Anyone been on a cruise?

I have been on a cruise every year since 1998. A fabulous experience, It's like having a hotel visit different parts of the world. Save your dollars and have an outside cabin with a balcony.

Went whilst at school and had a brilliant time.

I thought they were only for the elderly. And how do you get away from all the other people on board?

Stay in your cabin ad have room service.

Certainly not only for the past its and the ships are so large it's easy to find a secluded space. If you book a cabin with a balcony, sit on the balcony away from the economy classes!

ps- great deals to be done. I have never yet paid the brochure price!

I thought they were only for the elderly.

That's correct, they're the only ones with any money.

If you are sailing North/South or vice versa might your cabin not be on the shady side if you are badly drawn, Dr?

*Dr Slicer

P O S H- Port Out, Starboard Home Mr Saddo!

Do they still do POSH?

Oh too late.

I think the Betfair contingent would do DODB.

That's drunk out drunk back.

Being drunk on a cruise is NOT a good idea. It is amazing how many go missing on a cruise especially Royal Caribbean!! Don't let the following website put you off a cruise holiday :

https://www.cruiseshipdeaths.com/

Goodnight, sweet dreams.

I was made to go on one a few years back, i was sceptical but the quality of the food and the service is 2nd to none. Take a book, relax by the pool and go to the casino in the evening. Cinemas & stage shows to go to plus you arrive at a new destination each day to visit if you want to.

''I went to sleep with my wife and when I woke up she wasn't there. She must have gone for a stroll on deck and fallen overboard''

I bet the captain's heard that one a few times.

Don't they drag a net behind the ship in order to catch the drunks that fall overboard?

Went to the bar for a last drink, fell overboard on the way back and got keel-hauled.

It's my 60th this year and would like to go a cruise. I'm already to take three sizes of clothes. Intend eating and drinking in excess of my monies worth

Been on a few and going again next week

great experience Feb 2012 had 18 nights in med/canaries for £799 amazing value.

Been on several cruises, as long as one avoids any ship containing minors one should be fine, in my experience.

Agree jed they start digging holes the boat will sink.................sorry I'm thinking of miners

Sailed back from New York once.Loved it.

Once went on a cruise in SE Asia and my boss at the Singapore bank I worked at was on the same cruise. She was one of those people who wants to be your pal. F'king nightmare trying to avoid her all the time.

I worked, as a croupier, on a cruise ship on the Caribbean in the 80's. Out of Miami on 1 week cruises.
Best job ever!
Good money, brilliant atmosphere, fantastic food, visiting great places.
Working on a ship as 'staff' (entertainment, shops, casino, hairdressers) meant you got passenger cabins and treatment, but could also join in with and go to parts of the ship only 'crew' could use - certain bars, different food and kitchen and tv lounges etc.
We were encouraged to (or at least not stopped from) mingling with passengers. I mingled with quite a few :)

It is my intention to go on another one, only as a passenger unfortunately, when I get the money and the time.

You dirty dog, i always thought that the young ship crew would be in for a lot of attention.

I was always under the impression that the staff were paid poorly, or paid the going rate of their homeland against the rate their employers.

Things might have changed since then, I.S.
I was accepted back for a job with Carnival (bigger, newer shipping line) about 15 years ago, but the conditions had changed a lot...
Casino open in port. - Wasn't legal when I was there.
Casino open more or less all day & night - was 6pm til about 1am (or earlier) for us.
Wages far less than they were. Mostly eastern European staff as opposed to Brits.
The idea of style over substance has been lost imo.

The crew (sailors, stewards, kitchen, cleaners, porters, bar staff) were never paid as much as the staff.
The ship I worked on was Norwegian - as were all those driving it, The crew mostly Jamaican and South Korean.

I joined in with the band, the various entertainment things on board, even modelled in the fashion show (those were the days ).
Nearly all the passengers were yanks.

Not been a day since I missed the ship (stuck in Grand Cayman - long story about getting home) and lost my job, which was also due to flash git, arrogant, twatness, that I haven't missed it.

I've considered one but I knew people who did one and didn't like it, they said it was like a holiday camp just on a ship.

He-de-hei campers!

I think that is my biggest fear. Being stuck in a holiday camp with a few thousand people I can't get away from. I don't want to eat at a table with people I don't know and what's the bit about eating at the Captain's table.

I'm with you bix, I'm relatively well travelled but I've never fancied going a cruise for the very reasons you have stated. Maybe in my dotage I'll do a cruise to Alaska but that aside I have no desire to go on one.

