Cruise - Anyone been on one?
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Partner & I have been on a few. Great value for money as most food included, where else do you get your bed made twice a day and turned down at night. Food is great caters to all. Remember that the longer the cruise the older the patrons. I've been to noumea out of Sydney twice . This is around 10 days good fun & late nights. We went around top end of Australia, Sydney to Freo had amazing weather was 21 days, patrons a lot older no one at the disco! We've just completed a river cruise from amsterdam to budapest no young families on this, then we did the Mediterranean cruise from Venus to Barcelona which had a range of age groups. We love cruising, so relaxing and plenty to do for all age groups. Make sure you go princess or one of the other big liners as there is less rocking as they have stabilisers, smaller ships can be nicknamed washing machines depends on the age of the boat as well. We love these holidays just so relaxed & being cared for. Everyone should go once.
Were you regularly taking sea-sickness tabs? I was guessing that would be a necessary precaution during trip.
I was naive in thinking we wouldn't need it with a big cruise liner - I was wrong. Lesson learnt, hahaha.
Got over it after the first day so rest was fine.
One way to reduce sea sickness is to travel outside of cyclone season, cyclone season being the less expensive months. I am prone to travel sickness but only get it in very rough weather. Most of the time the water was flat and I was fine. Modern tablets are great, you only need them a few times.
I have been on three cruises, all different. The cheaper cruises will be very family orientated, with kids clubs catering to the different ages. The smaller boats seem more exxy but that is because they do not have 4 berth cabins as their advertised price. They will not cater as much for children although from my experience Holland America Line does take teens. Do you want to travel on a blingey Las Vegas Hotel or something more sedate?
I have been on three cruises, all different. The cheaper cruises will be very family orientated, with kids clubs catering to the different ages. The smaller boats seem more exxy but that is because they do not have 4 berth cabins as their advertised price. They will not cater as much for children although from my experience Holland America Line does take teens. Do you want to travel on a blingey Las Vegas Hotel or something more sedate?
I've done a couple, ranging from 4 - 20 days in areas such as the Bahamas, Alaska, SE Asia and Australia. My tips are:
- As previously mentioned, the longer they are, the older the patronage seems to be which can make it feel like you are on a floating retirement home.
- The corollary is that the shorter the cruise, the more likely the better kids activities and minding arrangements will be.
- The inclusions are excellent value for money but optional tours can quickly gobble your money.
- Booze is very expensive on board and cocktails are often watered down.
- In Alaska we were allowed to bring two bottles of wine aboard per port, but this was not well advertised or encouraged by the cruise lines (obviously)
- The cruise lines will regularly do the hard sell their own way overpriced products eg. jewelery, art, souvenirs at any chance they get.
- They are also big on loyalty programs, with the most common question (after 'where are you from?') by fellow passengers and crew being 'how many cruises have you done?'
- Tips are expected for a range of support staff and, if you are guilted into paying them, can easily reach hundreds of dollars per person if you go by the cruise line's guidance.
- Entertainment on board is generally very good to outstanding and is free. Do as much as you can.
- Expenses on board are usually racked up using a swipe card and automatically added to your tab, which encourages overspending.
- Same swipe card stops teenage kids buying booze, which is great, but not anything else.
- Embarking is OK because you are excited at the beginning of the trip but getting off is quite laborious with when your bags need to be out and waiting for your timeslot to get off.
- You can pay a lot for fancy cabins but if you are cruising right you'll spend bugger all time in them and when you do you'll be sleeping, so save your money on cabin quality trinkets (port hole, deck, sitting rooms) and spend it on other, more memorable, experiences.
IMO, medium length cruises (7-10 days) are the best. FWIW, I'll never do another again but they were good to great experiences and we don't regret doing them.
- As previously mentioned, the longer they are, the older the patronage seems to be which can make it feel like you are on a floating retirement home.
- The corollary is that the shorter the cruise, the more likely the better kids activities and minding arrangements will be.
