Unusual Cruise
Aug 23, 2018 13:34:46 #
Friends just returned from a cruise from NY to Bermuda on Norwegian Lines "Escape." They have been on many cruises, but this one was unusual.
If you've been on a cruise, you know that they have a lifeboat drill very soon after departing. I remember finding our life vests in our room, walking a short distance to our lifeboat station, and then getting directions from a crew member. On this cruise, my friends (in their 80s) were on the fifteenth floor. That's not a typo. They were fifteen floors up. Because this was just a drill, they didn't have to use the stairs to get to the main lobby. When they arrived, they received their life vests. There were hundreds of people standing around, sitting on the floor, and kids were running around. Over the PA system a crew member tried to give directions, but it was very noisy. Then they had to return their life vests and wait for an elevator to get back up to the fifteenth floor.
On all the cruises I've been on, there was lots of entertainment, and it was available to all passengers. On this cruise, they had to sign up ahead of time and pay for most entertainment.
I'm glad I did all the cruising that I did years ago.
If you've been on a cruise, you know that they have a lifeboat drill very soon after departing. I remember finding our life vests in our room, walking a short distance to our lifeboat station, and then getting directions from a crew member. On this cruise, my friends (in their 80s) were on the fifteenth floor. That's not a typo. They were fifteen floors up. Because this was just a drill, they didn't have to use the stairs to get to the main lobby. When they arrived, they received their life vests. There were hundreds of people standing around, sitting on the floor, and kids were running around. Over the PA system a crew member tried to give directions, but it was very noisy. Then they had to return their life vests and wait for an elevator to get back up to the fifteenth floor.
On all the cruises I've been on, there was lots of entertainment, and it was available to all passengers. On this cruise, they had to sign up ahead of time and pay for most entertainment.
I'm glad I did all the cruising that I did years ago.
Aug 23, 2018 13:42:01 #
Wow! That's 180-degrees from my recent experience on a Viking cruise of the Baltic. I won't go into too many specifics; suffice it to say we had to take the elevators on our drill, but our ship only had 3 or 4 passenger decks, and ALL entertainment was free. I think the lesson to be learned here is that before booking a cruise (or any trip, for that matter) the times we're living in demand that we do our homework. I, for one, would never cruise on a ship that has 15 floors. Thanks for sharing this with us, Jerry.
Aug 23, 2018 14:11:41 #
rdgreenwood wrote:
I, for one, would never cruise on a ship that has 15 floors.
That's why maybe the cruise line should limit 80 year olds to the deck or no more than 1 flight up or down. Just my opinion. I wouldn't go on a cruise ever. They don't appeal to me and never have. Well, maybe back in my drinking days it might have appealed to me. But that was over 30 years ago.
Aug 23, 2018 14:56:11 #
jeep_daddy wrote:
Well, maybe back in my drinking days it might have appealed to me. But that was over 30 years ago.
When I was at the bursar's desk checking out at the end of a cruise, the guy ahead of me was having his bill printed. It went on for page after page after page. Those long nights at the bar really add up. : )
Aug 24, 2018 06:45:40 #
As far as I am concerned I consider that cruising has had its day. My first cruise which was on the P&O Oriana and that was almost 20 years ago, it was a small ship and was able to get right into the various harbours. Now the ships are so large with several thousand passengers they can't into small ports and anchor out and use tenders. If these large floating cities can get into a dock the passengers have to use shuttle buses that charge a fare.
When cruising you may go to lots of ports all over the world but passengers do not see anything of the country you happen to be visiting, only the local town or wherever your tour bus takes you.
These huge floating cities are ruining the ports with thousands of tourists suddenly arriving so places such as Venice, Dubrovnik, Kotor etc are considering rationing the number of cruise ships calling.
My final cruise was last year on a small Spanish Ship (Pullmantur) round the Canaries and Marrakesh, it was our third trip on this ship and it was very enjoyable even though 95% of the passengers were Spanish.
