52 Countries in 3 days!! Cruise Vacation rant
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() rant 52 countries in 3 days Okay I'm being a little ridiculous, but my sister and her husband just got back from a cruise where they went to like 8 islands in 10 days and they seemed more interested in the number of places that they could tell others they "visited", then actually seeing the places they visited. Maybe it's just me(and DW), but I'd much rather spend 10 days in 1 place and really get to absorb, and immerse myself, in the culture. From what they described, all they saw of these 8 islands were the shops set up by the locals to serve the passengers. When they invited us to go next year, I told them that we have ZERO interest in a cruise because we don't like to be on someone else's time schedule, we prefer to be as alone as possible on vacations, and we'd rather see 10 days of 1 island then 1% of 8 islands. Well, they looked at me like I came from Mars..."How could you not want to see the World?" was her response. Cruises are not my definition of seeing the world...okay..am I(and DW) the only 2 people in the whole world that have absolutely no desire to go on a Cruise? (rant over) I realize, as rants go, this is pretty weak.. |
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Resident Curmudgeon ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() You're right, cruises are for enjoying the on-boat experience, not so much for experiencing the ports of call. They have their attractions, but if they're not for you, then why should you (or your sister, for that matter) care? |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I don't agree. I've been all around the world for work and vacations and by far I enjoy the cruise experience. Simply because there is something always going on and you meet so many new people without trying. In my day to day job i don't want to deal with other people and I'm way to busy on my off time to consider it. Going on a cruise is different and special in it's own way if you want to have fun. Don't get me wrong I've been to places like IWO Jima, Pompeii, Middle East, as well as so many other locations and there is no way I could have enjoyed the history and the awe that those places inspire in a one day stop over such as a cruise provides. I think each type of vacation has it's place depending on what you want out of it. |
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MotoQueen ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I enjoy both experiences, but if I really want to enjoy a place, I do like to spend some time there. The Alaska cruise I did was more relaxing than most vacations and I loved it. Of course we realize that we only saw a teeny tiny part of Alaska but it made us realize that we want to go back and spend some time in inner Alaska. |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I'm not a fan of cruising either. I've only been on one cruise, and it was a Carnival cruise on their biggest ship. Let me just say this: I don't like "people." I really really dislike large crowds of people. I esp dislike large crowds of drunken people. On our cruise, we went to Jamaica, Grand Caymen, and Cozumel. Of the three, the only place I have any interest in re-visiting is Cozumel. And when I return, I'll fly there and spend more than 6 hours. Not to mention that all the places the cruise ships dock are tourist traps, filled with American shops and restaurants. No, we cannot eat at McDonalds. I didn't come 1000 miles to eat at McDonalds or KFC. Or to have drinks at Margaritaville. If the have a chain in my own town, then why do I need to go to *this* one? They're more the same than they are different. No, as I do whenever I travel, whether abroad or just to the next state over, I follow the locals and see what they do. If I'm going to have the same experience in each place, why bother even leaving home.
Although, I have to say that the on-ship dining was some of the best food I've ever had. I'd cruise again for that, as long as I didn't have to share the ship with 5000 other vacationers. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I don't think I would like a cruise either..... |
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![]() I was pretty much convinced I'd hate a crusie as well, then my mom popped for an Alaskan cruise last summer. Maybe because it wasn't on my dime, but I had a friggin blast. Flew in a seaplane, visited a summer Iditarod training camp, train to the Yukon, scuba diving in Ketchikan (that was on my onw, not a ship activity). ANd I enjoyed the stupid cruise ship stuff too, the comics, the bingo, etc. If you go with the right attititude, it can be fun That said, I don't think I'd do a warm weather cruise. Too many drunks, and when I go to an island destination, I prefer the hut on the beach with a beer accomodation to a hotel Oh, and for travel bona fides, I've been to 30 something countries over the years, and stayed in everything from tents, slept outdoors, backpackers, roofs of hotels, boats, nice business hotels, etc etc etc. Edited by ChrisM 2007-10-28 2:24 PM |
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Champion![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I'd rather toss my stuff in a backpack, drop into the Grand Canyon, and battle it out with the heat and scorpions.
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() a triathlon cruise would be fun. You go and do a race on of the islands on one of the days. Plus you get alot of like minded people. I think it would be alot of fun. I am sure a cruise is what you make of it. There are people who do them every year. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() well, there was a CoJ bus - why not a CoJ boat? |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() A BT cruise is on the "things to look into" list. Have coaches/pros etc. put on some seminars, group workouts. We'll probably do a regular tri camp first though. |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() chirunner134 - 2007-10-28 4:28 PM a triathlon cruise would be fun. You go and do a race on of the islands on one of the days. Plus you get alot of like minded people. I think it would be alot of fun. I am sure a cruise is what you make of it. There are people who do them every year. Now Chi, THIS is an idea I could get behind! MarmaMike, keep us posted. Otherwise, yeah, I'm in the "non-cruise" crowd. I figure, different strokes for different folks. In my view, the BEST experience to have in a far-away place is to be invited into someone's home -- those are the truly memorable times. |
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Champion![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Cruises are the best vacation possible in my opinion. Run a marathon or do an Ironman and then head off to the high seas and kick back, drink too much, eat way way to much, and party like a rockstar. Wake up a week later, hungover, broke from all the drinks, fat and realize this lifestyle can't last forever. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I always think I'd like to go on a cruise. Sounds good - really rolls off the tongue... We're going on a cruise ... niiiiice. Then I get all excited and read the cruise "benefits" listed on the websites and brochures. Family friendly, 8 meals a day, gambling, shopping, swimming. Hmmm. We're not much on hangin out with other people's kids. We sure don't need 8 meals a day. I don't like gambling. It only takes 1 strong drink to get me drunk (sad I know), and why would I buy over-priced same-as-here-at-home carp when I wouldn't buy the same stuff at home? And we don't like crowds. OK. That leaves seeing a show (2-3 hours), a massage (1 hour, say...twice?), and, uh... okay, what would I do on a cruise? Never have managed to answer that. Besides, it's kindof a conversation stopper when you say, I went on a cruise to ____. What's the fun in going somewhere if that's all you get to tell people? Here's another travel thing I don't get: a co-worker, her husband and her daughter spend all their vacations in Disneyland. That's it. Just Disneyland. They've been six times. They go for a week and stay at the Disneyland Hotel. She doesn't really want to go anywhere else because it's too much of a gamble if you'll have a good time or not. So they'll just go to Disneyland. This blows my mind. |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I have been on cruises as well as stand alone vacations. I think a lot of the decision to cruise or not to cruise is a personal decision as to what you want out of that vacation. Not to mention an Alaskan or Canadien cruise is entirely differant from a Caribean cruise. I have enjoyed every cruise I have been on as has the rest of my family. But we have had as much fun picking a destination and enjoying the local cultures as well. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() My wife went on a cruise and wants to go back. I have never been on one, and I have no interest, for the reasons sited above. For our honeymoon, we went to Charleston S.C. without a schedule. We took each day as it came, and at the end of it, we decided to drive down to Savannah because we heard it was cool. It was. ![]() |
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