- The inclusions are excellent value for money but optional tours can quickly gobble your money.
- Booze is very expensive on board and cocktails are often watered down.
- In Alaska we were allowed to bring two bottles of wine aboard per port, but this was not well advertised or encouraged by the cruise lines (obviously)
- The cruise lines will regularly do the hard sell their own way overpriced products eg. jewelery, art, souvenirs at any chance they get.
- They are also big on loyalty programs, with the most common question (after 'where are you from?') by fellow passengers and crew being 'how many cruises have you done?'
- Tips are expected for a range of support staff and, if you are guilted into paying them, can easily reach hundreds of dollars per person if you go by the cruise line's guidance.
- Entertainment on board is generally very good to outstanding and is free. Do as much as you can.
- Expenses on board are usually racked up using a swipe card and automatically added to your tab, which encourages overspending.
- Same swipe card stops teenage kids buying booze, which is great, but not anything else.
- Embarking is OK because you are excited at the beginning of the trip but getting off is quite laborious with when your bags need to be out and waiting for your timeslot to get off.
- You can pay a lot for fancy cabins but if you are cruising right you'll spend bugger all time in them and when you do you'll be sleeping, so save your money on cabin quality trinkets (port hole, deck, sitting rooms) and spend it on other, more memorable, experiences.
IMO, medium length cruises (7-10 days) are the best. FWIW, I'll never do another again but they were good to great experiences and we don't regret doing them.
I haven't personally but friends with young kids rave about them. It's supposed to be a good way for everyone to enjoy themselves as the kids can hang out at kids club while the parents can relax.
Cheers
Jamie
I have done a 10 day South Pacific one with family. I don't get seasick so really enjoyed it.
Food available almost at lib was a bonus as looking for restaurants to feed the kids is a major cost for holidays.
The following year we opted to tour Brisbane - sea world etc, stayed at sea world resort. The kids were more interested in staying in the motel and playing in the pool and going to restaurants than they were visiting all the attractions that we paid for in advance.
Cruises are better value for money. I'm planning a European one next!
Food available almost at lib was a bonus as looking for restaurants to feed the kids is a major cost for holidays.
The following year we opted to tour Brisbane - sea world etc, stayed at sea world resort. The kids were more interested in staying in the motel and playing in the pool and going to restaurants than they were visiting all the attractions that we paid for in advance.
Cruises are better value for money. I'm planning a European one next!
Did the inside passage from Vancouver to Anchorage (7 days Alaska) about 8 years ago with my family. 2 years later we spent 14 days from Sydney all around New Zealand. My assistant went to Vanuatu over Christmas for 2 weeks and loved it (she has two teenage girls who also had a blast).
It's a great way to see a lot of different ports without feeling like you're traveling. You go to bed one night and wake up in the next port, the ship is a traveling hotel. Way better than spending time on a bus, train or car.
There's lots of things to do at all hours of the day. Easy to relax, there's physical fitness activities, movies, games and competitions, dance classes, bars, casinos. You won't be board even on days where you don't see land.
Every port has an itinerary of shore tours. If you book these through the ship they cost about double what the would otherwise, but you're guaranteed a spot and a refund if it doesn't proceed. With internet these days it's easy to get organized and book them yourself. In a lot of tourist trap you can walk of the ship and find an appropriate tour with no trouble, just be aware sometimes places are limited.
The food is pretty good. You don't go hungry.
It can get rough. Crossing back from NZ to Sydney we had 4m swells. Not a problem at the back of the ship, but the front was a roller coaster. I was jogging around the ship one morning and it was a great workout for hill climbs on a flat track. The trick to avoiding sea sickness is to take the meds before you need them.
The average age of the passengers is about 60. It's a retiree event. There are plenty of young people on board, but most are young at heart.
Then I discovered scuba diving. I still do at least 1 'cruise' a year, but it's on a dedicated diving boat with about 16 passengers and they're dedicated to diving. This suits me better because it's specifically targeted to my favorite sport.
