter was 13 (she is now 30) and we did a little 4-day from Cape Canaveral to Nassau and back. We didn’t really care for it for various reasons but we didn’t give up on cruising. We waited several years before going again and we love it.
My husband and I are retired and we cruise about once (sometimes twice) a year. I agree with the earlier comments, you need to spend the extra money to at least have an outside cabin. Especially with four people in the room. Also, a four day cruise doesn’t really give you a good chance to see what it is really like. I think if you tried a 7-day Disney it would be a lot different.
I hope you try again.
20. Terri Brewster&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Julie,
I am so sorry you didn’t enjoy the cruise. I guess I should have mentioned the outside cabin. Our first cruise was an inside cabin, we didn’t spend time in there except to sleep, the next cruise we spent the extra money for a balcony, and will never do anything but a balcony. We slept with the door open, and the fresh air makes all the difference. We also don’t go below Deck 9. We also did the buffets for breakfast. We did order room service twice to eat on the balcony, but always called and ordered it early, so never did have a problem. I really hope your one bad experience won’t keep you from trying again. It truly is the one vacation that I can get my husband to relax. He has no cell phone, blackberry or computer readily available.
I’m sorry you had a bad experience.
Terri
21. Dolores&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Julie, I am so sorry your cruise experience was so unmemorable. It’s sad when your very first experience had to be so awful, and you swear off cruising forever. I agree with the other comments that an outside room is preferable to an inside no window room. They are a little larger and the sunlight coming in through the porthole helps.
I have never heard anything really good about the cruise line you were on, but hoped your trip would be better. I think if you try Holland America, you would really enjoy your cruise. The staff onboard are the prime rib of employees on a cruise ship. PLease try the Holland America line if you are going to Alaska…they are the best to Alaska. Our room service was excellent…the meal was there in less than half an hour and if we wanted it at a certain time, they were there at that time. Instead of worrying about the alarm clock you can have them give you a wake-up call so you can do the things you wanted to do.
Also, if you sail “off-season” you won’t have the hassles with so many people trying to get off at the same time. Though it may be a little chillier to swim, it still beats all the crowds.
Going to Alaska is not COLD. We went in early June to beat the rush, and all we needed were windbreakers outside on the ship and anywhere we went. Of course, since we live in the midwest, we have a different outlook on cold here. (Below zero is cold, but 60-75 degrees is perfect for us) Since being a Floridian you may need a little bit heavier coat while there. Don’t be discouraged about taking a trip on a cruise ship to Alaska. However, if you want to see interior of Alaska doing things, do those things first, because the motor coach trips are long and wear you out. Take the cruise on the way home so you can relax and be rested up by the time you reach port.
Please don’t let one very disturbing cruise make you never want to cruise again…different ship, different line, outside room, it will be worth doing again.
Thanks for sharing the trip, even though it was not a fun time for you and I loved the pics of the family.
22. Bonnie&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Goodness – sorry about your luck with the cruise. My DH and I cruised to Alaska by ourselves on NCL – our very first cruise – and lucky for us they of course leave from Seattle so no flight was needed. We absolutely loved it – no kids to worry about. They also have freestyle cruising – so you can eat whenever and wherever you want. Speciality restaurants required reservations and cost $$ more – and we did go to a couple.
Hopefully, your next cruise (to Alaska) will be a wonderful experience for you. Have you scrapped any pages yet?
23. maryann&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Hi Julie
Loved the pictures….I agree with the others, don’t let this one experience turn you away. My husband is in law enforcement and cruising is the most relaxing vacation for him..no phones, no papers, etc….We started with the Big Red Boat years ago and are now die hard Holland American fans. We also splurge and get a room with a balcony or at least an outside room…mid ship.
I would also look into a smaller sized ship….some of the new ships are just too big..it takes me forever to find my way around and with all those people there are bound to be long lines. The vacation should be relaxing and I do not have patience for rude people in those long lines. Try again, or like some of the other girls said…you either love it or you don’t……Happy New Year
24. Sharon&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Julie, sorry it wasn’t that great!
We have taken 2 cruises with Holland America before children & loved them (both 7 day Caribbean cruises). Then one 7 day Carnival cruise before children & loved that too. Then one 7 day Norwegian cruise with the children (they were 1 1/2 at that time) & that was horrible!
We also got an inside room on the Norwegian ship & it was very tiny, the room was also dirty. They had no high chairs anywhere. It was just a nightmare.
But we did love Holland America & Carnival & didn’t find lines bad for anything on either of them. Holland America is normally a bit more but the service is wonderful & food is great. Carnival has more fun activities to do though & much better kids camp.
Definitely do an outside room at least next time & you can check on the maps of the ship to see which cabins are slightly bigger than others. Also you do unfortunately need an alarm clock! That way you can get the most packed into your days!
