Cruises

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Cruises

Postby bulldogproud2 » Thu Sep 19, 2013 2:44 pm

Hi guys,
Have recently started to become a bit of a Cruise addict. In July I went on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas around China and South Korea. In December, I will be going on Celebrity Solstice around New Zealand and then Hobart and Sydney.

I have found that it is almost impossible to get bored on a cruise ship. With them visiting ports more often than not (some pretty much spend all day every day in ports), you get to explore a lot of places and only need to unpack once. You then come back on board for a wonderful meal and then a top-notch show (either a stage production, including shows like Chicago or Hairspray, or magicians, music acts or acrobats). Royal Caribbean ships even have an ice-skating rink on board, as well as a rockclimbing wall!
Their new ship, Quantum of the Seas, will even have dodgem cars!

Wanted to know other people's thoughts about cruises, cruiselines etc.

Cheers
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Re: Cruises

Postby Psyber » Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:15 pm

I'm curious too.

I've never gone on a cruise and have tended to imagine them as divided into either floating hotels for the old and tired, or as drink, drug, and sex parties for the bogan set, depending on their promotion and destinations. However, I have become interested in the small boat cruise that does the Baltic Sea circuit and visits each country starting the loop from Copenhagen. You can get of in Norway and go straight to a tour of the fiords, and then get a ferry to northern Scotland and/or Iceland.

Has anyone tried that one?
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Re: Cruises

Postby bulldogproud2 » Thu Sep 19, 2013 8:03 pm

Psyber wrote:I'm curious too.

I've never gone on a cruise and have tended to imagine them as divided into either floating hotels for the old and tired, or as drink, drug, and sex parties for the bogan set, depending on their promotion and destinations. However, I have become in the small boat cruise that does the Baltic Sea circuit and visits each country starting the loop from Copenhagen. You can get of in Norway and go straight to a tour of the fiords, and then get a ferry to northern Scotland and/or Iceland.

Has anyone tried that one?


Not as yet.
Psyber, we were two of only 8 Anglo Saxons on one of the cruises and two of only 16 on the other. The Chinese do not drink alcohol so there is no worry about it being a party ship. In fact, they have decreased the number of bars and extended the size of the casino on board their ships due to the lack of drinking. Even the cruises which are closer to home, or in the Caribbean or Hawaii on board lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Holland America, Cunard, Norwegian etc. are no longer party ships. Cruising has changed a lot over the past decade. Bar staff get in trouble if they serve people who are intoxicated.
Average age of those on board would have been 40-50. Many families were on board and many were there celebrating graduation from university or even High School (gift from parents - family trip).

I would definitely encourage you to try out a cruise. At the very least, look at some of the videos on Youtube to get an idea.

Cheers
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Re: Cruises

Postby Farbs » Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:37 pm

I love going on cruises.

Have been on 3 so far - a P&O Cruise on Sun from Freo up to Indonesia and back down the west coast of Aus, A Celebrity Cruise on Infinity from San Diego down the west side of Central America and through the Panama Canal up to Florida, and a Royal Caribbean Cruise on Allure of the Seas in the Caribbean.

All good for their own reasons, although after being on Celebrity and then Royal Caribbean, I wouldn't go on P&O again. Allure of the Seas was UNREAL. So much to see and do, I woulda been happy to stay on board the whole cruise.

None of them were 'party ships'. You could go to the clubs if you like, but it wasn't in your face. Lots of families etc.

My wife has done 3 additional ones in South Pacific, but i'm yet to do so. Looking at next year on one of the Royal Caribbean ships. Can't wait!
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Re: Cruises

Postby bulldogproud2 » Sat Sep 28, 2013 7:18 pm

Farbs, which Celebrity ship did you go on? Am going on Celebrity Solstice around New Zealand and then Hobart and Sydney in December, then on Celebrity Reflection around the Eastern Mediterannean in July next year.
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Re: Cruises

Postby Farbs » Mon Sep 30, 2013 11:20 am

bulldogproud2 wrote:Farbs, which Celebrity ship did you go on? Am going on Celebrity Solstice around New Zealand and then Hobart and Sydney in December, then on Celebrity Reflection around the Eastern Mediterannean in July next year.
Cheers


I went on Celebrity Infinity. Very nice ship and had no dramas at all. If you like a drink or two, then the drink package that celebrity offer is fantastic. Think it cost us about $50 each per day, so it doesn't take too many 18yo Jamesons to reach your quota :lol:

You should enjoy Celebrity - was a very well run cruise.
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Re: Cruises

Postby bulldogproud2 » Mon Sep 30, 2013 10:20 pm

Farbs wrote:
bulldogproud2 wrote:Farbs, which Celebrity ship did you go on? Am going on Celebrity Solstice around New Zealand and then Hobart and Sydney in December, then on Celebrity Reflection around the Eastern Mediterannean in July next year.
Cheers


I went on Celebrity Infinity. Very nice ship and had no dramas at all. If you like a drink or two, then the drink package that celebrity offer is fantastic. Think it cost us about $50 each per day, so it doesn't take too many 18yo Jamesons to reach your quota :lol:

You should enjoy Celebrity - was a very well run cruise.


