Last week was my first, Judy's second. I was kinda dreading it but enjoyed every minute of the seven day cruise aboard Grandeur of the Seas that left New Orleans a week ago Saturday.
Our stops included Cayman Islands (one of them) and two stops on the Mexico coast, Costa Maya and Cozumel.
We both wore those bands that place constant pressure on the inside of the wrist. Most folks wore those 72 hour prescription discs (look like band-aids) that fasten behind the ear.
A cruise, for those who haven't been, is like living in a huge city that's moving at some 25 mph. If you're traveling against a wind of 35 mph like we were at one point -- well, you do the math. On the jogging/walking track that became an experience.
There is no expense except for your tickets and tips -- unless you imbibe (I bought two chardonnay's while aboard) or take those excursions when you dock at the ports. Oh, you can participate in the daily art auction on works that went from $35 to $75,000. I refrained.
There were many families on board -- one of more than 20 members.
This was Spring Break week. There were some 50 or so from Auburn University alone. Lot's of eye candy at the various swimming holes.
Overheard by one lady as she chastised her friend, "...kick him out. It's your room and he's got his own".
"I'd like to but I don't want to hurt his feelings", the other gal responded. "He spent nearly a thousand dollars on me last night".
If you're on some type of diet plan, good luck. Temptations are huge.
Entertainment is mostly non-stop especially after dinner.
The casino suckered in a few that I heard of -- one fellow reported his buddy lost $3,600 the night before after "a few too many".
Fats
No longer a cruise virgin
by Fatfreek 22 Replies latest jw friends
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Fatfreek
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Kudra
Decadent!
I have always been interested in those cruises, but think that I could get more immersed in the culture by just flying to the islands and cruising around by myself. But those cruise ships seem soooooo fun...
If you don't mind me asking, how much were the tickets?
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JWdaughter
I've been on two. Not a great place to get cultural info on your destinations (ports), but fun place to meet folks from all round the world, both crew and passengers. THAT will teach you a lot about various cultures--if you talk to all these interesting people.
Ok, my BEST cruise experience was unplanned-unplannable, even. When on a repositioning cruise from Hawaii to Ensenada, about half way across the Pacific Ocean, we came upon an ENORMOUS school of dolphins. HUGE. The just did their little flips coming up from under the ship and dispersing like a fountain almost-hard to describe, but it was amazing, beautiful and wondrous. We talked about it (everyone on the ship) all the way to Ensenada, then San Diego, and I heard stories on the plane headed home to Seattle. There were hundreds if not thousands of them (I have no idea, but there were lots of them at a time and the show lasted a good 20 min). This was something that was once in a lifetime and was 100X better than the whale watching tour and even better than the volcano on Hawaii. And there were parts of that that really blew me away also.
Oh, the food was good, the drinks-well, I drank and normally don't, but they cost way too much.
Australian men of one particular family are horrible flirts or worse. Had I been willing, the 70 something dad and his two sons my age (all very attractive) were extremely available (I would feel special, but i pretty much think they just plain liked girls and were horny) The most intersting one was the dad, so so figure. I like older men, I guess. Quite a charming bunch of leches:)
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megsmomma
Megsdaddy and I went on one for our honeymoon. We thought it was OK....but, we are more the types to like our own time schedule. We didn't like only having a couple hours at certain places and having to worry about making it back to the ship. Also, the activities never seemed to interest us at the times they were held. We had some fun, but, won't spend the money on it again. (It was about 1600.00 per person...6 days)
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avidbiblereader
I have cruised 6 times, I actually leave next Sunday on a 7 day southern/eastern cruise. We fly from BWI to San Juan, then cruise to Barbados, San Lucia, St.Marteen, Antigua, St. Thomas and then back.
Leave on July 7th for a 12 day Mederterrian Cruise.
My wife and I love it, we usually don't do the excursions, cheaper to go your own and do what you want. We nomally go on about 3-4 cruises a year.
I think they are best bang for your buck, when all considered.
abr
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Fatfreek
Yes, Kudra -- decadent is a good word to describe it.
If you don't mind me asking, how much were the tickets?
It was slightly over $1,100 for the two of us. You really should have a wife or a room-mate to keep that expense down.
I talked to one fellow and his wife, they lived 15 minutes from port, and he said his wife shopped. She happened to stumble, online, onto some $800 (a pair) tickets a week prior. They pointed across the aisle from where we were sitting at another couple whom they knew and who got their tickets for $600 -- the equivalent of the airlines' "standby" version. That's less than $100 a day for first class lodging (a towel does not remain on the bathroom floor for more than a couple hours), all the first class food you want (the buffet cafeteria is open most of the time), first class entertainment -- I never was a fan of Ricky Nelson but his twin sons headlined one of our evenings in the grand auditorium, a great standup comic another, an illusionist for another, etc. I learned to play shuffleboard and had the best time with some Louisiana folks in the process. Judy attended the ship's chef demonstration on certain food preparation. She also got her hair fixed but I hate to see that bill.
JwDaughter: Not a great place to get cultural info on your destinations (ports)
Very true. Fact is, I viewed these stops as another way for the cruise lines to pad their pockets. You'd be hard-pressed to convince me that they didn't have ownership of many of the shops adjacent to the docks where we disembarked. Plus, if you go on land by way of those tender boats (like shuttles) there are three or four natives hawking their wares -- necklaces, rings, tee shirts -- up and down the aisles. I understand, if you shop, it's "let the buyer beware".
You dolphin experience sounds great! The closest thing we had to that were the flying fish. However, they almost look microscopic in comparison.
Our best experience was quite by accident. We witnessed an event that was scheduled for the week before (canceled then because of huge rains), a celebration of the Spring equinox. Here in Cozumel when we arrived a parade of small children from 4 to 7 years old, were in parade. Their costumes were colorful and creative and those little folks were truly beautiful. Groups of a dozen, or so, were followed by a pair of adults, perhaps teachers or parents. It was a photographer's paradise. I'll try to fetch a few for a followup post.
Wow, MegsMom, at $1,600 apiece I can understand your reluctance.
Abr: I have cruised 6 times, I actually leave next Sunday on a 7 day southern/eastern cruise. We fly from BWI to San Juan, then cruise to Barbados, San Lucia, St.Marteen, Antigua, St. Thomas and then back. Leave on July 7th for a 12 day Mederterrian Cruise.
Bravo, abr. Now there's a veteran for you and I met several such on board.
Fats
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Crumpet
I did a one day cruise down the Nile from Luxor - it was stunningly beautiful and one day I definitely want to go from Cairo and spend a week. It was a dream come true - a dream borne when I read Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. I even went and had a drink in the old colonnial Winter Palace where she wrote some of the book.
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Fatfreek
I forgot. Before I get to Cozumel, that stop at Costa Maya revealed one little boy at some water fountain in that town square.
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poppers
My sister in law has been a frequent world traveler for more than 35 years. Just this last winter she and some friends took their first cruise, 10 days in the Mediterranean and various ports. She absolutely loved it, though she didn't go on land because of the added expense.
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Fatfreek
Now, to Cozumel and those precious children -- during and after the parade.