We did order room service once or twice & it was fine & did arrive on time (got a call before it arrived). I would do it to get milk & fruit for the girls for when they first woke up. But preferred doing the buffet for breakfast.
But as others have said, don’t give up! We had that one horrible cruise but it is still my favorite kind of vacation!
25. Jane Lyon&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Julie,
Sorry it didn’t work out. But really think about trying another one without the kids. We have gone from Mobile to Cozumel twice on the Holiday. It’s a smaller ship but the service is wonderful. I do love the car trips but the older you get the worse your bones feel riding. Anyway, hope you have a better New Year. Jane
26. Nancy&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
As others have said, please do not let this experience define cruising for you. We go every year. Holland America was great. We sailed the Statendam both trips to Alaska, and the Maasdam from Montreal to Norfolk. Both of these sister ships are older BUT the rooms are larger. Then we sailed Holland America on the Westerdam II (a newer ship)from Copenhagen to Russia and I cried when I saw how tiny our “outside cabin” was. I was used to the others and thought it was standardized within a line…it ISN’T!! Our TV took up the entire desk and there was no dresser and the closet was tiny with no place for formals because you could have the shelves pulled down as shelves to put your clothes or pushed back to hang clothes…but not both. What I guess I am saying is that one bad experience should not taint the entire view of what cruising is all about. The best part of cruising is that you unpack at the beginning and get to see a smidge of lots of places in the world and come back to your floating hotel, eat, be entertained, and sleep, before getting up to see another wonderful port. (wake up calls or alarm clocks are a must).
My last comment is about Alaska. When and if you go, understand that Alaska is larger than Texas and that you can not see the interior of the state from the ports. If you can do a land tour first and end up with the cruise back, it is the best. Also, while the rest of Alaska may not be that cold during the summer, when you are at Glacier Bay or College Fjords, the air moving across the glaciers is exactly like a giant air conditioner…so yes it is freezing and you will need a coat, possibly gloves, but this is for this part of the cruise. Also the temperature can vary from port to port no matter which month you go. Generally it is colder in the beginning of the season and at the end, but when we went to Juno in July it was the only nice weather they had after 19 days of straight rain, so we were lucky to be there on a clear day. The point is that we could have been there the day before.
I hope that you get a chance to try it again, and that you will experience what so many of us have enjoyed and love.
This email comes with best wishes tor a wonderful year 2008. Happy New Year!
27. Kathy Joyner&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Julie– so sorry you had a not so good experience with cruising. My DH and I decided to take the Disney cruise for our first experience. No kids and celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. It was wonderful. This is the best ship for cruising with kids. So, before you sink all the money into an Alaska cruise, think about going on a Disney cruise. (may cost just as much)It is in your own back yard so to say so transportation costs to and from our minimal if any. We chose Disney as we use to go to Port Canaveral to the tiki bar before we married and waved to the ship as it left; wishing we were on it so 25 years later our wish came true.
You may still want to wait and put off cruising until your kids are older. And a word of advise…don’t skimp on bargain bin inside cabins. They are not worth it.
I am writing a review on my latest cruise through the Panama Canal in the Cruise section of the community postings. We had our own bad experience with Princess and will never cruise on their ships again. Look for the story…
Kathy
28. Joanne&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Sorry to hear of your bad experience on this cruise. I have never done a cruise, but have always heard wonderful things about the Disney Cruises. Everyone says that they are so worth the extra money that you have to pay. Also this time of the year is probably not the warmest as you found out. Weather is so unpredictable these days. We hope to take a Disney Cruise in the future, as we are Disney World addicts, but definitely would be looking at the Apr/May time period. Don’t give up on cruises just yet.
Happy New Year!
29. Roxie Pierce&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I’ve been on 2 cruises, so far. My first was a December cruise and although I wasn’t impressed, my 2nd one was much better. It was to Hawaii in May and it was an awesome trip (we left the ship everyday for something), We cruised Norwegian Free Style and I tend to think of a cruise as a way to get around to places, where you use the ship as a hotel and eatery in the morning and night. My first cruise was an inside cabin and I too slept till almost 10am each morning and I swore that never again. Next time I’d pay extra for some light…Of course I’ve not traveled with my kids, so I don’t know what that’s like. I traveled with My Sunday Schoolgroup both times. (we got great discounts!) The Hawaiian cruise hit 5 islands over 7 days. We got upgraded twice (for the same cost) to a balcony (YES!!!) room. Now the bathroom, they just ain’t gonna get bigger……Maybe a next one for you will be more tolerable. Happy New Year.