Thanks, Farbs. Am a nondrinker so have ordered the premium non-alcoholic package. $20 a day and includes premium coffees, premium milk drinks as well as the full range of carbonated and juices. The drink package certainly does pay its way, yes.
Also have purchase the three-dinner package with the specialty restaurants. Am in Aqua Class on the Solstice so am also looking forward to dining at Blu.

Cheers
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Re: Cruises

Postby Farbs » Tue Oct 01, 2013 10:58 am

bulldogproud2 wrote:
Farbs wrote:
bulldogproud2 wrote:Farbs, which Celebrity ship did you go on? Am going on Celebrity Solstice around New Zealand and then Hobart and Sydney in December, then on Celebrity Reflection around the Eastern Mediterannean in July next year.
Cheers


I went on Celebrity Infinity. Very nice ship and had no dramas at all. If you like a drink or two, then the drink package that celebrity offer is fantastic. Think it cost us about $50 each per day, so it doesn't take too many 18yo Jamesons to reach your quota :lol:

You should enjoy Celebrity - was a very well run cruise.


Thanks, Farbs. Am a nondrinker so have ordered the premium non-alcoholic package. $20 a day and includes premium coffees, premium milk drinks as well as the full range of carbonated and juices. The drink package certainly does pay its way, yes.
Also have purchase the three-dinner package with the specialty restaurants. Am in Aqua Class on the Solstice so am also looking forward to dining at Blu.

Cheers


Nice work. We found all the dining really good on Celebrity so you should have no trouble at all.

All this cruise talk makes me want to book another one!

Hope you have a great time!
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Re: Cruises

Postby Mic » Tue Oct 01, 2013 11:53 pm

Did an Alaskan cruise for a week in 2007, with Holland America.
They had a 'young people's' night at the bar one night - there were 6 of us!
Ate so much and got so fat during that week; my diet of losing 20+ kgs in 8 months started the day the cruise ended.
The day spent going through Glacier Bay/Inside Passage still remains my favourite day of overseas travel.

Am doing a 5-night cruise as part of my honeymoon at the end of next year, leaving/returning from Singapore and stopping twice in Thailand. Got the larger room with a balcony.
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Re: Cruises

Postby bulldogproud2 » Wed Oct 02, 2013 5:35 pm

Farbs wrote:
bulldogproud2 wrote:
Farbs wrote:
bulldogproud2 wrote:Farbs, which Celebrity ship did you go on? Am going on Celebrity Solstice around New Zealand and then Hobart and Sydney in December, then on Celebrity Reflection around the Eastern Mediterannean in July next year.
Cheers


I went on Celebrity Infinity. Very nice ship and had no dramas at all. If you like a drink or two, then the drink package that celebrity offer is fantastic. Think it cost us about $50 each per day, so it doesn't take too many 18yo Jamesons to reach your quota :lol:

You should enjoy Celebrity - was a very well run cruise.


Thanks, Farbs. Am a nondrinker so have ordered the premium non-alcoholic package. $20 a day and includes premium coffees, premium milk drinks as well as the full range of carbonated and juices. The drink package certainly does pay its way, yes.
Also have purchase the three-dinner package with the specialty restaurants. Am in Aqua Class on the Solstice so am also looking forward to dining at Blu.

Cheers


Nice work. We found all the dining really good on Celebrity so you should have no trouble at all.

All this cruise talk makes me want to book another one!

Hope you have a great time!


I know the feeling, Farbs. Booked two more cruises within weeks of finishing my last two lol
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Re: Cruises

Postby bulldogproud2 » Wed Oct 02, 2013 5:37 pm

Mic wrote:Did an Alaskan cruise for a week in 2007, with Holland America.
They had a 'young people's' night at the bar one night - there were 6 of us!
Ate so much and got so fat during that week; my diet of losing 20+ kgs in 8 months started the day the cruise ended.
The day spent going through Glacier Bay/Inside Passage still remains my favourite day of overseas travel.

