Any Cruisers out there?

[Mongidig]

I’ve never been on one but that description sounds quite cool. My parents have been on a few. 2 years ago they went on a river cruise on the Rhine and Danube. How old are you, if you don’t mind my asking? It seems something people do as they get older, is that accurate?

I'm 52.

There are a lot of older folks who cruise. On cruise lines like Holland America the average age is around 57. On other cruise lines it is closer to 47. there are a lot more families cruising these days. I bet 20 years ago the age was closer to 70. It depends what cruise line you go on and what the destination is. The more expensive and longer the cruise the older the passengers.

 

[Decypher]

Some good information here. I’ve definitely never done something like this. Like POS, when I travel I much prefer the local tourism where you get to know a place and eat the local food, etc. Maybe it’s the sort of thing I’d like when I get older and need more comfort traveling.

Sounds like a cruise would be really cool for seeing things from sea that you maybe can’t overland. Someone mentioned the Norwegian fjords above which seen from a ship would be amazing. When I was in Chile, I went to the Torres del Paine national park which was so cool because of how remote and unspoiled it was. If you continue west from there, that whole west coast of Chile is basically uninhabited and inaccessible from land as it’s all islands. There are cruises you can do out there which look incredible.

Final note, this is a talk about cruises. Can we not be dicks to each other for once. I hate Trump as much as the next man, but Jesus give it a rest for 5 minutes while we talk about something better.

 

[TomFitz]

Ive been thinking of going on one just for the experience, but I never liked being stuck on a boat with a bunch of other tourists for days on end- I prefer to be mobile. And after hearing the stories about ships being stranded at sea due to viruses, fires, pirates, and what-not kept me from trying it. Now Im glad I never did.

I don’t think you’d like it. A “fun day at sea” get pretty boring once you’ve explored the ship.

As for the crowd, they were all very pleasant, and everyone seemed to be having a fine time.

But it is true the the cruise director would not have raised any eyebrows had he addressed the crowd with “Attention Wal Mart shoppers”.

 

[Acadia]

Some good information here. I’ve definitely never done something like this. Like POS, when I travel I much prefer the local tourism where you get to know a place and eat the local food, etc. Maybe it’s the sort of thing I’d like when I get older and need more comfort traveling.

Sounds like a cruise would be really cool for seeing things from sea that you maybe can’t overland. Someone mentioned the Norwegian fjords above which seen from a ship would be amazing. When I was in Chile, I went to the Torres del Paine national park which was so cool because of how remote and unspoiled it was. If you continue west from there, that whole west coast of Chile is basically uninhabited and inaccessible from land as it’s all islands. There are cruises you can do out there which look incredible.

Final note, this is a talk about cruises. Can we not be dicks to each other for once. I hate Trump as much as the next man, but Jesus give it a rest for 5 minutes while we talk about something better.

I did a Mediterranean cruise and got to do France, Italy and Spain without pulling out a passport. I love pulling into port and seeing the land from the sea.
There's a lot to enjoy with cruising, but some just don't like it.
And definitely, you have to pick the right class of ship and experience and pay for it.

 

[Deuce]

Cruise ships are cesspools and their parent companies are among the shadiest, most awful on the planet. If you get robbed on a cruise ship, the United States has no jurisdiction over remedy. The jurisdiction will fall to the island nation tax shelter the ship is registered under and that country does not give a ****.

 

[Mongidig]

Some good information here. I’ve definitely never done something like this. Like POS, when I travel I much prefer the local tourism where you get to know a place and eat the local food, etc. Maybe it’s the sort of thing I’d like when I get older and need more comfort traveling.

Sounds like a cruise would be really cool for seeing things from sea that you maybe can’t overland. Someone mentioned the Norwegian fjords above which seen from a ship would be amazing. When I was in Chile, I went to the Torres del Paine national park which was so cool because of how remote and unspoiled it was. If you continue west from there, that whole west coast of Chile is basically uninhabited and inaccessible from land as it’s all islands. There are cruises you can do out there which look incredible.

Final note, this is a talk about cruises. Can we not be dicks to each other for once. I hate Trump as much as the next man, but Jesus give it a rest for 5 minutes while we talk about something better.

You make a great point regarding seeing things from the sea that you otherwise wouldn't. When I went to Alaska, I sat on my balcony for hours with my binoculars looking at whales, otters, dolphins all kinds of animal life. On both sides of the ship there was non stop scenery. I saw glaciers and waterfalls. It's cool seeing all of the other ships in the ocean ranging from cargo to other cruise ships.