30. rene johnston, calgary, a&hellip | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
i am sorry you had a bad experience on your first cruise. My hubby and I went on our first one in June to Alaska, loved every moment of our trip. We both agreed it was the best holiday we have had. Everything was perfect from the time we left Seattle till we got home again. We took the Norwegian Pearl, a new ship this year. Fabulous!. Had an outside cabin with balcony, on deck 10. Food was great, no problem with seating in any of the 13 restaurants. Casual dining, didn’t have to ‘dress’ for dinner and eat at a set time and place. Buffet for breakfast, then off to shore excursions. Staff was great. We had sunny weather for the whole week and I even got a bit of sunburn in Ketchikan. We had such an amazing trip that we are going to book with them again and take a Panama Canal trip from LA through to New Orleans, then fly home to Calgary. We camp a lot in the summer in our RV, but this trip was a really relaxing holiday for both of us. Please try it again, do not get an inside cabin, and stay up on a higher deck. It may cost a bit more, but worth it! Happy New Year to you and your wonderful staff. p.s. We are also going back to Alaska and take different shore excursions as there is so much to see there. Gorgeous country.
31. judy patrick&hellip | January 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 am
My DH & I have been on about 5 cruises and rather enjoyed most of them. We’ve done several cruise lines and Carnival was, by far, the worse. I don’t think I’d do that one again even if it was free. We just did a Royal Caribbean cruise in November and it was awesome! Our food and service was excellent. Try again when your nest is empty or do the Disney one. Cruising can be a great experience!
32. Gillybee&hellip | January 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 am
So sorry you had a bad experience. I agree with all the above. I haven’t been on a cruise personally but my mum cruises regularly. She always has an outside with balcony room, sharing with her travel friend. No pull down beds. Try to upgrade next time. Don’t give up hun.
33. Roseann Ziegler&hellip | January 3rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Thank you, I never wanted to go on a cruise but my husband keeps asking me. “Wouldn’t you like to go on a cruise?” No I don’t and now you just confirmed it. Never liked the idea of being confined to one place like that. I’d much rather vacation in Florida.
34. Michelle&hellip | January 3rd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Wow – what a sad cruise adventure. My husband & I took our 1st cruise this past Aug/Sept. We went NCL to Hawaii…and it was AMAZING! We both want to do it again, but next time we’ll take our mothers & share the fun. Freestyle cruising is so perfect for active people like us. We received a wake-up call each morning, grabbed breakfast at the buffet, and went on shore for an excursion. When we came back to the ship each night, we had no trouble getting into a restaurant for a bit of money…or cruising throught the buffet at whatever time worked for us. We got a balcony cabin & received an upgrade to a balcony suite. We had LOTS of room for the 2 of us, plenty of closet space, and a great balcony with 2 chairs & a small table. Please try it again, Julie. It was fabulous on NCL.
35. Pat Moore&hellip | January 3rd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Gee I’m sorry you had a horrible time but I hope it doesn’t turn you–or others–off on cruising. On 8 cruises I had one bad experience, my first, on a 3-day one. I think 7+ days allows time to recover from the stress of packing, getting there (I have to fly in the day prior), standing in line to get on, getting used to the ship (they are all so different), the different bed, etc. You can get caught up in a rush-rush situation. And you had extra stress with your son! As a cruise lecturer I’m always put in an inside cabin, and had plenty of space (including closet) for us two. Can’t imagine with 2 kids, tho! I’m usually on deck 2 and never had a big problem with room service (some waiting but never like yours). I always take an alarm clock, too. As far as Alaska, my cruise found comfortable weather (I don’t do well with cold so I stayed inside during the glacier viewing–had plenty of huge windows! And being on east coast time helps prevent over-sleeping, hahaha. I agree that you should try Disney someday. But, being a road trip person too I agree there are a million different choices when it comes to a trip! Happy New Year!
36. Cathy&hellip | January 3rd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I agree with so many on the blog. Please, please don’t let one bad experience turn you off cruising. We have cruised with Norwegian, Carnival, and have a 12 day Greek Island cruise on Princess. We have had so much fun on all of our cruises. We even had an inside cabin, but for two it wasn’t bad. I think you should try a 7 day, it is a much better test, since you have more time at leisure, and can enjoy it that much more.
37. Lora Michael&hellip | January 4th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I’m sorry that you didn’t like the cruise. I have been on 4 of them and if I never go again it is all right with me. My favorite thing to do is to go to an all inclusive resort on a white sand beach as far away from Ohio as possible! Most of the all inclusive resorts are family friendly, and there are always plenty of activities for all, at the resort and surrounding areas. I have found that there are a lot of hidden costs on cruise lines, but at the all inclusives you generally only pay for bus and cab fare if you decide to leave the resort for the day. I hope your next vacation will be better. Since you like road trips how about a summer vacation in Myrtle Beach?