Am doing a 5-night cruise as part of my honeymoon at the end of next year, leaving/returning from Singapore and stopping twice in Thailand. Got the larger room with a balcony.



Ahhh, enjoy, Mick!
The good thing re cruises is that the age group taking them seems to be getting down from those in their 70's to now average more those in their 40's and 50's.
Admittedly, nothing at all wrong with older people though.

Cheers
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Re: Cruises

Postby Mic » Wed Oct 02, 2013 8:11 pm

bulldogproud2 wrote:
Mic wrote:Did an Alaskan cruise for a week in 2007, with Holland America.
They had a 'young people's' night at the bar one night - there were 6 of us!
Ate so much and got so fat during that week; my diet of losing 20+ kgs in 8 months started the day the cruise ended.
The day spent going through Glacier Bay/Inside Passage still remains my favourite day of overseas travel.

Am doing a 5-night cruise as part of my honeymoon at the end of next year, leaving/returning from Singapore and stopping twice in Thailand. Got the larger room with a balcony.



Ahhh, enjoy, Mick!
The good thing re cruises is that the age group taking them seems to be getting down from those in their 70's to now average more those in their 40's and 50's.
Admittedly, nothing at all wrong with older people though.

Cheers


Yep, if didn't bother us at all as we had just been on 2 Contiki tours through the US. Some peace and quiet was appreciated. :)
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Re: Cruises

Postby valleys07 » Thu Oct 03, 2013 3:05 pm

Cruising is probably my favourite way to travel. I went on a P&O cruise in 2011 upon the Jewel, through the New Caledonian Islands. That was with 2 groups of friends and was more aimed at a "party" atmosphere.

In May this year, I cruised with my wife and in-laws through Mediterranean Europe via Holland America- this time aimed at experiencing life across the other side of the world.

Both were fantastic and met quite a few people who I keep in touch with today.

As has been previously mentioned- your accommodation is sorted and meals are left to your desire, whether it be aboard the ship or at your port. A cruise is what you want to make of it, whether it be sipping Long Islands by the pools, dancing the night away in the bars and nightclubs, frequenting the massage parlours and beauty salons , undertaking various seminars (art, music, IT), taking in a broadway or circus show, or having a punt at the casino- all this while seeing incredible parts of the world via action packed, on the go tours whilst at port.

There is plenty of fun for kids on board (some ships have an entire floor dedicated to kids entertainment)- with staff members aboard the ship watching your kids so parents can enjoy some quiet time.

Would recommend to anybody!
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Re: Cruises

Postby bulldogproud2 » Thu Oct 03, 2013 5:27 pm

valleys07 wrote:Cruising is probably my favourite way to travel. I went on a P&O cruise in 2011 upon the Jewel, through the New Caledonian Islands. That was with 2 groups of friends and was more aimed at a "party" atmosphere.

In May this year, I cruised with my wife and in-laws through Mediterranean Europe via Holland America- this time aimed at experiencing life across the other side of the world.

Both were fantastic and met quite a few people who I keep in touch with today.

As has been previously mentioned- your accommodation is sorted and meals are left to your desire, whether it be aboard the ship or at your port. A cruise is what you want to make of it, whether it be sipping Long Islands by the pools, dancing the night away in the bars and nightclubs, frequenting the massage parlours and beauty salons , undertaking various seminars (art, music, IT), taking in a broadway or circus show, or having a punt at the casino- all this while seeing incredible parts of the world via action packed, on the go tours whilst at port.

There is plenty of fun for kids on board (some ships have an entire floor dedicated to kids entertainment)- with staff members aboard the ship watching your kids so parents can enjoy some quiet time.

Would recommend to anybody!


On many of the top lines, you even have three or four different kid's clubs, based on the ages of the children. This caters for children right up to the age of about 17. You will also find that the kids have a wonderful time and are keen to go back every day.
Cruising beats touring via a bus any day. You only need to unpack once, meals are amazing and in wonderful settings, and the shows can be amazing. For instance, Cirque De Soiei are currently on one cruise line, whilst others have the stage productions of Chicago and Hairspray currently being performed.

Cheers
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Re: Cruises

Postby Farbs » Fri Oct 04, 2013 5:14 pm

All this cruise talk has got me....about to book on Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas cruising South Pacific leaving 22 February. Sweet!!!
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Re: Cruises

Postby bulldogproud2 » Fri Oct 04, 2013 11:35 pm

Farbs wrote:All this cruise talk has got me....about to book on Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas cruising South Pacific leaving 22 February. Sweet!!!