I feel like a lot of people on here seem to think that if you go on cruises that's the only way you travel. I see it as another way to travel and see the world. I love road trips too.

 

[Mongidig]

Cruise ships are cesspools and their parent companies are among the shadiest, most awful on the planet. If you get robbed on a cruise ship, the United States has no jurisdiction over remedy. The jurisdiction will fall to the island nation tax shelter the ship is registered under and that country does not give a ****.

Do you fly on an airplane?

I agree the cruise industry is pretty shady. There is a lot more criminal activity on cruise ships than people would think. If you're smart and careful you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[Stealers Wheel]

There are many different types of cruises. For instance Viking Cruise lines offer river cruises throughout Europe. These ships are far smaller and they cater to a different crowd. They tend to be pricey but most people enjoy them. "Sardines" is not a term you here much on them.

You ever hear of a 'slow boat to China?' That refers to booking passage on a freighter or oil tanker. They have limited accommodations for passengers, but I understand they take very good care of their guests.

I'm not interested in booking on one of the MegaCruise ships, simply because they do seem to be potential petri dishes. You don't hear about those kinds of disease outbreaks on the smaller more exclusive cruise ships.

 

[Deuce]

Do you fly on an airplane?

I agree the cruise industry is pretty shady. There is a lot more criminal activity on cruise ships than people would think. If you're smart and careful you shouldn't have any issues.

I fly planes for a living.

edit: Probably not for much longer :/

 

[Lursa]

There are many different types of cruises. For instance Viking Cruise lines offer river cruises throughout Europe. These ships are far smaller and they cater to a different crowd. They tend to be pricey but most people enjoy them. "Sardines" is not a term you here much on them.

My parents did a river boat cruise down the Rhine and loved it. Excellent food and stopped every day. They went to all sorts of historic places, including the Spanish Riding School in Viennna. But to me, that's just like one of the bus tours they would take in Europe...just with luxury transportation, accommodations, and meals.

They did a similar one on a train here in the US in the Western states.

(They signed me up for the Viking mailing list...I still get their brochures :roll

 

[ElChupacabra]

Cruises are the opposite of what I would like to do on a vacation. The idea of being on a ship loaded with people isn't my idea of fun. Being far off shore is appealing, but not with having to deal with every other aspect of a cruise.

As for the industry, I suspect they'll bounce back, but not in the near future since people will likely be skittish for a while.

 

[Decypher]

You make a great point regarding seeing things from the sea that you otherwise wouldn't. When I went to Alaska, I sat on my balcony for hours with my binoculars looking at whales, otters, dolphins all kinds of animal life. On both sides of the ship there was non stop scenery. I saw glaciers and waterfalls. It's cool seeing all of the other ships in the ocean ranging from cargo to other cruise ships.

I feel like a lot of people on here seem to think that if you go on cruises that's the only way you travel. I see it as another way to travel and see the world. I love road trips too.

I went across the Strait of Magellan, from Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego and there were dolphins swimming and jumping alongside the boat the whole way where. Will never forget it.

Agreed about the different types of travel, it’s all good and disparaging one way over another is small minded and indicative of limited range of experience. It’s a small/big world and the more we can see before we die the better. I’ve never been to California, my sister moved to LA last year and I have a flight booked in late May. Really hope all this stuff is over by then because I am dying to go there.

 

[Acadia]

You make a great point regarding seeing things from the sea that you otherwise wouldn't. When I went to Alaska, I sat on my balcony for hours with my binoculars looking at whales, otters, dolphins all kinds of animal life. On both sides of the ship there was non stop scenery. I saw glaciers and waterfalls. It's cool seeing all of the other ships in the ocean ranging from cargo to other cruise ships.

I feel like a lot of people on here seem to think that if you go on cruises that's the only way you travel. I see it as another way to travel and see the world. I love road trips too.

Agree- I love road trips, beach vacations, hotels, vrbo. Spending my vacation in someone else's home? Not so much anymore!
We have been planning to do Alaska for a few years now and I still am open to it next year...on a small ship, all balcony and excellent food

 

[Acadia]

I went across the Strait of Magellan, from Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego and there were dolphins swimming and jumping alongside the boat the whole way where. Will never forget it.

Agreed about the different types of travel, it’s all good and disparaging one way over another is small minded and indicative of limited range of experience. It’s a small/big world and the more we can see before we die the better. I’ve never been to California, my sister moved to LA last year and I have a flight booked in late May. Really hope all this stuff is over by then because I am dying to go there.

Um...:shock:

But seriously, May might be dicey still. I hope you enjoy when you do get to go!