38. Valerie Richardson&hellip | January 16th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Wow, you guys have me scared to death with all these bad reports! My husband gave me a cruise for Christmas, my first and his 5th and we leave in 25 days aboard Royal Caribbean. We do have a balcony room, the picture on the website looks like the room is quite nice, it has the qs bed and it shows a couch, so I hope we won’t be disappointed. Is there anything else to know before I go and what on earth do you wear, do you have to buy all new clothes? We aren’t planning on doing the formal night, not really our scene and we have a dive excursion the same day, so I’ll be too tired to play dress up I’m thinking! Any clothing suggestions are welcome as it is winter here. We are going to Cozumel and Belize.
39. Paula&hellip | January 17th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I have been on two, one a family reunion cruise in 1991 on Royal Caribbean and one at Christmas 2005 on Carnival with my sisters. My sisters went to art auctions onboard and to the spa. I almost didn’t go on the last cruise, because like you it is not my main pick for a vacation, but my sisters are all I have left. I am not really a beach and pool person, in fact I never got in the pool much. On the Christmas cruise I explored the ship a lot, had drinks, went to a wine tasting, went shopping in St. Thomas, went on a open bar night sail, and went horseback riding in Aruba. On the Royal Caribbean cruise we went to a private island, I shopped and walked the deck for exercise and also tried the exercise group. I didn’t care too much for the dining room food, and didn’t want to dress up every night, so I ate by the pools most nights except the two formal nights with the pictures. Our debarkation was crowed, but went so well that I got to the airport about four hours early (which I didn’t like but what can you do). The buffet on RC was much nicer. And they didn’t let people start eating before they called for pics, like Carnival did. On the first cruise my father got us cabins with windows. On the last one we had balconies. It was fun to go out there and sit.
I hope you will try one again! Both of mine were Caribbean. One was to St. Thomas, Aruba, Dominica and Puerto Rico, etc., and the other went to Freeport, Nasau, etc.
40. rae&hellip | February 1st, 2008 at 6:05 pm
The first time I cruised (Alask) I just liked it. The second cruise was Disney and I have LOVED cruising ever since. In April we will be going on our 10th cruise. Just last December we just went on our 3rd Disney cruise and had our first experience with an inside cabin. However, it was just the two of us. I think that was the first “mistake” you made about cruising. It is a shame someone didn’t clue you in prior to booking your cruise. Secondly it sounds like you were prepared not to like it and unfortunately your room service experience reinforced that notion. Next time go some place warm like the Caribbean, book an outside cabin or one with a veranda. Seriously, try a Disney cruise. There isn’t another cruising experience like it and Castaway Cay will capture your heart.
41. Becky McHugh&hellip | February 6th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Don’t give up cruising. I’ve been on 3 cruises, 2 on Royal Caribbean and one on Holland American and they were all wonderful. The last cruise we took on Holland American to Alaska was awesome as we got a balcony room. Will never go back to just an outside room! Makes ALL the difference in the world! Both cruise lines had AWESOME food and the service was impeccable! Alaska is beautiful! Go there on Holland America!
42. Jenn&hellip | February 6th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Please do not give up on cruising. I am a travel agent and my husband and I have been on several cruises including Alaska. The key is to have a much larger room. When we first went we just got the cheapest cabin and my husband was totally turned off to cruising. However, for our honeymoon we went to the Eastern Caribbean and got the “Grand Suite”. Sure it is more money but, let me tell you, it was totally worth it. We each had enough space not to get on each others nerves. We did the same thing for Alaska which was AMAZING. Try it again but get a bigger room, may I suggest a suite. Pluse there are a lot of perks with a suite.
43. Rosemary&hellip | February 6th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I am so sorry to be reading of you had a bad experience!!..My husband and I just did a 10 on the Brilliance and except for a few minor problems (super slow internet..lol), we didn’t have any problem at all. This is maybe my 9th or 10 cruise. Guess the biggest problem is getting off this ship. Ironically, I was sent a survey from RCC and had a chance to tell them how bad the port is coming and going and the ship’s handling of ‘special needs’ getting off the ship…Don’t give up on cruising…You just had a bad experience. And, you should have gone down to the Service Desk!!…Give it another try one day…Port Canaveral is one of the best ports as far as being organized. We left from there when we did a different RCC ship.
44. Patti Jacobs&hellip | February 6th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
We just did a 10 day Hawaian Island cruise with Norweigin Cruise Lines (Free Style cruising) It was great
45. Melissa&hellip | February 15th, 2008 at 2:20 am
Julie,
Don’t give up on cruising! Use Princess Cruise Lines for an Alaska Cruisetour (one week on ship, one week on land) Princess has this down to a science! We traveled with my family for my parents’ 50th anniversary. There were 11 of us (DH was in Iraq). With 6 kids and 5 adults, everything was organized and GREAT! We highly recommend Princess!