Your not wrong there.....but when I mention I have been working on ships for more than 40 years they tend to fuck off and leave me alone
Only been on 2 large ship type, not a fan, BUT I love the European river cruises, done 3 so far. MUCH less people, usually around 120, so yes more expensive but worth it and the scenery is passing you as you sit with a beer / wine. Also tied up in some fantastic places to wander around in the evening. Lovely cabins / food and not ripped off on drink prices. will do more..
My wife and I have recently discussed having a cruise holiday. I'm not sure if I'm going to like it. She's positive she will as she was the Pianist on them a few times. We are looking for a mini-break, say 5 days. Perhaps fly somewhere and do a short run out. Stay a couple of days in the airport city. Any suggestions on what to do and not to do?
My mate and his wife did it last year from Barcelona, around Italy and to Croatia iirc. They loved it and are going back again this year. He paid extra for a cabin with a sun terrace and it did look amazing to be fair. You could have bought a very nice bike and had a cheap holiday for what they paid though. Didn't I just say that?
Yep, but what I've paid for SWMBO dental work I could have had a new D16. Thanks for your input on the Cruise stuff.
If you want to arrive in Alaska, Stockholm or Cozumel with 3000 to 6000 others 90% of whom want to be at the same bar/ cafe/ toilet/ castle/ sunbed, snorkelling reef or animal park as you, go ahead. Don't forget at busy times of year, there can be 13 ships all with 3000 to 6000 passengers at Cozumel Xmas & New Year docked at the same time - makes things interesting, and prices change immediately...
I used to work in the Far East.... Bar girls tripled the prices when the US fleet was in. Free Market pricing....
Been in merchant navy or related since I was 18. Longest trip was a mere catnap of 5 months 29 days. I was offered a cruise for free years ago and refused point blank. No way you could get me to holiday on a boat. Apart from using the cross channel ferries to get somewhere, I tend to holiday as far inland as possible.
Same here been in merchant navy for over 40 years and kept off cruises until my wife bent my ear to go on one. I quite like them as I dont socialise at all with the rest of the passengers as all they usually want to do is talk about their last cruise. I can drink till I fall over and not care about smoky chimneys or broken toilets. The scenery keeps changing and I can actually get off the ship and see it. Its certainly not for everyone though.
Worked on a yacht in the South of France belonging to the guy that invented the soft contact lens - does that count?
Went once in the med !!! I'd rather have my balls nibbled off by a rat the next time !! Some people love them and the wife was happy enough but I can't stand organized fun !! She said next time she's bringing the boyfriend
I didn't think I'd enjoy a cruise - it was to humour the wife that I took the plunge (no pun intended), and I've enjoyed most of them, but I don't recommend the Nordic Cities from Southampton in winter. The ship went through Force 9 Gales and moored off Ipswich whilst en-route from Stockholm to Amsterdam, eventually missing Holland out completely. 90% of passengers were sea-sick, meaning the restaurants were all but empty. Jaunts to Madeira and Canaries are good as there is better warmer weather once you get past the Bay of Biscay. The entertainment is usually good (my missus likes the big show productions) with live bands/singers/instrumentalists, some of whom you may have heard of when in their prime. Now they earn a few bob on the cruise circuit.
Most expensive ferry in the world, mile per £! I would take it, but it doesn't go anyway nice without a stop over.
The best of the best , back in the day .... .... but then Carnival bought everything , and turned every line they took over into "McCruise" . Officers and staff were offered " McJobs" contracts , and they left in droves .
