Topic: Itineraries do make a difference

QUOTE:

Before I started cruising I used to think I'd love a world cruise (or grand voyage), but now - like tenpin - know that so many days of eating, drinking, etc would drive me mad. I'm happier to do more cruises of around 14 days (or longest so far is 21 days, which was great), I think.

I agree with you and Tenpin. We would love to do perhaps 3 or 4 per year. Longest we have done are 2 17 nighters. Could have stretched them to 19 nights if we had taken the 2 nighter either pre or post cruise. The world cruises (Or Grand voyages are fine if you have nothing to return home to) I dont get seasick, but I get homesick! Some friends of ours are stuck in the Maldives. Cannot get home for a while. A paradise to be stuck in but after 2 weeks, gets boring. It is different on a cruise I know. But you can get to much of a good thing. Each to their own. Carol

Interesting you should say that as we too have said we wondered how we would cope with spending such a long time on the ship. There are only so many places to eat on board and not that many opportunities to eat ashore in the evening. Once you have had a few meals on board you begin to know what to expect and my OH has often commented "could you do this for 100+ days, same restaurant, same staff?" and the answer is I'm not sure. I suppose you board with the mindset that you will be on for a long time so maybe you approach it differently.
People who have done it have loved it so maybe when we have retired it will be something to consider..Carol
I was typing this the same time as the other Carol as a reply to Bosscat but the comments still apply.

QUOTE:

Interesting you should say that as we too have said we wondered how we would cope with spending such a long time on the ship. There are only so many places to eat on board and not that many opportunities to eat ashore in the evening. Once you have had a few meals on board you begin to know what to expect and my OH has often commented "could you do this for 100+ days, same restaurant, same staff?" and the answer is I'm not sure. I suppose you board with the mindset that you will be on for a long time so maybe you approach it differently.
People who have done it have loved it so maybe when we have retired it will be something to consider..Carol
I was typing this the same time as the other Carol as a reply to Bosscat but the comments still apply.

Hi Carol, I could possible manage a world cruise as I love reading and play bridge but I know my husband would have the same view as you, he couldn't. He gets antsy after 2weeks on board. My parents were Cunard world cruisers and loved the ones they did every other year but I think our generation has too much going on these days to spend three months away. Having lived abroad, I value home and having friends and family around. Probably why we've never considered being 'snow birds'. regards J

I reckon you'd have to approach a World Cruise / Grand Voyage from an expeditionary point of view, almost.

In other words, forget regular 1- and 2-week cruising
where the focus is on gorging,eating,drinking,entertainment.
That's the silly short term approach.


This one's for real. This is destinations focused. Lots of photos, downloaded to a laptop
(hate the idea of carrying one, but it's that different!)..
a few, OK several souvenirs per port -perhaps shipped back home by Post
rather than left to accumulate in the cabin -unless it's a suite-

No focus on eating and drinking. Measured intake discipline instead
after all, over the long haul it's merely bodily maintenance, isn't it? ;)

I'd definitely maintain a diary, because it might one day become a book..

You've got to think outside the box for this long a cruise!
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It's a completely different way of life on board on any long cruise, but especially a world cruise. We had great table companions on our world cruise and we did not eat in the restaurant every evening. We ate elsewhere as a group sometimes, other times a snack would suffice. We certainly did not do restaurant breakfasts and lunches very often. On a port day we always try to eat ashore, so again no large dinner that evening.

We chose which shows/cabaret acts to attend, or gave them a miss altogether and watched a film, had a drink and a chat some evenings, sat on the balcony with a bottle of wine and some cheese and biscuits, wrote my daily journal. Just like at home really!

With all that you accumlate there has to be some cabin tidying days too! Washing/ironing day is a leisurely affair.

We do long cruises now, while we are young enough to enjoy them and we DO have plenty to come home to.

QUOTE:

I reckon you'd have to approach a World Cruise / Grand Voyage from an expeditionary point of view, almost.

In other words, forget regular 1- and 2-week cruising
where the focus is on gorging,eating,drinking,entertainment.
That's the silly short term approach.


This one's for real. This is destinations focused. Lots of photos, downloaded to a laptop
(hate the idea of carrying one, but it's that different!)..
a few, OK several souvenirs per port -perhaps shipped back home by Post
rather than left to accumulate in the cabin -unless it's a suite-

No focus on eating and drinking. Measured intake discipline instead
after all, over the long haul it's merely bodily maintenance, isn't it? ;)

I'd definitely maintain a diary, because it might one day become a book..

You've got to think outside the box for this long a cruise!
.

As always Aplmac, sound posting and yes, it is what real cruising is all about: 'it is the difference'. Nothing matches a world cruise and when one does it 'you live the dream'. Whether it be two canals or round both of the Capes, the atmosphere is electric. Loved your comment on the food intake discipline. I recall returning on the Aurora's World Cruise and from Sharm El Sheik to Lisbon, we lunched ashore at every stop, five in all, just for the change: easy.

QUOTE:

I reckon you'd have to approach a World Cruise / Grand Voyage from an expeditionary point of view, almost.

In other words, forget regular 1- and 2-week cruising
where the focus is on gorging,eating,drinking,entertainment.
That's the silly short term approach.....


No focus on eating and drinking. Measured intake discipline instead
after all, over the long haul it's merely bodily maintenance, isn't it? ;)

.

this must be why people doing sectors complain. The whole trip people have a different mind set and moved out of party mode weeks ago

QUOTE:

This must be why people doing 'sectors' complain.
The Whole Trip people have a different mind set and moved out of party mode weeks ago

And there I imagine you've hit the nail on the head!


A world cruise has to be rather like doing an Antarctic cruise.
You're not going to be doing it every two years, probably just the once(for most folks).
.

QUOTE:

this must be why people doing sectors complain. The whole trip people have a different mind set and moved out of party mode weeks ago

Yes! it is a whole different mindset. You have to go on a world cruise differently from a week, 2 weeks,whatever. I have said this before somewhere, that some friends of ours did Dubai to Singapore. They were not warmly welcomed. The ones who had joined at Southampton some 3 weeks previously were not impressed by the (Newcomers) They dared to occupy the seats that the whole world cruisers had made their own. But, without wishing anyone else to jump on my comment.As I have said before. Each to their own. Some love the World cruises, some dont. We are surely entitled to say our bit. For or against. Carol.
.

QUOTE:

Some friends of ours did Dubai to Singapore. They were not warmly welcomed.
The ones who had joined at Southampton some 3 weeks previously were not impressed by the Newcomers

They dared to occupy the seats that the whole world cruisers had made their own.

Unthinkable! :D

You'd think that the cruise line would make some allowance for Partials versus Totals
understanding that this factor does kick in, it seems..
-I've heard it now too many times for it to be mere coincidence.
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