The cost is comparable to a night in a hotel of similar quality, perhaps a little more but not much. Considering the convenience of pretty much everything, cruises are great value for money.
It's a great way to see a lot of different ports without feeling like you're traveling. You go to bed one night and wake up in the next port, the ship is a traveling hotel. Way better than spending time on a bus, train or car.
There's lots of things to do at all hours of the day. Easy to relax, there's physical fitness activities, movies, games and competitions, dance classes, bars, casinos. You won't be board even on days where you don't see land.
Every port has an itinerary of shore tours. If you book these through the ship they cost about double what the would otherwise, but you're guaranteed a spot and a refund if it doesn't proceed. With internet these days it's easy to get organized and book them yourself. In a lot of tourist trap you can walk of the ship and find an appropriate tour with no trouble, just be aware sometimes places are limited.
The food is pretty good. You don't go hungry.
It can get rough. Crossing back from NZ to Sydney we had 4m swells. Not a problem at the back of the ship, but the front was a roller coaster. I was jogging around the ship one morning and it was a great workout for hill climbs on a flat track. The trick to avoiding sea sickness is to take the meds before you need them.
The average age of the passengers is about 60. It's a retiree event. There are plenty of young people on board, but most are young at heart.
Then I discovered scuba diving. I still do at least 1 'cruise' a year, but it's on a dedicated diving boat with about 16 passengers and they're dedicated to diving. This suits me better because it's specifically targeted to my favorite sport.
The cost is comparable to a night in a hotel of similar quality, perhaps a little more but not much. Considering the convenience of pretty much everything, cruises are great value for money.
A bloke I work with went on one at Christmas. When he told me he was going on a cruise, I couldn't have been more surprised than I would have been if he had told me he now wanted to be called Michelle and was going to start hormone therapy.
His kids are 16 and 18 and he reasoned, in a sort of pleading tone, that it was probably going to be the last time they would all be together.
The plan was to leave Sydney and meander over about a week to Fiji and spend a week there at a resort and fly home. There was some sort of stuff-up with the itinerary and the boat had to skip the drop-off island so they offered cash compensation and a transfer, or a reduced price to stay on the boat and come back to Sydney.
They were all having such a great time that they stayed on the boat. Even he was surprised at how good it was.
His kids are 16 and 18 and he reasoned, in a sort of pleading tone, that it was probably going to be the last time they would all be together.
The plan was to leave Sydney and meander over about a week to Fiji and spend a week there at a resort and fly home. There was some sort of stuff-up with the itinerary and the boat had to skip the drop-off island so they offered cash compensation and a transfer, or a reduced price to stay on the boat and come back to Sydney.
They were all having such a great time that they stayed on the boat. Even he was surprised at how good it was.
I've been on a few cruises, with the most recent one 9 months ago.
Various ones departing from Australia & Singapore and range from 6 to 15 days duration, sailing to Fremantle, Port Hedland, Bangkok, Pattaya, Ho Chi Min City, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket.
Best fun ever. You can do as little or as much as you like on them.
There is lots of different type activities on board the various ships - such as basket ball, mini golf, inline skating, ice skating, golf simulator, wave rider surfing, cricket, live shows, picture theatre, ice shows, table tennis, tennis, rock wall climbing,indoor/outdoor pools, spa's, live games shows, seminars, casino, ports of call excursions/tours, kids club & arcade games etc etc
Eating/drinking 24/7 if you fancy, from meals delivered to your stateroom through to bistro and fine dining.
The good cruise liners are huge and like floating hotels.
See the world and only unpack your bags once.
Excellent value for money.... cost us on average $80 per person per day including stateroom all meals & soft drinks/water and onboard activities.
Various ones departing from Australia & Singapore and range from 6 to 15 days duration, sailing to Fremantle, Port Hedland, Bangkok, Pattaya, Ho Chi Min City, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket.
Best fun ever. You can do as little or as much as you like on them.