 

[Acadia]

My parents did a river boat cruise down the Rhine and loved it. Excellent food and stopped every day. They went to all sorts of historic places, including the Spanish Riding School in Viennna. But to me, that's just like one of the bus tours they would take in Europe...just with luxury transportation, accommodations, and meals.

They did a similar one on a train here in the US in the Western states.

(They signed me up for the Viking mailing list...I still get their brochures :roll

This reminded me of when we cruised and spent a day in Rome and Vatican City, we ha signed up for the shore excursion through the ship instead of going it alone. I'll never forget getting to do a private group tour of the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel. No hoards. Quiet. Soaked it all in.
So, there are perks.
Again, not for everyone.

 

[Decypher]

Um...:shock:

But seriously, May might be dicey still. I hope you enjoy when you do get to go!

I did think about rewording that! Airline emailed me saying I can reschedule for free so maybe I can go in July or something. Been off work for nearly 4 weeks so pretty broke at the moment anyway.

 

[Acadia]

I did think about rewording that! Airline emailed me saying I can reschedule for free so maybe I can go in July or something. Been off work for nearly 4 weeks so pretty broke at the moment anyway.

We have travel planned for early June. Changed it about 2 weeks ago. We had to pay a change fee with the airline, but are contesting it and hope to get a refund, since our Governor has made it against the law to travel until June 10 or so. Hopefully we'll recover the money from United.
We rescheduled for November...when the next wave is being speculated about:doh

 

[Mongidig]

I went across the Strait of Magellan, from Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego and there were dolphins swimming and jumping alongside the boat the whole way where. Will never forget it.

Agreed about the different types of travel, it’s all good and disparaging one way over another is small minded and indicative of limited range of experience. It’s a small/big world and the more we can see before we die the better. I’ve never been to California, my sister moved to LA last year and I have a flight booked in late May. Really hope all this stuff is over by then because I am dying to go there.

The patagonia area is on my bucket list. I was looking into a Buenos Aires to Santiago Chile cruise. I'd love to sail past Cape Horn. I want to go to perito moreno glacier bad. I took a helicopter to a glacier on my Alaska cruise. I was able to hike the glacier and it was the most amazing thing I have ever done. Seeing the inside of an ice cave is unbelievable.

Ironically I ended up not going on the above cruise because It was on Holland America which is mostly elderly people. That's the one that was stuck at sea until just recently.

 

[Ahlevah]

What do you all think about the future of cruising? Will Carnival make it out alive after this disaster? What kind of regulations will be put in place going forward? I can see immunity passports being a thing.

Yeah, I think Carnival will survive. Those ships will eventually be worth more sailing than as scrap. The question is will Carnival's current shareholders survive. But, as a current Carnival shareholder, I can tell you this: I'm not selling. Here's one reason why.

There's a problem for people who've booked trips that haven't yet been canceled by the cruise lines. Usually, the closer you get to the sail date the less you get in the form of a refund. So what some people find themselves doing is playing a game of chicken. If they cancel now, they get a haircut, perhaps 50% or more of the cost of the trip. So the incentive is to negotiate a later departure date, but not cancel. I think the hope among cruisers is they come up with a vaccine. For example, if you have a departure date in June that is still technically "on," your incentive at this time would be to reschedule the trip to, say, the following June when there is a pretty good chance a vaccine will be available. In the meantime, the cruise lines will go into hibernation mode, slashing staff and mothballing ships temporarily. That's how they'll survive.

 

[Mongidig]

I did a Mediterranean cruise and got to do France, Italy and Spain without pulling out a passport. I love pulling into port and seeing the land from the sea.
There's a lot to enjoy with cruising, but some just don't like it.
And definitely, you have to pick the right class of ship and experience and pay for it.

That's cruise is on my list too.

I agree some are just not into cruising. What's weird is how angry some people feel about cruising. The common denominator is they either have never cruised or they went cheap and got what they paid for.

BTW...I think we should take a drink every time someone say's petri dish or cesspool.

 

[Somerville]

When I read the headline: " Any Cruisers out there?" -- my first thought was about sailing long distances. The last time I was on a cruise ship, I was 10 years old, so not much choice for or against.

For me, cruising means travelling long distances in vessels much smaller than the cruise liners that are front and center in the media these days. I've sailed across the Atlantic 10 times, from England to Australia and back, from Argentina to the States and multiple times between the States and various Caribbean islands. The largest one of those boats was 100ft long and the smallest was 40ft.