Now we use the car to cross the Channel to France, Belgium and Holland, drive on quiet roads and really see the country. In a couple of weeks, we are having a week in Calvados and visit Caen, the famous D Day beaches, and wander round the Bocage. This would not be possible from a cruise ship.
A few weeks later we are doing a Mini Cruise trip to the Basque country in northern Spain, the ship is ferry really so you can take your car or truck. (http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/)
When cruising you may go to lots of ports all over the world but passengers do not see anything of the country you happen to be visiting, only the local town or wherever your tour bus takes you.
These huge floating cities are ruining the ports with thousands of tourists suddenly arriving so places such as Venice, Dubrovnik, Kotor etc are considering rationing the number of cruise ships calling.
My final cruise was last year on a small Spanish Ship (Pullmantur) round the Canaries and Marrakesh, it was our third trip on this ship and it was very enjoyable even though 95% of the passengers were Spanish.
Now we use the car to cross the Channel to France, Belgium and Holland, drive on quiet roads and really see the country. In a couple of weeks, we are having a week in Calvados and visit Caen, the famous D Day beaches, and wander round the Bocage. This would not be possible from a cruise ship.
A few weeks later we are doing a Mini Cruise trip to the Basque country in northern Spain, the ship is ferry really so you can take your car or truck. (http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/)
Aug 24, 2018 07:21:08 #
A few years ago we were having a nice long, outdoor lunch across the street from the pier in Hamilton, Bermuda as thousands of passengers debarked from a ship. Pure chaos. No thanks.
Aug 24, 2018 08:05:06 #
Dannj wrote:
A few years ago we were having a nice long, outdoor lunch across the street from the pier in Hamilton, Bermuda as thousands of passengers debarked from a ship. Pure chaos. No thanks.
As they years passed, ships got bigger, and more of them were built. Going back to the same Caribbean islands over time, we saw huge crowds in the towns and on the beaches. I'm glad we did all the cruising we did when the industry was smaller.
Aug 24, 2018 08:40:42 #
Try Viking for rivers and Oceania for oceans. None of that nonsense but of course you pay a “little” more (just like that fancy camera you sprung for).
Aug 24, 2018 08:50:25 #
Our vacay of choice is cruising. We try to do 2 a year. One to Med and one to Carib. We really enjoy Norwegian. The shows are always free and the quality is amazing. We now enjoy taking our time in each of the ports and doing our own exploring. Norwegian make the drill easy;you just go to the lounge for your group and listen to the crew explain. Sooner not do it at all but it is maritime law and for our safety. Cruising is very personal and for us ..... love it.
Aug 24, 2018 08:50:42 #
Our vacay of choice is cruising. We try to do 2 a year. One to Med and one to Carib. We really enjoy Norwegian. The shows are always free and the quality is amazing. We now enjoy taking our time in each of the ports and doing our own exploring. Norwegian make the drill easy;you just go to the lounge for your group and listen to the crew explain. Sooner not do it at all but it is maritime law and for our safety. Cruising is very personal and for us ..... love it.
Aug 24, 2018 09:29:26 #
Ive been on 42 cruises with the 43rd in less than 3 weeks. Cruising is our favorite vacation as everything, or almost everthing is included! Mostly on Carnival but on Norwegian and Disney too! Lots of great memories and photos too! Cruising is my getaway from the grind at work and either refreshes me or makes me lazy when I come back to work!
Aug 24, 2018 09:50:37 #
Viking builds smaller ocean ships than the other major lines use. Service and amenities are great. We've been on two other lines before Viking added ocean cruises, and we are now sticking to Viking.
Aug 24, 2018 09:56:24 #
Been on one cruise, never again. Cruises are for the Newly Wed, Over Fed and Nearly Dead classes
Aug 24, 2018 11:52:22 #
johneccles wrote:
As far as I am concerned I consider that cruising ... (show quote)
Totally agree with your perspective on cruises.
Aug 24, 2018 11:53:37 #
kenmck wrote:
Been on one cruise, never again. Cruises are for the Newly Wed, Over Fed and Nearly Dead classes
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.