There is lots of different type activities on board the various ships - such as basket ball, mini golf, inline skating, ice skating, golf simulator, wave rider surfing, cricket, live shows, picture theatre, ice shows, table tennis, tennis, rock wall climbing,indoor/outdoor pools, spa's, live games shows, seminars, casino, ports of call excursions/tours, kids club & arcade games etc etc
Eating/drinking 24/7 if you fancy, from meals delivered to your stateroom through to bistro and fine dining.
The good cruise liners are huge and like floating hotels.
See the world and only unpack your bags once.
Excellent value for money.... cost us on average $80 per person per day including stateroom all meals & soft drinks/water and onboard activities.
How old is your family Investor?
If you have a young family, avoid Princess Cruises. My parents cruise often with Princess and in their mid-late 50s are usually the youngest on the ship.
We went on a cruise late last year with our kids that were 5 and 2. Our group included 4 little ones, a pre-teen, us in our 30s and our parents in 50s and 60s. We did a 10 day cruise to the South Pacific with Royal Caribbean.
I think the 5 year old enjoyed the cruise the best. She thought the kids club was wonderful. The hardest part of the trip was keeping the 2 year old occupied. RC advertises a toddler's club where you can drop in with your child and do activities led by a cruise worker. When we boarded they had no idea about this, so other than being allowed to play in the nursery for 2 hours at lunchtimes, he had nothing much to do on the ship. We ended up paying for babysitting for a few nights so he could play with other kids and spend time with the carers as he was missing daycare and the youth of the teachers there.
another tip with little ones is that the majority of cruise lines will not allow non toilet trained children in kids clubs or to swim in the pools, even with swim nappies on or pull ups in the kids club. Our ship had a pool the size of a spa bath for the little ones but that's it. Kids club generally starts from 3 years old, apart from Carnival who starts younger and allows nappy-wearing kids in its clubs.
re kids club, don't plan your trip for the kids club to be available all the time. On our cruise there were many more 3-5 year olds on board than there were spots in kids club, so there was a sprint to line up for sessions and if you went to the morning session, you couldn't put them in for the afternoon. this was not in school holiday season, so I would expect the ratios would be even tougher to get into kids club.
The food was awesome. Buffet opened from very early til 10pmish I think, with two cafes open til after midnight. I admit I was disappointed that i couldn't get ice cream or a hot dog at 3 in the morning after having a few drinks during the night.
We got a suite and was in there a lot. With young kids we needed to give them time out from all the people and to try to give our 2 year old a day sleep. Sometimes it was nice to put them in front of the telly and for me to read a magazine away from the hustle and bustle. If you don't have small children or don't enjoy a day sleep and telly watching, I agree that a smaller room would be fine. We also got a bath in our room which most of the smaller rooms don't have. Re daysleeps, most people find a quiet spot on the decks to sleep or a bar that's only open at night and curl up in the oversized lounges for a kip.
I felt the rocking of the ship and there were a few days I felt rough. For the women it was akin to morning sickness nausea. I solved it in the same way as pregnancy nausea, with a hot dog and chips loaded with tomato sauce. i took Maxolon from 4 hours prior to departure til we disembarked so the nausea was as bad as it got. Our waiter said that the crossing to NZ is the worst for swell, so if you get a little queasy then an Oz or south pacific cruise would be better on the tummy.
I had a nice time but it would've been much better if my youngest was old enough for kids club. Also make sure you find a cruise ship that suits you as the activities vary between cruise line companies and the ships within each company. We cruised on Radiance of the Seas but next time we will go with Voyager as they have more activities including the Dreamworks characters roaming the ship and an ice skating rink.
If you have a young family, avoid Princess Cruises. My parents cruise often with Princess and in their mid-late 50s are usually the youngest on the ship.
We went on a cruise late last year with our kids that were 5 and 2. Our group included 4 little ones, a pre-teen, us in our 30s and our parents in 50s and 60s. We did a 10 day cruise to the South Pacific with Royal Caribbean.