When people on cruise ships talk about watching whales and dolphins thru binoculars, I think about the times when a whale surfaced so close to us that his spray got us a bit damp. Then there are the times watching for a "green flash" or sitting in a bar in Bermuda after a nasty crossing and one of my crew saying, "OK, once is enough, no more of this ocean crossing for me." My other two crew turned to look at me and asked when were we setting off again.

An ex-girl friend, we are still friends, is presently sitting in the Bahamas on her boat, waiting for clearance to sail back to Florida. Locals have been friendly, she has four other sailboats, cruisers, anchored close by, and everyone chats on the radio a couple times a day. With satellite phones, they are all connected with friends and family, posting on various blogs and Facebook.

Anyway, for me - we are cruisers not those who go off on a large ship to see the fun parts of the world. Cruising sailors have more tales and better, more interesting bars to drink and talk to other cruisers.

 

[lurchadams]

Right now most cruises are cancelled until mid May. I don't see any chance they start cruising that soon. I think it is possible that we don't see any cruises the rest of this year. If we do I think it will be very limited. There is talk of no destination cruises since it's gonna be difficult to find any ports open for ships at least early on. The cruise industry seems to be one of the greediest and very shady at times. They probably will figure out a way but I don't know when I would trust doing a cruise.

What do you all think about the future of cruising? Will Carnival make it out alive after this disaster? What kind of regulations will be put in place going forward? I can see immunity passports being a thing.

 

[Mongidig]

Yeah, I think Carnival will survive. Those ships will eventually be worth more sailing than as scrap. The question is will Carnival's current shareholders survive. But, as a current Carnival shareholder, I can tell you this: I'm not selling. Here's one reason why.

There's a problem for people who've booked trips that haven't yet been canceled by the cruise lines. Usually, the closer you get to the sail date the less you get in the form of a refund. So what some people find themselves doing is playing a game of chicken. If they cancel now, they get a haircut, perhaps 50% or more of the cost of the trip. So the incentive is to negotiate a later departure date, but not cancel. I think the hope among cruisers is they come up with a vaccine. For example, if you have a departure date in June that is still technically "on," your incentive at this time would be to reschedule the trip to, say, the following June when there is a pretty good chance a vaccine will be available. In the meantime, the cruise lines will go into hibernation mode, slashing staff and mothballing ships temporarily. That's how they'll survive.

I totally agree!

They are gonna stop ships from going into dry dock as well and push back renovations. The industry seems to be going on a month to month cancelling of their cruises. This is probably intentional so that they are not overwhelmed having to issue a years worth of refunds at once. It's amazing some people are still holding out hope for their mid May sailing.

You are smart to hold onto your stock. When things "normalize" the die hard cruisers will be back. It will be a while before people new to cruising start getting on board(no pun intended).

 

[Mongidig]

When I read the headline: " Any Cruisers out there?" -- my first thought was about sailing long distances. The last time I was on a cruise ship, I was 10 years old, so not much choice for or against.

For me, cruising means travelling long distances in vessels much smaller than the cruise liners that are front and center in the media these days. I've sailed across the Atlantic 10 times, from England to Australia and back, from Argentina to the States and multiple times between the States and various Caribbean islands. The largest one of those boats was 100ft long and the smallest was 40ft.

When people on cruise ships talk about watching whales and dolphins thru binoculars, I think about the times when a whale surfaced so close to us that his spray got us a bit damp. Then there are the times watching for a "green flash" or sitting in a bar in Bermuda after a nasty crossing and one of my crew saying, "OK, once is enough, no more of this ocean crossing for me." My other two crew turned to look at me and asked when were we setting off again.

An ex-girl friend, we are still friends, is presently sitting in the Bahamas on her boat, waiting for clearance to sail back to Florida. Locals have been friendly, she has four other sailboats, cruisers, anchored close by, and everyone chats on the radio a couple times a day. With satellite phones, they are all connected with friends and family, posting on various blogs and Facebook.

Anyway, for me - we are cruisers not those who go off on a large ship to see the fun parts of the world. Cruising sailors have more tales and better, more interesting bars to drink and talk to other cruisers.

I don't know if my stomach could take, it but it sounds like a blast!

 

[Somerville]

I don't know if my stomach could take, it but it sounds like a blast!

Sadly, there are those who never adapt but in many cases, sea-sickness is as much a result of nerves as it is the motion of the boat. A couple days at sea and the body adjusts and you start to really feel what life in a small craft can offer - it's not for everyone. Modern drugs, first dose taken 24 hrs before setting sail and a couple pills after that has seen some of my crew who were useless the first day get back into enjoying the voyage.