A cruise sounds like my worst nightmare, but I must admit I am a bit tempted by one to Alaska or the Norwegian Fjords.

as for a Italian captain if you go on one

ask

Fjord cruise was amazing, on a decent cruise line it would never feel like a holiday camp, you never have to eat with strangers just who you traveled with if you prefer, plenty of people I know imagine the worst try one & then their hooked.

I've never heard anyone say they didn't enjoy a cruise.
But then again, I wouldn't fancy going camping or a hiking holiday - those who like them swear by the experience.
Overall bix, I'd say go for it.

Unlike most holidays, if you don't like it; tough. You're stuck there for the rest of your trip.

I think you've summed it up there STUDYFORM. Each to their own. We like to put a couple of bikes on the back of the motorhome and clear off somewhere in Europe. When we find somewhere we like we stay and if someone camps too near we move. We have no TV and peace and quiet is the object and the thought of being with a few thousand other people fills me with utter dread but I understand that does have an appeal to others.

Did one 8 years ago, dying to go again, it was brilliant - fair few oldies but if you dont bother them, they wont bother you

How do you get your deals Slicer?

can u pull on a cruise

I'm told there's lots of rich widows looking for blokes so you should be ok if you're not too choosy.

even you, yes

I hate it when posts are a couple of seconds too late.

FatherMaguire.  A bloke on the next allotment to mine goes on lots of cruises. He reckons to first look on http://www.vacationstogo.com/ and then ask other agents to beat what they offer. Seems like a bit of a lottery and once you've booked never look to see how much you could have got it for as sometimes it's many £100s cheaper.

you've been "mingled"

Easy to get a deal. Get the brochure or look on the internet on the cruise company's website to find the full asking price. Try and find great price on a cruise bucket company's website. Having decided which cruise and date you want to go. Walk into an independent travel agent shop, ask what they would charge for the exact cruise without revealing your best price. Then negotiate them down to roughly the best price you found or the price you want to pay (be reasonable, they have to make something out of it) saying you have your credit card in hand and that if they match your price you will book there and then. Never ever failed me. The travel shop chains like Thomas Cook are less likely to be able to give the best deals as the independently owned. But if there is one near you, there is nothing to be lost by having a go.

On all my cruises, I only had one where I didn't get on with those on my table. So-I greeted them when I sat down for a meal, and as soon as I had finished, I wished them a good afternoon or evening and got up from the table and left them to it. As I said before, make sure you can afford a decent cabin. Inside cabins can be claustrophobic. I am fortunate to be able to enjoy cabins with balconies. Worth the extra.

If you would like to spend your holiday in a glitzy hotel, eat good food, watch mindless cabaret, drink in soulless bars and watch the antics of well-oiled loud young men and giggly young women, then a cruise is for you. Bix's fear of a holiday camp atmosphere is not far off although the food is better and served with a selection of wines ad-lib.

money - yes you can pull on a cruise

ask the captain to put you in a dinghy and you can row around the ship

On most occasions when my wife has left me on my own somewhere on board whilst she's gone to powder her nose or whatever it takes about two minutes for a widow or divorcee, usually American, to close in and I'm no catch. A mate reckoned he pulled ten in a fortnight's cruise round the Caribbean last year.

can row around the ship

sorry money just couldn't help it

Best not try it while it's moving, especially going around the sharp end.

What cruise line did you go on then Foinavon

We went on MS Magellan, I'm led to believe it's typical and seemed well run, no complaints. Just not our type of holiday. Friends of Mrs F had been on cruises and she wanted to try one, as you do.

Hope this wasn't a Chit Chatters family.

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/entire-family-kicked-off-apos-111622705.html

I bet Tom's been on one ... or in one ...

I imagine it being like 'Grab a granny night', could be a good week or more for bed notches and the chances are they will be rich aswell, no brainer, get packing!

Very popular with Jimmy Savile they were.

Some older people sell their house and become a perpetual cruiser going from ship to ship.

Done a good few overs the years normally 2 a year
been some great places that you would not normally see Fjords
St Petersburg,lots of the Baltic but they are not for everyone
I join most of the events/quizzes going on you get to meet people
if you want to,but it's only a taster of most ports you go to,so
for you to think if you would like a weekend another time.
  The two best ports for me were Venice and New York
the views leaving these two ports is breathtaking imo.

Some of these posts about lots of grannies throwing themselves around the cabins makes me want to go  ..

But only because I think .. if he lurks on chit chat (like all sensible people do), there'll be a good chance now of me getting Wayne Rooney's autograph mid atlantic