I think the 5 year old enjoyed the cruise the best. She thought the kids club was wonderful. The hardest part of the trip was keeping the 2 year old occupied. RC advertises a toddler's club where you can drop in with your child and do activities led by a cruise worker. When we boarded they had no idea about this, so other than being allowed to play in the nursery for 2 hours at lunchtimes, he had nothing much to do on the ship. We ended up paying for babysitting for a few nights so he could play with other kids and spend time with the carers as he was missing daycare and the youth of the teachers there.
another tip with little ones is that the majority of cruise lines will not allow non toilet trained children in kids clubs or to swim in the pools, even with swim nappies on or pull ups in the kids club. Our ship had a pool the size of a spa bath for the little ones but that's it. Kids club generally starts from 3 years old, apart from Carnival who starts younger and allows nappy-wearing kids in its clubs.
re kids club, don't plan your trip for the kids club to be available all the time. On our cruise there were many more 3-5 year olds on board than there were spots in kids club, so there was a sprint to line up for sessions and if you went to the morning session, you couldn't put them in for the afternoon. this was not in school holiday season, so I would expect the ratios would be even tougher to get into kids club.
The food was awesome. Buffet opened from very early til 10pmish I think, with two cafes open til after midnight. I admit I was disappointed that i couldn't get ice cream or a hot dog at 3 in the morning after having a few drinks during the night.
We got a suite and was in there a lot. With young kids we needed to give them time out from all the people and to try to give our 2 year old a day sleep. Sometimes it was nice to put them in front of the telly and for me to read a magazine away from the hustle and bustle. If you don't have small children or don't enjoy a day sleep and telly watching, I agree that a smaller room would be fine. We also got a bath in our room which most of the smaller rooms don't have. Re daysleeps, most people find a quiet spot on the decks to sleep or a bar that's only open at night and curl up in the oversized lounges for a kip.
I felt the rocking of the ship and there were a few days I felt rough. For the women it was akin to morning sickness nausea. I solved it in the same way as pregnancy nausea, with a hot dog and chips loaded with tomato sauce. i took Maxolon from 4 hours prior to departure til we disembarked so the nausea was as bad as it got. Our waiter said that the crossing to NZ is the worst for swell, so if you get a little queasy then an Oz or south pacific cruise would be better on the tummy.
I had a nice time but it would've been much better if my youngest was old enough for kids club. Also make sure you find a cruise ship that suits you as the activities vary between cruise line companies and the ships within each company. We cruised on Radiance of the Seas but next time we will go with Voyager as they have more activities including the Dreamworks characters roaming the ship and an ice skating rink.
if you can buy last minute try www.vacationstogo.com - booked a penthouse suite once at about 80% off, was amazing... entry hall, 2 bathrooms, dining room, spa at the front, spa with tv's in the ensuite, dressing room, coffee machine and complete with a butler! I think in typical Australia Tax fashion that some of the cruise lines blocked aussies from buying thru there but I think some are still ok (wouldn't want aussies getting something at a good price hey?)
Thanks everyone, great tips!
My kids are almost 16 and 13 so it sounds like they can entertain themselves a bit.
Sounds good, will definitely try it for around 8 days.
For deep sea fishing and whale watching we've used Kwells tablets before and were fine while others were chucking up.
I noticed the off ship activities you could book were exy, we are more spontaneous anyway so won't book them in advance.
We were thinking of a port hole cabin but will consider the cheapest. I do like a comfy bed though so hopefully they are reasonable.
My kids are almost 16 and 13 so it sounds like they can entertain themselves a bit.
Sounds good, will definitely try it for around 8 days.
For deep sea fishing and whale watching we've used Kwells tablets before and were fine while others were chucking up.
I noticed the off ship activities you could book were exy, we are more spontaneous anyway so won't book them in advance.
We were thinking of a port hole cabin but will consider the cheapest. I do like a comfy bed though so hopefully they are reasonable.
Thanks, sounds nice. We often do stuff last minute so will look into it!