You will love it, Farbs, and you know it :D
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Re: Cruises

Postby Farbs » Wed Oct 09, 2013 10:42 am

bulldogproud2 wrote:
Farbs wrote:All this cruise talk has got me....about to book on Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas cruising South Pacific leaving 22 February. Sweet!!!


You will love it, Farbs, and you know it :D


We're all booked! Can't wait now!
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Re: Cruises

Postby Smashed Crab » Sat Oct 12, 2013 6:38 pm

Has anyone cruised with Royal Carribean Adventure of the Seas before? And also Norwegian Spirit? Just booked them for my honeymoon travelling Miami to Southhampton and then Barcelona to Venice respectively in April and May next year. They are rated 4.5 and 4.0 star so my expectations aren't huge, but hoping they will still be great. Anyone been on either of these to ships before?

Also, are the drinks/cocktail packages worth it? Looks to be about $50Aus each night for both of us, and we have to book for both of us or none and for the full length cruise, 14 and 12 days. I'm sure we could put a dent in it for half the time but some days will be flat out checking out the sights onland so may not feel like drinking too much. Yay or Nay?

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Re: Cruises

Postby Farbs » Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:40 am

Smashed Crab wrote:Has anyone cruised with Royal Carribean Adventure of the Seas before? And also Norwegian Spirit? Just booked them for my honeymoon travelling Miami to Southhampton and then Barcelona to Venice respectively in April and May next year. They are rated 4.5 and 4.0 star so my expectations aren't huge, but hoping they will still be great. Anyone been on either of these to ships before?

Also, are the drinks/cocktail packages worth it? Looks to be about $50Aus each night for both of us, and we have to book for both of us or none and for the full length cruise, 14 and 12 days. I'm sure we could put a dent in it for half the time but some days will be flat out checking out the sights onland so may not feel like drinking too much. Yay or Nay?

Cheers


I haven't been on either ship, so can't comment. Can only comment on Royal Caribbean in general from what we've experienced, and have found them excellent.

As far as the drinks package goes, which ship is that on? Royal only do wine packages don't they? I guess the thing to check is the inclusions, for example, when we sailed on Celebrity Cruises, we did a drinks package and it worked out to about $50 per day too, on a 15 night cruise. But it included drinks to the value of about $11 or $12, which meant i could get premium whiskies, which i like, e.g. 18yo Jamesons. It doesn't take many of them to reach your daily quota. My wife drank cocktails which are $10- $12 ea too, so again didn't take long to hit quota. Some of the bigger drinking days, i would have easily drank over $150 worth of alcohol/non-alcohol drinks, so definitely would have come out on top.
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Re: Cruises

Postby bulldogproud2 » Wed Nov 27, 2013 12:18 pm

Farbs wrote:
Smashed Crab wrote:Has anyone cruised with Royal Carribean Adventure of the Seas before? And also Norwegian Spirit? Just booked them for my honeymoon travelling Miami to Southhampton and then Barcelona to Venice respectively in April and May next year. They are rated 4.5 and 4.0 star so my expectations aren't huge, but hoping they will still be great. Anyone been on either of these to ships before?

Also, are the drinks/cocktail packages worth it? Looks to be about $50Aus each night for both of us, and we have to book for both of us or none and for the full length cruise, 14 and 12 days. I'm sure we could put a dent in it for half the time but some days will be flat out checking out the sights onland so may not feel like drinking too much. Yay or Nay?

Cheers


I haven't been on either ship, so can't comment. Can only comment on Royal Caribbean in general from what we've experienced, and have found them excellent.

As far as the drinks package goes, which ship is that on? Royal only do wine packages don't they? I guess the thing to check is the inclusions, for example, when we sailed on Celebrity Cruises, we did a drinks package and it worked out to about $50 per day too, on a 15 night cruise. But it included drinks to the value of about $11 or $12, which meant i could get premium whiskies, which i like, e.g. 18yo Jamesons. It doesn't take many of them to reach your daily quota. My wife drank cocktails which are $10- $12 ea too, so again didn't take long to hit quota. Some of the bigger drinking days, i would have easily drank over $150 worth of alcohol/non-alcohol drinks, so definitely would have come out on top.


Hi Farbs,
Am pretty sure you will find that RCCL (Royal Caribbean) also cover other drinks in their packages. They are run by the same company that runs Celebrity so am pretty sure their drink packages are similar. I can't be sure though as I don't personally drink alcohol.
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